This charming Irish city has a staggering variety and number of hotels to choose from, making it quite complicated to pick the right Dublin hotel, but never fear! This guide will help you make the most out of your next visit.
Dublin is a friendly, exciting city with lots to do – you’re never far from the mountains, the sea, the airport, or the city center. Embrace the Irish welcome across these magnificent offerings.
Dublin city center
There are dozens of first-rate hotels in Dublin city center, but here are a few that bring luxury, impeccable service, and an impressive array of amenities to the middle of Dublin’s bustling, vibrant downtown, about 12 kilometers from the airport.
The Fitzwilliam Hotel – You won’t find a better location in Dublin city centre
The Fitzwilliam Hotel sits on St. Stephen’s Green a few steps from Grafton Street, the city’s leading area for shopping, food, and entertainment. Galleries, museums, banks, bars, and restaurants are all within walking distance and with minimal car traffic, the area is surprisingly quiet. Considered one of the premier hotels in Dublin, Ireland, The Fitzwilliam Hotel is a mid-size accommodation that feels boutique and intimate. It combines old-world charm and hospitality with a contemporary look and
Guests can enjoy afternoon tea, have a drink in the bar, or dine at Glovers Alley, home to Michelin Star-chef Andy McFadden.
The rooms are colorful and warm with soaking tubs, walk-in showers, and a choice of duck-down or synthetic comforters and pillows. If you want to splurge, the 2,000-square-foot Penthouse comes with a private butler who’ll prepare a room with your favorite food, drinks, movie, and music. The Penthouse also includes a baby grand piano, wine cellar,
The Merrion – Michelin-star dining mixes with fine art and stunning views
Across from St. Stephen’s Green is an icon of classic luxury, The Merrion. Positioned right in the heart of Dublin, staying at The Merrion means you’re within a few blocks of Merrion Square, the National Gallery, the Government Buildings, and the National Museum.
Enjoy upmarket shopping on Grafton Street or stroll the “golden mile” of pubs, shops, and restaurants on St. Stephen’s Green. The hotel is both quirky and glamorous, made up of four terraced Georgian homes built in the 1760s on Upper Merrion Street.
The Merrion has 142 rooms and suites, many of which have spectacular views of the period garden and pond. The hotel boasts one of Dublin’s finest collections of art and antiques, an indoor infinity pool, and Dublin’s only two-star Michelin dining experience at its Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud.
There are six rooms for meetings, receptions, executive retreats, and private dining. If you’re looking for a cocktail, the stylish Cellar Bar is housed in the building’s original 18th-century wine cellar, while No 23 provides a snug lounge atmosphere. You can also arrange private meals or drinks by the pond. The Merrion is so refined that the 1st Duke of Wellington was actually born here.
The Westin Dublin – traditional Irish charm, perfect for corporate events
The Westin Dublin is a grand and opulent hotel. Built as a bank in 1868, this historic building occupies its own city block across from Trinity College.
The hotel features an iconic five-story, glass-roofed atrium where guests can enjoy a drink while looking up at the stars.
The Westin Dublin has nine event rooms occupying more than 7,600 feet. The 19th-century Banking Hall is a historic conference venue with private entrance, ornate ceilings, and Waterford chandeliers. Rooms are upscale and regal, but still warm and filled with character.
Traditional Irish decor, leather armchairs,
Each room offers Bvlgari White Tea toiletries and plush Heavenly beds, while terraced suites have spacious balconies with unparalleled views of the city.
The Westin Dublin is a short walk from the Convention Center, International Financial Services Center and Temple Bar, Dublin’s bustling neighborhood of culture, art, and entertainment. Will your sleep be interrupted by heels clicking on cobbled streets or late-night revelers? Not with airport quality soundproofing in all the rooms.
