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.

Read next: The Roaming Boomers on Traveling to Ireland With Luxury Gold

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.

Read next: Everything That’s Included On a Luxury Gold Journey 

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.

Read next: Ashford Castle: An Idyllic Country Escape

As a lifelong Londoner, one of the things I love most about the city is that – truly – you can wear what you like. This is the city of diversity, self-expression and creativity – be who you are and feel good doing it. So, why does it feel so easy to get it wrong? Possibly because it’s also the city of the poorly ventilated London Underground, relentless drizzle, and long, uneven walks. And because it’s English. Which means you never know when a unexpected Anglicism is going to catch you unawares. Let’s get into some of the nuances that dictate precisely what to wear to dinner in London. We’ll finish with some dos and don’ts.

How to Dress For Dinner in London:

Dress codes

 If we start by turning our attention to some of the older, classic restaurants, what do we learn? At Claridge’s, “we do not operate any dress code, however we find most of our guests choose smart casual dress”. At The Ritz, “gentlemen are required to wear a jacket and tie” in the main restaurant, while “shorts, trainers and sportswear are not permitted in any of the hotel’s restaurants or bars”. At Rules, “whilst jacket or tie are not required, we prefer smart dress”.

In a lot of ways, these are the easy ones. You probably wouldn’t even consult the dress code before taking afternoon tea at the Ritz, you’d just know you were embarking on something luxe, and you’d want to dress accordingly. The direction that luxury takes you in is really up to you.

Buttoned up pockets:

 There are some pockets of the city that take dress codes more seriously. For instance, there was a “tightening up” of the dress code at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay in Chelsea recently. It now reads:

“We would like all of our guests to feel free to express their own individual style however, we do ask guests to avoid shorts, tracksuits, hoodies and hats. Smart trainers are fine. We know lots of our guests like to dress smartly which we appreciate. Ultimately we want every guest to feel at home.”

I appreciate the distinction between “smart trainers” and the ones you wear to the gym, or “sportswear”. I think it’s important to know that comfort counts for a lot in London, and you know the difference between one sneaker and another.

Even restaurants frequented by royalty have a smart-casual policy these days, though in these corners of London (Mayfair, Kensington), they can have their own ideas about what that actually means – some state that they prefer a jacket over a shirt, some specify “tailored shorts” – but these are few and far between.

Feeling fancy

In fact the reality is that most high end restaurants in London are so relaxed about clothes, you might want to seek out some addressed that are special enough to flex your fanciest looks. If you’re looking for restaurants with stunning surrounds, consider Berners Tavern for glamorous chandeliers and cornicing to befit a stately home, Bob Bob Ricard for pie and champagne in sumptuous booths, The Dover for seventies Sophia Loren-style splendour or Booking Office 1869 for vast interiors and indoor palm trees.

Dining in London: Dos and Don’ts

Dos:

Black

There is no need to wear black if you usually don’t. But if you own a chic black jacket, dress or pair of pants that makes you feel fabulous, consider it the key to your capsule wardrobe. You can go in any direction you please from there.

 A good coat (or jacket, or indeed shacket)

If your restaurant manager is kind enough to help you slip your coat from your shoulders on to a hanger, you want to feel really good watching it disappear into the closet. In London, for obvious reasons, you cannot underestimate the power of a good coat – it almost doesn’t matter what’s underneath.

Comfy shoes

As we’ve established, even Claridge’s wants you to feel at home. Nothing mars an unforgettable meal like a pair of blisters. Wear the good trainers, or the boots you know like the back of your … foot.

 A woollen jumper

When autumn arrives, knitwear is practically a sport in London. Whether it’s a classic navy cashmere number, or a bright, oversize piece, wearing a jumper you love is the cosiest way to express yourself, and to feel fully ensconced at the table.

Don’ts:

Grey

I’m sure Stanley Tucci could pull it off, but we don’t need to try. If there’s one thing we have enough of here, it’s grey – in the sky and in the hue of people’s sun-deprived skin as winter prattles on. Please consider Londoners by leaving your grey suits at home. 

Tiny umbrellas

I’ve lost more of those soggy minis under restaurant tables than I can bear to think about, but I have a big, gold leopard print (hard to miss) one that’s been with me for almost 10 years.

Worry

You will not “look like a tourist” – there is no such thing here. Even the classic look (cycling shorts, baggy souvenir t-shirt, socks and trainers) looks great in the right establishment (not one that hates sportswear). And everyone is using Google Maps to navigate Soho (although when in Rome – or London – Citymapper is the preferred app of choice).

Overthink

Londoners can smell outfit insecurity a mile off. You just pulled this old thing out of the suitcase and threw it on – right? 

What about Crocs and flops?

One has to operate some discretion when it comes to open toes and so forth. It’s a no to your old Havaianas, a yes to your key lime platform Crocs. But that’s just common sense.

Welcome to Zurich, Switzerland’s largest city, where breathtaking Alpine landscapes meet shimmering waters in a captivating fusion of art, luxury, and delectable culinary experiences. An ideal destination for an indulgent city break or the starting point for your Swiss adventure, the question is, where to begin? We consulted expert Travel Concierge Daniele, who reveals that Zurich’s stunning old town, exceptional shopping avenues, and culinary excellence create an enchanting backdrop for your luxurious 24 hours in Zurich.

For travel inspiration: Switzerland destination guide

Introducing Zurich

Zurich is a captivating blend of history, culture, and modern sophistication. With a population of about 430,000, the city gracefully lies at the northern tip of Lake Zurich, framed by the majestic Swiss Alps. “The city is famous for its beautiful setting on the lake,” says Daniele. “You can enjoy castles, forts, medieval streets and some exceptional shopping, but also be prepared for Zurich’s luxurious prices,” he advises noting that Zurich is one of the world’s top ten expensive cities.

