Castles, coastline, verdant countryside. Beer. This part of Ireland lives up to its somewhat clichéd reputation: it’s a lush and scenic land, dotted with castles and filled with small towns with pubs on every corner. There’s so much that’s quintessentially Ireland in this region, but here are your best bets for a road trip tour of Ireland.
Dublin
Don't miss the Guinness Storehouse when you're in Dublin
Start and end your trip in Dublin, but be sure to save time to see the city itself before you hit the road. It may be one of Europe’s great cities, but it might not always come across as interesting or unique. A walk through the crowds of tourists on O’Connell Street and a drink in historic but commercialized Temple Bar is enough to put you off Dublin altogether.
But visit the Guinness Storehouse for a tour and tasting, traipse through the lovely and historic campus of Trinity College, and take a tour at historic prison Kilmainham Gaol and the real Dublin will reveal its charm.
Skip the line at the Guinness Storehouse and read more about things to do in Dublin
Trim
Head next to tiny Trim, about an hour outside Dublin. Here’s where the Irish countryside begins to take over the suburban clutter around Dublin. Trim is quiet, so you won’t find any busy pubs or great live music, but you’re here for the history. The obvious, major landmark in Trim is the medieval Trim Castle, once Ireland’s largest fortification and a film location for the epic Braveheart. The tours here are excellent. Hit the walking paths of Trim to visit other ruins of the town’s gates, abbeys, friary, and cathedral.
Kilkenny
Kilkenny Castle. Photo credit: Irish Typepad via Flickr.
Continue on to Kilkenny, where the narrow streets are jammed with historic store fronts; inside, you’ll find worthwhile shops, great restaurants, and lively pubs. The pubs in Ireland generally also serve excellent food, so it’s not uncommon to eat a fantastic leg of lamb and linger into the evening over pints and live music. High Street is the place to go for such evening entertainment. St. Canice, the medieval cathedral, is high on the list of sights here, as is Kilkenny Castle. If you’re not tired of historic sites yet, visit Kells Priory and the Black Abbey. A tour at Smithwick’s brewery is also a must.
Waterford
Heading south out of Kilkenny you’ll hit Waterford, of Waterford Crystal fame. The sparkly showroom at the visitor’s center is open for browsing, and tours of the factory start here. Waterford is Ireland’s oldest city, and you’ll find plenty of historic relics here, too. The most impressive is Reginald’s Tower, built in the 12th century as an important fortification. The tower is now a museum, and the displays are as interesting as the tower itself. Just watch your head in the tight stairwells.
No trip to an Irish town is complete without a stop in a church, and Waterford has two of interest: Christ Church Cathedral (look for the macabre tomb of James Rice) and Holy Trinity Cathedral (with 10 Waterford Crystal chandeliers).
Kinsale
Kinsale. Photo credit: Shadowgate via Flickr.
The narrow, winding streets of Kinsale are a welcome respite from busier Waterford. Kinsale is known for its food and had earned a reputation as the gourmet capital of Ireland. The streets are filled with shops and restaurants and pubs so densely packed you can hit the highlights in a day. Explore the harbor and consider a cruise on the River Bandon. Also of note is Charles Fort, just outside the town, a well-preserved star fort with great views and interesting displays.
Kenmare
Kenmare is often used as a launch point for the fantastic Ring of Kerry, a breathtaking road through mountains and countryside encircling the Iveragh peninsula. It’s also one of the top tourist attractions in Ireland, and the tour buses that squeeze on the cliffside roads can make the drive a bit harrowing at times.
But here’s where you’ll find southern Ireland’s best scenery: dramatic coastline, grazing sheep, and quiet fishing towns. It’s also close to the Ring of Kerry’s less populated alternative, the Ring of Beara. The scenery is dramatic here, too, as is the cable car ride to tiny Dursey Island. Back in Kenmare, there’s the usual charming storefronts and pubs, but not much else that stands out. One historic site to visit, though, is the Stone Circle, a Bronze Age burial monument.
Cliffs of Moher
Cliffs of Moher
The Cliffs of Moher may be crowded and a bit out of the way (they’re three hours from Kenmare), but you’ll soon forget all the hassle when you step—not too close—to the edge and look down. The cliffs plunge 200 meters to an angry sea, where puffins dive for fish. You can walk along the rim and, on clear days, spot the Aran Islands and the hills of Connemara. A visitor’s center hides from view under a hillside, where the displays show a bird’s eye view of the cliffs and information on the ecosystem. For a more close-up view that doesn’t involve risking your life by jumping the safety fence, book a cruise to see the cliffs from below.
