1. Ashford Castle (Cong, Ireland):

About Ashford Castle: While many vacations to Europe are spent touring Medieval castles, the Ashford gives you the ultimate chance to stay in one overnight.  From your entrance through the impressive gate and wall, the Ashford separates itself from other castle hotels by its sure size alone.  This massive castle was built over a number of centuries, starting with the first mansion built here in 1228.   In 1589 protective fortifications were built, but it took until 1715 for the Ashford name to stick when a French-style chateau wing was added.  Ireland’s famous Guinness family bought the Ashford in 1852 and grew the estate to 26,000 acres, planted thousands of trees, and completely re-built the West wing of the property.   Perhaps the biggest change came it the 1900s, when it was turned into a hotel, was doubled in size, and became a true 5 star property.

The accommodations are matched with activities such as horse riding, falconry, lake cruising, fishing, clay shooting, archery, golf, and much more.  They even have a spa for massage, body wraps, nails, facials, and waxing.  Over the years, powerful guests from Mary Queen of Scots, King George V, Princess Grace, Brad Pitt, President Ronald Regan and more have stayed here.  The author Oscar Wilde was even here as a kid as his dad had a neighboring home.  A portrait gallery on the 2nd floor shows most of the famous people who have stayed here.  With its connect to Mary Queen of Scots the castle was featured as the home of the French royal family in the hit TV series Reign.  They did this because most of the huge French chateau actually looked like castle back then before they got Renaissance makeovers.

Cost Per Night: Rooms start out around $130 a night up to a cost of $600.   Hotel Website: (HERE).  Alternative Hotel Options: Sitting in Limerick Ireland is the beautiful Adare Castle Hotel which is a spitting image of Ashford, just a little smaller.

2. Dromoland Castle (Newmarket-on-Fergus, Ireland):

About Dromoland Castle: “I slept in a giant castle this weekend, no big deal.”  This is maybe the perfect non-chalant way to tell your friends about your stay in the historic Dromoland Castle.  While the castle has been rebuilt a few times over the centuries, its roots go back to the first structure which was owned by the family  of Irish King Brian Boru in the early 1000s.   The property remained in the ancestral ownership of the King all the way until 1962 when it was bought and renovated into a high-end hotel.

We love the facade and powerful towers which were added in the 1830s which strike thought of knights in armor and dragons.  The interior is just as impressive as you can imagine since it was owned by such an important family for so long.  The second you step in the door, there is no doubt you are in a true 5 star property.   In addition to a the spa and golf, you ca also join in their award winning falconry school, clay shooting, archery, horse riding, and fishing.

Cost Per Night: Starts at only $150 and they often have stay 2 nights get a 3rd free deals going on.   Hotel Website: (HERE).  Alternative Options: For more lodging like Dromoland, see our list of the top ten castle hotels in the world.

3. Castelo de Óbidos (Óbidos, Portugal):

About Castelo de Óbidos: Óbidos Portugal is one of the best preserved walled cities in the World and is highlighted by its massive Medieval castle turned hotel.  The 1st fortifications in Óbidos were started in 718AD when the Moors controlled the entire peninsula containing modern Spain and Portugal.  The city thrived under Moorish control for over 400 years until they were pushed out in 1158AD.  Shortly after construction began on the first Royal Castle built right into the highest point of the protective wall.  The Castle and City Wall were enhanced to its current form by King Dinis I in the late 1200s and the Keep was later added in the 1300s by King Fernando.  All of these dates are quite remarkable as it took until 1492 for Spain to finally drive the Moors off the peninsula.  IT was from this very castle that Portuguese troop were dispatched from before handing the army of Napoleon its 1st defeat.  After centuries of Óbidos, most of the Castle was turned into the Pousada Hotel in 1951.  There are 17 rooms in total including larger Royal rooms in the towers with canopy beds and beautiful exposed stone walls.

Average Nightly Cost: Rooms are right around $240 a night, but can be down to $180 a night if you stay a few days.  Hotel Website: (HERE).

