Spending time by water all but guarantees a relaxing break. Whether you're being buffeted by wind on a bracing seaside walk or watching waves ripple on a tranquil lake, there's something inherently calming about blue expanses. If you want to go one step further and leave dry land behind (at least temporarily) here are five floating hotels located in some of the world's most beautiful destinations.
Taj Lake Palace, India
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Manta Resort, Tanzania
Located off the east coast of Tanzania on Pemba Island, this resort boasts many "eye-popping details", said CNN, "but none more breathtaking than its underwater room". Seven years in the making, the Swedish-engineered watertight chamber floats around 250 metres offshore. Guests can lie in bed watching local marine life glide by; expect to see everything from octopus to colourful sea slugs and tropical fish.
King Pacific Lodge, Canada
If you're keen to "really go off the grid", said Chelsea Bengier in Architectural Digest, it's worth making the somewhat tricky journey to King Pacific Lodge. Situated in the Great Bear Rainforest on a secluded archipelago in British Columbia, it means a 90-minute flight from Vancouver to Bella Bella before boarding a chartered boat, seaplane or helicopter. Overlooking Milbanke Sound, the "massive floating adventure lodge" is the perfect base for exploring; from hiking to fly-in fishing there is plenty to do nearby.
Fingal, Scotland
Permanently berthed on Edinburgh's waterfront, this 237-foot floating hotel is the former royal yacht of Queen Elizabeth II. Following a hefty £5 million renovation, it opened to guests in January 2019. There are just 23 "posh cabins" on board, said Architectural Digest, each with a sleek, art deco feel: expect dark wooden panelling, brass accents and soft lambswool throws. The hotel is also home to an elegant cocktail bar and restaurant on the top deck.
Off Paris Seine, France
Despite being moored on the Left Bank just a stone's throw from Austerlitz station, "once you board this floating sanctuary, you'll feel far removed from central Paris", said Condé Nast Traveller. Parisian nautical architect Gerard Ronzatti designed the purpose-built barge which spans an impressive 263 feet, evoking an "oversized catamaran wrapped in glass and steel". Rooms are "sophisticated" and stylish: "this isn't your parents' cruise ship". On sunny afternoons head to the plunge pool on the upper deck for cocktails, tapas and "selfies on inflatable gold swans".
-
How the War Department became the Department of Defense – and back againIn Depth In 1947 President Harry Truman restructured the US military establishment, breaking with naming tradition
-
Sudoku hard: December 8, 2025The daily hard sudoku puzzle from The Week
-
Codeword: December 8, 2025The daily codeword puzzle from The Week
-
A postapocalyptic trip to Sin City, a peek inside Taylor Swift’s ‘Eras’ tour, and an explicit hockey romance in December TVthe week recommends This month’s new television releases include ‘Fallout,’ ‘Taylor Swift: The End Of An Era’ and ‘Heated Rivalry’
-
December’s books feature otherworldly tales, a literary icon’s life story and an adult royal rompThe Week Recommends This month's new releases include ‘The Heir Apparent’ by Rebecca Armitage and ‘Tailored Realities’ by Brandon Sanderson
-
Jane Austen lives on at these timeless hotelsThe Week Recommends Here’s where to celebrate the writing legend’s 250th birthday
-
May your loved ones eat, drink and be merry with these 9 edible Christmas giftsThe Week Recommends Let them eat babka (and cheese and licorice)
-
10 concert tours to see this winterThe Week Recommends Keep cozy this winter with a series of concerts from big-name artists
-
6 gripping museum exhibitions to view this winterThe Week Recommends Discover the real Grandma Moses and Frida Kahlo
-
Pull over for these one-of-a-kind gas stationsThe Week Recommends Fill ’er up next to highland cows and a giant soda bottle
-
The 8 best sci-fi series of all timethe week recommends Imagining — and fearing — the future continues to give us compelling and thoughtful television
