7 best places to visit in IRELAND
Curious about the best places to visit in Ireland? Ireland is a country in north-western Europe occupying five-sixths of the island of Ireland.
Ireland’s rugged coastline, breathtaking landscapes and an abundance of hiking trails make it an amazing destination for nature lovers.
What else? Breathtaking places with a legend behind them, ancients towns with fantastic architecture and great museums. All this and so much more awaits you in Ireland.
Do you plan to visit Ireland and want to know the best places to visit in Ireland? Then you have found yourself in the right place.
We’ve created this list of some of the best places to visit in Ireland to help you with the task of planning your trip to Ireland.
7 best places to visit in Ireland
Dublin
Dublin is the capital and largest city of Ireland.
With no shortage of cool things to do and amazing places to visit, Dublin undoubtedly is one of the best places to visit in Ireland.
Dublin is compact enough to explore it on foot by bicycle. The city is divided by the River Liffey, and boasts a number of historic bridges.
Start with the famous Dublin Castle which is located in the heart of the city.
Visit Grafton Street — Dublin’s famous “street mall”. It’s a pedestrian street which bustles with vendors and shoppers. The smaller side streets offer small shops selling traditional Irish crafts and souvenirs.
Have you ever wanted to visit a traditional pub? Dublin is the perfect place for it! It boasts a whopping number of pubs — in total 750 of them! And no other is as famous as Temple Bar at the heart of the city.
The Temple Bar area is also a great place to enjoy traditional folk music.
Do you love Guinness Beer? Visit Guinness Storehouse to learn more about the history of brewing of the so-called “Black Stuff” — Guinness beer.
Do not miss the Old Jameson distillery. There you can learn more about the history of the world-famous Jameson whiskey.
Cliffs of Moher
Rising dramatically out of the Atlantic Ocean, Cliffs of Moher are sea cliffs located on the North Atlantic Coast.
They are some of the most breathtaking natural landmarks in the country, and one of the best places to visit in Ireland.
Spanning about 14 kilometres, Cliffs of Moher offer dramatic views of the ocean. On clear days you can see the mountains of Connemara and Aran Islands.
Near the midpoint of the cliffs, there’s a round stone tower built-in 1835.
The height of the cliffs are 120 to 214 metres.
There’s a well-marked, 18-km long trail along the coast.
Connemara National Park
Connemara National Park is one of six national parks in Ireland. It is located in the west of Ireland.
The national park consists of 2000 hectares of varied landscape — mountains, forests, bogs and grasslands.
With an abundance of hiking trails and beautiful views, Connemara National Park is a nature lovers playground.
To enjoy glorious views of the area, hike the Diamond Hill. At a height of 442 metres, it’s an isolated peak with high prominence.
Not only the national park is a natural landmark of great importance, it also contains some historical monuments.
Kylemore Abbey & Victorian Walled Garden are among the historical treasures of the area. The abbey was built in 1868 as a private home, but in 1920 the Irish Benedictine Nuns purchased the Abbey castle after they were forced to flee Belgium during WWI.
Benbulbin
Benbulbin is a large flat-topped rock formation, resembling a table.
With a height of 525 metres, Benbulbin features a flat limestone plateau and near-vertical, ribbed sides.
It is possible to hike to the flat top of the mountain.
Not only is it a unique natural landmark, but Benbulbin is also the setting of several Irish legends.
The Ring of Kerry
The Ring of Kerry is a scenic drive around the Iveragh Peninsula. This 179km-long circular route with rugged coastal views definitely must be on your to-do list.
The route goes in a loop, and much of it is along the coastline.
If you are feeling adventurous, you can choose to hike the Ring of Kerry. The route is about 215 km long, and it takes about 10-11 days to complete it. This route follows the hiking route of the Ring of Kerry drive.
Slieve League Cliffs
At the maximum height of 596 metres, Slieve League Cliffs are among some of the highest sea cliffs on the island of Ireland.
Although less famous than the Cliffs of Moher in County Clare, Slieve League’s cliffs reach almost three times higher.
Some of the best views of Slieve League are from a viewpoint known as Bunglass.
Aran Islands
The Aran Islands is a group of 3 little, rocky islands off the coast near Doolin. Inis Mór is the largest of the Aran Islands.
Enjoy the walks on the rocky cliffs and visit the ancient Celtic churches.
Explore Dún Aonghasa — a group of prehistoric hill forts and an important archaeological site.
Ireland travel tips
- All European Union and British citizens can enter Ireland without a visa. Citizens of the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and many other countries do not require a visa and are allowed to stay in Ireland for 3 months.
- It’s cool, cloudy and rainy throughout the year. There are no hot and dry summers and very cold winters, so Ireland is more of an all-year-round destination. July and August are the warmest months with an average temperature of 19-20 °C in Dublin. But the spring and autumn tend to have fewer crowds and cheaper prices.
- Please remember that the weather in Ireland is unpredictable at all times. A rain jacket and sturdy, water-resistant shoes are a must. Especially if you are planning to hike. Pack in layers. Check the weather forecast, but don’t rely on it.
- How to get around Ireland? By far the easiest way to travel in Ireland is in a rental car. Thus you’ll be able to visit some amazing places off the beaten track. Remember you’ll be driving on the left.
- But if you don’t want to rent a car, it’s still quite easy to travel around Ireland. The rail network serves the larger cities and major towns. The local buses serve smaller towns and more remote parts of Ireland. Intercity (Bus Éireann) buses are budget-friendly and convenient.
- If you plan to travel by train, buy your train tickets in advance in order to save money.
- The official currency of Ireland is the Euro.
- Consider buying the Heritage Card. It will give you free admission to many heritage sites in Ireland.
