This is so worth the visit and it is for all ages. Having not only the castle but the village houses with the thatched roofs and fires burning in the fireplaces burning peat gave you the authentic feeling. Staff were so friendly and happy to chat to you about the history. Plenty of space to park and for kids to run around.

Great experience, we weren't entirely sure what this was when we decided to go, we were just looking for something to do on our last full day in Ireland that was on our way back to Dublin and we stopped here. It was amazing! Whole little old time village with houses and stores and a blacksmith that was actually blacksmithing and teaching about what a blacksmith does and then there was the castle which was also very cool. As you enter there was a man playing Irish folk tunes on his fiddle, it was all very charming. We didn't have any kids with us, but there were child specific activities and a few animals to see as well as a train that can drive you around the town. Overall great experience, would definitely recommend stopping by!

We spent a truly memorable afternoon at Bunratty Castle & Folk Park — a place where history, fun and a touch of magic come together. The grand medieval castle rises impressively above the grounds: restored to its former glory, it offers access to four towers and richly furnished living spaces that bring the 15th and 16th centuries to life.  In front of the castle lies the folk park—a living, breathing slice of 19th-century Ireland with charming thatched cottages, old trades, a village street with shops, and costumed interpreters walking around.  We wandered through the various buildings, peeked into traditional homes, learned about old-time crafts and daily life, and really felt immersed in the past. Since we visited during the Halloween week, the place became even more special: the entire grounds were transformed into a “haunted village” with spooky touches, ghostly characters, an enchanted train ride and plenty of fun for all ages.  Kids and grown-ups alike enjoyed the mix of history and seasonal excitement. The fauna on site added another layer of appeal: from proud Irish wolfhounds strolling the grounds to farm-animals like pigs, hens, and ponies, you’ll find plenty of life around you.  The large playground and outdoor spaces meant our little one had plenty of room to roam, which was a huge plus. There is a lovely café too, offering warm snacks, cakes and scones — which makes a perfect stop as you pause from exploring. All in all, we spent about 2-3 hours here and could easily have stayed longer (especially if you combine the castle towers, folk park walk and café break). If you’re travelling in Ireland and want a destination that appeals to history buffs, families, and those looking for something fun with a bit of character — Bunratty is a wonderful choice.

This is pure tourist traps at it's finest. That said, it's great for families and if you see and do everything you could easily spend 3+ hours here. We did the dinner experience at the castle too (food was about 1 star). Not a must see for me. But if you want a very curated experience of medieval Ireland it checks the boxes. Be warned, this is a major tour bus stop and the crowds can be massive at peak travel times. Ireland in October is superb if you want to avoid this but still have gorgeous weather IMO.

The castle itself was a bit of a downer, as well most are, as they illustrate how people lived fought and died there. the place was cool though. The park it's located in is absolutely fabulous! Gardens, old houses, shops, animals, photo opportunities? endless. I would set aside about 4 hours to let it all sink in.

Such a fun day. Lots to see and do for the family and a lot of farm animals to pet and see. Actors are informative and friendly and you can go most places in the castle if you are brave enough to walk all the stairs in the towers.

Excellent Halloween Frolics Between Dracula and the Devil in stilts at the entrance, a violin playing zombie, an array of zombies, criminals and witches to "harass" (in a fun way) you while you walk around, a train ride (with more scaries to entertain you), a séance, regular juggling comedic acts there was so much to entertain you and spend the day for a family. Great day out.

This is so worth the visit and it is for all ages. Having not only the castle but the village houses with the thatched roofs and fires burning in the fireplaces burning peat gave you the authentic feeling. Staff were so friendly and happy to chat to you about the history. Plenty of space to park and for kids to run around.

Great experience, we weren't entirely sure what this was when we decided to go, we were just looking for something to do on our last full day in Ireland that was on our way back to Dublin and we stopped here. It was amazing! Whole little old time village with houses and stores and a blacksmith that was actually blacksmithing and teaching about what a blacksmith does and then there was the castle which was also very cool. As you enter there was a man playing Irish folk tunes on his fiddle, it was all very charming. We didn't have any kids with us, but there were child specific activities and a few animals to see as well as a train that can drive you around the town. Overall great experience, would definitely recommend stopping by!

