More about hotels in Mayo
Mayo throws big scenery at you and doesn't apologise for it. Achill Island, Ireland's largest island, sits off the county's west coast with cliffs that drop straight into the Atlantic and a beach at Keem Bay that regularly makes world's-best lists. Keep half an eye on the water out there too, basking sharks turn up off the bay on a calm day. Inland, Croagh Patrick rises 764 metres above Clew Bay, and the climb to the top rewards you with hundreds of small green islands scattered across the water below. Between the two, the Great Western Greenway runs 42 flat, car-free kilometres from Westport to Achill, tracing the old railway line along the coast. It's proper seafood country as well, with chowder and Achill Mountain lamb turning up on menus from Westport to Keel.
There's a Mayo stay to match however you're travelling, from a castle estate on Lough Corrib to a simple room a short walk from the pub. No worries either way, you'll be close to the coast.
Where to stay in Mayo
- Westport - Belmullet: the county's tourism heartbeat, a Georgian town built around the Octagon and the tree-lined Mall, with Westport House's parkland and lake right on the edge of town, and the closest base to Croagh Patrick, Achill and the Great Western Greenway. See stays in Westport.
- Castlebar: Mayo's county town, central and practical if you're touring the county rather than settling into one base. See stays in Castlebar.
- Ballina: set on the River Moy and long known among anglers for its salmon, with an easy run up to the north Mayo coast. See stays in Ballina.
- Claremorris - Swinford: inland market towns with rail links, handy if you're routing through Mayo rather than heading straight for the coast. See stays in Claremorris - Swinford.
How much is Mayo accommodation?
Rooms in Mayo start from around AU$155 a night, with the price climbing the closer you get to the water, the spa, or the castle gate.
- Budget stays: From AU$155 per night. Simple, clean rooms, usually a short walk from a town centre.
- Mid-range hotels: From AU$240 per night. A proper base with real facilities, like the Great National Hotel in Ballina.
- Boutique & spa hotels: From AU$260 per night. Westport Woods and Knockranny House both sit here, with pools and treatment rooms on site.
- Luxury & historic stays: From AU$357 a night, climbing past AU$400 for a room at The Lodge at Ashford Castle on Lough Corrib.
Top-rated hotels in Mayo
- The Lodge at Ashford Castle: on the shores of Lough Corrib, with falconry lessons and lake cruises across the estate's 350 acres, and a kitchen that grows its own vegetables. Guests rate it 9.6.
- Westport Plaza Hotel: set right among Westport's Georgian streets, an easy walk to the harbour and the pubs on Bridge Street. Rated 9.4.
- The Wyatt Hotel: named for the architect linked to nearby Westport House, and just as central, with Achill and Croagh Patrick both a short drive out. Rated 9.4.
- Knockranny House Hotel & Spa: perched on a hill above town, with Croagh Patrick and Clew Bay filling the view from the spa's relaxation room. Rated 9.0.
- Talbot Hotel: the highest-rated stay in the county at 9.8, a straightforward, well-run option without the resort price tag.
Tips for finding the perfect accommodation in Mayo
- Base yourself in Westport if Achill, Croagh Patrick and the Greenway are on your list. Everywhere else in Mayo is a longer drive from there.
- Pack for four seasons in one day. The west coast weather turns fast, so a hotel with a drying room or boot storage is worth a search filter.
- Cycling the Great Western Greenway one way is easiest with a booking at both ends, Westport and Achill, rather than doubling back the same day.
- Climbing Croagh Patrick takes a full morning at least. A stay near Westport the night before means you're not driving far to reach the car park at first light.
- July and August book out fastest, especially anything near Keem Bay. Lock in Achill accommodation a few months ahead if you're travelling in peak summer.
- Not every day needs to be a hike or a bike ride. A wander through Westport House's lakeside gardens is an easy, low-key way to break up a busier itinerary.
Mayo pairs easily with a longer run along Ireland's west coast. Galway city is under an hour and a half south, and Sligo isn't much further north, so it's worth checking flights and things to do nearby before you lock in your travel dates.
