Dreaming of an extraordinary European escape? Forget conventional hotels and predictable B&Bs.
From floating saucers and converted prisons to capsules teetering on Alpine cliffs, Europe’s most unusual accommodations redefine what a getaway can be.
These remarkable properties blend innovation, history, and breathtaking settings for experiences that transcend ordinary travel.
20 Most Unusual Places to Stay in Europe
Read on to discover where you can sleep underwater in Sweden, doze in a sphere suspended among Welsh trees, or spend the night in a former prison with a luxurious twist.
1. Treehotel, Harads, Sweden
Deep in northern Sweden’s pine forest sits an architectural marvel that redefines the concept of treehouses.
The Mirror Cube appears to vanish into the landscape, while the UFO hovers mysteriously between trees.
Each unique structure offers an otherworldly escape combined with pristine natural surroundings.
Check prices for the Treehotel in Sweden here.
2. Icehotel, Jukkasjärvi, Sweden
Each winter, artists transform 2,500 tons of ice from Sweden’s Torne River into this ephemeral masterpiece.
Every room is a unique art installation featuring ice sculptures and crystalline furniture, where thermal sleeping bags ensure a cozy night at -5°C.
Check prices for Icehotel in Sweden here.
3. Bubble Hotel, Reykjavik, Iceland
In the pristine Icelandic wilderness, transparent geodesic domes offer front-row seats to the Northern Lights. T
hese heated bubbles provide perfect aurora viewing in cozy comfort, creating an intimate connection with the Arctic landscape far from light pollution.
Check prices for Bubble Hotel in Iceland here.
4. Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort, Finland
In Finnish Lapland, glass igloos provide unparalleled Arctic stargazing with climate-controlled comfort.
Each dome offers views of the northern lights from your bed, surrounded by snow-covered forests in one of Europe’s most remote wilderness areas.
Check prices for Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort in Finland here.
5. Das Park Hotel, Ottensheim, Austria
Along Austria’s Danube River, concrete drainage pipes have been transformed into surprisingly cozy sleeping pods.
Each cylinder offers comfortable accommodations with essential amenities, showcasing innovative architecture and urban repurposing at its most creative.
6. Attrap’Rêves, Allauch, France
In the Provençal countryside, transparent bubbles offer private stargazing sanctuaries away from city lights.
Each sphere is positioned to combine the romance of sleeping under the stars with boutique hotel comfort in one of France’s most picturesque regions.
7. Hotel Marqués de Riscal, Elciego, Spain
Frank Gehry’s architectural masterpiece rises from Spain’s ancient Rioja vineyards like ribbons of liquid metal.
The titanium and steel waves in pink, gold, and silver create a stunning contrast with the traditional landscape, while luxurious rooms offer vineyard views.
Check prices for Hotel Marqués de Riscal in Spain here.
8. Conker Treepod, Powys, Wales
This gleaming copper-clad sphere sits high on a grassy hill in an 80-acre conservation estate in mid-Wales.
Designed by a former Bentley and Rolls-Royce engineer, this award-winning pod features Scandinavian styling, a micro-kitchen, wood-fired pizza oven, and breathtaking mountain views.
Check prices for Conker Treepod here.
9. Airship 2, Drimnin, Scotland
This modern aluminum pod with curved glass windows sits in splendid isolation in the Scottish Highlands.
Its distinctive aerodynamic design creates a striking silhouette against the rugged landscape, while inside, contemporary comfort meets panoramic views.
Check prices for Airship 2 here.
10. Malmaison Oxford Prison, UK
This former Victorian prison has been transformed into a boutique hotel where former cells now serve as luxurious rooms.
Original features like iron doors and barred windows remain, creating an atmospheric blend of history and high-end hospitality.
Check prices for Malmaison Oxford here.
11. The Jet Star, Pembrokeshire, Wales
Once the airborne domain of an international cartel, this 1970s private jet has been meticulously transformed into a sumptuous retreat.
The cockpit now functions as a gaming area with Xbox, while the main cabin features leather seats, a lit-up 70s bar, and a king-sized bedroom.
Check prices for The Jet Star here.
12. FinnLough Bubble Dome, Enniskillen, Northern Ireland
Nestled in Northern Irish woodland, these transparent bubble domes offer 180° forest and night sky views.
Each climate-controlled dome features four-poster beds and elegant furnishings, creating a sanctuary where nature and luxury coexist.
Check prices for FinnLough Bubble Dome here.
13. Crane Hotel Faralda, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Three luxury suites built inside a former industrial crane tower 50 meters above Amsterdam’s NDSM-wharf.
Each uniquely designed suite offers spectacular 360° views across the city, combining industrial heritage with contemporary Dutch design.
Check prices for Crane Hotel Faralda here.
14. Hüttenpalast, Berlin, Germany
Inside a converted factory in Berlin’s trendy Neukölln district sits an indoor vintage caravan park unlike anything you’ve seen before.
Each uniquely decorated unit offers quirky charm with communal indoor “garden” spaces that blend urban industrial heritage with playful nostalgia.
Check prices for Hüttenpalast here.
15. Utter Inn, Västerås, Sweden
This tiny floating house on Lake Mälaren conceals an underwater bedroom where guests sleep beneath the surface surrounded by windows.
Designed by a local artist, this single-room hotel offers a unique aquatic perspective in complete isolation on Sweden’s third-largest lake.
Check prices for Utter Inn here.
16. Kolarbyn Eco-Lodge, Sweden
Known as “Sweden’s most primitive hotel,” these moss-covered wooden huts provide a genuine back-to-nature experience without electricity or running water.
Located in dense forest, guests chop wood for heat, collect water from a spring, and sleep on wooden beds with sheepskins.
17. Bivacco Gervasutti, Italian Alps
This futuristic tubular pod appears to teeter off the edge of a cliff at 2,835 meters above sea level on Mont Blanc’s Frebouze Glacier.
Accessible by helicopter or challenging hike, this solar-powered Alpine shelter, offers modern amenities including internet access while sleeping among Europe’s highest peaks.
18. No Man’s Fort, Portsmouth, UK
Standing alone in the middle of the Solent, this Victorian sea fort has been transformed into a luxury hotel with 22 bedroom suites.
Originally built in the 1860s, it now houses restaurants, bars, and even a nightclub, accessible only by boat for a truly exclusive escape.
Check prices for No Man’s Fort here.
19. La Balade des Gnomes, Durbuy, Belgium
This whimsical hotel features ten fantastically themed rooms, including one inside a wooden Trojan horse replica.
Each space tells its own fairytale through imaginative design, magical decor, and unexpected details, creating a storybook experience.
Check prices for La Balade des Gnomes here.
20. Anthenea, Lannion, France
This luxury eco-floating saucer was inspired by James Bond’s villain’s lair in “The Spy Who Loved Me.”
The solar-powered, self-sustainable pod has submarine windows for observing marine life, and a rooftop solarium.
Check prices for Anthenea here.
Final Thoughts on Most Unique Places to Stay in Europe
These extraordinary European accommodations prove that the perfect stay can be an adventure in itself.
Sometimes where you stay becomes the highlight of your journey, creating memories far beyond standard hotel experiences.
Ready for more European travel inspiration? Discover our guides to:
- Worst Tourist Cities in Europe
- Most Photogenic Destinations in Europe
- Most Unique Places to Stay in the World
Find more captivating European travel content on our blog and start planning your next extraordinary adventure!
