The World's Coolest Underwater Hotels
One of the main things to consider when booking a hotel room is its view: are you looking to be ocean-side or garden-side? Are you overlooking the New York City skyline from a penthouse on the 64th floor, or sitting in your own private, over-water villa where the sunsets over the ocean are sublime? If you're a seasoned traveler, you know the view from your bedroom window can be one of the most important of the trip. While waterfront views, city skylines, and gorgeous gardens are incredible sights in their own right, an underwater hotel takes it one step further. This once-in-a-lifetime experience can transport you to a whole new world, seeing colorful fish and marine life in a way unlike ever before. Whether you're looking to book a romantic getaway, a spectacular honeymoon, or just a bucket list trip, these properties from Sweden to the Maldives all offer unique experiences to admire the ocean from a new perspective.
From overwater-meets-underwater villas in the Maldives that let you leap out of bed and directly into the sea, to restaurants surrounded by ocean life, to properties only accessible via scuba diving, these are 13 of the coolest underwater hotels in the world to add to your must-visit list.
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Courtesy Conrad Maldives Rangali IslandConrad Maldives Rangali Island, Maldives
In 2018, Conrad’s Rangali Island debuted The Muraka (which translates to “coral” in Dhivehi, the local language), a luxe suite submerged more than 16 feet underwater. The two-level structure has an above-water living area, which sits over the main bedroom with acrylic walls that provide 360-degree views of the surrounding ocean. Before you gawk at the price tag, note that the suite includes a gorgeous infinity pool, butler’s quarters, and enough space to sleep six people across three king bedrooms. This is the only villa of its kind at the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, so be sure to book in advance to secure it. The rest of the property is home to luxe beach villas and above-water villas—most home to their own personal pool—so there isn't a bad room to bed down in.
Nightly rates from: $9,999
Courtesy Niyama Private Islands MaldiveshotelNiyama Private Island Maldives, Maldives
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Readers' Choice Awards 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2025Niyama Private Island Maldives is known for its family-friendly activities and dreamy overwater villas. But the resort's coolest attraction is actually below the waves—Subsix, an underwater restaurant with Champagne breakfasts and views of living coral. While you won't be sleeping with the fish, you can surely dine with them. To get to Subsix, guests at the resort have to take a quick speedboat ride and descend a three-tier staircase before diving into the seafood menus—all appropriately dramatic (and exclusive) means to a dazzling end. At the end of a delicious dining experience, head back to your over-water bungalow to enjoy sea views, private pools, and total seclusion.
Nightly rates from: $714
Pia Nordlander/Utter InnUtter Inn Hotel, Sweden
While the Utter Inn Hotel in Sweden is not surrounded by the warm, tropical waters that many of the other picks on this list are, it's still just as remarkable. This micro property sleeps just two and is set out on a pontoon in Lake Mälaren. Guests can enjoy hanging out on the deck and taking in the views during the day if the weather permits, then retreat to their underwater oasis (about 10 feet below the surface) where they can admire the fish from all four sides of their bedroom before falling asleep. As a bonus, it's one of the most budget-friendly options on this list. The accommodations are a bit more sparse, than say, an over-/under-water villa that sleeps six, but it's a unique experience that you can't get just anywhere. Plus, since it's the only property of its kind in these waters, it's even more secluded than the villas you'll find elsewhere.
Nightly rates from: $329
Courtesy Journey BeyondReefsuites, Australia
Even for those lucky enough to have visited Australia’s Whitsunday Islands and the nearby Great Barrier Reef, few will ever see the area as intimately as guests staying in Journey Beyond’s Reefsuites do. The suites are all part of a larger experience. First, visitors will snorkel the reef off of a pontoon boat moored 46 miles from Queensland. Then, it’s a sundowner and dinner under the stars, before retiring to a private room below deck with floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall windows ensuring you don’t miss a single fish swimming by. Between the scenic cruise that gets you to your accommodations, the underwater rooms, the guided snorkeling tour, and access to the underwater observatory, you'll get to be up close and personal with the marine life for your entire stay.
Nightly rates from: $995
Courtesy HurawalhihotelHurawalhi, Maldives
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2018You may have already seen pictures of Hurawalhi's exceptional underwater restaurant, which is the largest all-glass underwater restaurant in the world. While this hotel doesn't have any underwater accommodations so you won't be able to actually sleep next to the marine life, you will get a completely unique experience when eating surrounded by them. The second you step into the undersea restaurant, you'll be amazed by the aquatic life on all sides of the tunnel. Once you've had your fill of being underwater, you can head back to stay at one of the property's luxe overwater villas and see the sea from a whole new perspective. This is the perfect location for guests who want a little bit of both worlds, and are interested in enjoying some underwater time for a few hours but look forward to hopping back above sea level before they sleep.
Nightly rates from: $1,043
Courtesy Intercontinental Shanghai WonderlandInterContinental Shanghai Wonderland, China
The $300 million InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland was built on an abandoned quarry in Songjiang, about 20 miles outside of Shanghai’s city center. Upper-level rooms are afforded balcony views of the surrounding quarry and waterfalls, but the hotel also has two submerged floors with “Premier Underwater View” suites. Unlike many of the other properties on this list, with two entire floors underwater, the Intercontinental Shanghai Wonderland has a few different underwater rooms and suites available, so you'll have less trouble securing one than at some of the other hotels where there is just one or two rooms to snag. There’s also a restaurant and swimming pool—yes, an underwater swimming pool.
