Tourism in Ireland

There were 9 million people visiting Ireland in 2017. That is almost a double of the population of Ireland. Most of the visitors come from the UK, USA, France and Germany.

The tourism in Ireland is built around nature tourism, which is no surprise in a country this beautiful. The Cliffs of Moher on the West coast, along the Wild Atlantic Way, attract 1 million visitors every year being one of the most visited places in the country.

A scene from Harry Potter - the Half Blood Prince movie was shot in the Cliffs of Moher.

Cliffs of Moher

Other popular destinations outside of Dublin are Killarney national park and the Ring of Kerry, Glendalough, the Dark Hedges, the Wild Atlantic Way and Blarney Castle, just to name a few.

The easiest way to explore Ireland is by car. You get the freedom to drive through the small villages, take the detour to see amazing coastlines and to stop to take pictures of the sheep. There is of course a public transport network connecting the biggest cities, and even some of the smaller ones. But if you want to see the nature attractions, which are usually not located next to the big cities, public transport is not the best or easiest choice.

If you can't drive, there is also an option to take bus tours around Ireland. There are several companies offering these services, from different citiees. Prices vary from 20 euros to hundreds, depending on the destination and the length of the tour. I find these tours a good way to explore the country without a car. There is usually a very talkative Irish driver who will tell you funny stories and interesting history along the journey.

Wild Atlantic Way

I have visited only a few of the most popular tourist attractions in Dublin. But to be honest, I think one should only visit places they are interested in, not because this place is ''a must see''.

In Dublin city there is Guinness Storehouse for beer lovers, Jameson Whiskey museum for whiskey enthusiasts and Dublin Castle and Book of Kells in Trinity College library for history lovers. I haven't visited any of these, but I have heard they are worth for a visit.

Kilmainham Gaol

The place I would recommend going to is Kilmainham Gaol. It is an old prison with full of history. This place got me really interested in the Irish history and is one of the most interesting places I have visited, ever. They have amazing guided tours, the prices are not bad at all and it is located quite close to the city centre.Tickets are likely to sell out so better booking in advance.

There are many museums in Dublin that doesn't take admission fee, a few nice large parks around the city and you can even paddle in the river Liffey. Grafton Street is a famous shopping street, you can join a James Joyce walking tour or go watch rugby, hurling or gaelic football in Croke Park. Dublin is a city that offers something for everyone.