The 7 Best Hotels for Stargazing in the World

Everyone loves stargazing – it’s the perfect idea for a romantic date, an inexpensive hobby or a bucket list experience. Stargazing is a cheap and popular pastime, and can either be achieved with specialist equipment like telescopes and binoculars, or by simply just admiring the millions of stars that adorn the sky. 

Sadly, stargazing is quite hard in large cities because of the light pollution, so in order to find crystal clear and sparkling night skies with constellations aplenty, you usually need to go a little further out to somewhere dark. From 5-star hotels in the Scottish Highlands, to overwater resorts in the Maldives, let’s discover the best hotels for stargazing around the world:

The world's best starry skies that can be seen from your bed:

7. Randolins Berghotel, Switzerland

Randolins Berghotel in the St Moritz region of Switzerland is, at its core, the perfect ski hotel as it’s situated mere steps from some of the best ski resorts and slopes in Switzerland. Aside from the hotel being a hit with ski enthusiasts and prestigious visitors alike, one of the somewhat hidden perks of this hotel is that it’s one of the best for stargazing. Its observatory lets you get up close and personal with the stars and sky, and you can even sleep in there too, giving you your own private viewing of the stars. Towering high above the town, it makes sense that this hotel would give you prime viewership and the best views in the house of the starry sky, but if you simply want to enjoy the luxury amenities and proximity to the ski slopes that the hotel also offers, you can do so too.

6. Clear Sky Resort, USA

Located in Utah a short distance from Bryce Canyon, the remote desert location of this resort makes it a prime viewing spot for the starry sky, without worrying about city light pollution. Like a real-life planetarium, the floor-to-ceiling glass domes give you undisturbed panoramic views of the stars and sky. During the day, you can explore the desert through hiking or biking, partake in a wide range of activities or simply sit and soak up the heat, ready for your own private star-filled panorama after dark. The best part is, here you can define your stargazing experience however you want, whether that’s simply enjoying the sights from the comfort of your own bed, or partake in a professional stargazing tour where you can learn all about the night sky and view the stars through a telescope.

5. The Torridon, Scottish Highlands

The Scottish Highlands are a myriad of beauty, with one of the defining features being the remoteness that makes the region a sure thing when it comes to stargazing. The Torridon Hotel ranks at 1-2 on the Bortle scale, which signifies Earth’s darkest areas that make stargazing ideal (the lower the score, the darker the sky), so it’s unlikely you’ll find a better place in the country for viewing the stars. The hotel also offers stargazing experiences and activities, which include packages and excursions that enable you to view the Milky Way and stars with specialist equipment, while a decorated astronomer shares knowledge of the starry sky. 

4. Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort, Finland

You’ll likely have heard of this famous Lapland resort in northern Finland, as it’s known for its winter sports and activities like saunas, reindeer sleigh rides, dog sledding and more. A defining feature of Kakslauttanen Resort is the glass dome igloos that put the resort on the worldwide map. The igloos are perfect for viewing the aurora borealis or Northern Lights, as well as the starry sky. If you’re a stargazing enthusiast, there really is no better way to enjoy the sky than in the comfort of your own private igloo, with your bed as the primary viewing spot — and don’t worry about needing a telescope or any other specialist equipment. 

3. Bubble Hotel, Iceland

Taking glamping to a whole new level, you can find Iceland’s Bubble Hotel across two locations — Golden Circle and South Coast. The unique concept mirrors that of the Finnish igloos, but is even more embedded in nature. So named from the bubble-shaped domes that encase sparsely-furnished rooms, Iceland’s Bubble ‘Hotel’ is probably one of the best ways to stargaze or see the Northern Lights. The skies don’t get clearer or more picturesque than this, and you can simply lie in bed and watch the beautiful sky that’ll likely either be awash with green lights or littered with stars and constellations. 

2. Longitude 131°, Australia

Have you ever wanted to stay in a hotel in the Australian outback mere steps from one of the world’s most recognisable landmarks with a sky full of stars above you? At Longitude 131°, you can do just that, as the hotel is just a short distance from Uluru/Ayers Rock, and features terraces, decks and balconies to encourage and enable the ultimate stargazing experience away from any light pollution. The hotel not only offers outback and Uluru excursions and experiences, but you can also appreciate the constellations via an outdoor dining experience under the stars. This hotel was truly designed with the amateur astronomers, stargazing enthusiasts and nature lovers in mind. 

1. Anantara Kihavah Resort, Maldives

We’ve put this hotel at the top spot for a number of reasons — if not for the beautiful and unique overwater accommodation set atop the stunning Indian Ocean, but for the resort’s beautiful observatory that makes stargazing easy. Although you’ll be under a blanket of stars no matter where in the resort you go, viewing the skies and constellations from the observatory is truly the best way to appreciate the stunning celestial beauty above you. You don’t get more remote than the Maldives, which works in the islands’ favour when it comes to stargazing or escaping busy city life. While each of these entries on our list deserve top spot, nowhere quite simulates the feeling of luxury and effortless stargazing than Anantara Resort.