The 15 Premier Hotels Globally for Stargazing

Escaping city lights to sleep beneath a twinkling night sky can be an enlightening experience—few places offer such a profound reminder of Earth's minute position in the cosmos. Since 1988, Tucson, Arizona's DarkSky International has been dedicated to certifying and safeguarding night skies worldwide from light pollution by implementing measures and regulations that maintain the natural nighttime atmosphere. Currently, there are over 200 recognized 'Dark Sky Places' globally, categorized into five types ranging from secluded Dark Sky Sanctuaries to Reserves and Communities, all devoted to protecting nature at night and our view of the universe.

Once, enjoying a dark sky meant camping out, but now you can savor the stars without sacrificing comfort. Boutique hotels and lodges have started to emerge within these Dark Sky areas, providing numerous amenities while offering prime views of the celestial display. Picture waking up to the Northern Lights in a glass dome in the Arctic or drifting off to sleep with the Milky Way shimmering above your open-air sDinogoi bed. What about stargazing at a monastery in the Himalayas? In Dinogo’s latest edition of Hotels We Love, we present the 15 best destinations worldwide for a night of celestial wonders.

Adero Scottsdale Resort, Autograph Collection

Located 2,500 feet above the Sonoran Desert in the McDowell Mountains, Adero Scottsdale is a modern resort nestled in Fountain Hills, one of 38 International Dark Sky Communities (IDSCs) globally. IDSCs are certified communities that have enacted lighting regulations to protect the nocturnal environment. This town also features the International Dark Sky Discovery Center, currently undergoing renovations, which will include an astronomical observatory and planetarium.

Adero, an independent hotel part of Marriott’s luxury Autograph Collection, offers a dedicated stargazing area. Every Friday night, a local astronomy group leads guests in exploring the night sky using telescopes, binoculars, and the naked eye. The resort provides guests with a premium version of StarWalk 2, an augmented reality app that lets users discover constellations and planets by pointing their smartphones at the sky.

The resort makes the most of the town’s exceptional dark skies. Its 177 rooms and suites offer either mountain or desert views and feature balconies for private stargazing. For a unique experience, consider booking a corner Dark Sky Suite with floor-to-ceiling, south-facing windows ideal for celestial viewing. The star-themed restaurant, Cielo (which means 'sky' in Spanish), offers farm-to-table meals such as tomahawk steak with glazed heirloom carrots and garden butternut squash soup on an outdoor deck beneath the stars. In the hotel’s front garden, the SkyTop outdoor cocktail lounge is perched on a hilltop with sweeping views, serving astro-inspired cocktails like the Midnight Sour and the Vista Margarita, made with seasonal fruit and Astral tequila. From $190

Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas

Surrounded by a vibrant array of tropical fish, hawksbill turtles, reef sharks, and eagle rays, Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas is situated in the Baa Atoll archipelago, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Guests enjoy unobstructed views of dark, starry skies, not only due to the resort’s remote Maldivian location but also its proximity to the equator, which allows for sightings of constellations from both hemispheres—and it features a private astronomical observatory!

The Sky Bar offers zodiac-themed cocktails: The Aries is a refreshing mix of gin, melon, yuzu, and sugar, while the Gemini combines Campari, tequila, dubonnet, and cassis, available in two flavors—original or truffle. The bar is located next to the resort’s exclusive astronomical observatory—the first overwater observatory in the Maldives—where the resident astronomer leads guests in exploring the night sky through a powerful 16-inch Meade telescope and shares Maldivian star stories.

