The Most Beautiful Places in Ireland Worth Visiting
There are a lot of places to visit in Ireland: ancient haunted castles and luxurious mansions with beautiful parks, emerald meadows with sheep and rocky cliffs drowning in the raging ocean, cheerful noisy pubs and Michelin restaurants, prehistoric dolmens and modern art galleries. Let’s look at the most beautiful places to visit in Ireland and things to do there.
The sights of Ireland are unique and interesting. After all, Ireland is an amazing, exciting country located in Western Europe.
The center of Celtic culture is famous for heroic sagas, rich nature, and fortitude inherited from the Vikings. The sights will tell you about an impressive history, legends, and myths.
You will enjoy walks through magical places to see: mysterious places, ancient castles, cathedrals, and national parks. Every corner is imbued with the warmth and warmth that the people of Ireland are so famous for. Let’s consider the most beautiful places in Ireland and plan your next trip!
The Top of the Most Beautiful Places in Ireland for a Trip
1. St. Patrick’s Cathedral
This is the heart of Ireland. St. Patrick’s Cathedral is the largest in all of Ireland. Its history begins in 1192. During the reign of Henry III, a large-scale reconstruction of the temple took place, and it acquired the features of early English Gothic. This is the Ireland’s most famous building — beautiful and magical.
King Edward VI abolished several buildings of the cathedral, they were given over to judicial affairs, and all other items: silver, furniture, and jewelry were given to the Museum of Christ. The cathedral was completely restored in 1555, its complete reconstruction was carried out, and lost relics and valuables were returned. This is one of the most beautiful places in Ireland worth seeing.
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2. Cahir Castle
The castle is located on the territory of the County of Tipperary. It was built in the XII century, on the site of an earthen fort. It consists of three parts: the old castle of the XIII century is located on a hill, and a distinctive feature is the high gate, with access to the southern part of the island.
On the north-western side there is a dungeon consisting of three floors. It has rooms for lords, and restrooms. The castle was protected from the gusts of the waters of the Cahir River by several round towers.
3. The Rock of Cashel
The majestic castle complex was built in the IV century, as a residence for the kings of Munster. Saint Patrick lived and preached in the castle for many years. At the time of Cromwell’s invasion, the palace became a symbol of the resilience of the Irish people.
During the tour, you will be able to see the preserved living quarters and outbuildings, and walk through the ancient remains of the cathedral. There is a museum at the castle.
4. Muckross House
In the county of Kerry, an ancient manor of the XIX century, the Macross House, is located on the territory of the national park. The Victorian-style manor house became the home of the famous Herbert family. In 1861, Queen Victoria herself visited the palace.
The palace complex consisted of 45 rooms, several additional outbuildings, and a small garden. The interior of the staterooms was designed in the Tudor style.
5. Killarney National Park
Killarney National Park was founded in 1932, it is the largest and oldest nature reserve in the country. This is one of the most beautiful places in Ireland and magical places to see. Due to its uniqueness and history, the natural site has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The area of the national park is 106 square kilometers and one of the best places to stay for meditation. In addition to natural sites, there is a medieval fortress and a garden. The animal world is diverse, squirrels and badgers can be found here. Trout and salmon are found in the lakes.
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6. Glendalough
One of the natural treasures of Ireland is the valley of glacial origin — Glendalough. Some people call it St. Kevin’s Valley. One of the central natural sites is two lakes: Upper and Lower.
In the depths of the valley, there is an ancient monastery founded in the VI century by St. Nicholas. Kevin. The monastic monastery was built by novices, under the supervision of St. Kevin, the monk himself led a hermit’s life, he lived in a small cave and spent all his time in prayer.
7. Blarney Castle
The medieval stone castle of Blarney is located in the south of Ireland. A wooden building was located on the site of the fort until 1200. The fortification was demolished, and a stone defensive structure was built in 1210. During the tour, you will be able to explore the interior, stroll through the picturesque gardens, and enjoy the beauty of the surrounding area.
The main feature of the castle is the stone of eloquence. According to legend, the seemingly ordinary cobblestone is part of the Skunk stone, which was used at the coronation of monarchs.
8. Ring of Kerry
The Ring of Kerry is a popular tourist route located in County Kerry. The length is 179 kilometers, during the trip travelers will be able to enjoy the natural beauty and explore the ruins of medieval castles. A special highlight of the route is the picturesque fishing villages.
The starting point of the path is a medieval town founded in the XVII century — Killarney. Its main feature is the famous music pubs. The route includes the medieval Ross Castle, a symbol of the Irish struggle for independence. In addition, you will see the Macro House, the Macro Abbey, and a network of picturesque lakes. This is one of the most best places to visit in Ireland.
9. Giant’s Causeway
The most beautiful and fantastic Irish place. One of the interesting and unusual sights of Ireland is the Giant’s Causeway. It consists of bizarre stone pillars. There are a lot of legends about their origin but scientists are sure that the rocky columns were formed about 60,000,000 years ago during a volcanic eruption.
