There is something about a mountain view from a heated pool that stops time. The water seems to spill straight into the valley, snow-capped peaks fill the horizon, and the world feels very far away. These are the hotels with the most breathtaking infinity pools and mountain pools on earth, from the Swiss Alps and the Dolomites to the Atlas Mountains, the Himalayas and the Andes.
Each one is a hotel we have reviewed, so you can find out more about the rooms, spa and setting.
1. Bürgenstock Resort, Lake Lucerne, Switzerland
Perched on a forested ridge 500 metres above Lake Lucerne, Bürgenstock has one of the most famous hotel pools in Switzerland. Its heated infinity pool is cantilevered over the cliff, so it seems suspended above the water, and at night it is lit up against the lights of Lucerne across the lake.
Read our review of Bürgenstock Resort
2. Alpin Panorama Hotel Hubertus, Dolomites, Italy
The Sky Pool at Hotel Hubertus, high above Olang in South Tyrol, is one of the most photographed pools in the Alps. The 25-metre infinity pool is cantilevered out from the hillside, its glass front dropping away to the Puster Valley far below. Swim to the edge and the valley simply falls away.
Read our review of Hotel Hubertus
3. Riffelalp Resort 2222m, Zermatt, Switzerland
Riffelalp has Europe's highest outdoor pool, heated to around 35°C and facing the Matterhorn. It even featured in the BBC series The Night Manager. Swimming here on a snowy evening, as the Matterhorn turns pink at sunset, is one of the great Alpine experiences.
Read our review of Riffelalp Resort 2222m
4. Kasbah Tamadot, Atlas Mountains, Morocco
Richard Branson's hideaway in the High Atlas, an hour from Marrakech, has one of the most beautiful infinity pools in Africa, set among gardens and looking out over the valley to the mountains. Several of its luxurious Berber tents also have private plunge pools.
Read our review of Kasbah Tamadot
5. Adler Mountain Lodge, Alpe di Siusi, Italy
On Europe's largest high alpine meadow, Adler Mountain Lodge has an infinity pool that wraps around the timber lodge, with views across the meadows to the Sassolungo and Sciliar.
Read our review of Adler Mountain Lodge
6. FORESTIS, Dolomites, Italy
FORESTIS, high on the Plose above Brixen, has an indoor-outdoor pool with forest views, and its Penthouse Suites have private rooftop pools with some of the best views in South Tyrol. At sunset, the Dolomites across the valley glow pink, then orange, then deep red.
7. Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge, Nepal
From its secluded infinity pool on a ridge above Pokhara, Tiger Mountain looks out on the sacred peak of Machapuchare and three of the world's fourteen 8,000-metre mountains, which are reflected in the water on a still afternoon.
Read our review of Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge
8. VIK Chile, Millahue Valley, Chile
In Chile's wine country, VIK's infinity pool seems to float above the vineyards and a lake in the valley below, with the Andes on the horizon. Summer, from December to February, is perfect for long afternoons by the pool.
9. Hotel Gasthof Post, Lech, Austria
Not an infinity pool, but one of the largest heated outdoor pools in the Alps, reached through an indoor pool via a sliding glass door. Swimming here in winter, with snow on the gardens and the peaks above Lech turning pink, is pure Alpine magic.
Read our review of Hotel Gasthof Post
10. Hôtel Mont-Blanc, Chamonix, France
In the centre of Chamonix, Hôtel Mont-Blanc has a heated outdoor pool open all year, with one of the finest views in town, looking up at the mountain it is named after.
Read our review of Hôtel Mont-Blanc
Tips for choosing a hotel with a mountain-view pool
- Check opening times. Some outdoor pools close in bad weather, and some are adults-only at certain hours.
- Swim at sunset. The light on the mountains is at its best at the start and end of the day.
- Visit in winter. A heated outdoor pool surrounded by snow is an unforgettable contrast.
- Book early for the best rooms. Hotels with famous pools are often busiest at weekends and in school holidays.
Frequently asked questions
Which hotel has the most famous infinity pool in the Alps?
The Sky Pool at Hotel Hubertus in the Dolomites and the cliff-edge infinity pool at Bürgenstock Resort above Lake Lucerne are two of the most famous and most photographed hotel pools in the Alps.
Which hotel has the highest outdoor pool in Europe?
Riffelalp Resort 2222m, above Zermatt, has Europe's highest outdoor pool, with a direct view of the Matterhorn.
Are mountain infinity pools heated in winter?
At the hotels in this guide, the outdoor pools used in winter are heated. It is always worth checking opening hours and seasons with the hotel before you go.
Where can I find an infinity pool with a Himalayan view?
Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge in Nepal has an infinity pool looking out on Machapuchare and the Annapurna range.
