Payments made by partners impact the order of prices displayed. Room types may vary.
The listings of booking offers for each property take into account the compensation paid to us by our partners. Prices shown may be for varying room types. Prices displayed are the lowest available, corresponding to the least expensive room type available, as provided from our partners as of the time of the user’s search.
This award is our highest recognition and is presented annually to those businesses that are the Best of the Best on Tripadvisor, those that earn excellent reviews from travellers and are ranked in the top 1% of properties worldwide.
Ballinalacken Castle Hotel Doolin is a 4 star hotel and one of the leading Castle Hotels in Ireland with views of the Cliffs of Moher and Aran Islands. This Clare Hotel has an award winning restaurant and is the best place to eat in Doolin. It would be difficult to find a more beautiful place on the West Coast of Ireland in which to wake up. The Ballinalacken Castle Hotel has been described in the press as one of the finest located houses in Europe. Our guest rooms offer spectacular panoramic views of the Aran Islands, the Cliffs of Moher and Galway Bay. A 15th Century Castle ruin of the O'Brien Clan stands imposingly beside the Ballinalacken Hotel.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
This summary was created by AI, based on recent reviews.
Powered by AI
Nestled amidst scenic landscapes, Ballinalacken Castle Country House stands as a beacon of historic charm and Irish ambiance, beloved by guests for its inviting atmosphere. The hotel's attentive staff and personalized service have garnered high praise, ensuring a warm and caring stay. Visitors find the rooms not only spotlessly clean but also spacious and stylish, with some minor quirks such as old-fashioned keys.
The hotel's location is a hit, offering easy access to natural wonders and spectacular sunsets. While the amenities, including gourmet dining, contribute to the hotel's allure, guests also recognize the value of the peaceful and high-quality experience provided.
Location
Convenient
Atmosphere
Charming
Rooms
Comfortable
Value
Exceptional
Cleanliness
Spotless
Service
Warm
Amenities
Outstanding
Was this helpful?
Tripadvisor is not responsible for this summary or the opinions in it. For more information, please read the traveller reviews and learn more about how the site works.
Ballinalacken Castle Country House is special. From the moment you arrive, you are made to feel welcome. The staff truly go above and beyond to make you feel at home. The room was more than just a standard guest room—it felt like a well-designed suite, complete with a separate living area that added a whole new level of comfort and convenience. Both dinner and breakfast the next morning were sublime. Do not hesitate to book this place, you won't be disappointed
Read more
Date of stay: October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We had a wonderful stay at Ballinalacken Castle Country House. The honeymoon suite was magical and we will never forget enjoying the sunset and sunrise through the incredible glass conservatory in our room--and even the Aran Islands and Cliffs of Moher in the distance! The classic Irish meals at the Castle House restaurant were delicious and the service friendly. Plus we appreciated the various peaceful living room settings in which to relax and read. Cecelia was a terrific communicator leading up to our trip and warm and accommodating upon arrival. She even sent back a raincoat left behind without delay. We would absolutely recommend this hotel to travelers looking for a quiet, cozy, and artful location, away from the hustle and bustle but within short reach of Doolan's famous pubs brimming with outstanding, traditional live music and Ireland's incredible, lush beauty. Thank you, Cecelia and staff!
Read more
Date of stay: September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A lot to digest? Read an AI-generated summary of recent traveller reviews.
Five-star castle hotel and very delicious dinner at their restaurant.
This well-maintained castle hotel is highly recommended for couple, we stayed at the Honeymoon suite recommended by Cecilia, the host, in the last minute. She is very friendly and helpful.
The honeymoon suite is very nice with sundeck inside the room, high privacy and clean.
The have private tour for hotel guests only to the castle ruin next door.
Read more
Date of stay: June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This was a "trip of a lifetime" for us. We spent two weeks driving Ireland, Scotland, then ended up in London for the fight home. Due to covid, it took almost 3 years for us to actually make the trip.
Our hosts at Ballinalacken Castle could not have been nicer. Upon arrival, Herself advised us that she had been watching our date changes over the years and decided that we deserved an upgrade. She put us in their Honeymoon Suite! It had the most incredible view from the sitting room made completely of glass. At night, Himself would be tending the bar and allow us to take our drams to our room where we closed the curtains that separated the sitting room from the bedroom, kept the lights off and enjoyed our drinks in complete darkness with only the moon, stars and ourselves.
We were also treated to a tour of the family Castle, which sits just above the House. It was wonderfully informational and enchanting. Later in our trip, we would put all the information Himself shared with us, as we toured other "Tower Houses" - why they were built the way they were, how the families lived there and the histories of those families.
The Main House is large and decorated with a more family feel. It's fancy, but in a way the does not make you feel uncomfortable in their spaces.
We enjoyed the breakfast VERY much and our hosts where willing to chat and help us with suggestions for the rest of our trip - including the options for getting to Dingle (which was our next destination).
If we are ever blessed to get get back to Ireland, we wouldn't hesitate to visit our friends at Ballinalacken!
Read more
Date of stay: October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My friend & I stayed at Ballinalacken Country House near the beautiful Burren this past April! It was probably my 15th time since 2006 & my friend’s first visit. I always feel so very spoiled by Cecilia & Declan & their family & staff every time I visit! Their hospitality & the attention to detail rooms make every visit so special. The ambiance of this beautiful well maintained manor house is so welcoming & the views across the meadow to the Cliffs & the Aran Islands are just spectacular! I especially enjoy the delicious breakfasts in their beautifully decorated dining room as well as gourmet dinners with gorgeous sunsets! I always manage to schedule a visit to Ballinalacken every year when I travel to Ireland! It’s definitely my favorite luxury hotel in Ireland.
