If you’re taking a trip to Ireland, you want to make sure your itinerary is filled with only best things to do and see in Ireland.
As someone who lived in Ireland during college and spent much of that and subsequent visits crisscrossing the island, I’ve got the inside scoop on all of Ireland’s must-see sites and experiences. In fact, I’ve been helping family and friends plan amazing Irish adventures for nearly two decades!
I didn’t create this list of 10 must do Irish experiences lightly. While you’ll find some of the most unique and special places to visit in Ireland here, this isn’t just another tired list of Irish landmarks. I’ve also included quintessential Irish activities – like grabbing a pint at the local pub and finding the perfect Aran knit sweater – that make a trip to Ireland truly magical.
Whether this is your first visit to Ireland or your sixth, there’s always another beautiful corner of the island to discover. With a rich (and often tragic) history, unforgettable landscapes, and a distinctive cultural identity, Ireland will likely be one of the most memorable, rewarding places you’ve ever visited.
So let’s jump in and get exploring the land of rainbows, saints, sheep, and whiskey.
10 Must-Do Ireland Experiences
From ancient abbeys and striking cliffs to often overlooked Irish small towns, these 10 Irish experiences deserve a spot on any Ireland itinerary for first time visitors. And if you’ve visited the island before, you’ll find some fresh inspiration for your next trip to Ireland.
1. Rock of Cashel
Ireland is absolutely pockmarked with abandoned abbeys and castles. With so many to choose from, it’s hard to know which ones to visit or skip. Personally, I think the best abbey in all of Ireland is the Rock of Cashel in County Tipperary. This picturesque abbey towers over the town of Cashel and features a perfectly preserved round tower.
In addition to its beauty, the Rock of Cashel played a significant role in Irish history. This is the place in Ireland where St. Patrick picked a shamrock and used it to explain the holy trinity. The Rock also served as the traditional seat of Munster Kings for several centuries. Today you can view a collection of medieval artifacts in the abbey.
After you’ve taken your fill of photos at Rock of Cashel, be sure to head down the hill to Hore Abbey.
This ruined 13th century Cistercian abbey sits just below the Rock of Cashel in the middle of a pasture. Not only will you get great photos of the Rock from Hore Abbey, the name of the abbey – which, FYI, is probably derived from an Irish word for yew tree – is sure to elicit some giggles.
If the Rock of Cashel doesn’t work in your Ireland travels, try working in a visit to Glendalough Monastic Site in County Wicklow instead for a similar experience.
2. Cliffs of Moher
Even if you don’t know them by name, you’ve definitely seen images of Ireland’s most famous cliffs before. Located on Ireland’s West Coast, the Cliffs of Moher are 700’ tall shale and sandstone cliffs that frame the churning Atlantic Ocean. If you’re a Princess Bride fan, you’ll recognize them as the “Cliffs of Insanity.”
To be clear, these cliffs are no Irish hidden gem. They appear on just about every Ireland top 10 list of places to visit. Once you visit – you’ll see why. The long line of steep, impenetrable cliffs disappearing down the County Clare coastline is a sight you won’t forget.
You can stop in at the Visitor Centre and walk a section of 18 km Cliffs of Moher Coastal Walk up to O’Brien Tower at the highest point of the cliffs. Expect it to be very, very windy during your visit. After all, that fierce west wind had the entire width of the Atlantic Ocean to pick up speed before finally bumping into you at the top of the cliffs.
3. Giant’s Causeway
While the Cliffs of Mohers feature on most Ireland itineraries, far fewer people make the trip north to another Irish coastline sensation: Giant’s Causeway. It’s such a shame because Giant’s Causeway is one of my very favorite places not just on the island of Ireland, but in the world! You’ll find this geological wonder in Northern Ireland’s County Antrim.
Millennia ago, volcanic activity pushed up perfectly hexagonal basalt columns. These columns honeycombed together into a four-mile natural walkway that juts out into the Atlantic. According to Irish legend, the causeway was the site of a showdown between Irish hero Finn MacCool and a Scottish giant.
While I found it hard to tear myself away from the magical symmetry of the causeway’s columns, be sure to walk up the shoreline. That’s where you’ll find basalt columns embedded in the cliffside to create the Giant’s Organ as well as a large erratic rock known as the Giant’s Boot.
4. Eating a full Irish breakfast
Eggs, bacon rashers, puddings, beans, and toast, oh my! If you’re lucky, you might even find some mushrooms and tomatoes tucked away on your full Irish breakfast plate. If you’ve been to England, a full Irish breakfast is that different from a full English one. However, despite the stereotypes about Irish people and potatoes, a full Irish doesn’t include potatoes.
I love a good Irish breakfast. But fair warning: every B&B proprietor you meet will be keen to share their version of this Irish culinary classic. After three or four mornings of full breakfast, you’ll be forgiven if you politely request scrambled eggs or oatmeal instead.
5. Going to the pub
You can’t visit Ireland and not go to the pub! Honestly, an Irish pub is about so much more than drinking. It’s where folks unwind at the end of the day, share the craic – that is gossip or general pleasant conversation – with your friends (and maybe a stranger or two), and possibly take in some live music. Darts are another favorite pub pastime. Personally, I love visiting on nights the pubs host a table quizzes, aka trivia night.
