Guides to Ireland
The best places to see in Ireland, gathered into themed collections and short driving routes. Whether you're after a rainy-day plan, a coastal drive or somewhere the tour buses don't stop, start here — every place comes with the practical details for the day you actually go.
Themed collections
The best of one thing at a time: the top spots for puffins, the caves you can go inside, the castles that are free to walk around, the places to head when it rains.
Where to See Seals in Ireland
From a rescue centre to wild seal colonies, 10 places to see seals in Ireland — including near-permanent haul-outs, boat tours, and cliff-top viewpoints.
10 places
Caves and Underground Places to Visit in Ireland
Eight caves and underground sites in Ireland you can enter — from Europe's largest stalactite to a sea-cave waterfall, a coal mine, and a souterrain.
8 places
Free Castles and Ruins in Ireland You Can Visit Without a Ticket
12 castles and ruins in Ireland you can visit without paying — clifftop tower houses, Gothic follies, siege-scarred strongholds, and a massive stone ringfort.
12 places
Best Places to Watch Puffins in Ireland
Seven proven spots across Ireland where Atlantic puffins nest on sea cliffs, from Skellig Michael to the Cliffs of Moher — when to go and what to expect.
7 placesDriving routes
Day trips by car, mapped out for you — the stops in order, honest driving times between them, and every stop written up so you know what you're pulling over for.
LouthThe Carlingford Circuit
Four stops in one compact medieval town: Ireland's largest aerial park, a free folklore shore, King John's castle and a loughside adventure centre.
4 stops · 9 min driving
GalwayThe West End of Inis Mór
Four stops on Inis Mór: a Bronze Age cliff fort, a 1,200-year-old pilgrimage site, the island's Blue Flag beach and a tidal pool in the limestone.
4 stops · 26 min driving
WaterfordComeragh Mountains to the Copper Coast
Waterfalls, glacial lakes and woodland trails in the Comeragh Mountains, then a brick-lined railway tunnel and a Copper Coast cove in County Waterford.
7 stops · 32 min driving
DonegalDonegal Bay's Hidden Waterfall Coast
A short Wild Atlantic Way drive linking Largy Viewpoint's four-county panorama, a tide-hidden waterfall in a sea cave, and Blue Flag Fintra Beach.
3 stops · 5 min driving
KerryThe Skellig Ring
Eight stops on Kerry's Skellig Ring — cliffs, boat trips, Valentia viewpoints, a 385-million-year-old fossil trackway and Ballinskelligs Beach.
8 stops · 1 h 7 m driving
ClareThe Burren's Heartland Drive
From Aillwee's cave to Lough Avalla's farm loop — five Burren stops across limestone pavement, a 5,800-year-old tomb and a working stone fort.
5 stops · 36 min driving
DonegalFrom Lough Veagh to the Poisoned Glen
A Donegal drive from the Victorian castle on Lough Veagh to the ruined church beneath Errigal, ending at a lakeside centre with boat cruises.
3 stops · 26 min driving
CorkMallow: Castle Parkland to Quarry Lakes
Four family stops in Mallow: a 16th-century castle ruin with white fallow deer, connected riverside parkland, indoor soft play and a quarry-lake adventure park.
4 stops · 23 min driving
MeathThe Loughcrew Hills Drive
A short drive from the 5,000-year-old Loughcrew Cairns to the lakeside trails of Deerpark Forest, with the Megalithic Centre and estate gardens in between.
4 stops · 22 min driving
KildareKildare's Horse Country: Stud, Gardens & Open Farm
Stud tours, the Life of Man gardens and a free-entry family farm: three animal stops in Kildare's horse country, from thoroughbreds to meerkats.
3 stops · 9 min driving
ClareKilkee to the Mouth of the Shannon
A Clare coast route linking Kilkee's cliff walk, tidal swimming pools and Blue Flag beach with dolphin-watching boat trips on the Shannon Estuary.
4 stops · 24 min driving
SligoYeats Country: Glencar Waterfall to Gleniff Horseshoe
From Yeats' Glencar Waterfall to the Gleniff Horseshoe, three free mountain stops under Benbulben in Sligo — waterfall, forest walk and glacial valley drive.
3 stops · 38 min driving
LimerickThe Ballyhoura Trailheads
Three trailheads in the Ballyhoura hills: Ireland's biggest MTB network, a riverside Mass Rock loop, and forest walks with views to the Shannon.
3 stops · 27 min driving
DonegalThe Top of Ireland: Malin Head
Signal tower, wartime stones and sea chasms at Ireland's northernmost point, then a short hop inland to walk with alpacas above Five Finger Strand.
3 stops · 17 min driving
WicklowThe Military Road to Lough Tay
Drive Wicklow's Military Road from the national park's wild mountains to Lough Tay's pint-like shore, then into the pine boardwalk of Ballinastoe Woods.
3 stops · 11 min driving
ClareThe Wild Edge of Loop Head
Lighthouse, unguarded cliffs and a lone sea arch on the Loop Head Peninsula — three stops on one wild Atlantic headland in County Clare.
3 stops · 10 min driving
MayoAchill's Atlantic Drive: Keel to Keem Bay
From Mayo's only aquarium to Keem's horseshoe bay, this route follows Achill's Atlantic Drive past Keel's surf strand to a Wild Atlantic Way discovery point.
4 stops · 20 min driving
KerryNorth Kerry's Cliff-Edge Coast
A North Kerry cliff-coast route linking Ballybunion Castle's ruined tower, the cliff path's Nine Daughters' Hole blowhole, and Bromore's 180-ft sea stacks.
3 stops · 9 min driving