25 of the Most Romantic Hotels in Ireland (2025)

Whether it’s Ireland’s wonderful mythology and storytelling you find impossibly romantic, or the lilting Gaelic music, or the wonderful rolling green of this landscape, or the crash and drama of the coastline, we can all agree that Ireland is a country of much romance! But because we all feel passionate about different things, we've collated what we think are the most romantic hotels in Ireland. We’ve got some wonderfully remote B&Bs, stunning views, all-out luxury, country house opulence and chic city break material here, so use our guide and start to plan that romantic getaway!

Best honeymoon hotels

• Unforgettable in its grandeur, Ballyfin is an immaculately restored Regency era country mansion at the foot of the Slieve Bloom mountains. There are only 15 rooms, all of them dripping with gorgeous antiques, only the most sumptuous of fabrics and fittings and original Irish art. In addition to the beauty inside you’re treated to 610 acres of private parkland and manicured grounds, where you can try falconry and clay pigeon shooting, ride one of the horses in the hotel stable, play tennis, or go boating on the lake, and then follow it all up with a wine or whiskey tasting with the sommelier. There’s also an award-winning spa and supper is a grand affair, sometimes fancy dress, and often an eight-course tasting menu. Kim and Kanye honeymooned here.
• Share your first days of married life in the breathtaking Adare Manor, nestled in the heart of Co. Limerick. It boasts a host of facilities including a world class golf course plus archery, clay pigeon shooting, falconry, fishing and a multitude of other outdoor pursuits. There are 840 acres of pristine parkland to explore (on a pair of classic Pashley Bikes), a Michelin star restaurant, plus a luxurious spa. Bedrooms are individually designed and beautifully furnished, and offer on-demand movies, well-stocked mini bars and luxurious bathrobes.

• Sleep hidden in the forest and spend days in nature or in the spa at Finn Lough. For a honeymoon with a difference, this offers a collection of futuristic domes, suites, and villas set within an ancient woodland. There's a Slow Food restaurant and miles of scenic nature trails to explore starting right from the property. The perfect romantic hideaway.

Most romantic escapes

• In an incredible spot on County Kerry’s Lough Caragh, Carrig Country House was an elegant, Victorian lakeside mansion, but is now a 17-room hotel with wonderful views, four acres of beautiful, lush garden and a restaurant which has been very highly recommended — try the lough trout or salmon. The decor is period style, with some lovely antiques, four-poster beds in some rooms and sophisticated fabrics and wallpapers. This is the ideal place for a relaxing escape.

• Tankardstown House brims with Georgian charm, from its boxy, big-windowed exterior to its elegantly panelled walls, decorative ceilings and impressive marble fireplaces. Upstairs are six guest rooms, all traditionally dressed and delightful. Surrounded by landscaped gardens and 80 acres of its own woodland estate in Meath, this is a proper country escape. Don’t worry about going hungry: the restaurant is excellent.
• The Killarney Royal Hotel is a stately boutique hotel in a great spot in Killarney on the shores of Lough Leane. This isn’t a total escape, the hotel itself is in the centre of a small, but vibrant, town, but the location offers the sort of activities and opportunities for peace and privacy that you’d normally find at an ‘escape hotel’. Its 32 rooms and suites are sumptuously decorated: think patterned damask drapes, delicate floral fabrics, elegant shaped furniture and large windows. They have family suites too.

• Newforge House is a small and sophisticated, family-run country house hotel in a beautifully neat Georgian manor house, which has been in the same family for six generations: the two current generations live in elegant outbuildings giving guests the run of the main house. There are just six rooms and suites, all with plenty of light from the large sash windows, fireplaces, tasteful antiques and art and subtle tones. There’s a small restaurant with an excellent wine list and great, seasonal dishes — one of the family is a professional chef. And you’re in a fantastic position if you want to do a spot of walking or trekking, or cycling or birdwatching.
• Blairscove House & Restaurant, a Georgian conversion on West Cork's Dunmanus Bay, offers a unique blend of contemporary chic and vintage charm. This romantic hideaway with stunning bay views has just five rooms and is perfectly positioned for exploring the quaint nearby villages or navigating the Ring of Beara, where every twist reveals dramatic vistas from Bantry Bay to the Caha Mountains.

Country house hotels

• Nestled at the foot of the Rock of Cashel, Cashel Palace Hotel is a beautifully restored Palladian manor full of history with a top-notch spa and wonderful views. The striking interiors boast gilded mirrors and sparkling chandeliers, plus there are English-style gardens, with magnificent ancient trees, perfect for a romantic stroll.
• Set in 35 acres of gardens in County Wexford, Marlfield is a beautiful, traditional country house hotel with 19 rooms and a superb restaurant. Expect roaring fires, crystal glasses on silver trays, classical music, four-poster beds, fresh flowers everywhere, chandeliers and antique furniture. And someone will unpack your bag for you if you permit them. For the full romantic experience you can arrange a special dinner in one of their sumptuous suites or take afternoon tea in their elegant restaurant.

• On the edge of Lyons Demesne, one of Ireland’s most impressive country estates, sits Cliff at Lyons. Each of the 29 rooms, suites, apartments and self-catering cottages is different — Patrick Kavanagh cottage, a hotel room-style cottage for two, is ideal for an intimate escape. The Well in the Garden Spa offers a wide range of botanically influenced treatments and there's a charming restaurant.
• Bellinter House is a wonderfully romantic looking Palladian country pile turned country house hotel. During its conversion each of the house’s rooms and suites was individually designed, so have a look at a few. All over the feeling is of luxury, from the restaurant, which is an offshoot of the award-winning Eden in Temple Bar, to the views over the Boyne Valley, and the wide range of treatments available at the Bathhouse Spa. And you’re just 30 minutes from Dublin.

