10 Best Day Trips in Ireland
Experience the Best of Ireland on the Open Road
Due to the compact size of the country, day trips in Ireland are easy to organize, especially from cities like Dublin and Cork. Go on a backroad adventure through verdant countryside before taking a detour along wild windswept coasts.
Stop at candy-hued villages lined with waterfront restaurants, visit crumbling castles set in flower-filled gardens, and explore archeological relics that date to prehistoric times. For an unforgettable break, head to the coast to scale mountain summits or catch a mainland ferry to stark but beautiful islands. Check out our guide to Ireland’s best day trips and start planning an adventure to the Emerald Isle.
1. Cliffs of Moher
Seaside haunt with serious wow factor
Good for: Photo, Adventure
Looming over the West Clare Coast, the Cliffs of Moher span nearly 15 km and offer jaw-dropping views of the moody Atlantic Ocean and the glaciokarst landscapes of The Burren. One of Ireland’s top beauty spots, this natural wonder is part of a UNESCO Global Geopark and is a special protection area for both wildlife and birds.
Arrive at the visitor center to stroll 800 meters of safe paved pathways. Your ticket will also grant you access to O’Brien’s Tower, a historic viewing point that has teetered on the cliff’s edge since 1835. While you’re there, enjoy complimentary services like binoculars, picnic blankets, and an easy-to-download audio guide.
Location: Cliffs of Moher Visitor Center, Lislorkan North, Liscannor, Co. Clare, V95 KN9T, Ireland
Open: Daily from 8 am to 9 pm
Phone: +353 65 708 6141
Cliffs of Moher
2. Ring of Kerry
One of Ireland’s most picturesque driving routes
Good for: Couples, Photo, Adventure
For an epic day trip filled with dramatic scenery, nothing beats The Ring of Kerry. Looping around the Iveragh Peninsula, you’ll take in Moll’s Gap, Torc Waterfall, and the extraordinary Gap of Dunloe, a cinematic mountain pass that skirts several mirrored lakes.
Encounter architectural landmarks like Muckross House and Garden (a favorite of Queen Victoria), 15th-century Ross Castle (ancestral home of the Chiefs of Clan O’Donoghue), and meadows peppered with horses and ponies. For a barefoot walk on the beach, stop at St Finian’s Bay before heading to the town of Sneem for its cozy pubs, serpentine river, and charming candy-hued buildings.
Ring of Kerry
3. Glendalough
Riveting religious region with a storied Viking past
Good for: History, Adventure, Budget
Nestled in the Wicklow Mountains National Park, Glendalough Valley entices travelers with its 7th-century monastic site, glittering dark water lakes, and hiking trails that wend their way through green landscapes. Discover crumbling medieval churches that were once plundered by the Vikings and an eye-catching Round Tower which looms above an age-old graveyard.
Easily reachable from Dublin, Glendalough is home to hidden gem eateries like the Black Sheep cafe. Highly recommended for hill walkers is the homely food truck, St. Kevin’s Kitchen, which serves juicy burgers and fish and chips on the banks of a trickling river. Or go to the Wicklow Heather Restaurant for a pint of Guinness and the traditional lamb stew.
Glendalough
4. Connemara
County Galway’s best-kept secret
Good for: Photo, Couples
When you want to escape the city, nothing beats a weekend break in stunning Connemara. Set on the coast of west Ireland, this windswept region is abundant with undiscovered coves, charming little fishing villages, and starkly beautiful heathlands that are beloved by the nation’s hillwalkers.
Swing by the chocolate box town of Roundstone on the edge of Bertraghboy Bay for waterfront houses, a booming arts and crafts scene, and a bustling harbor filled with bobbing boats and lobster, crab, and mackerel fishermen. Don’t miss Dog’s Bay beach with its turquoise water and white sand shoreline or the Gothic Revival Clifden Castle, which looks fresh from the pages of an old Irish fairy story.
Connemara
5. Kilkenny
A favorite town for Irish locals and travelers alike
Good for: History, Shoppers, Food
Kilkenny might be a bustling tourist destination, but there’s a reason for its popularity. Set on the banks of the River Nore, this historic Irish city teems with culture, cuisine, and countryside adventures that appeal to all types of day trippers who venture in from Dublin.
