7 Stunning Hotels in Ireland to Visit

Yet another European destination is gearing up to welcome Americans once again: on July 19th, Ireland intends to re-open its borders to travelers from the United States. Visitors must be fully vaccinated or present evidence of a negative PCR test within 72 hours prior to arrival.

In honor of the occasion, we’re doing a roundup of the best hotels in the country.

Although Ireland has no shortage of properties to pick from, whether they’re family-run hotels or grand castles turned luxury resorts, only a handful are truly exceptional, says Siobhan Byrne Learat, the founder of Adams & Butler, a Dublin-based company selling luxury Ireland trips.

“It’s hard to pick because Ireland has so many fantastic properties, but the ones that truly stand out exemplify Irish hospitality,” she says. “They have staff who treat you like family or their new best friend and offer charisma, excellent food, interesting architecture or some other memorable element.”

As an added incentive to make the trip, traveling to Ireland from the U.S. is easy: Aer Lingus currently operates daily nonstop flights to Dublin from New York, Boston and Chicago. The airline expects to restart more routes to Dublin from additional U.S. destinations in the coming months, said a spokesperson on a phone interview. Aer Lingus is also a gateway to the rest of Europe and offers numerous connections to cities all over the continent. Plus, it has a ‘Book with Confidence’ policy until December 31st which allows customers to change their flights up to two hours before their scheduled departure with no change fee.

From an 800-year-old castle where you can climb trees by day and enjoy a fine-dining meal at night to a bucolic property near Dublin with cottages covered in ivy, our list of seven top hotels in Ireland follows.

Ashford Castle, County Mayo

In County Mayo, one of the most scenic parts of Ireland, the 350-acre Ashford Castle is the retreat you’ll likely never leave. The historic castle—it’s more than 800 years old—is surrounded by woods, a lake, a river, and the mountains. Diversions include falconry, tree climbing, golf, biking, kayaking, and horseback riding. The spa is outstanding and offers a range of wellness-oriented treatments, and the restaurants, including the renowned George V Dining Room, are notable.

Adare Manor, County Limerick

Adare Manor sits on an 842-acre estate and offers a lineup of activities to keep guests entertained for days: falconry, clay pigeon shooting, archery, a walk with Adare’s dogs, and horse and carriage rides are just the beginning. Some of the favorites are the Woodland Walk across the entire estate and The Padel Club—named after Padel tennis, the fastest growing sport in Europe. And to top it all off, there’s the food. No one would like to miss dinner at The Oak Room, a Michelin-star restaurant that shows off Ireland’s produce and other culinary gems.

The Merrion, Dublin

Located in four restored Georgian townhouses in central Dublin, The Merrion is all about panache and elegance without being stuffy. The property is steeped in history: the guest rooms in the Main House, for one, feature original details such as marble fireplaces. With a sizable collection of 19th- and 20th-century works, art is an attraction as are the restaurants, including the two Michelin-star Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud. Other amenities include a pool, spa, and bikes for exploring the capital city.

Ballyfin, County Laois

Set on 614 acres at the foot of the Slieve Bloom Mountains, Ballyfin is a grand estate that’s less than 90 minutes from Dublin. A stay here feels like a step back in time: the property features 21 individually designed rooms, opulent interiors adorned with art and antiques from Ireland and picturesque grounds that include a 28-acre lake, woods, and grottoes. Meals, especially dinners and the cocktail hours preceding them, are a full-on affair while activities include fishing, horseback riding, clay pigeon shooting, archery, and falconry.

Dromoland Castle, County Clare

Set on 450 acres of parkland, Dromoland dates back to the 16th century when it was the home of the O’Brien family, whose lineage goes back 1,000 years to Brian Boru, one of the last High Kings of Ireland. Given its royal past, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the interiors are lavish, but Dromoland has more to offer than just good looks: pursuits include golf (the property’s 18-hole golf course is world renowned), fishing, biking, estate walks, horseback riding, and clay shooting. A must when staying here: have the kitchen pack you a decadent picnic basket complete with champagne, and enjoy it over a leisurely afternoon at one of the many scenic spots on the grounds.

Cliff at Lyons, County Kildare

Just 30 minutes from Dublin, Cliff at Lyons has a fairytale-like setting of grounds that are full of lush trees, flowers and ivy-covered cottages. There are just 38 rooms, each with unique decor and situated in one of the property’s several historic buildings. Spa and dining are big draws here: the former is located in a resorted Carriage House and offers a range of wellness-focused treatments, and the latter includes the two-Michelin-star Aimsir.

Gregans Castle Hotel, Country Clare

On Ireland’s West Coast, Gregans Castle is an 18th-century manor house that offers views all the way to Galway Bay and is in the midst of the Burren, a landscape full of glacial-era limestone, caves, fossils, and archaeological sites. The 21 rooms are individually decorated with antiques, and the laid-back setting includes a bar with a fireplace where guests can settle down with a pint or favorite drink after a long day of exploring the area’s many sites—the Aran Islands and Cliffs of Moher among the bunch.

Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest