It isn’t hard to fall in love with Ireland. I should know—I went there 18 years ago on what was supposed to be a vacation, and simply never left. This is an island where ridiculously beautiful sights pop up in the most unlikely of places, from gravity-defying sea stacks found at the end of a dirt road, to hiking trails that make you feel like you’re walking on the moon. And the best part? After all this time, I’m still finding new reasons to fall in love with it all over again.
In Ireland, the key to a memorable trip is to submit to spontaneity. Sure, you could technically drive the Ring of Kerry in an afternoon, ticking off all the sights from behind the wheel. But by doing so you’d miss out on dipping your toes in the freezing Atlantic, stopping for creamy chowder in a fire-warmed pub, or chatting to the local who recommends a beauty spot no one else knows about. And that’s where the real fun comes into play. So, whether you want to check out the crumbling ruins of a monastic settlement or explore beaches where cows roam the sands, here are the best places to see on the island of Ireland.
This gallery has been updated with new information since it was originally published.
