Things to do in Co. Mayo
32 places
1.Downpatrick Head
A 45m sea stack older than the dinosaurs
A dramatic headland on Mayo's wild north coast where the 45-metre sea stack Dún Briste towers above the Atlantic — a signature point on the Wild Atlantic Way blending geology, folklore, and WWII history.
- Highlights
- Dún Briste — 45 m sea stack, 350-million-year-old layered rock
- Poll na Seantainne — inland blowhole with underground sea tunnel
- St Patrick's Church ruins & statue — Garland Sunday mass (last Sunday in July)
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
2.Keem Beach, Achill
Banshees of Inisherin filming location
A horseshoe of golden sand and impossibly turquoise water, cradled between sheer cliffs at the western tip of Achill Island — consistently voted one of the world's most beautiful beaches.
- Highlights
- Blue Flag beach with 'Excellent' water quality rating
- Voted best beach in Ireland multiple times, ranked #12 in the world by CN Traveller
- Banshees of Inisherin filming location
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Restrooms · Wheelchair access
3.Wild Atlantic Way Signature Discovery Point @Keem Bay
a Blue Flag beach at the end of a winding cliff road
A horseshoe of golden sand and turquoise water tucked beneath Croaghaun mountain at the far western tip of Achill Island, reached by a twisting clifftop road that is part of the Wild Atlantic Way.
- Highlights
- Horseshoe Blue Flag beach with turquoise water
- Winding 200m clifftop approach road
- Cliff walks to Achill Head and the Moyteoge lookout
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Restrooms · Wheelchair access
4.Béal an Mhuirthead Tidal Pool
Free 24/7 tidal pool with wood-fired sauna
A free, 20m seawater tidal pool on the shores of Blacksod Bay — filled by the Atlantic at high tide, with a separate kiddie pool, boardwalk, and a wood-fired sauna right across the road.
- Highlights
- Free, 24/7 public access
- Two pools: 20m main pool + toddler paddling pool
- Lifeguarded in July & August
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
5.Belleek Woods
one of Europe's largest urban woods, free to visit
A 1,000-acre riverside woodland on the edge of Ballina, Belleek Woods is one of Europe's largest urban forests — home to a fairy trail, a duck pond, a red-squirrel sanctuary and a derelict concrete ship, all free to explore.
- Highlights
- Fairy Trail with hand-built miniature fairy houses
- 3.8 km waymarked loop through an old estate
- Duck pond and red-squirrel sanctuary
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Dog-friendly · Wheelchair access
6.Carrowteige Loop Walk
255m cliffs higher than Moher
A remote cluster of four waymarked coastal loops on North Mayo's Dún Chaocháin peninsula, where 255m cliffs — higher than the Cliffs of Moher — plunge into the Atlantic with no crowds, just raw, exhilarating views over Broadhaven Bay and the Stags of Broadhaven.
- Highlights
- Cliffs at 255m — higher than the Cliffs of Moher
- Views of the four Stags of Broadhaven sea stacks
- Working Gaeltacht village — Irish is the everyday language
7.Cross Loop walk
spot a rare Great Yellow Bumblebee on a coastal walk
A wild coastal loop on the remote Mullet Peninsula, pairing a vast low-tide beach with dunes, a lake, and the haunting ruins of Cross Abbey — where Atlantic scenery and Celtic legend collide.
- Highlights
- Two colour-coded loop options (Green 5.7 km / Blue 7.6 km)
- Cross Abbey — early Christian ruins at the trailhead
- Vast low-tide beach with Inishkea Islands views
- Facilities
- Good for kids
8.Doolough Valley Famine Memorial
Stone cross with Gandhi inscription
A hauntingly beautiful valley in southwest Mayo where a simple stone cross marks one of the Great Famine's darkest tragedies, set against the dramatic backdrop of Mweelrea Mountain, the Sheeffry Hills, and the dark waters of Doo Lough.
