Ireland is full of beautiful towns, colorful ports, and gorgeous green spaces. Where to visit in Ireland is a moot point: lovers of everything from music to sport will find something great. To help you decide which cities to put on your Irish holiday itinerary, consider these beautiful towns.
| 🌆City | 📛Name meaning | 😍What to see |
|---|---|---|
| Dublin | black pool | Phoenix Park Temple Bar Dublin Castle |
| Cork | marsh | The Red Abbey Cork Harbour St Patrick Street |
| Kilkenny | Church of Cainnech | Roth House Kilkenny Castle Kilkenny Cathedral |
| Kinsale | head of the brine | Charles Fort James Fort Desmond Castle |
| Dingle | fort of Ó Cúis | The Bullaun Stone St Mary's Church Fungie |
| Galway | from Irish Gaillimh, meaning 'stony' | Eyre Square The Spanish Arch Ashford Castle |
| Cong | narrows | Mount Gable the Abbey the Stone Circles |
| Adare | ford of [the] oak | Desmond Castle St Nicholas complex Main Street |
🏰 Dublin: The capital of the Republic of Ireland
You can’t go to the Republic of Ireland without seeing its beautiful capital city, which doubles as the country's largest metropolitan center.
As such, it has much to offer its visitors. In fact, Dublin is home to many of Ireland's top tourist attractions.
Established sometime around the 7th Century, Dublin offers history buffs many relics to tour. For travelers more interested in this city's vibrant society, pubs, green spaces, and festivals beckon. Visitors with a passion for culture will find much to satisfy their tastes.
Natue lovers enjoy Phoenix Park, a vast green space, which covers over 1700 acres. Afterwards, they head to the St. Stephen Green’s Shopping Centre, just next to the park. History, culture, or nature: whatever your preferences, one of these iconic tourist hotspots is sure to satisfy.
Temple Bar
- Established in the 17th Century
- Area inhabited since at least 841 AD
- Next to many other hotspots
Dublin Castle
- Seat of the Irish government
- Commissioned around 1169, completed around 1230
- Includes gardens, a library, and museums
Trinity College
- Oscar Wilde's alma mater
- Landmarks: The Campanile and The Rubrics
- The library is a must-see!
Kilmainham Gaol
- A former prison, now a museum
- Built in 1796
- Held many famous Irish revolutionaries
Besides those highlights, you might wander along Grafton Street, where you’ll find street artists and plenty of shops for a bit of retail therapy. After your shopping, enjoy a world-famous Guinness from the source. The Guinness Storehouse tells you all about its legendary brew, and offers picture-perfect views of Dublin from its Gravity Bar.
💦 Cork: One of the Top Cities in Ireland to Visit
Cork started as a monastic settlement in the 6th Century. Waves of Viking invasions expanded the population, starting in 915.
More people meant more buildings: shops, houses, and official structures. These give tourists plenty to gasp over and photograph.
The city's center sits on an island. Cork Harbour, a natural inlet, ranks among the largest in the world. Between man-made and natural features, some would argue that Cork is more beautiful than Dublin. Top tourist draws in Ireland's second-largest city include:
The Grand Parade
The city's main artery with sights along the way
The Red Abbey
A Medieval-era remnant
St Patrick's Street
A pedestrian-friendly boulevard
You can enjoy the town on foot and visit pretty little shops and pubs to your heart’s content. If you’re a fan of taking holiday snaps, Cork’s colorful streets won’t disappoint. Don’t forget to bring your camera!
🏡 Kilkenny: A Medieval Town
Kilkenny isn’t just the name of a beer! Like Cork, this small town settled itself in the 6th Century.
Fans of the Medieval period will love this place. You can find small pedestrian streets, medieval homes, and an old castle that overlooks the town.
If you like sports, you’ve got to check out the town’s favorite one: hurling. If you’re not familiar with hurling, it’s like football mixed with hockey mixed with baseball, and that doesn’t even come close to capturing what it is. Don’t hesitate to ask a local to get you started with the sport! While you wait for your match, be sure to visit:
Kilkenny Castle
- Built in 1260
- A symbol of Norman Occupation
Roth House
- The last burgage plot in Ireland
Kilkenny Cathedral
- Built in the 13th Century
- Features a 9th-century round tower
Besides these points of interest, tourists thrill at the ivy-covered Butler House. It's a Georgian Dower house that serves as a high-end hotel; a fine place to stay as you tour the city.
