Step inside 10 of the world’s best historical stays

Rachael Thompson
Aug 08, 2026, updated Aug 08, 2026

Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur, took the crown. Photo: Pexels

As much as we love a sleek, contemporary hotel, the best places to retreat to can often be those with a storied past.

Across the globe, there are countless accommodations steeped in the history of their city or location, revealing secrets of a bygone era while also catering to discerning travellers’ modern sensibilities.

Wanderlust magazine recently turned to more than 10,000 of its readers to help decipher which of these stays best bring the past vividly to life.

From architecturally striking Udaipur to regal Bordeaux, old convents to former palaces, these historic properties allow us to step into the past. Five of the top 10 stays are in Europe, but India took the crown for having the world’s best historical stay.

India has no shortage of breathtaking, intricately designed buildings, so it’s not surprising to see Taj Lake Palace in Udaipur – formerly known as Jag Niwas Palace – topping the list.

Built between 1743 and 1746 by Maharana Jagat Singh II of the Mewar Dynasty, the Mughal-inspired building sits majestically in the middle of Lake Pichola, its white marble facade replete with semi-precious stones.

Formerly a summer palace to host lavish parties, it was reimagined as a luxury hotel in the 1960s, and now offers ornately designed rooms and suites fit for royalty. The hotel also appeared in the Bond film Octopussy.

The courtyard at the magnificent El Convento in Cusco. Photo: JW Marriott

Coming in second is JW Marriott El Convento, Peru. Sitting within a restored 16th-century convent in the heart of vibrant Cusco, this historic stay has stone archways and antique brickwork, and is the perfect base for discovering the Andes Mountains.

If the building’s grandeur isn’t enough to transport you back in time, the hotel also has two exhibition halls brimming with ancient Peruvian artefacts.

It goes above and beyond to cater to modern travellers, even offering oxygen-enrichment systems that help relieve altitude sickness (Cusco is nearly 3400 metres above sea level).

The list then takes us to Turkey for the Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul, which is third.

Once a Turkish prison, this 19th-century Ottoman palace within a striking yellow building has classic neoclassical architecture details with pointed arches, ornate tiles, dramatic domes and towers. Inside, an urban oasis awaits with elegant rooms and a spa with a traditional Turkish hammam. We think it’s a top contender for season five of The White Lotus.