Each of the 80 villas features a private infinity pool, sunken glass-bottom bathtubs, natural wood flooring, and spacious open decks. The resort boasts six on-site restaurants and bars, including the underwater Sea restaurant and wine cellar. Constructed with care for the delicate biosphere, the resort’s design preserves the landscape without cutting down any trees. Guests can also engage in the Coral Adoption Programme, planting coral in a reef nursery. The property holds a Platinum Green Globe certification, adheres to a zero-plastic policy, and focuses on solar energy conservation. From $1,350

Americana Motor Hotel

In Flagstaff, the first International Dark Sky Community (certified in 2001), Americana Motor Hotel is a renovated midcentury motel on Route 66. The hotel reopened in 2023 after a complete overhaul, transforming the 1960s motor lodge into a contemporary space that embraces retro aesthetics. Its 89 guest rooms combine midcentury-inspired furnishings—like rainbow plush headboards, vibrant geometric carpets, and wood paneling—with modern bedding and wall art that reflect retro-futuristic and outer-space themes.

The hotel is committed to its Dark Sky location, using shielded lighting, minimizing bright signage, and employing nonreflective paint to reduce light pollution. Guests can enjoy a special “Look Up, Stargazer” package, which includes two tickets to the historic Lowell Observatory, where Pluto was discovered, and access to a “Meet a Scientist” event.

The central courtyard has been transformed into a vibrant gathering spot featuring fire pits, corn hole, bocce ball courts, and a heated outdoor pool. On-site dining at Baja Mar Seafood offers Pacific Mexican dishes such as shrimp tacos, aguachile tostadas, and breakfast burritos. Starting at $209

andBeyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge

Since 1991, andBeyond has implemented a successful model focused on impact and conservation, prioritizing the care of land, wildlife, and communities. andBeyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge is situated on a vast private concession within the Namib Sand Sea, which hosts the largest sub-Saharan dune field. The lodge is adjacent to the NamibRand Nature Reserve, recognized as Africa’s only Dark Sky reserve by DarkSky International. With the nearest town nearly 90 miles away, this location boasts some of the darkest skies on Earth.

The lodge features 10 glass suites strategically positioned along an escarpment, each generating solar energy to support air conditioning, water treatment, and recycling systems. With floor-to-ceiling glass panels, guests can enjoy stunning views of the desert landscape and the night sky. Each suite is equipped with stargazing skylights above the beds and in the spa treatment room.

In the evenings, a dedicated observatory area with plush seating allows resident astronomers to guide guests through the night sky using an 11-inch Celestron computerized telescope, capable of zooming in on deep sky wonders like Saturn’s rings and vibrant nebulae, where stars are born. At sunset, wildlife gathers at a nearby waterhole, providing excellent opportunities for twilight viewing. Daytime activities include hiking the Star Dunes, hot air ballooning, desert drives to learn about the ecosystem, geology, and Indigenous cultures, as well as desert sundowners to sip drinks while watching the sun dip below the horizon. Starting at $1,000

Astrostays

Astrostays is a community-focused homestay initiative in Ladakh, India, designed to foster regenerative livelihoods for remote Himalayan communities. This program operates under the Global Himalayan Expedition, a social enterprise that utilizes tourism revenue to provide electricity to isolated villages and enhance educational prospects. It equips local homestay operators, many of whom are women, with the skills to manage a community telescope situated in a public space at the village center, enabling them to lead guests on stargazing experiences beneath the clear, arid skies of Ladakh.

While astronomy plays a vital role in these homestays, they also provide visitors with rich cultural experiences. In 2022, Astrostays introduced a new communal hub named Cosmohub, managed by five women from Phyang village near Leh, located next to a 16th-century Buddhist monastery. Visitors can enjoy a blend of stargazing, monastic prayer sessions, and traditional Ladakhi cuisine, including momos (dumplings) and thukpa (noodle soup) prepared with fresh produce from a local greenhouse, along with a guided tour of its astronomy exhibit. Starting at $60

Battlesteads Hotel & Observatory

Battlesteads Hotel combines the charm of an upscale English country retreat with the allure of an astronomical observatory, making it a perfect destination for Dark Sky enthusiasts. Situated at the edge of Northumberland International Dark Sky Park—England’s largest Dark Sky reserve established in 2013—Battlesteads Observatory provides engaging talks, stargazing sessions, and astronomy courses led by professional astronomers. The 22-room Battlesteads Hotel, housed in an 18th-century stone farmhouse, features five additional standalone rooms crafted from sustainably sourced local timber, all located along a serene path near the observatory.

