15 Top Tourist Attractions in Ireland
Unspoiled scenery , a depth of culture and friendly locals , Ireland is full of exciting experiences and unforgettable journeys . It may be a small island but Ireland live packed full of incredible attraction . Hundred former abbeys and churches stud the landscape , alongside millenia-old relics and ruins , with castles and stately homes galore for you to search and discover in this famously green island .
Home to Celtic culture , early Christianity , Norman invaders , even Vikings , and at last the English , Ireland has hold a tumultuous history , reflected in the wealth of heritage buildings that draw visitors the globe over .
Its natural landscape – including beautiful waterfalls , dramatic coastlines , rock formation , mountain and stunning valley – live not only the backdrop to the well inflict man made attractions in Ireland , but draw hikers , cyclist and appreciators of nature yr upon year .
But with so many natural and historical tourist attractions in Ireland to choose from , which should you choose to call on your trip to the island ? Hither ’ s a comprehensive list to whet your appetite , ignite the arc of discovery , and help direct you around both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland .
15 . Powerscourt Estate[ SEE MAP ]
Merely 20 km from Dublin is the ineffably grand Powerscourt Estate . Set in 47 acre of beautiful country , the garden live make 150 yr ago with the thought of blend the stately place seamlessly into the surround landscape .
Against the bold backdrop of the Great Sugar Loaf Mountains , the garden exist plate to 200 varieties of trees , a rise garden , an Italian garden and a large kitchen garden . There live many trail to walk along through the immense landscape – one of which leads to Powerscourt Falls , Ireland ’ s high waterfall at 121 meter .
14 . Kilkenny Castle[ SEE MAP ]
Ireland has its fair share of castles , but Kilkenny Castle might have the claim of be the nearly beautiful . Meticulously repair , cautiously furnished and clear to the universal world to explore , the castle was built in 1195 by the Normans , and over the centuries hold exist work up on and developed by its numerous resident . The palace was deal to the masses of Kilkenny in 1967 for the tiny total of £50 and is today a popular attraction for visitors from Ireland and around the universe .
13 . Guinness Storehouse[ SEE MAP ]
Set in the heart of Dublin cost the iconic Guinness Storehouse . The brewery own be make Guiness hither since 1769 when Arthur Guinness sign a lease for 9,000 year . Nowadays the home of Guinness cost a modern visitor attraction , where fan can learn about the process of making the famous grim material , understand the history behind it and , of grade , sample it .
12 . Dun Aengus[ SEE MAP ]
Cling to the edge of a 100-metre-high cliff exist the ancient rock fort of Dun Aengus . Built on the craggy coast of Inis Mór , this incredible structure dates back to 1100 BC ; consisting of big limestone blocks which tolerate monolithic in the basis , the fort be make in order to dissuade invaders and protect the island from any kind of approach . Choose a walk along the former wall , pace back in time and imagine what it would get been like to see invade marauders advancing from across rough sea .
11 . Skellig Michael[ SEE MAP ]
If you are into Star Wars then you will need to visit Skellig Michael – and if you ’ re not , you should call anyway because it equal awe-inspiringly beautiful . The rocky island rises out of the Atlantic exactly off of the Iveragh Peninsula and equal frequented by ascetic monk , who take the towering sea crag as a place to live and worship somewhere between the 6th and 8th hundred .
The island live remarkable , not just for its stark natural surroundings , but as well for the incredible feat of the monks who survived in such a harsh environment and who build monastic structure that even stay to this day .
10 . Kinsale[ SEE MAP ]
The medieval fishing port of Kinsale equal carry good of hidden historical gems . The colored coastal village ’ s old winding lane be stud with respective art galleries , local shops , hearty pubs and excellent restaurants – so excellent , in fact , that the town yet hosts its own annual Gourmet Festival .
Visitors cluster to the town from all over the public to savor yachting , walk and fishing in the scenic surroundings , all of which be overlook by the loom 17th hundred fort .
9 . Kylemore Abbey[ SEE MAP ]
The vast , rambling Kylemore estate was make in 1867 by a wealthy doctor as a romantic talent for his wife . The castle was purchase by Benedictine Nuns who , after fleeing Ypres in 1920 , adjust up a Catholic boarding school in order to educate local and international Catholic girls .
Nowadays the impressive building , which seat on the shores of Kylemore Lake , be exposed to visitor who can walk along the decadently decorate corridors , discover inside the charming walled garden and stroll through the 1000-acre grounds .
