30 Oldest Hotels in the World by Country

Despite what some may say, a hotel is not just a place to rest your head for the night. It’s your shelter while traveling, a temporary home in foreign lands. Some hotels have provided this comfort to wanderers for hundreds — even thousands — of years. 

If you’re one to turn away from generic brand hotels and love to stay in a place rich with history, here are 30 of the world’s oldest hotels, from least to most historic. They are all the oldest in their respective country, which means you better believe they have fascinating histories.

Location: Kolkata, India

Year opened: 1840

Hotel legacy: Claiming to be Asia’s first luxury hotel, the LaLit Great Eastern Kolkata is also the continent’s oldest hotel. It was built during British colonial rule, so a large part of it has Victorian and Edwardian styles. A more modern part of the building was seamlessly added during renovations.

The hotel has a spa, restaurants and large grounds you can enjoy.

Check out The LaLiT Great Eastern Kolkata.

*Note: Rankings are based on a Budget Direct report. Hotels that have been closed or transformed were left off the list.

Location: Levuka, Fiji

Year opened: 1830

Hotel legacy: Fiji’s Royal Hotel is the oldest continuously run accommodation in the South Pacific. It was built when Fiji was still a colony of England, which is reflected in its architecture.

Despite the grandeur of its past, the hotel is not a luxury accommodation anymore. But if you don’t need the glitz and want to enjoy a comfortable, homely place in the former Fijian capital, it’s a great place to stay.

Check out the Royal Hotel.

Location: Bucharest, Romania

Year opened: 1808

Hotel legacy: This Bucharest landmark is famous for its large courtyard, whose white walks accentuate its wooden columns, stairs and balconies.

The beauty and size of Manuc’s Inn has made it the site of important moments in Romanian history, including the preliminary talks for the treaty that ended the Russo-Turkish War and the first Romanian operetta. Today, the inn has bars, stores, a coffee house and a restaurant that non-guests often visit.

Check out Manuc’s Inn.

Location: Lviv, Ukraine

Year opened: 1793

Hotel legacy: Built during the reign of the Austro-Hungarian empire, George Hotel is grandiose. Through renovations and new constructions, the hotel has acquired various architectural styles, including Italian Renaissance, Art Nouveau and Art Deco. Its facade, however, remains relatively faithful to its original design. 

Famous guests include French writers Jean-Paul Sartre and Honore de Balzac, German composer Johannes Brahms, and Yuri Gagarin, the first person in history to go into space.

Check out George Hotel.