• Just back from Lough Leane, outside Killarney and on the borders of the Killarney National Park, the Cahernane House Hotel is in the perfect spot for a country house escape. Ideal for walking, fishing, cycling or horse riding, this rather grand and luxurious manor has been converted into a luxurious 40-room hotel. The best rooms are within the original house, but there’s a more modern extension too. The restaurant is one of this hotel’s other draws, it has won several fine dining awards and is a great addition to a weekend break in the countryside.

For a city break

• Hayfield Manor has all the country elegance, space and green seclusion of a country house hotel, but it’s only minutes from the centre of Cork city. With 88 rooms and suites, some of them huge, this is quite a large hotel, offering some generous facilities to match. There are two restaurants, one award-winning fine dining, the other a casual bistro, an impressive spa offering a wide selection of Elemis treatments, a gym and carefully manicured grounds that make it feel secluded. But you’re still within a short walk of the attractions and nightlife of Cork.
• Dublin's The Merrion Hotel sits just off St Stephen’s Green. Home to Michelin starred Patrick Guilbaud's, a gastropub in an 18th-century wine vault, and hip bar serving killer cocktails, it makes a chic city stay. Expect elegance here with marble floors, colonnades, fireplaces, and artworks. Stroll around the charming garden, or head down the road to the picturesque Merrion Square Park.

For a spa hotel

• With gorgeous, reviving views of the River Moy, the Ice House Hotel and Spa, is an excellent place to come for a relaxing and pampering escape. The top of the range spa overlooks the river too, as does its outdoor barrel bath sauna. The hotel has 32 rooms in two styles: luxuriously tradition or minimalist chic. They also offer a babysitting service. This is a fantastic building too, it was the 19th century Salmon Ice House. County Mayo is also known for its fishing and golf.
• Experience an unexpected, stunning and hidden destination spa in the heart of Belfast city centre at Merchant Hotel. With five treatment rooms, a relaxation room and hydrotherapy area, this restful space is a quiet haven away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Eclectic contemporary rooms evoke a romantic French feel, plus Berts Jazz Bar serves delicious dishes and fine cocktails accompanied by live music.

• Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort is a luxury riverside retreat set in 163 acres of mature woodlands. There's an award-winning restaurant and a championship golf course, but the spa is the icing on the cake with five outdoor hot tubs, two saunas, and a River House for lounging half on land and half over water. Absolute bliss.
• Enjoy the luxurious spa at The Rabbit in the heart of Templepatrick. It features lakeside hot tubs, Roman baths, and a heated pebble beach, plus couples can indulge themselves with an al fresco bathtub in a private courtyard, cosy wood-burning stove, and serene lakeside view. Ideal for a romantic, rejuvenating escape.

• Unwind by the Atlantic with sumptuous treatments at Eccles Hotel & Spa, a historic West Cork haven. Stylish classic interiors offer a plush backdrop for a couples' escape, plus there's an acclaimed seafood restaurant for candlelit dinners. Head to Lady Bantry's Lookout for breathtaking panoramic views over Glengarriff.

Some of the most romantic B&Bs

• Also one of Ireland’s most romantic escapes, Breac.House is an architectural darling, set in the rugged landscape of rural northwest Donegal. With just three B&B rooms each with panoramic sea views — which you can take advantage from out of the floor-to-ceiling windows or on your private terrace, and artisan furnishings which champion local materials, this is an intimate bolthole in a wild location, perfect for spending time together relaxed and unplugged. There’s a cosy, wood-fired sauna, complimentary seaweed baths and bike hire, and they’ll deliver breakfast to you on a tray right to your bed.

• In a perfectly peaceful spot on Galway’s coast, The Quay House offers a warm, traditional welcome, complete with family heirlooms and an open hearth under marble fireplace and huge gilt mirror frames. Originally built for the Clifden harbourmaster 200 years ago, this is a large home, now with 15 rooms available to guests, all individually decorated with period themed antiques and curios. The breakfast room is reassuringly filled with plants. This is a great spot for windswept coastal walks and cycles. Book one of the Harbour View rooms for added romance.

Great value hotels for couples

• In a tiny hamlet just along the coast from Belfast is the utterly charming The Old Inn. Old to the point of having a thatched roof, enormous fireplaces, tiny windowpanes and a collection of impressive four-poster beds in its 33 rooms — the most impressive beds can be found in the Historic Suites. This is a relatively affordable spot, but it feels indulgent because of the impressive scale of the features and the rich colour palette. The restaurant is absolutely excellent too.
• Lough Rynn Castle sounds grand and looks grand, but the rates are reasonable for such a special stay. Rich fabrics, plush four-posters and antiques blend perfectly with contemporary touches. There's a fine dining restaurant plus beautifully-manicured gardens for romantic strolls. Also, the house can be hired in its entirety as a spectacular backdrop to a wedding.
• Wake up to sweeping mountain views, unwind by a crackling log fire, and explore scenic forest trails at Aherlow House Hotel. Set between the Galtee Mountains and Slievenamuck hills, expect old-world charm, warm tones, and Scandinavian lodges with private balconies, complete with an appealing price tag.

If you haven’t found your idea of the most romantic hotel in Ireland on our Gurus' list you could:

• Browse through our list of all the best places to stay in Ireland? which is quite a long list, so you might want to
• refine your search to the best hotels in Dublin or the best places to stay in County Cork or the best hotels in County Galway for example?
• Or you could consider our Gurus' recommendations for 15 of the Best Spa Hotels in Ireland or 20 of the Best Luxury Hotels in Ireland
• Or you could contact one of our friendly Gurus for personalised advice.