You don't always have to check into a sprawling resort to have a great time and these charming tiny hotels prove just that. For something extra special and offbeat, seek out a hotel with only a handful of beds. In our selection you'll find everything from narrow homes and converted windmills to private islands and even something underwater.
Click through the gallery to see tiny hotels you won't believe exist...
As its name suggests, this hotel only has one room – but what a room it is. Almost 230 feet (70m) up in the air, the tiny hotel is located in the Zizkov Television Tower in central Prague. The view is unparalleled, with guests looking out to the colourful roofs of historic buildings and the maze of streets below. The room itself is a lot more spacious than you might imagine too, and there are also restaurants and an observatory within the tower.
A collection of four beachfront suites on a private island, the Calala Island hotel in Nicaragua is a real-life paradise. Guests can truly experience being cast away, albeit in total luxury, in the middle of the Caribbean Sea. The suites all have a private veranda and a secluded beach palapa (a kind of thatched-roof pavilion) for shading from the sun and taking in those gorgeous azure-water views.
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Set within the ramparts of the atmospheric, 17th-century Galle Fort, in southern Sri Lanka, 48 Lighthouse Street features just four stunning bedrooms. The hotel also has a magnificent living room area and a covered roof terrace, as well as a garden and a library. It's beautifully decorated throughout too, in a way that accentuates the features of the historic building – think tiled flooring and plenty of dark wood.
Located above a tiny cafe in the Danish capital, this hotel only has one double room. And that room is perfectly styled with colourful accents, vintage details and funky artworks. It's also located in the lively Vesterbro neighbourhood, so it's great for making the most of city life in the evenings. In the morning, guests can enjoy a filling breakfast downstairs in the equally petite cafe of the same name.
Small things can come in very mighty packages, especially in the case of this adorable five-suite escape in Paris. The opulent Hotel Particulier, the former residence of the Hermes family, is located just minutes away from Sacre-Coeur and features a restaurant, bar and a romantic garden. The generously-sized suites are all thoughtfully decorated and are rather exclusive too – former guests include Brad Pitt, Tom Hanks and Scarlett Johansson.
Amsterdam's Crane Hotel Faralda proves that there's no disused vessel or space that can't be turned into super-luxe designer digs. Despite its restrictive architecture, the crane has three spacious suites with incredible interiors. And, as you'd expect, from up there the views are something else. Those not keen on heading back to the ground can ask for a Champagne breakfast to be delivered to the room. There’s a hot tub on the top floor and daredevils can even bungee jump off the crane in summer.
Tucked within the Cederberg Mountains, these 10 man-made, cave-like suites were made to blend seamlessly with the natural sandstone rock formations. Each suite is unique, with little terraces looking out to the sprawling landscape beyond. It might be slightly bigger than others on our list, but this spot feels tiny against the impressive and vast natural backdrop that is the Kagga Kamma Nature Reserve.
Whether you fancy the old station house or one of the two beautiful Pullman carriages with Edwardian fittings, you'll be transported back to the golden age of travel at this unusual bed and breakfast in Sussex, England. Pretty Petworth railway station was built in 1892 so that the Prince of Wales, the future Edward VII, could take the train to the Goodwood races. Guests check in at the former parcels office, while breakfast is served in the old waiting room or under parasols on the platform.
Nearly 60,000 acres surround this 1851 farmhouse, making for a unique and remote experience. With five guest rooms, the hotel pays homage to its pastoral heritage with lots of rustic-chic decor elements, while the original layout of the building has been retained, so each room has its own character. The rooms also open out onto a shaded veranda, offering grand views of the surrounding Flinders ranges.
Set in a former Boeing 747 jumbo jet, STF Jumbo Stay Stockholm is certainly tiny. For the ultimate plane experience, guests can book the cockpit suite and enjoy a restful night's sleep among the dials, levers and control wheels. There are also single cabins inside the former jet turbines for those travelling alone or looking to shut out the world.
Designed by Japanese artist Tatzu Nishi for the Estuaire 2009 Nantes-Saint-Nazaire art event, this tiny one-room hotel sits atop a factory smokestack in the outskirts of Nantes. Inside the cute house there's a bedroom, bathroom, small kitchen with a chimney and even a little garden to enjoy the surrounding views.
Dating from 1912, this gorgeous building has retained plenty of original Art Deco-inspired details, from the luxurious pine floors to the imposing grand staircase. Today, it's home to a stunning hotel at the heart of Montevideo with just five individually designed rooms. The property feels a lot more like someone's home than a hotel. It was designed by the owner, Italian interiors journalist Roberto Begnini. His heritage is reflected in the on-site delicatessen, offering aperitivo on the patio and classic Italian dishes at dinner.
Dramatically perched on lava rocks cascading into the ocean, this five-room bolthole couldn't be any dreamier. With just four bedrooms and a deluxe suite, the dainty hotel is lovingly known on the island as El Hotelito. It also has a long and interesting history – the building itself dates from 1830 and has been hosting travellers since the early 1900s. There's a restaurant serving lots of seafood and traditional Mediterranean dishes too.
Featuring stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean and the River Sado, these two converted windmills are now a part of a stunning hotel. There are two more double rooms in the main building, but it's the old windmills that have the most charm. Traditionally decorated with wooden furniture and located on a private farm, the windmills have comfortable bedrooms, private bathrooms and even a small kitchenette and sitting area. There's also a swimming pool, picnic zones and swirling paths through expansive gardens.
