Ireland Must See Places

In Ireland, you will be absolutely torn for places to visit. Having explored this country top to bottom, I thought I’d share my Ireland must see places, for an adventure-packed trip. Perfect for a weekend away.

This country has such impressive and unique scenery. Because of it’s size, everything is fairly accessible and seeing it all in a short space of time is completely achievable. So, whether you’re a tourist who wants to see the best Ireland scenery and attractions, or you’re a native looking for the perfect spot for your long weekend, here is my top 5 places to visit in Ireland.

I’ve chosen these counties, as they all have multiple attractions in a close radius. Visit one place and tick off numerous Ireland Bucket list spots in the process! As long as you love the outdoors and exploring, there should be something here for you.

Do you need to drive? Tips for visiting Irelands Must Visit Places

All the places I’ve mentioned are great for a road trip. This is my favourite way to see Ireland. You can stop along the route as you please and don’t have to follow a strict schedule. Driving is by far the best way you can experience Ireland.

However, you do not need a car to visit these places. Public transport and tour companies make it possible to experience the wilderness of Ireland without having to get behind the wheel. For instance, I advise checking out the links below for more information on planning your trip:

Irish Rail (Iarnrod Eireann) – You can view timetables and book tickets online.
Bus Eireann – Bus routes
Paddywagon Tours – Ireland’s most popular tour company, with loads of tours to choose from.
Shamrocker Adventures – Offer longer 2 – 8 day tours of Ireland’s must-see spots
Vagabond Tours – This company does smaller tour groups and provides an intimate authentic experience.

Top places you need to visit in Ireland:

1. Killarney – Places in Ireland you need to visit

If you want to go on the ultimate sightseeing trip, you need to get yourself to Kerry. Killarney is the perfect base to see all of the spectacular beauty of the surrounding county. It is such a welcoming tourist town and is perfectly situated in the centre of Kerry, surrounded by scenic countryside and countless attractions. I have been here on two occasions for a couple of days, and already know I’ll be going back again. There is so much to see and do in the area. I’ll give you a few examples:

Killarney National park – Things to do in Kerry Ireland

Ireland’s first named National Park. You can walk your feet off here, with so much to see – Torc waterfall, the Old Weir Bridge, and Ross castle to name a few. Ladies view is a must-visit, if you’re lucky enough you might see a rainbow stretching across it as I did.

Muckross House – Must Visit Places in Kerry

You can visit Muckross House, a beautiful Victorian mansion with stunning views across Muckross lake and the National Park. This is also part of the National park. The house is open for guided tours between July and August, while the gardens are open year-round (except Christmas).

Gap of Dunloe – Beautiful drive and hike in Killarney

The famous narrow mountain pass forged between the MacGillycuddy Reeks and Purple Mountain is a must-see if you want to see the most beautiful landscapes. You can drive, walk or cycle depending on your preference. Whichever you choose, you’ll be blown away by just how beautiful this place is. If you want the full impact of how great the Gap of Dunloe is, check out my post:

Visiting The Gap of Dunloe Killarney – All you need to know

For more images of the Killarney and the national park, there are loads in my photo diary from our first trip: Killarney trip – Camping and exploring photodiary

The Ring of Kerry – one of the top Ireland Must Visit Places

Perfect for those who love driving. It’s a 179km route around the county of Kerry, and encompasses all the best towns and views. The roads are windy but you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking views. Must-sees include:

Portmagee
Valentia Island
Kenmare
Skellig Ring
Gap of Dunloe
Kate Kearney’s Cottage

Please note: Car drivers are advised to travel anti-clockwise around the ring. This keeps the traffic at a minimum as the narrow twisty roads are incredibly busy in peak months.

There really are endless things to do in Kerry and you’ll be surprised just how much of it you can see in a weekend. Try to fit in a trip to Dingle too. It’s about an hours drive from Killarney. Kerry is one of my favourite places to go in Ireland for sure.

In Killarney, we always stay with Killarney Glamping. The first year we stayed in the standard suites, while the following year we tried out the Luxury suites. It’s a really beautiful couples place, I’ve done a couple of posts on it: Killarney Glamping at the Grove review.

