Best hotels in Ireland 2023

With its dramatic coastline, lively cities and National Parks filled with mountains and lakes, Ireland makes for a dream holiday destination. Whether you want to stay in a rambling country pile or a city hotel in the middle of the action, there are plenty of places to choose from. A word of warning, though – bargain rates are few and far between these days, and you’ll be paying top dollar at weekends and during the summer, particularly in hotspots such as Connemara and Kerry.

While the usual chain hotels are dotted around, the indie hotel scene in Ireland is excellent, and the reception you’ll receive is in the spirit of céad míle fáilte (a thousand welcomes), whether you’re checking into a hostel or a five-star resort. An added bonus? You’ll find digs in some of the most characterful buildings in the land, from Georgian townhouses to historic castles.

Here is our pick of some of the best hotels in Ireland, for family holidays, city breaks and more.

Location: Dún Laoghaire

Out in the seaside village of Dún Laoghaire, but just a 25-minute train ride from the city, Haddington House is a chic coastal bolthole that feels like a lavish country house. Set within four Victorian townhouses, the hotel has 35 bedrooms, each with William Morris wallpaper, rotary phones and a straw bag stocked with beach towels and a hot water bottle, in case you want to take a dip at local swimming spot the Forty Foot. The parlour bar downstairs is moodily chic, with excellent cocktails you can enjoy in tucked-away corners on pink velvet couches. The on-site restaurant Oliveto is a favourite among Dublin foodies.