19 Best Castle Hotels in Ireland in 2024

Interested in staying at castle hotels in Ireland?

You’re in for quite the treat. Staying in a castle hotel is like staying in a high end resort – there’s almost always an on-site restaurant, room service, and sometimes a spa or swimming pool, as well as gorgeous landscaped grounds where you can enjoy the incredible scenery.

Except, a castle offers something more than a resort. The castles range from over a hundred, to sometimes a thousand years old and have a history of being resided in by nobles. Since becoming castle hotels, many of them have been stayed in by A-list celebrities.

Needless to stay, you won’t be disappointed with your castle hotel options in Ireland. Staying in a castle hotel can be something you do on a honeymoon, a solo trip, or even as a family.

There are hundreds of castle hotels in Ireland – but I’m going to narrow it down to the best ones, and which ones you should consider if you have certain priorities (very high end, or family friendly, etc.)

Castle Hotels in Ireland

Here is a map of castle hotels in Ireland and Northern Ireland. The red dots represent the major cities, so you can see where the castles are located in relation to them

There are a total of over 30,0000 castles in Ireland (some are in ruins, others are tourist attractions, and some -lucky for us – have turned into majestic castle hotels that you can stay at.)

These castle hotels are very popular for hosting weddings, but also welcome families, couples and other travellers.

Most castle hotels have room service and on-site restaurants. Some have spas, swimming pools, golf courses and hiking trails, and traditional ‘castle’ activities like falconry, horseback riding, etc.

So, let’s jump in – here are the 19 best castle hotels in Ireland!

19 Best Castle Hotels in Ireland

Here are the best castles to stay at in Ireland, what they offer, and how much you can expect to spend

1. Clontarf Castle Hotel

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Clontarf Castle, dating back to the 11th century, is perfect if you want to stay in a castle hotel near Dublin. Clontarf is the closest castle hotel to Dublin, being only a 22 minute drive from the city centre. There is also a bus stop right outside of it which can take you to/from downtown Dublin.

Clontatf Castle offers 24-hour room service, a lounge where you’re served teas, coffees and wines. It’s a great place to retreat to in luxury after a day of sightseeing.

Several attractions in Dublin are only a 5 minute drive away, such as the Dublin Castle, St. Stephen’s Greens, Trinity College (where you can find The Book of Kells) and more.

• ✅ Spa
• ✅Restaurant on-site (three restaurants)
• ✅Room service
• ✅Family-friendly
• ❌Swimming pool

Check Availability at Clontarf Castle

2. Dromoland Castle

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Dromoland Castle is in Western Ireland, just 30 km (19 miles) from Limerick. Visually, its one of the pretties castle hotels in Ireland from the outside. It has drawn celebrities from across the pond, such as John Travolta and Jack Nicholson.

Both inside and outside Dromoland Castle, its the perfect place to relax. There’s a fitness centre, a tennis court, indoor swimming pool, and a sauna. There is a bar that plays live music on some nights.

Dromoland Castle is only a 15 minute drive from Bunratty Castle & Folk Park, a popular tourist attraction. It’s also less than an hour away from Cliffs of Moher.

• ✅ Spa
• ✅Restaurant on-site
• ✅Room service
• ✅Family-friendly
• ✅Swimming pool

Check Availability at Dromoland Castle

3. Belleek Castle

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

One of the best things about Belleek Castle is the food. If you’re a foodie, and appreciate luxury meals, then this gothic style Victorian castle should be high on your list of possible Irish castle hotels to stay in.

Bellek Castle is also located in the middle of nowhere, in Western Ireland on 1,000 acres of woodland. It really has the feeling of being in a medieval, faraway land. The closest city is Galway, and its almost 2 hours away.

Belleek Castle is also close to the North Atlantic ocean, which you can enjoy at the long and sandy Enniscrone Beach, which is less than a 10 minute drive.

• ❌Spa
• ✅Restaurant on-site (two different restaurants)
• ✅Room service
• ✅Family-friendly
• ❌Swimming pool

Check Availability at Belleek Castle

4. Markree Castle

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Markree Castle dates back to the 1600s when it was used as protective fort. Now, its one of the most luxurious, fairy-tale like castle hotels in Ireland.

It’s located in the northern part of Ireland, 30 km from the Northern Ireland boarder. The closest town is Siglio, about 20 minutes away.

The rooms at Markree Castle are spacious, and each one is different. The castle is on 500 acres of land, and there are beautiful gardens to relax in.

If you’re looking for a castle with lots of activities, then Markree Castle might not be the best one for you. It’s a better choice for those who want to mostly kick back and take it easy.

