24. Where To Stay
Ireland’s tourism council works hard to make sure all its tourists have the best vacation. Therefore, they make sure to work with hotels and transportation so you can plan a trip just by selecting a tourism plan through Ireland. For instance, you can join a tourist group and follow their schedule.
Many plans will also give you places to stay and take care of transportation for you. There are dozens of hotels, Airbnbs, and other sites to stay no matter where you go. You can also spend a little extra money and stay in a castle.
23. What Should You See In Ireland?
Ireland has dozens of places that you need to see, and how many you get to will depend on where you stay and for how long. However, to give you the best ultimate travel guide to visiting Ireland, you will get some of the best places on this list.
Remember, to look for a tourist group as many pre-scheduled groups developed by Ireland’s tourism council will have many of these locations on this list. For example, you might visit Dublin one day and then head out to another city the following day.
22. The Rock of Cashel
If you like Game of Thrones, you need to see the Rock of Cashel. This is a gothic-style archaeological site full of medieval ecclesiastical buildings. The oldest building is a 12th-century round tower that includes a cross. It’s also one of the oldest churches.
Many locals refer to the Rock of Cashel as St Patrick’s Rock. It is located just 500 meters from the center of Cashel Town, County Tipperary. There are many sights to see when you go to Cashel. Other than buildings from several centuries, there are also audiovisual shows and exhibitions.
21. Killarney National Park
One of the most beautiful national parks in Ireland is the Killarney National Park. Established in 1932, it’s also one of Ireland’s first national parks. It’s located near the town of Killarney, County Kerry. Not only does it have mountains, cliffs, and a large body of water, but it also has red deer running around.
You can take a hike on one of the park’s most famous trails and view all the wildlife yourself. You can walk through the forests and note the different trees and wildflowers that are growing. Don’t forget to stop and visit the amazing Purple Mountains located in the park.
20. Guinness Storehouse Factory
Many people know Ireland for its beer, especially Guinness. This is one of the darker beers in America and one of the most popular beers in Ireland. Guinness is a large part of Ireland’s nightlife, and they have a large factory that offers a 360-degree view of Dublin as you enjoy your taste of Guinness beer right from the bar at the storehouse.
Even if you’re not a drinker, the storehouse is one of the most amazing sights in Dublin. With over 20 million visitors every year and seven floors, it’s definitely one of Ireland’s most prominent tourist destinations.
19. Galway City Museum
Galway City Museum is located in Galway City, County Galway, Ireland and is one of the most popular attractions. Even though it only opened its doors in July 2006, it remains one of the free tourist destination spots in Ireland, which is always a hit with visitors.
When you walk into the museum, you’ll get a view of Galway’s history, especially their political history. You’ll see a variety of exhibits that will take you through the history of Galway from its art to its culture. Of course, don’t forget to look at the Spanish Arch, which is directly on the side of the museum.
18. Murphy’s Ice Cream
You might not think about stopping to get some ice cream when you’re in Ireland, but knowing about Murphy’s Ice Cream will change your mind. The ice cream is made from distilled Dingle rain and created in Dingle, which is in southwest Ireland. Don’t worry about missing the building because it’s bright blue and hard to miss.
The flavors that Murphy created are unlike any other in the world. While you can get tastes similar to chocolate and vanilla, most ice cream flavors have a unique name, such as Dingle Sea Salt, Irish Coffee, and Baked Banana Sorbet.
17. The Muckross House
The Muckross House will give you a little Downton Abbey feel. The house is part of Killarney National Park. It was built in the 19th century and held some of the United Kingdom’s royal family, such as Queen Victoria. Of course, such a visit made Muckross House one of the grandest homes in all of Ireland.
The tour to see Muckross House and its beautiful gardens starts around $70. Many tourists who have seen the sites of Killarney National Park rave about the house and the tour guides because they are incredibly knowledgeable about the place. The stories you will hear when you visit the grounds will make you wish you could go back in time and see how people once lived.
16. Elizabeth Fort
Elizabeth Fort is located in the famous city of Cork, which has a population of over 125,000. Originally built around 1601, Elizabeth Fort later saw its fate when the town destroyed the location. Of course, Cork’s officials didn’t keep the fort down and then ordered all of the town’s residents to pay for and build a new Elizabeth Fort.