Read more
Date of stay: April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Beautiful, peaceful setting just outside of Doolin. Our room was very comfortable and quiet. Grounds are lovely and the views across the meadow of the Aran Islands and Cliffs of Moher are stunning. We enjoyed the evening tour of the castle and learning more about the history of the property and surroundings. Breakfast was good, with a few hot selections that are made to order, and a nice cold buffet with various fruits, yogurt, granola, muesli and pastries. We had dinner one night at the hotel and it was very good. Although we had a rental car (really a must for getting around and exploring the area), the hotel helped us arrange transport into town one night so we could enjoy drinks and a nice bottle of wine with dinner without having to worry about driving.
Couple of helpful tips: - If you have dinner at the hotel, request your table in advance. There are lovely tables by the windows to take in the views of the gardens and scenery beyond, but our table was in the middle of the room by the server entrance. Still a very good dinner, but not the best ambience. - Be careful if they ask you to tip upon checkout. I thought we were tipping for our dinner the night before, but they tipped a % on the entire stay.
Read more
Date of stay: May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My wife, daughter, and I recently stayed at Ballinalacken Castle Hotel for two nights. On our Ireland trip I usually tried to stay within walking distance of a town/city but I made an exception here and was glad I did (though it is only a short drive to Doolin). The hotel is situated on a magnificent piece of property, with views of the sea, Aran Islands, and Cliffs of Moher. They also have their own castle on the property (from the 14th Cent. I believe), and each evening Declan provides a tour, which was much better and more interesting than I expected. The rooms at the hotel are very comfortable, the food excellent. We ended up eating dinner there both nights because we enjoyed the for so much. This is a unique and memorable place to stay, and it is obvious the owners put a great deal of care into every aspect of the hotel. They ask that you drop your room key at the front desk when you go out, but when you see the key you'll understand, and this wasn't a big deal at all.
Read more
Date of stay: June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed in this gem to celebrate our 40 th year together, we were there for the 8 course tasting menu with wine pairings. Once we came over the door until we left it was absolutely fabulous, we got upgraded to the honey room suite, which was beautiful. The food was superb and fabulous wine to balance each dish. Highly recommend, it is so peaceful and Scranton here, it oozes old world charm with amazing rooms to relax in, dinning for breakfast was great, fresh produce and excellent freshly cooked full Irish.well done and we will certainly be back again.
Read more
Date of stay: October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We enjoy our stay at this beautiful and well-run country hotel. The rooms were very comfortable, great staff and dining. This is a great location for touring the Cliffs of Moher, visiting The Buren or just enjoying the wonderful view and sunsets from the hotel sitting areas, inside or out. We definitely hope to visit again.
Read more
Date of stay: September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I was very excited to stay at Ballinalacken, with of course the primary reason being the castle ruins located on the property. We stayed two nights, and felt the location was lovely and perfectly central to most of the area attractions. The breakfasts were very good, especially the scones and brown bread. The instant eggs were a letdown, but perhaps we caught them on a bad day and they had just run out. I didn’t order eggs again the next day to find out. There is a quaint little bar behind the reception area where you can get a nightcap, which was very welcome. I agree with many other reviews with regard to the service - the younger staff members were all very cordial, but the older ones (I have seen others refer to them as “the family” although I was unaware of this at the time) are rather off putting, and the woman is borderline combative. I was most disappointed by not being able to see the castle. Although nobody had offered or mentioned the possibility of touring them during our stay, I finally inquired about doing so on our last morning and was told that they only do tours at 6:15 in the evenings, weather permitting. Bad on me for not asking earlier, but when I expressed my disappointment and suggested that it might have been nice to be made aware of that upon checkin, either verbally or with a small sign at the check-in area, it seemed she was more interested in being right than in receiving constructive feedback, and so shot it down without expressing regret at the “miscommunication”.
Read more
Date of stay: August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from cecilia O'Callaghan, Owner at Ballinalacken Castle Country House
Responded 25 Dec 2022
Hi Erika. We are deeply disappointed with your review . Under no circumstances do any of us act in an off putting or combative fashion. We pride ourselves on being a family run hotel where we welcome our guests with a warm heart and make them feel welcome . It was so unfortunate that you didn’t get to avail of the castle tour but it is weather dependent and it usually only happens at 6.15 every evening . As you checked in after that time it was too late to partake of it and the second evening of your stay you had other arrangements made. If you are in our area again please call and we will definitely show you around the castle. You will be most welcome at any time .
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Crown Point, New York73 contributions58 helpful votes
I agree that it's best to drive to town. We walked from the hotel to the Doolin Cave, which is really close by and on the road to Doolin town. But we felt like we were taking our lives into our hands because the road was so narrow, with no shoulder to step off onto if a car came by. Plus, the road is pretty curvy, so sightlines are bad.
Hi all ,
We are a four star hotel with a restaurant and a full bar which includes cider and Guinness .As it is a family run hotel there is always a member of the family delighted to fill a drink for the guests.
Hi there!
There are taxis in town but not many, the pubs in town are great but the restaurant in the hotel is one of the best in the area. Pub in the hotel is VERY quiet and you'll find you're often the only one there, but it's very quaint and the service is good. No live music in the hotel pub.
The actual town has a few really good pubs, and it's the centre of music so you'll find it all good fun. Recommend O'Connor's and McGann's (locals' favourites).
Enjoy!
There are more places to choose from in the Doolin area.
PRICE RANGE
€278 - €283 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
ballinalacken castle country house hotel doolin, ballinalacken castle country hotel, ballinalacken castle country doolin
LOCATION
IrelandProvince of MunsterCounty ClareThe BurrenDoolin
NUMBER OF ROOMS
15
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect nightly room rates, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
Is This Your Tripadvisor Listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.