• ❌Spa
• ✅Restaurant on-site
• ✅Room service
• ✅Family-friendly
• ❌Swimming pool

Check Availability at Markree Castle

5. Cabra Castle Hotel

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Cabra Castle Hotel is in Kingscourt, about a 90 minute drive north of Dublin.

Of all the castle hotels in Ireland, Cabra Castle in my opinion, is the one that most resembles a fairy tale – especially from the inside.

Cabra Castle was built in 1760, the rooms are spacious and it has a stunning staircase and lobby. The food is great, the staff very friendly, and if you like dogs there is a bonus – two very friendly Irish Wolfhounds live in the castle and enjoy meeting guests.

• ❌Spa
• ✅Restaurant on-site
• ✅Room service
• ✅Family-friendly
• ❌Swimming pool

Check Availability at Cabra Castle

6. Ballynahinch Castle

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ballynahinch (pronounced “bali-nah-hinch”) Castle is on the west coast of Ireland, about an hour from Galway.

It’s nestled in what’s known as the 12 Ben’s Mountain Range, and right on the Ballynahinch Lake. There is a lot of incredible scenery in this part of Ireland, which is missed by most tourists and locals.

At Ballynahinch Castle, you have a patio with a view to enjoy meals on (in the warm months), organized activities such as hikes and walks, room service and very luxurious rooms.

The only I personally don’t like about this castle hotel is that they still do woodcock hunting (a local bird) for sport, but as a guest you can choose whether you want to participate in this or not.

• ✅Spa
• ✅Restaurant on-site
• ✅Room service
• ✅Family-friendly
• ❌Swimming pool

Check Availability at Ballynahinch Castle Hotel

7. Ballyseede Castle

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ballyseede Castle is the closest castle hotel to the Ring of Kerry, arguably one of the most beautiful areas in Ireland. The closest city from Ballyseede is Cork, about 90 minutes away.

So, at Ballyseede you are in a secluded natural area in a 18th century castle, with gorgeous rooms.

Like other castles, Ballyseede has room service, and restaurant on site (O’Connell’s) that serves traditional Irish cuisine. You can do cycling in the area, and there’s a golf course just 3km away.

Ballyseede is a little off the beaten path, but its a part of Ireland that you would definitely want to see.

• ✅Spa
• ✅Restaurant on-site
• ✅Room service
• ✅Family-friendly
• ❌Swimming pool

Check Availability at Ballyseede Castle

8. Lough Eske Castle

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Lough Eske Castle is the prefect place if you’re a nature lover, because its situated on 43 acres of forested land. It’s located in Donegal, in the north of Ireland. (Famous for the Donegal tweed, a popular Irish gift or souvenir.)

The castle dates back to the 1400s, and was inhabited by some very wealthy landowners.

The rooms at Lough Eske today have more of a ‘modern’ look – its very much like an upscale hotel would look from the inside.

Lough Eske means “lake of the fish” and the castle is located right on a lake of the same name. The castle offers the 5-start experience you might be looking for, with luxurious meals, double sinks, great showers, and a fantastic on-site spa.

• ✅Spa
• ✅Restaurant on-site (three different restaurants)
• ✅Room service
• ✅Family-friendly (but you’ll need to pay €70 surcharge for each extra bed)
• ✅Swimming pool

Check Availability at Lough Eske

9. Wilton Castle Hotel

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Wilton Castle is a bit different from other castle hotels in Ireland, because it doesn’t have a restaurant on-site (which is rare), instead its rooms are apartment style and come with a full kitchen. Don’t get me wrong though, they are still luxurious, royalty-quality rooms.

If you want to be able to relax in your room and make your own meals, its perfect. Wilton Castle is very inviting, with incredible surroundings – including ruins, which are great to explore and photograph, and are also popular for wedding ceremonies.

• ❌Spa
• ❌Restaurant on-site
• ❌Room service
• ✅Family-friendly (only for children 6+)
• ❌Swimming pool

Check Availability at Wilton Castle Hotel

10. Ballygally Castle Hotel

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ballygally Castle, built in 1625, is located in Northern Ireland, just north of Belfast. The unique thing about Ballygally castle, unlike other castle hotels in Ireland, is that it has its own private beach, right on the Irish sea.

There are rumours about Ballygally Castle being haunted, by several ghosts but mainly by the former resident, Lady Isobel Shaw (she’s apparently a friendly ghost, if that helps.) There’s a “Ghost Room” in the castle that used to belong to Lady Isobel that you can check out here.

Whether or not you believe in ghosts, Ballygally is a nice place to stay. Very elegant rooms, most of them with a sea view, afternoon tea offered, and many nature parks less than 5-minute drive away.

