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Culture

5 European hotels for adventurers

Whether they're equipped with claustrophobic spaces, dizzying heights or pitch blackness, adventurous hotel stays are in demand. Not all are romantic, but they'll offer an unforgettable experience.

  • Sala Silver Mine (Martinus Schwarzkopf)

    Overnight underground

    In Sweden, an abandoned silver mine is home to a hotel where guests can stay 155 meters (over 500 feet) beneath the earth. The elevator down under requires about five minutes to bring you to your room.

  • A room inside Sala Silver Mine (gruvtroll.se)

    Inside the silver mine

    Beneath the earth, the temperature is just 2 degrees Celsius (35.6 degrees Fahrenheit) year-round and very, very dark. Even though the suites are equipped with lamps and heaters, a stay in this hotel is not for the faint of heart.

  • A hotel shaped like a Trojan horse (Uniqhotels.com)

    Overnight inside a Trojan horse

    Though the original Trojan horse came from Greece, this wooden replica can be found near Liège, Belgium. Guests can stay overnight inside the unusual hotel on immobile wheels.

  • Beds and table inside the Trojan horse hotel (uniqhotels.com)

    In the belly of the horse

    Inside the beast, things look a bit different from the way the mythical horse may have appeared. Instead of soldiers, there is room here for an entire family. It's a part of the hotel grounds for "La Balade des Gnômes," which offers nine other fairy tale rooms.

  • Boat anchoring at fort (Amanda Retreats)

    Overnight in a fort

    Here where previously munition and gunpowder were stored and cannons were aimed out at sea, tourists are now welcomed. The Spitbank Fort is one nautical mile out to sea off the coast of Southern England. It is more than 140 years old.

  • Inside Spitbank fort (Solentforts)

    Inside the fort

    Soldiers were stationed at the fort in order to protect the harbor entry to Portsmouth. Even after its renovation in 2009, the walls are nearly 20 meters (over 65 feet) thick, making it one of the most secure hotels in the world.

  • Dock Inn hotel with shipping containers (Dock Inn)

    Overnight in a shipping container

    Another maritime offering is the Dock Inn in Warnemünde on Germany's Baltic Sea coast. Guests stay in reconfigured shipping containers that measure about 12 square meters. If that's too small, the hotel also offers suites that are comprised of two shipping containers welded together.

  • Inside Dock Inn (Dock Inn)

    Inside the container

    The hostel opened in spring of this year and is aimed especially at young adventure travelers. One night in a multi-bed room can be had for just 19 euros (about $22).

  • Crane Hotel Amsterdam (Crane Hotel Faralda Amsterdam)

    Overnight inside a crane

    If you're afraid of heights, then this hotel in Amsterdam isn't for you. The three suites of the Crane Hotel Faralda are 50 meters above the earth inside a harbor crane.

  • Crane Hotel Amsterdam (Crane Hotel Faralda Amsterdam)

    Inside the crane

    Inside, guests sleep where the crane operator previously worked. It's especially adventurous to stay during bad weather. When the wind picks up, the swaying of the crane might just lull you to sleep.


  • Sala Silver Mine (Martinus Schwarzkopf)

    Overnight underground

    In Sweden, an abandoned silver mine is home to a hotel where guests can stay 155 meters (over 500 feet) beneath the earth. The elevator down under requires about five minutes to bring you to your room.

  • A room inside Sala Silver Mine (gruvtroll.se)

    Inside the silver mine

    Beneath the earth, the temperature is just 2 degrees Celsius (35.6 degrees Fahrenheit) year-round and very, very dark. Even though the suites are equipped with lamps and heaters, a stay in this hotel is not for the faint of heart.

  • A hotel shaped like a Trojan horse (Uniqhotels.com)

    Overnight inside a Trojan horse

    Though the original Trojan horse came from Greece, this wooden replica can be found near Liège, Belgium. Guests can stay overnight inside the unusual hotel on immobile wheels.

  • Beds and table inside the Trojan horse hotel (uniqhotels.com)

    In the belly of the horse

    Inside the beast, things look a bit different from the way the mythical horse may have appeared. Instead of soldiers, there is room here for an entire family. It's a part of the hotel grounds for "La Balade des Gnômes," which offers nine other fairy tale rooms.

  • Boat anchoring at fort (Amanda Retreats)

    Overnight in a fort

    Here where previously munition and gunpowder were stored and cannons were aimed out at sea, tourists are now welcomed. The Spitbank Fort is one nautical mile out to sea off the coast of Southern England. It is more than 140 years old.

  • Inside Spitbank fort (Solentforts)

    Inside the fort

    Soldiers were stationed at the fort in order to protect the harbor entry to Portsmouth. Even after its renovation in 2009, the walls are nearly 20 meters (over 65 feet) thick, making it one of the most secure hotels in the world.

  • Dock Inn hotel with shipping containers (Dock Inn)

    Overnight in a shipping container

    Another maritime offering is the Dock Inn in Warnemünde on Germany's Baltic Sea coast. Guests stay in reconfigured shipping containers that measure about 12 square meters. If that's too small, the hotel also offers suites that are comprised of two shipping containers welded together.

  • Inside Dock Inn (Dock Inn)

    Inside the container

    The hostel opened in spring of this year and is aimed especially at young adventure travelers. One night in a multi-bed room can be had for just 19 euros (about $22).

  • Crane Hotel Amsterdam (Crane Hotel Faralda Amsterdam)

    Overnight inside a crane

    If you're afraid of heights, then this hotel in Amsterdam isn't for you. The three suites of the Crane Hotel Faralda are 50 meters above the earth inside a harbor crane.

  • Crane Hotel Amsterdam (Crane Hotel Faralda Amsterdam)

    Inside the crane

    Inside, guests sleep where the crane operator previously worked. It's especially adventurous to stay during bad weather. When the wind picks up, the swaying of the crane might just lull you to sleep.


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