This page features tours of Ireland with overnight stays in real castles and manor houses.
You might also like to view our full range of Ireland tour vacations.
On our Ireland castle tours, you don't just visit Ireland's historic castles, monuments and manor houses – you stay in them. Live like royalty with unforgettable overnight stays in some of Ireland's most luxurious castle hotels and manor houses. Use this page to find the castle tour packages and dates that work best for you.
Live like royalty with overnight stays in real Irish castles and manor houses. Castle Tours by My Ireland Tour
A big thank you to all our past guests who have left so many amazing reviews. With 909 five-star reviews out of a total of 925, we are proud to call ourselves Ireland's top-rated tour operator.
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A sample of some of the castle accommodation which you can experience across our range of castle tour packages. To see which castles you will be staying in on your tour, please consult the itinerary of your chosen tour or simply get in touch.
A stately Connemara retreat with commanding views over expansive grounds and lake. Visit their website...
A traditional country manor house and grounds set in an idyllic County Kerry landscape. Visit their website...
This historic building is nestled in the foothills of the Slieve Bloom Mountains, County Offaly. Visit their website...
This grand, ivy-clad castle offers an alluring gateway to the rich Connemara countryside. Visit their website...
A stylish and impressive castle hotel with original house building and a more modern extension. Visit their website...
A stunning five-star castle hotel, steeped in history, and enveloped in expansive grounds. Visit their website...
A sample of some of the castles and ancient monuments which our tours visit. To see which attractions you will be visiting on your tour, please consult the itinerary of your chosen tour or simply get in touch.
This 600-year-old Irish castle is famed for its legendary kissing stone.
More infoBuilt by Charles II in the 1670s as a defence against foreign attacks.
More infoAt this ancient monastic site, walk the landscapes of Irish folklore.
More infoFormerly the seat of the High King of Ireland.
More infoOne of Ireland's most romantic and aesthetically pleasing buildings.
More infoOnce the home to Sir William Penn, whose son was later to found Pennsylvania.
More infoThe chamber and passage are perfectly aligned with the Winter Solstice.
More infoA remarkably well-preserved fortress, that has stood for a millennium.
More infoTrim Castle, in County Meath, is the largest Norman castle in Ireland.
More infoA big thank you to all our past guests who have left so many amazing reviews. With 909 five-star reviews out of a total of 925, we are proud to call ourselves Ireland's top-rated tour operator.
★★★★★ | |
★★★★★ | |
★★★★★ | |
★★★★★ | |
★★★★★ |
There are so many amazing tourist attractions in Ireland and our tours are designed to show you the very best of them. If you're not sure where to start, here we have compiled a top-ten list of the most popular Ireland tour experiences.
Ireland offers so many amazing places to visit, from its best-known tourist hotspots to its best-kept secrets. Here, we've put together a list of some of the most popular destinations among first-time visitors to Ireland.
Of course, these unmissable destinations are widely featured on our range of Ireland vacations, and you can visit any of them on a customized private tour.
The "gateway to Ireland" is for more than just passing through. Visit the Guinness Storehouse, Christchurch Cathedral and Epic: The Irish Emigration Museum.
From the vibrant and Bohemian city centre to the pristine Connemara wilderness, County Galway is always a favourite with visitors to Ireland.
Killarney marks the start & endpoint of the Ring of Kerry. It is also home to some of Ireland's most famous castles, cathedrals and lakes.
Boasting attractions such as Blarney Castle, the Jameson Distillery and the fishing town of Kinsale, County Cork is a must-see destination.
The Ring of Kerry is a 111-mile circular route encompassing what is, arguably, the most scenic area of Ireland.
A haven of tranquillity in western Galway. Connemara is home to Kylemore Abbey, Ballynahinch Castle and Clifden village.
Famed for its rugged coastline and mountains, County Donegal is brimming with stunning natural beauty.
A quaint fishing village in western County Kerry. A bottlenose dolphin named Fungie has been living in Dingle Bay since 1983.
The birthplace of the Titanic and once a major hub in the Industrial Revolution. Today, a city back on its feet after a turbulent past.
Monasteries, abbeys, manor houses & thatched cottages blend together to create a village that is as rich in heritage as it is easy on the eye.
The "Sunny Southeast" brings with it Ireland's finest potatoes and strawberries, alongside some awe-inspiring scenery.
Take a step back in time with a visit to the Aran Islands. There are 1,200 Irish-speaking inhabitants, across three islands, and no cars.
Adare is a small town in Co. Limerick, known for its quaint and colourful thatched cottages. Adare is considered to be one of Ireland's most beautiful towns so stop and take in the view. Don't forget your camera today - the perfect chance to capture the essence of old Ireland.
Explore Adare Village along the Wild Atlantic Way.