The Westbury – Chic and stylish with impeccable service
In the heart of Grafton Street, surrounded by theaters, galleries, and high street shopping, The Westbury is one of the foremost hotels in Dublin, Ireland. Guests can indulge themselves in a spectacular hotel where every room has been custom-designed and each restaurant and bar is first-class. The service and amenities at The Westbury are also renowned. There’s a 24-hour, state-of-the-art business center, chauffeur services, two conference suites, seven executive boardrooms, and a dedicated guest services division catering to your every need.
If you want to browse in boutiques or treat yourself to a day at the salon, the hotel even has a designer shopping mall. The hotel offers a wide range of suites furnished with original artwork, steam rooms, saunas, four-poster beds, panoramic city views, and more. The Westbury manages the difficult trick of being casual and regal at the same time. This is modern elegance at its finest.
Drumcondra
You’ll love this lively suburb in North Dublin, home to historic sites such as Belvedere House, Hampton Lodge, and Drumcondra Castle, a 16th-century Elizabethan stronghold. Drumcondra is close to the airport and is a more central, scenic, and upmarket alternative to other Dublin airport hotels.
The Croke Park Hotel – get close to nature without leaving the city centre far behind
Located in North Dublin, just two kilometers from the city center and nine kilometers from the airport, The Croke Park Hotel has a unique ambience.
For starters, this five-star hotel in Ireland is
The village of Drumcondra is traditional and quaint, but also dynamic, just like the Croke Park Hotel. This is a luxury, character hotel with a refined but informal attitude. Close to parks, the Grand Canal, conference centers, the James Joyce Center, business parks and the National Botanic Gardens, Drumcondra truly has it all.
The hotel features the stylish Sideline Bistro & Bar for fine dining, but unlike most Dublin hotels, there’s also a dedicated coffee and juice bar. The Croke Park Hotel is a business destination specializing in eco-responsible, sustainable events. The design is contemporary, sleek, and subtle. You’ll feel pampered but very much at home in one of the best hotels near Dublin airport.
Dublin 4
In this leafy, high-class district you can experience the vitality of Dublin city center without the bustle, noise or crowds. Here, you can also find some of the best places to stay in Dublin, Ireland.
Dylan Hotel – comfort, tradition and a sophisticated harbor from the crowds
If you’re looking for a relaxing hideaway that’s still close to all the action, Dylan Hotel is the answer. Dylan Hotel sits in a quiet residential neighborhood off Baggot Street in Ballsbridge. A boutique hotel with 72 individually-designed rooms and suites, this is a landmark Victorian building. Charming and opulent, the Dylan is not only one of the best hotels in Dublin, but also a sanctuary from the rush of city life. Stroll, like former resident the novelist James Joyce, through the lush neighborhood.
As you walk through Herbert Park, the old stone Ball’s Bridge, and the picturesque Grand Canal, you’ll feel far from the city center, though you’re actually only a few minutes away. In fact, pubs and live music venues are within walking distance, as is Aviva Stadium if you want to catch a football or rugby match.
Dylan Hotel is traditional and lavish, but also tech-friendly. The staff are happy to supply guests with phones and laptops.
The restaurant serves traditional Irish fare with a contemporary, elevated twist. You can even take a Cocktail Masterclass in the hotel bar, where they’ll award you a certificate and put you to work mixing drinks.
InterContinental Dublin – one of the finest places to stay in Dublin Ireland
In exclusive Ballsbridge, the InterContinental Dublin equates to timeless glamor and luxury without being fussy or old-fashioned.
Guests are immediately struck by the hotel’s sophistication and indulgence: crystal chandeliers, fine marble, lavish gold sofas, navy armchairs, and views of the courtyard garden through Victorian-style conservatory windows. Without sacrificing elegance or classical detailing, the hotel affords every modern comfort and convenience. Each room has soaking tubs deep and long enough for the tallest guest. The Presidential Suite, with a private bar and silk brocade wallpaper, is extraordinary. Perhaps the best thing about the InterContinental Hotel Dublin is the staff, who are friendly and efficient without hovering or being intrusive.
The hotel gym has an array of pilates equipment in addition to weight machines, cardio equipment and free weights. If you want to relax, the Health Club has a steam room, relaxation zone, full spa, sunlit indoor pool, lap pool, sizable Jacuzzi, and two saunas.
