More about hotels in Leinster
About Leinster accommodation
Leinster is Ireland's eastern province, and there's a good chance you already know pieces of it without knowing the name. It's Dublin's Georgian squares and cobbled laneways, but it's also the granite peaks of the Wicklow Mountains rising less than an hour south of the city, the River Boyne cutting through quiet farmland on its way to the sea, and mile after mile of rolling green countryside dotted with market towns.
However you split your time between capital and countryside, Leinster has a base to match. City hotels put Dublin's pubs, museums and shopping right on your doorstep, while country inns and guesthouses in Wicklow, Kildare and Meath make it just as easy to slow down and explore the fields and hills beyond.
Where to stay in Leinster
- Dublin: The capital, and the natural base for a first visit. Georgian architecture, live trad sessions and enough museums and galleries to fill a week, all within walking distance of each other.
- Wicklow: Known as the Garden of Ireland, all granite mountains, glacial lakes and manicured estate gardens, less than an hour from the city.
- Kildare: Ireland's horse country. Flat green plains built around stud farms, racecourses and long, easy drives.
- Meath: The Boyne Valley county, home to ancient river-side mounds and sleepy farmland towns a short trip north of Dublin.
- Kilkenny: A medieval city built around a Norman castle and laneways made for wandering, tucked into Leinster's south.
How much is Leinster accommodation?
Rates depend a lot on how close you stay to Dublin city centre. A clean, central room in the capital averages around AU$220 a night, while a country guesthouse in Wicklow or Meath can run for about half that.
- Hostels: From AU$45 per night. Dorm beds in Dublin's Temple Bar and Christchurch areas, an easy walk from most of the big sights.
- Budget hotels & guesthouses: From AU$95 per night. Simple, clean rooms in the city, or family-run B&Bs out in the counties.
- Mid-range hotels & apartments: From AU$160 per night. Comfortable rooms with breakfast included, plus self-catering apartments if you're staying longer.
- Boutique hotels: From AU$230 per night. Design-led stays with local art on the walls and a bar worth lingering in.
- Luxury hotels & resorts: From AU$380 per night. Full-service five-star stays, and in Kildare's case, often a golf course out the back door.
Top-rated hotels in Leinster
- The Westbury Hotel: Just off Grafton Street, this one does old-school Dublin glamour properly. Think afternoon tea and a piano bar that's been going for decades.
- Clontarf Castle Hotel: A genuine 12th-century castle turned hotel on Dublin's northside, complete with a suit of armour in the lobby and a stone keep you can actually sleep in.
- The Croke Park Hotel: Built into the edge of Ireland's biggest stadium, a solid pick if you're in town for a match or just want a room with a proper view of the Dublin skyline.
- Herbert Park Hotel: Overlooks one of Dublin's prettiest parks in the leafy Ballsbridge embassy belt, an easy walk into the centre without the traffic noise.
- The Devlin Dublin: A boutique stay on Ranelagh's café strip, all bold art and record players in the rooms, for travellers who want somewhere with a bit of personality.
Tips for finding the perfect accommodation in Leinster
- Base yourself in Dublin if you're short on time: most of Wicklow and the Boyne Valley work well as a day trip by car or coach tour, so you don't need to change hotels every night.
- Book Wicklow and Kildare stays early in summer: both counties fill up fast with weekend visitors escaping the city, especially around the Wicklow Mountains and race meets.
- Check whether parking is included: Dublin city centre parking is tight and pricey, while country stays almost always have it free.
- Try a farmhouse B&B for a night or two: it's a different pace to a city hotel, usually comes with a proper Irish breakfast, and gets you up close to the rolling countryside Leinster is known for.
- Use our filters to narrow things down fast: breakfast included, free parking or pet-friendly stays are easy to sort by, which helps across a province with this much choice.
Flying in from overseas? It's worth checking flights to Ireland alongside your stay, since most routes land in Dublin right in the middle of the province.
