Do you ever pay for a hotel that ancient people have used? Imagine that you are checking into a hotel where samurai once stayed and emperors once breathed, how much ancestral energy there would be humming through the floors and air. Well, fortunately, we can experience these feelings in our lifetime because many oldest hotels of the ancient period are still running today.
Oldest Hotels’ Role in Heritage Tourism
Before exploring the oldest hotels and their locations, it is necessary to understand their contribution to heritage tourism. In simple words, heritage tourism can allow you to travel through time without a time machine to explore everything about historical, cultural or ancestral places. Last year, in 2024, the value of the heritage tourism market was around 604.38 billion dollars. It is expected that this market will increase with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4.5% by 2030.
In heritage tourism, the oldest hotels are not only a place to rest, but also they are the destinations in themselves that attract millions of tourists each year. Italy has the largest number of UNESCO World Heritage sites. However, in the context of the world’s oldest hotels, Japan wore the crown.
Japan strongly focused on cultural preservation and also the government-backed programs to promote traditional places and historical landmarks. More than 30 ancient hotels have been running for more than 300 years, over 10 ryokans operate continuously for more than 500 years and 2 hotels, Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan and Ryokan, have been continuously running for over 1,300 years. So, you might have the idea of how Japan has protected their generational legacy and preserved the ancient hotels over the years.
Some of the strong contenders of Japan in preserving the oldest hotels are Italy, Germany, Austria, England and France. Now, it’s time to explore the oldest hotels in the world, which can take you in the ancient period.
Oldest Hotels Still Operating
1. Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan – Japan
Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan was established in 705 AD by Fujiwara Mahito in Yamanashi, Japan, during the Keiun era of Japan. It is recognised as the oldest hotel in the world by Guinness World Records. It has passed 52 generations, and it can give you the traditional Japanese architecture.
35 guest rooms of different sizes with the facilities of a natural hot spring, elegant meals, tatami mats and wooden architecture can take you to the samurai era. However, if you are visiting there, you can get free wi-fi and private open-air baths that can give you a modern, appealing experience.
The oldest hotel in the world is The Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan in Japan and has been in business since 705AD. It’s still a family business. For 52 generations pic.twitter.com/4XzWbK2hHN
— Fascinating (@fasc1nate) May 14, 2025
2. Hoshi Ryokan – Japan
Built in 718 AD, the Hoshi Ryokan hotel is a traditional family-owned hotel that has been operating for 46 generations by the same family. At the foot of the sacred Mount Hakusan, this family-run hotel was built from the inspiration of the Buddhist monk’s dream.
You might be wondering about the features of the hotel. Well, it has preserved the centuries-old design that can give you traditional Japanese feelings. It has courtyards, gardens, tatami rooms, Keiseki dinners and a hot spring. Currently, the hotel offers 100 rooms that can provide accommodation up to 450 guests.
3. The Falstaff Hotel – Germany
The Fallstaff Hotel was built in 1111 AD in the Hanseatic city of Lübeck. This hotel has been welcoming generations of sailors, merchants, and wanderers travelled the Baltic Sea routes. If you ever visit Germany and check into this hotel, it might seem like you are stepping into a storybook.
The original timber-beamed ceilings of the rooms, the narrow doorways and small leaded windows and the cute alcoves welcome guests to share whispered conversations. Around 20 rooms are available in the hotels that offer you a cosy and intimate setting reflecting the rich history while ensuring modern comforts for the guests.
4. The Old Bell Hotel – England
In 1220 AD, the old Bell Hotel was established, which is considered one of the oldest hotels in the world. It is located in the Malmesbury Abbey and it has seen the revolutions of the British culture. It is known as the “Oldest hotel in England,” welcoming guests over the centuries.
The hotel has around 34 rooms and 4 townhouse suites, which are a mix of historical charm and contemporary style. You can experience the creaky staircases, vintage fireplaces and stained-glass windows that can take you to the history of British culture.
5. Zum Roten Bären – Germany
Zum Roten Bären was established around 1120 AD. You can access it in Oberlinden 12, Freiburg in Breisgau, Germany. It has witnessed two world wars and survived over the century by operating through multiple owners. The meaning of Zum Roten Bären is “the red bear”.
If you are booking this hotel during your tour to Germany, you can get access to 25 guest rooms. These rooms are thoughtfully designed by blending historical authenticity and modern comfort. In the inner rooms, you can explore the Romanesque arches and pillars. However, it attracts millions of tourists because of its prime location in Freiburg’s Old Town.
6. Orso Grigio – Italy
Orso Grigio was founded in 1303 AD and is located in the Dolomites, San Candido. It is a 4-star Boutique & Gourmet Hotel that has been operating for more than 700 years. Some of the unique features of the hotel are the Venetian elegance and Tyrolean charm that offer traditional stube rooms and handwritten guest bookings.
It has a late-Gothic reception hall with Biedermeier parlour bears, modern design of dining rooms and a café area that can provide an aesthetic pleasure and knowledge of Italy and its culture. It has a total of 28 rooms where you can experience the historical flair and modern linearity that can provide you with ultimate comfort.
Experience in Staying in Ancient Hotels
Around millions of people every year love to explore ancient places, not just for sightseeing but to feel the history. The oldest hotels in the world, like the Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan from Japan, Zum Roten Bären from Germany, The Old Bell Hotel from England and many more deliver deep and almost spiritual connections to the past.
The modern traveller can deep dive into the history by exploring the centuries-old structure, traditional décor and hot springs like in Japan with contemporary amenities. From the time of stepping into the rooms of the oldest hotels, you would be surrounded by stories from ancient wooden beams, traditional meals and handcrafted furnishing, which are enough to take you on a tour through the past.
Why do you need to explore these hotels? Well, the oldest hotels we have mentioned are just a small part of the heritage tourism. There are many hotels which might be older than these hotels, yet remain undiscovered. You might have explored the historic accommodations that allow you to connect with the past more deeply on a personal level.
We need to remember that, although these hotels have survived over centuries, there is no guarantee that they can survive much longer. Many of these hotels are facing challenges of climate change, economic pressure and urbanisation. Hence, by choosing to stay in these hotels, we can contribute to their preservation.
