The 13 Most Impressive Hotel Pools Around the Globe

For many, the mere thought of shimmering turquoise pool waters brings back memories of summer and liberation. Yet, nothing compares to a hotel pool, where you can splash around and swim at any moment, nestled between exquisite meals and indulgent nights of rest. Our team of seasoned editors and writers can vouch that not all hotel pools are created equal. The finest among them shine for various reasons—be it their elegant design, breathtaking locations, or their unique ability to connect us more closely with nature. Keeping travel inspiration in mind, we’ve curated a list of the top hotel pools for swimmers, floaters, and bathers of all ages.

The Silo Hotel

In 2017, a century-old grain silo on Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront transformed into the Silo Hotel, quickly becoming one of the city’s most sought-after luxury escapes. The project was led by British architect Thomas Heatherwick and South African designer Liz Biden, the owner of the Royal Portfolio, which includes this exceptional hotel. This design-centric boutique hotel features 28 uniquely crafted suites adorned with gilded mirrors, contemporary African art, and crystal chandeliers that float above elegant freestanding bathtubs. The renovation introduced a saltwater pool located 184 feet above the city on the 11th floor, offering stunning views of Table Mountain, Lion’s Head, and the harbor. It’s hard to envision a more picturesque setting in the Mother City, particularly on warm summer days while lounging on a chic striped float pillow.

Como Laucala Island

The 25 villas at Como Laucala Island, nestled on sand, hilltops, and over water on a private Fiji island, serve as exclusive sanctuaries with furnishings crafted from natural rattan, thatch, and wood, each with its own private swimming pool. The resort’s 82-foot lap pool, long and sleek, features a glass wall at one end that frames views of the lush resort grounds and the ocean beyond. With inviting daybeds and cabanas, plus a pool bar serving island cocktails and fresh juices, guests will be tempted to relax there all day long.

Capella Ubud

Situated north of Ubud in the village of Keliki, Capella Ubud was envisioned by Bangkok-based architect Bill Bensley, who focused on preserving the surrounding forest by designing stilted tents to reduce the resort’s environmental impact. Each accommodation is adorned with floral and graphic Indonesian fabrics, antiques from Southeast Asia, and trunk-style minibars. This eco-conscious, high-design approach extends to the saltwater Cistern pool, a remarkable 62-by-21-foot structure made from marine-grade steel plates featuring a bold zigzag design. Additionally, all 23 accommodations come with their own private pool for guests seeking solitude. On the wooden pool deck overlooking the rainforest, the Mortar and Pestle Bar employs a manual ice crusher to craft Bali-inspired cocktails.

Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia at Comcast Center

Philadelphia is currently experiencing a vibrant creative and culinary revival. We didn't need another reason to fall in love with the City of Brotherly Love, but it arrived in the form of this luxurious property, which opened its doors in 2019. The Four Seasons Philadelphia occupies the top 12 floors of the Comcast Technology Center, the tallest building in the city at 1,121 feet. The highlight may be the infinity-edge pool on the 57th floor, offering stunning skyline views, along with access to a sauna, steam room, and ice fountain. Launching this summer is a new program called Swim Under the Stars, allowing groups to reserve the pool from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. and includes champagne, caviar, blinis, face masks, pool floats, and twinkling LED candles. With the city lights sparkling below, it feels like you're floating above the skyline.

Jack’s Camp

One of the most striking camps in Botswana, this member of Natural Selection draws its inspiration from 1940s sMytouri style, with all areas—from suites to dining spaces and a natural history museum—enclosed under sophisticated Bedouin-style tents. Recently renovated in 2021, Jack’s Camp is situated at the edge of the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, remnants of an ancient lake once larger than Switzerland. Here, you can encounter not only familiar wildlife (like zebras and ostriches) but also elusive brown hyenas, aardvarks, and even friendly meerkats, known to perch on guests’ heads for a better view. Each of the nine tents features a private veranda and a plunge pool, but the ultimate relaxation spot in the camp—especially after a dusty game drive, quad bike adventure, or bushman trek—is the tented pool pavilion, the only one of its kind in Africa. Beneath flowing red fabric, you can enjoy a front-row view of the world’s second-largest zebra and wildebeest migration from the water or the surrounding cushioned loungers.

Four Seasons Resort Hualalai

On the Kona-Kohala coast of the Island of Hawai‘i, the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai spans 800 acres and features 249 rooms and suites adorned with Hawaiian textiles and bamboo, dark wood shutters, marble bathrooms, and outdoor showers made from lava rock. King’s Pond on the property is more than just a swimming pool; it serves as a 1.8 million-gallon marine reserve filled with various fish, including a resident spotted eagle ray named Kainalu. Guests can enjoy swimming in this semi-natural pool, carved from lava rock with a sandy bottom. For those eager to learn about the marine life at King’s Pond and beyond, the resort offers the expertise of five resident marine biologists who lead daily fish feedings, junior marine biologist experiences, family canoe rides, snorkeling excursions, and more.

