First time guests to Eire have quite a lot of choices to make. Whereas small in dimension, this pleasant island nation is loaded with superior issues to see and do. It’s not a simple process to resolve which Eire sights ought to make your shortlist.
In our opinion, Eire is among the finest journey locations for households. On our journey to Eire, we spent 2 weeks driving across the island nation, together with just a few days in Northern Eire.
This was our first time visiting Eire, so we did fairly a little bit of analysis earlier than our departure. We put collectively what we imagine to be the finest 10 day Eire highway journey itinerary for households.
High 10 Eire Sights
On this submit, we share the High 10 Eire sights that first time guests ought to embody on their Eire trip.
1. Eat and Drink your manner round Dublin
Most journeys to Eire will begin and end in its charming capital, Dublin. We actually loved our time wandering across the metropolis on foot. It’s a walk-able metropolis with loads of issues to see and do.
The highest issues to do in Dublin are to go to the Temple Bar district (pictured above), Dublin Fortress, Trinity School, St. Stephen’s Inexperienced, Kilmainham Gaol and admiring town’s historical past and structure alongside the River Liffey.
The pub tradition in Dublin is a lot enjoyable.
And, the very best half for households is that youngsters are allowed within the bars and pubs! We had been in a position to take in the complete Irish pub expertise with our boys, which was quite a lot of enjoyable. Learn this weblog submit about Eire journey ideas for households
There are many issues to do in Dublin with youngsters, together with Phoenix Park Customer Centre, The Ark and Imaginosity (kids’s museum).
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2. Pattern Eire’s most interesting at Guinness Storehouse
Whereas in Dublin, be sure you go to the notorious Guinness Storehouse and pattern a pint of its most interesting brew.
The Guinness Storehouse is positioned at St. James’s Gate Brewery and, in response to Wikipedia, it obtained over 4 million guests since opening in 2000. It tells the story of Eire’s celebrated beer by means of varied interactive exhibitions.
It’s fairly massive, spreading over 7 flooring of reveals. You possibly can simply spend just a few hours right here.
Don’t miss the artwork of the proper Guinness pour on the 4th flooring and be sure you drink within the 360 diploma view of Dublin from the seventh flooring (see photograph under). You probably have restricted time in Dublin, you possibly can skip the road with this tour. It will provide you with entry to the well-known Jameson Distillery on Bow Avenue.
3. Kiss the Blarney Stone at Blarney Fortress
With out query, certainly one of Eire’s hottest vacationer sights is Blarney Fortress. It’s a medieval stronghold within the city of Blarney, positioned simply outdoors town of Cork.
Guests from all around the world come to this outdated citadel to kiss its well-known Blarney Stone. The explanation folks kiss the stone is to ‘acquire the present of eloquence’. Though I’m unsure how kissing a stone that thousands and thousands of others have kissed will make you eloquent?
To kiss the Blarney Stone, you climb up a windy, slim stairs to the highest of the citadel. You lean backwards and seize an iron railing to get within the correct kissing place. There’s somebody there to carry you and hold the road transferring. There are additionally railings below the stone for a further layer of security.
Whereas kissing the Blarney Stone isn’t for everybody, visiting the Blarney Fortress and its environment gardens is a should for each Eire itinerary.
Information on Blarney Fortress tickets will be discovered right here. It’s also possible to ebook this present day journey tour from Dublin, which incorporates admission to the citadel.
Or, you possibly can keep in a single day on the Blarney Fortress lodge, which is conveniently positioned inside strolling distance to Blarney Fortress Gardens.
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4. Admire the colorful structure in Cobh
Cobh is house to Eire’s solely devoted cruise terminal. As a result of if this, it’s turn into a vacationer sizzling spot in recent times. As soon as often called Queenstown, Cobh is extensively often called the ultimate port of name for the RMS Titanic when it set out on its maiden voyage throughout the Atlantic.
Cobh isn’t very massive. You possibly can see most of it inside a few hours.
There’s a small vacationer prepare (not likely a prepare, extra like an open-air bus) that takes you round city and to some lookout factors. Cobh is constructed on a steep hill, so this prepare is a good suggestion in case you’re not eager to stroll up and down hills.
Ensure you take a peek contained in the spectacular Cobh Cathedral (Cathedral Church of St Colman). This neo-Gothic church dominates Cobh’s skyline. Whereas on the cathedral, cross the highway and take a look at the Deck of Playing cards, a row of vibrant properties. See photograph under.
Different vacationer sights in Cobh are the Titanic Expertise, Fortress Spike on Spike Island, Cobh Heritage Middle and Fota Wildlife Park.
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The well-known Deck of Playing cards in Cobh is certainly one of Eire sights.
The beautiful exterior of St. Colman’s Cathedral in Cobh. It’s so tall I couldn’t match all of it within the body!
5. Discover your Fortress
Each journey to Eire should embody a go to to certainly one of its castles.
We already talked about Eire’s most well-known citadel, Blarney Fortress, however there are such a lot of castles to discover in Eire. A lot of the castles in Eire are price seeing, so you actually can’t go improper.
When you’re doing a highway journey round Eire, which we HIGHLY suggest, you will see most castles listed on highway maps.
