13 Best Affordable Castle Hotels in Europe: Find Your Fairy Tale

Ever dream of that fairytale moment? You can have it by staying in these best affordable castle hotels in Europe.

Schloss Matzen Hotel Castle; Photo Credit: Wolkenkratzer

I’m all about history, a huge Downton Abbey fan, and love touring castles, palaces and mansions. The closest I’ve ever stayed in something similar was a French chateau (although chateau does translate to castle).

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With travel hacking, you can travel the world and find that hotel you have always dreamed of staying in.

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List of the Best (And Affordable) Castle Hotels in Europe

So if you’re traveling to Europe and looking for affordable castle hotels, here are 13 that I’ve added to my own bucket list.

Historic Castle Hotel in Austria: Schloss Matzen

12^th century castle built featuring Romanesque architecture
Located in Tyrolean Inn Valley near Brixlegg in the Alps
Only 45 minutes from Vienna
Ancient staircase
Luxurious antique marble bathrooms
Rooms named after former owners
Beautiful courtyard
Original character preserved with modern amenities
- Complimentary WLAN
- Flat screen-SAT-TV, minibar and phone in all rooms
Historic tower from 1150 features a modern spa
- Finnish sauna
- Turkish steam bath
- Gym
Rattenberg is only 1.6 miles away – a small medieval historical town / pedestrian zone with numerous glass crafts shops
Room rates start around $213 a night

Affordable Fairytale Castle Hotel in Belgium: Chateau d’Hassonville

Fairytale setting for this 17^th century château
Legend says it was the hunting grounds for King Louis XIV
Nearly 136 acres with private walking paths nestled in the Ardennes Forest
Lots of turrets
Marche is a charming town nearby
Modern amenities
- Onsite restaurant with wine cellar
- Wooden barrel sauna
- Wooden outdoor hot tub
- Game room, snooker, ping-pong
Rooms from $169

Historic Medieval Castle in England: Amberley Castle

900 years of history nestled in the Sussex countryside
Humble beginning as a timber-framed hunting lodge built in 1103
Later transformed into a fortified manor, which still has many of its original features:
- A high curtain wall enclosing the castle
- Battlements on top of the castle walls (parapet and gaps to launch arrows back in the day)
- Portcullis restored (vertical gate with a latticed grill)
Only 60 miles from London; 35 from Gatwick
12 acres of formal gardens featuring medieval stonework, rose-covered arches, koi pond
18-hole putting course, tennis, croquet
Greeted by suits of armor
Drawing rooms
Several castles in nearby Sussex to tour as well as museums and small towns
Rooms as low as $168

Affordable Bed and Breakfast Castle in France: Prieure De La Chaise

Regal stone manor dating back to 15^th century
Converted into a 5-room B&B with antiques
Cottage also available
Chapel of the 12^th century listed as historical monument
Surrounded by a park with an on-property vineyard
Located near Chenonceau, the heart of Loire castles
Decorated in Renaissance style throughout
15^th-century spiral staircase leads to three of the rooms
Modern amenities include air conditioning, en-suite bathrooms, free Wi-Fi and mini fridges
Offers an outdoor pool and bike rentals
Nearby attractions include
- Castles including the 16^th-centurty Château de Chenonceau
- Abbeys
- Charming villages
- Beauval Zoo
- Miniature castles at Mini Chateaux park
  - 40+ castles reproduced at a scale of 1 / 25^th on nearly 5 acres
  - Several mini attractions for children including dressing up as knights and princesses, rides and inflatable playground
- Room rates as low as $111 (includes continental breakfast)

Romantic and Historical Castle Hotel in Germany: Schönburg / Schoenburg

Located above the medieval town of Obersel, a UNESCO World Heritage site of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley
56 miles from Frankfurt
First mentioned in history between 911 and 1166
Original castle destroyed by fire in 1689 and remained in ruins for two centuries before restored in late 19^th century until 1914.
One of a very few medieval castles where all the sons became heirs to the castle after a duke’s death (rather than the eldest)
Beautiful views of the Rhine River
Bedrooms feature four-poster beds with canopies and curtains
Beautiful private castle garden with stone pathways, brooks and pedestrian bridges
Onsite restaurant with inside or terrace seating overlooking the Rhine River
Reduced admission to Old Gate Tower Museum, which tells its 700-year history, features a giant slingshot simulation and offers an incredible view of the Rhine River from the tower’s observation deck
Rates begin around $283

Destination Wedding Castle Hotel in Ireland: Kilkea

Castle dates back to 1180 and sits on 180 acres
Only an hour’s drive from Dublin (see some other coastal towns in Ireland)
140 bedroom resort offers many options for all budgets
- Castle bedroom
- Carriage bedroom
- Self-catering lodge
- Lodge bedroom
- 11-bedroom castle available for exclusive hire
Onsite restaurant and bar
Golfing, archery, horseback riding, fishing, spa, tennis, falconry (it’s a sport thing)
Hiking/walking only minutes from the ancient Mullaghreelan Woods
Moon High Cross Inn, an authentic Irish pub only one mile away dates back to the 9^th century
Rates as low as $170
These are some other castles in Ireland you can’t miss.