Even though the residents didn’t want to build the fort in the early 1600s, they are incredibly proud of it now and have no trouble telling tourists the story or showing off the handiwork of their ancestors.
15. Giant’s Causeway
The Giant’s Causeway is created of hexagonal stones, which developed because of a volcanic eruption. This creation makes the Giant’s Causeway one of Ireland’s most unique and naturally produced tourist destinations. Standing only a few miles from a small village called Bushmills that has a population of a little over 1,000, the Giant’s Causeway has one of the different myths that focus on its creation.
The myth states that the Irish giant Fionn mac Cumhaill and Scottish giant, Benandonner, decided to meet that the location to settle a dispute. Once Benandonner agreed to meet, Fionn built the Giant’s Causeway, creating the set position. To this day, no one really knows who won the fight. Some people say that Fionn won, but others say that once Benandonner showed up, Fionn hid because Benandonner was bigger than Fionn.
14. Cork Ghost Tour
You can’t think of going to Ireland without looking into one of the many ghost tours available. In fact, there are so many ghosts roaming around Ireland that there are tours dedicated explicitly to them, and the Cork Ghost Tour is one of the most popular.
The ghost tour is about two hours long and focuses on ghost stories in Cork, Ireland. Your tour guide will bring you from location to location so you can hear the ghost stories that are portrayed by actors dressed in costumes for the period of the story.
13. Cliffs of Moher
The Cliffs of Moher are one of the most popular tourist attractions in all of Ireland. Guided tours of the cliff run between two to three hours in length. Of course, you can always take your personal tour and decide to stop at the top of the cliff and enjoy the view for as long as you want.
Some of the cliffs that are around 700 feet tall and can look out towards the Atlantic Ocean, which gives you a fantastic view. Don’t forget to stop at the visitor’s center, where you can pick up some souvenirs or pause to have a meal.
12. Dunluce Castle
Located along the Causeway Coast and in Northern Ireland near Portrush, Dunluce Castle is tucked away along a cliff that makes it hard to see. However, it’s open for guided tours and people of all ages. Unfortunately, because the castle is technically a ruin, there is limited access to places, especially with wheelchairs.
However, once you get a view of the castle that stands, you will receive one of the most magnificent views of Ireland. For a castle built in the 1500s, it’s still in great shape.
11. Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle is another castle tour that you can take almost any day of the week throughout most of the year. Built in the 13th century, you can learn about Ireland’s history, including its political history that is still part of the country today.
The tour takes about one to two hours and ranges in price from 6 to 30 Euros, depending on age and if you want a family pass. If you want to save a couple of extra Euros, you can choose to take the self-guided tour with pre-made brochures to help you along with your experience.
10. University College in Cork
As one of the most popular cities in Ireland, Cork has many tourist attractions, and one of them is a place you would never think of – a university. The University College Cork is full of artwork and sculptures all over the campus. Through these pieces, you can get a great view of Ireland’s culture throughout its history.
Founded in 1895, University College Cork is one of the grandest colleges in all of Ireland. It’s known as the National University of Ireland, with a total enrollment of close to 20,000 students. The college prides themselves on their students and gives them the best education possible in all of Ireland.
9. Dublin Festivals
Ireland is a country that you can travel to at any time of the year and find dozens of things to do. While some tourist attractions close during the winter, there are still plenty of festivals in Dublin that are always a sight to see.
If you are traveling in Ireland between June and August, you can take part in the Irish Festival. There is also the Big Grill BBQ & Craft Beer Festival, which is held in August and the Dublin LGBTQ Pride in June. Between September through October, you can see Dublin’s Festival of History and their Theater Festival. Of course, you will also need to check out Oktoberfest.
8. Aran Islands
The Aran Islands are located along the Wild Atlantic Way and one of the sights you need to see while touring Ireland. Three islands make up the Aran Islands, and they are placed on top of a 300-foot cliff known as the Dun Aonghasa.
All three islands are guarding the mouth of Galway Bay, in western Ireland and known for their ancient sites. The first is called the Inis Mor Island and is the largest of the three. The second island is called the Inis Meain Island, and the third one is called the Inis Oirr Island, which is also the smallest of the three.