One&Only Mandarina

Set on an 88-acre stretch along the Pacific Ocean, all 105 wooden treehouses and villas at One&Only Mandarina come with private infinity pools nestled among towering higuera blanca trees, silver-trunked papelillo trees, and swaying palms that create a magical reflection in the water. The resort’s Alma pool, elevated 187 feet above sea level, consists of two long cantilevered lap pools arranged at a right angle—one extending into the jungle, the other overlooking the ocean. Servers circulate with treats like iced ginger piñada shots (a twist on piña colada), cauliflower ceviche, and refreshing fruit paletas and sorbets. For an even more serene experience, the adults-only Carao pool, measuring 89 feet in length, is located in a secluded area above the resort’s swimmable beach, offering stunning ocean views.

The Lafayette Hotel and Club

Originally opened in 1946, this colonial-style hotel became a favorite among film legends like Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, and Katharine Hepburn. Even its pool has a connection to Old Hollywood, designed by Tarzan star and Olympic gold medalist Johnny Weissmuller. While it falls just short of the official Olympic size, long-distance swimmer Florence Chadwick famously trained here for her crossing of the English Channel. Last summer, after a complete renovation, the hotel reopened while still preserving its glamorous period charm. Expect stylish black-and-white tiles, flamingo-pink ladders, and a deck adorned with green leopard-print loungers beneath fringed umbrellas. The soundtrack, curated by rapper-producer Swizz Beatz, complements the Pool Bar, designed to evoke the Amalfi Coast of the 1980s, serving spritzes and tropical cocktails. Non-guests can enjoy a full day of swimming for $20 on weekdays or $46 on weekends.

Amanera

Nestled on the tranquil Playa Grande Beach along the north coast of the Dominican Republic, Amanera radiates serenity. The resort features 25 stylish casitas, 15 of which have their own private pools, set against the backdrop of the rain forest and the Cordillera Septentrional Mountain Range. One of the finest spots to soak in the views is the 131-foot heated swimming pool, where a gracefully curving infinity edge appears to merge with the sandy bay and the shimmering blue Atlantic Ocean below. The navy sun loungers surrounding the pool are rarely busy, creating a peaceful environment perfect for a full day of relaxation. Indulge in a catch-of-the-day ceviche paired with an Aperol-infused La Casita, then transition effortlessly to the rum-focused bar as the sun begins to set.

Grace Hotel, Auberge Resorts Collection

While scenic plunge pools are a common sight in Santorini’s popular cliffside resorts, the 76-foot infinity pool at Grace Hotel distinguishes itself with its impressive design and exceptional service. Its elongated geometric shape complements the island's iconic whitewashed architecture, making it the largest pool in Imerovigli, the upscale village where it's situated. Heated to a cozy 73 degrees Fahrenheit, it offers a perfect vantage point for admiring the breathtaking Santorini caldera and the azure Aegean Sea. Staff from 363 Bar and Varoulko Santorini are on hand around the clock; chef Lefteris Lazarou, from the Michelin-starred Varoulko Seaside in Athens, crafts dishes with the freshest seafood, local grains, and herbs. While the striking white and aquamarine pool serves as the hotel’s centerpiece, the 20 suites and one two-bedroom villa—19 of which feature their own plunge pools—provide tranquil retreats.

Tierra Patagonia

Tierra Patagonia offers breathtaking panoramic views of the region's snow-capped mountains and Lake Sarmiento. Designed by Chilean architect Cazú Zegers, this 40-room low-rise hotel includes an indoor pool that seamlessly blends with the nearby Torres del Paine National Park, allowing wildlife like pumas, guanacos, armadillos, foxes, and rheas to wander by largely unnoticed. From the 49-by-10-foot indoor pool, guests can enjoy warm wood columns and floor-to-ceiling windows framing stunning mountain vistas and the occasional condor in flight. The pool maintains a cozy temperature of 97 degrees, perfect for chilly days, and features spa-like amenities such as jets and water cascades. For those wanting to experience the brisk winds from the Great Southern Ice Field, an outdoor hot tub adjacent to the pool offers a protected retreat behind glass panes.

The Crocodile Hunter Lodge

For many, Australian wildlife is closely associated with the late conservationist Steve Irwin. Near the Australia Zoo, where he and his family established a reptile empire, the Irwin family opened this lodge in 2022, infused with tributes to the Crocodile Hunter's legacy. Public areas feature upcycled timber from the original croc-show grandstands, while native trees and nesting boxes create habitats for possums, bats, and kookaburras. A highlight of the property is the 82-foot infinity pool, the Billabong, which overlooks a paddock inhabited by emus and kangaroos, many of which were rescued from the devastating bushfires of 2020. The pool surprises visitors with a glass mosaic of two crocodiles on its floor, inspired by photographs taken by Steve's son, Robert.

Bürgenstock Resort

Perched 1,600 feet above the chilly waters of Lake Lucerne, this infinity pool maintains a soothing temperature of 95 degrees, with steam rising invitingly. Its expansive views of the Swiss landscape are so captivating that personal photography (and children) are restricted to two sessions each day since its opening in 2017. These measures aim to maintain an exclusive atmosphere reminiscent of Hollywood glamour, attracting icons like Sean Connery during the filming of Goldfinger and Audrey Hepburn on her wedding day. While the historic cherry-red funicular and the Hammetschwand Lift attract daily visitors, few sights can rival the stunning panorama from the pool's edge.

Additional reporting by Allison Williams. This piece was first published in 2023 and updated on June 11, 2024, to reflect the latest information.