We spent a truly memorable afternoon at Bunratty Castle & Folk Park — a place where history, fun and a touch of magic come together. The grand medieval castle rises impressively above the grounds: restored to its former glory, it offers access to four towers and richly furnished living spaces that bring the 15th and 16th centuries to life.  In front of the castle lies the folk park—a living, breathing slice of 19th-century Ireland with charming thatched cottages, old trades, a village street with shops, and costumed interpreters walking around.  We wandered through the various buildings, peeked into traditional homes, learned about old-time crafts and daily life, and really felt immersed in the past. Since we visited during the Halloween week, the place became even more special: the entire grounds were transformed into a “haunted village” with spooky touches, ghostly characters, an enchanted train ride and plenty of fun for all ages.  Kids and grown-ups alike enjoyed the mix of history and seasonal excitement. The fauna on site added another layer of appeal: from proud Irish wolfhounds strolling the grounds to farm-animals like pigs, hens, and ponies, you’ll find plenty of life around you.  The large playground and outdoor spaces meant our little one had plenty of room to roam, which was a huge plus. There is a lovely café too, offering warm snacks, cakes and scones — which makes a perfect stop as you pause from exploring. All in all, we spent about 2-3 hours here and could easily have stayed longer (especially if you combine the castle towers, folk park walk and café break). If you’re travelling in Ireland and want a destination that appeals to history buffs, families, and those looking for something fun with a bit of character — Bunratty is a wonderful choice.

This is pure tourist traps at it's finest. That said, it's great for families and if you see and do everything you could easily spend 3+ hours here. We did the dinner experience at the castle too (food was about 1 star). Not a must see for me. But if you want a very curated experience of medieval Ireland it checks the boxes. Be warned, this is a major tour bus stop and the crowds can be massive at peak travel times. Ireland in October is superb if you want to avoid this but still have gorgeous weather IMO.

The castle itself was a bit of a downer, as well most are, as they illustrate how people lived fought and died there. the place was cool though. The park it's located in is absolutely fabulous! Gardens, old houses, shops, animals, photo opportunities? endless. I would set aside about 4 hours to let it all sink in.

Such a fun day. Lots to see and do for the family and a lot of farm animals to pet and see. Actors are informative and friendly and you can go most places in the castle if you are brave enough to walk all the stairs in the towers.

Excellent Halloween Frolics Between Dracula and the Devil in stilts at the entrance, a violin playing zombie, an array of zombies, criminals and witches to "harass" (in a fun way) you while you walk around, a train ride (with more scaries to entertain you), a séance, regular juggling comedic acts there was so much to entertain you and spend the day for a family. Great day out.

It’s an amazing place. There’s a lot to see and do so it takes several hours to walk through.

Nice interesting place to visit for a couple of hours. Staffed by supportive informed staff.

Great place to visit for a day out.

Avoid the heavy set blonde / brunette lady in her 40's / 50's working at the till in the gift shop. She has a nasty attitude towards kids and ruined the day for the family. She was wearing a green blouse so was in management, so there's no way to complain. It's a shame because the rest of the staff are otherwise fantastic.

I was a little disappointed, a site being marketed to tourists and not clean or correctly staffed. Wear and tear is one thing, dirt and refuse is not. Macs Bar, staff unusually curt and uninterested. And please address the tattered Irish flag atop the castle, this is not acceptable. Honestly disappointed although my guests were oblivious to this, I was not.

Brilliant the scenery and views are amazing great family day out with lots to see and do we came across a car show and it was just amazing there was music going on in the street everyone was in good spirits the sun was shing we deffently came on a good day the river shannon is the highlight of the place its amazing I will be back for a overnight stay as there is so much more to explore

Amazing Heritage place, we really enjoyed our stop here.

