Castle & Spa Hotels – 2026

Majestic Baroque palace: A 300-year-old 5-star luxury hotel near Cologne and Düsseldorf. World-class dining: Home to Vendôme, a 3-Michelin-starred restaurant acclaimed as Germany’s best. Elegant rooms: Suites range up to 120 m², with marble bathrooms and Rhine Valley views. Lavish facilities: Full-service spa, multiple restaurants, lively bars, and exceptional service. Prime location: Overlooks Cologne Cathedral, with easy metro and airport access. Check dates & prices here   The 5-star Schloss… > Read More

Most Notable Former Guests: Grace Kelly, Jacques Chirac, Queen Elizabeth II… The magnificent walled city of Carcassonne, France, is certainly a wondrous sight. The words ‘walled city’ can be used to refer to a huge number of cities around the world but in Carcassonne’s case the ‘walls’ are more castle ramparts than walls and so, rather excitingly, it could be said that Carcassonne is a city within a castle. So… > Read More

Hilltop setting – magical castle hotel overlooking Perugia, Umbria. Convenient location – just over 1 km from the old town, peaceful yet close to the city. Deeply Historic – 700-year-old building restored with respect for its history. Luxury done right – modern comforts blended subtly with heritage. Dining – two castle restaurants, including Michelin-starred Il Postale. Wellness – swimming pool and spa facilities on site. Family friendly – child friendly but… > Read More

Most Famous Guests: Princess Diana, Prince Rainer, Grace Kelly, Michael Jackson… The 5 Star luxury Gstaad Palace Hotel is another Swiss Alps institution smoothly fulfilling the desires of discerning international guests with great style and class. It has stood on a hill over the lovely Alpine resort of Gstaad for over a hundred years and is very much a hotel of the old-school type. The atmosphere is grand and regal… > Read More

Castlemartyr Castle Resort has 5-star accommodation near Midleton, East Cork, adjacent to the ruins of the 800-year-old castle that bears its name. The centrepiece building is the 18th-century manor house, but most of the 103 rooms and suites are in two adjacent modern wings. Castlemartyr Castle Resort at a Glance Castle: An 18th-century manor house beside the ruins of the 800-year-old castle that gives the resort its name. Accommodation: 103… > Read More

The four-star 19th century Château Hotel Grand Barrail lies among some beautiful countryside near Bordeaux and nearer still to Saint-Emilion in the heart of South West France’s Aquitaine Dordogne. The estate is surrounded by beautifully tended gardens and acres of vineyards. It is particularly known for two things: its kitchen, run by Chef Romain Gondras, serves up some of the most innovative cuisine in the region, and its extensive spa… > Read More

Hilltop fortress: A medieval stronghold overlooking Lake Edersee and Kellerwald-Edersee Nature Reserve. Historic yet modern: Exterior remains castle-like while interiors lean sleek and contemporary. Stylish rooms: Boutique hotel feel with touches of medieval character. Dining variety: Gourmet restaurant in a medieval hall, plus modern café, bar, and lounge. Spa facilities: Relax in a wellness area with castle views. Check dates & prices here   The 4 Star Schloss Waldeck is… > Read More

Historic luxury – 5-star Four Seasons in Florence, set in 15th-16th century palaces with 11-acre walled gardens. Elegant rooms – 116 rooms & suites, from deluxe doubles to the 234 m² Royal Suite, with marble bathrooms and fine linens. Fine dining – Michelin-starred Il Palagio, casual poolside options, and Atrium Bar for cocktails and tea. Spa & leisure – Top hotel spa, pool, gym, jacuzzis, and tranquil gardens for picnics or… > Read More

Near St Tropez and the Riviera, this 5 Star French château hotel is a slice of heaven in rural Provence, and guaranteed to please lovers of nature, wine, and food. The vast majority of the 1,235-acre estate is left to the supervision of Mother Nature and is a classic Provençal mix of garrigue and centuries-old trees. They have some charming gardens too, which include a swimming pool, and surrounding it… > Read More

