9 Best Airbnb Castles for a Fairy-tale Vacation

San Fabiano Castle in Monteroni d'Arbia, Tuscany, Italy — Photo: Courtesy of Airbnb

Ever dream of living in a castle in the Italian countryside? A château in Loire Valley? A manor in Germany? This may be your chance.

You'll be happy to know that there are tons of beautiful, real-life castles on Airbnb that are waiting for you to rent, often for reasonable rates. Some of these properties offer a single room within the castle while others give you the entire place to yourself. They can be found in tourist-friendly areas with tons of gorgeous views, charming villages, and fun things to do, so you'll never feel like a prince or princess stuck in a tower.

From Tuscany to Bavaria, these nine castles take affordable luxury to a whole new level. Not only are they big enough for the entire family, but some of the over-the-top accommodations will only cost you and your travel companions the equivalent of an average hotel room in destinations like Paris, Rome, or Berlin.

Granaio Castle

Where: Monselice, Provincia di Padua, Italy

To book: airbnb.com

You get an entire apartment with garden views inside this 19th-century Italian castle — and for a moderate price. The stay comes with access to luxurious amenities like a heated pool, beautiful grounds, and a nearby hot spring. Wine-loving guests will enjoy sampling the natural vinos made in the region.

Scottish Highland Castle

Where: Ballintuim, Scotland

To book: airbnb.com

For the price of a hotel room, you can get your own private apartment inside this ancient castle that pretty much every Outlander fan dreams about. It's a beautiful but modest (for a castle) space that's close to villages like Bridge of Cally and Blairgowrie and Rattray. Balmoral and St. Andrews are each about an hour's drive away, so you can see where the late Queen Elizabeth spent her summers as well as the oldest University in Scotland, where the Prince and Princess of Wales met.

The Bridge House

Bridge attached to a castle over a river — Courtesy of Airbnb.

Where: Ballintuim, Scotland

To book: airbnb.com

Just over the road from the Scottish Highland Castle, this fellow Ballintuim property offers the rare opportunity to sleep on a bridge (don't worry, in plenty of comfort). This two-bedroom stone dwelling was built over the River Ardle in 1881. All you have to do is peek out your window and you're likely to see trout and salmon traveling with the current. The Bridge House, which sleeps four, has its own wood stove and access to a sauna on the grounds.

Castle in the Loire Valley

Interior of Castel in the Loire Valley in Saint-Georges-sur-Cher, France — Courtesy of Airbnb

Where: Saint-Georges-sur-Cher, France

To book: airbnb.com

The Loire Valley is well known for having lots of lavender fields and wineries, so staying at this beautiful castle (that you get all to yourself) is a no-brainer. It's a little pricier than others on this list, but it's also fit for 15 guests, so you can split the cost with travel companions.

Santa Marta de Portuzelo Castle

Where: Santa Marta de Portuzelo, Portugal

To book: airbnb.com

If you're in the market for a historic, romantic palace to accommodate your large group, this place has nine bedrooms and 19 beds. About an hour's drive from Porto, it offers the best of both worlds: a castle stay and access to a major city with lots to see and do.

San Fabiano Castle

Where: Siena, Tuscany, Italy

To book: airbnb.com

This charming castle bed-and-breakfast in Tuscany offers individual guest rooms for an affordable rate. Not only do you get a spacious, traditionally furnished bedroom with en suite bathroom, but also communal terraces and a shared pool. Plus, you're smack dab in the heart of Italy.

Manor by the Moated Castle

Where: Unsleben, Bavaria, Germany

To book: airbnb.com

Bavaria has some of the most beautiful and iconic castles in the world, so why not go stay near one? This budget-friendly lodging isn't technically within the castle itself, but in the estate's manor house, which is equally charming and comfortable. While you're there, you can explore the Bavarian countryside and have bragging rights for staying near a castle with an actual moat.

Scargill Castle

Where: Scargill, County Durham, United Kingdom

To book: airbnb.com

This lovely, ancient (though a bit small) castle is in quite a rural place, but it's also within an hour's drive of stunning protected landscapes in the Yorkshire Dales, Lake District, and North Pennines. You get the whole three-floor, one-bedroom castle to yourself, plus your own private courtyard garden.

Cregg Castle

Where: Corrandulla, County Galway, Ireland

To book: airbnb.com

True, this bargain Airbnb castle only gives you a room, not the entire place. But that room, which costs under $100 a night, is incredibly spacious. We're talking two double beds and a single bed, comfortably sleeping five people. This place is for anyone who wants an authentic castle experience — it's not too close to things, and the best activities include exploring the 180-acre grounds, which include church ruins and a portal tomb.