Map view
St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin
Best time to visit: June-Aug
Cost: $
- Saint Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin, was founded in 1191 as a Roman Catholic cathedral, is currently the national cathedral of the Church of Ireland
- The cathedral, which generally receives no State funding, welcomes all, with a chapel for those who come simply to pray and a small fee for those who wish to sight-see
Cliffs of Moher and Doolin
Walk difficulty: Moderate
Best time to visit: July-Oct
Cost: $
- Sea cliffs in County Clare, that run for about 14 kilometres (9 miles)
- The sea cliffs reach their maximum height of 214 metres (702 ft) just north of O'Brien's Tower, a round stone tower near the midpoint of the cliffs, built in 1835 by Sir Cornelius O'Brien
Torc Waterfall Trail, Killarney National Park
Best time to visit: July-Oct
Cost: $
- Killarney National Park, near the town of Killarney, County Kerry, was the first national park in Ireland
- The park encompasses diverse ecology, including the Lakes of Killarney, oak and yew woodlands, and mountain peaks
- It has the only red deer herd on mainland Ireland and the most extensive covering of native forest remaining in Ireland
Guinness Storehouse
Best time to visit: June-Aug
Cost: $
- Atraction at St. James's Gate Brewery in Dublin, opened in 2000
- The Storehouse covers seven floors surrounding a glass atrium shaped in the form of a pint of Guinness
- The ground floor introduces the beer's four ingredients (water, barley, hops and yeast), and the brewery's founder, Arthur Guinness
- The seventh floor houses the Gravity Bar with views of Dublin and where visitors may drink a pint of Guinness
Ashford Castle
Best time to visit: July-Oct
Cost: $$
- Medieval and Victorian castle that has been expanded over the centuries and turned into a five star luxury hotel
- A castle was built on the perimeter of a monastic site in 1228 by the Anglo-Norman House of Burke
- In its time the castle has played host to many notable guests, including The Prince of Wales (later King George V) and his Consort, the future Queen Mary; John Lennon; George Harrison; Oscar Wilde; President Ronald Reagan; John Wayne; and Prince Rainier III of Monaco and his consort, Princess Grace
Dublin Castle
Best time to visit: June-Aug
Cost: $
- Former Motte-and-bailey castle and current Irish government complex and conference center, that was chosen for its position at the highest point of central Dublin
- Until 1922 it was the seat of the British government's administration in Ireland
- Much of the current buildings date from the 18th century, though a castle has stood on the site since the days of King John, the first Lord of Ireland
- After the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty in 1921, the complex was ceremonially handed over to the newly formed Provisional Government
- It now hosts the inauguration of each President of Ireland and various State receptions
Blarney Castle Loop
Walk difficulty: Easy
Best time to visit: July-Oct
Cost: $
- Medieval stronghold in Blarney, and though earlier fortifications were built on the same spot, the current keep was built by the MacCarthy of Muskerry dynasty, a cadet branch of the Kings of Desmond, and dates from 1446
- At the top of the castle lies the Stone of Eloquence, better known as the Blarney Stone
- Tourists visiting the castle may hang upside-down over a sheer drop to kiss the stone, which is said to give the gift of eloquence
- There are many versions of the origin of the stone, including a claim that it was the Lia Fáil — a numinous stone upon which Irish kings were crowned
Rock of Cashel
Walk difficulty: Easy
Best time to visit: July-Oct
Cost: $
- Historical site located at Cashel, County Tipperary that according to local legends, originated in the Devil's Bit, a mountain 20 miles (30 km) north of Cashel when St. Patrick banished Satan from a cave, resulting in the Rock's landing in Cashel
- The Rock of Cashel was the traditional seat of the kings of Munster for several hundred years prior to the Norman invasion
- The complex is one of the most remarkable collections of Celtic art and medieval architecture to be found anywhere in Europe
- Few remnants of the early structures survive; the majority of buildings on the current site date from the 12th and 13th centuries
Lough Dan - Kanturk, Glendalough
Walk difficulty: Moderate
Best time to visit: June-Aug
Cost: $
- Glacial valley in County Wicklow, renowned for an Early Medieval monastic settlement founded in the 6th century by St Kevin
- From 1825 to 1957, the head of the Glendalough Valley was the site of a galena lead mine, which the ruins of can now be viewed in the Miner's Village area