When thinking about Ireland, pubs, castles, and lush green landscapes probably come to mind, but did you know you can enhance your trip with a stay at an Irish spa hotel? After a day of exploring, you’ll be able to come back and indulge in all sorts of decadent treatments, perhaps soak in a hot tub or enjoy a relaxing swim in the pool. Some are worth spending a full day drifting between the numerous pampering options, including a few that are tucked away in castle hotels for a magical stay that will make you feel like royalty. No matter which you choose on this list, you’re sure to enjoy an unforgettable experience.
Ashford Castle - Cong
One of the most stunning castle hotels in Europe, Ashord was built in the 13th century and was transformed into a luxury hotel in the 1930s. It sits on a 350-acre estate and overlooks sparkling Lough Corrib while surrounded by forest. It’s the perfect place for a wellness retreat with a lavish spa that includes a relaxation pool with seated jets, an essence-infused steam room, a hammam, and indulgent treatments, including detoxifying wraps, refreshing scrubs, and regenerating facials. Numerous activities are available, including fishing, lake cruises, kayaking, falconry, and horse riding. Afternoon Tea and sumptuous meals based on seasonal ingredients from the region and fresh produce foraged on the property can be enjoyed while the historic rooms and suites include high-end amenities. The staterooms in the oldest part of the castle come with original fireplaces and clawfoot tubs.
Key Amenities:
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Spa with a steam room, hammam & relaxation pool
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Afternoon Tea & fine dining on-site
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Numerous activities, including falconry, lake cruises, and kayaking
Ashford Castle Dr, Leaf Island, Cong, Co. Mayo, Ireland— +353 94 954 6003
Adare Manor Hotel - Adare
Adare Manor is one of the most charming hotels in Ireland, and it also happens to be located in one of the country’s most picturesque villages, known for its thatched cottages lining the main street, now home to shops selling handcrafted items, cafes, and fine-dining restaurants. The early 19th-century manor house itself is a 5-star hotel on an 840-acre property that offers activities like horse riding, trout fishing, archery, and falconry right on-site, along with a wealth of facilities. There’s a Robert Trent Jones-designed golf course and a world-class spa with a full spectrum of treatments too. You’ll even find a Michelin-star restaurant on-site with a selection of over 300 wines, while rooms include impressive features like original fireplaces, beds with magnificently carved headboards, and all the usual modern amenities.
Key Amenities:
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Spa with a relaxation pool
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Robert Trent Jones-designed golf course
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Michelin-star dining
Dromoland Castle - Newmarket on Fergus
A 5-star castle hotel surrounded by the serene Clare countryside, Dromoland Castle is the ancestral home of one of the few true families of Irish royalty, direct descendants of the High King of Ireland in the early 11th century, Brian Boru. In 1962, it was transformed into a hotel that makes guests feel as if they are royalty. It sits on a meticulously landscaped 375-acre estate and includes a highly-rated spa with an indoor pool, a hot tub, a sauna, the Whisper Room, and an Amber and Quartz Crystal Bed. There’s an award-winning falconry school and a golf course on-site, and activities like horse riding and clay shooting can be enjoyed too. Enjoy multiple dining options and luxurious rooms with elegant features throughout.
Key Amenities:
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Spa with an indoor pool, sauna, hot tub, steam room & more
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Golf course and falconry school
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Lounge serving Afternoon Tea + fine dining
Dromoland, Newmarket on Fergus, Co. Clare, V95 ATD3, Ireland— +353 61 368 144
The Cliff House Hotel - Ardmore
The Cliff House Hotel is located along Ireland’s southern coast overlooking Ardmore Bay in the village of Ardmore, originally a 5th-century monastic settlement founded by St. Declan. Guests can enjoy a wide range of attractions here, including spectacular beaches and historic sites, which include St. Declan’s well and oratory, a 12th-century round tower, and a cathedral. After exploring, relax at the spa, which includes a pool and a variety of signature treatments utilizing organic ingredients. Unique bathing therapies are offered in outdoor tubs overlooking the bay, with options like the organic seaweed bath or the organic peat bath using Irish peat and ginger to relieve stress and soothe aches and pains. Fine dining can be enjoyed at the House Restaurant, while rooms and suites are sea-inspired, some of which come with water views and fireplaces.
