These unforgettable, bucket list hotels in Europe are just what we all need. These are the places that we dream about, they are the places to book when life calls for something extraordinary. I’m about to dig into some of the best, want to join me?
I love a good bucket list hotel and the ones I have chosen are the kind of places that make your heart skip when you see them online. They are the ones we save for ‘sometime in the future’.
From castle hotels in Ireland to cliffside infinity pools in Santorini, snowy glass igloos in Finland to fairytale châteaux in France, these are the kinds of places you never forget.
I’ve pulled together a mix of some of the most iconic hotels in Europe, with a few under-the-radar gems you might not have heard of yet. Some are wildly luxurious, others totally unique, but all offer that once-in-a-lifetime feeling we crave when we travel.
So are you ready to dig into some of the most epic hotels in Europe to add to your bucket list right now. Grad a drink, and let’s dive in.
You also might like to take a look at Europe By Train: 10 Incredible Rail Itineraries For Your First Trip To Europe
Bucket List Hotels in Europe: 15 Epic Stays Worth Dreaming About
Ashford Castle, County Mayo, Ireland
If you’ve ever dreamed of living like royalty, here is your chance. Ashford Castle is a 800-year-old fortress turned five-star hotel. It is the very definition of a bucket list hotel in Europe.
The hotel is tucked away in the wild beautiful area of western Ireland and is all stone turrets, ivy and swans. Inside you will find antique-filled rooms, chandeliers, roaring fireplaces, and a full-blown falconry school.
Ashford Castle is the kind of place that demands you slow down and sip your tea properly. It feels like you’ve time-travelled into an aristocratic fairytale or erhas a TV drama. This one is high on my wish list.
Take a look at the amazing Ashford Castle
The Chedi Andermatt, Andermatt, Switzerland
Imagine waking up in a sleek, wood-paneled suite with snowy alpine peaks outside your window. That’s everyday life at The Chedi Andermatt, and it’s truly breathtaking.
This sleek hotel sits in an incredible location in a quiet area in Andermatt amid the beautiful nature of the Swiss Alps. This is one of those incredible European hotels where design and location mels beautifully.
There’s a moody candlelit spa, a fireplace in nearly every room, and Michelin-starred food that’s as pretty as the views. Whether you’re into skiing or spa days, it’s the perfect mix of indulgence and pratcality.
And you shoudl see it in the snow, breathtaking.
Book The Chedi Andermatt on Booking.com
Mystique, a Luxury Collection Hotel , Santorini, Greece
It’s hard to make a list of Europe dream hotels without including a Santorini cliffside stunner. Mystique is carved into the Caldera’s cliff in Oia and honestly I’m speecless.
It a series of connected suites with paths, pools are views everywhere you look. Every suite is a little different all offerign something unique.
Think cave-style rooms with infinity plunge pools, whitewashed everything, and champagne breakfasts served with a side of jaw-dropping views. It’s romantic, peaceful, and somehow still feels intimate despite the Instagram hype.
One of the best hotels in Europe for a special occasion. I think you will find this place hard to beat.
Take a look at Mystique on Booking.com
Icehotel, Jukkasjärvi, Sweden
If “sleeping in a room made entirely of ice” is somehow still not on your bucket list, allow me to fix that. Icehotel in Swedish Lapland is rebuilt every winter from snow and ice blocks harvested from the nearby river. Each suite is a hand-carved masterpiece designed by artists from around the world. It’s on most people’s bucketlist, mine included.
You’ll sleep on a bed of ice, wrapped in thermal sleeping bags and reindeer hides, and wake up to hot lingonberry juice.
There’s also a year-round ice hotel with climate control if you want the vibe without sleeping on ice. Easily one of the most unique hotels in Europe, and absolutely a once in a lifetime hotel experience.
Château de la Chèvre d’Or, Èze, France
High on a hilltop above the French Riviera, this luxury bucket list hotel in Europe feels like it belongs in a fantasy novel. Château de la Chèvre d’Or is part-castle, part-boutique hideaway, nestled within the medieval village of Èze.
