For a relaxing, dreamy getaway, it’d be hard to beat spending copious amounts of time poolside admiring Switzerland's snow-capped mountains and meadows, taking a dip with a panoramic backdrop of Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park, or swimming with sweeping views of Bali's terraced rice paddies.
Here we present nine of the most breathtaking infinity pools around the world.
The emerald-green, still surface of the Alila Ubud's slim, rectangular infinity pool seems to spill straight into the jungle. As you recline on your elegant bamboo sun lounger, watch the monkeys swing through the trees of the surrounding rainforest and listen to tropical birds serenading you.
The abstract, geometric infinity pool at the Hotel Grace Santorini faces the Greek island’s dramatic volcanic crater, which is half-submerged in the Aegean Sea. While the hotel’s layered terrace and interior decor is minimalist and all-white, contrasting with the blue of the sky and the dappled pool, and adding to that distinctive Greek island blue-and-white colour palette.
914 metres above sea level, the Hotel Villa Honegg’s infinity pool has views of Lake Lucerne, the valley, and the surrounding snow-capped mountains of Switzerland. The setting is at its most ethereal on winter nights, with mist rising up from the heated water, a starlit sky, and a blanket of snow covering the landscape.
Stay at Caruso, A Belmond Hotel, a romantic, 11th-century palazzo and enjoy views from the infinity pool of Italy’s Amalfi Coast. Often described as the most scenic part of Italy, the rocky cliffs of the coastline here are covered with olive trees, brightly painted houses on terraces leading down to the sea, and a vivid floral garden display.
The Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti is located in the heart of Tanzania's Serengeti National Park. And its infinity pool has a phenomenal view of the plains, with a watering hole literally right in front, which elephants regularly gather around.
The infinity pool at the top of Hotel Marina Bay Sands is a real show-stopper; swimming at such a mighty height feels odd but in a good way. At night, it’s particularly special, as the pool is lit up to a gentle glow and the glittering lights of Singapore's skyscrapers sparkle ahead of you.
At the Six Senses Yao Noi resort in Thailand, guests have their own villas with private pools overlooking the beach so you can enjoy a lantern-lit, poolside dinner in total privacy. But the resort’s Hilltop Reserve curved infinity pool is the real stunner, overlooking Phang Nga Bay and almost completely blending into the bright blue horizon.
The exclusive 137 Pillars Residences Bangkok lays claim to two incredible infinity pools. One can be found on the 27th floor and is open to any Residences guests; it’s a vision in concrete with geometric lines painted beneath the water and grey marble pillars bordering the pool. Recline on one of the caramel-coloured sun loungers facing the city, soak in the poolside hot tub or grab a drink from the adjacent bar and enjoy the sublime views. For ‘suite’ guests, there’s an even more impressive 20-metre rooftop infinity pool where you’ll find a rooftop garden and 360-degree vista – sunrise swims here are unforgettable.
Built on an island jutting out into The Gulf, the Burj Al Arab Jumeirah is a Dubai landmark, offering some of the best views of the city. A vast infinity pool curves around the edge of a tiered terrace that sits on the sea, backed by white sun loungers, parasols and potted palm trees. Walking over a slender bridge back towards the hotel you’ll find another, smaller pool with a swim-up bar and private cabanas. There’s also a rooftop infinity pool with unbeatable views, where a ‘romantic moonlight swim’ is available, including a massage, drinks, and a dip in the pool with the water strewn with rose petals.