Ireland packs an unusual amount of scenery, history, and culture into a small island. Narrowing down the best places to visit in Ireland takes some doing as a result. This guide covers twelve of the top places to visit in Ireland, across both the Republic and Northern Ireland, with the practical details needed to plan a route that fits any budget or timeframe. These are among the most must-see places in Ireland, whether the trip is a first visit or a return one.
Quick Overview: 12 of the Best Places to Visit in Ireland
- Dublin, Ireland’s historic capital
- The Dingle Peninsula, the island’s wild westernmost tip
- Killarney and the Ring of Kerry
- Powerscourt Estate, County Wicklow
- Connemara and Kylemore Abbey
- Galway, the west coast’s liveliest city
- The Aran Islands
- Belfast, Northern Ireland
- The Burren, County Clare
- Westport, County Mayo
- The Southeast: Waterford, Kilkenny, and Wexford
- Donegal, in the rugged northwest
Dublin: Ireland’s Historic Capital
Most trips to Ireland start in Dublin, one of Europe’s oldest cities, where a medieval core sits beside Georgian squares. Trinity College holds the Book of Kells, an illuminated manuscript dating to around 800 AD, and the National Gallery and National Museum of Ireland cover fine art and Bronze Age gold. St Stephen’s Green and Merrion Square, lined with 18th-century townhouses, offer a quiet break from the city. Grafton Street draws shoppers and street performers, and O’Connell Street, the busiest thoroughfare, is home to the Monument of Light, known locally as the Spire.
Getting there: Dublin Airport is the country’s main international gateway. Aircoach runs to the city center for about €7–14.50 one way or €10–20 round trip. Taxis cost roughly €25–30 to the center, more for hotels farther out.
The Dingle Peninsula: A Must-See Place in Ireland
Jutting into the Atlantic at Ireland’s westernmost point, the Dingle Peninsula has some of the country’s most dramatic coastal scenery. Its rugged landscape drew Hollywood producers in 1970 for Ryan’s Daughter, a film that introduced the region to international audiences. Dingle town is a colorful fishing port known for fresh seafood, including scallops and Glenbeigh oysters, and stays fairly low-key despite growing interest in the Slea Head Drive.
Getting there: The drive from Dublin on the M7 and N21 takes about four hours (tolls apply); the bus takes six hours and costs €35–46. Dingle is a one-hour drive from Killarney or two hours from Shannon Airport.
Killarney and the Ring of Kerry
Killarney has been called the town that launched a thousand postcards, and between the town, Killarney National Park, and the Ring of Kerry, this region ranks among the best places to visit in Ireland. Killarney was already a tourist draw by 1861, when Queen Victoria visited with her own bed and a 100-person entourage. The Ring of Kerry, a 100-plus-mile loop around the Iveragh Peninsula, is one of Ireland’s most popular scenic drives, with guided day tours available. Inside the national park, jaunting car rides pass Carrauntoohil, Ireland’s tallest mountain, and Muckross House, where Victoria stayed.
Getting there: Killarney is reachable by car via the M7 or M8, or by train from Dublin (€28–39, about four hours). The bus takes a similar time and costs €23–33; a separate service connects Killarney with Shannon via Limerick.
Powerscourt: An 18th-Century Estate Near Dublin
Just 30 minutes south of Dublin in County Wicklow, the 75-acre Powerscourt estate holds what many consider Ireland’s finest formal gardens, and rarely feels crowded. Built on the site of a 13th-century castle, the mansion was later gutted by fire and only partially restored; the house itself isn’t open to visitors, but a café and shops selling Irish goods sit on-site, alongside a golf course and a five-star hotel tucked out of view.
Getting there: The best route from Dublin is by car via the R117 or M50. A taxi costs €33–43, or take the Line 44 bus for €3–4 (a half-hour walk from the stop). Garden admission is €12.50 for adults, €9.50 for 65+, €9 for students, and €5 for under 16.
Connemara: Wild, Austere, and Beautiful
The Connemara Peninsula is a dramatic, nearly treeless stretch of rock, peat bog, and moorland unlike almost anywhere else in Ireland. Isolated farms dot Connemara National Park, where the Twelve Bens rise over the landscape, and beyond them, Kylemore Lough sits beside Kylemore Abbey and its Victorian walled garden, a striking 19th-century building now housing a girls’ boarding school. The small town of Clifden anchors the region and makes a good base for a meal or overnight stay.
Getting there: Clifden is a three-and-a-half-hour drive from Dublin on the M6 and N59, or an hour from Galway through the national park. A bus from Galway takes about ninety minutes (€11–17), though a car is still needed to explore the countryside; guided day tours from Galway are a good alternative.
Galway: One of the Liveliest Cities to Visit
With a youthful population and a strong artistic identity, Galway is widely considered one of the most Irish cities on the island and one of the top places to visit in Ireland for local culture. Street musicians perform along its lanes most evenings, and the city hosts a busy calendar of events, from theater and horse racing to the well-known Galway International Oyster Festival. A Galway food walking tour is a good way to sample the local culinary scene.
Getting there: Galway is a two-and-a-half-hour train (€17–26) or bus (€14–24) ride from Dublin, and the city itself is walkable without a car. From Shannon Airport, it’s about a one-hour, 55-mile drive on the M18, or an hourly Bus Éireann service for €12–19 one way.