While Guinness is Ireland’s most well-known beer, I greatly prefer Smithwick’s red ale. Another favorite you’ll often find on tap in Irish pubs is Bulmers cider. If you prefer something stronger, try some Irish whiskeys like Jameson or Teeling.
6. Small town Irish life
If you only visit large cities like Dublin, Galway, and Cork during your Ireland trip, you’re seriously missing out. In my opinion, Ireland’s best experienced through its small towns.
The majority of Irish citizens don’t live in large urban areas. Ireland’s small towns are important places of commerce and community amid the island’s still largely agrarian countryside.Some of my favorite Irish small towns include Wexford in Ireland’s southeast, Doolin in County Clare near the Cliffs of Moher, or my personal favorite, Louisburgh on Clew Bay in County Mayo.
While these towns might not have exciting list of things to do, they offer a unique opportunity to gently merge into everyday Irish life. I recommend taking time to pop into the various shops and definitely attend any local event be it a sporting match or theatre.
7. The Burren
This unique geological region in County Clare won’t make many people’s Ireland top 10. If you pass through the Burren – a nearly 100 square mile expanse of limestone slabs – on your way to on your way to Cliffs of Moher, you might wonder “what is this place?” I highly recommend take some time to stop and explore.
The word “Burren” comes from Gaelic word for “rocky place,” but at first glance, you might think they meant to call the place “barren.” Although it looks like a moonscape, the Burren is actually teeming with life. It’s the only place in the world where you’ll find alpine, arctic, and Mediterranean plants growing side by side. There’s also evidence that humans have been living here since the Ice Age.
I recommend stopping in the Burren Visitor Centre in Kilfenora to learn more about this unique landscape. If you do only one thing in the Burren, make it a stop at the Poulnabrone Dolmen, a massive megalithic tomb that could date back as far as 4200 BC.
8. The Wild Atlantic Way
If you’re an Irish American, there’s a good chance your Irish ancestors came from Western Ireland. There are a lot of socio-economic and political factors behind this, including the 1840s Great Potato Famine and violence in Northern Ireland. Today, it’s a hauntingly beautiful, sparsely populated area of Ireland that’s well worth exploring.
Technically, the Wild Atlantic Way refers to a 1500-mile driving route from Cork to Donegal that Tourism Ireland developed. There’s so much to see on the Wild Atlantic Way including the Ring of Kerry, Dingle Peninsula, Galway Bay, and Slieve League.
While you probably won’t be able to drive the full length of Ireland’s western coast during your visit, I recommend visiting at least a couple spots on Ireland’s west coast. My favorite stretch of the Wild Atlantic Way is the rugged Atlantic coast of Counties Clare, Mayo, and Sligo.
9. Book of Kells
Did you ever hear that medieval Irish monks saved civilization? The theory is that in the days before the printing press, while most of continental Europe stewed in pestilence and warfare, Irish monks dutifully transcribed and preserved important texts. You can see an example of the monks’ handiwork at Trinity College in Dublin.
The Book of Kells is a beautifully illustrated gospel that dates back to the 9th century. We don’t know its exact origins, but it possibly arrived in Ireland from Scotland’s Iona Abbey via a Viking raid. The book is displayed in Trinity College’s Old Library. Each day, the College turns the page so there’s a new set of illustrations to marvel over.
After you’ve taken in the Books of Kells, be sure to pop into the library’s Long Room. This spectacular 65 metre long 18th century library room is every booklover’s dream.
10. Shop for an Aran sweater
Beautiful wool sweaters with intricate cable patterns might seem like an Irish cliche. But one drive through the Irish countryside shows that the wool trade is alive and well in Ireland. Sheep dot just about every one of Ireland’s green hills.
While I don’t recommend including Ireland’s Aran Islands on your itinerary if this is your first trip to Ireland (they’re simply too inaccessible and there’s not much to do once you arrive), I definitely recommend coming home with an Aran sweater.
As you travel around Ireland, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to buy an Irish Aran sweater. I like Blarney Woolen Mills and Trinity Woolen Mills. The latter is located right across from Trinity College in Dublin.
If you’re just not into sweaters or don’t have room in your suitcase for such a bulky souvenir, consider picking up another Irish woolen item like a tweed flat cap or a woven plaid scarf. Otherwise, both shops offer a wide selection of other Irish gifts.
Conclusion: Ireland’s Must Do Experiences
These 10 Irish experiences give you a crash course in Irish history and culture as well as take you to some of the most beautiful places on the island. As you can see, Ireland offers so much more than leprechauns, Riverdance, and Guinness. I guarantee these amazing Irish things to do will make you fall in love with the Emerald Island.
By including these experiences in your Ireland itinerary you’ll discover the island’s most breathtaking ancient sites, take in strikingly beautiful landscapes, and truly immerse yourself in everyday Irish life. It’s impossible to see the very best of Ireland in a week let alone a year, so don’t be surprised if you’re already planning your next trip to Ireland on the plane ride home.
I hope this list of must do things in Ireland helps you create the trip of a lifetime.
Bio
Ada is the Minnesota-based travel writer behind Beyond the Yellow Brick Road: A Travel Blog. Follow along on her adventures on Instagram and Facebook. She’s lived in three countries and visited all 50 states. In addition to traveling the world, she runs a Boundary Waters outfitters and helps people plan canoe trips and outdoor adventures in the northeastern Minnesota wilderness.