Key Amenities:
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Spa with unique bathing therapies and a pool
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Fine dining on-site
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Complimentary breakfast
Middle Road, Dysert, Ardmore, Co. Waterford, P36 DK38, Ireland— +353 24 87800
Monart - Enniscorthy
Monart is a 5-star, adults-only destination spa hotel with its sole focus on enhancing the well-being of guests. It sits within an 18th-century Georgian manor and offers a full menu of treatments, a beautiful hydrotherapy pool, a sauna, a steam room, and even a salt grotto. There’s also a gym, a fine-dining restaurant, and a bar. Occasionally visiting Shaolin masters host tai chi and qigong classes too. All rooms include balconies or terraces, flat-screen TVs, and Italian marble bathrooms. Book a suite for a four-poster bed and additional living areas.
Key Amenities:
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5-star, adults-only property
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Spa with hydrotherapy pool, salt grotto, sauna, and steam room
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Fine-dining restaurant
Monart, The Still, Co. Wexford, Y21 XY79, Ireland— +353 53 923 8999
Cashel Palace Hotel - Cashel
Cashel Palace Hotel is named after the Rock of Cashel, an outcropping that served as the seat of local kings for several hundred years before the Norman invasion of the 12th century. It even has a private pathway that will lead you to the ancient ruins. A Palladian manse built in 1732, the hotel also offers views of the historic site along with three acres of gardens, rolling lawns, and a world-class spa with seaweed baths and a swimming pool. Look forward to delicious dining on contemporary Irish cuisine and refreshing beverages at Donoghue’s, a beautifully restored Irish pub exclusive for hotel residents.
Key Amenities:
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A world-class spa with seaweed baths
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On-site pub with contemporary Irish cuisine
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Set on three acres of gardens
Main St, St. Dominick's Abbey, Cashel, Co. Tipperary, E25 EF61, Ireland— +353 62 62002
The Shelbourne - Dublin
The Shelbourne sits within a landmark building with a storied history in the heart of Dublin. A 5-star hotel, it’s attracted many VIPs over the years, from celebrities to presidents, while many top attractions are just a short walk away, from Trinity College to the National Gallery, National Museum, and Grafton Street. Overlooking St. Stephen’s Green, it boasts a lavish spa spread over three floors where a variety of pampering treatments can be enjoyed, along with a salon and a health club that includes a swimming pool, a state-of-the-art fitness center, a dance studio, and a schedule of classes. Rooms at this top-rated Dublin hotel come with all the usual high-tech amenities, coffeemakers, and robes, but it’s worth splurging for a suite with a view of St. Stephen’s Green and the mountains in the distance.
Key Amenities:
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Luxurious spa and salon
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Health club with a swimming pool, fitness center & classes
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2 fine-dining restaurants + Afternoon Tea
27 St Stephen's Green, Dublin, Co. Dublin, Ireland— +353 1 663 4500
Lough Eske Castle - Donegal
This 5-star castle hotel sits at the edge of Lough Eske, nestled among sprawling grounds with beautifully manicured gardens. It dates back to the 15th century and includes a fabulous spa that sits within a Victorian glass house, complete with an infinity pool, an ice fountain, tropical showers, a sauna, a steam room, and views of the garden. There’s a fitness center and an outstanding restaurant on-site too, with a menu focused on locally sourced ingredients, including fresh seafood from nearby Killybegs. Many of the rooms have four-poster or canopy beds, and some of the suites also include fireplaces and free-standing bathtubs.
