The tiny but mighty Emerald Isle packs a punch, particularly when it comes to natural beauty. When it comes to the most beautiful places to visit in Ireland, where to even begin? Our 12-day guided journey across Ireland answers much of that question for you, particularly if you love jaw dropping landscapes and good food; it’s aptly named Ultimate Ireland.
We begin in Belfast, make a loop through Northern Ireland, stopping at Londonderry and Giant’s Causeway, then head south along the eastern coast, clockwise towards Galway. The sheer variety on offer is breathtaking – rugged cliffs and the crashing waves of the wild Atlantic, charming towns, rich culture, buzzy cities and the greenest greens. You can extend this journey into England and Scotland on Castles & Kingdoms, a three week journey. Below, we answer some of your most frequently asked questions, and take you through our favorite places to visit in Ireland.
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Ireland FAQs
Where to go for the first time in Ireland?
You’ll fly into Dublin and you won’t want to miss that. Most shorter itineraries will hop straight across the island to Galway, making time here and there for the key sights of the south: a glimpse of the staggering Cliffs of Moher, or a spin round the Ring of Kerry, perhaps a market tour in Cork.
Is 7 days in Ireland enough?
Seven days is barely enough time to see a region, let alone a whole country, and certainly a country as rich as this one. Our Ireland journey is twelve days long, but could easily be longer. It begins in Belfast and ends in Shannon so you could opt to extend at either side.
What three cities should I visit in Ireland?
Dublin, Galway and Belfast. You’ll find more on all three of these legendary cities below, along with 12 more of our favourite places to visit in Ireland.
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The 15 Best Places to Visit in Ireland
Dublin
It’s one of the most vibrant cities in the world, and yet it makes for such a relaxed start to any vacation. There are walking tours, or you can pootle between bucketlist sights like the Guinness Storehouse and Trinity College (pausing to admire the stunning Long Room in the Old Library), taking breaks here and there for Irish breakfasts, Dublin Bay prawns and world-class cocktails, depending on the time of day (or maybe not).
Galway
A journey to Galway takes you to the heart of Ireland’s rich culture, vivid history and luscious greenery. On our luxury journeys you’ll visit the gently bustling city, with its tangled lanes and pastel shopfronts, but you’ll stay out in the enchanting countryside, in the lakeside Ashford Castle, the former home of the Guinness family.
Cliffs of Moher
In County Clare, these staggeringly tall sea cliffs are an invigorating sight, and not just because of the sea spray and wind whipping your face. The scene is like a masterpiece come to life – emeralds, teals and midnight blues abound. It’s the Atlantic Ocean as you were meant to see it.
Blarney
The little unassuming village of Blarney is one of our favorite places to visit in Ireland – it’s home to the legendary castle and stone of the same name. Visitors flock here to kiss the Blarney stone in order to be granted the “gift of the gab” – the gab being, a certain eloquence, or skill at flattery or persuasion. We love showing our guests the magic of Blarney.
Giant’s Causeway
Northern Ireland’s World Heritage Site is like nothing you’ve ever seen – it’s an area formed of roughly 40,000 perfect columns of basalt, coming together in what looks like a rudimentary old Lego sea palace, with waves frothing around it, perhaps the sun setting on the horizon. It developed between 50 and 60 million years ago when lava oozed from fissures in the earth. On our journey, a wildlife ranger will show you round.
Ring of Kerry
The Ring of Kerry is a 179km circular route around the Iveragh Peninsula in County Kerry in South Western Ireland. From Killarney, it’s an easy scenic drive, with new, jaw-dropping views every few minutes, and various delicious villages along the way. It’s one of the most famous places to visit in Ireland, and rightly so.
Killarney
Feel completely at one with Ireland in the sprawling Killarney National Park, where the order of the day is lakes, woodlands, waterfalls and landscapes a-go-go. It’s a magical place to explore, with Ross Castle and Muckross House being choice stops.
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Dingle Peninsula
One of the highlights of the west coast’s Wild Atlantic Way, this is an ancient landscape of early grassy hills, craggy cliffs and villages with chapels and holy wells – it never fails to delight. The sandy beaches are some of the world’s most pristine, with the possibility of seal, dolphin, whale, and sea bird sightings just off the coast.
Belfast
We begin our luxury journey in this spirited, sparkling city, so we can start as we mean to go on. It’s got it all: a thriving performing arts scene, cozy pubs, live music, museums (including the fantastic Titanic Belfast), fish suppers and the Ulster Fry (a breakfast that usually combines sausage, bacon, eggs, black pudding, white pudding, soda bread and potato farls).
Glendalough
A little spiritual well of serenity amid the lush greenery of the Wicklow Mountains, Glendalough is a valley carved by grinding glaciers during the last Ice Age. It’s home to one of the most important monastic sites in Ireland – the monastery founded by St Kevin in the 6th century.
Donegal
Lonely Planet calls County Donegal Ireland’s “wild child”; the landscapes look like they’re from the pages of a fantasy novel. See the Derryveagh mountain range, the Slieve League cliffs and golden eagles soaring over Lough Veagh. Donegal town is a perfect town in the thick of it, offering great craic.
Aran Islands
The three islands at the mouth of Galway Bay – Inishmore, Inishmaan and Inisheer – make up the Aran Islands. A visit here is an immersive experience; locals speak Irish (as well as English) and there is an unusually high number of ruins and significant sacred sights, including Dun Aonghasa, a fort whose structures are thought to date from the Bronze and Iron Ages.
Cork
Ireland’s second largest city is delicious. At the English Market, you’ll find the very best of County Cork’s butter, creamy cheeses made in West Cork, and much more besides. After a dazzling market lunch, you’ll head out to see Cork City Gaol, a castle-like building which once housed 19th century prisoners and is now a museum, and beautiful Fitzgerald Park.
The Skellig Islands
These two uninhabited steep, rocky islets off the Iveragh Peninsula in County Kerry are now most famous as Luke Skywalker’s island sanctuary on the planet Ahch-To in the latest Star Wars trilogy. By regular humans, they’re best seen on a little looping boat tour, on which you might catch a glimpse of nesting puffins, gannets and guillemots (but no jedis).
Croagh Patrick
Nicknamed ‘the Reek’, Croagh Patrick is a holy mountain associated with St Patrick, and an important site of pilgrimage in County Mayo. Archaeologists found that there had been a stone chapel or oratory on the summit since the 5th century. On the last Sunday in July, thousands of pilgrims climb Croagh Patrick in honour of St Patrick, and masses are held at the top.
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