10 crazy, weird and unusual hotels in Europe

With 45 countries and more metropolises than you can count, there is of course an almost infinite number of hotels in Europe. But, doesn’t it feel like most of them seem cast in the same mold?

Fortunately, there are plenty of quirkier and different (and crazy!) hotels and accommodation in Europe but it can take a bit of detective work to find them. Here in our list of 10 crazy, weird and different hotels in Europe you can find some lovely gems to explore further! If you’re really keen to book a night at one of these hotels, to get the best deal, check if it’s available through Hotels.com and if so, then visit our Hotels.com discounts and offers page.

Hotel Jested – Liberec, Czech Republic

On top of Ještěd Mountain in the Czech Republic stands a building unlike any other. From a distance it looks like a spaceship of some kind. Once at the top of the building, which is often above the clouds, visitors can either warm up and eat their packed lunch with a wonderful view or stay at Hotel Jested.

The rooms have views of the surroundings and the altitude makes it feel like sleeping over on an airplane. Of course, there’s a restaurant, but this spaceship-like hotel doesn’t boast a spa or the like.

Divan Cave Hotel – Göreme Turkiet

Sure, Göreme is geographically in the Asian part of Turkiye, but Divan Cave Hotel is so unique that we just had to include it in our list of 10 crazy, weird and different hotels in Europe.

Located in Göreme in Cappadocia, Divan Cave Hotel is known for its ancient caves, which are a UNESCOS World Heritage Site. Here, the hotel owner has excavated new caves and furnished a total of 30 rooms with marble floors, columns, Turkish rugs and four-poster beds, along with amenities such as flat-screen TVs, WiFi and whirlpool baths. The Divan Cave Hotel really has something special!

Hotel de Paris – Monaco

For those who are a fan of 1960s glamour, James Bond, fast cars and maximum luxury, Monte-Carlo/Monaco is the destination of choice in the world. And, the hotel of choice is the Hotel de Paris Monte Carlo. No other hotel in the world can convey the luxury and glamour of the past in the same way, and nowhere else is the elegance so complete.

Of course, Hotel de Paris still has its world-famous casino and can also offer modern spas and world-class gastronomic experiences.

Treehotel Sweden – Norrland, Sweden

You don’t have to go to the four corners of the world to find a really crazy and different hotel. There are such in Sweden. Treehotel Sweden is the collective name for a total of eight accommodations, all located high up in the pine trees of Harads in Norrland.

Mirrorcube, Bird’s Nest, The Cabin and The Ufo are some of the least spectacular buildings. Inside the walls are rooms decorated in typical Scandinavian style and simple bathrooms. But, how on earth do you get to Treehotel Sweden? It’s in the middle of nowhere, isn’t it? The nearest airport is Luleå and the nearest railway station is Boden. For the ultimate experience, book a helicopter flight from the airport to the hotel!

Inntel Hotels Zaandam – Amsterdam, Nederländerna

Some hotels are unique on the outside, some on the inside. When it comes to Inntel Hotels in Amsterdam, it’s mainly the former. This hotel is set in a building that looks like a cluster of traditional Dutch houses. The building boasts a cacophony of colours and windows in different shapes on different levels.

What about the inside? The 4-star Inntel Hotels Zaandam offers high-class rooms and suites, a spa facility and, of course, a restaurant and bar.

Blue Lagoon – Grindavik, Iceland

Iceland may have lost some of its popularity, but the incredible outdoor life and hot springs are of course still there. For an unforgettable experience of Iceland, there is no better option than the unique Blue Lagoon. The hotel takes its name from the blue lagoons heated by hot springs located right next to the hotel rooms.

The rooms are spacious and decorated in classic Scandinavian design. A gourmet breakfast is served every morning (perfect after morning yoga!) and afternoon tea provides much-needed energy for a dip in the hot springs or spa treatment. For dinner, there are no less than three restaurants to choose from.

Cabanes as trees – Girona, Spain

Just outside Girona in Catalonia, Spain, lies Cabanes als arbres. It’s Catalan for wooden house and that’s exactly what this hotel is all about. There are a total of 16 treehouses of various sizes in the canopy.

The treehouses are rather sparsely furnished, but luxury may not be a priority when booking a night at Cabanes als arbres.

Karosta Prison – Liepāja Lettland

It’s not uncommon to turn old prisons into hostels, for example, but Karosta Prison in Liepāja, Latvia, takes it a step further. Cramped cells, thick walls, bars on the windows, barbed wire fences, rickety beds (or just a mattress on a couple of planks), pictures of Lenin – the experience is complete.

The whole place is steeped in Soviet prison culture! Whether it’s good or bad depends, but Karosta Prison could definitely be on a list of 10 crazy, weird and unusual hotels in Europe.

Hotel Marques de Riscal – Elciego, Spanien

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There are hotels with a different design and then there are hotels with a design that is downright crazy. Hotel Marques de Riscal is an example of the latter. The exterior consists of different coloured metal bars that are twisted around each other. The architect behind the design is Frank Gehry, who also designed the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao.

So what’s inside? Hotel Marques de Riscal is a five-star hotel (and the price tag that goes with it!) with a total of 61 rooms, a spa, a Michelin-starred restaurant and endless opportunities to sample the wine culture of the area.

Wieliczka saltgruva – Polen

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Spend the night in a salt mine? It may sound like something out of a horror story! Just south of Kraków is a salt mine where you can not only get a tour of the magnificent site but also stay overnight.

One reason to visit the salt mine in Wieliczka is that it is apparently very beneficial to breathe the air down in the mine. Another reason to visit is, of course, that it’s really cool to spend a night more than 100 metres underground. Whether you manage to fall asleep or not is another matter!