Ireland 

Just don’t miss this Dingle institution with amazing varieties of ice cream. Where else will you find brown bread or sea salt options?

This pub offers great traditional Irish music sessions in an always busy but welcoming setting.

Google them – on many lists as the best fish and chips in the world.  Portions are large (consider splitting). Good for take away.

This is one of Dublin’s best gastropubs offering up fancier renditions of classics. Using local ingredients to up the ante on pub fare, it’s well worth the stop. It also offers a great selection of craft beers, whiskey and wine.

Delahunt makes all of it’s dishes in house (including its bread and smoked salmon). It has a constantly changing menu of contemporary Irish dishes. Located in a charming Victorian, it has a great vibe as well. During the day it’s a cafe and at night you can also enjoy The Sitting Room, a bar that […]

Officially Ireland’s oldest pub in Ireland dating from 1198, this is a fun and eclectic bar. Originally set up as a Norman bar, the present building is actually from 1754. There is a palpable sense of history within the charming pub.

This is a tiny restaurant with an open hearth fire in the small open kitchen. This restaurants celebrates delicious vegetables, local meat and fish, and cooks up fantastic chargrilled dishes. It’s a constantly changing menu with sharable plates and a great wine list.

This restaurant is one of Ireland’s cutest cafés, located on Inis Mór, the largest of the Aran Islands. Here you’ll enjoy traditional Irish food (Beef and Guinness stew, baked ham salad, an array of cakes including a chocolate cake with Guinness). Most of the ingredients are locally sourced. For an island not known for its […]

This pub is 280+ years old. Established in 1782 it has hosted quite the array of famous performers over the years including Nat King Cole and Judy Garland.

This Unesco world heritage sight is a must see in northern Ireland. Scientists claim that the ballot hexagonal column sticking up at various heights from the sea were caused by volcanic eruptions 60 million years ago. As the lava rolled it crystallized into columns. This is a truly impressive sight. There is a bus (or walk) down from the visitor center to the columns. You can explore to your hearts content as there are a variety of walks.

This is an evocative and impressive site. Perched on a 300 foot cliff overlooking the Atlantic ocean, Dún Aonghasa is the largest of the prehistoric stone forts of the Aran Islands. The fort consists of three massive dry-stone walls and a chevaux-de-frise, a dense band of jagged, upright stones, surrounding the fort from cliff to cliff, designed to impede attackers.  Originally constructed c.1100BC, it was re-fortified around 700-800 AD.

You cannot miss the Skellig Islands. A set of islands off the coast of Ireland, the larger island, Skellig Michael is a A UNESCO world heritage site. This island was inhabited by Christian Monks from the 6th to 12th century. Dizzyingly high, the monastic buildings perch 150 meters above sea level. This is one of the most spectacular places in the whole world.

Yes we are suckers for great libraries and this is one of the best. An undeniably spectacular library it has the added draw of the Book of Kells  – a gorgeous medieval illuminated manuscript. Also check out the original proclamation of the Irish Republic from the 1916 Easter Rising (all seven signers were executed).

In a country known for evocative scenic ruins this is the grandaddy. This is one of Ireland’s most historic sites. Rising above the plain of Tipperary there are ruins here from when St Patrick baptized the king in 450, though the cathedral dates from the 1200’s. The whole complex is a ruin thanks to Cromwell (who burned the cathedral with hundreds of townspeople seeking sanctuary inside).

While a jail does not sound like a great place to visit on vacation, this one is well worthwhile. It is a bit outside of the central area so uber or cab there (or if you feel up to figuring it out – look at the jail’s website for instructions) grab a bus. The historic jail will look familiar – because it has starred in many jail movies. This place is super important to Irish history – it’s where the Easter rising leaders were brought and executed. Not to mention, the way in which that was done by the British is what shifted support to the movement.

47 acres of some of the loveliest gardens in the world and Wicklow’s most visited attraction, Powerscourt Gardens is an impressive start. You’ll enjoy landscaped gardens, terraces, statuary, lakes, walkways, and hundreds of different types of plants. Highlights include the Japanese Gardens and Pepperpot Tower. 

The  crossing from Rossaveel port to Kilronan on Inishmore takes 45 minutes. There are 3 sailings daily. You can grab a bus from Galway if you don’t have a car. The crossing can be a bit rough but the boats are fast and comfortable

This lovely monastic settlement with a 1000 year old round tower, ruined cathedral, and high cross, is one of the most significant monastic sites in Ireland. The monastery sits between two lakes in the Wicklow mountains and has stunning scenery.

This is an interesting museum located along the Dingle Peninsula that tells the story of the inhabitants of the remote (and now abandoned) Great Blasket Islands, their cultures, and history. The museum itself gives a great view of the islands.

If you’ve never seen trained border collies work, you owe yourself a visit. It’s really fun to watch the dogs heard sheep and to see them in their natural element. Demonstrations are usually in the afternoon. Located on the road between Killarney and Kinsale through Killarney National Park.

This is a really great distillery tour (and we far prefer it to the Jameson tour in Dublin). Bushmills is the world’s oldest licensed distillery in the world – it began producing whiskey commercially in 1608. The whiskey itself is made with Irish barley and water from the the River Bush. Enjoy a very informative and interesting distillery tour and afterwards have a few samples of your choice in the tasting room. The hospitality room offers a decent lunch as well. 

Tour a full size reproduction of a vessel typical of those that sailed millions of Irish immigrants to the US during the potato famine between 1846 and 1865. Follow your guide around the vessel, often better known as “coffin ships” due to their fatality rate, and meet some of the passengers (costumed actors) who will share their stories of life on board. Tours last 45 minutes. 

