Must-see hotels in Ireland

  • Glenlo Abbey Hotel

    Galway City

    Set on the shores of Lough Corrib, 4km northwest of Galway, this 1740-built stone manor is the ancestral home of the Ffrench family, one of Galway's 14…

  • Conrad Dublin hotel entrance.

    Conrad Dublin

    Dublin

    A €13 million refit has transformed this standard business hotel into an exceptional five-star property. The style is contemporary chic – marble bathrooms…

  • Ballymaloe House

    County Cork

    Drawing up at wisteria-clad Ballymaloe House you know you've arrived somewhere special. The Allen family has been running this superb hotel and restaurant…

  • Castle Leslie

    Counties Meath, Louth, Cavan & Monaghan

    Castle Leslie, 11km northeast of Monaghan town along the R185, is a magnificent Victorian pile, acquired by the Leslie family (who trace their ancestors…

  • Hilton Park

    Counties Meath, Louth, Cavan & Monaghan

    The magnificent country-house retreat Hilton Park has been in the same family since 1734. Its six spacious, light-bathed guest rooms have original…

  • Station House Hotel

    County Meath

    The 19th-century Kilmessan train station ceased operations in 1947 and now houses this atmospheric hotel. Antique-filled rooms are spacious; the signal…

  • Irish Landmark Trust

    Temple Bar

    This 18th-century heritage house has been gloriously restored to the highest standard by the Irish Landmark Trust. Furnished with tasteful antiques and…

  • Ballyfin House

    The Midlands

    At the foot of the Slieve Bloom Mountains, this vast, opulent Regency mansion on a 248-hectare estate is one of Ireland's most luxurious properties…

  • Lough Rynn

    The Midlands

    Between Lough Rynn and Lough Errew, 21km southeast of Carrick-on-Shannon, this magnificent early-19th-century property sits amid 120 hectares with nature…

  • Lawcus Farm

    Counties Wexford, Waterford, Carlow & Kilkenny

    Bought as a thatched ruin, this 18th-century farmhouse 3km east of Kells has been rebuilt to create an enchanting place to stay. Rooms typically have…

  • Merrion

    Dublin

    This resplendent five-star hotel, in a terrace of beautifully restored Georgian townhouses, opened in 1988 but looks like it's been around a lot longer…

  • Moville Boutique Hostel

    Inishowen Peninsula

    A small lane leads off the R238, 300m north of town, to a grove of trees and this secluded farmhouse. It's in a nook-and-cranny-filled 18th-century…

  • Inis Meáin

    Aran Islands

    Everything about Inis Meáin gives a boutique twist to Aran's wild heart. Five suites sit among curving, stacked stone walls, wraparound windows, crisp…

  • Waterford Castle

    County Waterford

    Getting away from it all is an understatement at this turreted mid-19th-century castle set on its own private island (a free car ferry at Ballinakill on…

  • Tinakilly Country House & Restaurant

    County Wicklow

    This magnificent Victorian Italianate house 4km northwest of Wicklow town is one of the most elegant country homes in the county. You have a choice…

  • Castle Murray

    Southwestern Donegal

    Overlooking the ruins of the 15th-century McSwyne’s Castle, Castle Murray is not a castle, but a boutique hotel in a sprawling modern beach house. Most of…

  • Atlantic Villa

    Skellig Ring

    Built in 1873 for the superintendent of the transatlantic telegraph cable between Valentia and Newfoundland, this historic house has a blazing open fire…

  • Blairscove House

    County Cork

    Set in 2 hectares of land overlooking the bay, this magnificent Georgian country house looks like it belongs in a style magazine. Superbly appointed…

  • Rock Farm Glamping

    County Meath

    On an organic farm stretching 1.5km along the banks of the River Boyne, shaded by oak, ash and chestnut trees, Rock Farm has stunning yurts and huts with…

  • Rathmullan House

    County Donegal

    This country house is large, luxurious and refreshingly dressed with nonfrumpy furnishings. Sprawled over wooded gardens on the shores of Lough Swilly,…

