17 Best Cities in Ireland to Visit in 2024

Now we have had the privilege of visiting Eire a number of instances, and when visiting the ‘Emerald Isle,’ its cities are a few of the finest locations to embrace Irish tradition. Irish cities are magical, filled with native historical past, myths and legends, artwork galleries, pubs, and pleasant locals. Whether or not you go to Dublin for main sights just like the Guinness Storehouse and the E book of Kells, otherwise you head to Galway for conventional music and avenue artwork, you’ll fall in love with the vigorous cities in Eire.

Finest Cities in Eire

On this information, we’ll introduce you to the perfect cities in Eire and Northern Eire. These are the locations the place you’ll make lasting recollections throughout your keep.

The easiest way to get round Eire is by renting a automobile. You can compare car rental prices here. Now we have taken highway journeys alongside the Wild Atlantic Means, on Eire’s west coast, with island day journeys, cobbled streets, and reside music and alongside the Causeway Coast to see a few of Northern Eire’s most awe-inspiring sights. Now we have explored lesser-visited cities in Eire and each is simply as memorable because the final.

1. Dublin

Dublin is Eire’s largest metropolis and the capital of the Republic of Eire. We advocate spending no less than three days in Dublin earlier than touring to the totally different cities in Eire. Situated on the River Liffey, Dublin has a whole bunch of sights at your fingertips.

High sights on this well-liked Irish Metropolis are limitless together with a go to to the well-known Kilmainham Gaol, the GPO Museum, Dublin Fortress, and the Guinness Storehouse (learn extra about our expertise here).

Dublin Fortress is likely one of the most well-known medieval castles on this planet, courting again to the thirteenth century. It’s now a authorities constructing, however that doesn’t cease vacationers from coming to see it.

Trinity School, the E book of Kells, and the well-known Temple Bar. Dublin is well among the finest cities in Eire for historical past lovers, with tales of the Easter Rising in 1916 to historic tales throughout the pages of the E book of Kells. It’s additionally a metropolis of academia; Dublin is formally Yeats nation and homes Trinity School, which educated the likes of Oscar Wilde.

There are such a lot of things to do in Dublin, and if you wish to go to Eire for St Patrick’s Day, you’ll want to be in Dublin. If you wish to escape town, Dublin is only a hop skip, and a bounce from the Wicklow Mountains the place you may go mountaineering or horseback driving.

When visiting Dublin, choose up a Dublin Pass. The Dublin Cross is a superb method to save cash on Dublin sights providing you with entrance to 35 sights together with the Dublin Hop-on Hop-Off Massive Bus Tour, Guinness Storehouse, James Joyce Centre, Saint Patrick’s Cathedral (the place Saint Patrick himself St Patrick baptised Christians) and plenty of extra. Details here.

2. Cork Metropolis

Because the second largest metropolis in Eire, it as soon as had a status because the capital of ‘Insurgent Nation.’ Cork natives generally declare they’re the actual ‘capital of Eire.’ We love this metropolis positioned within the South of the Emerald Isle, and others agree, Cork is a much-loved vacationer vacation spot.

For those who haven’t visited Cork, you’re really lacking out. The most effective issues to do in Cork embody day-tripping to Blarney Fortress to Kiss the Blarney Stone. The Blarney Stone could also be what has attracted vacationers to the world for the reward of the Gab, however Blarney Fortress is a superb vacation spot in its personal proper.

In Cork Metropolis correct, you may ring the Bells of Shannon, go to the English Market is a implausible place for natural and regionally produced meals, and take a look at the historical past at Elizabeth Fort, a Seventeenth-century previous metropolis fortress. You also needs to head right down to the small cities round Cork Harbour, the second-largest pure harbor on this planet. It’s close to Cork Harbour, the place you’ll discover lovely Cobh, a colourful seaside city and the Titanic’s final port of name in 1912.

