"Ireland is the country where the landscape is the destination — and the people are the experience."
Ireland is a country of extraordinary natural beauty and extraordinary warmth — a small island on the western edge of Europe with a coastline that is among the most dramatic in the world, a food scene built on the finest seafood and dairy in Europe, and a tradition of hospitality that is entirely its own. The Wild Atlantic Way — 2,500km of coastal road from Donegal to Cork — is one of the world's great drives. The Skellig Islands are one of the world's great UNESCO sites. And the pubs of Galway, Cork, and Dublin are one of the world's great social institutions.
Ireland is best experienced by car, slowly, with no fixed itinerary. The country rewards detours — the unmarked road that leads to a hidden cove, the pub that turns out to have a session on, the farmhouse B&B where the breakfast is extraordinary. The food scene has been transformed over the past two decades: Ballymaloe in Cork, Aniar in Galway, and Chapter One in Dublin are among the finest restaurants in Europe, and the raw ingredients — Galway Bay oysters, Dingle Bay crab, Connemara lamb — are world-class.
"Skellig Michael at dawn — a 6th-century monastery on a sea stack, and one of the most extraordinary places on earth."
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At a Glance
Regions to Explore
Dublin
Ireland's capital — a compact, walkable city of Georgian squares, literary pubs, and a food scene that has been transformed over the past decade into one of the finest in Europe. The National Museum, Trinity College's Book of Kells, and the Guinness Storehouse are the obvious draws; the neighbourhood restaurants of Ranelagh and Rathmines are the real ones.
The Wild Atlantic Way
A 2,500km coastal route along Ireland's western seaboard — from Donegal in the north to Cork in the south, passing through the Cliffs of Moher, the Aran Islands, Connemara, and the Dingle Peninsula. The most dramatic coastal scenery in Europe, and the finest seafood in the world at the restaurants along the route.
County Kerry & the Ring of Kerry
Ireland's most celebrated scenic drive — a 179km loop around the Iveragh Peninsula, with views of the MacGillycuddy's Reeks, the Skellig Islands, and Kenmare Bay. The Skellig Michael UNESCO World Heritage Site — a 6th-century monastic settlement on a sea stack 12km off the coast — is one of the most extraordinary places in the world.
The Cliffs of Moher & the Burren
The Cliffs of Moher rise 214 metres above the Atlantic on the Clare coast — one of the most dramatic natural landmarks in Europe. The Burren, a 250-square-kilometre limestone plateau to the north, is a unique landscape of karst pavements, rare wildflowers, and ancient dolmens.
Connemara
The wildest and most beautiful part of Ireland — a landscape of bog, mountain, and sea in County Galway, with the Twelve Bens mountain range, the Connemara National Park, and the Irish-speaking villages of the Gaeltacht. The Ballynahinch Castle Hotel is the finest country house hotel in Ireland.
The Causeway Coast (Northern Ireland)
The Giant's Causeway — 40,000 interlocking basalt columns formed by volcanic activity 60 million years ago — is one of the world's great natural wonders. The coastal drive from Belfast to Portrush, passing Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge and Dunluce Castle, is one of the finest scenic drives in Europe.
Cities We Cover
Dublin
Ireland's literary capital — Georgian squares, world-class restaurants, and the finest pub culture in the world.
Galway
Ireland's most vibrant city — a medieval port on the Wild Atlantic Way, with extraordinary seafood and a festival culture that is uniquely its own.
Cork
Ireland's food capital — the English Market, Ballymaloe, and a restaurant scene that punches far above its size.
Killarney
The gateway to Kerry — a Victorian resort town surrounded by national park, lakes, and the Ring of Kerry.
The Verdict
Drive the Wild Atlantic Way, eat the oysters in Galway, and climb Skellig Michael — Ireland rewards those who take their time.