We stumbled upon The Creamery in Bunratty on a whim while driving to Limerick—spotted the castle from the highway and couldn’t resist pulling off to explore. Though it was late and the castle had closed for the day, we found something even better: a cozy, welcoming bite at The Creamery. The atmosphere was absolutely charming, with live traditional Irish music setting the tone for a relaxed and authentic experience. Not sure what to order, I asked our server for a recommendation and was pointed toward the bacon and cabbage. Let me just say—wow. It was hearty, flavorful, and gluten-free. Comfort food at its finest.

Got the beef stew, Irish coffee, bacon cabbage with sauce and the apple pie. Very nice place with good music. Service was super fast and food was absolutely fantastic. One less star for atmosphere because people were smoking right on the entrance and the smell was getting in the restaurant. I did not enjoy that part… besides that, I spilled basically the entire coffee on the table and no kidding, the manager came to clean the table 3 seconds later. She was so fast and kind. Very nice people and good live music.

We benefitted from local knowledge, a recc from someone who lives in the area. We've had 4 pub meals over the past few days; 2 were fantastic and this was one of those 2. We shared a generous bowl of Lamb Stew with Soda Bread and it was excellent! The other plates of food we saw looked great too. It's definitely a local favourite as there were family groups in as well as other folk and tourists like us.

Stayed in a nearby AirBnB and was suggested this was the best meal in town. We visited on the busiest day of the week but managed to get a table upstairs. Service was slow, there were three staff huddled around the upstairs till point gossiping while tables around us also sat round unattended. Bright point was the bar attendant from the busy downstairs bar who took our drink order but personally brought it up to us. Menu was standard stodgy fare with no vegetarian options and only salad option being a Caesar. We opted for the spicy chicken wing platter which was tasty.

Popped in for breakfast after very early airport drop off so we were first customers. Tasty breakfast & plenty of it. Couple of very loud & sweary fellas came after us & somehow two of their (many) drinks ended up on our bill so check yours before paying!

A busy, noisy gastro pub where the food is very good quality and tasty, but nothing special. The atmosphere is fun, especially if you get live music. I found the lighting very dark, which was fine in the evening but a bit grim feeling during the day. The service was excellent.

The best Irish breakfast and Irish coffe. Cannot compare it to breakfasts in bigger cities. So much better there. Really tasty!!

Saw the brewery today after drinking more than my body's volume in Bunratty over the course of 10 years. Kevin gave us a lovely showing and tasting and made us feel very welcomed. Would recommend

Wonderful people! Kevin is a gem. NOTE: This is a production facility and *not* a place where you tour. They sell all of their products, though. And don't bug them when they're on lunch break. Just go to Durty Nelly's and have a pint until they reopen.

Met Kevin, what a top bloke! Great to chat, even if he is a Utd. fan 😉 Great tip for food at JP's, lovely meal. We bought the mead from the shop in town where we could use card and it was on the Winery's lunch break anyway. Otherwise we'd have drawn cash out and loved to have had another chat with Kevin. Thanks 😊

If we could give them 6 stars we would! Kevin was friendly and funny, giving us a taste of their mead, poteen and whiskey. We bought a few bottles and could not be happier with our experience! Perfect place down the beaten path from Bunratty Castle

Thoroughly enjoyed the visit.(and the drink samples). Tommy and Kevin were great and told the history of the area and the brewery processes with excellent knowledge along with a bit of humor as only the Irish can do. Well worth a visit.

Bunratty Mead is delicious with a wonderful, honey flavour. It works really nicely as a dessert drink. It was delightful to find this mead and liquor business. Kevin was an extraordinary host/guide and representative of the business. Thanks for an enjoyable visit!

I've been trying many Meads over the past 20 years Bunratty is now the family favorite. Haven't touched another brand of Mead in the past 4 years. My search is over. Thank you Bunratty!

