Places to visit in Ireland

Fast Facts

• Location: Western Europe
• Capital: Dublin.
• Currency: Euro.
• Language: English, Irish
• Best time to Visit: May to September.
• Time Zone: UTC (End October to End March) & UTC+1 (End March to October).
• Calling Code: +353
• Major Airports: Dublin Airport (DUB)

The geographical location of Ireland and comparative seclusion from the European mainland, make the country a lovely place for a vacation getaway. The contribution of must see Ireland to the world is immense with art, national parks and gardens. With the sublime landscape and an eventful past, this 'Emerald Isle' has always been a land of mystery and great beauty. Starting from the tranquil meadows of the countrysides in the West, the architectural prodigies in the south to the peerless terraces of the North, Ireland looks like a absolute fairyland. The esteemed architectural legacies of the must see places in Ireland take you back to the ancient Victorian age and also bring forward the excellence of the craftsmen during the 18th century.

• Cork and Kerry Counties
• Blarney castle and the Blarney Stone
• Muckross House
• Killerney National Park
• Giant's Causeway
• Newgrange
• Connemara mountain Countryside
• Cliffs of Moher
• Burren
• Powerscourt Gardens
• The Dingle Peninsula and the Blasket Islands

Start your journey from the southern counties of Cork and Kerry. Cork being one of the most notable part of the must see Ireland list, is home to the enormous architectures of the Blarney castle and the Blarney Stone. One of the oldest castles in the country, it belonged to the MacCarthys, Lords of Muskerry and is surrounded by walls that are eighteen feet thick, making it one of the strongest fortress ever made in Ireland. Feast your eyes with the massiveness of the Blarneys stone and the incredible history and belief attached to it. To venture deeper into the traditions and culture of the country, pay a visit to the Muckross House in the picturesque county of Kerry. It is a typical Victorian palace surrounded by lush green gardens and spectacular scenic beauty of the Killerney National Park. Your thirst to explore the historical mysticism of the country will be enhanced after you discover the mythological and scientific reason for the formation of the Giant's Causeway, a must see tourist attraction in Ireland. You can further peek into history by visiting the mysterious structure of Newgrange, a 5000 years old building.

The vast stretch of pastures of the quaint countrysides in Ireland surely deserves a visit, owing to its traditional Irish touch and breezy environment. The Connemara mountain Countryside is one such countryside, which is resplendent for its natural beauty. Other than being a favorable place to relax and cherish the silence, the place is also an excellent national park that is renowned for its signposted natural trails. Being an island, the country has a perfect natural setting with mountains and beaches. The Cliffs of Moher situated on the coast of West Clare, is one of the most romantic places you have ever see. Don't feel bored to visit the limestone covered landscapes of Burren, a must see place in Ireland. The Burren Outdoor Pursuit Center is an amazing place to keep your adrenaline flowing. The exciting rock climbing, cave exploration and lake canoe make it a must visit.

Make your journey further enticing by visiting the Powerscourt Gardens located 12 miles from Dublin. Being one of the worlds largest gardens, the place is unique for its lofty beauty that includes everything from beauteous terraces, rugged pathways, quite lakes, garden flora and hidden caves. The presence of the 18th Century Palladian House that today has become a glittering shopping complex with cafes and exhibitions, has made Powerscourt Gardens, one of the highly ranked places in the must see Ireland list. Don't forget to traverse small island like Beginish, Youngs and Illaunboy and the larger islands like Inishmore, Inish na Bro, Inishvickillane, Inishtooskert and the Great Blasket, to walk closer to nature. With all its artifacts, culture and natural surroundings, Ireland would be a worthy tourist spot for all age groups.

Weather

Ireland usually experiences mild weather, but can see some extremes as well. Due to the typically insular weather, the moderating moist winds usually prevail from the South-Western Atlantic. One can experience rainfall in Ireland throughout the year, but usually pretty light, especially in the eastern part of the country. The western part sees more rain and is prone to Atlantic storms, especially in the late autumn and winter.

Transportation

Air: You can reach Ireland by air. There are 4 international airports in Dublin (DUB), Shannon (SNN), Cork (ORK) and Knock (NOC). Flights from several cities in United States, Canada and United Kingdom are available. You will also find flights from other European countries and also from the countries of Middle East. There are also some regional airports such as Donegal (CFN), Galway (GWY), Kerry (KIR), Sligo (SXL), and Waterford (WAT), which offer domestic, and UK services.

Train: Irish Rail and Northern Ireland Railways jointly ply cross-border trains from Belfast Central to Dublin Connolly.

Bus: Ulsterbus and Bus í‰ireann offer cross-border bus services to Great Britain, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.


Cities in Ireland