11 rooms with unbelievable views around the world

When luxury accommodation and breathtaking views meet…

Most places we visit have something iconic that has drawn us to that place, whether it be Torres del Paine National Park in Chile, the Eiffel Tower in Paris or the emblematic Caldera view in Santorini.

But rather than sightseeing throughout the day and then returning to your accommodation at night, why not get the views direct from your bed?

We’ve found our absolute favourite places to stay around the world that bring the views to you.

1. Hotel Hassler Roma, Italy

When it comes to tourist hot spots, Rome is absolutely brimming with them. And one of the most picturesque spots of the lot is the Spanish Steps, which Hotel Hassler Roma is conveniently perched at the top of.

Looking over Piazza di Spagna, Hassler Roma has some of the most incredible views straight from the 87 individually decorated rooms and suites. If you do plan on leaving though, the location is ideal for a trip to the Trevi Fountain, the Vatican, the Pantheon or the Villa Borghese Gardens!

View over Rome from Hotel Hassler Roma. (Image: Hotel Hassler Roma/Tommy Picone) — Sitting atop the Spanish Steps gives Hassler Roma incredible views. (Image: Hotel Hassler Roma/Tommy Picone)

2. Vila Bled, Slovenia

When you stay at Hotel Vila Bled you’ll be lucky enough to be so close to the waterfront of Lake Bled you can be on the beach within a minute, and also a short drive from Bled Castle.

Better yet, the 31 individually furnished guestrooms have incredible views of the lake, the castle and the mountains, so you don’t even need to leave!

Vila Bled is President Tito’s former summer residence, whereas in summer now, guests can enjoy the private swimming deck with a boathouse.

A view of Lake Bled from Vila Bled. (Image: Vila Bled/@mypassportgoals) — Get your own private view of Lake Bled and Bled Castle. (Image: Vila Bled/@mypassportgoals)

3. Paris Perfect Rentals – Viognier, France

There are only a handful of places in Paris that give you such a mesmerising view of the Eiffel Tower, and one of them is Paris Perfect Rentals’ Viognier apartment. So close you can almost touch it, you get all the views and none of the crowds.

The magical views of the Eiffel Tower will be heightened at night, with the warm glow of the tower filling the apartment and the light show twinkling through the window.

A close view of the Eiffel Tower from Paris Perfect Rentals' Viognier apartment in Paris. (Image: Paris Perfect Rentals) — A romantic dinner by the Eiffel Tower never looked so good. (Image: Paris Perfect Rentals)

4. Cottar’s Bush Villa, Maasai Mara, Kenya

Cottar’s Bush Villa borders the latest addition to the ‘7 Wonders of the World’, the Maasai Mara and Serengeti game reserves. The Bush Villa provides a luxury private stay for up to 12 guests and comes complete with its own private 25-metre swimming pool.

Offering an unmatched view of the Maasai Mara and its abundance of wildlife, Cottar’s is a luxury safari villa, tailored completely to each guest’s needs.

A view of the interior of Cottar's Bush Villa looking out into Maasai Mara. (Image: Cottar's Bush Villa) — A special view over Maasai Mara to enjoy all to yourself. (Image: Cottar’s Bush Villa)

5. Matakauri Lodge, Queenstown, New Zealand

Spectacularly situated on Lake Wakatipu in Queenstown, Matakauri Lodge offers magnificent views from every angle of the Remarkables, Cecil and Walter Peak Mountain ranges.

This alpine lakeside retreat is home to impeccable views of one of the world’s most serenely beautiful landscapes. With the mountain panorama posing an incredible backdrop for this intimate, personal hideaway, each of the four generous bedrooms also has its own private balcony with lake and mountain views.

A bathroom that looks out into Lake Wakatipu. (Image: Matakauri Lodge) — Have a bath with a view at Matakauri Lodge. (Image: Matakauri Lodge)

6. Katikies Hotel, Santorini, Greece

The Katikies Hotel is ideally situated in Oia, built into Santorini’s mythic Caldera where you’ll find the iconic sunset views visitors travel far and wide for.

