End the year on a high with a stay at one of the world’s best hotels! Treat yourself to the finer things in life during the 2025 holiday season with a well-deserved stay at the world’s best hotels in 2025. From enjoying serenity in the lap of the Japanese countryside to watching New Year celebrations with the sky as your banquet at the Atlantis, Dubai, here’s our edit of the world’s top 50 hotels in the world!
Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur
The Taj Lake Palace in Udaipur, a marble marvel and former summer resort for the Mewar family, floats on the placid waters of Lake Pichola like a dream. Built in the 18th century, the palace features courtyards, fountains, and elaborately carved jharokhas that contribute to its air of ageless grandeur. Guests are welcomed by a private boat into a realm reminiscent of bygone eras, complete with rooms adorned with silk drapes, intricate architecture, and flawless service. Yoga by the lake, tranquil spa routines, and a wide variety of elegant restaurants await guests. Guests can enjoy breathtaking panoramas as the sun sets. The Taj Lake Palace not only provides guests with a comfortable place to sleep but also allows them to immerse themselves in the history and allure of Udaipur. The Michelin Key has also recognised the hotel as one of the world’s best hotels!
Taj Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad
Speaking of Michelin Keys, Taj has another one on the list of the top hotels in the world for 2025! Perched atop a hill on the outskirts of Hyderabad, the beautiful Taj Falaknuma Palace is a heritage hotel that exudes a royal air and offers breathtaking vistas. The palace's sixty rooms and suites captivate guests with their blend of classic style and luxurious touches. Guests can marvel at the impressive ballrooms, sumptuous dining halls, French tapestries, Venetian chandeliers, and English-inspired architecture. The private quarters, particularly the Grand Suites, offer breathtaking views of the city, making you feel like you're part of something remarkable.
Rosewood Hong Kong
Recently been crowned as the reigning champion of the top 50 hotels in the world- this is a must-visit! Standing prominently among the many towers in the city, Rosewood Hong Kong is a striking landmark. The 413-room crown jewel of the ultra-luxury group towers 270 meters above the city, boasting an excellent beachfront position on Victoria Harbour and breathtaking views of Hong Kong’s famous cityscape. The hotel's A-list clientele is drawn inside by eleven distinct dining and drinking establishments, vast spa facilities, gallery-worthy art, luxurious rooms and suites, and impeccable service.
Rooms on the lower level are among the largest in the city, at 53 square meters. The design features a variety of materials, including heckered wool wallpaper, tweed couches, and wood louvres, as well as two types of bathrobes and leather-padded hangers. Two separate vanities, two walk-in showers, and freestanding tubs are standard features in these luxurious marble bathrooms. Suite guests enjoy additional privileges, such as butler service and access to the exclusive Manor Club lounge.
You can satisfy any craving at one of the eleven restaurants or bars. With a Michelin star at the Legacy House, you may get authentic Shunde food, while at Chaat, another one-star restaurant, you can experience a kaleidoscope of Indian flavours. Bluhouse serves Italian, Bayfare Social Spanish, and Holt's Café Hong Kong comfort food, among other casual options. The desserts at Butterfly Patisserie, created by executive pastry chef Jonathan Soukdeo, are also very popular. Darkside, a speakeasy with spectacular harbour views and dim lighting, is a perennial favourite among Asia's 50 Best Bars.
Kasbah Tamadot, Morocco
Kasbah Tamadot is among the best in Morocco, and all kasbahs are peaceful havens behind defensive walls. The native Berber language gives it the name "soft breeze" to describe the relief it provides from the heat of the Atlas Mountains. After serving as the residence of a local governor for more than a century, in 2005, it was added to the Virgin Limited Edition Collection of resorts and lodges. After suffering extensive damage in the 2023 earthquake, the extravagant and eccentric Amazigh castle of Tamadot is once again open to the public. The fortress features charming gardens, hidden passageways, and terraces with reflecting pools decorated with rose petals, as well as exquisitely carved doors.
When Richard Branson bought the property, he included the incredible collections of the previous owner, Luciano Tempo, a Venetian antiquarian. In various places, you may see massive wooden and bronze chests that may have contained Barbarossa's treasure. In sprawling grounds, paths wind under jasmine trellises, and cabanas surround the pool, framed by espaliered apple trees. In addition to charming rooms in the restored kasbah, guests can upgrade to six opulent riads with private pools and three-bedroom suites, or relax in one of ten glitzy Berber tents set in the gardens. If North Africa is on your travel wishlist, this is one of the top 50 hotels in the world to visit!
Aman Kyoto
At Aman Kyoto, nature and its minute microshifts play starring roles. The hotel is in a tranquil northeastern part of the old capital, surrounded by cascading mountainous forests, and at its core is an ethereal "secret garden" that vacillates between being wild and refined. The moss-covered stone walkways and the serene minimalism of the 24 apartments make mindfulness an absolute must. The rooms are housed in Kerry Hill's sleek black timber pavilions and feature tatami floors, hinoki bathtubs, ceramic abstractions, and windows that offer haiku-inspiring views. The simplicity of the facility makes it beautiful. Imagine a modest onsen with boulders instead of a swimming pool, spa treatments with an air of sacredness, and the intuitive kindness of the omotenashi personnel. From the delicate kaiseki at Taka-an to the cutting-edge land-to-table fare at the Living Pavilion, every dish is prepared with the utmost care and respect.
Atlantis Dubai
A trip to Atlantis The Royal is sure to be an extravagant experience. This hotel is huge, brazen, and direct, living up to all the hype it received before it even opened. This is the place to stay if you're looking for an extravagant Dubai experience, with 795 rooms and suites, 16 restaurants, 17 boutiques, a massive 32,300-square-foot health area, and no less than 90 swimming pools, one of which is Cloud 22, located atop the sky bridge. With dishes prepared by celebrity chefs like Heston Blumenthal, Ariana Bundy, and Gastón Acurio, as well as well-known brands like Nobu, you can experience a culinary journey throughout the globe without leaving your seat. Carbone, a popular restaurant in New York City, will soon have a second location.
In stark contrast to the hotel's other extravagant features, the rooms are surprisingly simple. Sleek, minimalist furniture in neutral tones reveals large, light-filled suites that do not block the breathtaking views of the sea outside. The hotel's penthouses and suites are the most opulent accommodations, with 44 of them featuring private pools with glass sides that allow guests to swim in the sky.