- Highlights
- Stone cross memorial with Gandhi inscription
- Dramatic mountain-and-lake scenery on the Wild Atlantic Way
- Mweelrea — Connacht's highest peak
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Dog-friendly
9.Erris Head Loop Walk
Walk the edge of the world on a remote Atlantic loop
A wild 5km clifftop loop on Ireland's remote Mullet Peninsula, where sheep graze beside Atlantic sea arches and the only sounds are seabirds and waves. Often called "the edge of the world."
- Highlights
- 5km easy loop (~1.5–2 hrs)
- Railed viewpoint with sea arches and islands
- WWII coast-watch post & ÉIRE sign
10.Jackie Clarke Collection
home to an original 1916 Proclamation
One man's lifelong obsession — 100,000+ items spanning 400 years of Irish history, including an original 1916 Proclamation — on free display in a restored 1881 bank building in the heart of Ballina.
- Highlights
- Original 1916 Proclamation
- 100,000+ items spanning 400 years
- Free admission, open Tue–Sat
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Restrooms · Wheelchair access
11.Keel Beach
Ireland's most consistent surf beach
A vast 3.5 km Blue Flag strand on Achill Island, backed by the Minaun Cliffs and facing the Atlantic swell — Ireland's premier watersports beach, with reliable surf, golden sand, and a lively village just steps away.
- Highlights
- 3.5 km of golden sand, also known as Trawmore Strand (An Trá Mór)
- Blue Flag beach with Excellent water quality rating
- Ireland's most consistent surf — reliable Atlantic swell
- Facilities
- Good for kids
12.Tourmakeady Waterfall
Hidden waterfall in a Millennium Forest
A hidden woodland waterfall tucked inside the Tourmakeady People's Millennium Forest on the shores of Lough Mask — a short, serene walk rewards you with a cascading falls and a perfect picnic spot.
- Highlights
- Hidden waterfall in a Millennium Forest
- Two easy loop trails (2.5 km nature trail + 1.5 km lake walk)
- Free entry and free parking
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Wheelchair access
13.Westport Cruises
Cruise Clew Bay's 365 islands, seals & Lennon's isle
A 90-minute round-trip cruise from Westport Harbour through Clew Bay's 365 drumlin islands, with seals, Beatles lore and panoramic views of Croagh Patrick. Daily sailings from May to October, with commentary on the bay's pirate-queen past.
- Highlights
- 90-minute round trip among Clew Bay's 365 islands
- Seal colony of ~400, with pups June-August
- John Lennon's island (Dorinish) sailed close by
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
14.Claggan Mountain Coastal Trail
Prehistoric pine stumps on the shoreline
A short, easy boardwalk trail through Atlantic blanket bog to a stony shoreline, with panoramic views across Bellacragher Bay to Achill Island and east to the Nephin Beg Mountains — part of the Mayo Dark Sky Park.
- Highlights
- 2 km easy loop on boardwalk and shoreline
- Panoramic views of Achill Island and Bellacragher Bay
- Ancient pine stumps — remnants of prehistoric woodland
15.Dún na mBó
Blowhole sculpture at an Iron Age fort
A dramatic Wild Atlantic Way discovery point where an ancient promontory fort meets a natural blowhole, framed by a striking modern sculpture dedicated to those lost at sea.
- Highlights
- Natural blowhole framed by a modern sculpture
- Wild Atlantic Way Discovery Point
- Part of the Tír Sáile North Mayo Sculpture Trail
16.Moore Hall
Ruined mansion swallowed by forest
An atmospheric ruined Georgian mansion swallowed by forest on the shores of Lough Carra — a free, family-friendly spot for woodland walks, history, and lakeside picnics.
- Highlights
- Ruined Georgian mansion draped in ivy
- Lakeside setting on Lough Carra
- Wooden wildlife sculptures along the trails
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
17.National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park
See a 9th-century round tower
Ireland's National Folklife Collection housed in a striking Victorian Gothic mansion, set amid 30 acres of award-winning gardens, woodland and parkland — and completely free to visit.