There are actually a whole bunch to select from, however the massive ones are the Rock of Cashel, Ashford Fortress, Bunratty Fortress, King John’s Fortress, Kilkenny Fortress, Cahir Fortress (above) and Dunguaire Fortress.
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King John’s Fortress is a Thirteenth-century citadel positioned on King’s Island in Limerick.
6. Drive the Wild Atlantic Method
The Wild Atlantic Method is a powerful 2,500 km coastal driving route round Eire. It was formally launched in 2014 and presently passes by means of 9 counties and three provinces.
The Wild Atlantic Method is damaged into 5 sections:
- 1 – County Donegal
- 2 – County Donegal to County Mayo
- 3 – County Mayo to County Clare
- 4 – County Clare to County Kerry
- 5 – County Kerry to County Cork
Alongside the route there are 150+ discovery factors, 1,000+ Eire sights and a couple of,500+ actions. The most well-liked sights on the Wild Atlantic Method are the Dingle Peninsula, Loop Head, Ring of Kerry, Cliffs of Moher, The Burren, Killarney Nationwide Park, Mizen Head, Killary Harbour and Clifden, no identify just a few.
And, in case you’re a Star Wars fan, you will see a number of Star Wars filming places in Eire on the Wild Atlantic Method.
To study this epic highway journey, get the information Exploring Eire’s Wild Atlantic Method. In case you are seeking to lease a automobile, check out Rentalcars for reasonably priced choices
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7. Go to the Cliffs of Moher
Arguably Eire’s high vacationer attraction, the towering Cliffs of Moher are definitely worth the hype. Situated on the west coast of Eire in County Clare, these rocky sea cliffs, together with the karst limestone hills of the Burren, are acknowledged at a UNESCO World Geopark.
In our opinion, the Cliffs of Moher, and the coastal area that surrounds them, is THE cause to journey to Eire.
Okay, the Guinness may also be the cause.
These spectacular sea cliffs run for 14 kilometres and rise 700 ft above the ocean on the highest level. In 2019, the Cliffs of Moher noticed a document 1.6 million guests.
The drive to the Cliffs of Moher is unbelievable.
We zigged and zagged alongside the Atlantic coast, passing by means of conventional Irish cities and villages which are a whole bunch of years outdated. The drive from the Cliffs of Moher to Galway is about 2 hours – with just a few stops for pictures.
We drove from Limerick to the Cliffs of Moher after which continued on to Galway (learn our Eire highway journey itinerary).
Cliffs of Moher climate will be unpredictable, so plan for chilly wind and rain (it’s Eire, in any case!). Hours of operation change all year long. Be taught the very best time to go to Cliffs of Moher right here.
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8. Go to Sligo Abbey and Strandhill Seaside
Situated within the northwest of Eire, about 50 km’s from the border with Northern Eire, Sligo doesn’t at all times make the record of high Eire sights, however we predict it’s price mentioning.
Sligo Abbey, pictured above, is an interesting ruined abbey that dates again to the mid-13th century. This Dominican Friary accommodates Gothic and Renaissance tomb sculptures and homes the one sculptured fifteenth century excessive altar to outlive in an Irish monastic church.
Whereas in Sligo, we suggest you go to Strandhill, a captivating seaside village and seaside city positioned about 7 miles type Sligo city. The tall grassy sand dunes and rocky seaside are quintessential Eire.
Different Sligo sights embody Benbulbin, Knocknarea, Lissadell Home, Parke’s Fortress and Coney Island.
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9. Large’s Causeway in Northern Eire
Situated on the northeast coast of Northern Eire, close to the city of Bushmills, the Large’s Causeway is an space of over 40,000 interlocking basalt columns. It’s the results of intense volcanic and geological exercise.
It’s no shock this legendary place has been acknowledged as a UNESCO World Heritage Web site.
We visited this well-liked Eire attraction as a result of it’s extremely really useful by nearly everybody we all know who has visited Eire and/or Northern Eire.
It didn’t disappoint. The huge sea cliffs are really out of this world. It’s spotlight from our 2 week highway journey round Eire.
Whereas your in County Antrim, make sure you additionally stroll throughout the well-known Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, watch the sundown over Dunluce Fortress, style advantageous Irish whiskey on the Outdated Bushmills Distillery and go for a experience at Curry’s Enjoyable Park (previously Barry’s Amusements) in Portrush. We suggest staying in this cute seaside city.
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10. Titanic Belfast
When you plan to go to Belfast in your journey to Eire you need to think about including Titanic Belfast to your itinerary. This monument to Belfast’s maritime heritage tells the tales of the RMS Titanic by means of quite a lot of interactive reveals and galleries.
The ability has over 130,000 sq. ft of flooring house!
Another choice is keep in a single day on the Titanic Belfast Resort, conveniently positioned beside the museum. You will discover Titanic Museum ticket costs and Hours of Operation right here.
Journey tip – earlier than you go to Titanic Belfast, we suggest you take a look at when the cruise ships are on the town. Plan across the cruise ship schedule. A cruise ship was in port after we visited and the museum was very busy that day.
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