Our favorite thing about the world of hospitality is that it’s constantly changing. I mean, no one wants a boring hotel room anymore! Every year seems to bring new and exciting options for us to experience and enjoy, whether they’re built entirely by man or just altered a little bit.
We love to travel and explore new countries, but the place we’re gonna stay at must have some character too. Whether it’s a hotel or an Airbnb, we want our accommodation to be a fun experience rather than just another generic room with a bed and TV. We’ve found that there are plenty of options out there that fit this description!
If you’re looking for a unique stay, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve compiled a list of the weirdest and coolest hotels in the world that are sure to delight your senses and make your travels memorable. Do you want a luxury stay? A funky boutique? Or maybe something to really blow your mind? Take a look at these weird hotels — and then check them off your bucket list!
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Igloo Village, Kakslauttanen, Finland
Booking a night or two in a glass igloo during your stay in Finnish Lapland is a must. Surrounded by nature all over, this impressive accommodation offers stays in igloos and traditional wood chalets. It also welcomes guests to try the world’s largest smoke sauna! Don’t worry about how to get there: Ivalo’s international airport is just 30 minutes away, and the hotel will provide you with a shuttle service.
I'd love to see the Northern Lights, it's number one on my bucket list x
Eco House Merisi, Georgia
Hobbit Village, The Shire Of Montana, United States
Giraffe Manor, Kenya
The Glass Floor Udang House, Bali, Indonesia
Hotel I Stayed At Was Formerly A Train Station And Had An Actual Train Inside It, With Rooms Inside Each Car
I stayed in the Chattanooga ChooChoo in Tennessee US. It was cute and a fun little experience
Montana Magica Lodge, Chile
When I read about this one, I contemplated planning my next travel itinerary to Chile. I mean, staying in a mountain with a permanent waterfall on its side? Deal. The mountain is surrounded by a massive rainforest, so it’s the best place to hike, meet some fascinating animals, observe nature, and fly with one of the longest zip-wires in South America!
Beautiful rooms and scenery, but that rope bridge would give me a panic attack
Fairy Chimney Hotel, Turkey
I've stayed here - I think it is the Kelebek cave hotel - it's in the region of Capadoccia, which was used for the filming of one of the Star wars films because of it's other worldly look. As an aside, when I was there in 2010 there were still many of the stacks lived in by local people.
Cocoa Island Hotel, Kaafu Atoll, Maldives
Äscher Cliff, Switzerland
Levin Iglut, Finland
The Muraka Conrad Rangali Island, Maldives
Ice Hotel, Jukkasjarvi, Sweden
Beckham Creek Cave Lodge, Arkansas, United States
It's beautiful but I can't afford to pay $1600 per night with a 2 night minimum. I'll just keep on with my wishful thinking.
Les Cols Pavellons, Spain
Crazy House, Dalat, Vietnam
You’ll find tons of unique hotels on this list, but Crazy House is truly a fairy tale that comes alive. Located in Dalat City and designed by Vietnamese architect Dang Viet Nga, Crazy House resembles a giant tree and, at least at first, was just a personal project. The financial burden made the architect reconsider the purpose of the building, and she then decided to turn it into a guesthouse in 1990.
Free Spirit Spheres, Canada
Think about the tree house you so desperately wanted during your childhood (or even as an adult) and make it spherical. Welcome to Free Spirit Spheres! Located in Vancouver Island’s rainforest, this fun hotel is the place for you if you feel like embarking on your next eco-travel adventure with all the time in the world to meditate and reconnect with nature while also reducing your impact to basically zero.
Floating Hotel, Zanzibar
Hotel Punta Grande, Spain
Inntels Hotels Amsterdam-Zaandam, Netherlands
Located in the center of Zaandam, north of Amsterdam, this beautiful hotel went viral on social media for its unusual structure made of nearly 70 stacked houses, rich in local history and references to the Dutch scene. The hotel has facilities for up to 350 people and amazes guests with its distinctive design.
Taj Lake Palace, India
This was used as Octopussy’s palace in the Bond film of the same name.
Mirrorcube, Treehotel, Sweden
The Cabin, Treehotels, Harads, Sweden
Rogner Bad Blumau, Austria
Sun Cruise Resort, South Korea
The Southern Ocean Lodge On Kangaroo Island, Australia
No Man's Fort, United Kingdom
Was this on Grand Designs or something? I seem to recall this or a similar hotel
Kolarbyn Ecolodge, Sweden
Hotel De Vrouwe Van Stavoren, Netherlands
The Batcave, Taiwan
Hotel Marqués De Riscal, Spain
The UFO, Harads, Northern Sweden
The Dog Bark Park Inn, Cottonwood, Idaho
Dog people, here we are! Cottonwood’s Dog Bark Park Inn, commonly known as Sweet Willy, is a famous landmark along Highway 95. This beagle-shaped bed and breakfast is home to comfortable dog-themed rooms, a gift shop, and an art gallery with creations by Dennis Sullivan and Frances Conklin. You’ll also find a selection of dog-themed books and games to entertain your stay. There’s probably no need to say this, but well-behaved dogs are more than welcome!
Jumbo Stay Hotel, Sweden
The Big Idaho Potato Hotel, Idaho, United States
Ooops! Hotel, Sweden
The Bird’s Nest, Treehotel, Harads, Sweden
Memories Aicha Luxury Camp, Wadi Rum, Jordan
727 Fuselage Costa Verde, Costa Rica
Castillo De Castilnovo, Spain
La Balade Des Gnomes, Belgium
Milaidhoo Island, Maldives
Nimb Hotel, København, Denmark
Pre-covid, we went to wedding here and stayed for a week. It is absolutely beautiful, especially all lit up at night.❤
Half Graffiti Room, Marseille, France
Fogo Island Inn, Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada
This was featured in the BBC Series ‘Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby’.