Discover 13th-century Kilkenny Castle with its fairy tale turrets and fragrant terraced rose garden, or wander the cobbled streets of Ireland’s Medieval Mile, encountering architectural jewels like Rothe House, Kyteler’s Inn, and handsome Smithwicks Brewery. If you’re a keen hiker, consider traversing Bishops Meadow Walk before retiring to Petronella Restaurant (circa 1602) for tasty Kilkenny short rib and fried Wicklow brie.
Kilkenny
6. Dingle Peninsula
Watersports, wild landscapes, and walks to write home about
Good for: Photo, Couples
Situated on Ireland’s southwest Atlantic coast, the Dingle Peninsula beguiles with its rugged cliffs and sandy beaches that resemble scenes out of an oil painting. The region is popular with surfers who come here for the world-class breaks and budding anthropologists who want to see the ancient clocháns.
Away from the seafront, you’ll find beautiful, towering mountains like the formidable Brandon Peak, which offers a challenging walk for hikers to its panoramic summit. Spend the day here, driving windy backroads next to fields of grazing sheep, cruising the ocean in search of photo ops, and stopping by the Dingle Distillery to sample signature single malt whiskey.
Dingle Peninsula
7. Aran Islands
The “Islands of Saints and Scholars”
Good for: Adventure, History, Unusual
A collection of three pictorial islands comprising Inishmore, Inishmaan, and Inisheer, the Aran Islands in Galway Bay are a true sight to behold. Sprawling, treeless landscapes deliver a surreal yet stunning visual, only broken by the movement of sheep and hamlets of whitewashed houses.
Ferries to Aran depart from the mainland village of Rossaveel, and flights to the islands can be taken from Connemara Regional Airport, depending on the weather. While you’re there, cycle the open roads, picnic at prehistoric Dun Aonghasa near its dramatic seaside cliffs, and explore the site of the Seven Churches, a former monastic complex.
Aran Islands
8. Newgrange
Enthralling landmark attraction dating back to ancient times
Good for: History, Adventure, Unusual
A prehistoric monument in bucolic County Meath, Newgrange can be found on a grassy rise overlooking the sleepy River Boyne. This extraordinary tomb was erected during the Neolithic Period (circa 3100 BC), well before the Pyramids of Giza, which shows how old they are.
A designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, this fascinating relic is believed to have been the vision of pagan Stone Age farmers who designed the chambers of the burial mound to align with the rising sun of the Winter Solstice. Access is by guided tours only via the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre. Excursions include the Hill of Slane, where Saint Patrick lit the paschal fire. Book your visit in advance as the slots sell out fast.
Location: Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre, Eircode A92 EH5C, Ireland
Phone: +353 41 988 0300
Newgrange
9. Blarney Castle
Home of the legendary Blarney Stone
Good for: Families, History, Photo
Fans of television shows like Game of Thrones will fall in love with Blarney Castle, a medieval stronghold that looks like something out of a fantasy saga. Dating from 1446, this partially ruined building features 2 impressive stone towers and 60 acres of heavenly gardens with a network of paths that are ideal for strolling.
The real drawcard at Blarney is its infamous stone with origins that can be traced to Robert Bruce, the Queen of the Fairies, and the biblical patriarch Jacob, depending on which version you hear. Hang upside-down to press your lips against this age-old object, which is purported to give the gift of eloquence to anyone who kisses it.
Location: Blarney Castle, Blarney, Cork, Ireland
Open: Daily from 9 am to 5 pm
Phone: +353 21 438 5252
Blarney Castle
10. Howth
Maritime enclave with its own special magic
Good for: Food, Photo, Families
Just 45 minutes from central Dublin, Howth sits on the edge of a bulbous peninsula that juts over the Irish Sea. It’s a picture-postcard fishing town that charms with its tiny harbor, cliffs that are blanketed in springtime wildflowers, and scenic coastal walks that skirt the loveliest beaches.
Stop at the early 19th-century lighthouse for selfies, play 18 holes of golf at the Deer Park Course, and visit historic Howth Castle to wander through gardens that burst with rhododendrons. The seafood restaurants are exceptional, with plenty of fresh catches. Swing by Aqua in the former sailing club for a bowl of scrumptious chowder.
Howth
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