Ireland is one of the few countries in the world with a magical combination of stunning landscapes, a lively culture, and a rich history. This friendly island nation draws tourists from across the globe each year thanks to its beautiful attractions and the famous Irish hospitality. Ireland received over 10 million guests in 2017 alone, which isn’t that bad for a country whose population is just under 5 million.
Perhaps the most beautiful thing about Ireland is the fact that visitors have a lot of decisions to make. Although this nation is small in size, it’s loaded with lots of awesome things to do and see. Below, we’ve rounded up 5 things every tourist should do in Ireland.
1. Visit the Blarney Castle
You can’t tour Ireland and fail to kiss the Blarney stone at Blarney Castle. Blarney Castle is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Ireland. Located in proximity to the City of Cork, Blarney Castle remains a medieval stronghold in Blarney town and nearby surroundings.
People from across the world visit Ireland to kiss this old castle. It’s believed that kissing the Blarney Stone gives you the gift of eloquence. You’ll have to climb up the narrow and windy stairs to get to the castle top and kiss the Blarney Stone.
2. Tour the mighty Moher Cliffs
The towering Cliffs of Moher are arguably one of the top tourist attractions in Ireland. These rocky sea cliffs are located in County Clare on Ireland’s west coast. Along with the karst limestone hills, the Cliffs of Moher have received the recognition at a UNESCO Global Park.
These stunning cliffs stand at 700 feet above the sea level and stretch for close to 14 kilometres long. These rocky cliffs recorded at least 1.4 million tourists in 2016. The Cliffs of Moher and the coastal region surrounding them are spectacular tourist attractions which you should never miss.
3. Tour Sligo Abbey & Strandhill Beach
Sligo is a top Ireland attraction which lies to the northwest of the country, stretching about 50 km from the Northern Ireland border. Sligo Abbey is a fascinating tourist gem which dates back to the mid-13th century. It’s a Dominican Friary comprising Gothic and Renaissance mausoleum sculptures – the only ones to have remained untamed in an Irish monastic church since the 15th century.
While in Sligo, you can take a tour to Strandhill, Benbulbin, Lissadell House, Coney Island, and Parke’s Castle. Located about 7 miles from Sligo town, Strandhill is a fascinating seaside village with rocky beaches and tall grassy sand dunes. These are charming Ireland attractions you cannot afford to miss.
4. Visit Titanic Belfast
You should consider visiting Titanic Belfast during your trip to Ireland. Titanic Belfast is a maritime heritage monument that uses various interactive exhibits and galleries to tell the RMS Titanic stories.
The facility boasts a wide floor spacing that stretches over 130,000 square feet wide. The Titanic Belfast Hotel located right beside the museum will cater to your accommodation needs.
5. Go for off-road driving at County Kildare
Off-road riding is one of the most excellent adventures Ireland has in store for tourists. You’ll be assigned an expert instructor who’ll show you how to drive through mud holes, rivers, steep hills, and other obstacles.
Off-road driving at County Kildare makes for a great day trip since it’s located just less than 45 minutes drive outside of Dublin. You should add this course to your itinerary if you’re looking for something unique to do in Ireland.
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