4. Castello di Pavone (Pavone, Italy):

About Castello di Pavone: The coolest Tuscan-style castle hotel actually sits in the mountains 1 hour West of Milan in Pavone and nowhere near Tuscany at all.  The complex was originally built in the mid-800s as a Romanesque church with a fortified wall added in 900AD.  Large parts of the wall and the church’s original central courtyard were incorporated into the current castle when it was built in the 1300s  to protect to surround village and estate.  Over the centuries the castle has been controlled by King Arduino, the Bishop of Ivrea, and House of Savoy.  The iconic Siena-style tower, marvelous Noble Courtyard with the suggestive Fountain of the Mysteries, and the amazing views from the castle cement its place in our top five castle hotels.  In addition to its 27 overnight rooms the complex can also accommodate receptions of up to 300 people.

Nightly Rate: $180 for a Standard Room or $360 for a large Suite.  Hotel Website: (HERE).

5. Luttrellstown Castle (Castleknock, Ireland):

About Luttrellstown Castle: Norwegian born Robert Luttrell came to Ireland in the 1400s where he was not only given land for helping Ireland fight in a number of different battles, but was also named the treasurer of St Patrick’s Cathedral.  Luttrell used his new land and influence to build his castle estate in 1420 just 4 miles outside of Dublin which his family then controlled until the 1800s.  With the last of the Luttrell bloodline dying out, the beer baron Ernest Guinness bought the castle in 1927 as a wedding gift for his eldest daughter Aileen in 1927.  She moved in three years later and became known as the best hostess in Europe often having many rich and famous guests.  Aileen, who lived to be 94 years old, expanded the castle and laid the ground work for the luxury hotel it is today.  Among the castle’s famous guests were Queen Victoria in both 1849 and 1900, Princess Grace of Monaco, Fred Astaire, US President Ronald Regan and the band REM.  Numerous celebrity weddings have also occurred here including soccer star David Beckham and Posh Spice in 1999.  The attached golf course on the 560 acre estate is considered one of the best near Dublin.

Cost Per Night: Around $600 a night but you often have to rent out the entire 12 room castle during busy season. which gets to be around $7000 a night.  Hotel Website: (HERE).  Alternative Option: Also in Dublin the Clontarf Castle has a little more modern touch with a glass entrance added onto the castle which has parts dating back to 1172.  The Clontarf ranges fro $122 for standard rooms to $640 for a suite a night.

6. Skibo Castle (Dornoch, Scotland):

About Skibo Castle: If it wasn’t so darn exclusive and expensive, the Skibo Castle in the Scottish Highlands would easily be pushing for the top spot on our list.  Parts of the Castle date back to 1186 when is was built as a watch tower to house Bishops, but the first fortified Palace wasn’t until 1545.   A majority of what you see today was added starting in 1897 when Skibo became the home of American steel magnate Andrew Carnegie.  The steel baron’s wealth is evident as over the 100 years the family owned the property it grew into an amazing 7,500 acre estate.  After the Carnegie family sold the property it became a very exclusive hotel which not only requires dues of $12,000 a year but a $40,000 buy in.  If you are lucky you can get a one time only non-member stay for $1,500 a night.

Since being turned into an exclusive hotel resort, the giant castle has become a hot bed of the rich and famous.  Wedding receptions for Madonna and Guy Ritchie in 2000 as racing driver Dario Franchitti and actress Ashley Judd both took place here.  It’s said that Bill Clinton and Sir Sean Connery have also been members in the past up as of 2014 we did not see them in the 400 member directory which we got exclusive access to.  Everything is meant to make you feel like a Scottish royal and the head gardener even plays the bagpipes around the castle each morning at 9am.  The activities are quite lavish from shooting practice, popular horsing riding complete with miniature horses for the kids, a huge glass enclosed pool, a French clay tennis court, and one of Scotland’s best golf course.  In 2013 the Golf Course started allowing a limited number of tee times for the public as a rate of $500 a person.

Nightly Room Rate: $1,500 a night per person to stay in the castle which often requires an invite.  Only adults can stay overnight in the Castle, but they also have 12 family lodges available.  You can only visit once as a non-member before you must join the Carnegie Club to come back.  The exclusive club of the rich and famous costs $12,000 a year with a $40,000 buy in.    Hotel Website: (HERE).  Alternative Options: The Dornoch Castle is located only a few miles away and while it is much smaller it also starts at only $194 a night.

