5 Must Visit Places Near Dublin, Ireland

acouplesworldtour

8 years ago

(April 2018)

Ireland was our last stop in Europe before we headed back to the USA and we are so glad we chose to come here! We had a 6 day stopover which gave us a small, but pleasant glimpse of this beautiful country. We didn’t get to see everything we wanted or all the recommendations we got but that just means we will have to come back and explore some more. We fell in love with the friendly and laid-back people, the green country side and the epic views.

Since we only had 6 days here, we decided to stay in the Dublin area and just take day trips out. A couple of the days we explored Dublin and its colorful streets and the other days we explored the nearby attractions and countryside. Here is a list of what we did and absolutely loved.

Top 5 things to do in Ireland (with a base in Dublin):

1. Wander the streets of Dublin:

Dublin has a fun, young and hip vibe that we absolutely loved! There are hipster cafes, rowdy Irish pubs, restaurants, and shops lining every street in downtown. The Dublin Castle is also right in the heart of the city.

2. Cliffs of Moher:

If you have seen any pictures of Ireland then you have seen Cliffs of Moher. These are massive cliffs on the west coast that offer incredible views out into the open ocean. There are trails and paths that you can take along the cliffs edge as well as some awesome hikes. We stayed for the sunset that shouldn’t be missed!

3. Howth Cliff Walk:

This cliff walk is in the village of Howth which is just east of Dublin. We particularly enjoyed this walk because the little town is super cute and the walk has amazing views of the islands and the marina.
4. Visit Galway:

This is a really cute harbor town that has a lot of Irish history and charm. We loved just wandering the streets, feeding the swans, and eating at the Irish eateries.

5. Poolbeg Lighthouse:

Out by the Dublin port they have a cute red lighthouse that you can walk out to. We went to Bull Island instead for some awesome views of it and watch the boats come into harbor. It’s a beautiful, peaceful area that we loved.

Where to stay:

Red Cow Moran Hotel: We loved this hotel! The rooms were extremely comfortable, the location was amazing, the staff made you feel at home and the food here was really good. The hotel was close to the city center but also in a convenient location for day trips out. We stayed in the new wing which was awesome! We would highly recommend staying here.