  • Belleek Castle

    County Mayo

    Your chance to kip in a castle – imposing Belleek is eclectically decorated in ornate period style, with plush rooms successfully pairing four-poster beds…

  • Aran Islands Camping & Glamping

    Aran Islands

    At this smart, modern campground with direct access to a sweeping white-sand beach, you can stay in a beehive-shaped glamping hut inspired by an early…

  • Faithlegg

    County Waterford

    Majestic 18th-century mansion Faithlegg has 14 rooms in the original building, and another 66 in its newer wing. Flapjacks on arrival, sensational…

  • Apple Caravan & Camping Park

    County Tipperary

    Set amid orchards on the N24 between Cahir (6km) and Clonmel (9km), this peaceful and picturesque campground has a tennis court, a camp kitchen in a…

  • Castle Durrow

    The Midlands

    Stately 18th-century Castle Durrow is one of Ireland’s top country-house hotels, with 46 rooms including 10 opulent suites with four-poster beds and heavy…

  • House Hotel

    Galway City

    Inside a former warehouse in the liveliest part of the city, Galway's hippest hotel has a stunning lobby with retro-styled furnishings and modern art,…

  • Gregan's Castle Hotel

    The Burren

    This hidden Clare gem is housed in a grand 18th-century manor, 5km south of Ballyvaughan at the aptly named, twisting Corkscrew Hill. The 21 rooms and…

  • Lodge at Ashford Castle

    County Mayo

    Built in the 1820s by the owners of nearby, prestigious Ashford Castle, the lodge has rich, contemporary colours, plush furnishings, handmade toiletries…

  • Go Explore Hostel

    County Mayo

    This terrific hostel is a delight, with voluminous windows and a terrace overlooking the water, while vintage features include a large 1840s fireplace…

  • Parknasilla Resort & Spa

    Ring of Kerry

    On the tree-fringed shores of the Kenmare River with views to the Beara Peninsula, this hotel has been wowing guests (including George Bernard Shaw) since…

  • Cahernane House Hotel

    Killarney

    A tree-lined driveway leads to this magnificent manor 2km south of town, dating from 1877. A dozen of its 38 antique-furnished rooms (some with claw-foot…

  • Coast Lodge

    County Clare

    Opposite the beach at Spanish Point, this beautifully appointed inn has luxurious rooms overlooking the ocean or adjacent golf course. Although the…

  • Number 31

    Dublin

    The city's most distinctive property is the former home of modernist architect Sam Stephenson, who successfully fused 1960s style with 18th-century grace…

  • Newport House

    County Mayo

    Cloaked in ivy that turns crimson in autumn, the gorgeous Georgian mansion that is Newport House is one of Ireland’s most romantic country retreats…

  • Sandrock Holiday Hostel

    Inishowen Peninsula

    The cinematic view from this IHH hostel – at the end of the road, above a rocky bay on the western side of the headland – will take your breath away…

  • Step House Hotel

    Counties Wexford, Waterford, Carlow & Kilkenny

    This handsome hotel has elegant, pastel-shaded rooms; more expensive bedrooms and suites have balconies with views of Mt Leinster, and the grounds' two…

  • Glendine Country House

    County Wexford

    Staying at this 1830-built country house 5km north of Duncannon is like visiting friends with impeccable taste. Bay windows overlook grounds with fallow…

  • Wild Atlantic Lodge

    The Burren

    The Wild Atlantic Lodge overflows with comfort and charm, from the soft woollen blankets in the warm-hued rooms to the huge Burren photographs covering…

  • Brook Lane Hotel

    Kenmare

    Chic rooms warmed by underfloor heating are individually decorated with bespoke furniture and luxurious fabrics at this contemporary olive-green property…

  • Powerscourt Hotel & Spa

    Wicklow Mountains

    Wicklow's most luxurious hotel is this 200-room stunner on the grounds of the Powerscourt Estate. Inside this Marriott-managed property, the decor is a…

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