Best Vacation Spots In Ireland

When planning a vacation to Ireland, you might know where the best vacation spots in Ireland are. Much of the Irish population is centered in a few select cities, leaving much of the country wide-open territory – a frontier of locations to visit and take in that most people never see.

For that reason, guides are essential for exploring the Irish landscape. Where do you go? What will you see? When mapping out the best vacation spots in Ireland, it is imperative include a few beautiful locations on your list of must-see locations.

Dublin

Obviously.

Why would you go to Ireland, and not visit Dublin? This is one of the tourist attractions. The place to visit. A hoard of the best vacation spots in Ireland. The Irish capital is home to one-third of the Irish population. The social environment of Dublin is matched by nowhere else in the island nation.

Historic castles? Art? Good pubs? Dublin has it all and then some. If you are planning a visit to Ireland without Dublin in your list of destinations, then you are seriously doing something wrong.

Killarney National Park

A massive estate of spread-out forests and streets, this preservation is a favorite spot for both visitors and residents of Ireland. The massive location is a great place for nature walks.

The real appeal, though? The three lakes on the park's property, which are truly beautiful. Anyone going to Ireland owes it to themselves to visit these natural beauties.

Aran Islands

Off the west coast of Ireland sits this small, beautiful island. With only one hundred vehicles allowed on the island, you're going to need to be prepared to walk up the tall cliffs to explore the stone roads and buildings covering the place.

It ranks among the best vacation spots in Ireland for a reason: culture. Irish culture, distilled in one place. Cliffs, castles, and more. It remains one of the most beautiful places in the country, waiting for visitors to come and explore its beauty.

Bru na Boinne

This 5,000 year old burial mound used to be the center of some grand, Irish culture, now long since passed. Visiting here is, in many ways, akin to traveling to a splinter of that time long since passed.

Of note are the rocks gathered on the mound. Many believe this might have been an ancient means of map creation, intended to offer a guide to passerbys of an unknown, old culture and its landmarks. Regardless, the manmade mound in the middle of an open field remains one of the most incredible structures in all of Ireland.

Dingle Peninsula

Along the westernmost tip of Ireland stretches Dingle Peninsula. With the sea on all sides, beneath the tall cliffs, surfing and swimming may be the first thing you'd expect to do in this location, but there is a better reason to visit this location.

This remains one of the best vacation spots in Ireland for those in search of historical remnants. Bronze Age settlements, old stone enclaves, and other historical landmarks are sprinkled throughout the peninsula, giving Dingle Peninsula a truly ancient, historic feel.

Also, the pubs. There are lots of pubs.

The Cliffs of Moher

Ireland is home to many cliffs, but the Cliffs of Moher remain perhaps their tallest, steepest cliffs. Overlooking the expanse of the Atlantic, the Cliffs of Moher stand tall over the crashing waves of the sea, eternal against the winds and sights.

Standing there, you feel truly dwarfed by the expanse of the world and country, aware of your place in the span of things. In so many ways, it remains one of the best vacation spots in Ireland because of how the Irish countryside manages to quell your spirits, and set you on the course for natural beauties most people never take in.

Giant's Causeway

This natural rock formation remains one of the most perplexing places in all of Ireland. Located in the north-eastern region, this honeycomb of stone is the result of volcanic activity and plate tectonics shifting over the course of millions of years.

From the cliffs, looking down, it almost resembles land that would have been crushed under the feet of giants. It leaves you in awe of the Irish landscape, and all that goes on there. Easily one of the best vacation spots in Ireland, if only to see something truly unique.

Galway

West Ireland's largest city, Galway is a hub of culture and energy that no visitor to the country should miss. The city may not be a beautiful spot featuring gorgeous cliffs and the like, but it does offer a great deal of Irish culture.

Want to hit the pub? Come here. Want to see some beautiful art? Visit. Want to hear real Irish spoken on the streets among people? Hear real traditional Irish music? All that and more resides on this coastal city.

Glendalough

Situated just south of Dublin between two lakes, Glendalough is the former home of an ancient monastery dating back to the 6th century. Visitors in search of Irish history should make sure to visit this location.

Among the sights include an unfinished castle, left to nature's will after construction stalled, and a scenic forest that surrounds the stone monastery. A beautiful integration of nature and ancient construction, Glendalough is easily one of the best vacation spots in Ireland.

The Ring of Kerry

A 100km ring offers sight-seers one of the most beautiful landscapes in the world. A drive around the Ring of Kerry will give visitors a chance to see Irish mountains and cliffs, old castles standing against the test of time, among other things.

Start in the popular town of Killarney or the less busy village of Kenmare – or any other location along the way. With so many sights along this little drive, you can start or end at a great number of places.

This massive highway drive is one of the best vacation spots in Ireland.