• ❌Spa
• ✅Restaurant on-site
• ✅Room service
• ✅Family-friendly
• ✅Swimming pool

Check Availability at Ballygally Castle Hotel

11. Breaffy House Hotel & Spa

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Breaffy House Hotel from personal experience, I can tell you that Breaffy House Hotel is one of the best castles to stay in Ireland for families. In fact, when I stayed here it was mostly families visiting, but many retired couples taking a relaxing vacation too.

Breaffy House is one of the younger castles in Ireland, but its still a Victorian building, built in 1890. There’s a fairy garden, swimming pool, and special events that are planned (when we were there, they had a “Pirate Night” with face painting and shows put on by Micky and Minnie.)

• ✅Spa
• ✅Restaurant on-site
• ✅Room service
• ✅Family-friendly
• ✅Swimming pool

Check Availability at Breaffy House

12. Kilronan Castle

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Kilronan Castle is over 200 years old, and was once inhabited by nobles, (Colonel King Tension’s family.) It was restored around the turn of the century after sitting empty for many years, and is now a magical place again.

Kilronan offers a luxury experience suitable for weddings, honeymoons and special occasions. There’s fine dining, a spa, jacuzzi, swimming pool and other luxuries for a relaxing weekend.

Kilronan Castle is also a great castle hotel for families – it even offers babysitting at a surcharge, there’s a fairy trail on-site, and Lough Key Forest Park is only 20 minutes away by car.

• ✅Spa
• ✅Restaurant on-site
• ✅Room service
• ✅Family-friendly
• ✅Swimming pool

Check Availability at Kilronan Castle Hotel

13. Ashford Castle

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The medieval Ashford Castle is without a doubt, the most famous castle hotels in Ireland and the most sought-after. It’s located just outside a village called Cong, which is 41 km (25 miles) from Galway city.

To be honest, Ashford Castle is on my bucket list. I think both the inside and the outside of it make the it most beautiful castle hotel in Ireland.

There are a lot of special things to do on site at Ashford Castle, such as boating, falconry, archery, cycling, golf tennis, clay shooting (I was so relieved to see that its not real birds this time.) You can read more about the experiences offered at Ashford Castle here.

I haven’t stayed here (yet) but have taken an in-person look, and Ashford Castle is stunning building from the inside and outside. The village of Cong is a great place to visit as well. The Cong Abbey ruins are 100% worth seeing.

• ✅Spa
• ✅Restaurant on-site
• ✅Room service
• ✅Family-friendly
• ✅Swimming pool

Check Availability at Ashford Castle

14. Adare Manor

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Adare Manor is located in the picturesque village of Adare, which is 30 mins from the city of Limerick. Adare Manor known for being one of the top 5 luxury hotels in Ireland, and for its golf course.

The town of Adare, just a 5 minute drive from where the castle hotel is located, is the prettiest villages that I’ve ever seen in Ireland. The area is a great place to stay.

Adare Manor has great food served in its Michelin start restaurant, and some specialized activities on site- such as archery, gun dog trails, and (sadly – in my opinion) bird shooting as well.

• ✅Spa
• ✅Restaurant on-site (three different restaurants)
• ✅Room service
• ✅Family-friendly
• ✅Swimming pool

Check Availability for Adare Manor on their website here

15. Slieve Donard Hotel

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Slieve Donard Hotel is the youngest castle hotel on our list, having been completed in 1898. But don’t let its youth put you off if you were hoping to stay in an older building. The views from its windows are some of the prettiest we’ve seen from any of Ireland’s castle hotels.

One thing to keep in mind though is that its located in Northern Ireland, just an hour south of Belfast. It has a private beach, right on the Irish sea, and it is surrounded by the Mourne Mountains.

There’s a pool you can use with a large jacuzzi, sauna, steam room and a gym. The town of Newcastle nearby also has plenty things to do.

• ✅Spa
• ✅Restaurant on-site (two different restaurants)
• ✅Room service
• ✅Family-friendly
• ✅Swimming pool

Check Availability at Slieve Donard Hotel

16. Luttrellstown Castle Resort

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Luttrellstown Castle Resort is by far, one of the most luxurious castle hotels in Ireland – David and Victoria Beckham got married here.

So if you’re looking for somewhere to have a fancy wedding, or to feel like a real king or queen, then this should be one of the top places on your list.

Luttrellstown Castle dates back to the 1400s, and has 500 acres of land, plus a world-class golf resort. Its also not too far from Dublin; only a 40 minute drive into the city centre.

