Top 79 places to visit in Ireland
79 must-see places and attractions in Ireland, from famous landmarks to hidden gems, each with a map and photos.
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79 places
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1Coast & beach
Cliffs of Moher
Sea cliffs rising over 200 metres above the Atlantic, with coastal paths and a visitor centre.
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2Museum & gallery
Book of Kells at Trinity College Dublin
The 9th-century illuminated gospel manuscript and the Long Room of Trinity's Old Library.
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3Archaeological site
Brú na Bóinne
Neolithic passage tombs of Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth in the Boyne Valley, older than Stonehenge.
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4Theme park & attraction
Guinness Storehouse
Seven-storey visitor attraction at St James's Gate brewery, topped by the Gravity Bar.
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5Historic site
Rock of Cashel
Hilltop cluster of medieval buildings including a round tower, cathedral and Cormac's Chapel.
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6Nature & national park
Killarney National Park
Lakes, mountains and woodland with Muckross House, Ross Castle and Torc Waterfall.
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7Nature & national park
Ring of Kerry
Scenic circuit of the Iveragh Peninsula past mountains, beaches and coastal villages.
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8Religious site
Glendalough
Early medieval monastic site founded by St Kevin, set in a glacial valley with two lakes.
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9Historic site
Kilmainham Gaol
Former prison where leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising were held and executed.
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10Island
Skellig Michael
Steep Atlantic island with an early Christian monastery of stone beehive huts.
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11Coast & beach
Dingle Peninsula
Irish-speaking peninsula of cliffs, beaches, Slea Head Drive and early Christian sites.
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12Nature & national park
Connemara National Park
Mountains, bogs and heaths in the west of Ireland, with trails up Diamond Hill.
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13Island
Aran Islands
Three limestone islands with Irish-speaking communities and the clifftop fort of Dún Aonghasa.
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14Nature & national park
The Burren
Limestone karst landscape with rare flora, caves and the Poulnabrone portal tomb.
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15Castle & palace
Blarney Castle
Medieval tower house famed for the Blarney Stone, set in extensive gardens.
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16Historic site
Kylemore Abbey
Neo-Gothic castle beside a lake, home to Benedictine nuns, with a Victorian walled garden.
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17Coast & beach
Slieve League Cliffs
Some of Europe's highest accessible sea cliffs, rising around 600 metres above Donegal Bay.
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18Castle & palace
Kilkenny Castle
Norman castle remodelled in Victorian times, set in parkland in the centre of Kilkenny.
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19Neighbourhood & street
Galway Latin Quarter
Lively medieval streets with pubs, traditional music, the Spanish Arch and street performers.
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20Religious site
St Patrick's Cathedral
Ireland's largest cathedral, founded in 1191, where Jonathan Swift served as dean.
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21Museum & gallery
National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology
Museum of Irish antiquities including Celtic gold, the Ardagh Chalice and bog bodies.
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22Castle & palace
Bunratty Castle and Folk Park
Restored 15th-century tower house with a folk park recreating 19th-century Irish village life.
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23Religious site
Christ Church Cathedral
Medieval cathedral founded around 1030, with one of Ireland's largest crypts.
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24Castle & palace
Dublin Castle
Seat of British rule in Ireland until 1922, with State Apartments and medieval undercroft.
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25Park & garden
Powerscourt Estate
Palladian house with formal terraced gardens and Ireland's highest waterfall nearby.
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26Nature & national park
Wicklow Mountains National Park
Upland park of granite mountains, blanket bog and glacial lakes south of Dublin.
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27Museum & gallery
Chester Beatty
Museum of manuscripts, rare books and decorative arts from Asia, the Middle East and Europe.
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28Museum & gallery
EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum
Interactive museum tracing the stories of the millions who emigrated from Ireland.
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29Religious site
Clonmacnoise
Early Christian monastic site on the River Shannon with high crosses and round towers.
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30Nature & national park
Glenveagh National Park
Remote mountain park in Donegal with a 19th-century castle, gardens and Lough Veagh.
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31Archaeological site
Hill of Tara
Ancient ceremonial site and traditional seat of the High Kings of Ireland.
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32Museum & gallery
National Gallery of Ireland
National collection of Irish and European art, including works by Caravaggio and Jack B. Yeats.
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33Neighbourhood & street
Temple Bar
Cobbled cultural quarter by the Liffey, known for pubs, live music and arts venues.
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34Market & shopping
English Market
Covered food market trading since 1788, selling local produce, fish and meats.
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35Old town & city
Cobh
Colourful harbour town that was the Titanic's last port of call and a major emigration port.
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36Old town & city
Kinsale
Historic harbour town with narrow streets, Charles Fort and a noted food scene.
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37Mountain & viewpoint
Croagh Patrick
Holy mountain above Clew Bay, climbed by pilgrims in honour of St Patrick.
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38Island
Achill Island
Ireland's largest island, with Atlantic cliffs, Keem Bay and a deserted famine village.
