10 Best Things To Do In Ireland
The Emerald Isle is a popular travel destination, and with good reason. With jaw dropping landscapes, incredible historic monuments, vibrant cities, authentic Irish Whiskeys to be sampled, it’s easy to see why 7 million international tourists are estimated to visit each year.
Lets get in to it and go over the 10 best things to do in Ireland
10 Best Things To Do In Ireland
Visit Blarney Castle and kiss the Blarney Stone
See the Game of Thrones filming locations
Visit Titanic Belfast
Drive the Wild Atlantic Way
Cross Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge
Visit Kilmainham Gaol
Grab a drink in Ireland’s oldest bar
See St. Michan's Mummies
See the Cliffs of Moher
Visit the Guinness Storehouse
Visit Blarney Castle and kiss the Blarney Stone
Ireland has a long and rich history, having been inhabited for around 7000 years! So it’s no surprise there are an estimated 30,000 castles and ruins located across the country. One of its most famous is Blarney Castle, a partial ruin sitting in the beautiful County Cork countryside.
The castle itself is around 600 years old, build on the site of a previous wooden structure. Within the grounds there are intriguing rock formations and enchanting pockets of woodland to explore, as well as the ruins themselves including the battlements and the chilling dungeon.
The main attraction here though is the mystical Blarney Stone. Said to give whoever kisses it ‘the gift of the gab’, for centuries folk have kissed this 330 million year old stone located in the battlements of the castle, in the hope of being able to talk plenty of blarney (speak with the gift of eloquence).
You can book tickets to visit Blarney Castle on their website.
See the Game of Thrones filming locations
The popular programme Game of Thrones has definitely given Irish tourism a boost in recent years, with fans flocking to see the filming locations of their favourite show. With incredible, raw landscape, it’s no wonder Northern Ireland was picked as one of the primary filming spots. There is plenty of information available from websites like Discover Northern Island about the locations or, alternatively, you could book a guided tour through a company like Get Your Guide if you don’t fancy planning your own location tour.
It’s also possible to book a studio tour at the popular Titanic Studios to see the film sets for yourself.
Visit Titanic Belfast
Sticking with Northern Ireland for a moment, we have to mention Titanic Belfast, as no trip to Ireland would be complete without seeing the place where the most famous passenger liner in the world was built. Sadly The Titanic is not only famous for the feats of engineering that went into building the largest passenger ship in the world at that time, but for the tragedy that unfolded the night it sank.
Titanic Belfast gives you an insight in to all aspects of the mighty White Star Line vessel, right from the historic slipways where it was built and launched. In the Titanic Experience, you’ll go on a self guided tour of the world’s most authentic retelling of one of the 20th Century’s most famous events.
In Titanic Belfast’s own words, ‘You might think you’ve heard it all but until you’ve been on The Discovery Tour, you don’t know the half of it’. You can also walk the decks of the SS Nomadic, Titanic’s tender ship. It’s been lovingly restored and is now at Belfast’s historic Hamilton dock for visitors to explore.
It’s best to check the website for up to date opening hours and to buy tickets.
Drive the Wild Atlantic Way
The west coast of Ireland is famous for being incredibly raw, stunningly beautiful and yet able to immerse you in moments of unrivalled quiet and clarity. You can experience that magic on Ireland’s famous 2,500km road trip.
It’s not just the landscape, the historic monuments or the quaint villages that will capture your imagination though. Prepare to really connect to the heart of Irish culture, as you chat to locals along the way, experience some Irish hospitality, taste incredible food and get lost in traditional live music sessions.
This is a road trip like no other!
Plan your trip with our comprehensive, in-depth guide book, Destination Atlantic Way. Available now from our shop.
Cross Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge
This famous rope bridge was originally built by salmon fishermen in 1755, as a way to make it easier to get to the Island of Carrick-a-Rede and reduce the reliance on boats. Today, the rope bridge is owned and maintained by the National Trust and for a small fee, you can walk across it. The bridge spans the 20 metre wide gap between the island and the cliffs and sits 100ft above the Atlantic Ocean, so crossing this 250 year old rope bridge is a fantastic way to soak in the views and take in some fresh sea air!
