The noble greystone house holding the elegant Park Hotel was described by the Irish Independent newspaper as “as close as you’ll get to Downton Abbey without going on set.” And that’s about right. The circa-1897 building rambles through large, perfectly decorated rooms, each more glorious than the last, with open fireplaces, grand oil paintings, and imposing staircases galore. All around are spectacular views of mirrorlike lake and green, rolling hills. This is a formal place—staff are polite but not snobbish and will help arrange anything you need, including sightseeing excursions and horse-riding expeditions. But the extraordinary Samas spa might prove so distracting that you forget to go sightseeing at all. Bedrooms are quiet and unusually spacious for Ireland; all are impeccably decorated, some with four-poster beds. The in-house restaurant is known for its Irish-European cuisine and formal atmosphere; four-course set menus cost around €70.