Unusual Hotels Around the World: 8 Places Where a Night Is an Adventure

A hotel is usually just a place to sleep between sightseeing trips. But some hotels are worth the journey in their own right: rooms of ice rebuilt every winter, rooms high up in the trees, a house of salt in the middle of a salt flat or a manor where giraffes peer through the window at breakfast. Here are eight of the world's most unusual hotels, with their stories, what makes them special and when to go.

1. Icehotel, Jukkasjärvi, Sweden

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The world's first ice hotel appeared in the Swedish village of Jukkasjärvi, north of the Arctic Circle, at the turn of the 1990s. Every winter it is rebuilt from the ice and snow of the Torne River, and artists from around the world design each room as a work of art, so no two seasons are alike. "Cold" rooms stay at around −5 °C, and guests get thermal sleeping bags. Since 2016 the year-round Icehotel 365 has kept its ice frozen using solar power.

2. Hang Nga "Crazy House", Dalat, Vietnam

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Architect Đặng Việt Nga began building this house in 1990, and it is often compared to Gaudí's work: there are no right angles, the walls look like tree trunks and caves, and walkways and stairs twist among the branches. By day it is a museum for tourists; at night some rooms become guesthouse accommodation, each themed around an animal or plant.

3. The Old Railway Station, West Sussex, UK

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Near Chichester, outside the town of Petworth, a former 1892 railway station welcomes guests. Rooms are in the station building and four restored Pullman carriages, and the old waiting room is now a lounge. In summer breakfast is served on the platform — one of the most romantic places to stay in England.

4. Magic Mountain Hotel, Neltume, Chile

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In the Huilo-Huilo reserve in southern Chile stands a hotel shaped like a cone-shaped mountain covered in moss and ferns. A waterfall cascades from its summit, and you enter across a suspension bridge. Wooden interiors and round windows recall hobbit homes — no wonder fantasy fans love it. All around are the forests, waterfalls and volcanoes of Patagonia.

5. Treehotel, Harads, Sweden

In a forest in northern Sweden, several rooms hang in the trees 4–6 metres above the ground. Each was designed by a different architect: a mirrored cube that almost disappears among the pines, a "bird's nest" of branches, a "UFO" and more. In winter you may see the northern lights; in summer, the pale polar sky.

6. Glass igloos, Lapland, Finland

In Finnish Lapland — for example at Kakslauttanen resort near Saariselkä — glass igloos with transparent roofs let you sleep warmly while watching the stars and the aurora. The best season for northern lights is from late August to April, on clear, dark nights.

7. Palacio de Sal, Uyuni Salt Flat, Bolivia

On the edge of the world's largest salt flat stands a hotel built from salt blocks: walls, furniture, beds and even sculptures are made of salt. After the rainy season the flat is covered by a thin layer of water and becomes a giant mirror — the region's most spectacular sight.

8. Giraffe Manor, Nairobi, Kenya

This 1930s manor on the outskirts of Nairobi is famous for its residents — Rothschild's giraffes, which roam the grounds and in the mornings poke their heads through the windows for treats from guests. The manor is linked to a conservation programme for this rare giraffe subspecies.

How to choose an unusual hotel without disappointment

• Book early. These hotels have few rooms, and popular dates sell out months ahead.
• Check the season. Ice hotels open in winter, Uyuni is most beautiful in the rainy season and the northern lights are only visible in the dark months.
• Read the small print. Guests usually spend just one night in "cold" rooms, and facilities may be in a separate warm building.
• Build a route around it. An unusual hotel is a great highlight, but plan what else to see nearby.

A surprise for someone you love

A trip to an unusual hotel is one of the most romantic gifts. If the journey is still just a plan, start small: flowers with delivery and an evening at one of the romantic places in Kyiv. Travel lovers may also enjoy our guides to the world's flower fields and its most beautiful cemeteries.

FAQ

How much does a night at an ice hotel cost?

Prices depend on the season and room type and change every year — check the hotel's official website.

When should I stay in a glass igloo to see the northern lights?

From late August to April, on clear nights, ideally away from city lights.

Can I visit the Crazy House in Dalat without staying there?

Yes, it's open to visitors by ticket during the day.

Author: Maria Svitlovir

Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.

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