7 Best Places to Visit in Ireland

Dublin is one of the top places to visit in Ireland and quickly illustrates how the country blends contemporary culture with cultural heritage.

Once the British Empire’s “second city”, Dublin has retained a sense of nobility, with graceful Georgian buildings and lush parks set against the winding banks of the River Liffey. It is rich with personality steeped in 18th-century grandeur and hints of its Viking past, while embracing the multiculturalism of a contemporary cosmopolitan city.

The streets reveal celebrated traditions and the diversity of modern-day Ireland.

Highlights: Trinity College • St. Stephen’s Green • National Museum of Ireland • Guinness Storehouse • Chester Beatty Library

Recommended Length of Stay: 1-2 days

Learn more: Ireland Tours From Dublin

Seventeenth-century alleys, glamorous Georgian avenues, and the peaceful banks of the River Lee barely scratch the surface of Cork’s ability to unveil tradition and invention.

With hints of Viking raids and English occupation, a deep sense of history prevails, while giving way to a flourishing contemporary culture that’s revealed in revitalized streets, elegant waterfronts, and a captivating arts scene.

Highlights: The English Market • St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral • Fitzgerald Park • Cork City Gaol • Blarney Castle

Recommended Length of Stay: 2-3 days

Kerry is not a singular destination, but a county that contains incredible highlights when searching the best places to visit in Ireland.

You can enjoy Ireland’s natural allure and charm as you move through bogs shrouded in mist and emerald farmland divided by historic stone walls. Dramatic surf pounds against the sea cliffs and mountain peaks pierce the skyline in a region that hosts colorful shops and pubs roaring with tradition.

Killarney easily acts as a starting point for exploring the county and is among the most romantic places in Ireland. Whether you discover the Iveragh or Dingle peninsulas, beehive huts or prehistoric ring fortresses, Kerry embodies the beauty that makes Ireland a popular destination.

Highlights: Kenmare • Skellig Michael • Killarney National Park • Derrynane National Historic Park • Templenoe • Killarney

Recommended Length of Stay: 3-4 days

Dingle is a quaint town with a stunning peninsula and a microcosm of greater Ireland. Customary songs ring out of pubs and shops shine with colorful facades along a coastline marked with fishing ports.

Though popular, Dingle remains authentic, steeped as it is in traditional culture. With the hem of the peninsula marking the most westerly edge of the island, untamed wilderness, cosmopolitan cuisine, a cozy ambiance, and vast stretches of golden beach immerse you in a region that feels familiar.

Highlights: Dingle Distillery • An Diseart • Gallarus Oratory • Kilmalkedar Church • Reask Monastic Site

Recommended Length of Stay: 2-3 days

Beyond the poetic, Limerick is a captivating city that overtakes the banks of the River Shannon.

With medieval and Georgian architecture abounding, Limerick will delight you as a charming historical center and gateway to the wonders of surrounding County Shannon.

Antique castles, parks that preserve regional heritage, and manor houses that speak to the elegance of the aristocracy each add a different layer to the countryside of Limerick and Shannon.

Highlights: King John’s Castle • St. Mary’s Cathedral • Hunt Museum • Limerick City Gallery of Art • Frank McCourt Museum • Bunratty Castle

Recommended Length of Stay: 1-2 days

Intimidating historically, gorgeous architecturally, medieval Galway is an intimate metropolis.

The city pulses with an upbeat rhythm as countless festivals occur throughout the year. Local chefs celebrate regional cuisine, while fragments of the medieval walls unveil a mysterious mix of history and folklore.

The antique city boasts a contemporary ambiance that brims with creative energy that has to be experienced to be understood.

Highlights: Eyre Square • Galway Market • Galway City Museum • Spanish Arch • St. Nicholas’ Church

Recommended Length of Stay: 2-3 days

Donegal is essential to the Wild Atlantic Way that easily sums up Ireland’s untamed beauty. Sensational cliffs soar over 1,968 feet tall and the national park, with its legendary romantic trail, spreads across jagged mountains.

The county stands perched on a rugged northern coastline of cliffs and golden beaches, while escaping inwards to exceptional scenery and glassy lakes, Gaelic villages and enduring stories of legends.

Highlights: Lough Eske • Donegal Castle • Glenveagh National Park • Malin Head • Mount Errigal • Fairy Bridges

Recommended Length of Stay: 2-3 days

Ireland provides endless unique things to do, from having a drink in the Guinness factory to learning the art of falconry while visiting a castle, or listening to stories about timeless legends of the landscape.

Our Ireland tours and vacations reflect the spirit and tradition seen in the evergreen hills, epic stories, and captivating must-see destinations around the country. For more information and tips, you can explore our Ireland travel guide.