7. Culzean Castle (Maybole, Scotland):

About Culzean Castle: The amazing sea-side Culzean Castle (pronounced Cull-ane) clings to a cliff in the Scottish countryside.  The property was started with a central tower in the 1500s by the Kennedy family who descended from Robert the Bruce.  This tower was expanded over 20 years starting in 1772 to the current grand castle you see today and grew into a 600 acre estate.  When the Kennedy family donated the castle to the Scottish Land Trust in 1945, they had the entire top floor given to General Eisenhower as a thank you from the Scottish people for America’s WW2 efforts.  8 Years later Eisenhower became the President of the United States and often used the castle as a retreat.  After the Presidents death the top floor apartments was turned into a 6 bedroom vacation rental open to anyone.  The stately rooms circle the magnificent and central Oval Staircase.

Cost Per Night: £150-375 per night per suite. Includes Afternoon Tea and Breakfast.  3 course dinner is a £35 and on arranged ahead of time.   Hotel Website: (HERE).  Just a little North of Culzean in the city of Ayrshire is beautiful Glenapp Castle.  It was built in 1870 and served as the home for the Earl of Inchcape.  Since being turned into a hotel in 2000, Glenapp has earned the very rare Relais & Châteaux award status.  It is closed January-March each year.

8. Thornbury Castle (Gloucestershire, England):

About Thornbury Castle:  On the edge of England’s Cotswolds regions, Thornbury Castle is the only castle hotel once owned by the famous Tudor dynasty which ruled the UK, Ireland, and France over periods from 1485-1603.  This fantasy castle is where King Henry the VIII and Anne Boleyn stayed which makes a visit even more fun.  Even before the current Tudor castle was built in the 1500s, William the Conqueror’s wife Matilda of Flanders had a manor here called Turneberie around 1060AD. Today, Saint Mary’s church, begun in the 12th century, is the oldest surviving building in the Thornbury complex.  The castle itself is quite powerful, but it’s the rooms that we find to be the most impressive.  From exposed stone walls, canopy beds and aged  tapestries, the rooms have the perfect Medieval castle feel to them.

Cost Per Night: Rooms range from $289 a night for a standard room to $500 a night for the large themes suites. Make sure to book early.   Hotel Website: (HERE).  Alternative Hotel Options: The Bath Lodge Castle is near Thornbury and runs $215-400 a night.  It is smaller with just 9 rooms, but has cool drum towers.

9. Aldourie Castle (Loch Ness, Scotland):

About Aldourie Castle: Located on the shores of fabled Loch Ness, Aldourie Castle is less than five miles from Inverness, the capital of the Scottish Highlands.  The 500 acre estate has been used as a sporting retreat for hundreds of years.  There has been a grand manor the estate since 1626 which was vastly expanded to the current castle in 1903.  After serving as a stately home, the castle was turned into a high end resort hotel with activities catering to the rich and famous.  Most guest rent the entire castle at once, fly in dramatically by helicopter and have actives from private fireworks displays to Robin Hood-style tournaments.  The 13 bedroom castle only holds 28 guests, but they have also added 4 very cute 3-4 bedroom cottages you can rent year round.

Cost Per Night: For any of the 4 small cottages it is $1200-1600 a week depending on the season.  You can also rent the entire castle for $6600-10000 a night or $46,000 for a whole week. There is a 3 night minimum April-October and the rest of the year it is 2 nights.  Hotel Website: (HERE).  Alternative Hotel Options: Inverlochy Castle is also near Inverness, is a little smaller but is also on a lake.  It was built in 1862 and has hosted Queen Victoria, Charlie Chaplin and the entire cast of Harry Potter while filming. It is $530 a night to stay at the Inverlochy Castle Hotel.

10. Castell de Cardona (Cardona, Spain):

About Castell de Cardona: The Parador Hotel chain is a good one to know in Spain as they specialize in turning historic castles into hotels such as the Castell de Cardona near Barcelona.  The 1st fort was built on this hilltop  back in 800AD and is very much incorporated into the massive Medieval castle.  Complete with 53 guest rooms, the castle i also attached to the Church of Sant Vicenç and Minyona Tower which were built around 1000AD adding even more history to the property.  The views of the valley’s rolling hills and the quaint village of Cardona below the Castle add to its historic beauty making it a must visit.

Cost Per Night: Rooms start at 130-180€ a night and they have deals for stay multiple days.   Hotel Website: (HERE).  Alternative Options: There are 3 other Parador castle hotels worth considering in Spain.  Parador de Zafra is a true castle built by the Duque de Feria, which has nine towers.  Parador de Alarcón is also cool with a small wall, tower, and Medieval banquet hall.  Parador de Alcañiz is also pretty cool but more like a museum palace.