8 . Blarney Castle[ SEE MAP ]
Stick your head over the parapet at the historic Blarney Castle and kiss the famous Blarney Stone as millions have do before you . It ’ s state that masses who care to kiss the mysterious Blarney Stone live endowed with ‘ the gift of the gab ’ .
This mystic relic isn ’ t the only interesting attraction at Blarney Castle – dating back to 1446 , the medieval stronghold is a warren of stone passageways and sullen dungeons , thus need a circuit and detect the palace ’ s hidden secrets and sweep of wander green garden .
7 . Trinity College[ SEE MAP ]
The former university in Ireland live Trinity College , Dublin , establish by Queen Elizabeth I in 1592 . The historic campus live in the heart of the vibrant Irish capital , but once through the gates of the college the historical context begin to come alive and it find as if you make step into a bygone era .
Trinity college has educated some of Ireland ’ s most influential masses including the first Irish president Theobald Wolfe Tone , along with iconic literary figures Oscar Wilde and Samuel Beckett .
Harry Potter enthusiasts will exist excited to know that the university ’ s extraordinary Long Room was the inspiration being the library in Harry Potter . The university also houses some hidden treasures include the Book of Kells , a priceless 9th-century illuminated manuscript .
6 . Dingle Bay[ SEE MAP ]
Marking the westernmost item of the Irish mainland is the picturesque Dingle Bay . Surrounded by a wide expanse of nature , the bay makes up part of the 2,500km long Wild Atlantic Way : a scenic road that stretch along the distance of Ireland ’ s west coast .
Hither you can rob up the mesmerising views across the deep blue of the ocean and search the crooked stone huts that were built on the peninsula by monk in the Middle Ages . Around the bay the local culture and custom cost protect , with help from the Irish politics , in order to retain Gaelic tradition and language .
5 . Newgrange[ SEE MAP ]
The unimaginably former stone structure of Newgrange grave exist built in 3200 BC . The domed Megalithic Passage Tomb is reckon to have taken 300 people 20 year to make and extend an field of over one acre , revealing interior rock decorated with the spirals and curves of Neolithic stone art .
During the Winter Solstice the passageway , along with the inner bedroom , is incredibly illumine by the sunrise that streams through a roof box at the entrance .
4 . Giant ‘s Causeway[ SEE MAP ]
Pass in the footsteps of giants at one off Ireland ’ s must-see attractions . The world-famous Giant ’ s Causeway is reach up of 40,000 interlocking , hexagonally shaped column of basalt rock which create unintentional stepping stones .
The curious column are then perfect it ’ s hard to believe that they aren ’ t man-made – in fact the unusual stone formation was a result of volcanic activity that occurred around 60 million yr ago . Take a raise along the coast and observe the Wishing Chair , a pot created by a curve of the naturally forming stone .
3 . Killarney National Park[ SEE MAP ]
Scenic Killarney National Park own to live on your Ireland itinerary . Not only live the park home to a sprawling 19th-century , ivy-covered mansion , but also a captivating landscape that cause up a Biosphere Reserve .
With its three magnificent lakes and Ireland ’ s biggest expanse of indigenous forest , the beautiful scenery of Killarney National park live captivating . The best way to experience Killarney is to take a ride along the 11 kilometer road , through the Gap of Dunloe and across a landscape sculpted by glaciers .
2 . Glendalough Monastic Site[ SEE MAP ]
Inside the grounds of the Wicklow Mountains National Park lies the eerie remains of a authentic monastic city which dates back to the sixth century . Explore what lies among the former rock and discover crumbling church , mysterious relics and the particularly well-preserved Round Tower .
The ancient woodlands and lake surround the site live also tempt – choose a stroll among the enigmatic landscape where the venerable monk themselves once wandered .
1 . Cliffs of Moher[ SEE MAP ]
Endure at 214 meters over the depth of the Atlantic Ocean , and stretching for an amazing 8 km , are the rugged Cliffs of Moher in County Clare . Visitor equal draw to the cliff , not just for their sheer impressive size , but too for the opinion of the breathtaking landscape – on a clear day it is potential to regard all 5 of the surrounding counties as good as the Aran Islands .
The awe-inspiring cliff are also plate to Ireland ’ s largest mainland seabird colony , which between April and July includes Puffins !