Almost every evening, guests can enjoy stargazing and activities like aurora hunting. Sustainability is integral to Battlesteads’ operations, which utilize a carbon-neutral heating and hot water system powered by a biomass boiler. The hotel's gardens supply fresh produce for the restaurant, which offers seasonal dishes such as game, house-smoked kippers, and summer salads. Starting at $145

Dark Sky Dome

Just an hour’s drive southeast of Glasgow, the Dark Sky Dome is nestled within Britain’s first International Dark Sky Park, certified in 2009. This unique glamping experience, established by local amateur astronomer Christopher McCrindle—who hails from five generations of fishermen and served as a navigator in the Merchant Navy—offers guests unimpeded views of the starry nights over Galloway Forest Park. The dome is the largest of its kind in Scotland and provides opportunities to observe local nocturnal wildlife, including owls, badgers, and pine martens.

Accommodating up to four guests, the dome features a king bed and a pull-out futon, alongside an upstairs area with two mezzanine nets for reclining and stargazing through the dome’s transparent roof. While the facilities are rustic, they include essential comforts like Wi-Fi, a wood stove, an indoor shower and toilet, and a complete kitchen. (Guests are required to bring their own food, but a village shop is conveniently located five miles away.)

The dome is designed without exterior lighting (guests are provided with flashlights), and the interior is fitted with “Block Blue” light bulbs that do not emit harmful short-wavelength blue light, helping to preserve the natural darkness of the surroundings. Starting at $260

Explora Atacama Lodge

The Atacama Desert, known for its dry, high-altitude climate, offers some of the clearest and darkest skies in the world. Explora Atacama Lodge, situated in San Pedro de Atacama, fully utilizes these stunning celestial conditions. Each night, guests can enjoy the Milky Way, referred to as Mayu, or “celestial river,” by the Atacama Quechua speakers.

At Explora Atacama, guests have access to a private observatory featuring a Meade 16-inch f/10 LX200R RD telescope, enabling views of bright star clusters and intricate details of planets in our solar system. Knowledgeable staff astronomers conduct nightly open-air stargazing sessions that explore basic astronomy, our solar system, and deep-space phenomena. The lodge is also conveniently located just 30 miles from the ALMA international radio observatory, which provides guided tours demonstrating how telescopes detect radio waves from gas and dust in deep space, offering insights into the universe's origins.

The lodge comprises 50 adobe-style guest rooms and suites, spread over 42 acres that include the ruins of an ancient Aymara Indigenous settlement, with its historic structures and pathways carefully preserved. The open-air spa offers four natural pools, a sauna, and steam baths, all set within the original landscape and surrounded by native vegetation such as pampas grass and high desert flowers. Rates start at $700

Hoshinoya Taketomi Island

Taketomi Island, located in the southernmost part of the Okinawa Islands, is included in Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park, which became Japan’s first Dark Sky preserve in 2018. To safeguard the island’s natural beauty, Hoshinoya Taketomi Island collaborated with Masanobu Takeishi from Tokyo’s Illumination of City Environment to develop a lighting plan that uses minimal, strategically placed lights, allowing moonlight and starlight to prevail. With no tall buildings, guests can enjoy unobstructed views of the night sky from anywhere on the property.

The resort features 48 single-story villas that reflect traditional island architecture, with stone walls, white-sand gardens, and red-tiled roofs. Guests can enjoy Okinawan rice-wine cocktails at the bar, and the swimming pool is uniquely designed to mirror the sky, transforming into a stargazing float pool at night.

