It has been estimated that there are between 500-600 hotels in Dublin Ireland. The figure can never be definitive, as hotels open and close all the time. Plus the lines between hotels, guesthouses, hostels and even private homes offering accommodation in Dublin are blurry. Even so, 500+ hotels for a city with a population of only half a million is high and reflects Dublin’s status as a tourist destination.

Of all the capital cities of Europe, Dublin has been on an economic rollercoaster ride of late. Hotels in Dublin Ireland saw a noticeable growth during the boom years of the Celtic Tiger, but it wasn’t destined to last. Now that the economies of Europe, and of Ireland in particular, are in steep decline (though free fall may be a better word to describe the Irish economy since the 1990s), cheap Dublin hotels abound. Hotels in Dublin Ireland can be great and they can be terrible. Bargains can definitely be had.

If you are looking for a memorable stay at some of the best Dublin hotels, we can help. At Bargain Hotel Finder blog we do not recommend any hotels we would not stay at ourselves. Over the years, we have stayed at most of the best hotels in Dublin Ireland. Our aim is to provide good advice and impartial recommendations. Then you can best decide for yourself.

Background on The City of Dublin

Dublin is the capital of the Republic of Ireland. It was established in the 9th Century as a Viking settlement. The name means ‘black pool’ and can be linked to the Lancashire seaside town of the same name, just across the Irish Sea. Surviving a number a rebellions by the native Irish Celts, the Vikings remained in control until 1169. The Norman invasion was launched from Wales and marked the start of British rule. Dublin Castle, which was to become the cornerstone of English power throughout Ireland, was constructed in 1204 on the orders of King John I of England.

Dublin has been receiving visitors and tourists since medieval times. The first hotels in Dublin Ireland were inns and taverns, established to cater to pilgrims and merchants in the 13th and 14th centuries. The pinnacle of the great hotels in Dublin Ireland was from around 1880 until independence from Britain in 1922.

Dublin hotels are spread out throughout the city and into the surrounding areas. There are several around the airport, which is on the northern outskirts of the city. Dublin itself is sited roughly midway up the east coast of Ireland, at the mouth of the River Liffey.  A north-south division has always existed, the river separating the two. The  North-side is regarded as working-class, while the South-side is more middle class.

Where To Find Hotels in Dublin Ireland

Dublin can also be divided in an east-west axis as well as the north-south. Newer developments are centred to the west of Dublin, with the coastal areas around the east around what was once a thriving docks. Hotels in Dublin Ireland cater for all classes of visitors, be they coming for the many tourist attractions or for sport. Rugby has always been a popular sport in Ireland. The national team (including players from Northern Ireland) plays regular international matches at the Aviva Stadium in Ballsbridge Dublin 4. This replaced the old Lansdowne Road venue, knocked down in 2007.

It is worth checking when rugby, or CIE All Ireland Football and Hurling matches are scheduled. This is because most cheap Dublin hotels will be booked solid, with prices higher than normal. Avoid big match weekends if you can. The same goes for big music events, when people from the whole of Ireland seem to converge on the capital.

Recommended hotels in Dublin Ireland:

Arlington Hotel
Arlington Hotel Temple Bar
Ballsbridge Inn Hotel
Ballsbridge Towers Hotel
Belvedere Hotel
D4 Berkeley
The Burlington
Carlton Dublin Airport Hotel
Clarion Dublin Airport
Clarion Dublin City
Clarion Liffey Valley
Clontarf Castle
The Conrad
Castle Leslie
Dunboyne Castle
The Dylan
Fleet Street Hotel
Four Seasons Hotel
The Gresham
The Heritage
Hilton Dublin
Johnstown House
Jurys Inn Christchurch
Jurys Inn Custom House
Jurys Inn Parnell Street
Louis Fitzgerald Hotel
Maldron Citywest Hotel
Maldron Smithfield Hotel
Maldron Parnell Square Hotel
Maldron Cardiff Lane Hotel
Maldron Hotel Tallaght
The Merchant House
The Merrion Hotel
The Morgan
The Shelbourne Dublin
Red Cow Hotel
Schoolhouse Hotel
The Westbury Hotel

Dublin’s literary history is as rich as a pint of stout. Note: Guinness is the best known but both Murphy’s and Beamish play a part in Ireland’s stout history. Authors like James Joyce, Samuel Beckett, WB Yeats, Flann O’Brien, Jonathan Swift and Oscar Wilde were all based in Dublin at some time or other. When you visit Dublin, try and take in the Dublin Literary Pub Crawl, which offers visits to some of the city’s more eminent pubs. Stay at one of Dublin’s bargain hotels in the city centre and make sure you know your way home before you set out!

Dubliners are famous for their storytelling abilities and for their willingness to embark on a story at the slightest excuse. It will come as no surprise to hear that Dublin’s pubs and even its hotels and inns have set the scene for many of the world’s most important literary glories. Another truly wonderful thing about Dublin pubs and historic hotels in Dublin, Ireland, is that they are largely unchanged since the glory days when great literary figures abounded. Almost every one of these writers enjoyed a drink: some much more than others.

Get the best deal for hotels in Dublin Ireland

It took a while, but these days Dublin is a diversely cultured society. The city’s multi-ethnic populace now consists of communities from China, India, Nigeria, Japan, and Korea. In recent years people from Eastern European countries, including Poland, Slovakia and Russia, have made Dublin their home. All these different people bring aspects of their own cultures. Like all great cities, Dublin continues to grow culturally. Many of the hotels in Dublin Ireland employ staff from all over the world.

The best Dublin hotels are among the best in the world. The entire range is there, from budget hostels for under €15 to 5 star luxury at over €600 a night. Check out the best deals and enjoy your time staying at hotels in Dublin Ireland. Our other pages can tell you how best to get your room at the cheapest possible price.