Hotels
Castle hotels in Europe: 8 castles where you can stay the night
Drawbridges, tower rooms and fireplaces you could stand up in. These are eight castle hotels in Europe where you sleep like nobility, from Ireland to the Riviera.
Most castle hotels in Europe are in Ireland, Scotland and England, but Germany, Austria, Spain and France also have castles where you can stay the night. Many have been restored as five star hotels, while others, like the Spanish paradores, are state run hotels in historic buildings. These are eight we would book.
There is something about driving up a long avenue and seeing the towers appear between the trees. Inside there are stone walls, fireplaces and stairs worn down by generations of shoes. A castle hotel is both a place to sleep and a history lesson.
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How we chose the castle hotels
The building is a real castle or fortress, not just a manor with a castle name.
The hotel has something to offer beyond its walls: nature, golf, a city or the coast.
We spread the list across Europe, so there is a castle within a short flight wherever you live.
Ireland and Britain: castle country
Donegal
The castle sits on Lough Eske, with the Bluestack Mountains behind.
Ireland: Lough Eske Castle, Donegal
Best time: May to September. Best for: travellers who want wild nature, golf and calm.
Lough Eske Castle sits on the lake of the same name in Donegal, with the Bluestack Mountains right behind. Donegal is Ireland's wildest county, with cliffs and empty beaches along the Wild Atlantic Way. Come back to a fire and dinner in the castle.
Book your castle stay: See rooms at Lough Eske Castle
Fort William
Inverlochy Castle sits just outside Fort William, below Ben Nevis.
Scotland: Inverlochy Castle, Fort William
Best time: May to September. Best for: travellers who want Highlands, mountains and whisky.
Inverlochy Castle sits at the foot of Ben Nevis, Britain's highest mountain, just outside Fort William. Queen Victoria visited in the 1800s. Today it is a small luxury hotel, with the Ben Nevis distillery and Glencoe a short drive away.
Book your castle stay: See rooms at Inverlochy Castle
Amberley
Amberley Castle sits by the River Arun in the South Downs.
England: Amberley Castle, West Sussex
Best time: April to October. Best for: couples who want the Middle Ages within easy reach of London.
Amberley Castle is a medieval castle in the South Downs with a portcullis, walls and gardens. The River Arun runs close by, and Arundel with its great castle is a few minutes away. The coast and Brighton are within easy reach too.
Book your castle stay: See rooms at Amberley Castle
Germany and Austria: castles close to the city
Kronberg
Kronberg lies in the Taunus hills north west of Frankfurt.
Germany: Schlosshotel Kronberg near Frankfurt
Best time: April to October. Best for: travellers who want to combine a castle, golf and a big city.
Schlosshotel Kronberg was built for Empress Victoria, the daughter of Britain's Queen Victoria, and sits in the Taunus hills outside Frankfurt. The castle has its own golf course in the park, and central Frankfurt is a short drive away.
Book your castle stay: See rooms at Schlosshotel Kronberg
Salzburg
The hotel sits on the Mönchsberg, high above Salzburg's old town.
Austria: Schloss Mönchstein, Salzburg
Best time: May to September, and December for the Christmas markets. Best for: travellers who want a castle right in the city.
Schloss Mönchstein sits on the Mönchsberg above Salzburg's old town, with woods around it and the city right below. Walk down to Mirabell Palace and the old town, and come back to a small castle with a view over all of Salzburg.
Book your castle stay: See rooms at Schloss Mönchstein Hotel
Southern Europe: castles and fortresses in the sun
Mallorca
The castle sits in the hills above Palma, looking towards the city and the sea.
Mallorca, Spain: Castillo Hotel Son Vida
Best time: April to October. Best for: travellers who want a castle, golf and Palma nearby.
Castillo Hotel Son Vida sits in the hills above Palma de Mallorca, with views over the city and the bay. Son Vida golf course is right next door, and central Palma with its cathedral and tapas bars is a short taxi ride away.
Book your castle stay: See rooms at Castillo Hotel Son Vida
Cardona
The parador sits inside the fortress on a hilltop above Cardona in Catalonia.
Catalonia, Spain: Parador de Cardona
Best time: April to June and September to October. Best for: travellers who want to sleep in a real medieval fortress.
Parador de Cardona sits inside the medieval fortress on the hill above Cardona, a couple of hours' drive from Barcelona. Paradores are state run Spanish hotels in historic buildings, and this is one of the most atmospheric, with stone arches and views over the whole valley.
Book your castle stay: See rooms at Parador de Cardona
Èze
Èze sits on a clifftop between Nice and Monaco.
French Riviera: Château de La Chèvre d’Or, Èze
Best time: May to September. Best for: couples who want the Riviera, views and the Middle Ages.
Château de La Chèvre d’Or is built into the medieval village of Èze on a clifftop between Nice and Monaco. Pools and terraces hang above the Mediterranean, and the Jardin Exotique d'Èze is just up the hill.
Book your castle stay: See rooms at Château de La Chèvre d’Or
When should you book a castle hotel?
Book 2-4 months ahead for summer and weekends. Castle hotels often have few rooms.
Ask for a room in the tower or the old part of the castle. Newer wings can feel less special.
Check whether dinner is included. Many castle hotels are rural with few restaurants nearby.
Want more unusual places to stay? Read 8 of the world's most unique hotels.
Frequently asked questions about castle hotels
Where can you stay in a castle in Europe?
You can stay in a castle almost anywhere in Europe, but the choice is biggest in Ireland, Scotland and England. Germany and Austria have many castle hotels, and in Spain you can stay in fortresses and monasteries through the paradores.
What is a parador?
A parador is a state run Spanish hotel, often in a historic building such as a fortress, castle or monastery. There are almost a hundred paradores in Spain, and Parador de Cardona in Catalonia is one of the best known.
Are castle hotels expensive?
Castle hotels range from affordable paradores in Spain to five star luxury in Ireland and on the Riviera. Outside summer and the holidays a castle stay often costs about the same as a good city hotel.
Which castle hotel is best for a romantic weekend?
For a romantic weekend, Château de La Chèvre d'Or in Èze, Amberley Castle in England and Schloss Mönchstein in Salzburg all work well. They are small, have good food and sit close to a city or the coast.
Can you stay in a castle in the UK?
Yes. The UK has many castle hotels, from Amberley Castle in West Sussex to Inverlochy Castle in the Scottish Highlands. Scotland in particular has a long list of castles you can stay in.