Where to Go in Ireland

Set into the beautiful curves of Dublin Bay, Ireland’s charismatic capital is a beguiling contrast of the old and new, with stunning sights spanning architecture, literature, and ancient Gaelic tradition. After years of regeneration, the city’s old cathedrals and churches, Georgian Squares, imposing castles, and traditional pubs, are punctuated by a gleaming collection of luxury hotels, glass towers, and modern renovations of classic buildings (notably St. James with its striking neon-lit glass spire, The Liberties Lantern) as well as some of the country’s best restaurants and bars. All of Dublin’s sights are within easy walking distance of each other: from Temple Bar’s street art trails and whiskey distilleries to the delicate arch of the Ha’penny Bridge stretching across the River Liffey, and the grandiose neo-classical buildings of Trinity College Dublin.

Guinness aficionados should explore the Guinness Museum’s high-tech installations and exhibitions, while those interested in learning more about the Irish people and their impact on the world, should visit the EPIC Irish Emigration Museum, an award-winning interactive museum that details Irish history and culture through modern installations and Virtual Reality exhibits.

Ireland’s south coast is spectacular, with ruins and 19th-century lighthouses looking over the feral Atlantic coastline contrasting with the serenity of the Irish countryside. But perhaps the most beautiful destination along these picturesque shores is County Cork’s sublime Kinsale, a little village clinging to a wind-beaten coast, painted in striking pinks, blues, greens, and yellows, and renowned as Ireland’s most outstanding foodie destination. Explore the little village via its skinny roads and quaint backstreets, sipping tea and coffee in lovely cafes, and a Guinness or two in a local pub before sampling the sea-fresh seafood in one of Kinsale’s renowned restaurants. 

Two ruined forts lend an ancient atmosphere to the clifftops of Kinsale, while in the town, the Kinsale Museum traces local history through exhibits and artifacts housed in an antique building that dates back to the 1590s. Numerous beaches and coves frame sublimely clear waters, but Dock Beach, with views of the surrounding hills, is arguably the best, and it’s an excellent choice for kayaking.

Arguably Northern Ireland’s best-known stretch of coast, Antrim’s Atlantic shores offer a cinematic landscape of striking coves, wind-carved crags, and vast expanses of moorlands and glens. Stories abound in this part of Ireland, with legends attached to every rock — the oldest of which are 300 million years old. Drive the Antrim Coast Road from Ballycastle to Larne to see some of the island’s most staggering coastal sights, taking in everything from stately castles and ethereal woodlands to rural beaches and mysterious caves.

A highlight of Antrim is the Giant’s Causeway, as legendary as it is beautiful, and Northern Ireland’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site. Irish myth tells us that the causeway was built by two warring giants — one from Ireland and the other from Scotland — to fight on but this unique landscape is the result of molten basalt that contracted as it cooled, creating striking geometric walkways and stark cliff faces.

Dreamy Galway is a pleasure to explore on foot, with numerous historic sights and bohemian pubs bundled up with boisterous traditional nightlife and some of Ireland’s best restaurants, all within easy reach of the Burren megalithic tombs and the Cliffs of Moher, as well as the city’s Blue Flag Beaches: Salthill Beach and Silverstrand Beach. Stroll along the Salthill promenade for idyllic sea views, visit Galway City Museum to learn about the medieval roots of the city of the tribes, and trace the city’s history via the Spanish Arch, a stone extension to the original city walls, cradling the banks of the salmon-crowded River Corrib. 

Quay Street forms a convivial main artery in the old part of the city, with centuries-old pubs packed with local students and live bands, but venture down an alley or two, and you’ll find art installations, street performers and chic restaurants serving oysters plucked fresh from nearby Galway Bay.