What more can you look for while waking up to enjoy the stunning views of the majestic sharks, stingrays and fishes swimming to and fro the sea that is surrounding your hotel room? It is definitely an awe-inspiring sight to not miss out while indulging yourself with the beautiful marine life that you can only experience in these unique hotels!
The underwater hotels have bedrooms and dining areas that are submerged under the water, enabling you to explore a whole new world from the comfort and safety of your bedroom.
Plan your ultimate vacation spots at these 9 best underwater hotels and resorts that displays the best aquariums and panoramic views.
- Atlantis The Palm, Dubai
- The Manta Resort, Zanzibar
- Conrad Rangali Island, Maldives
- Intercontinental Shanghai Wonderland, China
- Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore
- Reef Suits, Whitsunday Islands, Australia
- Huvafen Fushi, Maldives
- Niyami Private Islands, Maldives
- Utter Inn Hotel, Vasteras, Sweden
9 best underwater hotels and resorts in the world
Atlantis the Palm, Dubai
Dubai is known throughout the world for its innovative luxury accommodations that include the world’s first seven-star hotel, the Burj Al Arab. Situated on the stunning human-made islands of The Palm is Atlantis, which was the first hotel to be built on the island.
Experience the luxurious underwater suites at Atlantis, The Palm – Neptune and Poseidon – with their impressive architectures and aquatic wonderland that houses about 65,000 sea creatures including majestic sharks and stingrays that are swimming freely in the aquarium.
The luxurious underwater all-inclusive rooms here cost around US $6100 a night but the package comes with several perks like airport transfers, private butler service, complimentary dolphin encounters at Dolphin Bay, free on-demand movie service, unlimited access to adventure park among other things.
READ MORE: Other fun activities and must-dos near Atlantis The Palm, Dubai
The Manta Resort, Zanzibar
This breathtaking project that is located in the Indian Ocean, is probably one of the most unique underwater hotels in the world. Imagine yourself sleeping underneath the deep oceans that go 12 meters deep, encapsulated with the stunning shoals of fishes swimming around freely under the ocean, what a sight to not miss!
At the lowest level of the Manta Underwater Room, there is a double bedroom that is surrounded by a 360-degree view of the whole ocean, and if you are lucky enough, you may catch a glimpse of unique and unseen finned creatures that you may not see in your everyday lives. Moving up a level is the landing deck at sea level, with a lounge area and bathroom facilities. The top-level is where you get the panoramic views of the Milky Way and the mesmerizing sight of the sea. The underwater hotel room costs $1500 a night, but this price doesn’t include the resort fees.
Apart from the underwater rooms, there are many water activities for you to enjoy at The Manta Resort as well. This includes sandbank trips, deep-sea fishing, kayak safaris, and even snorkeling.
Hurry and do find the opportunity to book your stay at the Manta Resort!
READ MORE: Did you know that the Blue Hole falls to 12 meters deep at high tide?
Conrad Rangali Island, Maldives
The hotel was initially known for its extraordinary underwater dining options at the Ithaa Undersea restaurant located sixteen feet below the ocean. With only seven tables at the restaurant, getting a seat involved a lengthy waiting list. However, since then, the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island resort has opened a two-story underwater hotel, The Muraka, which means coral in Dhivehi.
The villa has an underwater bedroom, living room, and a bathroom, all with panoramic glass walls for you to gaze out into the Indian Ocean. Upstairs at sea level, you’ll find a dining room and a small pool. Unlike other entries on our list, staying in The Muraka will give you a genuine glimpse of the ocean and not just an aquarium.
The underwater hotel will cost you around $50,000 a night. Of course, this hefty amount will also entitle you to some of the exclusive perks including the villa’s private seaplane jetty, and even the use of the speedboat and jet skis.
READ MORE: Conrad is also home to many other floating villas, do check them out!
Intercontinental Shanghai Wonderland, China
If a luxury underwater resort is what you seek, look no further. The Intercontinental Shanghai Wonderland cost $30 million to build and is situated among waterfalls. This five-star hotel was built in an abandoned quarry, about 30 kilometers from Shanghai. A fun fact about this hotel is that out of the 19 stories, 17 of it are below ground level, of which two are underwater hotel rooms, which are aptly named “Premier Underwater View” suites.