Once on the Island, you can visit the only building on the island - a 400 year old cottage, once used by local fisherman to store their equipment. Or you can complete the 2km coastal walk, where you might see sharks, dolphins or porpoises. It is essential to book your crossing on the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, which can be done on the National Trust website.
Visit Kilmainham Gaol
A visit to Irelands most notorious prison is a must. It’s been closed for 100 years but the walls are still very much alive with stories for you to discover. It first opened in 1796 as Dublin’s new county gaol and throughout its active years, held all manner of men, women and even children. From common criminals to some of the most famous names in Irish history, the prison was a part of many of Irelands’s most famous historic events.
It has also been used as a filming location, including for the 1969 Italian Job film.
Today it is run by the Office of Public Works and can be explored by guided tour only. It is advisable to book through their website.
Grab a drink in Ireland’s oldest bar
Around 900AD, a man called Luain Mac Luighdeach - Luain son of Lewy, established an Inn close to "Áth Mor - The Great Ford” in Athlone. Today, that Inn is known as Sean’s Bar and is officially the oldest bar in Ireland.
Sean's is nestled in the heart of Ireland, along the banks of the River Shannon. In their own words: ‘Walking into the pub, you'll know right away you've arrived someplace unique. From the sawdust on the floor to the old-style open turf fireplace and the musicians playing in the corner, some things about Sean's Bar have changed very little over the centuries’.
Research is currently ongoing to to see is Sean’s Bar is in fact the oldest pub in the WORLD! So head to Sean’s and join the thousands of visitors that have stopped there for ‘a swift one’ during its 1000 year history.
See St. Michan's Mummies
Yes, you’ve read that right, you can see real mummies in the catacombs beneath St Michan’s Church. The church itself is considered one of the oldest in Ireland, built in the late 11th Century for the defeated Viking Kings. It was destroyed and then re-built in the 17th Century. The tiny church itself is wonderful to visit due to its intact Victorian interior but, of course, the star attraction here is the mummies. Not only because you get to see them, but because they were never actually prepared to be mummified. The combination of limestone and methane gas mean human bodies do not compose in the vaults beneath the church! Most of the coffins, carelessly stacked in the burial vaults, are intact but the lids on what are now called ‘the big four’, were destroyed over time, meaning you can see the mummies inside! The big four have names, ‘the unknown’, ‘the thief’, ‘the nun’ and ‘the crusader’.
Guided tours are €7 (cash only) and there are no toilets onsite. You’ll need to check with the church for timings of tours but this hidden gem is well worth a visit.
See the Cliffs of Moher
Without doubt the most famous cliffs in Ireland, the Cliffs of Moher tower over the rugged west Clare coast. They’ve been named as Irelands favourite visitor experience and its easy to see why when you take in their awe inspiring beauty. That same beauty that has inspired countless artists, musicians and poets as well as scientists and geologists, fascinated by their unique location.
You can walk along the pathways and view the famous Cliffs from viewpoints, soaking in the spectacular vistas over the Atlantic Ocean and the Aran Islands. The area has also been designated a Special Protection Area (SPA) for Birds and you may see puffins on your visit.
Check the opening hours and book your tickets in advance online to guarantee your entry.
Visit the Guinness Storehouse
Visit the home of Ireland’s most iconic and well known beer. The Guinness Storehouse has 7 floors that immerse you in the sights and sounds of the building thats been brewing beer for over 250 years, welcoming over 20 million visitors since it opened in 2000. A tour through this working brewery will take you on the journey from ‘grain to glass’ as well as teaching you about Arthur Guinness’ vision and lasting legacy. For example, did you know he signed a 9000 year lease on the brewery building?
Its advisable to book your tour in advance online.
This might be the 10 best things to do in Ireland, but if you want to extend your Irish adventures, there are still other amazing things to see and do. Things like driving the incredible Ring of Kerry, visiting the Irish whiskey museum or seeing the mind bending Irish Sky Garden. Not to mention the countless castles, characterful towns and cities and mesmerising landscapes there are to see. The Emerald Isle truly is a magical place and one that should be on every traveller’s bucket list.
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