The Best Hotels in the World in 2026

In 2026, Rosewood Hong Kong once again topped the The World’s 50 Best Hotels list, retaining its status as the world’s best hotel. Asia and the Middle East are particularly well-represented in the top ten, and overall, the ranking includes hotels from Bangkok and Tokyo to Paris, Dubai, Florence, and Santa Barbara. This year’s list clearly illustrates how the geography of global luxury hospitality is shifting and which cities are currently setting the tone in the premium segment.

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How are the world’s 50 best hotels selected?

The World’s 50 Best Hotels does not operate as an open competition where hotels submit applications or pay to participate. Properties of any type—from small boutique hotels to large beach resorts—can be considered for the ranking if they receive votes from members of the international academy. The hotels themselves do not pay for a nomination and cannot directly influence the result.

The ranking is compiled by the 50 Best Hotels Academy—an international group of experts from the hotel industry and experienced travelers. It includes hoteliers, travel journalists, hospitality professors, and frequent travelers in the luxury segment. Voting is anonymous, and part of the academy’s membership is refreshed annually to reduce the risk of a closed circle of perennial favorites.

Experts vote only for hotels where they have actually stayed during the specified rating period. There is no single checklist with points for design, the number of restaurants, or room size. The selection is based on the overall guest experience—from the first interaction with staff and the quality of the room to the cuisine, service, and lasting impression after checkout.

It is precisely because of this system that completely different properties can find themselves side by side in the rankings. The 65-story Rosewood Hong Kong competes with the small historic Passalacqua villa, the tropical Nihi Sumba, and the desert-set Amangiri. To rank highly, it’s not enough to simply be new, expensive, or have a well-known name—a hotel must leave such a strong impression that an expert includes it on their personal list of the best stays.

Learn more about Time Out’s 2026 list of the world’s most beautiful hotels by following the link.

The World’s Best Hotel of 2026

Rosewood Hong Kong took first place in The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2026 ranking for the second year in a row. The hotel is located in the Tsim Sha Tsui district, directly on the Victoria Harbor waterfront, and occupies a 65-story tower with panoramic views of the harbor and Hong Kong’s skyline. It ranked third in 2024, rose to the top of the list in 2025, and has retained its leadership position this year.

Rosewood Hong Kong features 413 guest rooms and suites spread across 43 floors. Special emphasis is placed on gastronomy: the hotel features 11 restaurant and bar concepts, including the Cantonese restaurant The Legacy House and the Indian restaurant Chaat, both of which have been awarded Michelin stars.

The complex also includes the multi-level Asaya wellness space, offering treatments, an infinity pool, and private Asaya Lodges for extended wellness programs.

Rosewood stands out not only for its scale. The interiors are complemented by contemporary art, including works by Damien Hirst, and the hotel itself combines the concept of an urban luxury resort with one of the most prime locations in Hong Kong. It is precisely this combination of service, gastronomy, wellness, and views of Victoria Harbor that has allowed it not only to top the list but to retain the number one spot for two years in a row.

Along with its global leadership, Rosewood Hong Kong automatically earned the title of Asia’s best hotel in 2026. Hong Kong is also represented in the top 50 by two other properties: The Upper House in eighth place and The Peninsula Hong Kong in 46th.

Learn more about cities around the world with the cheapest 5-star hotels by following the link.

The Top 10 Best Hotels in the World in 2026

The top ten of the ranking clearly illustrates how much the center of gravity in luxury hospitality has shifted. Asia occupies five spots, with three of them in Bangkok. At the same time, classic European and Middle Eastern destinations remain in the top ranks, notably Lake Como and Dubai.

1. Rosewood Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. The leader of the ranking for the second year in a row is located on the Victoria Harbor waterfront and occupies a 65-story tower in the Tsim Sha Tsui district. The hotel combines panoramic views, a strong culinary focus, the large Asaya wellness complex, and contemporary art. A distinct advantage is the feeling of a resort getaway within one of Asia’s most dynamic metropolises.

2. Capella Bangkok, Bangkok, Thailand. The hotel has moved up one spot compared to last year and now ranks second. It stands directly on the banks of the Chao Phraya River and has a much more intimate atmosphere than most large urban luxury hotels. Some of the rooms and villas are designed for maximum privacy, and the concept itself is built around tranquility, personalized service, and proximity to the river.

3. Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River, Bangkok, Thailand. Another hotel on the Chao Phraya River, located near Capella. Its architecture is centered around large open spaces, courtyards, and pools, so it feels more like an urban resort than a classic city hotel. Gastronomy also plays an important role, featuring high-end restaurants and bars overlooking the river.

4. Atlantis The Royal, Dubai, UAE. One of Dubai’s most striking contemporary hotel projects, located on Palm Jumeirah, has long since become a tourist attraction in its own right. The complex is known for its multi-level architecture, private pools, a wide selection of restaurants run by renowned chefs, and extensive resort infrastructure. It’s the perfect choice for travelers seeking the greatest concentration of entertainment, fine dining, and services all in one place.

5. Passalacqua, Lake Como, Italy. The former winner of the 2023 ranking took fifth place this time around. The hotel is housed in a restored 18th-century villa and differs significantly from the large urban complexes in the top 10. Here, the focus is on intimacy, historic interiors, gardens, terraces, and lake views, while the stay itself revolves around privacy and a leisurely pace.

