583 Unique Hotels in West Europe

Created in the 1960s as a vision of future living, these quirky concrete cottages are certainly unusual. The buildings are examples of the “concrete veil” style of architecture that sought to create cheap, functional, and aesthetic houses. The idea was to build a future utopian society. Today the area is …

Brighton is one of Britain’s coolest towns where a combination of wealth, music, and fringe culture merges to create a colorful melee. The Art Hotel is at the center of all that. Whether you want to hang out with the vegans, dance with the gays, or nod with the Hip …

Self-catering holidays in England. Not the most attractive proposition is it? You’re probably thinking of rainy campsites and the horrors to be endured in the communal shower block. But there are some amazing experiences to be had if you know where to look. Take, for example, “Quirky Holidays” in Cornwall, …

At first glance, it looks like this hotel is a victim of flooding – half submerged in Lake Mälaren. The foundations, driven into the lake bed, have been made to look as if they are the ground floor of a house, creating a cunning illusion. You are delivered to this …

I really want to stay here. I mean, who wouldn’t want to spend the night in a house that is full of a huge inflatable fatman? I’m staying here invites a sensation that hits the sweet spot somewhere between amusement and confusion. When you stay at The Proposal you can …

Where in the world would a nightclub and hotel merge to create a hotel-club hybrid with an open-air dance floor, pool, and music stage? Ibiza of course. Feel like a king or queen of the night as you view the party from your own private balcony. The hotel is right …

This grand building was built in 1886 as a women’s hospital. It was administered by a charity that cared for the poor and vulnerable women in society because there was no welfare state in those days. During the Second World War, the property was occupied and later used to house …

Stay in a circus trailer from the early 20th Century. Once used to house circus performers, this traditional circus trailer has been restored and renovated so you can stay in these unusual quarters. The hotel travels with the famous Raluy Circus all over the world so make sure you check …

Built in the 19th Century to stop Napoleon invading England, La Crete Fort still ended up with a French name - which is sort of ironic if you think about it. When the Nazis captured Jersey in World War 2 they naturally used the large fortification for their own military …

Which was the coolest iron-age tribe? The Vikings, of course. Their horned helmets, love of pillage, and super-fast longboats made them a fearsome force to be reckoned with in early Europe. Every summer, in a typically unpronounceable Icelandic town, Viking culture comes alive in the Viking Festival in Hafnarfjordur.

This is a hotel in a historic church located in the art heart of Northern Europe, Mechelen where there are loads of amazing buildings, paintings, and sculptures. Many were created in the sixteenth-century renaissance. So when you’re done craning your neck and making impressed noises at the mountainous cathedrals, why …

Commissioned by a leading company, Living Architecture, this house was designed to reflect the traditional architecture of the area by locating each bedroom within its own gable. A feature picked up by top Norwegian architects, JVA. The roof is made from a reflective alloy to capture the seasons as they …

Run by the Rosminian Order of the Catholic Church, the Glencomeragh Hermitages are part of a wider complex that includes a lovely country house converted for use by those seeking a spiritual retreat. The hermitages are functional, modern constructions set on stilts on the lush Irish hillside.

Guaranteed to confuse any alcoholic, in this hotel you are supposed to sleep in the wine barrels. The hotel is located in the harbor town of Stavoren which is one of the oldest towns in the Netherlands. It used to be a wealthy seaport where legend has it, a proud …

Built by maverick architects MVRDV this barn is a fine example of contemporary architecture. The balancing of the barn has half its mass hanging over a hillside. This adds an element of drama to the building, a sense of impending doom perhaps? Or is it more a thrilling sensation of …

Virgin Magnate Richard Branson has recently added a luxury catamaran to his collection of unique hotels. Necker Belle specializes in Whale watching, and every year it follows thousands of whales as they meet at Silver Bank in the Caribbean for the annual mating. During this time, the Whales come to …

To get to your room you will need to climb 13 meters up a rope ladder. It is located high in the boughs of a magnificent Oak tree which is 130 years old. From your private balcony, you will command spectacular views of a public park and Lake Mälaren. Room …

The Hi Hotel is a contemporary hotel and spa located 200 meters from the Mediterranean in Southern France. Designed by France’s best young designer, it is a contemporary space that focuses on well-being and eco-philosophy. You can be sure that everything in the hotel is responsibly sourced, the waste is …

Fascinating stuff, this hotel. It was built in 1728 and could well be the smallest hotel in the world. The story goes like this: back in the olden days in Germany, couples who wanted to marry had to own property. So some enterprising local put down his frothy beer and …

If you were a French Celt living in the 2nd Century AD under threat from the Romans you would want to in Les Baux-de-Provence. Set high in the Alpilles mountains on a rocky outcrop with a view of the surrounding plateau, the location has been inhabited for thousands of years. …