- Highlights
- Free admission to Ireland's National Folklife Collection — 35,000 objects across four gallery floors
- Award-winning Green Flag Victorian gardens and Green Heritage woodland
- 9th-century round tower visible from the grounds
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Restrooms · Wheelchair access
18.Rosserk Friary
home to a rare medieval round-tower carving
A beautifully preserved 15th-century Franciscan friary on the banks of the River Moy, where you can wander through intact cloisters, climb to the upper rooms and see some of the finest medieval stone carvings in the west of Ireland.
- Highlights
- One of the best-preserved Franciscan friaries in Ireland, founded around 1440
- Double piscina carved with a round tower, angels and instruments of the Passion
- Bell tower over the chancel arch, cloister and upper-floor rooms with fireplaces
- Facilities
- Good for kids
19.The Achill Experience Aquarium & Visitor Centre
Mayo's only aquarium, with guided tours and shark breeding
Mayo's first and only aquarium, where engaging guided tours bring you face-to-face with native sea life, rare lobsters, and tropical species — paired with a history museum that brings Achill's rich past vividly to life.
- Highlights
- 16-tank aquarium with native Irish & tropical species
- Rare-coloured lobsters: Rusty (orange), Charlie (white), Smurfette & Sapphire (blue)
- Guided tours every 45 minutes — knowledgeable local guides
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Wheelchair access
20.The Lost Valley
a 3-hour guided walk through a famine village
Beyond the end of the road near Louisburgh sits a working sheep farm holding a famine village untouched for nearly two centuries. The Bourke family, farmers here for eight generations, lead the only way in: a pre-booked guided walk.
- Highlights
- Ruined famine village and potato ridges undisturbed for ~200 years
- Guided by the Bourke family, farming here for 8 generations
- Working sheepdog herding demonstration
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Restrooms · Wheelchair access
21.The Wild West
Ireland's only Wild West-themed indoor play village
A Wild West-themed indoor soft-play village for toddlers to ten-year-olds, tucked inside Westport's Westpoint Shopping Centre — a firm favourite for families on rainy days.
- Highlights
- Wild West-themed soft-play village, toddlers to age 10
- Dedicated toddlers' zone and Lil' Nippers Thursday group
- Sensory room with bubble tube, fibre optics and infinity mirror
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Wheelchair access
22.Tom Ruane Park
a free inclusive playground by the River Moy
A free, award-winning and unusually inclusive playground and park on the Sligo Road overlooking the River Moy, an easy walk from Ballina town centre.
- Highlights
- One of Ireland's most inclusive outdoor playgrounds
- Irish Times pick: 50 Best Playgrounds in Ireland
- Free year-round family amenity by the River Moy
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Dog-friendly · Wheelchair access
23.Cong Abbey
where the last High King of Ireland died
A 12th-century Augustinian abbey where Ireland's last High King spent his final days, with a remarkable monks' fishing house perched directly over the River Cong.
- Highlights
- Chapter-house doorway with exquisite 'School of the West' carving
- Monks' Fishing House — a trapdoor over the river, unique in Ireland
- Ancient yew grove within the abbey grounds
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
24.Graune Pet Farm And Play Centre
Sleep in a thatched cottage on a 14-acre farm
A 14-acre family-run pet farm and indoor play centre in the Mayo countryside, where children can meet animals, tackle soft play, zip wires, paddle boats and more — with a thatched cottage for overnight stays.
- Highlights
- 14-acre farm with llamas, alpacas, emus, owls and snakes
- Indoor soft-play centre with go-kart track and toddler zone
- Outdoor zip wires, paddle boats and pony rides
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Restrooms · Wheelchair access
25.McMahon Park (Clare Lake)
a free lakeside loop, fishing jetties and playground
A free, flat, nine-acre lakeside park on the south edge of Claremorris, built by volunteers on land gifted by the Mahon family. One easy loop walk circles the man-made Clare Lake past ducks, swans, fishing jetties and a children's playground.