Historical Wine Resort and Hotel Castle in Italy: Castello di Lispida

Dates back to 1150, home of a monastery until 1792
Buildings now built on the foundations of the ancient monastery
Headquarters forKing Vittorio Emanuele during WWI
Located in the Euganean Hills Natural Park with free walking and bike trails
Studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments with antique furniture, own kitchen, living room and bathroom, all with free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, with some featuring vintage clawfoot tubs, jetted tubs, wood stove, washing machine, or billiard room
Open fireplace for grilling
Free onsite orchard picking
222 acres of grounds includes a wine bar, thermal lake with hot springs thermal hot tub and covered heated pool
Free bikes (including a tandem bike)
Castle of Monselice, medieval village of Arquà Petrarca, golfing and mud-therapy spas nearby
$186 to $271 a night (depending on type of apartment)

Only Historical Castle Hotel in Luxembourg: Urspelt

The only castle hotel in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg dates back to the 18^th century and classified as a national monument
Fairytale setting in Natural Park of Our in the northern part of Luxembourg in the Ardennes – the border triangle of Belgium, Germany and Luxembourg
Located outside medieval city of Cherveaux
Germans used the castle as their WWII headquarters for northern Luxembourg until forced to abandon it to the Americans during the Battle of the Bulge in 1944
Restored as a luxury hotel in 2005
Onsite socially responsible restaurant and bar features French cuisine and vegan options with organic and fair trade ingredients; inside or terrace seating
Features 56 modern rooms and suites, seasonal outdoor pool, spa, tub and sauna
Hiking, cycling, mountain biking nearby
Rates from $90 to $242 a night

Mysterious and Affordable Hotel Castle in Poland: Czocha Castle

13^th-century castle is only a minute walk away from the shores of Lake Lesnia
Nearby: Kaplica Św. Leopolda, a 17th-century chapel
7 themed rooms
Due to historic character, 10 guest rooms do not include a bathroom; communal shower located in the corridor
Restaurant features Old Polish cuisine prepared from scratch using regional ingredients
Seasonal bar also offers light snacks and beverages
Spa includes a sauna and a menu of massages
Night tour of the castle reveals hidden nooks, torture chambers and mysterious secret passages.
Rates as low as $20 a night

Stay at an Affordable Hotel Castle in Portugal: Pousada Castelo Óbidos

Medieval castle from the 15th century is only 70 miles from Lisbon
Castle given as a wedding present by King D. Dinis to Queen Santa Isabel during their wedding (which took place onsite)
11 rooms in the castle with three of them in the castle keep (located within a courtyard and surrounded by a curtain wall)
8 rooms located in the Casa de Castelo
Some rooms feature four-poster beds, fireplace, historical vaulted ceilings, tiled walls and ogival doors (curved pointed shape of a Gothic arch)
Medieval theme with stone walls throughout
More than 1,000 years of history in this region
On-property restaurant and bar and esplanade
Modern amenities include free Wi-Fi, minibar, dressing gown, air conditioning and bathrooms
Rooms are named after kings and queens; QR codes on the doors will provide a little history about them. With this type of history and play in medieval times, this is one of the best affordable castle hotels in Europe without a doubt.
Several activities nearby: water sports, sailing schools, golf, horseback riding, boat and rowing trips, fishing
Room rates beginning at $203 a night

Haunted Historical Castle Hotel in Scotland: Tulloch Castle

Located in the Scottish Highlands, this castle dates back to the 12^th century and offers stunning views of The Cromarty Firth and Black Isle
Features a 250-year-old paneled Great Hall, restored original fireplaces and ceilings
Word in the castle says one of its guests is a ghost known as The Green Lady, thought to be the daughter of a former owner
A secret tunnel leads from the basement across town to the ancient Dingwall Castle (it’s now closed as it has caved in and considered dangerous)
20 charming bedrooms, some with four-poster beds and others perfect for families
Modern amenities include coffee and tea-making facilities, laundry service
Note there are no ground-floor rooms and no elevator / lift
Onsite restaurant and bar
Nearby you can find championship golf courses, dolphin-watching on the Moray, historic Cawdor Castle and Gardens, Cairngorms National Park with walking trails, a distillery, and more
Loch Ness is only 28 miles away
Loch Ness is only 28 mile
Dog-friendly
Rates average $141 a night (some as low as $77)

Romantic Hotel Castle in Spain: Posada Real Castillo del Buen Amor

Translation: Castle of Good Love
Located two hours from Madrid
Surrounded by vineyards and a formal garden featuring a vegetable maze / labyrinth
Each bedroom adapted to its original construction
Traditional restaurant or private dining in the tower
Medieval fireplace and library
Modern-day luxuries: pool, free internet and air conditioning, room service, mini bar, concierge, non-smoking, breakfast included
Medieval villages nearby to tour
Rates: $113 to $217

Affordable Hotel Castle in Switzerland: Wartegg Castle

The first Swiss Historic Hotel in Eastern Switzerland
A castle rich in history, it dates back to 1557
Located next to Lake Constance and a 32-acre English park
25 modern / minimalist rooms with views of Lake Constance or the hills of Appenzell (Alpine region)
Mini suite or family room available
Onsite organic restaurant with a garden terrace
Spa features a 5.5-meter historic turquoise bath, sauna and massages
Playground and children’s room
Modern amenities: natural mattresses, LAN, TV
Activities: cycling, swimming, boat tours, walking trails, mountain climbing
Nearby: Lindau Peninsula with the Bavarian lion and historic lighthouse, Ravensburg theme park for kids; historical Saint Gallen; Heiden’s historical mountain railway
Organic breakfast included in room rate from $175 a night

Conclusion on Best Affordable Castle Hotels in Europe

Your dream moment is just around the corner. Staying in one of these hotels will provide an everlasting and life-changing experience. Travel is one of the most enlightening experiences that you can enjoy in the modern world.

Go out and explore some of these castle hotels to see the world while traveling back in time.

What do you think are the best affordable castle hotels in Europe? Let us know in the comments below.

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