Somewhere Wonderful in Ireland Is Waiting

Many people often don’t know where to start when visiting Ireland, but there are two obvious options. You can visit Dublin and explore its surrounding areas on the east coast or traverse the Wild Atlantic Way, covering the western shores of the island from north to south. However, if you want the full Irish experience, you can do both, and while they’re certainly the strongest, there are many other lovely parts of the country to discover, such as the counties of Wexford, Waterford, Kilkenny and Tipperary. For a more in-depth guide to the best coastal destinations and the most beautiful towns in Ireland, check out our expert picks.

First, there’s Dublin. The Fair City has a population about five times the size of the next biggest city in Ireland, Cork, and is very much the hub for culture, nightlife and mainstream tourism. It can be easy to fall into tourist traps – such as Temple Bar – but this city has a truly wonderful atmosphere and endless pockets of history waiting to be discovered on every corner. You can go on whiskey tours around cobbled streets, visit the creepy Kilmainham Gaol prison museum and see the magical library at Trinity College Dublin.

There’s also a host of unusual things to do in Dublin, and for the outdoorsy traveller, natural beauty surrounds the city. For example, there are some lovely beaches nearby and a range of great places to hike – the Wicklow Mountains are only an hour away. Read our guide to the best day trips from Dublin to find out more.

Second, there’s the otherworldly Wild Atlantic Way. It has 2,500km (1,553mi) of shoreline boasting great surf spots, hiking trails, national parks, countless charming villages and some of the most astonishing pieces of coastal scenery you can find anywhere in Europe. Start your journey in Cork, making time for a quick trip to Blarney Castle. The nearly 600-year-old structure houses the Blarney Stone, which, when kissed, is said to reward the kisser with the kind of eloquence and skills of flattery that the Irish lilt has become synonymous with.

Now, you can set off on your journey through Cork and into County Kerry, where you’ll find Killarney National Park – the first national park in Ireland and arguably the most beautiful. From there, you can head north towards characterful Limerick, and after that, County Clare and County Galway, perhaps the most inspiring stretch of the whole journey. In Co Clare, you’ll find the famous Cliffs of Moher, while farther north in Co Galway, you can travel inland a little to explore the wild mountainous grasslands of Connemara National Park, with hiking trails that are sure to blow your mind.

Finally, you can travel to the northern reaches of the island, near the country’s border with Northern Ireland. To get there, you’ll pass through the counties of Mayo, Sligo and Donegal, where you’ll find ancient castles and some of the best surf spots in the nation.

From Monday, 19 July 2021, Ireland is opening up its borders to fully vaccinated travellers, meaning that people in the UK can cross the Irish Sea without having to quarantine on either side. To get into the country, you’ll need to fill in a Covid-19 Passenger Locator Form and show a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test taken within 72 hours before departure. Remember that the definition of fully vaccinated includes a period of time after your second jab. The Irish Government defines this as seven days for Pfizer, 14 days for Moderna and Johnson & Johnson, or 15 days after AstraZeneca. These rules are valid in Ireland for everyone who has a valid certificate showing they’re fully vaccinated.

In terms of arriving in the UK from Ireland, you simply need a negative result from a pre-departure test, along with a further negative PCR test on or before day two of your arrival.

If you’re looking for a deep dive into the best things to do here, then read our guide to the 20 must-visit attractions in Ireland. Alternatively, you can search for your dream tours, activities and experiences, bookable on Culture Trip. In the meantime, here’s our pick of three of the most extraordinary places that you can’t find anywhere else on Earth.

Ireland has no shortage of excellent hotels, apartments, spa hotels and even the occasional castle for you to stay in. If you’re looking for somewhere specific, we have hand-picked the best hotels in Dublin, Galway, Donegal and Cork. However, if you’d prefer to browse yourself, you can search for your personal favourite here.

Ireland may not be thought of as an obvious foodie destination, but don’t underestimate the incredible diversity of great food on offer across the country. From Michelin stars in Dublin to high-class family-run restaurants in Cork and Donegal, it’s home to exciting restaurants making the most of the incredible local produce available.