Top 15 Sights for Your Ireland Road Trip
Rock of Cashel
This 12th century castle is well worth the stop. The hills around it are dotted with roaming sheep that seem more than willing to pose for a picture with the dramatic ruins of the castle as a backdrop and the grounds themselves are an incredible piece of history. Walk through the ancient cemetery, stare up at what is left of the massive stone walls or sit in the theater for a video of how the castle was built and used.
Blarney Castle
You can’t leave Ireland without kissing the Blarney Stone. I mean, I guess you could, but every single person you tell about your trip is going to ask if you did and you’re going to have to let every single one of them down. The line is long, but it’s worth it and the price of admission includes the castle grounds as well which are filled with beautiful gardens, walking trails and even has a beekeeping operation that you can safely observe from a viewing room.
Ring of Kerry
The Ring of Kerry is over 100 miles of scenic views that starts in Killarney and takes you all around the Iveragh Peninsula, ending in Killorglin. Along the way you’ll pass through Killarney National Park which has lots of hiking trails, waterfalls and is also home to Ross Castle, a gorgeous castle built on the bank of the largest lake in Kilarney.
While there are plenty of incredible sights along the way, the Kerry Cliffs absolutely steal the show and many people think they rival the Cliffs of Moher for the most beautiful cliffs in Ireland.
Dingle
This cute seaside town has plenty to offer. Local sea safari companies will take you out to see the islands and cliffs off the coast and if you time your trip right, you can catch hundreds of puffins on the Blasket Island and in the surrounding waters.
Murphy’s Ice Cream is also a must-have and they have a location close to the piers where the sea safaris launch from.
Sleahead Drive
Slea Head Drive is another famous scenic drive and while it’s much shorter than the Ring of Kerry at only 24 miles, it still delivers plenty of incredible views. There’s an Irish Famine Cottage on the drive which has been converted into a museum and gives you an interesting look into the life of Irish farmers in the 19th century.
Beyond that there are endless views of the ocean and plenty of places to jump in if you can brave the cold. Dunquin Pier is a popular spot to take a dip and the walk down the winding stone path is worth it even if you don’t end up jumping in.
Cliffs of Moher
One of the most iconic sights in the entire country and for good reason. The pedestrian path winds along the cliffs offering spectacular views along the whole way. It can get very busy though, especially during the summer months so try to go early in the day or right before dark. If you choose the later option, make sure to bring a flashlight so you aren’t walking along the cliffs in the dark.
Galway
Galway is a cute seaside town with plenty of bars, restuarants and coffee shops. The walk along the river is great way to spend an hour or so and the water is full of geese and the occasional seal. The Galway Cathedral and the Salmon Weir bridge are both on the river walk and are well worth taking the time to see. Make sure to stop by the Spanish Arch on your way through as well to see a remaining section of the city walls from the 16th century.
Cave of Kesh
These caves may not look like much on the walk up but the view from inside is incredible. The cave openings serve sort of like portholes framing the Irish countryside and make for some awesome photos.
An Irish Sheep Dog Demonstration
Who doesn’t love a dog with a job? There are a lot of sheep dog demonstrations throughout the country, but the one we chose was Away To Me Sheep Dogs. The demonstration was about 40 minutes and it was really fun getting to watch the dog in action and get to ask questions about how the dogs are trained and how the handler communicates with the dog.
The Dark Hedges
If this road looks familiar but you’ve never been to Ireland then you likely recognize as a portion of the Kings Road from the Game of Thrones series. Parts of the journey to King’s Landing were filmed here and it is well worth the stop even if you’ve never seen the show.
The Derry Girls Mural
If you’re a fan of the Netflix series Derry Girls, then this mural is a must see. It’s also a great stop off point if you’re headed to sights in Northern Ireland.
Giant’s Causeway
These hexagon basalt pillars are a must see on your way through northern Ireland. The coast line is covered in them and it’s incredibly hard to take a bad picture of them.
Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge
This rope bridge connects the mainland to the small island of Carrickarede and the walk from the parking lot to the bridge offers incredible views of the rocky coast line as well. The bridge is over 60 ft long and hangs almost 100 ft above the rocks below, so if you’re afraid of heights, maybe skip this one.
The Guinness Storehouse
The Guinness Storehouse is a great way to spend a few hours in Dublin. The tour takes you through the history of the Guinness factory, explains how it’s made and your ticket includes a pint of Guinness at bar at the end of the tour.
Marsh’s Library
Marsh’s library was the first public library in Ireland when it opened in 1707. It contains over 25,000 books from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries and the staff continues to care for and restore the volumes inside. Walking through the library feels like you’ve stepped backwards in time and was absolutely worth the cost of admission.
Temple Bar
Temple Bar is a bustling Dublin neighborhood along the River Liffey, but The Temple Bar, a packed bar on the corner of Essex St. and Temple Ln. is a must stop while you’re there. With live Irish music 24/7 and their own award-winning Irish whiskey, you won’t be disappointed.
