When I was 18, two weeks after high school graduation, I went on a solo trip to Ireland. I remember taking the bus from Dublin to Galway and being mesmerized by the countless castles on rolling green hillsides in the distance.
I was young and broke back then, but I vowed that one day, I would spend a night in a castle hotel in Ireland. Fast forward 7 years and I was back in Ireland, this time with my new husband for our honeymoon!
We did stay in a castle hotel, but one on Loch Lomond in Scotland, which was so fun, but I’ve always regretted not booking a castle in Ireland.
So, to fuel my FOMO (really, this was low-key torture for me) I rounded up all the best, most magical castle hotels in Ireland. I keep finding myself back in Ireland so I know I’ll get across the pond again soon. I love the idea of a castle road trip – like a whole week driving around and spending each night in a different Irish castle hotel!
I just have to remember to pack a lot of ballgowns and my tiara to really go all out (only sort of kidding here.)
When we went to Ireland on our honeymoon, we actually started in Munich for Oktoberfest then we hopped over to Dublin for a few days. We then rented a car and drove ALL over Ireland, up to Northern Ireland and then over to Scotland, getting as far North as the Isle of Skye and ending in London. If you’re planning a UK trip, these other posts may be helpful!
- Ireland Road Trip Guide: how to rent a car + exact route!
- How to spend 3 days in Dublin!
- Inside the Lyrath Estate in Ireland
- A First Timer’s Guide to London (what to see, do, eat and more!)
- My favorite things to do in Edinburgh
- Ultimate Isle of Skye travel guide
- Tips for visiting the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland
15 Ireland Hotels That Feel Like Magical Castles
There are a lot of beautiful hotels across the country (and in Northern Ireland, too!) These are my 15 favorites. Now, the hard part is to choose which castles to stay in Ireland!
Lough Eske Castle
Average Price: $340/night (book best deal here)
Waterford Castle Hotel
Location: Donegal, Ireland
Average Price: $250/night (book best deal here)
This is one of those real authentic castle hotels in Ireland. The castle is from the 16th-century! It’s also on a private island completely detached from the mainland. *prep the jet, Geoffrey, I’m going to my castle this weekend*
Waterford Castle is also a golf resort, so if that’s your thing, you’ll want to stay here! Breakfast is included so it’s easy to fuel up for a day on the links before an evening in a real castle!
Kilronan Castle Hotel
Location: Ballyfarnon, Ireland
Average Price: $150/night (book best deal here)
This is one of the most luxurious castle hotels in the country. With over 40 acres of land surrounding the castle and perks like four-poster beds and antique furniture inside, you’ll feel like you walked back in time when visiting Kilronan.
Maybe you want afternoon tea, or perhaps a visit to their luxury spa? Stroll on the spacious grounds or go exploring around West Ireland with the castle as your home base.
Lough Rynn Castle
Location: Leitrim, Ireland
Average Price: $150/night (book best deal here – sometimes you can get a $89 deal!)
Lough Rynn Castle is a bit different from other hotels because it’s technically a manor (but like, a castle-like manor in my opinion!) Lord Leitrim and his family, the Clements, used to live here. The house is over 200 years old, though of course, the inside is a modern, luxury space for guests.
Ballynahinch Castle Hotel
Location: Galway, Ireland
Average Price: $400/night (book best deal here)
When I first saw a photo of Ballynahinch Castle, my jaw dropped. I turned to my husband and was like “we spent time in Galway, why didn’t we stay here?!” Ballynahinch Castle is tucked in the countryside on a small lake. I know that the fall foliage here but be STUNNING!
Come for a weekend and go hiking, lobster catching, fishing, biking, clay shooting, afternoon tea and like, so many more awesome Irish activities! Sign me up!
Ballyseede Castle Hotel
Location: Tralee, Ireland
Average Price: $175/night (book best deal here)
This castle is about 25 minutes from the Northside of the Ring of Kerry, which in itself is an all day trip. It’s also about an hour from Dingle, one of our favorite cute little colorful seaside towns that makes for a really fun evening of exploring!
Ballyseede is rated one of the most romantic castles in Ireland and is situated on 30 acres of gardens and woodlands. If you’re in the area and can’t stay, at least have dinner here one night!
Ballygally Castle Hotel
Location: Antrim BT40 2QZ Northern Ireland
Average Price: $140/night (book best deal here)
Located about a half-hour North of Belfast right on the coast. What makes this one stand out are their tower rooms! That’s right, they have a select amount of rooms in the tower that you can rent out! *Cue my speech to the peasants below*
Also, Northern Ireland is Game of Thrones country, so this makes a great luxury home base for you GOT nerds. It’s just really fun to say quickly. Ballygally, Ballygally, Ballygally.
Ashford Castle
Location: Mayo, Ireland
Average Price: $700/night (book best deal here)
They have a dungeon, but like a really posh one instead of a creepy GOT style one. A classy afternoon tea room, emerald green guest rooms, horseback riding, fishing, boating, falconry and so many other activities on property or nearby.
This has to be one of the best-decorated castle hotels – every room pops with textures and color. I’m here for it!
Dromoland Castle
Location: Clare, Ireland
Average Price: $650/night (book best deal here)
I’ll be honest, every castle hotel in the UK and Ireland probably goes all out for Christmas, but Dromoland may do it best. Everything from festive Afternoon Tea to holiday parties, special Christmas deals and more. They even have fabulous New Years Eve parties!
Adare Manor
Location: Limerick, Ireland
Average Price: $1500/night (book best deal here)
Another “manor” but it looks like a castle. People in the old days had STYLE, friends. This luxury manor/castle hotel goes all out, no matter the time of year and has won some notable hotel awards.
Do a whiskey tasting or a historical tour. Spend a day at the spa or learn falconry. And fine dining each night for you, you Queen!
Castle Leslie
Location: County Monaghan, Ireland
Average Price: $175/night (book best deal here)
Castle Leslie has a world-class Equestrian Centre so if you love horses, this is the luxury castle to spend a few nights in. You can plan your whole vacation around horses here if you want! They offer daily trail rides for all levels.
Belleek Castle
Location: Mayo, Ireland
Average Price: $200/night (book best deal here)
Located on the Wild Atlantic Way, Belleek Castle is right next to hundreds of miles of woods and shorelines. If it’s raining outside, don’t worry! The castle has a great tour going over history and all the great artifacts from original owners.
Clontarf Castle
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Average Price: $175/night (book best deal here)
Located just 10 minutes from Dublin City Center, Clontarf Castle is the perfect luxury escape from bustling downtown, but still, you know, being basically downtown! On our next trip to Dublin, I want to stay here to switch things up!
Plus, they were awarded Conde Nast’s Reader Choice award for top 10 hotel in Ireland!
I hope this helps you find some great luxury castle hotels in Ireland for your trip! As a reminder, make sure to always check prices against booking sites and the hotel website to find the best deal! Irish castle hotels don’t always run cheap and while I think it’s the time to TREAT YO’SELF, it’s always a smart idea to get the best deal possible, right? More money for beer at the pub!
If you have any questions about Ireland or picking the best hotel, leave a comment below or shoot me a DM on Instagram @thewhimsysoul. I’ll be happy to help!