I can’t even begin to decribe how wonderful the suites are here you must look at the pictures. The bathrooms are perhpas some of the most impressive I have ever seen.
The views stretch from your private terrace all the way to Monaco. Gardens spill down the hillside. There’s a Michelin-starred restaurant. Oh, and you can literally walk out your suite door into cobblestone alleyways filled with perfumeries and crêperies. I mean… come on, who doesnt wnat to visit.
Take a look at Château de la Chèvre d’Or it’s amazing.
Treehotel, Harads, Sweden
Welcome to childhood dreams only upgraded for adults. Treehotel in Swedish Lapland lets you sleep in a Mirrorcube, a UFO, or even a Bird’s Nest, all suspended high in the pine trees. Each room is a feat of design, offering both whimsy and sustainability.
This is a hotel with an array of treehouses to stay the like of which most you will have never seen. The only problem you are going to have is which one to choose.
You’re deep in the forest, off the beaten path, but still wrapped in Scandi-cool comfort. Whether it’s the midnight sun or the northern lights overhead, this is one of the most unforgettable hotel experiences Europe has to offer.
Which Treehotel would you stay in?
Hotel Sacher, Vienna, Austria
If you want old-school glamour with a side of chic, Hotel Sacher is your place. Right across from the Vienna State Opera, this is where dignitaries, celebrities, and curious culture-lovers come to soak up the atmosphere.
You’ll stay in rooms lined with silk wallpaper and antique furniture, and of course, indulge in the famous Sachertorte. It’s not flashy,just timeless and oh so decanad and beautiful. A top pick among iconic hotels in Europe.
The Retreat at Blue Lagoon, Iceland
Tucked beside Iceland’s famous milky-blue geothermal lagoon, the Retreat at Blue Lagoon is otherworldly in the best way. This isn’t your average spa hotel, it’s a full-on wellness sanctuary carved into volcanic rock, with private lagoon access and suites that are a modern minimilist dream.
There’s an underground spa (yes, really), in-water massages, and restaurant menus inspired by Icelandic nature. This place is just simply stnning in all kinds of ways.
For a once-in-a-lifetime hotel stay that blends wild landscapes with serene luxury, this one’s hard to top.
Book The Retreat at Blue Lagoon
Pousada de Óbidos, Castelo de Óbidos, Portugal
Want to actually stay inside a medieval castle? At Pousada de Óbidos, you can. This restored 12th-century fortress is set within the walls of the charming town of Óbidos, Portugal, and offers stone-clad rooms, ancient turrets, and sweeping valley views.
It’s one of the most atmospheric castle hotels in Europe, perfect for couples, history lovers, and anyone who wants to feel like royalty for a night or two. Plus, you’re surrounded by cobbled streets and local wine bars. Win-win.
Take a look at the stnning Pousada de Óbidos
Cap Rocat – Mallorca, Spain
Set inside a restored 19th-century military fortress, Cap Rocat is the kind of place you tell people about for years after they have visited. Hidden along Mallorca’s southern coast, this adults-only escape features jaw-dropping architecture, cliffside dining, and private terraces carved into the rock.
There is something some calming about this place, it’s hard to describe, you must see the pictures. If quiet luxury was a hotel it would be this.
You’ll swim in saltwater pools overlooking the Med, enjoy candlelit dinners under the stars, and bask in the silence. Easily one of the most luxury bucket list hotels in Europe.
Take a look at the Cap Rocat it is simply beautiful.
Ikos Olivia, Halkidiki, Greece
All-inclusives don’t often make “epic hotel” lists but Ikos Olivia is different. This beachfront resort in northern Greece has the polish of a 5-star hotel and the ease of an all-inclusive. Gourmet à la carte dining, white-sand beaches, infinity pools, and even Tesla rentals are all included.
