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Ireland✨ 10 best things to do in Ireland

Things to do in Ireland

1. Drive the Wild Atlantic WayFollow one of the world's longest defined coastal routes past cliffs, beaches and fishing villages.
2. Stand atop the Cliffs of MoherWalk the clifftop paths as the Atlantic crashes far below and puffins nest in early summer.
3. See the Book of KellsAdmire the richly illuminated medieval manuscript and the grand Long Room library at Trinity College Dublin.
4. Join a trad music sessionSqueeze into a cosy pub as fiddles, tin whistles and bodhráns strike up an impromptu session.
5. Explore NewgrangeStep inside a 5,000-year-old passage tomb aligned with the winter solstice sunrise.
6. Cycle the Ring of Kerry or DinglePedal past lakes, mountains and sweeping bays on Ireland's most scenic peninsulas.
7. Hike in ConnemaraWander bogs, mountains and lakes in one of the wildest, most romantic corners of the west.
8. Visit the Rock of CashelExplore a dramatic hilltop cluster of medieval church buildings in County Tipperary.
9. Island-hop to the Aran IslandsCycle past stone walls to Dún Aonghasa, a prehistoric fort on the edge of a sheer cliff.
10. Taste Irish whiskey and stoutLearn about centuries of brewing and distilling heritage, then enjoy a pint by a turf fire.

Ireland🗺️ Where to visit in Ireland

Where to go in Ireland

• 
  DublinCapital · culture & nightlifeA lively, literary capital of Georgian squares, museums, pubs and Trinity College.
• 
  GalwayWest · music & festivalsA bohemian city with colourful streets, buskers and a gateway to Connemara and the Aran Islands.
• 
  Dingle PeninsulaKerry · coast & GaeltachtSpectacular coastal scenery, Irish-speaking communities and a charming harbour town.
• 📍
  Killarney & Ring of KerryKerry · lakes & mountainsA national park of lakes, mountains and woodlands, and the start of a famous scenic loop.
• 📍
  Cliffs of Moher & the BurrenClare · cliffs & karstTowering sea cliffs and a lunar-like limestone landscape full of wildflowers and ancient tombs.
• 📍
  Cork & KinsaleSouth · food & harboursIreland's food capital and a pretty harbour town, with Blarney Castle nearby.
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  GlendaloughWicklow · monastic site & hikingAn early medieval monastic site with a round tower beside two glacial lakes.
• 📍
  KilkennySouth-east · medieval cityA compact medieval city with a castle, cathedral and lively pubs.

Ireland🌦️ Weather & best time to visit Ireland

Best time to visit Ireland

Ireland has a mild, damp maritime climate: it rarely gets very hot or very cold, but rain can fall in any season. The west coast is wetter and windier, while the east around Dublin is noticeably drier.

Typical daytime highs and rain in Dublin (approximate averages).

Ireland🎉 Festivals & events in Ireland

• March
  St Patrick's FestivalIreland's national day brings parades, music and celebrations across the country, biggest in Dublin.
• July
  Galway International Arts FestivalTheatre, music, art and street performances take over Galway for two weeks.
• August
  Puck FairOne of Ireland's oldest fairs, in Killorglin, where a wild goat is crowned king for three days.
• August
  Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireannThe world's largest festival of Irish traditional music, held in a different town each year.
• 16 June
  BloomsdayDubliners dress in Edwardian costume to retrace the steps of James Joyce's Ulysses.

Ireland🧭 Ireland itinerary ideas

How many days in Ireland?

Ireland🎒 Backpacking Ireland – tips & hacks

Backpacker budget: about $70–100 a day

• Intercity buses are usually cheaper than trains and reach many smaller towns; book early online for the best fares.
• Hostels are plentiful in Dublin, Galway, Killarney and Dingle – book ahead in summer and during festivals.
• Pub lunches and supermarket meal deals help stretch a budget in a relatively expensive country.
• Many top museums in Dublin, including the National Museum and National Gallery, are free.
• Pack a waterproof jacket and layers whatever the season.

Ireland🛡️ Safety & money in Ireland

Emergency: 112 or 999 police, fire & ambulance

Ireland🛬 Getting to Ireland

Dublin Airport (DUB) is the main gateway, with Shannon (SNN), Cork (ORK) and Knock also receiving international flights. Ferries link Ireland with Britain and France, and there is an open land border with Northern Ireland.

✈️ Cheap flights to Ireland: airports, flight times & best time to fly →

Ireland💡 Did you know? 5 facts about Ireland

• Newgrange is older than both Stonehenge and the Great Pyramid of Giza.
• There are no native wild snakes in Ireland.
• Halloween has its roots in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain.
• The harp is Ireland's national symbol and appears on its euro coins.
• Ireland has produced four Nobel Prize winners in Literature, including W.B. Yeats and Samuel Beckett.

Ireland❓ Ireland travel FAQ

Ireland travel questions