• ✅Spa
• ✅Restaurant on-site
• ✅Room service
• ✅Family-friendly
• ✅Swimming pool

Check Availability for Luttrellstown Castle Resort

17. Waterford Castle Hotel

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Waterford Castle is located in southeast Ireland in Waterford, which is the oldest city in Ireland. The current palace was built in the late 1800s, but some parts of the building date back to the 1600s.

There is a lot to do at the castle, for both adult-only guests and families with kids.

Waterford is known for the Waterford crystal, and there is a factory in town where you can visit and buy authentic waterford crystals.

• ✅Spa
• ✅Restaurant on-site
• ✅Room service
• ✅Family-friendly
• ✅Swimming pool

Save by booking directly with Waterford Castle Hotel

18. Belle Isle Estate

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Belle Isle Estate differs from other Irish castle hotels, because its smaller, and you rent the entire castle. Most people rent it for special events, like weddings. Its a beautiful property, and there are stone cottages nearby that you can stay in too.

When you stay at the castle, a gourmet breakfast is provided to you and catering is arranged.

Pro Tip: Belle Ile estate is the only castle hotel I know of in Ireland that allows dogs!

• ❌Spa
• ❌Restaurant on-site
• ❌Room service
• ✅Family-friendly
• ❌Swimming pool

Check Availability at Belle Isle Estate, or the cottages

19. Castle Leslie

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Castle Leslie is located right near the boarder between Ireland and Northern Ireland. It’s on the Irish side – less than 2 hours north of Dublin, and an hour from Belfast.

Castle Leslie is a Victorian building famous for hosting the wedding of Beatle Paul McCartney to Heather Mills.

You can do horseback riding, relax in the spa, and enjoy gourmet, afternoon tea, and home cooked Irish food. Its location on 1,000 acres of Irish countryside is serene, and you won’t regret coming here.

• ✅Spa
• ✅Restaurant on-site
• ✅Room service
• ✅Family-friendly
• ✅Swimming pool

Check Availability at Castle Leslie

Most Luxurious Castles to Stay in Ireland

Luxurious castle hotels in Ireland are perfect for special occasions – honeymoons, weddings, or romantic getaways.

Almost all castle hotels in Ireland are ‘luxurious’ to some extent, but some of them have a bit more of an elevated elegancy – drawing celebrities, or having high-class experiences like spas, or world-class restaurants.

Based on this, I believe the top most luxurious castle hotels in Ireland are:

Dromoland Castle
Luttrellstown Castle
Ashford Castle
Markree Caslte

Family friendly Castles to Stay in Ireland

Almost all of the castle hotels in Ireland are family-friendly. Most have family rooms, and children are welcome at all of them. (In fact, only one of them has any sort of restriction on kids.)

Having said that, as a mom I look for certain qualities to determine if a castle hotel particularly family friendly. If it has activities that kids can take part in, a swimming pool, kid’s meals as options, or even a fairy trail.

Based on that, these are the most family friendly castle hotels in Ireland:

• Ashord Castle: for its family-friendly and exciting castle activities, a children’s splash pool, and babysitting available upon request
• Kilronan Castle: because of its fairy trail, a rumoured babysitting service, and being close to Lough Key
• Waterford Castle for its fairy trail, playground, lots of activities, and special family lodges on an island that you can book
• Adare Manor: It has archery, falconry and horse and carriage rides, plus a fairy garden
• Breaffy House: There’s a fairy garden, swimming pool, a kid’s club for ages 4+ and special events for kids

Most Affordable Castle Hotels in Ireland

Castle hotels in Ireland aren’t as expensive to stay in as you might think. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not cheap. Bu when you work out the price, it sometimes isn’t much pricier than staying in a Hilton right downtown in a city centre.

Depending on your dates, you can stay at some castle hotel in Ireland for less than $500 USD per night (€464.) And this often includes a free, gourmet breakfast.

Here are some of the cheapest castle hotels in Ireland, and what you can expect to spend:

• Cabra Castle
• Ballyseede Castle
• Ballynahinch Castle
• Breaffy House
• Wilton Castle
• Lough Eske Castle

Final Thoughts on Castle Hotels in Ireland

By now, you have a list of several castle hotels in Ireland to choose from. Whether you’re looking to host a wedding, or have a very special family or romantic getaway – there are so many options in Ireland for staying in a castle.

As you can see, the castles vary in age but have very similar qualities. You can often find them situated on many acres of land. Since the Irish scenery is naturally beautiful, the outdoor activities (especially during the summer months.) If you’re from Ireland, its a special treat. If you’re not – then a castle hotel is a special experience to add to your Ireland itinerary.

During the Christmas season, staying at castle hotels in Ireland is very popular – they are usually especially decorated for the holiday season. Be sure to get your bookings in in advance.