In the summer, the resort offers a unique dining experience under the stars. The five-course, French-inspired dinner showcases local Okinawan ingredients like octopus terrine, tiger prawns, and mangos. Guests enjoy aperitifs in the dining room before moving to an outdoor table with views of the village, experiencing the enchanting blue hour as the sky darkens and stars begin to twinkle.

Hoshinoya Taketomi Island features a year-round nighttime program called “Tinnu Deep Breathing,” where participants engage in stretching exercises beneath the stars and moon before bedtime. Additionally, you can take a traditional wooden sabani boat to watch the sunset over the water. From $265

Longitude 131

Australian Indigenous groups are among the earliest astronomers, possessing thousands of years of knowledge about the stars and an intimate understanding of the night sky. With minimal urban development, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park offers some of the most expansive skies in the world, allowing for unobstructed views from one horizon to the other. Adjacent to the park lies Longitude 131, a luxury tented camp that overlooks the vast, dusty Red Centre of the Outback, including the iconic Uluru (Ayers Rock) and the domed formations of Kata Tjuta.

The lodge features 16 tented pavilion suites designed to minimize their impact on the fragile red-dune ecosystem. Each tent includes floor-to-ceiling windows offering breathtaking views of Uluru, and private outdoor decks equipped with eco-friendly, clean-burning fireplaces and sDinogoi beds for sleeping beneath the stars. For those wanting to gaze at both Uluru and Kata Tjuta, the two-bedroom Dune Pavilion suite offers private outdoor stargazing beds and a plunge pool for enjoying the night sky.

Guided excursions include walks at sunrise and sunset around Uluru and Kantju Gorge, as well as evening drinks at a sunset viewing area featuring a pop-up bar to witness the transition of light over the desert. Several local tours arranged by the resort provide deeper insights into ancient Indigenous astronomy and starlore, such as the tale of the Great Emu, formed by dark patches in the Milky Way. From $2,940

Northern Lights Ranch

Situated above the Arctic Circle in Finnish Lapland, Northern Lights Ranch provides easy access to the night sky and the enchanting aurora borealis, just 18 miles from Kittilä Airport. Nestled north of the ski resort village of Levi, the ranch is in a location free from light pollution.

The 16 Sky View cabins feature large windows and heated glass roofs, allowing for cozy stargazing and aurora watching right from bed. Opt for a Deluxe cabin, which accommodates up to three adults or a family of four, featuring a double bed, an alcove sofa bed, and a private outdoor hot tub for relaxing under the dancing aurora. Each cabin is furnished in Scandinavian style with whitewashed timber and includes a kitchenette.
For the best chance to see and capture the Northern Lights, consider booking an aurora-chasing tour, available throughout the year, but optimal in winter. This tour provides Arctic overalls, winter boots, and headlamps, along with brownies and hot berry juice during the adventure. From $240

Mt. Cook Lakeside Retreat

Nestled within the expansive Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve—the first of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, certified in 2012—Mt. Cook Lakeside Retreat boasts minimal light pollution. Each of the four villas is a private two-bedroom lake house designed in a Tuscan farmhouse style, featuring large windows that overlook the turquoise waters of Lake Pukaki and the stunning Ben Ohau Mountain Range. Guests can unwind in outdoor hot tubs while gazing at the night sky.

The culinary team offers a selection of fresh dishes, including local freshwater king salmon and fjordland venison, served either in your villa or at the communal Moraine Lodge dining area. Guests can also enjoy a unique “Billion Star Dining” experience, starting with a three-course meal at the lodge and culminating in a stargazing session. The retreat's highlight is its specially designed wine cellar and astronomical observatory, where guests can participate in wine or whiskey tastings, followed by guided night sky tours through a six-inch refractor telescope in an observatory with a retractable roof. Stargazing activities include twilight views, late-night telescope sessions, and astrophotography workshops.

