An overnight stay at a remarkably reformed and refurbished castle. Comprising fine dining restaurants and an award-winning spa, surrounded by acres of luscious greenery and nature, the Scandic Imatran Valtionhotelli is ideal for few leisurely summer days. Spa rooms, swimming pools and saunas are situated in the basement of this medieval structure, which has been faithfully preserved in its original glory.

The River Maigue flows rapidly past the imposing Adare Manor. With its hundreds of windows, dozens of chimneys, and watchful gargoyles, the building is as stately as when it served as home for the Earls of Dunraven.Inside, share warm conversation with other travelers around a crackling fireplace or search out a nip of Irish whisky in the Tack Room underground speakeasy. Enjoy the lavish furnishings in your room, with butler service.Golfers will appreciate the meticulously maintained, paradisiacal championship golf course, widely considered among the best in Europe. And anyone can borrow a retro bicycle to explore the nearby village of Adare, a postcard-worthy collection of thatched-roof cottages and antique shops.

Magisterial turrets, opulent antique furnishings, sparkling Lough Corrib, and sprawling lawns and gardens containing all of Ireland’s forty shades of green. The former residence of the Guinness family, Ashford Castle is an accommodation of singular eloquence.Sip delectable cocktails in the Prince of Wales bar after an afternoon of clay-pigeon shooting. Catch a matinee at the 32-seat cinema before heading out horseback riding. Explore the property’s magnificent manicured gardens.Escape to your own little home at the Hideaway Cottage, a converted boathouse on the shore of Lough Corrib, with a private pier and gated gardens.

With a history stretching back over 1,000 years, Dromoland Castle is more than a hotel. It’s a window into the past. Play a round on-site at the 18-hole championship golf course. Learn about falconry on a guided walk through the wood. Sit down to a traditional Afternoon Tea and, later, dine on sumptuous dishes delivered by white-gloved waiters beneath shimmering chandeliers. Treat yourself like a proper Lord or Lady at the resort’s spa before retreating to your room complete with a canopy bed and artwork suitable for the royalty who once walked these halls. This is probably Ireland’s most famous castle stay and you can really imagine being here centuries ago.

Wake up in a Jacobean four-poster bed. Open your door onto 14th-century battlements. Feel immersed in the style of a bygone era. You’re in the suite that once housed King Edward IV, down the hall from the room where Queen Anne died. 600 years of English royal history plays out in Warwick Castle. Armour and weaponry line the walls. A spiral staircase leads to the dungeon. There are only two suites in this 14th-century Norma castle and they have received many royal guests. Staying here is an experience and you shouldn’t expect too many mod cons. Warwick Castle allows you to sleep in history and feel like royalty, from 500 years ago. Included in your stay is a after-hours tour of the castle, Champagne on arrival, and chauffeur services to be expected by monarchs.