10 Most unusual hotels in the world: volcano, ice, caves and giraffes

Have you ever slept inside a volcano? Such hotels exist. We've gathered ten unusual places in Chile, Kenya, Sweden, the USA, Germany, the UK, and Spain.

A night in a treehouse or an ice bedroom costs more than a regular hotel. But you come back from the trip with a story, not just photos of your room. Below you'll find what makes each hotel different from the others on the list and where animals will be close to you.

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How we chose these hotels

💡 In short:

• All ten hotels are unusual in form or location: a volcano, ice, trees, a dog, a prison, train cars, caves.
• Not all of them accept pets, so check the conditions and any extra fees when booking.
• Some hotels are far from cities, so you'll need a transfer or a car.
• Prices and stay conditions: as of 09/2026, verified on the hotels' official websites.

There are no random places on this list. We selected hotels that the owners themselves describe in detail, and we checked the facts against the official websites.

1. Montaña mágica lodge in Chile

The first hotel looks like an active volcano in the middle of a forest. Montaña Mágica Lodge is located in the Huilo Huilo Biosphere Reserve in southern Chile, in the commune of Panguipulli. The building was constructed in the shape of a mountain, and a real waterfall cascades from its peak. To get inside, you walk across a suspension bridge.

© Maritza Figueroa Saavedra · CC BY-SAPhoto: Maritza Figueroa Saavedra, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

Inside, you'll find wooden interiors, a spa, a pool, and a restaurant. Some rooms face the real Mocho-Choshuenco volcano, and a waterfall rushes through the grounds. Getting here is difficult, since the reserve lies far from major cities.

Cost and seasonality depend on the date and room category. We checked the stay conditions on 09/15/2026 on the official Huilo Huilo website.

• Location: Huilo Huilo Biosphere Reserve, Panguipulli commune, Chile.
• Price: above the regional average, check the official website for the exact amount.
• Who it's for: couples and nature lovers willing to make the long journey.
• Not for: those who dislike suspension bridges and remote places.
• The catch: the only entrance is across a bridge, and the nearest towns are far away.
• Booking: Montaña Mágica Lodge prices on Trip.com

2. Giraffe Manor in Nairobi

The second hotel is notable not for its interiors, but for its neighbors. At Giraffe Manor, giraffes come to the table during breakfast. The hotel is located in the Langata area of Nairobi, in a wooded sanctuary that is home to Rothschild's giraffes. The colonial-style building was constructed back in the 1930s, and today it's a small boutique hotel (as of 09/2026, official website).

© Push the button · CC BY-SAPhoto: Push the button, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), Wikimedia Commons

You can feed the giraffes from the terrace, and sometimes they peek right through the windows. The rooms are decorated in colonial style, and the grounds are lush with greenery. There are few rooms, so it's worth booking in advance.

• Location: Langata area, Nairobi, Kenya.
• Price: premium segment, check the official website for the exact amount.
• Who it's for: travelers who want to see giraffes without a long safari.
• Not for: those expecting a bush safari: the hotel is within Nairobi city limits.
• The catch: the hotel is small, so available dates are scarce.
• Booking: available dates at Giraffe Manor on Trip.com

3. Icehotel in Swedish Lapland

The third hotel was built from water and cold. Icehotel operates on the banks of the Torne River in Jukkasjärvi and is considered the world's first ice hotel. It opened in 1989, and every winter the building is rebuilt from scratch (as of 09/2026, official website).

© Lars Thulin · CC BY-SAPhoto: Lars Thulin, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

The rooms are carved out of ice along with the beds. At night you get a sleeping bag and furs, and in the morning you go warm up in the sauna. The temperature inside stays around minus 5 degrees, so warm clothing is essential (as of 09/2026, Icehotel).

In spring the ice section melts, and every winter artists create new sculptures. The warm rooms operate year-round, so you are not required to sleep in the cold.

