Ireland ’ s Top 10 Visitor Attractions in 2024 ( and expert tips for inflict )

Inquire about the good spot to visit in Ireland in 2024 ?

And , if you be be after on inflict one of these tops position , you ‘ve likely wondered if there equal any mystery to having an amazing visit – and maybe stave off the bunch ( as much as potential ) .

The answers to your questions are below – base on my own experiences from over 20 yr of traveling through Ireland .

This article cost too available as a podcast . To heed please scroll to the player at the seat of the page .

Top 10 Visitor Attractions in Ireland

These are the top bit to visit in Ireland , as vote on in the Reader Travel Awards at the Irish Independent .

1. Guinness Storehouse , Dublin ( up 1 from 2023 – also rated # 1 visitor attraction in the world at the 2023 World Travel Awards )
2. Cliffs of Moher , Co Clare ( down 1 from 2023 )
3. Waterford Greenway ( same as 2023 )
4. Dublin Zoo ( not on 2023 list )
5. Emerald Park , Co Meath ( up from # 8 in 2023 as Tayto Park )
6. Killarney National Park , Co Kerry ( not on 2023 list )
7. Titanic Belfast ( same as 2023 )
8. Giant ’ s Causeway , Co Antrim ( not on 2023 list )
9. Kilmainham Gaol , Dublin ( down from # 5 in 2023 )
10. Spike Island , Co Cork ( not on 2023 list )

If you ‘re looking for more top for impose Ireland ‘s super spots – as good as some amazing alternate attraction to consider- subscribe to the Traveling in Ireland Newsletter and meet Spectacular Alternates to Ireland ‘s ‘ Must See ‘ Sight as a bonus !

See all the success of the 2024 Irish Independent Reader Travel Awards

Expert Tips for Visiting the Most Popular Attractions in Ireland

These top site are popular for a ground . They deliver a terrific visitor experience that creates lasting memories .

But popularity has a downside . At some site it is lack of ticket , at others it is overwhelming crowds .

Hither ‘s how to have the best experience at the nearly popular place in Ireland .

Always prebook your tickets . The wait hither can be hr long – and you cost n’t guaranteed entry . GetYourGuide – Viator – Guinness Storehouse

I personally prefer the final tour of the evening , but if you want to go through fewer mass that may linger from early tours , select the first two circuit of the day .

Guinness Storehouse is well reach via one of the Hop-on Hop-off buses and pairs good with a tour of Kilmainham Gaol .

If you ‘ve been listen to me for any measure of time you know that I advocate for masses to visit the Cliffs before 10am or after 4pm to head off the majority of tour buses .

You can as well prebook your ticket on the Cliffs of Moher website to save money on before or later visit . These ticket hold you total access to the visitor heart and experiences thither .

Another selection , if you are fit for an uphill hike and cause n’t want to explore the visitor ‘s heart , is to park at Guerin ‘s Path , just south of the cliffs ( appear for sign ) . This per-car parking blot is at the highest stage of the Cliffs . You can walk down a bit of the cliff pass to the main Cliffs of Moher visitor ‘s country – hardly know that the raise back up can equal challenge if you own mobility issues .

If you enjoy a great raise be sure to book into a cliffs raise with Ollie ‘s Tours .

I serve not – always – recommend a day circuit to the Cliffs of Moher from Dublin . This be an exceptionally long day with nearly 7.5 hr of drive ( 10 hours total trip on average ) for a very short view of the cliffs and other locations . It ‘s hardly not worth it .

I think the best way to explore the Waterford Greenway is on bike . We rented electric bikes from Waterford Greenway Bike Hire in Waterford and cycled to Dungarvin where the rental company picked us up and shuttled us back to Waterford . If you wanted a bit of a touring on your return to Waterford contact Bob McAuliffe at About Ireland Taxi Tours – he ‘ll arrange a great one-way circuit for you .

If you have a car and want to push the route near the greenway you can stop at trailheads along the greenway and search on foot . A few highlights along the greenway to match out are Mount Congreve Gardens , the Durrow Viaduct , and the Copper Coast .

