Hotels have come a long way since their humble beginnings as roadside inns in ancient Greece and Rome. Today, some hotels are taking things to a whole new level — quite literally — with buildings that soar hundreds of feet into the sky. If you like to wake up above the clouds, here are 10 of the tallest hotels in the world, each dedicated exclusively to accommodation. 

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10. Hotel Riu Plaza Guadalajara – Guadalajara, Mexico

Hotel height: 669 feet

Guadalajara’s tallest building, the five-star Hotel Riu Plaza Guadalajara, opened in 2011. Its contemporary design is marked by a sleek glass façade that reflects the changing colors of the sky. Inside are more than 550 guest rooms and suites over 44 floors — including the 1,300-square-foot presidential suite with a private terrace. The hotel also features six bars and restaurants, including the popular 360° Rooftop Bar with panoramic views of the city. Additional amenities include an outdoor freshwater swimming pool and a fitness center. 

9. Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center – Detroit, Michigan

Hotel height: 727 feet

Rising above the riverfront in downtown Detroit is the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center, the tallest building in Detroit and part of a seven-tower, mixed-use complex. When inaugurated in 1977, the 73-floor hotel was also the world’s tallest hotel. It has 1,298 guest rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city and Detroit River. There are three dining options and a fitness center, located on the 40th floor. Another striking aspect of the hotel is the eight-story atrium, featuring a glass roof and balconies. 

8. Swissôtel The Stamford – Singapore

Hotel height: 741 feet

Built in 1986, Swissôtel The Stamford was also once the world’s tallest hotel. Situated in the Downtown Core, the hotel, with its cylindrical tower, remains one of the most dominant features of the Singapore skyline.

This five-star accommodation offers 1,252 elegantly appointed rooms and suites, each with a private balcony, spread across 73 floors. The hotel features 15 bars and restaurants, including the Michelin-starred JAAN by Kirk Westaway, which serves refined European-British fare. Guests can enjoy sunset views from the Skai Bar, and there are two open-air pools and an award-winning spa.

7. 1717 Broadway – New York, New York

Hotel height: 753 feet

Perfectly positioned for adventures around Central Park and midtown Manhattan, 1717 Broadway is New York City’s tallest hotel. The building is actually home to two separate hotels: The Courtyard New Manhattan/Central Park occupies floors 6 to 33, while the Residence Inn New York Manhattan/Central Park occupies floors 37 to 65. Together, they have 639 guest rooms. Floors without hotel rooms are used for shared spaces such as a fitness center, cafe, and meeting facilities. 

6. Centara Grand at CentralWorld – Bangkok, Thailand

Hotel height: 771 feet

Centara Grand at CentralWorld is an upscale hotel located in one of Bangkok’s main shopping districts. Opened in 2008, it has 505 opulent rooms, each with city views and ranging in size from 344 to 4,413 square feet. Guests can visit the open-air restaurant and bar on the 55th floor and a Champagne bar on the 59th floor. The hotel is part of the same complex that includes CentralWorld, one of the world’s biggest shopping malls. It’s within walking distance of other retail hot spots such as Siam Paragon and MBK Center. 

5. Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay – Manama, Bahrain

Hotel height: 885 feet

An emblematic landmark of Bahrain’s capital city, the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay sits on its own private artificial island. The modernist building was designed by the team behind Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building. 

From street level, the hotel resembles a huge letter “H,” with the upper sections connected via a skybridge. There are 273 rooms and suites that mimic the style of a high-end ocean liner and have either city or Arabian Gulf views. Guests also receive access to luxurious amenities like a private beach, waterpark, and infinity pool. Among the dining experiences are two restaurants by celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck. 

4. Baiyoke Sky Hotel – Bangkok, Thailand

Hotel height: 1,014 feet

The 88-story Tower II at Baiyoke Sky Hotel is Bangkok’s tallest hotel. From 1997 to 2016, it also held the title of the city’s tallest building. Along with its sister hotel, Baiyoke Tower I, they were the first skyscrapers to rise in the open-air market district of Pratunam. 

The hotel features 658 rooms and suites, plus nine dining options, including a buffet restaurant designed in the style of a Thai floating market. Another standout feature is the Observation Point situated on the 77th floor, open to both guests and non-guests. More great views are on offer from the 84th-floor revolving deck and 85th-floor bar.  

3. Jumeirah Burj Al Arab – Dubai, UAE

Hotel height: 1,053 feet

Few sights on the Dubai seafront are as iconic as the sail-shaped Jumeirah Burj Al Arab. Marketed as the world’s first and only “seven-star hotel,” it stands on a private island with 202 suites that offer views of the city and Arabian Gulf. Each guest room occupies two floors, with even the smallest suite taking up an impressive 1,820 square feet. 

The opulence and extravagance extends to the hotel’s dining options, too. Ristorante L’Olivo at Al Mahara is an underwater Italian restaurant with tables surrounded by a floor-to-ceiling aquarium. In 2005, the hotel made headlines when Andre Agassi and Roger Federer played tennis on the rooftop helipad. 

2. JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai – Dubai, UAE

Hotel height: 1,165 feet

JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai is part of a luxurious twin-tower complex whose architecture is inspired by the date palm tree. The hotel showcases an expressionist style with distorted shapes, such as protruding balconies that mimic layered bark. Inside are 1,608 plush rooms and suites, each outfitted with a marble bathroom. 

Guests can enjoy 12 award-winning restaurants, bars, and lounges, along with a spa, massage center, and outdoor pool. The hotel’s convenient location places it near major city sights such as the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall. 

1. Gevora Hotel – Dubai, UAE

Hotel height: 1,169 feet

Completed in 2017, the Gevora Hotel is the tallest hotel in the world, as of 2025. It stands amid the many glistening skyscrapers that decorate Dubai’s financial district. The four-star hotel has 528 rooms spread over 75 floors; the highest room is a five-bedroom suite occupying 10,000 square feet. 

Complementing the high-end accommodations are three restaurants, including one of the highest eateries in the Middle East, the 74th-floor Highest View Lounge & Restaurant. The 12th-floor pool deck overlooks downtown Dubai, while a Guinness World Records plaque commemorating the building’s status as the world’s tallest hotel is displayed in the lobby. 

There’s nothing quite like diving into the calm waters of an infinity pool after a long day exploring a new destination. The only thing that makes it better? An epic view. From an infinity pool adjacent to a watering hole in the African savanna to a pool high above the jungle canopy of Bali, these six hotel pools are postcard-worthy destinations you truly have to see to believe.

Note: All featured products and deals are selected independently and objectively by the author. Daily Passport may receive a share of sales via affiliate links in content.

Marina Bay Sands – Singapore

Marina Bay Sands boasts the world’s largest rooftop infinity pool, which means guests (at least those who aren’t afraid of heights) can enjoy impressive views of the Singapore skyline while they splash. Located on the 57th floor of the hotel, the 478-foot-long pool is almost as long as three Olympic swimming pools and holds 376,000 gallons of water. That means there’s ample space to spread out and see the city’s modern skyline from various vantage points, while indulging in food and drinks available from the poolside bar.

Designed by famed architect Moshe Safdie in 2010, Marina Bay Sands — one of the world’s most expensive skyscrapers ever built — is made up of three separate towers. They are each connected by a 1,120-foot-long platform at the top which holds the iconic infinity pool.

Jumeirah Burj Al Arab – Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Jumeirah Burj Al Arab is arguably Dubai’s most iconic hotel, with a distinctive silhouette resembling a mainsail that towers 1,053 feet above the Persian Gulf. While the views from the opulent suites — each outfitted with touches such as Persian carpeting, gold fixtures, and jewel-toned linens — are undoubtedly spectacular, guests will find just as much extravagance at the Talise Spa pool. 

Located on the 18th floor, the indoor-outdoor pool offers glorious views of the Dubai skyline and boasts impressive gold-and-blue tilework and luxurious loungers. Bonus points if you book it all to yourself and get it filled with rose petals — an exclusive package available in February for a cool $4,900.

Castello di Reschio – Umbria, Italy

A thousand-year-old castle reimagined into a five-star hotel, Castello di Reschio is nestled in the rolling hills between Tuscany and Umbria. The hotel’s incredible outdoor pool reflects the property’s tall umbrella pines and stone ramparts, creating a fairy-tale-esque scene fit for nobility. On a warm day, guests can take a dip and lounge beneath the leaves while sipping freshly made juices or cocktails prepared at the on-site bar, Il Torrino. 

Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti – Tanzania

It’s not every day you get to watch a herd of elephants graze from your hotel room window. But at Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti, guests can do just that — and even witness wildlife (from a safe distance) when they’re swimming in the lodge’s serene infinity-edge pool. This five-star oasis in Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park is adjacent to an active watering hole, meaning you’ll also have the chance to spot lions, leopards, rhinos, giraffes, buffalo, and other predators and prey.

Enchantment Resort – Sedona, Arizona

Picturesque red sandstone formations provide a breathtaking backdrop for the azure oasis at the four-star Enchantment Resort in Sedona. We can’t think of any other pool quite like it, with its breezy cabanas surrounded by groves of pinyon and ponderosa pines and stunning mountain vistas. The resort is a popular destination for mountain biking, hiking, and other outdoor adventures, but the views from the water are too surreal to pass up. 

Hanging Gardens of Bali – Ubud, Bali

Sitting above the jungle canopy, two tiered cascading infinity pools appear to blend seamlessly with the landscape at the Hanging Gardens of Bali. The five-star resort in Ubud makes swimmers feel like they’re floating high above the rainforest. It’s a mesmerizing, unforgettable experience — which is perhaps why the hotel is continually ranked as one of the top sanctuaries on the island for romance, relaxation, and reflection in nature. 