11. Dalhousie House (Edinburgh, Scotland):

About Dalhousie House: Located just 8 miles South of Edinburgh, the Ramsay family of Dalhousie has retained possession of their castle longer than any family in Scotland. The first Castle was built here in the 1200s before being rebuilt to the current style in 1450.  The new castle was built on the original foundation to resemble nearby Dirleton Castle, which is now in ruins.  While the large drum tower looks like it would have been built for defense it was actually a water tower for the estate complete with a live well.  One of our favorite features of the Castle are the exposed stone walls and barrel-vaulted ceilings of some of the 27 guest rooms which give it an Old World feel.  Adding to the Medieval flair, the old basement level dungeon has been turned into a restaurant which puts the experience over the top.  Part of the draw is that Mary Queen of Scots stayed here in 1563, but also that it is said to be haunted by ghosts.  A walk along the dry moat is also pretty cool as the castle was originally only accessible by a large draw bridge.  Activities include award winning archery and falconry.

Cost Per Night: $200 a night so a standard castle room and $500 for the large suites.   Hotel Website: (HERE).  Alternative Option: If you like the small castle feel, the Sherbrooke Castle Hotel in Glasgow Scotland isn’t too far from Edinburgh and like a B&B.  Just a little further South of Edinburgh sits Thirlestane Castle which is big stately castle out in the country.

12. Thorngrove Manor (Stirling, Australia):

About Thorngrove Manor: With very creative architecture, the Country Castle in 1980s is run as a hotel by its actual owners.  Although it is by far the youngest castle on our list, its unique style makes it feel like you are stepping back into the 1600s.  Helping to blend it into the country feel they built Thorngrove Manor directly between 3 existing stone homes from the 1880s, one of which has a cool bell tower.  Located in one of South Australia’s premier wine regions, the Castle offers many great day trips including Kangaroo Island. 5 rooms.  Because there are only 5 guest rooms, the hotel has a much more intimate feel than most.  Among Thorngrove’s 5 inviting guest rooms, we find the Observatory Suite to be the coolest as it offers some unmatched views of the neighboring valley.

Cost Per Night: $700-1000 per room.   Hotel Website: (HERE).

13. Amberley Castle (Sussex, England):

About Amberley Castle: Sitting on 12 acres only 60 miles Southwest of London, Amberley Castle is quite impressive.  It started out as a stately manor in the 1100s and ballooned into a huge castle when it was fortified in 1377.  Today the Castle is still completely enclosed by a 60 foot high Medieval curtain wall full of towers and even has a magnificent original twin-tower gatehouse.  We love how the gate house has the vertical lattice lift gate you see on any knight in armor movie.  In addition to being an excellent castle hotel, the property also has a magical tree house, tennis courts, 18-hole putting green and croquet lawn.

Cost Per Night: $480 for a Deluxe Room and $1000 a night for a Romance Suite.  Hotel Website: (HERE).

14. Hotel de la Cite (Carcassonne, France):

About Hotel de la Cite: Built into the stunning ramparts of Carcassonne’s medieval wall in 1909, the Hotel de La Cite is a truly magical experience.  Most of the magic comes from staying inside the fairy tale old town of Carcassonne which is basically a giant walled castle the size of a small village.  After serving as an important trading post of centuries the Romans starts to fortify the hilltop in 100BC, yes BC!  Sitting at the crossroads for the port cities of Bidart, Nice, and Barcelona, the walled city of Carcassonne grew into a powerful military fortification.   In the late 1600s the town became to loose its military importance as France became more united, but thankfully the old city center remained intact.  The location of the Hotel de la Cite capitalized on amazing views of the valley below and is right next to the Basilica of Saint Nazaire.  There had been a church here since 600AD, but it was rebuilt in the Basilica you see today after a visit by Pope Urban II in 1096.  We love wondering the Medieval street around the hotel and if the building you slept in was older, it was be way higher on our list.

Cost Per Night: $750-1000 a night, but they often have deals where you can pay the price of 2 nights to stay 3.  On 3rd party booking engines like Booking.com we often see rooms for $200-300 a night.  Hotel Website: (HERE).  Alternative Options: Le Donjon is the only other hotel localed inside the old city center.  It is located just off of the ramparts, but this Best Western brand property is only $111 a night.

