Ireland attractions

Set among green pastures, this 15th-century stone complex—once the home of Franciscan friars—now lies in ruins, peaceful and eerily empty, with tombstones dotted throughout the site. Inside, visitors can explore the roofless remains, including the church, cloister, kitchen area, and living quarters.

The Abbey Theatre in Dublin opened in 1904 and has been making literary waves ever since. The 600-plus-seat national theater of Ireland has staged shows of all genres, notably pieces from traditional Irish writers, such as W. B. Yeats. Among its claims to fame: When J. M. Synge's The Playboy of the Western World debuted in 1907, the audience rioted.

Though it’s housed in a modern building, Waterford’s Medieval Museum encompasses two historic sites: the 13th-century Choristers’ Hall and a 15th-century wine cellar. Rare artifacts, including 15th-century cloth-of-gold vestments and medieval-era records, reveal fascinating details about life in the port city during the Middle Ages.

Learn about famous Irish writer James Joyce and see panoramic views across Dublin Bay during a visit to the James Joyce Tower in Sandycove. This landmark is featured in Joyce’s novel Ulysses and today the tower is home to a museum that showcases letters, photographs, and other personal possessions from Joyce.

Comprising a procession of skeletal life-size bronze figures, the haunting Famine Memorial remembers the victims of the Great Irish Famine of 1845–1849. Over a million people died and more than a million more were forced to flee the country as a result of starvation and disease brought on by the failure of the potato crop.

Built in 1722, Cork's St. Anne's Church is known for its large golden fish weathervane, which stands atop its bell tower and can be seen from much of the city. Visitors can climb the tower and try to play a tune on the church's eight bells, which were immortalized in the 19th-century poem, “The Bells of Shandon.”

Said to be one of Ireland’s most beautiful estates, Westport House and Gardens is a heritage attraction on the country’s west coast. With more than 30 rooms open to the public, the 18th-century home offers guided tours telling the story of its owners and connection to Grace O’Malley, the famed pirate queen.

Two windmills and a watermill make up the historical site of Skerries Mills in North County Dublin. Though not far from Dublin, Skerries Mills offers a radically different atmosphere: think rolling green hills that encapsulate the signature beauty of the Irish countryside. A popular coastal day trip from Dublin, Skerries Mills also lures visitors with its bakery and local craft shop.

At the tip of a peninsula where Atlantic waves crash ceaselessly into sea cliffs, Mizen Head is one of Ireland’s most spectacular headlands. Mizen Head offers a visitor center and walking trails to explore, and it is home to the 1909-built Mizen Head Signal Station, which sits atop a rock connected to the mainland by a narrow footbridge.

Situated on neighboring Valentia Island, the Skellig Experience Visitor Centre showcases the history and habitats of the Skelligs, two remote and rocky islets off Ireland’s southwest coast. Exhibits document the history of the UNESCO-listed Skellig Michael monastic settlement, Skellig Lighthouses, and the wildlife of the islands.

Dating back hundreds of thousands of years, the Doolin Cave sits within Ireland’s Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark. The main attraction is the 24-foot-long (7.3-meter-long) Great Stalactite, one of the world’s largest free-hanging stalactites. Besides cave tours, there’s a farmland nature trail, a café, and a gift shop.

Built more than 800 years ago, Hook Lighthouse is one of the oldest operational lighthouses in the world. Picturesquely perched on Hook Head, at the tip of Hook Peninsula, the squat black-and-white-striped structure marks the eastern entrance to Waterford Harbour. Explore the tower and learn about the history of the lighthouse.

A short hop from Dublin, Avoca is a picturesque riverside hamlet and the base of the historic Avoca Handweavers, who have been operating from a riverside mill here since 1723. The charming appearance of the village—with its cottages and hilly green backdrop—has lured in filming crews, with BBC soap Ballykissangel having been filmed here.

Backed by dunes, green hills, and wave-worn rocks, this vast expanse of sugary soft, seaweed-free white sand looks almost Caribbean when the sun shines. It’s a popular spot for swimming and beach walks, and at low tide, it connects to Abbey Island, home to the ruins of the sixth-century Derrynane Abbey.

The Twelve Bens range rises on the horizon while fishing boats bob in the water at the picturesque Roundstone Harbour. Behind the harbor is Roundstone village, a colorful cluster of houses, craft shops, and galleries, as well as pubs, cafes, and restaurants specializing in seafood hauled in fresh from the Atlantic.

