The World’s Top 7 Underwater Hotels
Originally, the term “hotel” referred to large-scale lodging facilities. Today, however, hotels offer far more than just a place to sleep, providing diverse services like dining, spas, swimming, and cultural experiences. This has led to the emergence of unique hotels around the world. Some repurpose prisons, banks, or mining sites, while others offer breathtaking views or one-of-a-kind experiences. Today, we’ll explore seven of the world’s top underwater hotels. Which country has the most expensive one, and which would you most want to visit? Let’s find out.
1. InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland, China
Located about 18.6 miles (30 km) from downtown Shanghai, this hotel was designed by Atkins, the British firm behind Dubai’s Burj Al Arab. Not only can guests swim in their rooms, but they can also observe a variety of marine life swimming in the underwater environment. The suite, in particular, spans two underground floors and features an aquarium in the living room. The hotel also offers activities like rock climbing, kayaking, and bungee jumping. The cost starts at approximately $15,000 per night.
2. Atlantis The Palm, Dubai
When discussing the world’s best, Dubai is impossible to overlook. Atlantis The Palm, one of the top underwater hotels, is located on Dubai’s palm-tree-shaped artificial island. Its massive scale offers luxurious dining, a water park, the world’s largest fountain show, and water sports. The hotel’s Signature Suite includes an aquarium showcasing 65,000 marine animals, including rays and sharks. Such a unique experience comes with a steep price, starting at $7,000 per night.
3. Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, The Muraka, Maldives
Situated on Rangali Island, the Conrad Maldives Resort offers a variety of rooms and services as an underwater hotel. Its premier residence, The Muraka, is an independent room submerged about 16 feet (4.8 m) underwater. Unlike the previous two hotels, half of the room is designed with a transparent acrylic dome, allowing guests to view freely swimming fish from all angles. The Muraka also features two bedrooms, an ocean-facing bathtub, an outdoor deck, and a personal jet ski. The cost is approximately $50,000 per night, equivalent to about 55 million KRW.
4. Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore
Resorts World Sentosa, located on Singapore’s southern Sentosa Island, is an underwater hotel with a massive aquarium housing about 40,000 fish. It boasts 11 two-story suites with aquarium views, where guests can observe marine life like manta rays and clownfish. Compared to other hotels, it’s relatively affordable, with rates starting at $1,750 per night.
5. Utter Inn, Västerås, Sweden
The Utter Inn, floating on Lake Mälaren in Västerås, Sweden, is a unique type of underwater hotel. From a distance, it resembles a fishing boat more than a hotel. It has only two rooms: one with a living area and bathroom, and another—a bedroom and underwater room—located 10 feet (3 m) below the surface. Its small scale and lake setting make it the most budget-friendly option, with rates starting at $257 per night.
6. The Manta Resort, Pemba Island, Tanzania
Located on Tanzania’s Pemba Island, The Manta Resort is considered ideal for honeymoons. Its three-story underwater room is submerged in the ocean, offering views of Tanzania’s stunning underwater world, including turtles, various marine life, and coral reefs. At night, lights on the hotel’s exterior illuminate the surrounding sea, creating a beautiful nighttime view. Rates start at $1,840 per night.
7. Jules’ Undersea Lodge, Florida, United States
The final underwater hotel is Jules’ Undersea Lodge in Florida, the only one of its kind in the U.S. and popular among celebrities. Uniquely, guests must dive into the ocean to reach the room, which is submerged about 20 feet (6 m) underwater. The hotel offers scuba training and opportunities to hone related skills. Rates start at $800 per night.
Among the underwater hotels introduced, those with rooms truly submerged on the ocean floor are The Muraka in the Maldives, Utter Inn in Sweden, The Manta Resort in Tanzania, and Jules’ Undersea Lodge in the U.S. The others likely feature large aquariums within the rooms. In other words, the larger, more polished hotels tend to have aquariums, while those with a natural, eco-friendly aesthetic are actually underwater. I was surprised by how expensive these stays are. If I had the chance, I’d love to visit The Muraka in the Maldives. Will that opportunity ever come…?