Key Amenities:
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Spa with an infinity pool, sauna & steam room
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Fitness center
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Fine-dining restaurant
Hayfield Manor Hotel - Cork
Just a 10-minute walk from Cork’s city center and its famous English Market, Hayfield Manor is a luxury hotel that sits within a Georgian manor. It boasts a fantastic spa with a pool that overlooks a garden with an outdoor hot tub, steam rooms, and a sauna. There are two restaurants and a bar on-site, while rooms come with all sorts of upscale perks, including some that are rather unexpected, like golf putters. Other amenities include 43″ Smart TVs and spacious marble bathrooms with high-end spa products and heated towel racks. The Master Suite has a working fireplace and a city view.
Key Amenities:
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Spa with a pool and outdoor hot tub
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Multiple restaurants and a bar
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Gardens with a terrace and aviary
Perrott Ave, College Rd, Centre, Cork, T12 HT97, Ireland— +353 21 484 5900
Dunraven Arms Hotel - Adare
Established in 1792, the Dunraven Arms is a luxurious country house in picturesque Adare, surrounded by charming thatched cottages while providing an ideal base for exploring one of the country’s prettiest towns. Spa treatments and beauty services include everything from soothing massages to facial therapy, waxing, and mani/pedis. The oak-paneled bar is a lovely space for enjoying a drink and the award-winning Maigue Restaurant is renowned for its Irish cuisine featuring local and seasonal produce. Rooms are lavishly decorated and spacious, many of which offer gorgeous views over the gardens.
Key Amenities:
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Spa with a menu of massages and various treatments
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Salon services, including waxing and mani/pedis
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Award-winning dining on-site
Main St, Blackabbey, Adare, Co. Limerick, V94 KV2P, Ireland— +353 61 605 900
Park Hotel Kenmare - Kenmare
Park Hotel Kenmore sits on nine acres in an elegant 19th-century building overlooking Kenmare Bay. It offers one of Ireland’s finest spas, which includes dedicated suites for males and females with saunas, aromatherapy steam rooms, ice fountains, tropical rain showers, and a heated vitality pool that’s tucked right into the forest. In addition to the long list of treatments available, guests can enjoy classes that include everything from HIIT to candlelit meditation and yoga. Tennis courts, croquet, and access to the adjacent golf club are all included too, and the on-site restaurant offers dining with a bay view and over 400 wines. Rooms are filled with antiques and include all the essentials, plus flat-screen TVs with DVD players.
Key Amenities:
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Spa with an outdoor vitality pool in the forest
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Fitness + yoga and meditation classes
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Bay-view dining
Farnham Estate Spa and Golf Resort - Cavan
Farnham Estate is surrounded by hundreds of acres in the Irish midlands while offering an enchanting combination of old and new. It blends the historic character of the original 18th-century country house and luxurious modern amenities like the world-class spa with a heated indoor/outdoor pool, amethyst salt rooms, saunas, and steam rooms. Enjoy a variety of treatments, including Yon-Ka facials in a tranquil environment for 16 and over only. There’s a gym, an 18-hole golf course, and well-marked paths that wind through the woods, passing multiple lakes. Fuel your appetite with sumptuous meals based on local ingredients at Botanica restaurant.
Key Amenities:
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Spa with an indoor/outdoor heated pool
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18-hole golf course
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Botanica restaurant on-site
Finn Lough Hideaway - Enniskillen, Northern Ireland
The Finn Lough Forest Hideaway is in Northern Ireland, but it’s so unique and impressive it’s worth traveling across the largely invisible border. It’s the perfect escape into a forest oasis with accommodation in transparent bubble domes, cottages, and lodge rooms. The spa is a showstopper too, designed to be a journey through nature with a series of cabins that include a Finnish sauna, herbal sauna, float room, and a hot tub on a deck that overlooks the lake, Finn Lough. You’ll conclude in a beautiful relaxation room with a wood-burning stove and a view of the forest. Alfresco dining is available at The Bay, while evening meals are served at The Barn, featuring seasonal small plates like short ribs, scampi, and pork belly.
Key Amenities:
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Forest spa with saunas and a lake-view hot tub
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Forest bathing, kayaking, fishing, swimming, and biking (complimentary bicycles included)
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Multiple on-site restaurants and a bar
37 Letter Rd, Aghnablaney, Enniskillen BT93 2BB, UK— +44 28 6838 0360