Take a journey through this once troubled city. See the murals of the Loyalist Shankill Road & Nationalist Falls Road. The Troubles took their toll on the economic life of Belfast, but the past ten years of peace have returned much prosperity while the genuine friendliness of the city never left.
Situated five miles north-west of Cork city, Blarney Castle is a solid fixture on almost any tour of Ireland. It is best known for the famous "Blarney Stone" of which visitors are encouraged to kiss, in accordance with a tradition that spans centuries.
Originally built in 1823, Blarney Woollen Mills was mainly used for the spinning and weaving of wool. After it closed in 1973, it reopened in 1975 — as an Irish heritage shop.
A limestone plateau covering 250 square kilometres, The Burren takes its name quite aptly from the Gaelic for "rocky land" or "great rock". While in one sense very fitting, the name does not do justice to what experts have more justly termed "one of the world's most stunningly unique natural heritage regions
".
The Burren runs alongside the Wild Atlantic Way.
A limestone plateau covering 250 square kilometres, The Burren takes its name quite aptly from the Gaelic for "rocky land" or "great rock". While in one sense very fitting, the name does not do justice to what experts have more justly termed "one of the world's most stunningly unique natural heritage regions
".
The Burren runs alongside the Wild Atlantic Way.
A limestone plateau covering 250 square kilometres, The Burren takes its name quite aptly from the Gaelic for "rocky land" or "great rock". While in one sense very fitting, the name does not do justice to what experts have more justly termed "one of the world's most stunningly unique natural heritage regions
".
The Burren runs alongside the Wild Atlantic Way.
At the southern-most tip of Summer Cove, on Kinsale Harbour in Co. Cork, awaits the unyielding presence of Charles Fort, a star-shaped stronghold protecting the harbour from sea invaders since its completion in 1682. In recent decades, Irish heritage organizations have restored the fort to the impressive standards it now displays.
Kinsale marks the beginning of the Wild Atlantic Way, if you are starting in the south, and the end if you are starting in the north.
Christ Church Cathedral, founded by the Viking King Sitric almost 1000 years ago in 1034. The cathedral crypt is one of the largest in the UK and Ireland, dating back to the 12th Century. Here in the crypt, you can see the Mummified remains of the Cat and the Rat which were found in the cathedral organ, and a rare 14th century copy of the Magna Carta.
One of the most popular and most eagerly anticipated attractions on any vacation in Ireland, and the views will not disappoint. They rise to a height of 702ft (214m) and 9 miles (14km) long, these sheer vertical cliffs hold a steady, undulating line against the tireless advance of the Atlantic below. A better view of the sea and setting sun you will not find.
The Cliffs of Moher are a Signature Discovery Point on the Wild Atlantic Way. For more information click here.
Perched on the banks of the River Shannon, Clonmacnoise is perhaps the foremost of Ireland's monastic cities. For those interested in early Christianity, it is a must-see destination. Enclosed within the ancient city walls are various ecclesiastical ruins including a cathedral, seven ancient churches, three high crosses, round towers and the largest collection of Early Christian grave slabs in Western Europe — all remarkably well preserved and fascinating to anyone, not just those with a special interest in Ireland's religious history.
The Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre commemorates the last pitched battle fought on British soil, in April 1746. Learn more about the Jacobite intent to overthrow the House of Hanover and return the House of Stuart to the British throne.
EPIC: The Irish Emigration Museum, tracks the harrowing history of the 10 million Irish people left the island, for a variety of reasons, over the past 300 years.
Northern Ireland's only UNESCO World Heritage site, known in Gaelic as Clochán na bhFomhórach or Clochán an Aifir, The Giant's Causeway is an area of 40,000 basalt columns, formed into a regular interlocking pattern by an ancient volcanic lava flow.
An ancient monastic settlement, Glendalough (meaning: Valley of the Two Lakes) presents today's visitors with a chance to walk not only through the idyllic hills of Ireland's East, but also through the rough-hewn landscapes of ancient Irish history. The steep wooded slopes of Glendalough harbour one of Ireland’s most atmospheric monastic settlements. Sacked time and again by the Vikings, it nevertheless flourished for over 600 years. Founded in the Fifth Century by St. Kevin, the settlement would grow to be very powerful, at its zenith, some four hundred years later. By the start of the Fifteenth Century, this stronghold was in decline but the stone monuments and buildings remain as evocative and powerful today as they surely must have been then.
Located within Glenveagh National Park, Glenveagh Castle was built by Captain John George Adair between 1870 and 1873. Having made his fortune through land speculation in America, Adair return to Ireland and began large amounts of land in County Donegal. The castle was built in the Scottish Baronial style and is surrounded by a garden and commands stunning views of the nearby mountains, lakes, woodlands and valleys.