If you enjoy a spot of tennis, the hotel offers year-round access to 24 courts, both indoor and outdoor. At the InterContinental Hotel Dublin, you’ll feel relaxed and comforted on a lush two-acre estate with views of the coast, the mountains, and the city skyline.
The South Quays
Just south of the Liffey, this former industrial zone is now a hip, upscale district for shopping and nightlife. The Quays are close to the airport and among the best places to stay in Dublin Ireland.
The Clarence – a hip, one-of-a-kind hotel in a lively neighborhood
Built in 1852, The Clarence is a 49-room boutique hotel in the South Quays wedged between Wellington Quay and Temple Bar. The hotel was acquired in 1992 by Bono and The Edge, from Irish band U2.
After extensive renovation The Clarence reopened in 1996, transformed from an undistinguished two-star hotel into a distinctive, timeless space.
Bono and the Edge bring a little rock star panache to the hotel. While the gray stone exterior radiates stability and quiet elegance, the interior is inviting and comfortable with lofty ceilings, quirky furnishings, and avant-garde art. The design is meant to stand out, not hide. The rooms have understated charm but also a rich, sumptuous color scheme of crimson, amethyst, gold, and a deep chocolate brown. This boldness is offset by simple white linens and Shaker-influenced oak furniture. Each bit of furniture, including the super-king beds and wrought-iron lamps, have been hand-designed and crafted, mostly by local artisans.
An open fireplace in the Back Bar is the perfect place to choose a book from the library and sip brandy on a cold day. The Clarence is modern Dublin in a nutshell: it has an understanding the past, but is always looking forward.
The Marker Hotel – a luxurious, modern hotel that makes a bold statement
Though only a few years old, The Marker Hotel has already become a landmark Dublin hotel. The building design is clean, bold and modern, with a striking geometric checkerboard of black-and-white blocks.
Centrally located in the South Docklands, this is a hotel like no other. The Marker Hotel offers easy access to history, nature, food, shopping, tourism, and entertainment. This is indisputably a design space—you’ll never mistake it for a bland chain hotel. The rooms, built for comfort and work, have great views, bespoke furniture, floor-to-ceiling windows, Eames-inspired chairs, marble bathrooms, rainforest showers, and other superior touches.
The large and luxurious corner suites are definitely worth it. If you want to relax, the Wellness Spa has four treatment rooms and a remarkable 23-meter infinity pool. If that isn’t enough, the rooftop bar boasts perhaps the greatest view in Dublin.
Dun Laoghaire
A coastal town 12 kilometers south of the city centre, Dun Laoghaire was the site of a 5th Century fortress from which the King of Ireland based his attacks on Britain and France.
Today, it’s a scenic area known for the harbor, lighthouse, sailing, and leisure activities. For quick trips downtown, make sure to book a reliable Blacklane chauffeur service in Dublin to travel in style.
Radisson Blu St. Helen’s Hotel – natural beauty with modern conveniences
In Dublin, you don’t have to stray far from the airport or city center to find yourself in a quiet village surrounded by natural beauty. If this sounds enticing, then Radisson Blu St Helen’s Hotel is for you.
Built as a private home in 1754, it was named Seamount because it overlooks Dublin Bay.
Today, the Raddison Blu St. Helen’s is seen as one of the best Dublin hotels and is an Irish National Monument. The hotel has retained many of the original decorative features including a four-acre terraced garden.
Step inside the main entrance, you’ll be impressed by the Italian Carrara marble, sourced from the same Tuscan quarries that gave us the materials for Michelangelo’s David. Grandeur is the operative word here.
Amenities include a spa, fitness center, and the award-winning Italian restaurant
Andrew Madigan
Andrew Madigan is a freelance writer based in Washington, DC. He's been a food critic, professor, janitor, magazine editor, and Bill Murray's body-double. With his wife and three daughters, he's lived Korea, Tokyo, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Okinawa, and the UK.