Zurich was founded by the Romans in 15 B.C. who called it Turicum. In Modern times the city has blossomed into a prestigious financial center, while its enchanting medieval old town remains well-preserved. Zurich boasts a flourishing arts scene, world-class museums and diverse culinary delights, making it a must-visit destination for discerning travelers.

Make Zurich your gateway to a luxurious Alpine journey with Majestic Switzerland

Bahnhofstrasse

Zürich’s Bahnhofstrasse is a premier shopping avenue, renowned as one of the world’s most exclusive streets.

“This famous shopping destination is a paradise for luxury seekers,” says Daniele. “With iconic brands like Armani, Gucci and Prada alongside Swiss legends such as Cartier, Montblanc and Rolex, the options are endless. Don’t miss Confiserie Sprüngli for their legendary Luxemburgerli macarons, a delight cherished by locals.

“You should allocate one to two hours for browsing, but if you’re indulging in extensive shopping or taking time to savoring a coffee or two, plan for half a day. Arrive mid-morning to avoid the crowds maximizing your 24 hours in Zurich, and start your journey at Paradeplatz for a grand entrance.”

Image credit: @zurich_bahnhofstrasse on Instagram

If you love shopping you may also enjoy reading: Our Favorite Legendary and Lesser-Known Shopping Streets

Enge

The upscale neighborhood of Enge, located on the western side of Zurich, is characterized by beautiful parks, gardens and scenic lakeside promenades.

“This elegant area offers a serene escape from the urban hustle,” says Daniele. “Take a leisurely stroll through Rieterpark, which provides stunning views and makes for a lovely spot for a picnic. Don’t miss the nearby Sukkulenten-Sammlung Zurich (Succulent Plant Collection) if you’re a plant enthusiast.

“Enrich your 24 hours in Zurich and prepare a picnic or enjoy a gourmet lunch by Lake Zurich, where sunsets are truly enchanting. Alternatively, rent a paddleboat for a delightful perspective of the area from the water.”

The Kunsthaus and Rietberg Museums

The Kunsthaus Museum is a treasure trove, hosting one of Switzerland’s most impressive art collections. “The Kunsthaus is perfect for those who wish to see great works by Swiss artists like Alberto Giacometti,” Daniele tells us. “A café visit here offers a luxurious touch of relaxation. Sip a coffee or wine to unwind amidst the artistry.

“For a tranquil cultural experience, the Rietberg Museum showcases a unique collection of non-European art, particularly stunning in spring when the gardens bloom.”  The villas in which the museum is housed offer a serene experience and are where Richard Wagner penned Tristan und Isolde.

“The Opera House frequently hosts outstanding performances,” Daniele adds. “Attending a show is a splendid way to embrace Zurich’s vibrant arts scene during your 24 hours in Zurich.”

Image credit: @kunsthauszuerich on Instagram

You may also enjoy: After-Hours at the Little Museum of Dublin with Author Trevor White

The Old Town (Altstadt)

On the south bank of the river, Zurich’s enchanting Old Town presents a mesmerizing mix of narrow streets, historic buildings, and picturesque squares. Key landmarks include the iconic Fraumünster and Grossmünster churches, architectural marvels that define Zurich.

“For an atmospheric encounter, the Fraumünster with its spectacular Chagall stained-glass windows is breathtaking (5 CHF entrance fee),” advises Daniele. “Don’t overlook the Cloister adjacent to the church, and explore Münsterhof Square, known for its charming historical buildings and cobblestone streets.”

In the heart of Old Town, St. Peter’s Church features Europe’s largest church clock, boasting an outer diameter of 8.64 meters.

“The Lindenhof Hill offers panoramic views of the river and Old Town, particularly magical at sunset,” Daniele notes. “It’s a must-visit during your 24 hours in Zurich.”

Bookmark for later: How Luxury Gold Journeys Go Above and Beyond with Expert Karen Gower

Exceptional Dining

“The Old Town is not only rich in architecture but also a culinary gem,” Daniele reveals. “Enjoy an exquisite array of fine dining and cozy, traditional spots. You can’t leave without trying Zürcher Geschnetzeltes, a delectable veal dish in a creamy sauce, often paired with rösti—a Swiss classic! The vicinity of the Opera House also offers an array of contemporary and traditional restaurants with exceptional menus.”

With over 35 Michelin-starred restaurants, Zurich is a gastronomical paradise. Historical dining venues like Zunfthaus Zur Zimmermann, which dates back to the 14th century, are distinctive. “Originally a meeting place for the carpenters’ guild, it now merges refined dining with Zurich’s rich heritage.”

You may also enjoy reading: The 10 Most Scenic Train Rides in Europe: From Switzerland to Scotland

Sample Swiss Chocolate

No Swiss visit is complete without a sumptuous chocolate experience, and our Luxury Gold Majestic Switzerland includes an immersive visit to a chocolate factory as part of the voyage! For those eager to indulge, Zurich, among other chocolate havens, boasts the exclusiveMax Chocolatier located in the old town, near Bahnhofstrasse.

Founded in 2009, it is known for its artisanal chocolates made from 100% natural ingredients, using seasonal flavors and local Swiss products. The Zurich shop provides a refined yet welcoming experience, with beautifully packaged pralines, truffles, and even vegan options. Tastings are available to sample their unique creations firsthand.

Bookmark for later: History in the Making: Meet Chef Chocolatiers in Switzerland

For the ultimate in Swiss luxury, join us on the 10-Day Majestic Switzerland, where Zurich is your starting destination.