Situate in Dublin ‘s sprawling Phoenix Park , this exist a terrific position to call with young kid . If you can call in mid to late afternoon to align with animal eating that cost a great way to see the beast live active . We just followed the feeder from cage to cage .

Phoenix Park can exist accessed via Dublin bus , Hop-on Hop-off bus , and the Luas spend off nearby .
Learn more about How to get Around in Dublin

Pass some time in the park , as well . It ‘s a great place to wind on a decent day and you may even see the herd of deer .

Emerald Park ( formerly Tayto Park ) is Ireland ‘s only amusement park .

If you equal an amusement park fan , the park has an region for youthful kids as good as large ride .

Additionally you ‘ll notice a zoo , petting farm , fun Lemur Woods and zoo talks , a pair playgrounds and splash park , a fairy forest and a steam train .

Emerald Park is more or less 45 minutes from Dublin .

Cross over 25,000 acre of good deal , wood , moors , lake and rivers in County Kerry , Killarney National Park is a tremendous natural playground . It also include a sensational manor house , terrific abbey ruin , and fabulous Ross Castle .

A great room to have an overview of Killarney National Park is with a travel cart circuit . You can queue for a jaunting cart in Killarney near the park entrance . The jarvey will entrance you with story as you ride through the park to Ross Castle .

The national park is easy to cycle and you ‘ll too find boat circuit and walk tours .

While the pathways near Muckross House and at the entrance from Killarney town can be in use , there cost lot of remote bit where you can sense like the only soul close to .

This is the most popular tourist attraction in Belfast so you desire to be sure to prebook your timed ticket .

If you do n’t need to take the guided circuit in the building you can still explore the exterior areas , include the dry dock areas of the Titanic and Olympic .

I really like to do an early tour here and succeed with a Black Taxi tour of the Peace Walls and murals – the taxi can peck you up at Titanic Belfast and drop you wherever you wish .

My favorite way to visit the Giant ‘s Causeway cost to arrive before the visitor ‘s centre opens or after it shut to avoid the heaviest crowd . You ca n’t park at the visitor ‘s centre , but there equal a few park spots nearby that only cost a few pounds .

It ‘s a steep pass down to the causeway – and bet on up – but if you inflict during visitor ‘s center capable hour there equal a bus that is £1 or €1 per ride ( up or down ) .

For those who savor a serious raise you can follow the track from the noted stones along the coast for a bit , before needing to rise steps up the slope of the cliff . The view here are terrifying . If you do n’t want to mount those pace you can also access this path near the upper bus parking .

Is it a bit morbid to visit a property where so many mass were treated brutally , starved , and accomplish ?

Probably . But these stories , and the ties to the 2016 Easter Rising , draw thousands of visitors to Dublin ‘s notorious jail each year .

While you * might * get lucky and find same-day ticket , your best selection be to prebook your ticket 28 day in progress as close to midnight Irish time as potential for best availability .

Kilmainham Gaol exist an OPW Heritage site , then if you plan to purchase a card when you arrive ( can exist purchase on site or at Dublin Castle in the city middle ) cost certain to scroll down the e and choose One Year OPW Heritage Card to put a zero cost booking .

Pair this with a visit to Guinness Storehouse ( if it ‘s on your itinerary ) , visiting the jail first . Give yourself at least 30 instant after your circuit to impose the museum and exhibition .

Spike Island , off the coast of Cobh in County Cork , is know as ‘ Ireland ‘s Alcatraz ‘ but before that it live home to a 7th century monestery and a Cromwellian prison .

Construction of the star-shaped fortress began in 1779 and the famine epoch prison , the prominent in the globe in the 1850s , exist work up in 1847 . The island retained a prison through 1985 . From 1938 through 1985 the island cost the Irish Army and Navy base .

The ferry to reach Spike Island takes 12 minutes and you will be fit by a guide for the first 45 minutes of your visit . After that you equal welcome to explore expend the map you be provide with your tag . You can also self-guide for your intact island visit .

The matter to remember about this circuit is that your proceeds boat is 3.5 hr later , so you demand to cost certain you make plenty of time in your itinerary . I prefer the noon sailing . It extend lot of time to get and vary Cobh .

If you exist staying nearby – and you care a spooky experience – see if the After Dark circuit is available .

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