Once part of the Guinness family estate, the 240-acre (97-hectare) St. Anne's Park in north Dublin is dotted with pretty water features and follies. Much loved and often frequented by those who live nearby, St. Anne’s also offers tennis courts, a par-3 golf course, extensive rose gardens, an arboretum, and woodland and sea-view walking paths.

The former home of Irish politician Daniel O’Connell, Derrynane House is packed with period furnishings and exhibits related to the statesman, who campaigned for Catholic emancipation in the 19th century. The house sits within Derrynane National Historic Park, which encompasses woodland trails, walled gardens, and scenic shoreline.

During its 200 years of operation, Wicklow Gaol earned a reputation as one of the most brutal and barbaric institutions in Ireland. Visitors to the jail learn about the lives of prisoners, who were persecuted under anti-Catholic penal laws and were forced to endure harsh punishments and squalid conditions.

A historic landmark outside of Killarney, the Aghadoe Cathedral (Aghadoe Church and Round Tower) sits atop Aghadoe Hill. There has been a monastery on the site dating back to the 7th century, but the current ruins date to the 12th. Come for the mountain and lake views, and take advantage of the few on-site benches, ideal for warm-weather picnics.

Set within the 82,300-capacity Croke Park stadium, the GAA Museum is devoted to Gaelic games and the role of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) in Irish life. Exhibits, audiovisual displays, and interactive zones introduce visitors to Gaelic football and hurling, a fast-paced game played with a hurley (stick) and a sliotar (ball).

The Galway Arts Centre is a cultural institution supporting local talent in visual art, writing, theater, photography, and more. It first opened in 1988 and over the decades has showcased a variety of both Irish and international contemporary art. In addition to its galleries, the centre has an event space for readings, performances, and classes. There’s also a darkroom for hire.

Home to more than 12 million items, including ancient manuscripts, the National Library of Ireland is a grand 19th-century building with a much-photographed rotunda. Most travelers come to admire the airy Main Reading Room with its domed stucco ceiling, which featured in James Joyce’s groundbreaking Ulysses.

Two ruined fortresses stand watch over the harbor of this pretty-as-a-postcard fishing town. Though it’s got beaches, coastal walks, and a handful of historic sites including two forts and a Norman church, Kinsale’s big draw is its reputation for gastronomic greatness; its seafood restaurants are said to be among Ireland’s finest.

A galaxy of Irish and international stars have laid down tracks at Windmill Lane Recording Studios, Dublin’s answer to London’s Abbey Road Studios. A visit here means following in the footsteps of U2, Van Morrison, Kate Bush, the Cranberries, and Elvis Costello, not to mention the Rolling Stones, 50 Cent, Lady Gaga, Bruce Springsteen, and Ed Sheeran.

Located on the wave-beaten western edge of Ireland, this former fisherman’s village is known for its traditional Irish music scene. Every night, patrons squeeze into a trio of popular pubs to listen to fiddlers, singers, flutists, tin whistlers, and bodhrán (a traditional Irish drum) players take part in toe-tapping jam sessions.

A visit to Aviva Stadium will give you a feel for Irish people’s passion for sport. Join about 50,000 other fans for a rugby match or football (soccer) game at this stadium on Lansdowne Road. If sport isn’t your thing, come for a concert; big name acts such as Rihanna and Michael Jackson have performed at Aviva Stadium.

Ireland’s capital city is an important stop for cruise liners on round-the-world, transatlantic, and European routes. Not only do cruisers disembarking at Dublin Cruise Port have easy access to all of the city’s top sights—from Dublin Castle to Trinity College and the Book of Kells—but they can also head to day-trip destinations outside the capital.

A symbol of Dublin’s hope for the future, and a landmark in its own right, the Spire is a tapering pinnacle that soars over the city, higher than an NFL football field is long. During the day, it gently reflects the hustle and bustle of vibrant O’Connell Street; by night, the slender summit gleams with thousands of points of light, making it a beacon for the city.

The Ha'penny Bridge was the very first iron bridge in Dublin, built particularly for pedestrians to easily cross the River Liffey to reach the other side of the city. The bridge is not only useful, but quite beautiful—both during the day and the nighttime—drawing those who want to see it up close and get great photos, too.

George’s Street Arcade is one of Dublin’s oldest shopping destinations. Dating back to 1881, this enclosed Victorian market is home to a fantastic range of independent boutiques, as well as market stalls selling vintage clothing, jewelry, rare books, old records, collectables, and souvenirs. There are plenty of places to eat, with everything from pizzas, falafels, veggies burgers, and cocktails.