6. Rosewood São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. The highest-ranked South American property in the top ten. The hotel is part of the large Cidade Matarazzo complex and combines modern design, Brazilian art, and historic architecture. Its concept is much more closely tied to local culture than to the classic international luxury style, which is what makes it particularly stand out in the ranking.

7. Mandarin Oriental Qianmen, Beijing, China. One of the most unusual hotels in the top ten is not a high-rise building but a complex of restored courtyard houses in the Qianmen district. Guests essentially stay in traditional Beijing courtyards while enjoying Mandarin Oriental-level service. This format combines privacy, historic architecture, and a very central location near the city’s main attractions.

8. Upper House Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. Hong Kong’s second entry in the top ten is known for its minimalist design and abundance of space—a rare luxury in the city. The rooms feature panoramic windows, serene interiors, and natural materials. Upper House focuses not on scale or the number of services, but on a sense of privacy and tranquility in the heart of the metropolis.

9. Chablé Yucatán, Chochole, Mexico. The resort is nestled amid the tropical landscape of Yucatán, centered around a restored 19th-century hacienda. Guests stay in private casitas and villas, and the main focus is on wellness, local cuisine, and the region’s culture. Treatments inspired by Mayan traditions hold a special place here, setting Chablé apart from more generic luxury resorts.

10. Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, Bangkok, Thailand. One of Asia’s most famous historic hotels has been in operation for nearly 150 years and remains a symbol of classic, premium service. It stands on the banks of the Chao Phraya River and combines colonial architecture, old-school hospitality traditions, and modern hotel infrastructure. Its presence in the top 10 once again underscores the strength of Bangkok, which is represented this year by three hotels among the world’s leaders.

This year’s top ten is particularly interesting because Bangkok has effectively become the ranking’s leading hotel destination. Capella, Four Seasons, and Mandarin Oriental showcase three distinct models of luxury travel in a single city: an intimate resort, a modern design complex, and a historic classic. Hong Kong, meanwhile, has solidified its position with two hotels in the top 10, including the global No. 1.

In our previous article, we explained how to book hotels abroad without making mistakes.

The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2026

This year’s list includes large city hotels, intimate resorts, historic palaces, and remote luxury complexes. The geographic coverage spans virtually all major tourist regions of the world: from Asia and Europe to Africa, the Americas, and Australia.

1. Rosewood Hong Kong – Hong Kong, China

2. Capella Bangkok – Bangkok, Thailand

3. Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River – Bangkok, Thailand

4. Atlantis The Royal – Dubai, UAE

5. Passalacqua – Lake Como, Italy

6. Rosewood São Paulo – São Paulo, Brazil

7. Mandarin Oriental Qianmen – Beijing, China

8. Upper House Hong Kong – Hong Kong, China

9. Chablé Yucatán – Chochoala, Mexico

10. Mandarin Oriental Bangkok – Bangkok, Thailand

11. Aman Tokyo – Tokyo, Japan

12. Four Seasons Firenze – Florence, Italy

13. Claridge's – London, United Kingdom

14. Hôtel de Crillon – Paris, France

15. Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab – Dubai, UAE

16. Capella Sydney – Sydney, Australia

17. Raffles Singapore – Singapore

18. Casa Maria Luigia – Modena, Italy

19. Le Bristol – Paris, France

20. Cheval Blanc Paris – Paris, France

21. Desa Potato Head – Bali, Indonesia

22. San Ysidro Ranch – Santa Barbara, USA

23. One&Only Mandarina – Riviera Nayarit, Mexico

24. Bulgari Tokyo – Tokyo, Japan

25. Las Ventanas al Paraíso – Los Cabos, Mexico

26. Royal Mansour – Marrakesh, Morocco

27. Four Seasons Astir Palace – Athens, Greece

28. Raffles London at The OWO – London, United Kingdom

29. Copacabana Palace – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

30. The Taj Mahal Palace – Mumbai, India

31. The Peninsula Istanbul – Istanbul, Turkey

32. Bulgari Roma – Rome, Italy

33. Patina Osaka – Osaka, Japan

34. Mount Nelson – Cape Town, South Africa

35. Nihi Sumba – Sumba Island, Indonesia

36. Badrutt's Palace – St. Moritz, Switzerland

37. Park Hyatt Kyoto – Kyoto, Japan

38. Hôtel du Couvent – Nice, France

39. Portrait Milano – Milan, Italy

40. Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo – Monaco

41. Plaza Athénée – Paris, France

42. Hotel Sacher Vienna – Vienna, Austria

43. Estelle Manor – Whitney, United Kingdom

44. Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc – Antibes, France

45. Amangiri – Canyon Point, United States

46. The Peninsula Hong Kong – Hong Kong, China

47. Maroma – Riviera Maya, Mexico

48. Aman Nai Lert – Bangkok, Thailand

49. The Connaught – London, United Kingdom

50. San Domenico Palace – Taormina, Italy

There is no single dominant type of luxury getaway on the list. It includes historic European grand hotels, modern Asian skyscrapers, beach resorts in Mexico and Indonesia, and nearly isolated complexes like Amangiri. It is precisely this diversity that makes the ranking interesting not only as a list of the most expensive places to stay, but also as a snapshot of what is currently considered the benchmark for a premium hotel experience.

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We remind you! Popular European tourist destinations are becoming increasingly crowded, so travelers are looking for alternatives without the crowds. In 2026, attention is turning to countries that remain off the beaten path but offer unique experiences, affordable prices, and an authentic atmosphere. Read more about 5 European countries that are rarely visited by tourists.

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