Why not skip the crowds and have your very own personal view of the Aegean Sea from any of the rooms? The private verandas with lounge chairs make for the perfect place to sit and watch the sunset over the azure waters.

View from the Junior Suite over the Aegean Sea. (Image: Katikies Hotel) — Views from the Junior Suite are pretty sweet. (Image: Katikies Hotel)

7. Enchantment Resort, Sedona, Arizona, USA

Nestled within 70 acres of natural terrain and surrounded by the towering red rock walls of Boynton Canyon, Enchantment Resort combines the rugged grandeur of the Southwest landscape with equal parts luxury.

Featuring 218 one-story guest accommodations with panoramic views of Sedona’s red rock formations, all rooms also feature a private deck or patio overlooking Boynton Canyon.

Views from the Casita King Guest Room of Boynton Canyon. (Image: Enchantment Resort) — The Casita King Guest Room is the perfect place to unwind with the Boynton Canyon in the background. (Image: Enchantment Resort)

8. The Loren at Pink Beach, Bermuda

The first hotel built in Bermuda in decades, The Loren’s rooms and suites bring a new level of elegance and style to the destination.

The seaside resort embraces an urban hotel’s clean and modern aesthetic with the added benefit of endless ocean views. The spacious interiors and private terraces are the perfect place to escape while floor-to-ceiling windows offer expansive views, so you’ll enjoy a stunning natural vista without leaving your room.

In the suites, you’ll be treated with a furnished terrace, and if you splurge on one of the seven private villas, you can enjoy a personal plunge pool.

View from The Loren of the water at Bermuda.(Image: The Loren) — Stare endlessly at Bermuda’s waterfront views. (Image: The Loren)

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9. Tierra Patagonia, Chile

Emerging beside craggy mountains and the glistening Lake Sarmiento in Torres del Paine National Park, the Tierra Patagonia hotel weaves itself into the landscape with subtle style, with each of the hotel’s 42 rooms and suites having water and Torres del Paine views.

The perfect spot for an adventure vacation, what you see at our Patagonia adventure spa hotel is emerald lakes, fantastic mountain ranges and abundant wildlife. And with no televisions, you can watch the shifting light and weather patterns dance over the lake and mountains.

A view of Lake Sarmiento in Torres del Paine National Park from a standard room.(Image: Tierra Patagonia) — Fall asleep with Lake Sarmiento in Torres del Paine National Park watching over you. (Image: Tierra Patagonia)

10. Bürgenstock Hotel and Alpine Spa, Switzerland

Situated 500 metres above Lake Lucerne, in the heart of Central Switzerland, a dazzling, unparalleled world awaits. At the Bürgenstock Resort, you’ll receive a unique view of the lake and the Swiss Alps that you wouldn’t get anywhere else.

The bath and the sitting area also have floor-to-ceiling windows to enhance the whole experience. Plus, if you don’t leave the room you can stay nice and toasty!

View over the Swiss Alps from the bathroom of the Burgenstock Hotel. (Image: Burgenstock Hotel) — Receive a unique view of the lake and the Swiss Alps (Image: Bürgenstock Hotel)

11. Sheldon Chalet, Alaska, USA

Perched on a nunatak above Denali’s magnificent Ruth Glacier, Sheldon Chalet is more than a place to stay, it’s an exclusive experience of grand proportion.

Sheldon Chalet is as unique as the views are breathtaking. Only accessible by helicopter, Sheldon Chalet is one of the prime viewing locations of the Northern Lights – even from the comfort of the bed!

Sitting 6,000 feet above sea level, atop a granite outcrop and amid a snowfield amphitheatre, Sheldon Chalet offers knockout views of the peak of Denali — North America’s highest mountain.

View of the mountains from the lounge room of Sheldon Chalet. (Image: Sheldon Chalet) — If being surrounded by mountains is your thing, Sheldon Chalet is the way to go. (Image: Sheldon Chalet)

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.