There are pools, and then there are masterpieces that redefine the very idea of taking a dip. The most luxurious ones in the world are not just about water and tiles, they are about drama, design, and the kind of indulgence that lingers long after you’ve dried off. Some are suspended high above skylines, others melt into emerald valleys, and a few are so vast they feel like oceans. Each one offers more than just a swim; they are experiences woven with beauty, thrill, and a touch of fantasy.
1. Marina Bay Sands Infinity Pool, Singapore
There’s a reason this pool has become the face of modern Singapore. Imagine standing 57 storeys above the ground, floating at the edge of an endless sheet of water that seems to spill into the city below. Stretching 150 metres across three towers, the infinity pool at Marina Bay Sands is a place where mornings begin with the soft glow of sunrise over the bay, and nights come alive with the reflection of thousands of city lights. It isn’t just a pool, it’s a statement, one that captures Singapore’s futuristic spirit in liquid form.
Tariff: Rooms from approx. USD 500 per night
Best Season: November to March, when evenings are cooler and skies clearer
How to Reach: A 20-minute drive from Changi International Airport brings you straight to the hotel
2. The Hanging Gardens Ubud, Bali
Tucked deep within the Ayung Valley, this pool feels like it belongs in a dream. Built on twin tiers that seem to hang in mid-air, the water spills into the jungle beyond, mirroring the rainforest in rippling emerald hues. Here, swimming becomes a meditative act: birdsong drifts across the air, temple roofs peek through the trees, and the valley mist curls like a veil. It’s not just about cooling off in Bali’s warmth; it’s about feeling like you’ve been transported into another realm, where nature and architecture embrace each other seamlessly.
Tariff: Villas from approx. USD 700 per night
Best Season: April to October, Bali’s dry season
How to Reach: Around 90 minutes by road from Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar
3. San Alfonso del Mar Pool, Chile
Calling this a pool almost feels unfair. San Alfonso del Mar is more like an artificial ocean, stretching for more than half a mile along the Chilean coast. The Guinness World Records recognises it as the largest pool in the world, and standing by its edge, you understand why. With 20 acres of turquoise seawater, it is large enough for sailing, kayaking, or even scuba diving. One side gives you the drama of the Pacific’s crashing waves, while the other offers calm, crystal-clear water designed for leisure. It is luxury through sheer scale, a reminder that sometimes, extravagance is measured not in detail but in size.
Tariff: Resort apartments from approx. USD 350 per night
Best Season: December to March, Chile’s summer months
How to Reach: Located in Algarrobo, about 90 minutes by road from Santiago
4. Neptune Pool, Hearst Castle, California
Step into Hearst Castle’s Neptune Pool and you step back in time. Built in the 1920s for media mogul William Randolph Hearst, this marble-clad pool was once the playground of Hollywood’s golden age. Surrounded by colonnades, fountains, and Roman statues, it looks less like a swimming pool and more like an open-air temple. Although no longer open for swims, walking its perimeter feels cinematic, like being part of an old Hollywood story where glamour had no limits. It is the kind of luxury that speaks not of indulgence for today, but of elegance preserved forever.
Tariff: Entry to Hearst Castle tours from approx. USD 30
Best Season: Spring and autumn, when California’s coast is at its prettiest
How to Reach: A four-hour drive from Los Angeles or San Francisco via the Pacific Coast Highway
5. The Oberoi Udaivilas Pool, Udaipur, India
Few places capture the romance of Rajasthan like the pool at The Oberoi Udaivilas. Spread along the banks of Lake Pichola, it looks like it has been painted into existence. Domed pavilions rise on either side, arches frame the water in perfect symmetry, and the Aravalli Hills watch silently from a distance. By day, the pool reflects the bright blues of Udaipur’s sky; by evening, it glows in the light of flickering lamps and floating diyas. It feels less like a hotel pool and more like a royal retreat, where centuries of heritage find new life in modern luxury.
Tariff: Rooms from approx. INR 55,000 per night
Best Season: October to March, when Rajasthan is cool and inviting
How to Reach: A 45-minute drive from Maharana Pratap Airport, Udaipur
6. Sky Pool, London
London may not be known for outdoor pools, but the Sky Pool changed that forever. Suspended between two glass towers in Embassy Gardens, this transparent pool hovers 115 feet above the ground, making you feel as if you’re swimming through the air. The glass-bottom floor reveals the streets below, giving an almost surreal sensation of flying. On rare sunny days, it becomes a jewel suspended against the city skyline; at night, it glows like a floating lantern. Bold, futuristic, and slightly daring, it’s not just a pool it’s a feat of imagination.
Tariff: Access is exclusive to residents; luxury hotels nearby from approx. GBP 450 per night
Best Season: June to September, during London’s short but warm summer
How to Reach: Located in Nine Elms, accessible via Vauxhall or Battersea stations
7. The Joule Hotel Pool, Dallas, USA
If there’s one pool that makes you pause mid-swim, it’s at The Joule in Dallas. Cantilevered dramatically beyond the building’s edge, it hangs high above Main Street, its glass-fronted wall giving swimmers the feeling of gliding into the skyline. By day, the Texan sun drenches the city in light as you float with skyscrapers all around you. By night, the pool glows softly, becoming a social hub where champagne flows as easily as the water. It’s playful yet audacious, and above all, it captures the larger-than-life spirit of Texas.
Tariff: Rooms from approx. USD 400 per night
Best Season: March to May and September to November, when Dallas is pleasantly warm
How to Reach: A 30-minute drive from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
Luxe Insider
- For the picture-perfect moment: Marina Bay Sands is the crown jewel of Instagram sunrise is the time to capture it at its best.
- For a jungle escape: The Hanging Gardens of Ubud makes you feel cocooned in nature, with the rainforest as your only company.
- For sheer scale: San Alfonso del Mar offers not just a swim but an entire ocean-like playground.
- For timeless elegance: Neptune Pool at Hearst Castle remains one of the most beautiful architectural pools ever built.
- For royal romance: The Oberoi Udaivilas is pure opulence, especially at dusk when Lake Pichola glows in the background.
- For thrill-seekers: London’s Sky Pool lets you swim through the air in an unforgettable, if slightly vertigo-inducing, experience.
- For urban chic: The Joule in Dallas combines art, architecture, and nightlife in a pool that feels as dramatic as it looks.