3. Galway Metropolis

Galway Metropolis is unattainable to not love. In case you are searching for the perfect cities in Eire, look no additional than the fifth-largest metropolis.

Regardless of its rising dimension, Galway retains an genuine allure that has impressed the likes of Ed Sheeran to jot down a tune about it. Make certain so as to add Galway to your Emerald Isle Itinerary to actually get pleasure from conventional Irish music and pleasant locals.

The actual hive in Galway is its colourful previous city, lined with cobbled streets and boldly painted impartial outlets. The town is undoubtedly the perfect place to go to in Eire for creatives or anybody seeking to get a ‘small city expertise.’

Galway Metropolis is break up in half by the River Corrib and sits on Eire’s west coast, overlooking Galway Bay. It’s a good spot for an Irish highway journey.

Galway is positioned instantly on the Wild Atlantic Means, with most of the route’s beautiful viewpoints – just like the Cliffs of Moher- only a brief drive away. You can too use Galway as a base to take day journeys to the beautiful west coast islands. That is additionally the jumping-off level for the Aran Islands.

E book a cruise to see the Aran Islands right here. Nevertheless, in case you can, we extremely advocate spending two nights on one of many Aran Islands. We spent 3 days on the Inis Mór – Enjoyable Truth, the Colin Farrell Film, the Banshees of Inishmore was filmed on the Aran Islands.

Make certain to go to the Latin Quarter, which is Galway’s ‘previous city’ and filled with cobbles and avenue artwork. For many who know their Irish historical past, it’s additionally price stopping by Saint Nicholas Collegiate Church, a 14th-century church visited by Oliver Cromwell. In the meantime, for much less morbid historical past, you may recognize the Sixteenth-century metropolis partitions by visiting the Spanish Arch.

End your days in Galway with visits to its many artwork galleries, and naturally, try its reside music scene after darkish.

4. Limerick Metropolis

Limerick is one other of Eire’s largest cities, however this time, it has a status for Viking and Medieval historical past. It was a walled metropolis established by Vikings, making it one in all Eire’s oldest and present largest. It’s positioned on the southwest coast, close to the mouth of the River Shannon.

This location as soon as made it a main goal for Viking settlers. However, for modern-day vacationers, its location now makes it an excellent metropolis break simply off the Wild Atlantic Means’s path. Limerick is ideally positioned for a day journey to pure magnificence just like the Cliffs of Moher. Nevertheless, it’s additionally a solace of city sightseeing amongst tiny nation lanes and 5 constructing villages.

High sights in Limerick embody the Treaty Stone, the Hunt Museum for Artwork and Archaeology, the medieval fortress of King John’s Fortress, and the spectacular Worldwide Rugby Expertise. To embrace the attribute Viking historical past within the metropolis, you may stroll the Limerick Medieval Path, taking you thru the medieval buildings of English City with fifteen totally different factors of historic curiosity. This self-guided strolling tour is an effective way to see Limerick by means of early Viking eyes.

It’s the Viking historical past that actually solidifies Limerick as among the finest cities in Eire. Limerick can be a implausible metropolis within the southwest, offering an excellent place to stay on the Wild Atlantic Way for an city break.

5. Waterford

Waterford is one other Viking-created metropolis on the island. Based in 914 AD by Ragnall, Waterford is Eire’s oldest metropolis and has some uncommon claims to fame. It has had its fingers in a couple of totally different pots, significantly as soon as often called Eire’s wine and glass-making capital.

Its coastal location has meant Waterford has remained a buying and selling hub, typical of a port metropolis. It has picked up quite a few totally different industries and has an underlying production-minded subculture. You’ll be able to nonetheless discover Waterford Crystal in outlets across the metropolis middle and on the Home of Waterford Museum. As for Waterford wine, you may go to the Fifteenth-century Mayor’s Wine Vault on the Medieval Museum.