7. Blarney Castle
There are multiple castles on this list because Ireland is full of castles. Sometimes you will feel you can’t go anywhere without seeing a castle. One of the most famous castles to visit is Blarney Castle. Its history goes as far back as the 1200s and is known to draw locals as it’s such a spectacular sight.
While parts of the castle are reconstructed, the neo-gothic Blarney House stands on the side. Merely seeing the castle is enough to put people in awe because of its gothic structure. It is truly a sight that you rarely see anywhere in the world.
6. Wicklow Mountains
You might know of Wicklow Mountains from a famous meeting scene in the movie P.S. I Love You, which stars Hilary Swank and Gerard Butler. You can go from Dublin to the Wicklow Mountains within a day. In fact, there are day tours that will leave Dublin and bring you to the mountains.
The tour, which includes transportation, lunch, and a couple of other stops to see smaller sights along the way, only costs around $27. Of course, you don’t want to forget to listen to the history of the place. Many people feel this is as good as seeing the mountains.
5. Temple Bar
Part of Ireland is the nightlife, and even if you love to go to bed early, you need to stay up one night to get a feel of this part of the culture. One of the best ways to do this is by getting a piece of Ireland’s rich history as well by visiting the historic Temple Bar.
Located in the heart of Dublin, the Temple Bar dates back to the 1300s. It will give you a taste of the culture and a chance to listen to live Irish music every night of the week. If you like whiskey, the Temple Bar has one of the most significant collections of whiskey in Ireland.
4. The Latin Quarter
The Latin Quarter is part of Galway and known as the area of the city where it comes alive. Only by walking around the Latin Quarter, you will get to view some of the most unique shops, restaurants, hotels, and historic buildings in Ireland.
You can spend your whole vacation viewing all the places, but a full day will give you a great idea of the culture. You can start by shopping in the morning, eat at an Irish restaurant, tour some of the most significant historical buildings in Galway, and then end the day by checking in to one of its hotels.
3. Glens of Antrim
In total, there are nine Glens of Antrim – Glen Ballyeamon, Glencloy, Glendun, Glenariff, Glenarm, Glanaan, Glenshesk, Glencorp, and Glentaisie. You can take one of the most extended and most beautiful walks of your life by checking out the Glens of Antrim, even if you don’t see all nine of them.
Just like the rest of Ireland, the Glens of Antrim host their own festivals and events that make the landscape and area more spectacular than before. At these festivals, you’ll see great dancers, taste amazing Irish food, and learn more about the country’s culture and history.
2. Rings of Kerry
The Rings of Kerry are nearly 79 miles or 127 kilometers long. They are a circular route in County Kerry, which is in Southwestern Ireland. It’s one of the most popular tourist destinations as it includes other famous destinations like the Muckross House, Killarney National Park, Ballymalis Castle, Ladies View, Torc Waterfall, and the Staigue stone fort.
The Rings of Kerry holds so many fantastic tourist spots that you could spend a month viewing them all and still find yourself feeling like you’re missing a piece of Ireland’s great history and culture.
1. Titanic Belfast
The Titanic Belfast is a newer tourist attraction that quickly spiked in popularity, mainly for its name. It opened in 2012 and is a monument to Belfast’s maritime heritage. It’s located on the site where they built the famous Titanic, the former Harland & Wolff shipyard, which is a part of the Titanic Quarter.
The Titanic Belfast is dedicated to the ship and focuses on the stories from it’s beginning stages to its sinking. The building is more than 130,000 square feet and is filled with exhibit spaces, meeting rooms, and so much more.
Sources:
“10 Best Places to Visit in Ireland.” Touropia. July 2019.
“Ireland Travel Guide.” Matt, Nomadic Matt. December 2019.
“The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Ireland.” Vrithi and Vikram, Epicurious Passport.
“Your Ultimate Guide to Ireland.” Brendan Mcaller, Esquire. July 2019.
“The Ultimate Guide To Visiting Ireland.” Jemicah Colleen, Rough Maps. February 2019.
“15 Best Places to Visit in Ireland.” The Crazy Tourist.
“The Irish Bucket List: 25 best things to do in Ireland before you die.” Stevie Haughey, Ireland Before You Die.