Regardless of what you’ve heard about the country, the incredible scenery, range of unspoiled areas, and several of the best cities in Ireland offer numerous attractions well worth a visit. It was even voted among the top 20 most beautiful countries in the world in 2017, by Rough Guide readers. The country is home to abundant prehistoric and early medieval sites that date as far back as 10,500 BC, as well as world-class accommodation, sought-after landscapes, a variety of outdoor activities, and the longest coastal driving route in the world. No matter what you’re looking for, Ireland and its plethora of offerings are sure to have just what you’re interested in, waiting around every corner.
Six of the best cities in Ireland
Ireland is one of the most popular countries on travelling bucket lists, and the Irish countryside is one of the most beautiful in the world. One of the first things that come to mind when thinking about the Emerald Isle is the many road trips you could take with your travel companions; but its cities, especially the ones on this list, are not-to-be-missed attractions, without a doubt.
Dublin
Well…of course, the capital city is top of the list. A trip to Ireland wouldn’t be complete without traipsing around the most iconic city in the country, Dublin. It’s home to two sought-after cathedrals, top-notch museums, a variety of culinary offerings, and a local music scene that’ll have you sipping on Guinness and dancing the night away in no time.
Dublin is also home to Trinity College, the oldest university in the city and one of the biggest attractions. Have a gander around the college campus and meet up with local students, who’ll show you what Dublin is to the locals.
Check out our list of things to do in Dublin if you want to find out more. If you’re spending a weekend in Dublin, you may also be interested in our article on the subject.
Best time to visit Dublin
June through August is the best time to visit Dublin and the rest of Ireland. The temperature is warmest, and the calendar is teeming with festivals that spill out into the streets.
Best routes to walk in Dublin
There are a variety of walking tours available in the city following different routes. One of the most popular is a pub crawl, which will take you to some of the oldest pubs in the country. There are several free tours offered, too.
Galway
“My Pretty Little Galway Girl” is pretty much the only thing many people know about the university city of Galway, thanks to Ed Sheeran. You’ll find Galway a couple of hours away from Dublin, along the West Coast, and it’s one of the most attractive cities in the country. The stunning city lights, musical ambience, bohemian vibe and plethora of art throughout the city are what make Galway unmistakably beautiful and worth a visit. Thanks to the surrounding ocean and flourishing fields, Galway’s cuisine includes some of the freshest ingredients, and local chefs take advantage to create decadent dishes on virtually every corner.
Things to do in Galway
Take a trip through Galway’s Latin Quarter or meander along the water on Nun’s Island. One of the most popular things to do in Galway is to visit the NUI Galway Zoology and Marine Biology Museum, where you’ll find at least four specimens from Darwin’s Beagle voyage.
Walking routes in Galway
The majority of the walking tours are tip based, so you’ll pay what you want at the end. One of the most popular choices is an introduction sightseeing walk with GPS MyCity, which takes you past iconic sights, including Eyre Square, statues of Oscar Wilde and Eduard Vilde, Lynch’s Castle, and down Shop Street, the main shopping district of the city.
Cork
Cork is as vibrant as Dublin in a smaller package and considered by many as the food capital of the country, which is why it’s one of the best cities in Ireland to visit. The quaint, warren streets wind through the city with the promise of excitement and enjoyable experiences. It’s also full to the brim, excuse the pun, with coffee houses and cafes serving up the tastiest brews in all of Ireland.
Things to do in Cork
A few of the top things to do in Cork include a visit to Blarney Castle (built in the 15th century by the King of Munster), a visit to the English Market, a wander around the University of Cork and checking out Cork City Gaol.
Walking routes in Cork
Cork Street Art Walk is one of the most popular walking tour routes in the city and highlights some of the spectacular street art along the city streets. You’ll also want to check out the Shandon Mile Walk and the South Parish Walk.
Limerick
Limerick is located in Munster province and is a major city in the Republic of Ireland, with strong ties to the medieval history of the country. It offers a plethora of exciting activities and experiences, including a huge emphasis on theatre and culture, an inviting culinary scene, unbeatable nightlife, and a fantastic music scene.
Options are many when it comes to things to do and see in Limerick. Culture Night is one of the best reasons to visit the city and what makes it one of the best cities in Ireland. It’s a night where Limerick showcases everything it has to offer culture-wise and celebrates a variety of theatre, music, art and so much more at no cost to partakers.
Things to do in Limerick
One of the sought-after sites in Limerick is King John’s Castle, which dates back to 1210 and is one of the continent’s most complete Norman castles. If you’re a rugby fan, you’ll want to head on down to Thomond Park, home of The Red Army, one of the best teams in the Northern Hemisphere. A few other things worth checking out are People’s Park, St John’s Cathedral, Newtown Pery and the Milk Market.
Walking tours in Limerick
A popular walking tour in Limerick is the Self-guided Limerick Introduction Walking Tour, which starts at The Treaty Stone and runs through 14 other major sites, ending at Spring Rice.
Kilkenny
Kilkenny is known as the Marble City because of the black-coloured limestone that lines its streets; it once served as the medieval capital of the country. The eclectic city is home to an array of churches, castles, abbeys, and winding streets glistening with excitement and wonder. The ideal city to meander through while stopping at a bar, cafe, or restaurant along the street to people-watch your days away. Throughout the year, Kilkenny boasts annual festivals that celebrate everything from food to art to comedy and perfectly blend its modern, contemporary culture with its ancient history.