• Location: Jukkasjarvi, northern Sweden, on the banks of the Torne River.
• Price: high-end, cost depends on the season and room type.
• Who it's for: those who want one unusual night and are ready for the cold.
• Not for: those who dislike the cold and winter trips to the north.
• The catch: in the ice room you'll sleep in a sleeping bag, and the shower and sauna are in the warm building.
• Booking: Icehotel rooms on Trip.com

4. Treehotel in the forests of Harads

The fourth hotel is tucked among the pines near the Arctic Circle. Treehotel's cabins hang from trees near the village of Harads in Swedish Lapland. Each room was designed by a different architect: there's the Mirrorcube, the Bird's Nest, and the 7th Room (as of 09/2026, official website).

© steffen l · CC BYPhoto: steffen l, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), Wikimedia Commons

Inside the cabins there's a large bed, toilet, and sink, while the shower is in a separate building. The chefs prepare dishes from local game, and on request they set up dinner in the tree. The rooms are compact, but the windows look straight into the forest.

• Location: Harads, Swedish Lapland.
• Price: high-end, depends on the specific cabin.
• Who it's for: couples and photographers who care about the view from the window.
• Not for: those who need a spacious room and a shower in the room.
• The catch: the shower is in a neighboring building, and in the evening you'll have to go outside.
• Booking: Treehotel cabins on Trip.com

5. Library hotel in New York

The fifth hotel is made for those who love reading in bed. Library Hotel occupies a building in the center of Manhattan. Each floor here is dedicated to a section of the Dewey Decimal Classification, and the rooms have curated book collections. The interiors resemble a traditional American library: wood, warm light, floor-to-ceiling shelves.

© Giorgio Galeotti · CC BYPhoto: Giorgio Galeotti, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), Wikimedia Commons

The location is convenient: you can walk to Grand Central Terminal in a couple of minutes, and Times Square is within walking distance. In the evening, the bar hosts a wine hour where books are discussed no less than travel routes.

• Location: central Manhattan, near Grand Central Terminal.
• Price: mid-range and high-end by New York standards.
• Who it's for: readers and those who want to be in the heart of the city.
• Not for: those looking for a quiet, green neighborhood.
• The catch: the surrounding streets are noisy, as in any major city center.
• Booking: available rooms at the Library Hotel on Trip.com

6. Dog bark park inn in Idaho

You'll recognize the sixth hotel at first glance, because it's built in the shape of a dog. The Dog Bark Park Inn depicts a beagle and stands on the outskirts of Cottonwood, Idaho. The house was built by a married couple (as of 09/2026, official website).

© Alan Levine from Strawberry, United States · CC BYPhoto: Alan Levine from Strawberry, United States, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), Wikimedia Commons

There's no designer luxury inside, but the rooms feel warm and homey. If you're driving along the highway and want an unusual stop, this is the place.

• Location: Cottonwood, Idaho, USA.
• Price: moderate for the US, depends on the season.
• Who it's for: families and anyone who loves unusual roadside hotels.
• Not for: those looking for a spa, a restaurant, and a wide choice of rooms.
• The catch: there are few rooms, so dates get booked up quickly.
• Booking: prices at the Dog Bark Park Inn on Trip.com

7. Mövenpick hotel Hamburg in Hamburg

The seventh hotel could pass for an ordinary city hotel if not for the tower. Mövenpick Hotel Hamburg occupies an old water tower in Hamburg (as of 09/2026, official website).

© Raimond Spekking · CC BY-SAPhoto: Raimond Spekking, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

The round building was converted into a hotel while preserving the brick walls. The rooms are furnished with wooden furniture and modern appliances, and the terrace restaurant overlooks a park. It's a convenient place to stay with a dog and go exploring the city.

• Location: Hamburg, a park with a water tower.
• Price: mid-range for a major German city.
• Who it's for: travelers with dogs and fans of unusual architecture.
• Not for: those who want a sea view or the historic center right outside their window.
• The catch: it's more of a city hotel in an unusual building than an attraction.
• Booking: rates at Mövenpick Hamburg on Trip.com

8. Malmaison Oxford in a former prison

The eighth hotel was once a prison. Malmaison Oxford occupies a Victorian prison building in the historic center of Oxford. Today it's a boutique hotel near the castle and the city's main streets.

