Whether you’ve lived in Ireland your entire life or you’re booking a flight to visit for the first time, there are some beautiful places in Ireland that belong on your bucket list.
There are approximately 30,000 castles with some dating back to the time of the Vikings. Ireland is home to breathtakingly beautiful coastlines, serene lakes, and mesmerizing landscapes.
Rich Irish culture can be easily found in thriving cities and quaint towns each with a heritage dating back centuries.
There is something for everyone in Ireland. So we’ve compiled the 10 best places in Ireland for anyone’s bucket list and explain why you should add them to yours today! Let’s get started!
1. The Mourne Mountains, County Down
Anyone who fell in love with the fantasy world of Narnia created by CS Lewis will definitely want to add the Mourne Mountains to their list. This majestically beautiful area was the inspiration for Narnia.
Clive Staples Lewis spent holidays near the Mourne Mountains when he was a child. Later in life, he penned a letter to his brother stating this area was his idea of Narnia.
The Mourne Wall
This natural stone granite wall (which took 18 years to complete) is 22 miles (35 km) long and travels over 17 peaks. This 3 m high wall was built as a boundary for the catchment area of the reservoir by the Belfast Water Commissioners in the early 1900s.
2. Wexford County
Wexford County boasts beautiful beaches, 9,000 years of history, and sea creatures all waiting to capture your heart.
Curracloe Beach
Curracloe Beach is one of Ireland’s most visited beaches. You’ll find 7 miles of sand that’s white as snow and soft as silk mixed with a menagerie of colorful shells.
Irish National Heritage Park
This is an outdoor museum bringing you tales of 9,000 years of history. Wexford Nature Reserve is the home to 220 species of birds
Duncannon Fort
This fort has stories of 450 years of history of the Hook Peninsula.
Tacumshane Windmill
The only complete windmill which has survived in the Republic of Ireland and built in 1846.
Seal Rescue Ireland
This seal rescue saves more than 100 seals a year through rehabilitation.
Dunbrody Abbey and Dunbrody Famine Ship
12th Century Monastery, a maze of 1500 yew trees and more. The Dunbrody Famine Ship is located on the New Ross Quay and will provide an informative and provocative look at the potato famines of the 1840s.
3. Dublin
You can take a heritage train from Wexford to the enchanting and intriguing city of Dublin. There are many places you’ll want to take in while here.
Book of Kells
This 1200-year-old illustrated and illuminated medieval manuscript is world famous and considered one of Europe’s greatest treasures.
Visit Trinity College to see the intricate work which went into it and the lengths the monks took to preserve it. It will give you a renewed respect for the strength of the human spirit.
National Leprechaun Museum
For the past twenty years, the National Leprechaun Museum has been sharing Irish Folklore with day and night tours available. Anyone who grew up looking for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow may want to check this museum out.
Other Stops to Consider
There are a few National Museum of Ireland facilities worth checking out in Dublin including:
- Archeology
- Decorative Arts & History
- Natural History
There are also National Botanical Gardens and a National Wax Museum that may be of interest. Taking a tour of Dublin can be a great way to learn more about the history and beauty that’s hidden within this incredible city.
4. Causeway Coast
If you’re a fan of Game of Thrones then this one will be of particular interest. That’s not to say the Causeway Coast isn’t worth a spot on everyone’s Bucket List.
Lonely Planet voted this area the #1 place in the world to visit and once you see it you’ll understand why.
Dunluce Castle
Dunluce Castle is the castle used as Greyjoy in Game of Thrones. This area will be easily recognizable to those who watch the show.
This castle was built in 1500 and is home to a complex and sorted history, including that it was once owned by Winston Churchill.
Other Stops to Consider
The Giant’s Causeway lava formations and more than 30 miles of hiking trails give you plenty of opportunities to take in the beauty and wonder of the area.
Bram Stoker, the author of Dracula, grew up in this area and was inspired by a local myth about an evil dwarf.
5. Blarney
County Cork is the home of many great spots to visit but you can’t come here without kissing the Blarney Stone. Blarney Castle and Gardens is the home to the Blarney Stone which is said to give the gift of the gab when kissed.
Nano Nagle Place is not far away and offers a unique experience as you explore a convent filled with gorgeous gardens and graveyards hidden within its restored walls.
6. Cobh
Cobh is a town in the Cork City Harbour. It was the last port of call for the Titanic. After checking out this historic port you may be looking for something a little wilder.
Just a few minutes drive away from Cobh is the Fota Wildlife Park where you can see conservation at its finest. It’s been home to thousands of animals since opening in 1983 and is the perfect bucket list addition for any animal lover.
7. The Village of Portmagee Kerry Co.
If you love “Star Wars” then you’ll definitely want to include Portmagee and the surround Kerry County area which was the filming location of “Star Wars The Force Awakens”.
There are lots to take in with the Skellig Rocks, Ballinskellig beach, and Kerry Cliffs just to name a few.
8. Dingle, Kerry Co.
Dingle not only has beautiful sandy beaches but is home to the Oceanworld aquarium where you can get up close and personal with penguins, otters, and other sea creatures. There is also the Gallarus Oratory and Celtic and Prehistoric Museums offering something for everyone.
9. Sligo
Literary fans will be interested in taking some time to visit Sligo and the home of W.B. Yeats. That’s not all there is to see in Sligo, though. You will also be fascinated by the Sligo Abbey, Sligo County Museum and Yeats Building, not to mention the Prehistoric tombs at Carrowmore Cemetary.
10. Limerick
Limerick makes the list because it has Fairy Gardens, the People’s Park, museums, castles, art galleries, and the Shannon estuary.
As you take in the wonderous spot where the River Shannon flows into the Atlantic you just might be lucky enough to see some whales nearby.
Countless Places in Ireland to See
There are so many places in Ireland which deserve to be on this list — it’s hard to narrow it down to just ten! But these are certainly a great place to start.
If you’d prefer someplace like California, don’t miss our post on the top 5 luxuries activities to do while you’re there.