Have you ever wanted to spend a night in jail? Obviously not, but the experience might pique your interest if you check out these four hotels that were once prisons. Don’t worry, there are no felonies or misdemeanors involved here, as their days as holding areas for criminals are long gone. Now they provide a comfortable yet interesting stay if you choose to give it a try.
These hotels may not be for everyone, but they might interest some, especially if you’re on a budget. Besides, what prison lets you leave the very next day? But be careful, these four hotels are so good that you might not want to leave. Not because you’re not allowed to, but because you won’t want to.
1. Jailhotel Lowengraben
This is one hotel you won’t want to try and escape from. This affordable adventure will have you staying in a former Swiss prison from which you’re allowed to leave anytime. The last prisoners of this jail were there around the end of the 20th century, but today, non-prisoners can visit and spend a night in one of their various jail cell offerings. They even have suites available for those willing to spend a bit more cash.
2. Hi-Ottawa Jail Hostel
If you want your stay to have a bit of Western heritage and flavor, this jail hostel in Ontario, Canada, may be just for you. Situated in the heart of the country’s capital, this jail was once the holding area for local troublemakers and rule-breakers. But don’t worry, the harshest thing about this hotel now is deciding whether to go for a single, twin, or shared cell. It has its fair share of rumors and ghost stories, but it’s certainly a unique and affordable experience in the capital if you’re passing through.
3. The Old Lock-Up
For another taste of history, consider checking out this cozy former holding cell in a once-busy mining town in England. Back then, it housed miscreants and troublemakers for a night or two, but now it’s a bed and breakfast. If you ever travel through Derbyshire, booking a night here is a must.
4. Hostel Celica
For even more historical significance, this hotel in Slovakia once held dissidents from the former Yugoslavia, but now it’s open for tourists to stay in and leave freely. Each jail cell is uniquely designed with split-level sleeping and accessible communal areas. Managed by the student union of a nearby university, it offers various events like weekly concerts, jam sessions, and ‘all you can eat’ nights in the restaurant. Your options for activities are actually quite plentiful here.