Also, see the Rothe House, on Parliament Street, which served as a merchant's complex during the 16th Century. The Thosel (City Hall), on High Street, is an eye-catching stone structure. As you stroll through town, don't forget to capture its ancient city walls!
🔱 Kinsale: An Unusual Port Town
It isn’t just the larger towns that are worth visiting. Ireland is full of tiny towns and some are more picturesque than others.
This small town and its port are located just 15 mi south of Cork at the mouth of the Bandon River. Stroll along the port and take in the views of the little boats.
It’s often said that Kinsale is the most beautiful port in the country. Whether you visit with your family, your partner, or on your own, you have much to see and do:
Charles Fort
A star-shaped fort built in the 1600s (pictured)
Desmond Castle
Built around 1500, later turned into a prison.
James Fort
Overlooks the harbor
Finish your visit with lunch or dinner at Fishy Fishy, one of the best restaurants in the town, if not the best. You can enjoy some excellent seafood there.
🐬 Dingle: Home to Fungie the Dingle Dolphin
Just like Kinsale, Dingle is another pretty Irish coastal port town. This isn’t just any coastal town, though.
The small town of Dingle is where tourists go to visit the Dingle Peninsula (pictured). There, you'll find craggy cliffs and great spaces for hikers.
You can enjoy views of the Atlantic Ocean in calm-yet-rugged surroundings, or stay in town. There, you can visit the distillery or the Gallarus Oratory before heading to the colored houses and pubs.
Also, don't forget to check out:
The Bullaun Stone
- Collects rainwater, which is said to have religious properties.
The famine graveyard
- More than 7,000 souls lie here, including some from the Workhouse
St Marie's Church
- Built in neo-Gothic style, with stained glass by Harry Clarke
If you like animals, you might want to keep an eye out for Dingle’s dolphin. The dolphin, named Fungie by the locals, tends to hang out with humans when they head out on boats from Dingle. He even has a statue in the town center!
🍻 Galway: The Gateway to Connemara
Galway is one of Ireland’s most famous destinations and it’s hardly surprising. This town on Ireland’s west coast is a great place to visit Connemara from. It’s not just a good base, though; the town is extremely animated and home to many cultural and artistic festivals.
Once there, you can enjoy traditional shows in pubs or streets, and put your online English courses to work talking with the locals. Be careful, though, the pubs are often busy! Galway’s Medieval area also plays host to a market on the weekends. Noteworthy stops include:
Eyre Square
The heart of the city, a great place to start exploring
Hall of the Red Earl
The city's oldest Medieval structure
The Spanish Arch
A city wall cutout to allow access to trade by sea
If you want to get out of the town for a bit, you can visit Ashford Castle or take a walk along Salthill on Galway Bay.
This town is recommended for those who love culture and a bit of a party. Relive the party while driving back to Dublin! Ed Sheeran's Galway Girl features many street scenes from this town, and an Irish actress who isn't from Galway.
🦅Cong and the Falconry School
Not far from Galway, Cong is home to a famed Irish falconry school. I
It’s a wonderful place where you can take a casual stroll. Ashford Castle (pictured) is also quite near the village.
Other sights to see include:
Cong Abbey
13th Century ruins
Glebe Stone Circles
Four groupings, each about 3 feet tall
Mount Gable
Get a panoramic view of the area
Cong is a small, quiet village where John Ford filmed 'The Quiet Man', featuring Maureen O’Hara and John Wayne. Thanks to this film, the town got electricity in the 1950s and became a popular tourist destination. You can learn all about it at the Quiet Man Museum.
💐 Adare: An English-style Village
Tourists list Adare as Ireland’s most beautiful town.
Some call it Ireland’s “English Village” on account of the cottages with their thatched roofs and flowery gardens. The architecture is lifted straight out of England.
But, this charming burg has so much more to offer:
St Nicholas
Featuring the Black Abbey
Desmond Castle
A 13th century ring fortress
Main Street
Shops, thatched-roof cottages
The village was restored in the 19th century. You can enjoy this colorful village on foot or walk around the castle or the two abbeys.
Of course, this is not a complete guide to visiting Ireland. However, it highlights this country's most-visited towns and cities, and shows why tourists hunger for their next Ireland adventure. Which one will you claim for yourself?
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