Attraction highlights of Waterford embody Reginald’s Tower, the Irish Museum of Time, Bishop’s Palace, and Waterford Nature Park. We had so as to add Waterford to this information, partly due to its busy manufacturing mindset, which makes for some nice historic sightseeing, and partly due to its title as Eire’s oldest metropolis. If you wish to be taught extra about Eire’s distinctive manufacturing industries and earliest days, Waterford is a compact metropolis you may fortunately sightsee on foot.

6. Sligo

Small Sligo could also be a city, however in our eyes, it’s particular sufficient to justify a place amongst the perfect cities to go to in Eire. Metropolis standing means nothing whenever you try Sligo’s literature historical past, and it has tons to supply vacationers in the best way of sightseeing.

Sligo sits on the Northwest Coast of Eire, close to the magical website of Queen Maeve’s Cairn, a megalithic tomb atop a Knocknarea mountain, and Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery – the most important of its sort in Eire.

Sligo is a perfect place to cease for a couple of nights on a highway journey, and it’s straightforward to see why it impressed a lot literature. The city is surrounded by historic structure, and its fairly city middle is scenically sliced by the light Garavogue River. You need to undoubtedly go to the Yeats Society, Sligo Nation Museum, and Sligo Abbey within the city itself.

Sligo is shrouded in historic thriller, dramatized by its intensive literature historical past. We love its proximity to a few of Eire’s most beloved megalithic tombs, and it’s a stupendous place to go to in Eire for an perception into this darker historical past.

7. Athlone

Athlone is a chronically neglected metropolis to go to in Eire however belief us, in case you cease right here, you’ll adore it. Ahlone dates again to the Bronze Age and was even concerned within the Jacobite Rising; you’ll discover tons of lesser-known historic websites and quiet archaeological sites. It’s also a preferred cease on bus excursions to go to the oldest pub on this planet! Throughout our River Shannon Cruise, we parked proper in entrance of Sean’s Bar to get pleasure from a pint on this planet’s oldest pub.

Athlone is a stupendous metropolis break up in half by the River Shannon and positioned proper subsequent to Lough Ree. We cherished spending two nights on this historic metropolis and visiting the Sixth-century website of Clonmacnoise. Read about it here.

8. Kilkenny Metropolis

Kilkenny is one in all our favourite cities in Eire. It’s a treasure trove of historic and cultural riches. Nestled within the coronary heart of Eire’s Historic East, Kilkenny Metropolis boasts a shocking medieval panorama, full with cobbled streets, historic stone buildings, and the enduring Kilkenny Fortress.

This metropolis isn’t solely steeped in historical past but in addition thrives as a middle of up to date arts, internet hosting quite a few festivals all year long that showcase the perfect in Irish craft, design, and music.

The bustling streets of Kilkenny are lined with artisan boutiques, inviting cafes, and conventional pubs the place one can savor the native delicacies and benefit from the famend Irish hospitality. Whether or not you’re exploring the well-preserved Kilkenny Fortress, wandering by means of the enchanting Rothe Home and Backyard, or just absorbing the colourful environment, Kilkenny gives a uniquely enriching expertise that captures the essence of Eire’s cultural and historic splendor.

There’s additionally St Mary’s Medieval Mile Museum, Rothe Home and Backyard, St Mary’s Cathedral, and St Canice’s Cathedral. Smithwick’s Expertise is a should, too, guiding you thru a multi-sensory tour of how Eire’s oldest ale got here to be shaped.

9. Wexford

Wexford is well among the finest cities to go to in Eire. The main metropolis sits on Eire’s east coast, which, as you already know, was predominantly based by Viking settlers. It has a superb maritime heritage and beautiful sandy seashores, lots of that are designated Blue Flag Seashores for his or her cleanliness and security. It’s much less industrial than Waterford, with extra of a lingering historic environment. You’ll be able to get pleasure from condensed tradition in its extraordinarily walkable middle or use it as a day journey launchpad – extra on that in a second.

