Things not to miss

updated 7/8/2020

Related tailor-made travel itineraries for Ireland

#01 Connemara

A varied landscape of mountains, lakes and beaches that’s great for walking, with some pretty villages to base yourself in.

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#01
#02 Horse riding
#03
#04 Festivals
#05 Dun Aengus
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#07
#08
#09
#10
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#12 Traditional music
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#15 Walking
#16 Oysters
#17 Horse racing
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#19
#20 Ór in the National Museum,
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#22
#23 Guinness
#24

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#02 Horse riding

Enjoy an invigorating hack along the beach or trek through the mountains on a pony.

© Gabriela Insuratelu/Shutterstock

#03 Glendalough

This wonderfully remote and beautiful mountain valley shelters an atmospheric monastery.

© Jefferson Orsi Siratuti/Shutterstock

#04 Festivals

Festivals abound throughout Ireland, not least on March 17 when the whole island celebrates St Patrick’s Day.

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#05 Dun Aengus

Spectacular cliff-edge fort, the Iron Age capital of the Aran Islands.

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#06 Killarney National Park

The grandeur of the lakes and mountains has been drawing visitors to Killarney for over three centuries.

© Tiramisu Studio/Shutterstock

#07 Brú na Bóinne

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In-depth, easy-to-use travel guides filled with expert advice.

One of Europe’s finest prehistoric sites, an extraordinary ritual landscape.

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#08 Kinsale

Explore the imposing forts and sample some of Ireland’s finest cuisine, in a glorious bay-side setting.

#09 Skellig Michael

A remarkable and inspiring early Christian hermitage clinging to a mountain summit on a wild, bleak island.

© Andreas Juergensmeier/Shutterstock

#10 Chester Beatty Library, Dublin

An astonishing collection of manuscripts and artworks from around the world.

#11 Croagh Patrick

It’s a stiff climb, but the fine views and the mountain’s religious and historical connotations make it all worthwhile.

Goran Djukanovic/Shutterstock

#12 Traditional music

Often loud, often raucous and always fun, traditional Irish music can be heard in many pubs and at dedicated festivals.

#13 Bantry House

A magnificent setting for some lavish artworks, among formal gardens overlooking Bantry Bay.

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#14 Horn Head

Possibly the most breathtaking of County Donegal’s numerous rugged peninsulas, with plenty of exhilarating cliff-top walks.

© shawnwil23/Shutterstock

#15 Walking

Whether it’s a breezy seaside stroll or a more arduous long-distance path, one of the best ways to enjoy Ireland’s magnificent land- and sea-scapes is on foot.

© noel bennett/Shutterstock

#16 Oysters

Sample the shellfish at numerous locations along Ireland’s coast or try your hand at an oyster-opening competition.

#17 Horse racing

Take a trip to one of Ireland’s many racing festivals, savour the banter, pick up some tips and have a flutter.

© gabriel12/Shutterstock

#18 The Burren

A barren expanse of cracked limestone terraces, stretching towards the Atlantic and peppered with a multitude of fascinating megalithic remains.

© MNStudio/Shutterstock

#19 Kilmainham Gaol

A grim encounter with the Spartan conditions experienced by those deemed enemies of the state with superb displays on Irish political history.

#20 Ór in the National Museum, Dublin

Lavish gold ornaments, preserved by the peat bogs since prehistoric times.

#21 The Rock of Cashel

Rising high above the Golden Vale, the Rock features an entrancing group of early ecclesiastical remains.

#22 The Giant’s Causeway

Marvel at the eerie but entirely natural basalt formation of the Causeway.

#23 Guinness

The black stuff really does taste better in its own country, especially in its home town, Dublin.

#24 Derry’s City Walls

A visit to Derry is incomplete without a stroll around the ramparts of the only completely walled city in Ireland.

Travel advice for Ireland

written by Rough Guides Editors

created 8/17/2012