True to its name, Mt. Cook Lakeside Retreat is situated approximately 30 miles from New Zealand’s highest peak, Mount Cook, making it an ideal day trip. The property features three miles of walking trails and wellness activities, including forest bathing, yoga, and in-room massages. From $970

Skyview Hotel

Situated in the International Dark Sky Community of Torrey, Utah, the boutique and art-centric Skyview Hotel was brought to life by designers Joshua Rowley and Nicholas Derrick, who selected this location for its Dark Sky recognition. Inside, custom art pieces highlight the stunning red-sand and canyon scenery of the nearby Capitol Reef National Park, an International Dark Sky Park. The guest rooms feature dark-blue tiled headboards that reach from floor to ceiling, reflecting the enchanting starry nights. Each accommodation comes with private patios offering views of Torrey's striking red-rock cliffs, with some equipped with hot tubs perfect for stargazing. Additionally, there are six boutique glamping domes designed with skylights for enjoying the stars from bed.

The hotel's standout feature is its rooftop terrace, designed for breathtaking views of Torrey's expansive night skies. The property incorporates lighting that minimizes light pollution, and the terrace offers two options—amber and red—to help preserve night vision. Guests can borrow binoculars and book stargazing tours in Capitol Reef through Sleeping Rainbow Adventures. The hotel also provides a mindful stargazing audio experience for guests to enjoy.

The hallways leading to the guest rooms showcase a living art installation by Joshua Rowley, featuring suspended ropes that mimic the area's sandstone slot canyons. The hotel’s commitment to sustainability is evident in its furnishings made from recycled and eco-friendly materials, efficient water conservation practices, in-room recycling, dark-sky–approved lighting, and xeriscaping that harmonizes with the local environment. The hotel is pet-friendly, with a portion of pet fees donated to Color Country Animal Welfare. From $209

Under Canvas Lake Powell - Grand Staircase

In 2023, Under Canvas Lake Powell - Grand Staircase became the first resort to receive certification from DarkSky International as part of its new DarkSky Lodging program. This glamping destination in southern Utah sits under expansive, starry skies and is conveniently located near several International Dark Sky Parks, including Zion and Grand Canyon National Parks. To meet DarkSky International’s certification standards, the resort follows a rigorous lighting management plan to ensure all lighting is dark-sky friendly.

Nestled on a canyon rim, Under Canvas offers breathtaking views of the surreal landscapes of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and Lake Powell. The resort features 50 sDinogoi-style canvas tents on elevated decks, each equipped with private en suite bathrooms that include showers and flushing toilets. Opt for a Stargazer Tent, which features a viewing window above the king-size bed for a chance to stargaze from your pillow. A spacious reception-lodge tent serves as a dining area and bar with a deck overlooking the canyon, and regular stargazing evenings with a small telescope are part of the experience. From $299

Wild Wetlands Lodge

Nestled in the heart of Iberá National Park, a sprawling wetland in northern Argentina's Corrientes province, Wild Wetlands Lodge is an off-grid paradise that immerses guests in nature by day and the starry skies by night. Managed by passionate conservationists and wildlife enthusiasts, the husband-and-wife duo Alejandra Boloqui and Cepi Oporto, this lodge is the sole accommodation within the Iberá marshlands, home to diverse wildlife including birds, caiman alligators, marsh deer, and a resident herd of capybara. Two main cabins offer spacious lodging with expansive decks overlooking the marshes, complemented by a few budget-friendly rooms and cabins. The property features an organic garden that provides fresh ingredients for meals, and an on-site wood grill is frequently used for traditional Argentine asados.

At night, Wild Wetlands Lodge boasts uninterrupted views of a star-filled sky, free from light pollution throughout the reserve. Guests can enjoy familiar constellations alongside unique celestial sights visible only in the southern hemisphere, including the Magellanic Clouds. Throughout the year, the lodge organizes star parties and stargazing events, featuring guided astronomy storytelling led by an Indigenous Guaraní astronomer. From $265

This article was originally published in 2023 and was most recently updated on June 11, 2024, to include the latest information.