The most effective inner-city sights in Wexford are the Nationwide Opera Home, Wexford Harbour, and the ruins of Selskar Abbey, the place the primary Anglo-Irish treaty was signed. Wexford has many medieval lanes and slender streets in its modern-day buying quarter. It’s a enjoyable place for some retail remedy with a historic backdrop, one of many important causes we added it to this information.

The second motive is Wexford’s day journey potential. It’s lower than a 10-minute drive from the unimaginable Irish Nationwide Heritage Park, which tells the story of Irish settlement over 9,000 years with recreated homes and costumed guides over 35 acres.

10. Tullamore

Stunning Tullamore is one in all Eire’s finest cities to go to, with fewer vacationers than different cities. Situated in County Offaly, one of many central counties in Eire, it has glorious entry to the just about tourist-free Slieve Bloom Mountains.

As if this peaceable, off-the-beaten-track setting wasn’t ok, Tullamore can be recognized for its whiskey, and you may take guided whiskey excursions on the Tullamore DEW Distillery.

The Grand Canal splits the middle and has lovely waterfront views. You need to prioritize visits to Shra Fortress, Charleville Fortress, and the Clara Boardwalk, which treats you to beautiful views over one in all Offaly’s well-known bogs. Bogs are essential to rural tradition, traditionally offering peat to warmth houses and that peaty taste in sure Irish whiskies, like Tullamore Whiskey.

Tullamore is a good place to go to in Eire to get an perception into rural tradition. It gives the right springboard for lavatory tourism and historic castles, plus, in fact, the prospect to pattern a few of the tastiest Irish whiskey.

11. Dingle

The small port metropolis sits on the western Dingle Peninsula, you guessed it, proper on the attractive Wild Atlantic Means’s path; so it’s a must-stop-off in case you resolve to road trip the Wild Atlantic Way. Dingle has an inspiring relationship with nature and is a a lot quieter model of Galway Bay. We simply had so as to add it to our record of the perfect cities in Eire.

Dingle is kids’s e-book worthy, having piggybacked its fame from the story of Fungie the Dolphin, a well-known lone dolphin that used to name Dingle Harbour house. Now, you may nonetheless take boat tours to go dolphin spotting or go to the Fungie statue within the harbor – which immortalizes everybody’s favourite Dingle resident.

Along with dolphin recognizing, you also needs to try the Dingle Distillery and Kingdom Falconry. And if in case you have time for day journeys, take a ship tour to the Blasket Islands.

12. Adare

What Adare lacks in metropolis standing, it makes up tenfold in character. Its buildings are so aesthetic and it holds a lot tradition that we simply needed to embody it. It’s so lovely that it’s a designated heritage city, with a mix of colourful conventional terraces and white-washed cottages with thatched roofs. Adare isn’t any hidden gem, however in case you can go to low season, you received’t discover it overcrowded. It is sort of a time capsule, whisking you again to Twelfth-century Eire.

When visiting, you need to see the thatched cottages, now become reward outlets like Lucy Eridge, and eating places just like the beautiful Blue Door Restaurant. You also needs to go to Adare Fortress and the Augustinian Friary. Adare is all about environment and beautiful conventional aesthetic.

Adare is the perfect addition to a metropolis break in Limerick. If in case you have a protracted weekend, we propose spending an evening there earlier than driving again to Limerick for its airport and main metropolis facilities.

13. Donegal

Introducing Donegal: one of the crucial well-liked cities in Eire. Donegal is ready in its same-named county, County Donegal, nicknamed Eire’s Forgotten County. Dramatic sea cliffs and barren moorland encompass town, and it’s the place to go to if you would like loads of day journeys into close by wilderness. Donegal is an excellent stop-off for a couple of nights in case you observe the Wild Atlantic Means’s route down the west coast.

