Is there anything better than taking a relaxing swim in a beautiful swimming pool? If you like to travel and enjoy spending time in the water, you have to dive right into our list of the 15 most unique swimming pools in the world. They make for a distinctive, luxurious experience that will cause your inner tourist to smile with joy!
From the remote Himalayan mountains to the sunny Mediterranean villages of Greece, we have one unique swimming pool for every taste. And who knows? Maybe this is the inspiration you need to figure out where you'll be going during your next vacation.
St. Regis Resort, Tibet
Up until the '50s, the remote country of Tibet was pretty much closed to foreign visitors. But in today's globalized world, there's no shortage of luxurious Tibetan resorts for adventurous foreigners to experience. One of the very best is the St. Regis Resort in Lhasa, which features one of the world's most exclusive swimming pools.
This beautiful swimming pool is as five-stars as it gets, and it's distinctively yellow due to its gold-tile composition. That's right: in the St. Regis Resort, you can swim in gold for the not-so-crazy price of $300 per night! Oh, and have we mentioned that the Himalayan mountains sit just outside?
Jade Mountain Resort, Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia is a small island nation that makes for one of the best-kept secrets of the Caribbean. It's there; you can visit the Jade Mountain Resort, the only establishment in Saint Lucia that offers a direct view of the island's Piti and Gros Piton mountains. And the best part is that you can see them while taking a relaxing swim.
In addition to its breathtaking view, the Jade Mountain Resort swimming pool features a unique design with multicolored tiles and upper floor access. Spending a day in Saint Lucia's most lavish resort can cost up to $1.5K, but can you put a price on paradise?
Chongwe River House, Zambia
If you're looking for an African adventure, visiting the Chongwe River House hotel in Zambia should be one of your top priorities. The hotel sits next to the Chongwe River, a protected site of the Lower Zambezi National Park, where wild animals roam and majestic elephants often stop to take a bath.
So you can feel like you're swimming right next to the exotic local wildlife, the Chongwe River House features a beautiful swimming pool that seems to extend right into the river. Experiencing the best Africa has to offer isn't that expensive either, with prices as low as $550 per night.
COMO Shambhala Estate, Indonesia
There are over seventeen thousand islands in Indonesia, but Bali is perhaps the most tourist-friendly of them all. Not by accident; it's there you can find the COMO Shambhala Estate, an extremely peaceful resort that focuses on taking care of your body and mind. While there, you can count on the support of several resident experts, including a yoga teacher and an Ayurvedic doctor.
And if spirituality is not your jam, you can always go for a swim at the COMO Shambhala Estate's gorgeous swimming pool. According to Tibetan Buddhism, the word 'Shambhala' refers to a 'mystic sacred realm,' and that's the feeling the COMO Shambhala Estate tries to evoke.
Hotel Caruso, Italy
Italy is such a sensational country that you can't take it all in with one single trip. Once you get to know the vibrant tourist-friendly cities of Rome and Venice, you should tour the countryside and visit the gorgeous Hotel Caruso on the Amalfi Coast. There, you can find one of the most stunning infinity pools in the world.
The swimming pool itself is breathtaking, but what makes it stand out is the magnificent view of the Mediterranean Sea and the surrounding mountains. The hotel alone—a lavishly refurbished 11th-century palace—is worthy of a visit.
San Afonso del Mar Resort, Chile
Is there anything you can't do at the gorgeous San Afonso del Mar Resort in Algarrobo, Chile? This five-star hotel treats its guests with a private white-sand beach, direct access to the ocean, and a unique saltwater swimming pool that's perfectly incorporated into the surrounding landscape.
Known for its characteristic glass pyramid, the San Afonso del Mar Resort's swimming pool is a 19.7-acre stunner that holds about 66 million gallons of water. While exceptions have been made in the past, this pool isn't designed for swimming but rather for boating.
Crocosaurus Cove, Australia
Most people enjoy swimming pools because they like to relax. But if relaxing is not your cup of tea, we have a crazy swimming pool that will make your heart beat faster: the Crocosaurus Cove. A tourist attraction in itself, this one-of-a-kind swimming pool sits in the Australian city of Darwin and is packed with crocodiles!
If you're not into reptiles, you should stay away from this provocative pool. But if adrenaline is your jam, why don't you test your luck by getting friendly with some crocs? While it looks super scary, the Crocosaurus Cove is considered safe; a one-person swim costs about $160.
One&Only Reethi Rah Resort, Maldives
If you're looking for the infinity swimming pool that puts all others to shame, you should get yourself a plane ticket to the Maldives. The One&Only Reethi Rah Resort features a swimming pool so perfectly incorporated into the ocean that you'll not even know where the pool starts and the ocean begins.
The only downside is the price tag of over $2K per night. But considering that the One&Only Reethi Rah Resort features many additional perks (including an all-inclusive menu), you should treat yourself with a visit if you ever get the chance to.
The Library Resort, Thailand
Thailand is an affordable tourist destination, but there's no shortage of luxurious solutions available in Southeast Asia. If you're looking for a more glamorous Thai experience, visiting Koh Samui's The Library Resort is something you should add to your bucket list!
Staying at this one-of-a-kind hotel costs about $320 per night, but boy, is it worth it! With direct access to a private beach and a modern, minimal design, The Library Resort also features one of the world's prettiest swimming pools, decorated with orange, red, and yellow tiles.