Guinness is more than just a brand, indeed, more than just a beer. And that's not just for the Irish, but for the many millions of Guinness-drinkers worldwide. The site of the brewery itself is massive, at a staggering 26 hectares, but it will be the old grain storehouse that you visit. Shaped like a giant pint of the black stuff, this most popular of Dublin attractions towers over the surrounding neighbourhoods, with the top-floor Gravity Bar offering a delightful panorama across the Dublin cityscape which can only be enhanced by a well-earned pint to cap-off your visit.
About Highland Folk Museum is a museum and open-air attraction located in the Scottish Highlands. It is designed to showcase the domestic and working lives of the early highland people.
Situated close to the River Boyne, the Hill of Tara is an archaeological site located between the towns of Navan and Dunshaughlin in County Meath. According to legend, it was the seat of the High King of Ireland. The Hill of Tara was in use as far back as the Neolithic era, from then until the 12th century, it was used as a sacred and political centre.
Located alongside the River Shannon in County Limerick, on King's Island. Dating back to 922, to a time when Vikings were the inhabitants of the island (Thormodr Helgason, the Viking sea-king, built the first settlement here. The castle itself was built in 1200, under the instruction of King John of England.
Located alongside the River Shannon in County Limerick, on King's Island. Dating back to 922, to a time when Vikings were the inhabitants of the island (Thormodr Helgason, the Viking sea-king, built the first settlement here. The castle itself was built in 1200, under the instruction of King John of England.
Kylemore Abbey is not only one of Ireland's most attractive buildings; since 1920, it has also been home to the Sisters of the Benedictine Order in Ireland. Even today, Kylemore continues to operate as a working Abbey: here, the sisters live, work and pray, as well as welcome visitors from across the globe. Kylemore Abbey's greatest attraction is its location. Nestled at the base of Duchruach Mountain on the northern shore of Lough Pollacappul, in the heart of the Connemara Mountains, it is regarded as one of Ireland's most romantic locations.
Kylemore Abbey can be viewed along the Wild Atlantic Way.
Situated in the old market town of the same name, Macroom Castle was once the home to Sir William Penn, whose son was later to found the state of Pennsylvania.
Located close to the Killarney National Park, Moriarty's is an Authentic Irish Gift Store and Restaurant. Hand crafted Irish jewellery, Waterford Crystal and classic and modern tweed fashions and furnishings are all on offer at the gift store. The restaurant is an 85 seater offering stunning views of the surrounding landscape.
Mount Congreve Gardens. Located in Kilmeaden, County Waterford, Mount Congreve Gardens is an 18th century Georgian estate and mansion. It was designed by the same architect that created both of Waterford's cathedrals, John Roberts.
Recently recognised as being one of the top 10 gardens in the world, Mount Stewart is a rich tapestry of planting plant life and stunning walking trails. The house dates back to the 19th century, and was the Irish seat of the Vane-Tempest-Stewart family.
Located on the grounds of the expansive and idyllic Killarney National Park. Muckross House, and its 11,000-acre grounds, was donated to the Irish state in 1932.
Located on the grounds of the picturesque Muckross House and its impeccable gardens. Take a step back in time and see the Irish farming lifestyle of the 1930s and '40s. A time when the horse was responsible for much of the labour and the weather was the be all and end all in terms of production.
Located just outside the town of Newry in the royal County of Meath, Newgrange is a 5,200-year-old passage tomb. An archaeological wonder, its chamber and passage perfectly align with the Winter Solstice.
Ireland has more than its fair share of outstanding archaeological sites, but the Rock of Cashel is arguably the most impressive. The 'rock' from which it takes its name is, in fact, a limestone hill, covered in luscious green, rising from the plain which characterises the surrounding area. The word 'cashel', by contrast, is derived from the Irish Gaelic word caiseal, meaning stone fortress. It was the seat of kings and medieval bishops for 900 years and flourished until the early 17th century. Brian Ború was crowned King of Munster here in 977 and he became the High King of Ireland in 1002.
The Quiet Man Museum. A reproduction of the quaint thatched cottage from the John Wayne starring, John Ford directed movie of the same name. all costumes, artifacts and furnishings have been recreated in precise detail, to reflect the setting of the 1952 classic. Located in the picturesque village of Cong, County Mayo.
Pubs (public houses) play a huge part in the culture of Ireland and have done throughout the ages. Sometimes busy, often noisy, but always friendly and welcoming places to meet the locals. In a pub, you will see a full cross-section of Irish society — its a place where people from all classes, ages, interests and backgrounds can mix.
Located in County Meath, Trim Castle is the largest Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland. Hugh de Lacy and his son Walter built it over a 30 year period, finished in 1206.