Donegal Fortress and the Railway Heritage Museum are different must-visits within the metropolis. Nevertheless, Donegal is much from surrounded by pure magnificence and happy-go-lucky historical past. It’s additionally a harrowing metropolis to be taught concerning the influence of the famine. The Nice Famine hit within the mid-Nineteenth century and led to the death of approximately 25% of the Irish population. A go to to Donegal’s Famine Graveyard is a should to assist comprehend the tragedy of the conflict-driven famine.

Donegal is a good place to go to and expertise an enormous spectrum of Irish historical past, tradition, and nature in a tiny space. With a stupendous location and much to show vacationers, it’s a straightforward addition to our record of the perfect cities to go to in Eire.

14. Killarney

Killarney is fantastically positioned on the outskirts of Killarney Nationwide Park in County Kerry. County Kerry is positioned smack dab in the midst of two of Eire’s most iconic scenic drives: the Wild Atlantic and the Ring of Kerry. It’s the right base to go on horseback rides or discover waterfall trails and forests on foot within the Killarney Nationwide Park, heading again for a comfy pub dinner in Killarney within the evenings. And if you wish to expertise Eire’s ‘deep south’, that is your alternative.

Killarney itself has a neo-Gothic architectural model and a small middle. You’ll be able to take a tour by horse and carriage, go to Killarney Home and Gardens, and check your tastebuds on the Irish Whiskey Expertise. Killarney can be ideally positioned on a day journey to some unique things to do along the Wild Atlantic Way, like Skellig Michael.

We love its robust sense of character and profoundly conventional environment, and its proximity to the nationwide park is simply the last word addition.

Finest Cities in Northern Eire

After all, the island of Eire is break up into two international locations: Northern Eire and the Republic of Eire. Whereas Northern Eire is way smaller, it has some fabulous cities to go to, so we needed to give it a particular point out on this information.

Visiting each Northern Eire and the Republic of Eire in a single journey is tremendous simple – you may simply drive throughout the border or catch a shuttle service, particularly in case you’re touring between Belfast and Dublin. For those who can, mix the 2 in a single journey. These are a few of the finest Northern Irish cities that ought to undoubtedly discover a method onto your itinerary.

15. Derry / Londonderry

Derry / Londonderry is a metropolis that goes by two names. You’ll find out why here, however in brief, it’s due to sectarian tensions. Protestants referred to town as Londonderry, whereas Catholics known as it Derry. These days, you may normally use both with out controversy; to be well mannered, when speaking to Northern Irish individuals, you may simply take their lead in how they reference town.

It goes with out saying {that a} metropolis with such a backstory behind its identify makes for an enchanting vacationer vacation spot. There’s tons of political and social historical past to unpack behind Derry Metropolis, and you may cease by sights like murals and the Museum of Free Derry and stroll the Derry Partitions. Derry is compact and walkable, making it an excellent metropolis break. And for any Derry Ladies followers, you may spot loads of filming areas, which is a enjoyable additional.

We had so as to add Derry Metropolis to this record, because it is likely one of the most complicated and attention-grabbing cities in Northern Eire. For those who like your historical past, Derry is a must-visit.

16. Bangor

Stunning Bangor is a small Northern Irish metropolis only a 30-minute drive outdoors Belfast. It’s a seaside metropolis with sandy seashores and an excellent place to expertise the coastal tempo of life in Northern Eire. In summer time, Bangor comes alive with a barely tacky seaside resort environment. However in case you catch it out of season, it has a extremely romantic, wistful enchantment and a a lot slower tempo.

You’ll be able to stroll the 10-mile Holywood to Bangor part of the North Down Coastal Path or simply get pleasure from having seashores like Ballyholme Seaside at your beck and name. Bangor’s waterfront is scenic, an attraction in itself, lined by colourful terraces painted blues, greens, and pinks. Stroll alongside the water and cease by impartial espresso outlets just like the quirky cafe The Bearded Goat. If you wish to get historic in your sightseeing, head to the North Down Museum.

