16 prison Hotels

On the outskirts of Melbourne, HM Prison Pentridge used to host famed criminals of various guilts, from serial killing to planting fake bombs to raise awareness of the nuclear threat. Although Australia's incarceration rate is on a slight uptrend, some aging facilities need replacement. And when that happens, historic buildings …

This is the story of how Finland's former largest and most dangerous prison was turned into a boutique hotel. Kakola Prison was opened in 1863 to host notorious criminals behind the thick granite walls. The correctional facility was built on Turku's second highest point, the Kakolanmäki Hill.

The central prison of Lucerne was built in 1862 and operated until 1998. This historic building was recently repurposed, allowing you to stay in one of the 60 prison cell rooms. The hotel got its name after Barabas, a brave pacifist man who refused military service, and as a result, …

Het Arresthuis is located in the Dutch town of Roermond. Unlike in Rotterdam, the skyline here is still dominated by the towers of its two 13th-century churches: St. Christopher Cathedral and Roermond Minster or 'Munsterkerk' in Dutch. The old town is right at the bank of the Meuse river with …

Located inside an English Heritage building, this has to be one of the grandest-looking youth hostels ever. It was once a magistrate’s court and served sentences to London’s criminals for over 200 years. I’m sure some of the patriarchs of Australia even went through this courthouse. Anyway, today it is …

Fancy sleeping behind bars for a night? Ever wonder what it truly feels like to be an inmate? The SleepIn Fængslet (Fængslet = jail) in Denmark can finally put to rest your curiosities! Situated in a prison’s old, sick ward (the last inmate left in 2006), the building has been …

Originally built as a British prison in 1859, the Protea Breakwater Lodge has been fully restored to feature contemporary rooms with panoramic views of Table Mountain and the bay. Guests can enjoy the modern comfort and affordable accommodations while staying right next to Cape Town’s Waterfront V&A. Just beyond your …

In the bloodbath of medieval Europe, ruling families had a lot to lose. Their serfs were vulnerable to attack from all sides. So they designed their villages around a central ruling tower - like the Prendiparte Tower which stands at 12 stories tall. Ruling families would each have a floor …

The central location makes this hostel a perfect base for exploring Canada’s historic capital city and the nearby Great Lakes. The hostel is located in the converted Carleton County Gaol that used to house death-row inmates. Since opening to guests in 1972, there have been reports of ghosts and spooky …

You are enjoying Four Seasons luxury in a unique building in the historic district of Istanbul - what could be better? This converted prison was built by the Ottomans in 1918 and has housed many dissident writers over the years. It has even appeared in the literature of the famous …

You will be pleased to know your window does not have bars here. And you can check out whenever you like. When this unusual hotel was a prison, inmates would ask each other: ‘how long is your cake?’ ‘Cake’ was a term Finnish prisoners used to describe the length of …

They say crime doesn’t pay. Well, if prisons were like this, ‘they’ might have to eat their words. This 19th-century prison was renovated by modern architects and designers working with historians and conservationists to create a unique space guaranteed to impress. Before you arrive, Liberty’s ‘luggage liaison’ team will have …

The activities available to guests and groups at the Langholmen Hotel are all about pretending to be a prisoner and making your escape from the island. You will learn skills such as teamwork, climbing, and marksmanship. Has no one told the staff that Langholmen is no longer a prison? I …

‘And I sentence you to be taken from here to Oxford Castle Prison where you will be hung from the neck until dead’ - is what guests of the Oxford Castle Prison would have heard before arriving at this imposing building. You, however, are far more likely to hear the …

Unchanged since Tsarist Russia, for 100 years this prison served to brutalize those who fell foul of the Tsar and Communist Party. The place is said to be haunted. Perhaps you feel brave enough to take their tour. Just don’t blame your captors… I mean hosts when you see a …

This building was used as a prison from 1866-1995. Now it is one of the more unusual hostels in the world. Cells have been converted into comfortable rooms and the old prison doors remain as they were, save for a lick of paint and the removal of spy holes. There …