15. Glengorm Castle (Isle of Mull, Scotland):

About Glengorm Castle: Glengorm Castle is the ideal sea side Scottish manor built in 1860 right on a cliff side.  Sitting near the most Western point of the United Kingdom’s mainland, the property is known for its stunning sunsets.  The inside is pretty plain, but the setting is so amazing that it makes up for the interior’s lack of flair.  They also have 6 guest cottages on the estate you can stay in, just in case the castle is full or you have a smaller group.

Cost Per Night: $350-550 a night including multi-room apartments.  Hotel Website: (HERE).  Alternative Options: Ackergill Tower also in far Northern Scotland is also on the ocean and much larger huge, but only has a few guest rooms.

16. Winton House (Longniddry, Scotland):

About Winton House: In 1150AD King David I of Scotland gave this valuable 2,000 acre plot of farm land near the village of Longniddry to his friend Phillip Seton.  On the North side of the property Phillip built the family home with easy access to nearby Edinburgh just 14 miles away.  The family later gained even more prominence when Phillip’s grandson married the sister of King Robert ‘The Bruce’ of Scotland.  After the marriage a defensive tower was built on the South side of the estate with the Winton House currently sits, but it didn’t last long.  King Henry VIII of England had the tower burnt down in 1544 to help his son Edward impress Mary Queen of Scots after the Setons had a dispute with one of her allies.  Edward was trying to win Mary over which is weird since they were related.

King Henry VIII later gave George Seton the title Earl of Winton and his daughter Mary Seton became one of the Queen’s ladies in waiting.  With is new title, George Seton built the massive Seton Palace on the North side of the property and built the Winton House on the foundation of the former defensive tower as a country home.  George’s nephew, the 3rd Earl of Winton, greatly expanded the country home into a stately manor in 1620 with the help of the the King’s Master Mason William Wallace (not Braveheart).

Throughout the 1500-1600s, the Seton Palace and Winton House became one of the most desirable residences in all of Scotland.  Unfortunately, the Setons backed the House of Stuart in the 1715 Jacobite Uprisings and were over taken by the English.  The 5th Earl of Winton was sent to the Tower of London and the Seton titles along with their lands were stripped from the family.  The Winton House was loosely occupied over the years but by 1780s the Palace and Country Home were in ruins.  In 1789, Colonel Alexander Mackenzie bought the Palace and had it tore down and building the current Senton Palace a year later in its place which can still be visited today.  Around the same time the very wealth Mary Nisbet bought the Winton House and gave it to her nephew Colonel John Hamilton who quickly resorted it and almost doubled its size.  Mary Nisbet’s granddaughter Constance later inherited all of the family’s properties and married into the power Ogilvy family.  At their wedding Constance and Henry Ogilvy had over 3,600 guests at parties spread out among their many mansions.  Today the 14th generation of the Ogilvy line own the Winton House, live there full time, and run it as a luxury vacation rental.

Cost Per Night: $2,100 per weekend weekend and $3,000 per week.  Hotel Website: (HERE).  Alternative Options: Floors Castle Country Home in Edinburgh is Scotland’s largest inhabited castle and still home to Duke and Duchess of Roxburghe.  Their 22 bedroom country home called the Roxburghe is a castle all on its own and serves as a pretty cool hotel.

17. Langley Castle (Northumberland, England):

About Langley Castle Hotel: The 14 year construction of Langley Castle started in 1350AD while England was ruled by King Edward III.  Set in a 10 acre heavily wooded estate, the 27 room hotel was stoutly built with 7 foot thick walls.  The main tower was totally dedicated to Medieval toilets called Garderobes which were pretty lavish for its day.  In total there are 4 Garderobes on each of the tower’s 4 floors.  Because the estate was so well protected they were able to splurge a bit and feel safe about it.  Complete with an underground stream to wash all the bathroom mess away, it was the perfect setup.  What’s really awesome about this castle is they open the roof to visitors so you can walk among the tower battlements.  The property consistently wins awards for being one of England’s best small hotels.

Cost Per Night: $250-450 per night depending on your room.   Hotel Website: (HERE).

18. Burg Altena (Altena, Germany):

About Burg Altena: No castle hotel list is complete without Germany’s Burg Alteana.  The Castle, built in 1108, became the 1st Youth Hostel Association hotel in the World in 1914 which paved the way for Europe’s modern hostel system.  Hostels in general and even most Castle Hotels owe Burg Altena for blazing a new path.  We like the thought of staying in a German castle hotel since the country has our 2 favorite castles in all of Europe Burg Eltz and Neuschwanstein.

