Ireland is a country that more than lives up to its almost mythical image as a tourist destination, thanks to its rich Celtic culture and breathtakingly beautiful, diverse landscapes. The grass is greener on the Emerald Isle, and the scenery and people are amazing. Ireland is a very tiny country, yet it has many paths and roads where travelers might feel like they have the place to themselves.
Those looking for a more social experience while traveling should merely enter a local bar. Whether spending the night in a historic castle, riding along a seaside headland, or seeing Celtic antiquities at a world-class museum, Ireland weaves a spell of fascination on every visitor.
Irelandis politically split between the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland, a component of the United Kingdom. The whole island of Ireland is included in our top-choice tourist destinations.
1. Aran Islands
The Aran Islands of Inishmore, Inishmaan, and Inisheer have been a popular tourist destination off the coast of Ireland near the mouth of Galway Bay for generations. Isolated from the mainland, islanders have retained a more traditional way of life, giving tourists a look into Ireland’s rich history.
Visitors to Inishmore, the biggest of the three islands, ride in horse-drawn buggies past stone farm homes and up to limestone cliff tops to take in the breathtaking scenery. On top of a cliff 90 meters (300 feet) high, Inishmore is home to a stone fortification built about 2,000 years ago.
2. Glendalough
Glendalough, a monastery built in the sixth century by St. Kevin, a solitary monk who features strongly in traditional Irish folklore, is located only a few kilometers south of Dublin. Once a main pilgrimage site in Ireland, Glendalough continues to draw people from across the globe.
Visitors are attracted to the location by its beautiful beauty and historical history since it is between two lakes in a valley surrounded by trees. An incomplete cathedral from the 9th century occupies the greatest space in the monastery. Still, the Round Tower is the focal point for many guests. The 30-meter (110-foot) tower was a final choice during Viking attacks because of its pull-up ladder.
3. Dublin
Dublin, the capital of the Republic of Ireland, is rather sizable, considering the nation has just around five million residents. While most Dubliners call the suburbs home, the heart of the city is where visitors will find the city’s best attractions.
Its thousand years of history make Dublin a fascinating blend of ancient settlement and thriving contemporary port. The city honors its history but does not ignore the current.
Dublin, however, stands out from other European capitals because of its literary legacy. Given that Oscar Wilde, James Joyce, and George Bernard Shaw all called Dublin home, it’s hardly surprising that a book dating back 1200 years is one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions. Trinity College, where authors like Bram Stoker and Samuel Becket studied, is home to the Book of Kells, an exquisitely decorated manuscript of the four gospels of the New Testament.
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Dublin Castle is a Norman castle from the year 1204, and St. Patrick’s church was finished in 1260 and is the biggest church in Ireland. The National Museum of Ireland is also interesting for its ancient gold, Celtic artwork, and Viking relics.
The residents are renowned for being friendly and outgoing, with a penchant for fine food and drink. Possibly because of the latter, the Guinness Storehouse, the birthplace of Ireland’s famous beer, is the country’s most popular tourist destination. Literary pub crawls are a staple of the city’s pub crawls, a famous tourist attraction. Visitors are guided from pub to pub by actors who regale them with readings from some of Dublin’s most famous writers as they pass by literary icons.
Whether touring the James Joyce Museum or trading anecdotes with locals over a pint of Guinness, visiting Dublin is a unique and unforgettable experience. Guests experience an unforgettable story that they will desire to tell others.
4. Giant's Causeway
The Giant’s Causeway is a natural rock feature on the northeastern coast of Ireland that looks like it was built by giants. More than 37,000 basalt columns are arranged in a honeycomb pattern that seems too precise to have formed naturally.
Stepping stone columns took 60 million years to take their current form due to tectonic plate movement, lava flows, and weathering. Trails along the cliff edges provide spectacular vistas of the rocks below, and a set of stairs provides easy access to the water. A tourist center close by provides van and walking tours of the area.
5. The Cliffs of Moher
The Cliffs of Moher are the crown jewel of any trip to Ireland, elevating the sensation of standing on a cliff viewing the Atlantic to new heights. One of Ireland’s most visited locations, the cliffs rise about 210 meters (700 feet) above the water and draw almost one million tourists annually.
Access to the cliffs is understandably limited when winds are high. Visitors may see the Doolin Cliffs from a new angle on a boat cruise departing from the town dock.