Things to do in Kilkenny
Take a walk along the rise of the River Nore to Kilkenny Castle and amble around the gardens. Visit St Canice’s Cathedral, which has stood in the same spot since the early 500s and is the second-longest cathedral in Ireland. Visit the Black Abbey, a Dominican monastery dating back to 1225, and you might also want to stay above a local pub for a true Irish experience.
Tours in Kilkenny
As with all Irish major cities, you’ll find plenty of paid and free walking tours throughout the city. However, one of the most exciting tours to do in Kilkenny is the Kilkenny Ghost Tour, to learn more about the spooky city.
Waterford
Waterford is the oldest city in the country and a hidden gem for visitors looking for the best cities in Ireland during their holiday. Being the oldest city in Ireland, it’s home to an abundance of historical sites but also doubles up as a modern, living city with a host of things to do. A far cry from the vibrant cities of Dublin and Cork, Waterford is the place you come on a romantic getaway where the aim of the game is peace and serenity.
Things to do in Waterford
Waterford was founded by the Vikings; a top-sight and popular attraction called the Viking Triangle lies inside the area once controlled by the Viking walls. As a history fan, you’ll want to check out the Medieval Museum, Ireland’s only museum solely dedicated to medieval times. A few others worth a mention include the House of Waterford Crystal, the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, Mount Congreve, King of the Vikings, the Japanese Gardens, and Theatre Royal.
Walking tours in Waterford
The award-winning master storyteller Jack Burtchaell offers a Waterford Walking Tour through the 1,000 years of history of Waterford; it’s suitable for all ages and hugely enjoyable.
Nine towns worth a mention
The size of the Republic of Ireland means most of the cities could qualify as towns in many other countries, and outside of the major cities mentioned above, most of the places worth visiting are charming little towns tucked away in the landscape or along the coast of this breathtaking country.
Kinsale
Kinsale is referred to by many locals as the Gourmet Capital of Ireland and is the ideal spot for you and yours to head to if food is your thing. Kinsale is a leading attraction in Ireland and the most southerly starting point of the Wild Atlantic Way trail, hailed by National Geographic as one of the most exquisite places on Earth. Some of the best things to do in Kinsale include visiting Charles Fort (located on the water’s edge), exploring James Fort, and visiting the Old Head headland protruding into the Atlantic Ocean, which also houses one of the best golf courses in the country.
Killarney
Killarney is a picturesque town located in County Kerry, frequented by visitors throughout the year thanks to its beautiful landscape and serene ambience. Situated amid towering mountain peaks, Killarney offers guests a charming piece of Ireland to kick back and relax in while recharging their batteries with a few day hikes, some rock climbing, kayaking, or swimming around the local waterfalls, lakes and nearby hills and mountains.
Bantry
Located at the head of Bantry Bay in the county of Cork, Bantry serves as a tender port for cruise ships, in a bay that’s attracted merchant ships, fishermen, and warriors for centuries. The population of the town is less than 4,000 people and another destination that’s geared towards those looking for solitude in a beautiful setting.
A couple of things worth doing while you’re in Bantry are getting a cup of coffee and scone at the Box of Frogs, heading out on one of the many Bantry Heritage Loop Walks offering views of the mountains, islands, and the bay, or taking a walk through the Bantry House and Gardens that once belonged to the Earls of Bantry.
Tralee
Tralee is located in Kerry County, along the Dingle Peninsula, and is a quaint town with simple offerings, including Tralee Bay. There’s also an immersive county museum where kids can go back to medieval times, a national folk theatre to connect with traditional Irish music and dancing, as well as a collection of finds around the bay, such as mountain peaks, Ogham stones with etchings of the early Irish alphabet and a long stretch of beach.
Westport
For travellers heading to Ireland, Westport can certainly be described as a hidden gem, though locals have been aware of it and praised the town for a very long time. Once voted as the best place in Ireland to live, Westport is home to an array of traditional shops, pubs and a natural surrounding that will take your breath away. Located along the west coast, Westport has something for everyone.
Dingle
Another simple sought-after fishing town located on the Dingle Peninsula is Dingle, with its narrow, hilly lanes teeming with eclectic shops and restaurants serving cuisine with farm-fresh ingredients sourced locally. The town is praised for its breathtaking surroundings, and tourists flock to the area year-round to hike through the terrain along the Wild Atlantic Way.
Athlone
Along the Shannon River, you’ll find the ancient crossing point of Athlone, which once stood as the capital of a united federal Ireland thanks to its position in the centre. The town is popular with locals and tourists alike, with several sites worth seeing, including Athlone Castle, Lough Ree, the Church of Saints Peter and Paul, and the stylish Luan Gallery. During the summer, the surrounding waters are teeming with yachts and cruise boats.
Sligo
Sligo is a seaport town in northwest Ireland that was regularly visited by W. B. Yeats, whose mother grew up in Sligo. You’ll find a variety of seal-spotting tours and fishing tours heading out on the nearby waters, or you can scour through prehistoric passage tombs at places like Carrowmore and Carrowkeel. If you’re a fan of Yeats, you’ll find him buried about 6 miles away from the town, at the foot of Benbulben in Drumcliffe.
Clifden
You’ll find Clifden nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and the Twelve Bens mountains, at the Clifden Bay mouth; it’s surrounded by jaw-dropping landscapes and populated with welcoming and friendly people, who pride themselves on being part of a town with such a rich history. A few of the things worth doing include a visit to Clifden Castle, a wander along Sky Road, and time spent soaking up information at the Heritage Centre.
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