- Highlights
- Free entry, open daily
- Flat 1.3 km gravel loop around the lake
- Ducks, swans, geese and 35 recorded bird species
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Dog-friendly · Wheelchair access
26.National Famine Memorial
a bronze coffin-ship monument unveiled in 1997
A haunting bronze "coffin ship" by sculptor John Behan, rising from the shore at the foot of Croagh Patrick with views across Clew Bay. It commemorates the million who died in the Great Famine of 1845–1850.
- Highlights
- Bronze 'coffin ship' by John Behan, unveiled 1997
- Free, open-air, accessible 24/7
- Bilingual famine inscription and interpretive panels
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Wheelchair access
27.Aasleagh Falls
filmed for David Attenborough's eel documentary
A small but picturesque waterfall on the River Erriff where it meets Killary Harbour — Ireland's only true fjord. Best seen after heavy rain, this Wild Atlantic Way stop offers a quick, rewarding pause framed by the brooding slopes of Ben Gorm and the Devil's Mother.
- Highlights
- 4-metre cascade on the River Erriff, at the head of Killary Harbour
- Wild Atlantic Way Signature Point
- Start of the Western Way (Mayo section)
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Wheelchair access
28.Céide Fields Visitors Centre and Car Park
the world's oldest known stone-walled fields, buried under bog
On the wild north Mayo cliffs, Céide Fields is the world's oldest known stone-walled field system — nearly 6,000-year-old farmland buried beneath a blanket bog, explored via an award-winning cliff-top visitor centre.
- Highlights
- Oldest known stone-walled fields in the world, ~6,000 years old
- Most extensive Stone Age monument on the planet
- 110 m cliff-edge viewing platform and glass rooftop
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Restrooms · Wheelchair access
29.Westport House
Built on pirate queen’s 16th-century castle
A 430-acre historic estate on the Wild Atlantic Way, currently undergoing a €40M transformation. While the 18th-century house itself is closed for renovation until 2028, the grounds, adventure park, and dining venues remain open.
- Highlights
- Ireland's largest net park
- Built on the foundations of Pirate Queen Grace O'Malley's 16th-century castle
- Georgian Palladian mansion (currently closed for restoration)
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Restrooms · Wheelchair access
30.Céide Fields
the world's oldest stone-walled fields, dating back 6,000 years
Beneath the wild boglands of north Mayo lies the most extensive Stone Age monument on Earth — a 6,000-year-old system of stone-walled fields, dwellings, and megalithic tombs, perched on dramatic 110-metre cliffs above the Atlantic.
- Highlights
- Oldest known stone-walled field system in the world
- Award-winning pyramid-shaped visitor centre
- 110-metre clifftop viewing platform over the Atlantic
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Restrooms · Wheelchair access
31.Mayo Leisure Point
Bowling, cinema, laser tag and soft play in one complex
Mayo Leisure Point is Castlebar's one-stop indoor entertainment complex: ten-pin bowling, a 7-screen cinema, laser tag, soft play and an arcade all under one roof, open seven days a week all year round.
- Highlights
- 8-lane ten-pin bowling with automatic bumpers
- 7-screen cinema with 3D and live satellite events
- Q-2000 laser tag arena (ages 6+)
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
32.Funster Playcentre Children's Play Centre
multi-level soft play for kids up to 4ft 9in
Castlebar's indoor soft-play centre in the retail business park on Breaffy Road: multi-level climbing, slides and a dedicated toddler zone make it a dependable rainy-day stop for kids up to 4ft 9in.
- Highlights
- Tube slide, aerial glider and walk-the-plank
- Large supervised under-5 and baby zone
- Indoor football and basketball arena
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Restrooms · Wheelchair access