Where to Check In for Valentine’s Day: Ireland’s Most Romantic Hotel Escapes

This Valentine’s Day, romance comes with room service, candlelight and a sense of escape. From grand country houses to city hotels made for lingering mornings and late check-outs, these are the Irish stays setting the mood for a love-filled February - indulgent, intimate and well worth the getaway.

Ballynahinch Castle, Galway

For a romantic Valentine’s escape immersed in Connemara’s wild beauty, Ballynahinch Castle offers calm, character and quiet luxury. The two-night Valentine’s package includes a candlelit dinner for two in the award-winning Owenmore Restaurant, champagne and chocolates on arrival, and a luxurious overnight stay. Couples can also unwind in the outdoor lake-view saunas before a riverside walk or stroll through the gardens.Prices from €330 per person.Details at www.ballynahinchcastle.com

Ballyfin Demesne, Laois

Few places do romance quite like Ballyfin. This one-night Valentine’s escape unfolds in Ireland’s most elegant country house, combining seamless service with indulgent dining. The Romance Escape includes a champagne welcome, three-course lunch, and a Michelin-starred tasting menu by Executive Chef Richard Picard-Edwards, followed by an overnight stay and leisurely breakfast. Guests can explore the 614-acre estate or add rose-petal baths, champagne, or a couples’ massage.Prices from €1,390 per couple (midweek).More information at www.ballyfin.com or (00) 5787 55866

The Heritage Hotel & Spa, Laois

The Heritage Hotel & Spa’s playful “Fall Mud-ly in Love” package is designed for couples who want to switch off and reconnect. This one-night stay includes bed and breakfast, a romantic dinner for two in Blakes Restaurant, and a shared Rasul Mud Treatment complete with a glass of bubbly. The ritual combines mineral-rich muds and heated mosaic loungers in a private spa setting.Rates from €356 per room (€178 per person).Book at www.theheritage.com

The Fitzwilliam Hotel Dublin, Dublin

For an urban Valentine’s with a view, The Fitzwilliam’s A Room with a View package delivers effortless romance. The one-night stay includes an à la carte breakfast, bubbles and a charcuterie board served on a private balcony overlooking St Stephen’s Green — complete with blankets for sunset drinks above the city. With only a limited number of balcony rooms available, it’s a serene escape in the heart of Dublin.Rates from €299 B&B; A Room with a View from €599 B&B.Details at www.fitzwilliamhoteldublin.com

The Grafton Hotel Dublin, Dublin

Perfectly placed in the heart of the city, The Grafton Hotel is ideal for couples planning a Valentine’s city break. Just minutes from Dublin’s key streets, and close to the Shrine of St Valentine at Whitefriar Street Church, the hotel offers two tailored packages from 13^th – 15^th February. Expect champagne, strawberries, rose-petal turn-downs and breakfast in bed, or a lighter retreat with Prosecco, artisan chocolates and a full Irish breakfast. Prices from €399. Packages bookable online.

Park Hotel Kenmare, Kerry

For couples craving polished, old-world luxury, Park Hotel Kenmare sets the tone. The Valentine’s package includes an overnight stay in a newly refurbished room or suite, breakfast in bed, a 2pm late checkout, sparkling Irish wine on arrival, a 60-minute couples massage and dinner in the intimate Landline restaurant. Guests can also opt for a dedicated Table for Two dining experience or indulge in Valentine’s Afternoon Tea with Champagne.From €825 per couple. More information at parkkenmare.com or 064 664 1200