For more information and photos on the places to see around Kerry, be sure to check out the photo diary posts below:

2. Wicklow – The Garden of Ireland. A must-see in Ireland

Wicklow has such beautiful landscapes and scenery, all within short distances of each other. From the Wicklow mountains to waterfalls, lakes to sandy beaches and cliffs; it’s no wonder it’s named the garden county. There’s so many things you can choose from to fill your weekend.

Wicklow is just a 30 minute drive from Dublin and is the perfect destination for your outdoorsy weekend. Attractions like Hiking the Great Sugar Loaf Mountain are so accessible from the big city. Below are just some of the reasons you need to visit Wicklow.

Glendalough – Places in Ireland you have to see

Glendalough is a glacial valley in Co.Wicklow. The landscape here is beautiful. There are Medieval monuments on the grounds for those with an interest in history. A short walk from the car park reveals views of the upper and lower lakes, surrounded by wooded hills. There’s a number of walking trails all beginning at the information office. The highest one giving a unique view of the valley below. It is a perfect day out and is even better in good weather. I’ve been here numerous times and never turn down an opportunity to go

To read a bit more about Glendalough, try “Glendalough Monastic Site, County Wicklow- Ireland Road Trip“.

Powerscourt Hotel, Gardens and Waterfall

Powerscourt Gardens were recently voted No.3 in the World’s Top Ten Gardens by National Geographic. Also, the waterfall is super accessible with a car park nearby and worth a visit.

Lough Tay – Places in Ireland you need to see before you die

Without being morbid, this is one of those interesting places you need to see in Ireland before you die. It’s called Laugh Tay. Or as some refer to it, Guinness lake. What could be more Irish!? from above, this lake looks exactly like a pint of Guinness, check it out for yourself!

Bray, Bray Head & Cliff Walk

Bray is a lovely seaside town. The seafront is lined with restaurants and pubs and a beautiful pebble beach. Sit out in the ocean breeze and enjoy some food or tackle Bray head or the cliff walk.

Bray head will take you up a hill to look out on the amazing views of Bray and the Irish sea. After that, the Cliff walk extends from Bray, all the way to Greystones ~7Km long. Don’t worry, you can get the dart back to Bray.

To read more about all the fun you can have in Bray, Weekend Exploring Bray has a lot of options.

Booking.com

Other resources:

I recently learned Bray is home to the first Geocache in Europe. If that’s something you are interested in, you can get more information – The Geo-Tourist’s Guide to Europe’s First Geocache, and Geocaching double first.

3. Antrim – you can’t miss this place on your trip to Ireland

Antrim is another location perfect for a road trip. There is such a range of attractions here and again, all within pretty short distances of one another. Want to see for yourself? I’ve gone through a few of my top places to see in Antrim below:

The Giant’s Causeway – One of the top Ireland Attractions

You can’t visit Ireland without seeing the Giants Causeway! The vast basalt columns are the remains of intense volcanic activity, or as legend tells, the remains of a causeway built by a giant trying to get to Scotland; I’ll let you decide which.

It’s such a unique landscape and visitors are welcome to walk over the basalt. It’s something so different and on a nice sunny day, it’s fantastic. Although it does be absolutely thronged with people, so if you want a nice picture without hundreds of people in the background, I suggest you go very early, or very late!

Carrick-a-rede Rope Bridge

Just further East is the Carrick-a-rede rope bridge, where you can walk, suspended above the ocean, from the mainland to Carrick-A-Rede Island. It’s only 20m long for those afraid of heights, but it is tolled – be warned! Even if not crossing the bridge, you can get a great view of it from the viewpoint.

Dunluce Castle – Beautiful Castle Ruins in Northern Ireland

Then further west of the causeway is the striking ruins of Dunluce castle. If you can catch sunset and dusk here, it’s an amazing sight!

There is so much to see and do in this area. If you’re a Game of Thrones fan, the hugely famous Dark Hedges is only a twenty-minute drive south of the causeway, so you can get that selfie on-route. What a way to spend a weekend.