It’s family-friendly and romantic, polished but relaxed and a great pick if you want that bucket list hotel feel without the eye-watering price tag. One of the best places to stay in Europe when you want luxury made easy.
Book Ikos Olivia on Booking.com
Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort, Saariselkä, Finland
Ever dreamt of watching the northern lights from bed? At Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort, you can. This iconic Lapland resort is known for its glass igloos. These thermal domes as well as being very cool give a front-row seat to the Arctic sky.
In winter, it’s a snowy wonderland with husky safaris and snowmobiles. In autumn, it’s aurora season. It’s one of the most unforgettable hotel experiences Europe has to offer.
Take a look at the amazing Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort
The Floating Hotel, OFF Paris Seine, France
Floating on the Seine with views of Notre-Dame? Yes, please. The Off Paris Seine is a floating hotel moored in the heart of the city. It’s sleek, stylish, and surprisingly large, with a plunge pool, riverside terrace, and porthole views from your room.
All the rooms are amazing but I’m rather fond of the all orange sunset suite. It’s giving Wes Anderson in all the best ways.
It’s the perfect combo of city buzz and gentle escape. It is ideal for design lovers, couples, and anyone who wants to say, “I slept on a boat in Paris.” A lesser-known gem among unique hotels in Europe.
Book Off Paris Seine you won’t regret it!
Hotel Marqués de Riscal,Elciego, Spain
Designed by Frank Gehry, this hotel looks like something from the future. It sits in the heart of Spain’s La Rioja wine region and is a real justaposition to the surroundings which I love. Hotel Marqués de Riscal is a bold, titanium-ribboned landmark set among vineyards, offering Michelin-starred dining, a Caudalie spa, and daily wine tastings.
The contrast of ultramodern architecture and rolling countryside makes it one of the most epic hotels in Europe. It’s especially for wine lovers and design fans.
Sextantio Le Grotte della Civita, Matera, Italy
If you’ve ever dreamed of sleeping inside a cave, but with soft linens, a candlelit bathtub, and jaw-dropping views this is your place.
Set in the ancient cave dwellings of Matera’s Sassi district, Sextantio Le Grotte della Civita offers a hotel experience that’s raw, romantic, and completely unlike anything else in Italy.
Each room is carved from stone and minimally furnished to honour the simplicity of its origins, but it’s far from basic: think underfloor heating, soft lighting, and restored antique pieces that whisper of centuries past.
I’m in love with this place it’s so interesting and unique. It’s on my bucket list and it should be on yours.
Check out Sextantio Le Grotte della Civita
Tips for Booking Bucket List Hotels in Europe
Dream stays deserve dream planning, and a few smart tips can make all the difference when you’re going all-in on a bucket list hotel in Europe:
Book early, especially for iconic spots
Hotels like Ashford Castle, Mystique, and the Icehotel book out months (sometimes a year!) in advance especially in high season. If your heart is set on a certain place, plan ahead.
Shoulder season = luxury without the crowds
Traveling in May/June or September/October often means better rates, fewer people, and more availability without compromising on the experience.
Check what’s actually included
Some high-end hotels include breakfast, transfers, or spa access but some don’t. Always check the fine print, especially with luxury or once-in-a-lifetime hotels in Europe.
Match your pick to your moment
Are you celebrating something? Escaping everything? Looking for romance, adventure, or stillness? There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to Europe dream hotels so pick somewhere dending on the kind of expereince you want.
The truth is, we don’t always remember every hotel. But we do remember the one where we watched the northern lights from bed, or swam in a cliffside pool in Greece, or slept in a cave
These bucket list hotels in Europe aren’t just epic hotels in Europe they are an expereince you will never forget. Have you room in your suitcase for me?
If you need some more inspiration here are 30 Best Things To Do In Europe that are on my bucket list. And if you are looking further afield here are Once-In-A-Lifetime Travel Destinations For Your Bucket List
15 Best Luxury Hotels in Greece for the Ultimate Stylish Getaway