Nightly rates from: $1,100
Photo by Jesper AnhedeThe Manta Resort, Tanzania
Open since 2013 on Pemba Island (part of the Zanzibar archipelago), Manta Resort’s “Underwater Room” is a two-minute boat ride away from the beach—consider it more of a tiny private island than a hotel suite. The three-level accommodation offers the best of both worlds: coral reef views from its submerged bedroom, and incredible stargazing views from its roof deck. The underwater room is one-of-a-kind in the area, all by itself and surrounded only by water (no other villas). Not only will you get complete privacy, but you'll be able to see the sea from a whole different viewpoint. The hotel also offers dive trips all along Pembra Island for when you’re ready to take down the wall between you and the nearby sea critters.
Nightly rates from: $1,840
Courtesy Resorts World SentosaResorts World Sentosa, Singapore
Resorts World Sentosa, just off the coast of Singapore on Sentosa Island, offers 11 two-story suites (Equarius Ocean Suites) with direct access to the resort’s massive aquarium. Overnight guests here can experience the above-ground and underwater delights—an outdoor patio on the upper level, and underwater views of the aquarium’s 40,000 fish on the lower level. Since the “underwater” views are directly into the property's aquarium rather than the open ocean, you know you'll get to see some of the most gorgeous fish around directly from your bed—and not have to worry about the chance that not much swims by.
Nightly rates from: $1,450
Courtesy Anantara Kihavah Maldives VillashotelAnantara Kihavah Maldives Villas, Maldives
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024Virtually every aspect of the luxury resort island of Anantara Kihavah Maldives is unbelievable, from the white-sand beaches to the thatched-roof villas with private infinity pools. But even those amenities pale in comparison to Sea, the property’s underwater restaurant and wine cellar. Enjoy Maldivian lobster for lunch or pan-seared Japanese wagyu for dinner, all while taking in views of tropical fish and sharks swimming right past the panoramic windows. At the end of a delicious meal, head back to your over-water bungalow where you can enjoy sunset views from your own private pool. In the morning, jump directly into the water for a before-breakfast swim. For those that prefer to stay firmly on land, there's a string of poolside residences as well.
Nightly rates from: $1,515
Courtesy of Huvafen FushihotelHuvafen Fushi, Maldives
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2023Set in the Indian Ocean, Huvafen Fushi’s rooms are breathtakingly beautiful, though they aren’t underwater themselves. However, you can submerge nearly 25 feet below the surface at the resort’s Huvafen Spa, which offers panoramic reef views during treatments. This is the only property on this list that features an underwater spa (Huvafen's is the first in the world), which truly sets the tone for a day of relaxation where you can leave your stress behind and enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Guests also have access to Lonu Veyo, the saltwater flotation pool filled with mineral-laden water from the sea.
Nightly rates from: $996
Georgette Douwma/GettyPullman Maldives Maamutaa
If you've already checked an overwater villa off your travel bucket list, consider visiting The Aqua Villa Experience at Pullman for your next aquatic adventure. The two double-level villas feature an underwater main bedroom as well as an overwater secondary bedroom, meaning you can get the best of both worlds and switch up your view depending on the night. The villas also come with a private pool, deck area, and other great amenities. Take a dip in the waters during the day and then catch the sunset from the private deck before retreating to your own personal aquarium bedroom at night. There's nothing like waking up to the sights of colorful fish and gorgeous coral, just to jump out of bed and take a dip in the water right out your front door to join them.
Nightly rates from: $8,731
Courtesy Atlantis, The PalmAtlantis, The Palm, Dubai
The floor-to-ceiling windows in the Underwater Suite at Atlantis, The Palm look into the resort aquarium’s Ambassador Lagoon—and the 65,000 sea creatures that fill it. The extravagant space comes with plenty of perks beyond the underwater views (although having sharks swim past your bathtub is definitely a highlight), including breakfast in bed, free airport transfers, and a 24-hour private butler. Unlike many of the other properties on this list, this isn't an overwater/underwater villa so you won't be able to leap out of bed and join the sea creatures you see swimming by, but due to its nature as a curated aquarium, you'll get some of the best views of the flashiest, most picturesque fish out there.
Nightly rates from: $7,125
Courtesy Jules’ Undersea LodgeJules’ Undersea Lodge, Key Largo, Florida
Arriving at your room in Jules' Undersea Lodge in Key Largo will take some work: The only way to get there is to scuba dive. This isn't the room for the faint of heart, or those looking for a simple weekend getaway. This is one of the most intense underwater experiences on this list and truly only fit for ocean lovers who want a raw, unfiltered experience. Unlike a number of other underwater accommodations, the entire structure of Jules’ Undersea Lodge is submerged—that’s because it was once a research laboratory (originally set off the coast of Puerto Rico). Today it offers two bedrooms, Wi-Fi, and even a free pizza delivery for dinner. The real joy of staying here, though, is gazing out your window at the mangrove lagoon that surrounds you on all sides.
Nightly rates from: $1,687
This gallery has been updated since its original publish date.
