10 Awesome Places to Travel in Ireland
By The Headlines, January 18, 2023 | 11:06 PM
Ireland is a beautiful destination worth every second covered with beautiful, breathtaking landscapes. It really is as green as they say and its sights are truly spectacular! The people are also incredibly friendly. While Ireland is not one of the largest countries in the world, it has plenty to offer. Here are some of the top places to visit in Ireland.
If you’re looking to meet new people while travelling, head to your neighbourhood pub! This will give you plenty of options to create a sociable atmosphere. And when you’re done there, head on over to any number of magical destinations Ireland has on offer for you.
How to Reach Ireland?
The island of Ireland has two separate countries, the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. There are international flights connecting major cities like Dublin, Belfast, Cork and Shannon. You can also opt to travel using ferries to one of the ports.
The following are some of the best places to visit in Ireland covering the entire island.
10 Awesome Places to visit in Ireland
- Cliffs of Moher
- Aran Island
- Galway
- Dublin
- Belfast
- Giant’s Causeway
- Wild Atlantic Way
- Glendalough
- Bru na Boinne
- Rock of Cashel
Image by EMersinger from Pixabay
Cliffs of Moher
The beautiful Cliffs of Moher, located in County Clare, Ireland along the plane of Burren, stretch for a distance of about 14 kilometres or 9 miles. They have become a major tourist draw, with additional visitors included totalling up to 1.5 million annually. In 2006, the official visitor centre at the cliffs topped a list of attractions with nearly one million visitors.
Taking a ferry ride is an ideal way for tourists to experience the spectacular cliffs from sea level. Additionally, Connemara Airport offers fixed-wing aircraft rides, providing a unique opportunity to take in stunning views.
Image by alessandra barbieri from Pixabay
Aran Island
A cluster of three islands located at the entrance of Galway Bay, Ireland, the Aran Islands are home to a landmass of around 46 km2 (18 sq mi).
Starting from the westernmost point, the islands of Inishmore (the largest), Inishmaan (the second largest) and Inisheer (the smallest) are situated. There are additionally many islets around these main islands.
Currently, the population of 1,226 (in 2016) primarily speak Irish and are thus acknowledged as part of the Gaeltacht. Besides being comfortable with Irish, everyone is also well-versed in English. Unfortunately, this number has been decreasing consistently since 1841 when it was 3,500 people.
Image by xcoffeeelenax from Pixabay
Galway
Located in the province of Connacht, Galway is a city in the West of Ireland which serves as the county town for County Galway. It's situated between Lough Corrib and Galway Bay by River Corrib and is the 6th most heavily populated place on Ireland as well as the 4th most populous in the Republic of Ireland.
Galway, much like the rest of Ireland, enjoys an oceanic climate and is known for its mild, moist & temperate conditions throughout the year due to two factors – The North Atlantic Current and The Gulf Stream.
It houses Lynch's Castle, St. Nicholas' Collegiate Church, Galway Cathedral, the University of Galway, Eglinton Canal and many more local attractions.
Image by Leonhard Niederwimmer from Pixabay
Dublin
Dublin, the capital of Ireland (ROI), is located at the mouth of River Liffey and bordered by Dublin Mountains in South a range of Wicklow mountains. It is the biggest city in Leinster province and its harbour provides it with deep waters for trade and travel. Dublin is a centre for education, arts and culture, administration and industry.
You can visit The Spire of Dublin, Trinity College Dublin, Christ Church Cathedral, St Patrick's Cathedral, the Mansion House, the Molly Malone statue, the National Museum of Ireland, the National Library of Ireland, The Custom House, Phoenix Park, Herbert Park, St Stephen's Green, Saint Anne's Park, Temple Bar and Bull Island.
You can also see Portmarnock Beach located closeby to the city. Check out the other popular beaches to explore in Ireland.
Belfast
Belfast is the bustling capital city of Northern Ireland, located at the bank of the River Lagan, which makes it accessible to the east coast. According to reports, it is counted among the 12 largest cities in the UK and stands as the second-largest in Ireland.
Belfast is a major port city and is home to the Harland & Wolff shipyard as well as many other commercial and industrial docks located along the Belfast Lough. Additionally, it also has a thriving aerospace industry.
In 2008, 7.1 million people visited Belfast. It has remained a popular tourist destination to this day with tour bus companies and boat tours running throughout the year. Even more so nowadays with Game of Thrones inspired tours based on various filming locations around the area.
Giant’s Causeway
The Giant's Causeway, a geological wonder made up of 40,000 interlocking basalt columns is located close to Bushmills in the County Antrim area of Northern Ireland. It was created by an ancient volcanic fissure eruption that occurred several kilometres away from where it stands today.
The Belfast-Derry railway line is linked to Coleraine and, through the Coleraine-Portrush branch line, goes all the way to Portrush. If you're in the local area, Ulsterbus provides connections between railway stations. For a great sightseeing experience, you can take a 7-mile walk from Portrush past Dunluce Castle and all the way to Giant's Causeway and Bushmills Railway.
Image by Martin Hochreiter from Pixabay
Wild Atlantic Way
Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way is a designated tourist route which stretches along the country's western coastline, as well as some of its northern and southern coasts. The 2,500 km route runs across nine counties and three provinces, starting from Inishowen Peninsula in County Donegal in Ulster and ending at Kinsale in County Cork, Munster on the Celtic Sea coastline.
It passes through many miles of countryside and rural communities and even journey through Connemara (one of our national parks) and Skellig Michael (a UNESCO World Heritage site!)
Image by Franz P. Sauerteig from Pixabay
Glendalough
Glendalough is a gorgeous valley created by glaciers in County Wicklow, Ireland. It is a sought-after destination for picnics, walks and rock-climbing on its network of maintained trails, suitable for all levels of activity.
Brú na Bóinne
Brú na Bóinne, commonly known as the Boyne Valley Tombs, is a historic archaeological site in County Meath, Ireland. It's situated along the meandering River Boyne. It holds some of the most important prehistoric monuments from the Neolithic period, such as the notable Megalithic passage graves of Knowth, Newgrange and Dowth along with 90 other monuments.
Brú na Bóinne has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993.
Image by Joe Boland from Pixabay
Rock of Cashel
The Rock of Cashel is a well-known historic site. It is located in Cashel, County Tipperary. Among the monuments to be found, there is a round tower, a high cross, a Romanesque chapel, a Gothic cathedral, an abbey, the Hall of the Vicars Choral and a fifteenth-century Tower House.
The existing architectures are astounding, featuring Cormac's Chapel - the only place with remaining Romanesque frescoes in all of Ireland.
The Rock of Cashel is renowned for its beauty, making it one of the most visited Ireland tourist attractions.
Image by Rudy and Peter Skitterians from Pixabay