Sextantio Le Grotte Della Civita, Matera, Italy
Kumbuk River, Sri Lanka
Kumbuk River is one of the most unique places to stay during your next trip to Sri Lanka! This one-of-a-kind eco-resort is made famous by its elephant-shaped villa, but you’ll also find tree houses and converted trucks. It’s also the perfect accommodation if you plan a visit to Yala National Park, an incredible wildlife sanctuary home to leopards, elephants, crocodiles, and hundreds of bird species.
If there isn't a slide exit down the trunk I'll be disappointed!
The Null Stern Hotel, Swiss Alps
What about a hotel with no roof, no ceilings, no walls, no doors, and no windows? Is it crazy enough? Frank and Patrik Riklin argue that in order to experience the real beauty of the Swiss Alps, you don’t need much else than the mountains themselves. That’s why the Null Stern Hotel will provide you with the bare minimum: a comfy bed, two nightstands, and a nearby bathroom. A butler will be around in case you need ‘room’ service.
The Intercontinental Shanghai Wonderland, Shanghai, China
Barin Ski Resort, Iran
The Seashell House, Mexico
Fantasyland Hotel, Edmonton, Canada
21c Museum Hotel, Kentucky, United States
Caravan Hotel, Huttenpalast, Berlin
Mustang Monument Resort, United States
Museumotel L'utopie, France
Located in the middle of the mountains in northeastern France, this fascinating bubble hotel village is the brainchild of Swiss architect Pascal Hausermann. Unfortunately, Museumotel was closed in 2015 and sold in 2019, and its fate is still unclear, but we thought it was still worth citing such a strange hotel in an article about the most unique stays in the world!
Attrap Reves Hotel, France
9 Hours Capsule Hotel, Japan
Vliegtuigsuite Teuge, Netherlands
An old decrepit Iljoesjin Il-18, converted into a beautiful hotel suite next to a small airfield. With a beautiful old city to the east (Deventer) about 15 minutes away, and an incredible nature reserve (Veluwe) on the other side of the -not *that* interesting- city in the west (Apeldoorn. Only 2 things worth visiting:the former Royal palace 't Loo [pronounced as "low"] and the zoo Apenheul, specialized in monkeys) But there are plenty of normal, affordable hotels in the area, as well as several great vacation parks ( Landal, Centre Parks, Roompot)
Skylodge Adventure Suites, Peru
Yellow Submarine Hotel, Liverpool, United Kingdom
Das Park Hotel, Austria
Ever dreamed of enjoying your holidays by staying the night in repurposed sewer pipes? Probably not, but what could sound like the worst idea ever ended up being a fantastic alternative stay for tons of travelers! Every sewer pipe room offers a double bed, electricity, and blankets. And if you need some ‘time for yourself,’ the toilets are just a couple of minutes away.
Madonna Inn, California, United States
I stayed here for a night. Each room is themed; need to check all of them out. I was in the "Espania" room. The decor, as the whole property, is over the top. The picture here is of the steakhouse, which is done in Pepto-Bismol pink with a gold iron tree and cherubs spreading over the diners. Located on the California Central Coast near San Luis Obispo. A definite bucket list item.
Chalkley Treehouse, Lion Sands, South Africa
V8 Hotel, Stuttgart, Germany
Kruisherenhotel Maastricht, Netherlands
Wigwam Motel, United States
Is this where they got the inspiration for cars? Pylon hotels and old cars parked outside?
The Boot, New Zealand
Henn-Na Hotel, Japan
The Ark Lodge, Kenya
Treehouse Point, Washington, United States
Rotel Hotel On Wheels, Germany
Time to Google to find inside pictures. How can they not show us the inside?! Edit: ohhh. That's why
Can Sleep Hotel, Denmark
Pelican Point Lodge, Namibia
Nakagin Capsule Tower, Tokyo, Japan
Kennedy School Hotel, United States
This is a great place. It was an old, multi-story, grade school. Really unique building. Then the McMenamin brothers bought it and turned it into an entertainment/hotel/venue with all kinds of neat bars, restaurants, soaking pool, movie theater and gift shop. The old school rooms are now hotel rooms. Really cool place in Portland, Oregon. The buy a lot of old buildings in Oregon and Washington state and turn them into destination hotels and/or restaurants.
Sleepin Fængslet, Denmark
Million Donkey Hotel, Italy
Queen Mary Hotel, Long Beach, Los Angeles, United States
A similar hotel exists in the center of Rotterdam. "De Rotterdam" was used by the Holland-Amerika Lijn. Now completely restored in original style, with the "modernities" nicely hidden. Tours are available, and the restaurant is open to visitors and guests alike. Even if you're in the area for a day, it's worth visiting
The Monte Rosa Hut, Switzerland
Casanus, Belgium
The Dunant Hotel, Italy
Crowne Plaza Union Station, Indiana, United States
The Clown Motel, Nevada, United States
Karosta Prison, Liepaja, Latvia
Fabriken Furillen, Sweden
The Proposal Zurich, The Giant Fat Man, Switzerland
Most of these are nice but my goal on a vacation is to see the sights and area. I don't want to spend all my money on a room no matter how cool it is. Basic, clean room is fine.
Most of these are nice but my goal on a vacation is to see the sights and area. I don't want to spend all my money on a room no matter how cool it is. Basic, clean room is fine.