Giant’s Causeway is located in the northern part of the country on the Causeway Coast. The structures have a quadrangular or octagonal shape, and the maximum height of one pillar is 12 meters. This is one of the most beautiful places in Ireland.
10. Skelling Michael
The rugged rocky island is located 15 kilometers from Ireland. According to Bernard Shaw, who was lucky enough to visit the island at the end of the XIX century, this rock is the most fantastic and unimaginable in the world. In the VI century, a monastic monastery was founded here, the ruins of which were added to the UNESCO heritage list.
During the visit, you will be able to enjoy solitude, and nature, where people’s thoughts and souls are cleansed. To get to the ruins of the monastery, you need to overcome 640 steps.
Previously, two lighthouses were functioning, now only one is working, in automatic mode. The island itself is completely uninhabited. Don’t miss seeing this place from the Game of Thrones.
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11. Aran Islands
The archipelago is one of the most beautiful in the world, it consists of three islands: Inishmore, Inishman, and Inishir. The climate in the country is temperate continental, the average air temperature in winter is +7 degrees, and in summer +16 above zero.
Inishmore Island has several prehistoric forts and ancient churches. A popular excursion among tourists is a trip to the nearest Cliff of Moher. There is a museum here, there are observation decks with panoramic views of the surrounding area. The countryside and beautiful place.
12. Cliffs of Moher
The Cliffs of Moher are one of the main attractions of Ireland. The height of the rocks is about 200 meters, they spread over 8 kilometers. The rock formations are famous for numerous caves, castles, and ancient tombs.
At the top of the cliffs is Brian’s Observation Tower, founded in 1835. Special attention should be paid to the medieval Dangwire Castle, where magnificent costume balls are organized for tourists. The best place for inspiration where you can swim and relax.
13. Hook Lighthouse
There are many ancient sites in Ireland, including the Hook Head Lighthouse. The oldest lighthouse, built by monks in the 5th century, is operational and one of the most beautiful structures in the country.
The lighthouse acquired its modern appearance during reconstruction in 1189. During the tour, you will be able to explore the interior, and some technical details, and enjoy the panoramic view from the site.
14. Fulacht Fiadh
Fulacht Fiadh are about 6,000 artifacts of mysterious origin. They are scattered all over Ireland, near rivers and marshes. They are a small mound in the form of a horseshoe, which includes soil and sand.
Most often, such structures are found alone but in some places, you can see several mounds located close to each other. Regardless of where they are located, they have one thing in common — there is always a water source nearby.
15. Dunguaire Castle
One of the most popular and most beautiful places in Ireland is the Dangwire Castle. It was built at the beginning of the XVI century, according to one of the legends, for a long time the castle complex belonged to the king of Gwair Aydn Colmen. Then the Gogerty family became the owners of the fortress, who completely restored the castle. Before coming, Lady Gregory, Bernard Shaw, and other famous personalities were frequent guests at balls and receptions.
There are guided tours of the castle, and a medieval-style banquet is organized for guests. You can not only taste traditional cuisine based on ancient recipes but also listen to works of Irish literature. They complement the cozy atmosphere of the work of Irish musicians.
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FAQ
How to stay connected with the world during your trip to Ireland?
If you think staying in touch in Ireland is difficult and expensive, you’re mistaken. Just connect eSIM in advance and forget about roaming and searching for local mobile operators.
What is the best time of the year to travel to Ireland?
Not too hot but not too cold either — this is how the Irish weather can be briefly described. The island has a temperate climate, and there is no radical difference between the seasons. But the weather in Ireland is completely unpredictable: a rainy day can quickly turn into a sunny one, and vice versa. So several times a day.
The average temperature in spring is 8 degrees Celsius. It starts to warm up in Ireland in May. In summer, the thermometer stays around 18–20 degrees, and in autumn it drops to 14–18. Winters are relatively warm, with an average temperature of 5 degrees. Rare frosts occur in January and February.
What about public transport in Ireland?
There are well-developed rail and bus connections between Irish cities. Intercity trains depart from Connolly and Houston stations. It is recommended to take tickets in advance: shortly before departure, there may no longer be seats on the selected train. In addition, buying tickets in advance will help you save money.
Residents of the Irish capital travel around the city by trams, buses, and commuter trains.
Travel in Ireland and Chat with Your Friends via eSIM
Traveling with eSIM is a pleasure. You don’t need to think about the nearest free Wi-Fi or think about how much money you’ve already spent roaming on conversations. The virtual phone number makes it possible to stay in touch with all important people on any trip.
eSIM Plus is easy to arrange and pay for, and you do not need to go anywhere specifically. Everything happens online:
- Select a country (Ireland).
- Decide on the tariff (how much Internet you will need).
- Choose a payment method.
- Enjoy a connection in Ireland (or any other country of your choice).
eSIM is suitable for everyone who loves comfort and communication on the road.