Grand Hotel Tremezzo, Italy
If you weren't convinced by the beautiful swimming pool at the Hotel Caruso, you might find the floating infinity pool of the Grand Hotel Tremezzo more fitting of your high standards. Offering a breathtaking view of one of Lombardy's favorite tourist destinations, this beautiful pool can be all yours for the price of $522 per night.
Famous for floating on top of the beautiful Lake Como, this stunning swimming pool isn't the only attraction at the Grand Hotel Tremezzo. Lucky guests can also enjoy five hot tubs and a fabulous spa.
Pamukkale Thermal Pools, Turkey
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Pamukkale Thermal Pools in Turkey, are the first 100% natural entry on our list. While mankind has undoubtedly developed the art of building beautiful swimming pools, it's still virtually impossible to compete with the greatest architect of them all: Mother Nature!
The Pamukkale Thermal Pools used to be surrounded by hotels, but they were demolished in the mid-20th century so the pools could be preserved. Perfect for a winter vacation, the Pamukkale Thermal Pools are also great during the summer. Expect to find a lot of locals on this beautiful site, as it costs a mere $13 per visit.
Bondi Baths, Australia
If you ever get the feeling the entire world's been cut to pieces and sold to the highest bidder, you may be happy to know that Bondi Baths still belongs to the public. That's right, one of the world's most beautiful saltwater swimming pools is a property of the Australian people, and it's open to foreign visitors too!
Access to this marvelous tourist attraction is as close to free as it gets, with a visit costing $5.5 or less. It's the perfect location to watch the sundown in the land down under, and it sits just 20 minutes away from the vibrant city of Sydney.
Ik Kil Cave Pool, Mexico
The Ik Kil Archeological Park in Mexico is a wonderful site near the famous Chichen Itza monument, and it features many Mayan sacred locations. One of the most beautiful is the Ik Kil Cave Pool, a natural sinkhole (also known as cenote) that looks like something coming straight out of an "Indiana Jones" movie!
While the cenote is part of a hotel and restaurant complex, the pool is entirely natural (apart from a convenient set of stairs). This dreamy location was selected as the site of three Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series editions.
Giola Natural Pool, Greece
To finish things off with yet another natural beauty, why not take a trip to the always-sunny island of Thasos, in charming Greece? A perfect all-natural swimming pool for tourists who like to dive into crystal-clear water, the Giola Natural Pool sits a couple of miles away from Thasos's main road, but it's well worth the detour!
This saltwater rock formation was beautifully carved in stone for millions of years, permanently fed by the waving ocean. Perfectly shaped for diving and swimming, the Giola Natural Pool is slightly warmer than the surrounding ocean.
Hanging Gardens Ubud Hotel, Bali
Situated in beautiful Bali, The Hanging Gardens Ubud Hotel has picture-perfect scenery that makes booking a vacation there essential. It sits right in the middle of a rainforest and boasts an impressive infinity-edge pool, which is reportedly one of the most photographed pools globally.
The pool sits just above the rainforest, and when inside, visitors feel like they are floating over the trees. While the main pool is a major attraction, some villas also have their own pools, and beyond that, there is a spa offering an array of pampering treatments.
The Golden Nugget, Las Vegas
Putting a new spin on the term “swimming with the fishes,” the pool at the Golden Nugget Hotel in Las Vegas makes it less 'mob threat' and more 'unique experience.' With an aquarium at the pool's center, patrons can frolic around in the water while pointing out a fish or two.
Of course, this is Vegas, so there is much more on offer. This includes luxury accommodation and, of course, access to a casino, all in one place. The Golden Nugget also has multiple franchises that have popped up in Louisiana, New Jersey, and Mississippi.
Nandana Villas, Bahamas
The reason they call it an infinity-edge pool is because it looks like the pool just goes on forever. Well, this pool at Nandana Villas in the Bahamas is so perfectly positioned, it does look like the pool is going on forever. Whoever built it knew what they were doing.
Nandana Villas is operated as a private island and has an array of activities ranging from golf to fishing and several watersports. It also offers some impressive dining experiences, and if you’re retired from the pool, you can hit the ocean and maybe even swim with dolphins.
Marina Sands Bay Resort, Singapore
Who says it’s not okay to swim at night? At the Marina Sand Bay Resort in Singapore, the night is a perfect time. Especially since the infinity pool on the roof offers breathtaking views of the city skyline, which is dazzling at night when the lights are on.
The pool isn’t the only attraction, though. There is buzzing nightlife, live shows, and the Artscience Museum. There are also multiple restaurants for dining and an attraction called the Skypark observation deck, a park above the resort which offers a similar vantage point to the one you get from the pool.
Nemo 33, Belgium
If you're into diving, you may be happy to know that the world's deepest indoor swimming pool is open for visitors. For a mere $70, you can experience all that Nemo 33 has to offer and see if your deep-diving skills are up to the test. This 113-feet-deep engineering feat sits in the Belgian city of Brussels and is not for everyone: you need to be fit and accompanied by an experienced diver to experience it.
If you're worried about the cold, remember that solar panels heat Nemo 33's 660 thousand gallons of water, so the pool feels comfortable even during the winter.