Ireland may be relatively small, but its dramatic coasts, country roads, and historic cities have visitors wishing for more time. To help maximize your trip, we consulted local experts, ranging from food writers to photographers, librarians, and tour guides, for their best bets.
Walking is one of the best ways to get to know Ireland. “I’ve been walking for about 30 years, but I’m still trotting off to find new routes, and all of the walks seem to have stories,” says John G. O’Dwyer, author of 50 Best Irish Walks.
One of his favorites is a moderately challenging hike that leads to Coumshingaun, a lake hidden in County Waterford’s Comeragh Mountains, where 18th-century highwayman William Crotty is said to have stashed his treasure. “It’s something special, probably the biggest glacial coum [tarn lake] in western Europe,” says O’Dwyer. “You can accomplish it in four hours and it’s still off the beaten path.”
For a two-day option, O’Dwyer suggests St. Finbarr, a 22-mile trail following a traditional spiritual route in County Cork. “It’s out of the way, crosses four mountains and three valleys, and ends with a magnificent sweep into [heritage site] Gougane Barra,” in the southwest.
“Ireland’s casual food has been elevated,” says food writer Ali Dunworth. These days, food trucks, pop-ups, and shacks are fun places to sample soulful pub grub, snap-fresh seafood, and toasties (grilled sandwiches) oozing with farmhouse cheese.
Pop-ups like Caitlin Ruth at Levis’s Corner House in Ballydehob, County Cork, and Cáis (Irish for cheese) at Dick Mack’s pub in Dingle, County Kerry, are great options. But Misunderstood Heron, a food shack overlooking Connemara’s Killary fjord, tops Dunworth’s list. “I love to go for the mussels because they’re from the fjord that you’re looking into. My plan would be to go for something to eat, and then drive over to Glassilaun Beach for a swim.”
From five-star hotels like Ashford Castle to teetering towers in fields with cattle, you’re never far from a fortress in Ireland. Marnie Corscadden, owner of Ballyseede Castle in Tralee, is captivated by Cloughoughter Castle, in County Cavan. “Nestled on a small island, this dreamy castle is like something from a fairytale,” she says. “The fact that it’s so remote and can only be accessed by boat adds to its intrigue and allure.” Visitors can see it from the shore and reach it via kayak with outfitters like Cavan Adventure Centre.
(This immense fairy-tale castle was built for one person.)
Think of golf in Ireland and iconic courses spring to mind, including Old Head in Kinsale or Adare Manor, where the Ryder Cup returns in 2026. “But Donegal’s string of stunning links lie relatively undiscovered by most visiting golfers,” says travel writer
The website maxtravelz.com is an aggregator of news from open sources. The source is indicated at the beginning and at the end of the announcement. You can send a complaint on the news if you find it unreliable.
Fancy sleeping in a see-through dome? Built for two, Finn Lough’s bubbles are set in private woodland and come with double beds and rolltop baths. All of which makes them perfect for stargazing or just relaxing in — particularly with the rain pinging off their transparent shells. An on-site spa adds a Finnish sauna, hot tubs and float room, and The Barn serves small plates that go big on local flavours.
Every year, a small suburban town called Twinsburg, Ohio hosts the Twins Days Festival — the largest gathering of twins in the world, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.
Epic landscapes, diverse wildlife and the creative capital city of San José draw many visitors from all over the world to Costa Rica – don't risk a last-minute disappointment by not having your paperwork in order.
It’s a country pub in a city. That’s my thinking as bartender Michael O’Donovan lets my pint of Murphy’s settle on the counter, pausing for an intuitive amount of time before topping off the stout’s creamy crown. There are licks of flame in a tiled fireplace nearby. The wood spits and crackles as the conversation eases into gear.
Landscapes as green and lovely as everyone says. Literary giants in Dublin; Titanic history in Belfast. A pint and good craic in a traditional pub. The lure of Celtic legends.
When most people envision a trip to Dublin, they think of a whirlwind of Guinness, whiskey, and pub hopping—and they’re not wrong. Dublin is home to nearly 800 pubs and bars across the city, and the drinking culture is undoubtedly one of the draws.
Summer, also known as high season for travel, is almost here. And according to AAA just about everyone is poised to hit the road. The organization predicts two-thirds of what it categorizes as “leisure travelers” plan to take vacations this summer, meaning millions of Americans will be hitting the road.
For the sixth year in a row, Finland has claimed the top spot in the World Happiness Report. The annual report, compiled by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, surveys residents in over 150 countries to determine which nations are the happiest.
Ever wondered what it’s like to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland, the holiday’s own green-hued homeland? Despite my long line of Irish heritage, my family has never been able to answer that question for me. Some said it’s a religious holiday, others claimed it’s a tourist play hijacked by beer companies, but most admitted they had no idea what exactly Irish locals do for the national holiday.
It’s the opposite of a motorway. As I drive into the Cumeengeera Valley, scraggly summer hedgerows slap my wing mirrors. Punky tufts of grass on the boreen work like brushes, scrubbing the car’s undercarriage. The mountains around me make me feel the size a grain of rice in a giant green bowl.
It may be hard to believe, but there’s a place in England where the sand is fine and white, the sea is turquoise blue, and the sun shines more than just about anywhere else in the country. In this dream-like place, you can surf, you can sunbathe (and even get a tan), you can hike coastal paths, valleys, and moors, and you can stuff you face with cream teas and pasties. You guess it, Cornwall, England, is a must-see when in Britain. Lucky for you, it’s only a direct train ride away from London.