A former 12th-century Knights Templar castle, Château Saint Martin is now a magnificent, 5-star luxury hotel retreat set high in the hills above Saint Paul de Vence and the French Riviera. It has magnificent views, spacious, comfortable rooms and suites, over 30 acres of beautifully tended gardens which include a swimming pool and tennis courts. It can also boast a Michelin Star Restaurant, opulent spa facilities, and a dedicated staff… > Read More

Neo-Gothic castle hotel: Striking Gothic atmosphere, famous filming location, and a landmark in Windsor. Expansive grounds: 33 acres with gardens, woodland, golf, tennis, spa, pool, and fine dining. Notable Former Guests: Prince Imperial Napoléon, Lilly Langtry, Christopher Lee. Enter your dates & check prices here.   Perhaps Windsor’s most famous hotel, the luxury Oakley Court is a fabulous Neo-Gothic castle hotel on the banks of the River Thames. It has… > Read More

The very pretty Chateau de Maraval is where 15th-century design meets 21st and somehow they get along quite nicely. Its unashamedly contemporary interior design is so well done it doesn’t seem at all incongruous on a five centuries-old canvas. The chateau is a boutique hotel but with only four rooms (book as quickly as you can!), very friendly hosts, and a down-to-earth atmosphere, it feels more like a gathering place… > Read More

Between Donegal Town and the wilds of the Blue Stack Mountains, in Ireland’s much underrated northwest, lies the 5 star Lough Eske Castle. The only castle hotel in Co. Donegal, it was once the seat of the infamous O’Donnell Clan and boasts a tremendous amount of local and national history. It also has an idyllic lakeside setting, 43 acres of private gardens and woodland, top-rate spa facilities, a choice of… > Read More

Most Notable Former Guests: Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela, Mikhail Gorbachev… The very exclusive Dolder Grand, long regarded as one of Europe’s best hotels, sits on a hill overlooking Zurich, Switzerland, a city in which it is very much an iconic building. It first served as a Curhaus or health spa in the late 19th century and still does today though with much more modern facilities at its 4,000-meter spa. It has… > Read More

The most renowned of all Ireland’s castle hotels, 5-star Ashford Castle in Co. Galway, is an extremely impressive property, with an extravagant setting, an imposing exterior, and very lavish interiors. Those factors combined with a great range of modern facilities, great food, and high levels of service, make Ashford Castle a consistent choice for lists of the best hotels in Ireland, and indeed in Europe. Ashford Castle at a Glance… > Read More

Prestigious address: Grade II listed landmark on Hyde Park Corner, one of London’s finest locations. Unmatched luxury: Lavish late Georgian/Regency interiors with 24-hour butlers for all rooms. World-class dining: Double Michelin Starred Céleste Restaurant and vintage cognac at the Library Bar. Award-winning spa: Previously voted England’s Best Hotel Spa, with bespoke treatments. Exceptional service: Elite concierge team, chauffeur-driven Rolls Royces. Check dates & prices here   The Lanesborough, on Hyde… > Read More

The Napoleon III-era Château de Sacy is now a sophisticated boutique hotel near Reim in the heart of France’s Champagne region and just over an hour from Paris. With just 12 rooms and suites it is a homely, intimate place, which has friendly, helpful staff, an excellent restaurant, and sweeping views over the surrounding vineyards. The Rooms: Your choices are between classic, superior, and deluxe rooms and two lovely 50… > Read More

Location: Gorgeous, secluded retreat beside Loch Faskally and Ben Vrackie. Aesthetics: Luxury castle hotel blending historic baronial style with more modern design. Accommodation: 42 rooms spread across the castle, lodges, and a modern wing. Dining: Two restaurants, including the award-winning Sandemans with 3 AA Rosettes. Wellness & Activities: On-site spa plus outdoor adventures like hiking, rafting, and fishing. Enter your dates & check prices here.   Where Perthshire begins to… > Read More

Why we chose this castle hotel: Unique setting: Grade II listed French-style villa on Anglesey with 3 acres of gardens and a private beach. Historic charm: Built in 1849 inspired by Loire Valley châteaux with period features throughout. Elegant accommodations: 22 rooms and suites inside the château plus lodge suites on the grounds. On-site activities: Restaurants, bars, sauna, hot tub, wine cellars, games room, tennis courts, and bespoke activities like… > Read More