Once recognised as the smallest hotel in the world by the Guinness World Records, Eh'hausl is an eight-foot-wide (2m) hotel in Amberg. There's just enough room for two people and the hotel prides itself on providing exquisite service, making guests feel like they've arrived home rather than checked in at a hotel. Translating as 'marriage house', the term dates back to the 17th century when a local law meant only men who owned land could marry. A businessman bought the alley between the two buildings in 1728, converted it into a house and then sold it to men who wished to get married.
Describing itself as a 'bed and beverage', the Royal Street Inn in New Orleans combines cosy bedrooms and a chilled-out bar with top-quality service. The five bedrooms, all located above the bar, range from a small penthouse studio to a spacious deluxe suite, and are all individually decorated with eye-catching artwork, leather and wood furniture and plush soft furnishings. The definition of a modern inn, it's cute, comfortable and has plenty of character.
You might be shocked to find there are actually nine good-sized rooms hiding in this tiny building (the green building in the image). The narrowest preserved house in Prague, the dinky building dates back to 1360 and is just over 10-feet (3.28m) wide. The hotel is elegantly furnished inside with plenty of amenities and – halfway between the Old Town square and the Charles Bridge – it's in a stellar location too.
Who wouldn't want to escape to a tiny private island with a single mansion surrounded by jungle? This tropical escape off the coast of Sri Lanka offers five luxury bedrooms with spacious living areas, balconies, verandas and a stunning infinity pool. There's also a small, dedicated team on the island to take care of guests' every request, including a private chef. And if you ever tire of gazing into the endless Indian Ocean, there are things to do on the mainland too.
Isolated from the rest of the world on an island just off the Arctic coast of Norway, the Littleisland Lighthouse, or Litloy Fyr, offers three double bedrooms, housed in the former lightkeeper's residence. The hotel is also self-sustaining, producing its own energy and collecting rainwater, while the dinner menu mostly features fish straight from the ocean. Part of the appeal is also getting here. Guests need to make their way to the small mainland harbour Bo, where an open RIB boat and a 15-minute ride to the island awaits.
There's a lot more to Utter Inn – a tiny, traditionally-painted Swedish house on Lake Malaren – than meets the eye. A project by Swedish artist Mikael Genberg, it's actually an underwater hotel, with guests sleeping in a glass-walled bunker beneath the surface. The teeny house just serves as an entryway. Above water, there's also a small deck with seating, and the surrounding views are simply delightful.
One of the planet's most unusual and Instagrammable accommodation options can be found in the heart of a forest in northern Sweeden. High in the pines of the Lule River valley, surrounded by Scandinavian nature, you'll find the incredible designs of the Treehotel's eight treehouse rooms. Each of the treehouses here are rocking their own unique look and feel. Take your pick from The Cabin (pictured), Biosphere, Bird's Nest, Mirrorcube and UFO amongst others. Whichever route you go down, you'll feel like you're spending the night in a work of art.
Got a head for heights? You'll love what Skylodge Adventure Suites have to offer. Situated in the Sacred Valley of Cuzco, Peru, it's a memorable accommodation option made up of three transparent pods that hang off the side of a mountain (yes, really). At this particular establishment, which opened in 2013, you're guaranteed a room with a view. The only slight catch being that anyone who wants to stay here must take on a near-vertical via ferrata climb of 1,312 feet (400m) first. Thankfully, zip wires make the journey down a lot faster and easier.
If you want to combine the majesty of Norwegian nature with the comfort of a hotel room, you'll like what Birdbox are all about. The company has placed their luxurious sci-fi-esque boxes in unique, often isolated, locations across Norway. These epic spots deliver breathtaking views that are, more often than not, rich tapestries of trees, mountains and bodies of water. Birdbox Reksta is located on a lovely island near Floro, Norway's westernmost town. Want to escape the world and enjoy a night of solitude? Look no further.
Not only is this the second crane-based hotel in the gallery, it's also the second one that's situated in the Netherlands and one that's frankly too cool to leave out. With its legs almost in the Wadden Sea, this beautifully unique place to stay is just a short walk away from the historic centre of Harlingen and tailormade for a romantic getaway with a twist. Relax in the crane's luxurious (engine) room with its panoramic view, make the most of the double rain shower, sample the sights from the sheltered rooftop terrace, enjoy 360° rotation courtesy of the original joystick and tuck into the generous breakfast. The cabin is located 56 feet (17m) above the quay.
In April 2023, this tiny accommodation option in Germany's northernmost state (Schleswig-Holstein) was officially verified as the world's smallest hotel. It measures just 192 square feet (17.85sqm) in total and is a wonderfully cosy spot to spend the night. Boasting excellent attention to detail and beautifully furnished throughout, the full-roof skylight in the bedroom is a particular highlight.
Forget your troubles. Relax in some bubbles. That's what the Free Spirit Spheres of Vancouver Island are ultimately all about. Marketed as 'the most unique accommodation in the world', this nestled-in-nature treehouse resort consists of three spheres. They're called Luna, Melody and Eryn. And together, they combine to form what surely must be one of the coolest glamping experiences on the planet. You'll certainly have a ball here.