If you are seeking beauty around every corner, you may want to visit Ireland. This country has everything you want to explore, including old castles, significant landmarks, cities, rural areas, and beautiful landscapes.
With so many choices out there, where would you start? If you’re wondering what to do in Ireland, you can use this itinerary, especially if it’s your first time. This way, you wouldn’t miss the best places to go to, and you could save time.
Where to Go?
1. Dublin
One of the cheapest and easiest parts of travel is flying to Dublin. This colorful and charming city is the laidback capital of Ireland. Various Georgian townhouses are elegant, harmonious blends of Victorian pubs, the glitter of the modern buildings, and silvery stones of the residents’ homes.
The population is roughly about 1.7 million, and more than a third of the Irish countrymen live near the capital. You can see Dublin Castle, Grafton Street, Trinity College, The Books of Kells, and Kilmainham Gaol. Of course, you should not miss the Temple Bar, where you’ll discover historic buildings, mazes of alleys, and streets that are sandwiched between the houses. These areas are abounding by travelers, vendors, and shops, and the nighttime has music bars and venues.
2. Breweries
You can go with a beer or two when you’re in Ireland. You can visit Ryeriverbrewingco.com/brewery-tours/ and see breweries around Ireland. You can spend the afternoon with the best seafood caught locally, and they are washed down with the best craft beers. Some will give you what it looks like inside the cellars. It depends on the tour you’ll choose, but a beer tour will exceed your expectations, and you don’t have to pay elaborate fees for them.
A pint or two on the infamous Guinness Brewery can give you the best-tasting beer of your life. Some other iconic destinations and villages produce craft beers, and they are often off the beaten path, so you may want to get the best guides possible when visiting them.
3. Rock of Cashel
There’s this route when you go to Cork from Kilkenny to lead you to the Rock of Cashel. This place has a rich history of medieval monasteries, heritage, prehistoric raths, fortified townhouses, a 21st-century library, and a Georgian Cathedral.
The legends often associate St. Patrick with the Rock of Cashel, but its name came from the word “Caiseal,” which means a stone fort. The hill was originally where the kings of Munster lived, and excavations in recent times have revealed that it was used as a burial ground during the 10th century. It’s one of the major Christian centers in Ireland that you wouldn’t want to miss out on.
4. Kilkenny
When you’ve finished exploring the attractions in Dublin, you may want to go for a short drive in Kilkenny, which means that you’ll be heading southward. This is a great stopover along your way to Cork.
The heart and soul of medieval Ireland was Kilkenny, where you’ll see lots of crumbling city walls, twirling alleyways, narrow roads, and cathedrals. There are even castles built in the 13th century surrounded by lush landscapes and fabulous gardens. You must see the Black Abbey, Kilkenny Castle, St. Canice’s Round Tower, and there are even ghost tours available in your area if you prefer.
5. Cork
Cork City is a place with a steep history, and it has gained one of the reputations of being one of the most eclectic cities in Europe. Like Venice, the city was built on an island and upon water in the River called Lee. The river’s two channels embrace the many bridges in the city’s center, giving it a more continental and distinctive air.
You can make a base camp in Cork to explore nearby places like the Jameson distillery and Blarney Castle. This is where most tourists stay so that they can have easier access to the cities. The must-see in Cork includes the English Market, Red Abbey Tower, Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral, and traditional music at An Spailpin Fanac.
6. Go to Blarney Castle
In the outskirts of Cork, you will be able to visit the Blarney Castle, which is a must-see before you go home. In the last century, it has seen many visitors, and millions have flocked to Blarney, making it a popular tourist destination and one of the greatest treasures in Ireland.
As many visitors can see today, Blarney Castle is the third one to be erected on its site. The first building was a wooden structure that was built in the 10th century. Around 1210 AD, the initial wooden frames were replaced by stone, and the third castle was built in 1446 by the King of Munster, Dermot McCarthy, and it remained standing today. You can climb the castle and kiss the Blarney Stone so you can gain the gift of eloquence.
7. The Ring of Kerry
On the west side of Cork is an unspeakable beauty which is Killarney. This is located at the Ring of Kerry in the north, where you won’t have abundant mountain sceneries and lakes. Tourism into Killarney dates back to the middle of the 18th century. Most of the work was done by the fourth Viscount Kenmare and a man named Thomas. The attractions that they have worked on have made new residents and visitors come into town. Even Queen Victoria visited the place in 1861, and it became widely popular.
You can get into the Iveragh Peninsula, which is the 111-mile route in County Kerry. From there, you’ll be able to see panoramic views, quaint villages, and picturesque landscapes. Kerry is one of the iconic tourist attractions in Ireland, and it even has a title that is the crown jewel of the scenic locations. The best way to experience this place is to drive through the routes and stop whenever you feel like it.
8. Cliffs of Moher
You can head to the North along the West coast of Ireland to visit the Cliffs of Moher. These cliffs have captured millions of visitors annually, and this is one of the more natural attractions in the area. The magical vista will present itself when you stand at the highest point, which is 702 ft.
The view stretches to at least 5 miles of the County Clare’s Atlantic Coast on the west side of the country. Wander around the cliffs and take pictures of the stunning views while you’re at it. Read more about the Cliffs of Moher on this site here.
9. Galway City
You can wander through the cobbled street of Galway City and go back to Medieval Ireland. Galway is well-known globally to have the friendliest people, and the nightlife will present you with endless entertainment that you need. The charming streets and shopping will refresh your spirits after your vacation.
Galway was formed from a small fishing village, and it developed into a walled town in 1232. The Anglo-Normans captured this territory, and Richard II granted a charter to transfer the powers to 14 merchant families. You can go to the free city tours, cathedrals, Spanish arches, and city museums when you stop by in Galway.
