These 10 Breathtaking Places in Ireland Look Straight Out of a Fairytale
There's something so magical about the vibrant natural greens of the Irish countryside. While you can't fully capture its beauty in words or photos, we promise you'll be awestruck as you explore it. So, what sites should you prioritize to visit on a trip to the Emerald Isle? Here we've rounded up the top 10 most beautiful places in Ireland to inspire your travels, and plenty of daydreams in the meantime.
While Ireland is full of pretty private landscapes around estates and country castle gardens, there are also many public places to explore from a drive around the scenic Ring of Kerry to a boat ride to the rugged island of Skellig Michael to a walk around the bucolic monastic site of Glendalough. To tour the island country, you can book a tour with a pre-planned itinerary or rent a car and plot out your own personalized adventure, depending on what you are looking for for a couples trip, mother-daughter trip, or other occasion. No matter which destinations you select, you're sure to spend lots of time basking in lush natural beauty you won't soon forget.
Now for those top 10 spots of surreal beauty in Ireland...There's good reason why the Cliffs of Moher's dramatic coastline is the most popular destination in Ireland. Believe us, they are even more awe-inspiring in person too. While visiting make sure you walk paved pathways along the tops of the cliffs to take in views of the Atlantic Ocean and the Aran Islands. To experience their beauty off the beaten path, take the Cliffs of Moher Trail past the crowds to the town of Doolin or to the Moher Tower at Hag's Head.This jagged island rising out of the Atlantic attracted a monastic settlement in the 6th century, and today you can explore its stone huts on rocky cliffs and the remote peace and beauty that drew monks there, following a boat ride out to the island. You'll see plenty of puffins on the Skellig Islands to greet you as well, and Star Wars fans might recognize its scenery from Star Wars: The Force Awakens.This picturesque estate in the the Connemara countryside was built in the late 1800s by a businessman and politician, but has been owned and run by Benedictine nuns since 1920. Beyond its pretty architecture, you're sure to find Kylemore Abbey's lake and mountain surroundings as well as its Victorian walled gardens a feast for the eyes.Ireland's first national park is full of natural treasures, with the country's highest mountain range, picture-perfect lakes, beautiful castles and mansions, and fascinating biodiversity perfect for outdoor enthusiasts. No visit to Killarney National Park is complete without a visit to the Torc Waterfall's cascading waters either (pictured).Perhaps Ireland's most notable scenic drive, The Ring of Kerry is a 179-km route around the Iveragh Peninsula that winds along coastal views and takes you through several towns and villages, ending in Killarney. Be sure to make stops at its pristine white beaches and to take in the area's mountains and lakes too.Hidden amongst Wicklow Mountains National Park lies this scenic monastic site. The name "Glendalough" translates to "valley of the two lakes," and that's just what it is, with Upper and Lower lakes and trails to explore it all with storybook scenery all around you.This famous rope bridge in Northern Island's Antrim Coast was first erected by salmon fisherman in 1755. A walk across the Carrick-a-Rede bridge today, suspended 25 feet above the Atlantic Ocean, is not only exhilarating but also gives you access to stunning coastal views around it. Be sure to look for seabirds nesting in the cliffs nearby too.While most of Ireland's most scenic spots boast natural beauty, we'll make an exception for the colorful streets in the port town of Cobh. As you can see here, St. Colman's Cathedral towers loom over a colorful row of houses known as The Deck of Cards. Cobh's port is also where The Titanic departed on her maiden voyage, and there's plenty to explore in the town around that history and more.The beauty of this site is just as storied as its historical significance. The Rock of Cashel's collections of Celtic art and medieval architecture are noteworthy, and most of its buildings date back to the 12th and 13th centuries—including its Gothic cathedral and Romanesque chapel. According to legend, St. Patrick himself even came to the site to convert King Aenghus to Christianity.You can never get enough of Irish coastal beauty, and one of the best places to take it in is along the rugged Dingle Peninsula in Country Kerry. Be sure to stop at its main town, also named Dingle, to visit a pub and take in live music, and explore beaches along the route there including at Sea Head (pictured).
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