Giving this hotel 1 star as there is no option for 0 stars!!! Shocked and utterly appalled by the experience we had at your hotel. From the moment we arrived it was nothing but unpleasant. When we went to check in at 5pm we were told that our room was not ready – even though the booking confirmation advised that it would be ready from 3pm. This was only the start of the problems. When we were eventually allowed to check-in once we got to the room there was still someone hoovering the room and made no apology to us and was very rude about the whole thing. The lock in the door was faulty – needed to be banged hard to close, but we were going to get over that. We went for dinner in the restaurant and the reception hadn’t advised them that we were booked in which made it very awkward for everyone as we were left in limbo. The waitress was also very rude to us. There was a very 'clinical' and cold atmosphere in the restaurant, not a pleasant experience at all. Two of the three main courses were cold and had to be sent back. We had had enough at this stage so I requested to speak to a manager. She made a note of the faults and asked if we wished to change rooms. Would you actually believe that the second room was worse than the first, you couldn’t make it up! The toilet in the second room wouldn’t flush and there were blood stains on the side of the bed. We were utterly sickened. At this stage we were three hours into our holiday and to say we were at boiling point would be an understatement. We decided we had enough and requested a refund as we weren’t going to put up with anymore. We didn’t end up actually staying in the hotel that night as we dread to think what else could go wrong. Avoid, avoid, avoid!!

The hotel itself is great. Classic charm and a nice lobby. Rooms themselves are spacious. Some of the furniture is old but that was okay to me. Beds were comfortable enough to get a good nights sleep. However, the service is not good at all. You want additional towels? Sure thing, but they never come. You need a cot? You get two pillows on wheels. They did give us robes which were nice, but they take them to wash and only sometimes replace them. Overall, the stay was okay but there are better hotels in the area I think. Only reason we stayed here is we wanted a spa on site.

Lovely room and spacious bed, the area around is wonderful and quiet and i honestly couldn’t recommend the Folk park and castle enough! However, the food for breakfast and dinner was a real let down. For a four star hotel there was a lack of quality, imagination and love. The pear and walnut salad was shop bought mixed salad, tinned pears a spattering of walnuts, old dry carrot and drowned in vinegar. The coffee was instant and weak in flavor. With such an idyllic location, friendly staff and a nice interior atmosphere it’s a shame that there’s not a little more consideration extended to the food.

The Bunratty Castle Hotel did a superb job preparing our wedding on 3rd April 2018. Their efforts & dedication was very evident on our day. We enjoyed every minute of it & we were so relaxed in the confidence that the staff were doing everything possible to make it perfect for us & all our guests. They can’t stop praising everything about the hotel. We have special praise for the staff for their hard work, those behind the scenes that we never met like the chef & kitchen staff. The food was amazing. We experienced excellent team work with all members of staff working together to make our day PERFECT. They succeeded in making everything look like it was effortless even though we know it was hard work. They were so good to all our guests & the especially to the children. Our day was perfect & we will always remember Bunratty Castle Hotel for all the right reasons.

Friendliest bar keeps ever. The food was pretty good. Late night conversation at the bar was awesome. While the accommodations are pretty run of the mill, the recent renovations bring new life to this old hotel. It ends up a great mix of Victorian charm and clean upkeep. The pool and hot tub were excellent and the inclusion of a sauna AND steam room were welcome after a long day. DO NOT MISS breakfast in the Library! Perfect for couples. Great food.

Just back from a fantastic weekend. The hotel was superb. Staff excellent very friendly and helpful. There was a real effort on keeping everyone safe and all social distancing adhered to with staff wearing masks. The food was great and only thing I missed at breakfast was no toast. We had a fabulous room very spacious and comfortable. Our thanks to all the team who provided a nice surprise of Prosecco and chocolates on arrival to celebrate our anniversary. We will definitely come back and recommend it to all our family and friends. Kathlee & Kevin.

The lobby was welcoming. We stayed in room 227. The room was a little shabby. Not enough light. Outlets didn't work. Carpet was gross. Shower curtain is too light and sticks to you. Good value but rooms could use a little sprucing up. It was great being so close to the airport without having to stay in an airport hotel. We enjoyed the area. Great last night in Ireland.