Visit the Cliffs of Moher from Dublin
From Kenmare, it’s a four-hour trip back to Dublin, but the highways here are easy to navigate. An alternative is flying home–there’s an airport at Limerick, a shorter two hours from Kenmare.
- Megan Hill
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September 28, 2012 at 2:36 AM
I am amazed with Kinsale. This might be the most colorful houses. I imagine how colorful it is to live in Ireland. It must be a fun filled one.
October 17, 2012 at 12:27 AM
Hmmmm…. heard of ‘Ireland’ and ‘Republic of Ireland’. Southern Ireland? Where’s that then
October 17, 2012 at 1:06 AM
Great report – but no-one calls it Southern Ireland. Especially as its most northerly point is further north than the most northerly point in Northern Ireland!
October 19, 2012 at 9:05 AM
With regards the Kinsale section: I believe the river is called the River Bandon, not the Brandon River.
October 19, 2012 at 10:01 AM
Thank you for the correction!
October 20, 2012 at 12:57 AM
As a Corkman, I may have to disagree with the “Start and end your trip in Dublin” bit! Temple Bar: agreed…its a tourist trap best avoided but Trinity is a must-see.
An alternative is to go west: fly into Shannon and include Galway in your itinerary.
A trip to the small towns of West Cork is also a must-see and I’d venture is more interesting that touristy places like Kilkenny or Waterford.
In county Waterford visit Lismore and quaint Dungarvan – the view from the Cork road is jaw-dropping.
Donegal is a surprising omission too. Its in the north of the Republic of Ireland so this may be the reason. The Slieve League cliffs are far less crowded and far more spectacular than the Cliffs of Moher.
Finally, I am obliged to mention that Cork city will offer you a warm welcome – as will anywhere in Ireland.
October 20, 2012 at 1:09 AM
By Southern Ireland I think the author actually meant southern Ireland. All of the locations are south of Dublin and therefore in the southern part of the island – that’s a physical geographical reference not a political geographical one. It is true that southern Ireland does sound strange to the ears, especially when Northern Ireland is a political entity but the term is no less valid than using North Africa to describe the geographic area along the Mediterranean while South Africa refers to a sovereign state.
So if an author wishes to describe all points south of Dublin as southern ireland then let them, after all if you are in Waterford you’re in the southeast and Kenmare is in the southwest.
October 23, 2012 at 12:44 AM
O’Connor street?? Would that be anywhere near O’Connell street?
October 24, 2012 at 1:00 AM
Sean, couldn’t agree more.
What a strange itinerary suggestion. TRIM??? Darren Trim is north of Dublin so the “southern ireland” title still makes no sense and was poorly researched.
No mention of Galway?
Shannon airport is not Limerick Airport, in fact it’s not even in Limerick it’s in Co Clare….
Here’s a suggestion; why not have a local/ Irish native put together an 7 day itinerary?
Bizarre review of Ireland.
October 28, 2012 at 12:59 AM
Did the person who wrote this ever visit Ireland. Poor selection of a top ten, mis-spellings and wrong names, poor information. What about Connemara, Donegal, Achill, Dingle and many more places that would be well ahead of Trim and Waterford. Better research required if ou are going to publish something like this.
October 30, 2012 at 5:21 AM
This article really is a little bizarre and under researched. As all the other comments have pointed out, there is so much more to Ireland than this.I appreciate you are only picking seven spots, but this is very limited. Catherine Mack, author Ireland Green Travel app.
October 30, 2012 at 6:03 AM
The West, Cliffs of Moher are in the West of Ireland and are just a small corner of a fantastic area called The Burren, where you need to stay a few days at least to experience what is available there. Then you can come back for more.
November 7, 2012 at 1:35 AM
Do not visit The Cliffs of Moher from Dublin. Its a day in a bus with a short break at the cliffs. Go to The Burren for a few days, visit the cliffs while there its a while other world and not to be missed as a part of visiting Ireland.
January 2, 2013 at 10:57 AM
Thanks for the additional tips, everyone. I would like to mention that I have indeed visited much of Ireland, and picked my own favorite spots after much additional research. As you have each pointed out, there are many, many wonderful places to visit in this fantastic country. This is simply one person’s approach and an overview at that–it’s impossible to give a guidebook-level overview in a short article.
June 13, 2013 at 4:24 PM
I love Dublin,a very beautiful city to visit.