The rooms were set up in the former prison block, so there's plenty of history here. You can walk around Oxford on foot, no car needed.

• Location: historic center of Oxford, UK.
• Price: mid-range and upscale for the city.
• Who it's for: those who value a central location and the building's unusual history.
• Not for: those who want a large spa complex.
• The catch: some rooms are compact, since they were once cells.
• Booking: available dates at Malmaison Oxford on Trip.com

9. Railholiday in railway carriages

The ninth option suits those who love trains. Railholiday offers stays in restored railway carriages in Cornwall. There are four carriages, each with a kitchen, bedrooms, and a bathroom (as of 09/2026, official website).

© LizzyLister · CC BY-SAPhoto: LizzyLister, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

The amenities are modern, but the period details have been preserved. This kind of home is convenient for a family: you cook for yourself and don't depend on hotel schedules.

• Location: Cornwall, UK.
• Price: moderate, especially for a family trip.
• Who it's for: families and railway enthusiasts.
• Not for: those who want breakfast in a restaurant and daily housekeeping.
• The catch: it's self-catering, not a classic hotel.
• Booking: available Railholiday carriages on Trip.com

10. Cuevas Pedro Antonio de Alarcón in Guadix

The tenth hotel hides underground. Cuevas Pedro Antonio de Alarcón is located about three kilometers from Guadix in Andalusia (as of 09/2026, official website). The rooms are set up in real caves where people lived for centuries. Each cave has a fireplace, a mini kitchen with a stove, and a bathroom, and the windows open onto views of the mountains and the town.

• Location: near Guadix, province of Granada, Spain.
• Price: one of the most affordable options on this list.
• Who it's for: couples and families who want privacy and a view of the Sierra Nevada.
• Not for: those who need a heated pool and a restaurant.
• The catch: you have to drive to the center of Guadix, and there is little infrastructure nearby.
• Booking: Cuevas Guadix prices on Trip.com

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

Which animals are allowed in the hotels on the list?

Formally, each hotel sets its own rules, not the country. Small dogs are more often accepted on request and with an extra charge, cats less often. At Railholiday and Cuevas Pedro Antonio de Alarcón you stay in a separate house, so animals are easier there. Check the exact conditions when booking on the hotel's official website.

Where can you have breakfast with giraffes?

At Giraffe Manor in Nairobi. The hotel is in the Langata area, and Rothschild's giraffes from the neighboring forest reserve come up to the terrace. The animals come for breakfast and evening tea, they do not live in the rooms. The hotel is small, so available dates appear several months in advance.

How much does a night in an unusual hotel cost?

The range is wide. Cave houses in Guadix and train carriages in Cornwall are cheaper, ice rooms in Jukkasjärvi and treehouses are more expensive, and Giraffe Manor is in the premium segment. The amount depends on the season and room type, so check it on the hotels' official websites.

When is the best time to go to Icehotel?

The ice part of the hotel operates in winter, until the building melts in spring. Warm rooms are available year-round. If you want to sleep on an ice bed, plan your trip for the winter months and bring warm clothes: the temperature inside stays below freezing.

Can you go to these hotels with a child?

Yes, but with caveats. Treehotel's treehouses and Railholiday's carriages are convenient for families because you have separate accommodation. At Icehotel, families with children usually book warm rooms, as the ice bedrooms are cold. Check the children's accommodation conditions on the hotels' official websites.

In short: what to book

The choice depends on what you are after. If you want nature and experiences, go for Montaña Mágica Lodge or Treehotel. If you want to sleep in an ice bedroom, plan for winter at Icehotel. With a dog, Railholiday and Cuevas Pedro Antonio de Alarcón are the most convenient, where you have a separate house. For premium and giraffes, head to Giraffe Manor, and for architecture and the city, to Mövenpick Hotel Hamburg and Library Hotel.

Compare dates and prices on Trip.com and book the hotel that suits you best.