What makes the Intercontinental so spectacular is the sub-aquatic restaurant with a panoramic view and its underwater swimming pool. You’ll be lathered in luxury, and once you venture top-side, you can get a stunning view of the waterfalls and quarry that surround the hotel. You’ll have to pay a premium for the privilege as rooms the suites come in at around $15,000 per night.
READ MORE: 5 reasons you should stay at Intercontinental Shanghai Wonderland in China
Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore
Resorts World Sentosa is located in the islands of Sentosa with various attractions like Universal Studios Singapore and The Luge, keeping tourists coming back for more. The city-state’s hotels regularly make the lists for the best hotels in the world offering an exceptional experience and have 11 two-story townhouse Ocean Suites for you to get a glimpse of its beautiful aquatic life.
The upper area is the living space with access to the sea, and downstairs is the underwater bedrooms with the best seat in the house for the world’s largest aquarium. Service includes a personal butler to cater to your every need while you enjoy the view and suites cost just over $1,750 a night. Apart from that, the guests can also choose from several Michelin-starred restaurants in the resort.
READ MORE: Check out more fun activities by following the Singapore Travel Guide
Reef Suits, Whitsunday Islands, Australia
Reef Suites is Australia’s first-ever underwater hotel that houses spectacular views of The Great Barrier Reef. Reef Suites hosts both day cruises and overnight passengers on the ReefWorld Pontoon.
For those staying overnight, you will get to experience a whole new meaning to “a room with a view”, where you will be taken aback by the beautiful marine life that swims by in the underwater rooms. All meals will be included and you will also get to experience other water activities such as a tour of the reef via a submarine, guided snorkeling tours, and a visit to an underwater observatory. Rooms are priced at $1,400 for a single room and $995 for a double room.
READ MORE: Why you should visit The Great Barrier Reef
Huvafen Fushi, Maldives
Located in the Maldives, Huvafen Mushi is one of the luxurious boutique resorts that let you experience the endless white sandy beaches, exquisite dining venues, and water activities while being the perfect destination for a much-needed relaxing spa and massage therapy.
Although they don’t have an underwater hotel room where you can view the marine creatures, fret not as they provide a one-of-a-kind underwater spa that is located 8-meters deep from the surface. This is the only place for you to experience an underwater spa, providing you with panoramic views of the reefs, corals and a soothing design that allows you to embrace the calmness to rejuvenate and restore.
READ MORE: 10 must-do things at the Huvafen Fushi Resort
Niyami Private Islands, Maldives
Looking at the list of underwater hotels, Niyami Private Islands in the Maldives is the only hotel that holds the world’s first Subsix underwater nightclub and restaurant which is located 20 feet below the surface sea levels.
Niyami Private Islands offers a wide variety of food choices and restaurants such as Edge which gives you a modern fine-dining experience and Nest which serves you Asian avant-garde cuisines including Thai, Cantonese, Teppanyaki, Japanese, and many more on the tree-tops which is perfect for a romantic evening. Apart from that, Niyami Private Islands is the only resort that serves Afro-Latin cuisines that brings you to experience dining at a campsite, something that you may want to consider during your stay there.
READ MORE: Explore the high-adrenaline activities in Niyami Private Islands, Maldives
Utter Inn Hotel, Vasteras, Sweden
Located on Lake Malaren in Vasteras, the unique two-room Utter Inn was created as an art project by Mikael Genberg. One of the rooms is above the waterline while the other sits roughly ten feet below it, with a ladder that connects the two. You are taken to the accommodation via boat and given an inflatable boat to explore the nearby inhabited island.
The single underwater bedroom is simple with two beds with a table, and four windows looking out into the Malaren. While the amenities at Utter Inn are not the best, it is the most affordable underwater hotel option on our list, and you can sleep with the fishes for as little as $250 per night, a real bargain.
READ MORE: What’s there to do near Utter Inn in Sweden?
Going on vacation is a great time to try out new things and push your boundaries, what better way to do some than by staying in an underwater hotel? It may seem daunting at first thought, but the experience of doing something novel is worth it. So, take the plunge. Go and experience the beauty of aquatic life from the safety of a hotel under the sea.