The Aran Islands: A Unique Place to Visit in Ireland
For a glimpse of Ireland as it once was, the Aran Islands off the coast of Galway are hard to beat. About 1,100 residents live across the three windswept islands, where stone walls crisscross barren hillsides and narrow roads wind past grazing land. Most visitors come on day trips, though an overnight stay at a local bed and breakfast tends to be more rewarding. Combined cruises covering the islands and the Cliffs of Moher suit travelers short on time, though the crossing isn’t always smooth; the sea can be rough enough to cancel sailings for days at a stretch.
Getting there: Ferries run from Rossaveel, about an hour west of Galway, with a shuttle bus connecting the two; round-trip fares are €30 for adults, €25 for seniors and students, and €15 for children (under-5s free, pre-booked), and cars aren’t permitted. The crossing to Inis Mór takes about 40 minutes. A second option sails from Doolin in County Clare, March through October, with fares of €28, €22, and €15 on a 35-minute crossing.
Belfast: Northern Ireland’s Reborn Capital
Belfast has undergone a significant revival in recent years, led in large part by Titanic Belfast, a museum engaging enough to justify a visit even on a single day trip. A black taxi tour is a well-known way to see the city in about ninety minutes, including the historic neighborhoods at the center of the Troubles, where political murals still cover many walls. Independent exploration can cover the Cathedral Quarter, the Queen’s Quarter around Queen’s University, the Ulster Museum, the Botanic Gardens, and St Anne’s Cathedral with its 130-foot steel spire; nearby, Writer’s Square honors 27 Northern Irish authors. Day tours from the city also run to the Giant’s Causeway.
Getting there: The 100-mile drive from Dublin takes about two hours via the M1 and A1. The train costs €15–23 and the bus €25–38, both around two hours one-way, and no border formalities apply when traveling from the Republic.
The Burren: An Unusual Landscape in County Clare
The Burren is a vast, treeless limestone plateau in County Clare with a moonscape-like quality and an unusual mix of Alpine and Mediterranean plant life that makes it a rare botanical environment. The main draw is the Poulnabrone Dolmen, a portal tomb dating from roughly 3200 to 3800 BC and the best known of more than 170 similar tombs across Ireland. Excavated in 1986, the site yielded the remains of 22 individuals, offering insight into Neolithic-era Irish communities.
Getting there: The Burren is best reached by car from Galway, about 35 miles away, or roughly one hour from Limerick and two and a half hours from Dublin. A coach day tour covering the Burren, the Cliffs of Moher, and Galway is a good option without a car.
Westport: A Charming Town in County Mayo
On Ireland’s west coast in County Mayo, Westport is known for tree-lined streets, independent shops, and charming Bridge Street. Previously voted the best place to live in Ireland, its setting along Clew Bay makes that reputation easy to understand. A short walk or drive leads to the 18th-century Westport House, built on the site of a castle once held by the pirate Grace O’Malley. Guided horseback riding along the beach and countryside is a popular way to see the landscape.
Getting there: Westport is a ninety-minute drive or bus (€11–15) north of Galway; a direct train also runs but takes longer and costs more. From Dublin, plan on a three-hour drive or train (€23–33) or a five-hour bus (€27–41).
The Southeast: Waterford, Kilkenny, and Wexford
Ireland’s southeast looks noticeably different from the rugged Atlantic coast, with low, rolling hills and lush valleys across Waterford, Kilkenny, and Wexford counties. Waterford, Ireland’s oldest city, traces its founding to a Viking settlement established in 914 and is known today for Waterford Crystal. Kilkenny Castle anchors a well-preserved medieval town center; a rail tour from Dublin combines both in a single day. Further south, the Hook Peninsula in Wexford offers a scenic coastal drive.
Getting there: Kilkenny is reachable from Dublin by car (M9), bus (€10–18), or train (€14–20), each under two hours. Wexford is a two-hour drive on the N11/M11, or two and a half hours by train (€15–22) or bus (€15–48).
Donegal: Beautiful and Off the Beaten Path
Tucked into Ireland’s northwest corner, County Donegal doesn’t draw the crowds seen elsewhere on the island, which is much of its appeal for travelers seeking a quieter, greener corner of the country. Donegal town is small and centered on a castle, with steep hills rising just blocks away, and mostly serves as a base for exploring the countryside. East of town, Slieve League rises as the highest sea cliff in Europe, reachable via a somewhat bumpy road but worth the trip. Further on, the Folk Village Museum near Glencolumbkille covers traditional rural life, and guided day tours cover south Donegal’s coast and castles, plus combined trips to Derry.
Getting there: Donegal is about 140 miles from Dublin, roughly three hours by car on the N3, or four hours by bus (€21–33). From Galway, the trip is about two and a half hours by car or three hours by bus (€19–27).
Planning a Trip Around the Best Places to Visit in Ireland
With twelve very different regions on this list, few travelers will cover all of them on one trip. A week centered on Dublin, Killarney, and the Ring of Kerry covers a lot of ground with minimal driving, while a longer west coast route through Galway, Connemara, the Aran Islands, and the Burren suits those who want more time outdoors. Belfast and Donegal pair well for anyone extending a trip north, and the Southeast makes an easy rail-based add-on from Dublin.
Whichever combination fits, these destinations offer a solid cross-section of what makes Ireland worth visiting: layered history, varied landscapes, and towns small enough to explore on foot. For further trip planning, check out our Dublin things to do guide, Ring of Kerry map guide, and Ireland’s west coast by car itinerary. Additional resources are available through the Irish Tourist Board at tourismireland.com.