Cost Per Night: Is only around $40 a night for an adult with discounts for kids.  Must book on the Youth Hostel International website here.  There are 5 hostel rooms in the Castle itself (3 beds, 4 beds, 13 beds, and 14 beds) and 5 rooms Jugendstil guesthouse near the main entrance.   Hotel Website: (HERE).  Other Castle Hotel Options: Auf Schönburg Castle overlooking the Rhine Valley from a hilltop perch is another great choice in central Germany as the stretch of river is littered with castles.  Landsberg Castle in Meiningen Germany is a little smaller but is covered in vines and has a great drum tower.

19. Augill Castle (Kirkby Stephen, England):

About Augill Castle Hotel: This massive turreted castle was built as a home for John Bagot Pearson after he had a falling out with his brother whom he had shared nearby Park Castle with.  John built his new home on higher ground and much bigger than his brother’s just to out do him.  Later in the 1800s Doctor Abercrombie, surgeon to Queen Victoria, called the castle home.  Augill was purchased in the late 1990s by a restauranteur couple not only as a home, but to open it to the public as a hotel.  There are 14 rooms for rent and the property also hosts a popular Gypsy Fair each June.

Cost Per Night: $266-400 a night per room.  Hotel Website: (HERE).  Other Amazing Hotel Options: South of Augill in Leeds England is Carr Castle which is very modern inside for a castle, has 5 bedrooms, and is very seclude.

20. Castelletto di Montebenichi (Bucine, Italy):

About Castelletto di Montebenichi: In the heart of Tuscany, this glorious estate from the 1100s sits on a hilltop surrounded by woods, vineyards, and olive groves.  Located directly between Siena and Arezzo above a Medieval village, the castle was an important defense point for Florence against the aggressions of Siena.  Filled with Medieval decorations and Renaissance artwork, you’ll never want to leave this beautiful stone castle hotel.  Nearby you can also tour the amazing Castello di Barone Ricasoli.  The estate was established in 1141 and both the castle and its family have been one of the most famous producers of Chianti wine since for centuries.

Cost Per Night: 250-360€ a night per room, sells out early.  Hotel Website: (HERE).  Other Castle Hotel Options: Castello Di Gargonza (website) is more popular hilltop castle hotel in Tuscany, but it doesn’t have as cool of rooms.  Other Tuscan castle hotels include Castello Meleto (website) and the Castello Di Casole (website).

21. Château Frontenac (Quebec City, Canada):

About Château Frontenac: In 1648 this hilltop site overlooking Quebec City became the home to a stately manor serving as the residence of the Governors of Lower Canada and New France.  The first manor wasn’t cared for well and Governor Louis de Buade de Frontenac replaced it with the St Louis Château in 1694 where he later died.  In 1834 the huge Château burned down and wasn’t re-built to its current castle form until 1893 when Canada’s railway companies stepped in.  The rail companies had just opened a new line running the entire length of Southern Canada fro Quebec to Vancouver and wanted to built massive luxury hotels along the route to attraction riders.  While only a few castle hotels were open they are all quite impressive.  With a number of great terraces, a wonderful boardwalk, and stunning views of Quebec City and the Saint Lawrence River, Château Frontenac is worth a visit even if you aren’t staying there.  The castle dominates the City’s skyline and it even has a very fun funicular to bring you up the steep hillside.  Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt historically met at Château Frontenac in 1943 to over over plans for WW2 which ads to the lore.

Cost Per Night: $160 for a standard room booked in advance and up to $375 a night for a large suite with a view.  Hotel Website: (HERE).  Alternative Hotel Option: The Banff Springs Hotel was also built by the Canadian Railway Companies in the same castle style as Frontenac just outside of Calgary in Western Canada.  The Castle opened in 1888 as a hotel along the same rail line as Château Frontenac.