This 1300 year-old dry stone church was made without masonry – stones just fit together and yet it’s watertight. It’s one of Ireland’s prettiest ancient buildings and gives you a really good sense of just how long Christianity has been in this country. Gallarus is clearly marked by a signpost off the R559, 8km northwest […]

Ireland’s second largest national park is Glenveagh. It’s a beautiful park full of lochs surrounded by mountains, bogs, and forest. There are a ton of hiking trails through the park. Look for the golden eagle as well as red deer.
The castle in the park is a beautiful manor house along a spectacular loch offering spectacular gardens.

Waterford Crystal is famous worldwide, and this small factory is where master craftsmen craft special custom orders and presentation pieces of the glassware. The tour gives an interesting look at how the beautiful craftwork is produced.

Temporarily closed for renovations until 2020 See how the wealthy (and their servants) lived in early 1800’s Dublin in the elegant restored townhouse museum

The relatively recently developed museum focuses on the story of the Irish Diaspora around the world. 70 million+ people throughout the world claim Irish ancestry. The museum is high-tech and interactive. Start with a “passport” and proceed through galleries following the story of why people left. Hours: 10am-6.45pm, last entrance 5pm

The current impressive church is built from a mix of periods of history but is mostly neogothic from an 1870’s restoration. It’s large underground crypt is the oldest structure in Dublin. 

This is the national cathedral of Ireland. It was constructed in the 13th century in the gothic style. Jonathan Swift (of Gulliver’s Travel’s fame) was Dean of the cathedral for 32 years and is buried here. It’s a lovely cathedral in which to wander around. Grab a free tour to learn more. 

This 16th century merchant’s house in Kilkenny is a great example of Tudor architecture and offers lovely restored medieval gardens. It houses a museum with sparse artifacts including a Viking sword. The walled garden has fruit, vegetable, and herb areas as well as an orchard.

A great place to stop and sample some seriously good porter in your drive around the peninsula. It’s a delightful break from the beer you’ll find elsewhere in the country (there’s nothing wrong with Guinness, but it’s nice to have a change). The brewery offers many other varieties as well. Offers a decent lunch selection […]

This relatively new museum inside the General Post Office (headquarters for the Easter Rising Rebellion of 1916) explains the Easter Rising and origins of the Irish Republic. It’s an interesting overview of the times, interactive, and explores all the origins and facets of the Rising.  

A stately Victorian house and gardens in Kilkenny National Park which is seen via guided tour. The house which was built as a hunting and fishing lodge is set among beautiful gardens and along Middle Lake, filled with impressive objects (stuffed trout, stag heads, portraits, furniture) – 70% are original. From here it’s easy access to Torc Waterfall and Muckross Abbey.

This is the historic 700 year old castle which was the site of British rule over Ireland for years. It is now used for state functions. Built on the site of the first viking settlement in Ireland, enjoy a tour through state apartments and get a look at the original town wall. Though sparse inside, it’s still an interesting visit. 

A restored 15th century towered castle on the shores of Loch Leane. A 45 minute guided tour leads you through the castle. 

We don’t usually promote shops, but this is a great place to stop at where you can browse and enjoy a timeless icon of Irish craftwork. All of the items are handknitted using traditional patterns. The small Island community of Inis Mor began this craft and continues the practice to this day. For many centuries […]

Kilkenny Castle is one of Ireland’s most visited sites sitting above the River Nore. Its history dates back to the 12th century. In the summer you can enjoy a guided or self-guided tour (in the winter it’s only guided tours). Make sure to see the Long Gallery’s painted roof and marble fireplace.

A group of six different vintage farmhouses offer an experience of what life was like in the Irish countryside during the 1930s and 1940s prior to rural electrification and widespread mechanization. The farms include cottages, farm animals, fresh bread and butter making demonstrations. 

This is a giant neo-gothic country mansion built in the 1860’s. Later it became a boarding school run by benedictine nuns until the school closed in 2010. You can visit some open rooms downstairs (nuns still live upstairs). The main reason to visit however is a view from the lakeshore, Pollacapall Lough, and possibly a stroll through the gardens and to see the Gothic Church.

Ther are several walking tour guides which will lead you around the historical sites of the town.  All are 10 euros and of similar length. Choose in the link below.

The Musical Pub Crawl is led by two professional musicians who perform tunes and songs while telling the story of Irish Music. The pub crawl goes through Temple Bar. You’ll visit classic pubs and enjoy Irish storytelling and music at its best. You’ll visit Oliver St. John Gogarty’s, Haypenny Bridge Inn, and Branigans Bar. Tour is 2.5 hours.

A 3 hour minibus tour of the Dingle Peninsula. If you don’t feel like driving and want more in-depth information, this is the tour for you. It does not include the recommended Great Blasket center or a great microbrewery like our self-guided suggestion does.

This is a 4 star hotel, within Derry’s city walls with 93 modern and large rooms. It offers free parking.

This hotel is located near the town center and close walking distance to the train station and Westport bus stop. It offers 34 comfortable rooms and free underground parking. If you’re a solo traveler, they also offer single bed rooms which can help with a budget.

This recommended lodging in Kinsale offers nice rooms, good breakfast, and a free bread and cheese happy hour.

Highly rated and recommended lodging in a great location in Kilkenny. Formerly a Carriage House and Stable Yard for Kilkenny Castle, it’s now charming accommodations. Enjoy a complimentary continental breakfast.