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39Museum & gallery
Waterford Treasures
Three museums in the Viking Triangle covering over a thousand years of Waterford's history.
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40Historic site
Glasnevin Cemetery
Ireland's national cemetery, resting place of Daniel O'Connell and Michael Collins.
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41Park & garden
Phoenix Park
One of Europe's largest enclosed city parks, with wild deer, Dublin Zoo and Áras an Uachtaráin.
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42Castle & palace
Trim Castle
Ireland's largest Anglo-Norman castle, with a massive three-storey keep on the River Boyne.
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43Mountain & viewpoint
Benbulbin
Flat-topped limestone mountain in Yeats Country, a distinctive landmark of County Sligo.
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44Archaeological site
Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery
One of Ireland's largest and oldest collections of megalithic tombs.
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45Archaeological site
Céide Fields
Neolithic field systems preserved beneath blanket bog on the north Mayo coast.
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46
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47Archaeological site
Loughcrew Cairns
Neolithic passage tombs on hilltops, decorated with megalithic art and aligned with the equinox.
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48Religious site
Monasterboice
Monastic ruins with a round tower and Muiredach's High Cross, among Ireland's finest.
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49Castle & palace
Cahir Castle
Well-preserved 13th-century castle built on a rocky island in the River Suir.
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50Historic site
Jerpoint Abbey
Cistercian abbey ruins noted for the carved figures in its 15th-century cloister.
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51Landmark
Hook Lighthouse
Medieval lighthouse in continuous use for around 800 years, with guided tours of the tower.
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52Museum & gallery
Dunbrody Famine Ship
Replica 19th-century emigrant ship telling the stories of those who fled the Great Famine.
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53Museum & gallery
Strokestown Park and National Famine Museum
Georgian estate housing Ireland's National Famine Museum and walled gardens.
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54Island
Spike Island
Island fortress in Cork Harbour that served as a monastery, prison and military base.
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55Island
Garinish Island
Island in Glengarriff Harbour with Italianate gardens and resident seals nearby.
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56Coast & beach
Mizen Head
Ireland's most south-westerly point, with a signal station and footbridge over a sea gorge.
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57Coast & beach
Beara Peninsula
Rugged peninsula with mountain passes, Dursey Island cable car and quiet coastal villages.
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58Coast & beach
Howth Cliff Walk
Coastal loop around Howth Head with views over Dublin Bay and the Baily Lighthouse.
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59Coast & beach
Loop Head Peninsula
Quiet headland at the mouth of the Shannon with sea cliffs, sea stacks and a lighthouse.
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60Castle & palace
Malahide Castle and Gardens
Castle held by the Talbot family for almost 800 years, with botanical walled gardens.
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61Castle & palace
King John's Castle
13th-century castle on King's Island by the Shannon, with interactive history exhibitions.
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62Museum & gallery
Hunt Museum
Collection of art and antiquities from the Neolithic to the 20th century in a Georgian custom house.
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63Park & garden
Irish National Stud and Gardens
Working thoroughbred stud farm with the Japanese Gardens and St Fiachra's Garden.
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64Park & garden
Birr Castle Gardens and Science Centre
Historic demesne with gardens and the restored 19th-century Great Telescope.
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65Castle & palace
Russborough House
Palladian country house with fine interiors, parkland and a hedge maze.
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66Castle & palace
Westport House
Georgian house and estate built on the site of an O'Malley castle, near Clew Bay.
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67Mountain & viewpoint
Sky Road
Loop road west of Clifden with elevated views over Clifden Bay and the Atlantic islands.
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68Coast & beach
Malin Head
Ireland's most northerly point, with wild coastal scenery and a historic signal tower.
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69Landmark
Fanad Head Lighthouse
Clifftop lighthouse between Lough Swilly and Mulroy Bay, open for tours.
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70Castle & palace
Donegal Castle
Restored tower house of the O'Donnell clan with a Jacobean manor house wing.
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71Coast & beach
Copper Coast UNESCO Global Geopark
Coastline of coves, cliffs and old copper mines recording 460 million years of geology.
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72Nature & national park
Waterford Greenway
Car-free trail along a former railway line between Waterford and Dungarvan, over viaducts.
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73Museum & gallery
Crawford Art Gallery
Cork's public art museum, with Irish and European painting, sculpture and classical casts.
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74Theme park & attraction
Jameson Distillery Midleton
Tours of the old distillery buildings at Ireland's largest whiskey production site.
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75Religious site
St Canice's Cathedral
13th-century cathedral with a climbable round tower offering views over Kilkenny.
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76Archaeological site
Lough Gur
Lakeside landscape rich in prehistoric sites, including Ireland's largest stone circle.
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77Historic site
Irish National Heritage Park
Open-air park with reconstructions showing 9,000 years of Irish settlement and history.
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78Museum & gallery
Little Museum of Dublin
Georgian townhouse museum telling the story of 20th-century Dublin through donated objects.
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79Religious site
Ardmore
Seaside village with a 12th-century round tower, cathedral ruins and a cliff walk.
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