Nature has long provided architects with inspiration. The design philosophy of biomimicry involves studying the natural world and utilizing various aspects, often to solve climate-related issues or push the boundaries of architectural practice. Architects also employ organic shapes and fluid lines to help embed a property into the surrounding landscape. Biophilic design goes one step further, taking natural elements and integrating them into structures in the form of rooftop gardens, living walls, and interior courtyards. Take a look at seven places where architecture and nature collide in very different ways.

Setas de Sevilla – Seville, Spain

The Setas de Sevilla were a striking addition to the city’s Plaza de la Encarnación when they were unveiled in 2011. The work of German architect Jürgen Mayer, the project is one of the largest wooden structures in the world, manufactured from more than 4,500 cubic yards of laminated Finnish pine. The design consists of six large parasols and an elevated walkway that doubles as a shady hangout — a boon in a city where summer temperatures regularly soar above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. 

The inspiration for Setas de Sevilla (formerly known as Metropol Parasol) came, in part, from the ficus trees that grew in another nearby square, Plaza del Cristo de Burgos. Yet, the residents of Seville instantly likened the structure to a patch of mushrooms, giving rise to its new name, Las Setas. 

House of Music – Budapest, Hungary

Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto’s unmistakable interpretation of nature in Budapest’s House of Music is a delightful example of biophilic design. The architect envisioned the 320-seat concert hall as a continuation of Budapest’s City Park. Rather than felling the trees that grew on the proposed site, he integrated them into his design, which itself is a nod to a forest canopy. 

Tree trunks pierce some of the 100 or so holes that have been cut into the building’s undulating roof. In addition, light filters through the roof in a way that’s similar to the dappled shade you’d find in a forest. Inside, more than 30,000 metal leaves cover the ceiling, part of which forms a remarkable canopy over an outdoor covered stage. 

Sydney Opera House – Sydney, Australia 

The unique curves of the Sydney Opera House’s sectional roof have made it an architectural icon. Danish architect Jørn Utzon took his inspiration from seashells and the fluid lines of the ocean to create Australia’s most famous landmark, overlooking Sydney’s harbor, but working out how to construct it proved complicated. 

According to the National Library of Australia, it was nature that helped to produce a solution. Utzon figured out he needed to build the opera house like a sphere as he peeled the segments of an orange, realizing that each segment of the roof could come from a single sphere. Now, each winter, the building’s white roof doubles as a high-profile blank canvas for art as part of the annual VIVID light and music festival — unsurprisingly, flora and fauna feature heavily in what’s projected. 

Tórshavn’s Sod-Roofed Buildings – Faroe Islands

Green roofs using low-maintenance succulents such as sedum have become increasingly trendy with architects looking to improve the sustainability credentials of new builds. They provide effective insulation and attract myriad insects and birds. 

But green roofs are nothing new: A lack of building materials and a need for protection from cold, windy, and damp winters have made them a common sight across the Arctic region. In places like the Faroe Islands, they date back to Viking times. Travel to this North Atlantic archipelago to see such sod and timber buildings in Tinganes, the historic center of its capital Tórshavn, where parliament has met for more than a thousand years.

Gardens by the Bay – Singapore

“Synergy” is the buzzword behind Singapore’s magnificent Gardens of the Bay, opened to the public in 2012. Today, a talented team of landscape designers, arborists, horticulturalists, plant researchers and breeders, engineers, and managers work in close cooperation to ensure the gardens remain in peak condition. 

Among the most striking features of the Gardens by the Bay are the 160-foot-tall Supertrees, which were constructed with sustainability in mind. Eleven of them have specific environmental functions, such as the photovoltaic cells on their canopies that create solar energy to light them after dark. 

Bosco Verticale – Milan, Italy

The concept of the Bosco Verticale (“Vertical Forest”) highlights the close bond between people and nature. The first example of its kind was constructed in Milan’s Porto Nuovo neighborhood and features two skyscrapers entirely clad in vegetation. In all, there are around 1,100 trees, 5,000 shrubs, and an additional 15,000 perennials and ground cover plants. 

Covering the structure in this way helps to regulate the building’s indoor microclimate, absorb carbon dioxide, and produce oxygen — not to mention, it looks great, too. A team of “Flying Gardeners” carries out pruning and thinning tasks to keep the greenery in tip-top shape. 

The Oculus – New York, New York

When Spanish architect and structural engineer Santiago Calatrava began to draw Oculus, he envisioned a white-winged dove taking flight. This extraordinary transit hub in Lower Manhattan, where the PATH train to New Jersey and 10 subway lines converge, is a glorious marriage of aesthetics and functionality. 

But the Oculus has also been influenced by the tragedy of the September 11 attacks, as evidenced by the slight variation of the building from New York’s customary grid pattern. To create the “Way of Light,” a 335-foot-long skylight has been aligned to ensure that, on the anniversary of 9/11, light hits the floor below at precisely 10:28 a.m., the time the North Tower fell. Nature’s message is clear: No matter what, the sun always rises on a new day.