4. Galway – one of the top cities you’ll need to visit while in Ireland

Galway has a special place in my heart and is where I currently live. It is known for being a lively, friendly colourful city and the cultural capital of Ireland. You will be kept busy from the street buskers to the best pubs, stunning landscapes, and incredible white sandy beaches. When visiting Galway, some top attractions come to mind:

Shop and Quay street – This is a must-visit in Ireland

These are the main streets in the city centre. They have been pedestrianised and are full of amazing atmosphere. You will see street entertainers from dancers to barefoot saxophone players and pubs with the best music and craic you would ever want. There is also so many amazing places to eat, check out these Cool Places to Eat in Galway City.

Pubs – Have the craic in Galway’s best pubs

Galway is home to countless amazing pubs – well known for being the best craic, and providing traditional music sessions.

O’Connells is my favourite, with Galway’s largest beer garden out back. Also, O’Carrolls, Tig Coili, The Quays (400 years old) and Tigh Neachtain are always good.

Connemara National Park and Diamond Hill

Connemara is where you will find the real beauty of the west. It is an area of expansive countryside with beautiful beaches and mountains. If you are driving through Connemara on a good summer’s day you will be blown away by the scenery. In fact, some things you should see in Connemara include:

Spiddal
Derryclare Lake
Sky Road Drive
Clifden Castle
Diamond hill
Kylemore abbey
Killary Harbour
Rosscahill Woods
Brigit’s Garden – Great places to visit for families
Be sure to check out the Best Beaches in Galway too!

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To see some more photos and experiences in Galway, you can check out the resources below:

Galway is placed perfectly on the West coast of Ireland and is only a short drive from another amazing county – Clare. Clare is well known for the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren – so you can also check these out easily from Galway.

5. Donegal – You absolutely cannot visit Ireland without exploring Donegal!

With each visit, I fall more in love with Donegal. This county is absolutely beautiful and was voted “coolest place on the planet” by National Geographic. It is no wonder why. Beaches, mountains, lighthouses – it is a very remote and wild place with enough “Irish” scenery to make you weep. Overall I think Donegal is one of the top Ireland must see places.

Malin Head – The most northerly point in Ireland

When you’re up that far, why not visit Ireland‘s most Northerly point? Malin Head! Stand back and take in the rugged coastline or walk along the cliff to Hells’ Hole. The cliffs out here are amazing.

Fanad Lighthouse – Things to do in Donegal Ireland

Another world-renowned place – It has been voted one of the most beautiful lighthouses in the world. Fanad Lighthouse was built after a boat was wrecked off the coast in the 1800s’, whose only survivor was the ship’s parrot. The lighthouse itself is worth the visit, but it’s hard to ignore the spectacular surrounding landscape

Post: Fanad Head Lighthouse and Driving Fanad Peninsula

Slieve league – Enough to Compete with the Cliffs of Moher

Although people tend to think of the Cliffs of Moher as Ireland’s most beautiful cliffs, it’s a shame to miss out on Slieve League: standing double the height of the Cliffs of Moher. These are in fact, the second-highest cliffs in the country and are so impressive. On a nice day, the short hike to the cliffs is so rewarding. It is also much quieter than the Cliffs of Moher.

Click here for Slieve League Cliffs in Donegal | The Beautiful Slieve League Walk

There are endless other things to do in Donegal and I’ve yet to do it all. A lot of my favourite sites have been en route to these places. Other must-see things in Donegal include:

Fort Dunree
Ballymastocker Bay
The Glengesh Pass
Ramelton town is beautiful
Grianan of Aileach
Errigal mountain

There is so much amazing scenery to see in Donegal, I have included more images below:

Conclusion – Ireland Must See Places

I hope you enjoyed this post of the 5 top places you need to visit in Ireland. Maybe it’s given you a sense of wanderlust or even narrowed down your choice of places you already wish to visit. Either way, I hope it’s given you some inspiration to pack your bags and take a weekend break somewhere in Ireland.

If you think I’ve missed some must-see places for a wild weekend road trip, let me know in the comments. In addition, please feel free to share any experiences you have had in any of these places below!