Historic pedigree: 16th-century castle with Renaissance architecture, set in Weserbergland Nature Park. Famous guests: Tsar Peter the Great of Russia once stayed here and was amazed by its exotic gardens. 5-star luxury: Lavish rooms, spa & beauty center, swimming pool, and Michelin-starred dining. Gourmet choice: Haute cuisine at the Michelin-starred Gourmet Restaurant, plus casual dining in the Schlosskeller. Recreation: 18-hole golf course, landscaped gardens, hiking, biking, and boating in the… > Read More

Historic guests: King Edward I, Oliver Cromwell, Queen Victoria all stayed here. Atmospheric castle: Scotland’s oldest continually inhabited castle transformed into a luxury hotel. Accommodation: 29 plush B&B rooms offering comfort and charm. Facilities: Top-class restaurant, excellent spa, and woodland setting by the River Esk. History: Rich local and national historical significance adds to its allure.   Dalhousie Castle Hotel in Bonnyrigg near Edinburgh, has the distinction of being Scotland’s… > Read More

Notable guests: Mahatma Gandhi, John Profumo, Christine Keeler, Harold Macmillan. Royal connection: Meghan Markle stayed here before her wedding to Prince Harry. National Trust: Property open to the public seasonally with grounds accessible year-round. Historic scandal: Site of the 1960s Profumo affair, adding a touch of notorious glamour. Luxury hotel: 5-star manor house near London with top service and facilities. Enter your dates & check prices here.   Meghan Markle… > Read More

Most Notable Former Guests: Charles I & Zita, Last Emperors of Austria… The family & pet-friendly, Schloss Wartegg/Wartegg Castle Hotel has comfortable accommodation in a lovely setting by the shores of Lake Constance in Northeastern Switzerland. The castle dates back to 1558 and was the birthplace of Zita, the last Empress of Austria & Queen of Hungary, in the 19th century but was extensively renovated in the 1990s. The passage… > Read More

The 4 Star Château de Labro is a luxury vineyard hotel & spa near the town of Rodez in central France’s Occitanie region, previously known as Midi-Pyrénées. The medieval château oozes old-world elegance and the grounds have charming gardens, a swimming pool, orchards, and vineyards. There is a very fine restaurant at the château and the food and wine are superb. For an extra novel stay, if a medieval château… > Read More

Why we chose this castle hotel: Grand 5-star manor, blending classic British elegance with modern comforts. Set on Dartmoor, with 275+ acres of countryside, gardens, and golf course. Variety of stays, from castle rooms to spacious self-catering estate lodges. Extensive facilities, including spa, indoor pool, fine dining, and outdoor activities. Rich history, from aristocratic retreat to wartime hospital to luxury hotel.   The very grand, 5-star Bovey Castle is a… > Read More

One of only two castle hotels within the city of Dublin, Fitzpatrick Castle has a lovely setting overlooking Dublin Bay in the quiet, prosperous south side suburb of Killiney. The present structure dates back to the 18th century and the construction of a relatively modest manor house, named Mount Malpas, later Killiney Castle, At various points in the 19th century it then received more castle-like embellishments to resemble more closely… > Read More

Château de Mathod, near Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland, is a very charming and special place. A recognized historical monument, it was once the home of the Swiss artist Louis Rivier and has been in the same family for seven generations now. They have a luxury B&B guest suite at the chateau which is beautifully renovated and decorated, and though having all modern comforts still retains a tangible sense of history. The property… > Read More

Very Historic: Cave Castle combines a ‘newer’ Victorian era grandeur with a history dating back to the Doomsday Book. Spacious rooms: Over 70 well-appointed doubles and twins, with castle rooms featuring historic character and four-poster beds. Extensive facilities: Includes a renowned health club, spa, beauty salon, and a full 18-hole golf course. Dining variety: Choose between formal meals at Windsor Restaurant or relaxed dining at the Courtyard Bistro. Accessible location:… > Read More