22. Singer Castle (Dark Island in New York, United States):

About Singer Castle: Frederick Bourne was a self-made millionaire from New York City who worked his way to Director and President of the Singer Sewing Machine Company by age 36.  Having more money than he knew what to do with, Bourne was always looking for new vacation properties for his family.  Frederick already owned a 1,000 acre Summer estate on Long Island when he purchased the 7 acre Dark Island in the middle of the St Lawrence River near Syracuse in 1902.  Completed in 1905, Bourne gave the 5 story, 28 room granite castle as a surprise gift to his family calling it their new hunting lodge. Originally called Tower Castle, it ended up being the only castle on the River to be completed, fully furnished and resided in during the heyday of the ‘great builders’ and industrial in New York.  The Tower Castle was inspired by Sir Walter Scott’s Woodstock Castle and even has has secret passageways.  Bourne died in 1919, but his family owned the property until the 1960s.  After being turned into a hotel the name was changed to the Singer Castle in honor of the company that made Bourne rich and is now also open for scheduled tours Mid-May through Mid-October.

Cost Per Night: The Royal Suite is an entire section of the castle and sleeps 6 guests and costs $700 a night.  Hotel Website: (HERE).  Alternative Castle Hotel Option: Also located in New York State is the French-style Oheka Castle Hotel.  Built for investment banker Otto Hermann Kahn on the highest point of Long Island in 1914, the castle remains the second largest residential home ever built in the United States.  With 127 rooms, the 109,000 square foot estate and surrounding gardens will truly make you feel like you are in Europe.

23. Castle Mönchstein (Salzburg, Austria):

About Castle Mönchstein: Castle Mönchstein was first documented 1350 A.D. as the Tetelheimer Tower (Tetelheimer Turm).  For the most part is serviced as a home and fort until St. Peter’s monastery acquired the property in 1654 for the “educated professors” to “recover from difficult mental work”.  During this period the castle was then called the Professors Castle.  What is now the tower room was then used as an astronomical observatory.  The castle was turned into a hotel in 1948 and has gone on to win countless Castle Hotel and Restaurant awards.  Huge renovations were done in 2014 which included adding a large terrace and excavating to add a new ground floor level.  From the top of the hill you will have excellent views of Old Town Salzburg.  Make sure to check out our free Salzburg walking tour which covers the castle.

Cost Per Night: $400-600 a night per room. Hotel Website: (HERE).  Other Castle Hotel Options: If you want to stay right in the Austrian Alps, Innsbruck also has Schlosshotel Igls.  Built in 1887, the hotel is especially beautiful in Winter this its mountain backdrop.

24. Kinnettles Castle (Dundee, Scotland):

About Kinnettles Castle Hotel: The 44 acre estate near Dundee first had a mansion built on it in 1678 before John Harvey a second one here in 1802.  Harvey was a local school master before getting rich from sugar cane plantations in the West Indies.  When James Paterson bought the property in 1864 he tore both mansions down and built the current stunning Kinnettles Castle.  While only medium sized it is a boutique fairytale castle hotel with a modern Scottish twist. The main castle has 9 bedrooms and 7 bathrooms, but there are also rooms for rent in the beautiful gatehouse.

Cost Per Night: $250 a night for a Double Room, but the entire Castle can also be rented at once which is common for weddings.  Hotel Website: (HERE).  Other Castle Hotel Option: Also run by the same company also runs Carberry Tower not far away near Edinburgh.  It was at this large stately castle from the 1400s that Mary Queen of Scots surrendered in 1567.

25. Dalian City Castle (Dalian, China):

About Dalian City Castle: This amazing castle hotel in the sea side resort town of Dalian China could easily be in our top ten.  It was built around the 2001 as part of a binge of government spending to inflate China’s GDP and sat totally empty for the first 10 years after it was built.  Perched over Dalian’s Xinghai Square, the castle was always lit up at night and even had a full time grounds crew and security team so it’s weird that it was empty.  We really have no idea why the building hadn’t been used as it is authentically built with real stone and bricks instead of a fake facade which means they stuck a fortune into it.  After briefly serving as a shell museum, the international Starwood  Hotel chain bought the castle and opened it as a full time hotel in 2014.  Even if you aren’t staying here it is worth a stop while in the area.  Over time we feel it will move up our list as it establishes some history as a hotel.

Cost Per Night: Starting out around $200 a night per room.  Hotel Website: (HERE).  Other Castle Hotel Option: The Dusit Thani Castle Fushun is even grander than the Dalian City Castle and set to open in 2017.  It will form part of the Hot Go Entertainment Park with 450 rooms.  Las Vegas Excalibur Hotel is another great non-authentic Castle themed hotel.

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