Tourist Places To Visit In Ireland

Ireland, a country that is an integral part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain, is a breath-taking place. It is known for its hoard of superstitions, one for each hour if they had it their way. It is also known for its myths of goblins and faeries and leprechauns, as well as their delicious Guinness beer. For such a small place, Ireland does pack a huge punch. There are castles and museums, battle-forts and hills and glens. Some of the most coveted tourist places to visit in Ireland include the cities of Dublin, Belfast, Galway, Cork and Kerry. Read on to find details on each, and more. 

The capital city of Ireland, Dublin, is located on the east coast, at the mouth of River Liffey. It is a kaleidoscope of historic architecture, heritage museums and a fountain of the renowned Irish Guinness beer. Visit the famous Dublin Castle for its sheer magnificence, then head to the imposing Cathedral of St. Patrick, followed by the St. Stephen’s Green park and Dublin Zoo. There is also the National Museum for history buffs and Guinness Storehouse (Europe’s most popular tourist attraction) that houses the country’s most famous beer. You will also enjoy a visit to the Temple Bar, with its walking tours and folk music, revel in the walks down Trinity College courtyards and enjoy a visit to Dublin’s oldest pub - Brazen Head.

Belfast is the capital of Northern Ireland and also the place where the RMS Titanic (which later sunk in the Atlantic in 1912) was born. The tragedy is not Belfast’s only claim to fame however. The city hosts a dockyard called Titanic Quarter, with a museum in its memory. Belfast is also the city that inspired fantasy stories like Gulliver’s Travels and the Chronicles of Narnia. Bet you didn’t know that, did you? When in Belfast, make it a point to visit the Belfast Castle, Titanic Quarter and Titanic Belfast museum, Ulster Museum, Cave Hill Country Park and Botanic Gardens. To experience Belfast’s local life, head to St. George's Market on Fridays (homeware, fish, meat, flowers) and Saturdays (craft market, organic food). The Filthy Quarter is another great local haunt of bars that are retro and bric-a-brac-style, hosting local artists.

A city on the southwest coast of Ireland, Cork is a university city, home to the River Lee and Cork Harbour. When in Cork, you have a lot of touring to do, from the Cork City Gaol castle prison to the 18th-century Shandon Church, which is now the city symbol. Spend a leisure afternoon at Fitzgerald’s Park, visit the Blarney Castle and the Stone of Eloquence inside. You should also while away the evening at the English Market. You can also visit the nearby historic fishing port town of Kinsale and enjoy a day-trip discovering its military history. Some great bars to go night-crawling in Cork include O’ Flaherty’s, De Barra’s, Brú Bar and Old Oak. There are also a few dance and music clubs in Cork that catch the tourists’ eye.

Galway is a west-coast harbour city in Ireland, located at the confluence of River Corrib with Atlantic ocean. The city is meshed with canals and fortified limestone houses, crowned up with the Lynch’s Castle. A visit to Galway is incomplete without touring the city’s 18th century hub Are Square, suffused with its traditional pubs and joints playing Irish folk music, the Latin Quarter with its medieval walls and the winding lanes of Quay Street. Other places of tourist interest are Galway Cathedral, St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church, Galway City Museum and the Spanish Arch. You could also take a walk down the Salthill Promenade or book a Corrib Princess River Cuise.

Limerick, not in the sense of the poetry but a city in Ireland, is a major one. It is located in the south county of Munster and has a compact old town at its heart, known for its medieval era Cathedrals and Georgian townhouses. It is only 24 km from Shannon International Airport and houses the English town at the junction of Shannon and Abbey rivers. You can visit Newtown Pery, which is an upmarket area compared to the other parts. Some of the most touristy places here are King John's Castle, St. Mary's Cathedral, the Limerick City Gallery of Art and Glenstal Abbey. You must also visit the Foynes Flying Boat Museum and spend a day at Bunratty Castle and Folk Park.

A seaport and a town that was founded by Vikings in 914 AD, Waterford is a marvel with such rich geography and history. Its core has still retained its Viking hold and a trip to the Waterford Museum of Treasures will tell you how well. The town is located on a river, as most Irish towns are, and has been a port of ancient and contemporary importance. It is also renowned for its special handmade crystal that goes by the name of Waterford glass. Visit the Curraghmore House & Gardens, Bishop's Palace, Rock of Cashel, Reginald's Tower and Medieval Museum and do enjoy the heritage town of Lismore nearby.

The Ring of Kerry is a pretty famous Irish site, one that is printed on almost all Irish tourism brochures. County Kerry is home to this marvel, as well as many others. It is a peninsular region in southwest Ireland and is home to Irish-speaking traditional folk, rugged coastlines, mountains and moorlands on the edge of thick forests. Some iconic sites to look out for here are the Torc Waterfall, Muckross House, Skellig Michael, Ross Castle, Blasket Islands, Uragh Stone Circle, Shannon Estuary, Inch Beach and Kerry cliffs. The Killarney National Park is also a great outing spot for animal and nature lovers. Of course, the Ring of Kerry tops the chart for a scenic drive on the edges of Iveragh Peninsula, bringing the Irish countryside alive in front of you.