17. Belfast

The Northern Irish capital of Belfast is an enchanting mixture of pleasant locals and an internet of complicated historical past. Belfast is a contemporary metropolis with a gritty undertone, with metropolis maps nonetheless segmented into sectarian neighborhoods regardless of its now – largely – blended communities. It’s most famed for its Troubles, a interval of political unrest that lasted from 1968 to 1998 earlier than the signing of the Good Friday Settlement. For historical past buffs, the chance to find out about this unrest is a big draw, normally by means of black taxi tours of the murals and Peace Wall.

This singular stereotype of Belfast and the tourism it gives is reductionist, although. There’s the whole lot from cozy pubs and bars within the buzzy, cobbled Cathedral Quarter to the Titanic Belfast museum and a path commemorating the east Belfast-born singer Van Morrison. It’s additionally a implausible place to make use of as a launchpad to go to the Mourne Mountains, Darkish Hedges, or the Causeway Coast.

If you wish to perceive Northern Eire, head to Belfast. Northern Eire has a whole tradition of its personal. Belfast will introduce you to the politics, subcultures, and traditions behind that – all whereas located in a super place for a day journey to areas of pure magnificence.

Finest Cities in Eire: FAQs

Now you recognize which cities to go to in Eire, we have to assist slender down your new assortment of decisions. In spite of everything, it’s a powerful alternative. How do you choose between Galway Metropolis and Dingle? Or Limerick and Cork? Or Belfast versus Derry? On this part, we’ll have a look at essentially the most generally requested inquiries to see if we will help you choose your high two or three cities in Eire.

The place is essentially the most lovely metropolis in Eire?

Probably the most lovely metropolis in Eire is undoubtedly Galway Metropolis. The previous city is essentially the most genuine place to expertise native tradition, and out of all of the Irish cities, Galway retains a country, windswept settlement high quality.

What are the 5 largest cities in Eire?

Within the Republic of Eire, the 5 largest cities are Dublin, Limerick, Cork, Galway, and Waterford. The biggest cities on the island of Eire, together with the Republic and Northern Eire, are Dublin, Belfast, Limerick, Galway, and Derry/Londonderry.

What’s the important city in Eire?

Dublin is the capital metropolis of Eire and

I don’t suppose I’d agree with this. I’d say it’s Dublin. Are you able to re-write this.

What’s the finest metropolis to go to in Eire?

It’s a powerful name, however Galway is the perfect metropolis to go to in Eire. We’d recommend Galway as a result of it’s closest to the Wild Atlantic Means and has straightforward day journey entry to the placing west coast islands just like the Aran Islands, Skellig Michael, and the Inishmore Islands. It additionally has essentially the most genuine character, and whereas Dublin is unimaginable if you would like a luxurious lodge, formal museums, and buzzy drinks at Temple Bar, Galway gives extra of an immersion into conventional Irish music and tradition.

Cities in Eire We Love

Wherever you select to go to in Eire, you’ll discover an incredible string of cities providing a special expertise and outlook. You’ll be able to head to Northern Eire for the good metropolis of Belfast or the sleepy seaside city of Bangor with all its sandy seashores. You’ll be able to head to Eire’s west coast for the enduring cities alongside the Wild Atlantic Means, like Killarney and Galway Metropolis. The central cities alongside the River Shannon, like Athlone, are surrounded by the attractive lavatory nation. The south gives intense tradition in cities like Cork and Limerick metropolis, whereas the east coast homes Dublin and Eire’s oldest metropolis, Waterford.

There are some awe-inspiring cities in Eire. These 17 finest cities in Eire ought to preserve you properly entertained throughout your keep.

Bear in mind to take a look at a few of the smaller cities and villages in Eire as properly. It isn’t often called the ‘Emerald Isle’ for no motive – heading out into the countryside will provide you with some wonderful experiences and views of Eire. Begin in the perfect cities in Eire after which department out to its smaller treasures. Have an unimaginable keep.