Tiara Chateau Hotel Mont Royal Chantilly, to give it its full title, is a lavishly beautiful, 5-star chateau hotel near Paris, France with a sublime hilltop setting overlooking the ancient royal hunting grounds of Chantilly Forest. The chateau is quite a sight from the outside and was certainly built to impress. It is towering and commanding and yet elegant and refined. The interiors are more simple and understated than you… > Read More

Right outside Clifden, Connemara, this homely, welcoming Irish castle hotel can be a great base for exploring the region. Abbeyglen sits a wooded hillside overlooking Clifden Bay and with The Twelve Bens Mountains in the background it feels rural, but is yet only a five minute walk from the centre of the town (uphill on your way back though – be warned!) It’s a four star hotel in a Victorian-era castle… > Read More

In County Clare, near Shannon Airport and the Cliffs of Moher, the 5 star Dromoland Castle is very much one of Ireland’s best castle hotels, and best hotels in general, it can be said. It has history too of course, a full thousand years of it, though the present castle structure is 19th century Gothic Revival. It was very closely associated with the O’Brien clan, direct descendants of Ireland’s most famous… > Read More

Most Notable Former Guests: Victor Hugo, Charlie Chaplin, Coco Chanel… The 5-star Beau Rivage Palace sits on 10 acres of its own private gardens on the shores of Lake Geneva, Lausanne, and has stunning views across the lake and of the French Alps beyond. The hotel itself, including its spacious and elegant rooms and suites, is equally stunning and the entire experience is one which will satisfy even the most… > Read More

Royal heritage: Built by Empress Victoria of Germany in 1893, with ties to the Prussian and British royal families. Notable former guests: Empress Victoria, U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower, and many more. Film connection: Used as Sandringham House in the Princess Diana film Spencer. 5-star luxury: Fine dining restaurant, beauty salon, English-style gardens, and 18-hole golf course. Lavish interiors: Packed with antiques and artwork from Titian, Rubens, and Gainsborough. Prime location:… > Read More

Château de Fonscolombe is a magnificent 18th-century château built in the Italianate Quattrocento style, now a 5-star boutique hotel in Provence, France. It has wonderfully elegant accommodation, beautiful botanic gardens, a vineyard and winery, spa facilities, and an excellent restaurant. The Rooms: They have 50 B&B rooms and suites at the château, from doubles to quadruples, with the rooms being classed as Standard, Deluxe, and Superior, and the suites; Junior… > Read More

Hilltop castle hotel – 11th-century property near Montalcino with panoramic Brunello vineyard views. Exclusive retreat – intensely luxurious but with a notable price tag. Standout amenities – extensive spa and wellness, including natural thermal spring baths. Fine dining – two on-site restaurants that hold Michelin stars. Accommodation range – rooms to opulent suites (one with private pool) and spacious self-catering apartments.   Castello di Velona is a stunning 5-star, 11th-century… > Read More

  Very prestigious history: Former guests include Catherine the Great and Alexander von Humboldt. Hilltop setting: Fairytale castle hotel atop Salzburg’s Mönchsberg with sweeping views of the city and the Alps. 5-star luxury: Elegant ambience, top-tier service, and consistently ranked among Austria’s best hotels. Wellness haven: Infinity pool, outdoor hot tub, full spa, and beauty treatments. Gourmet dining: Two acclaimed restaurants plus the chic Apollo Bar with classic cocktails and… > Read More

This elegant 19th-century neo-Baroque castle in Pontresina near St. Moritz, Swiss Alps, has long been considered a very special property but never more so than now, in its current form as one of Switzerland’s finest luxury 5-star hotels. It has panoramic views of some of the country’s most wonderful scenery; the Bernina glaciers and the Engadine Mountains, an award-winning restaurant, a luxury spa, and a host of other superb facilities…. > Read More

Historic estate: Grade II listed building with 300+ years of history and grand interiors. Stunning grounds: Vast 20,000-acre estate with gardens, parkland, woodland and five lakes. Top dining & spa: Fine dining, cooking courses and a full spa & country club on site. Activities galore: Falconry, horse riding, fishing, clay shooting, golf and more on offer. Check dates & prices here   Swinton Park Castle is a luxury castle hotel… > Read More