Jewels of the Emerald Isle
Dublin
Northern Ireland
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City Break
With this year being the 100th anniversary of the publication of Joyce’s epic Ulysses, the author’s advice is an apt approach to visiting his native land: Take the longest way round. See, the island of Ireland is best explored without an agenda, allowing time to linger with locals at a cozy pub, to experience the medieval and modern in equal measure and to meander the high streets and side streets of charming cities and villages. You won’t be able to see or do everything Ireland has to offer, but with help from the suggestions below, you’ll find celebrated icons, hidden gems and can’t-miss experiences across the island, along with the spirited culture, memorable meals and warm welcomes that you’ll discover all on your own along the way.
Ireland is open to travelers with all travel restrictions lifted, and it stands as one of the best values in Europe – particularly if you choose to travel in the spring or fall months. Flights to Dublin or Shannon are very affordable with direct access from 14 U.S. gateways, not to mention both airports also have the benefit of pre-clearance for the U.S. on your way home. Press the Green Button on your own getaway by checking out these exclusive deals.
Whether you’re a fan of this hearty drink or not, it’s worth making a trip to the Guinness Storehouse and its seven floors of Irish beer history. Start on the ground floor and view the original 9,000-year (!) lease to Arthur Guinness himself back in 1759, then work your way (and your appetite) up to the top, where you can enjoy a bite to eat at the 1837 Bar & Brasserie. Don't leave without learning how to pour your own pint from the experts (and count to that crucial 119.5 seconds for the Guinness to settle), or getting a selfie with your “STOUTie,” which features your image on the creamy head of the black and white stout, at the Gravity Bar. Sit back, sip slowly and enjoy the 360-degree views from this top-floor spot.
As the capital city and home to an international airport, Dublin is a natural start for any Ireland trip. Full of cafés, restaurants and pubs, there are plenty of places to refuel as you wander the city’s many quarters and make the requisite walk across the Ha’Penny Bridge (the first pedestrian one across the River Liffey). Head to the Medieval Quarter where the original Dubh Linn settlement became a center of Viking power. Browse high-end art galleries and vintage goods in the Antique Quarter. Send a postcard from Trinity College in the Georgian Quarter as a nod to the many esteemed poets and writers who passed through its doors and made this a UNESCO City of Literature.
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Prepare to spend a few hours absorbing everything you could ever want to know about the subject at the Titanic Belfast, an absolutely mesmerizing experience that spans nine galleries over six floors (the height of the ship itself). Celebrating 10 years in 2022, this interactive adventure goes from hearing the clanging of the ship being built and seeing what the cabins looked like to walking the promenade. It’s no wonder it’s been named Europe’s Leading Tourist Attraction by the World Travel Awards.
Ireland's
Hidden Heartlands
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You’ve no doubt heard about the Irish Potato Famine that caused families to leave Ireland and head to America. In County Roscommon, visit Strokestown Park, which is home to the National Famine Museum. After a major redevelopment project, the museum is set to re-open in spring 2022 and will immerse visitors in the day-to-day life of Ireland in the years before, during and after the Great Famine through archived letters and materials.
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In a city where literature is king, you can expect there to be festivities around them. For example, every year on June 16, there is a celebration called Bloomsday, named after Leopold Bloom, the central character in James Joyce’s “Ulysses” (which turns 100 this year). People dress up like characters from the book and in early 1900s-clothing. If you’re in Dublin during other parts of the year, you can also join the Dublin Literary Pub Crawl, which follows famous writers’ footsteps through the city.
Roads Less Traveled, Places Well Loved
Hidden
heartlands
DUBLIN
NORTHERN
IRELAND
Ireland's
Ancient East
wild atlantic way
"Think you're escaping and run into yourself. Longest way round is the shortest way home."
– James Joyce
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Dublin
Hidden Gem
County Dublin surrounds the city and is full of towns and villages worth a day trip. For a bit of fresh air and some hiking, head just north of Dublin’s city center to Howth Head, the peninsula that stretches from Dublin into the Irish Sea. Select which of the four main trails you’d like to take on the Howth Cliff Path; trails range from moderate to hard and take anywhere from 1.5 hours to 3 hours to complete. Expect scenic, unobstructed views of the Irish Sea along the way.
Northern Ireland
Hidden Gem
Get up close to original sets as well as props and costumes from the series at the new Game of Thrones Studio Tour at Linen Mills Studio. This self-guided tour, the only official one in the world, also includes an interactive screen experience where you can try your hand at acting in the show. You’ll also learn about the makeup and prosthetics that helped create the Seven Kingdoms.
City Break
While Northern Ireland’s capital city, Belfast, has a walkable downtown, you can get the lay of the land while comfortably seated. Learn the history of the city by taking a Black Taxi tour, where a local driver will narrate as you visit the various political murals and peace walls. Listen closely and you might hear the next chart topper or an incredible display of traditional music in this city, which was named a UNESCO City of Music in 2021.
Stroll through St. George’s Market on a weekend and try the local produce. Go early in the day and you might have a chance to nab your own snug, a private wood-panelled booth with stained glass and a little door, at The Crown Liquor Saloon.
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It’s worth renting a car while in Northern Ireland so you can travel at least part of the Causeway Coastal Route. Stretching for almost 200 miles from Belfast to Derry/Londonderry, this route is full of jaw-dropping scenery,
picturesque towns and screen-worthy locations.
Some of the most well-known spots on this route are the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Giant’s Causeway, the heart-pumping 100-feet-above-water
Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge and the adventure of The Gobbins Cliff Walk.
Tickets for both must be booked in advance.
Fill up your car and your stomach at stops along the way in the area’s many charming towns and villages. There are castles to see in Glenarm, Carrickfergus, and Portrush, for a start. Sample local delicacies on the Ballycastle Food Tour. Go deep inside Cushendun Caves, which provided the backdrop for The Stormlands in Game of Thrones®.
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Once Ireland’s most famous monastery and now a collection of sacred ruins, Clonmacnoise takes visitors back to the 6th century. See the extensive remains of a cathedral, round tower, high crosses and no fewer than seven churches in this holy spot established by Saint Ciaran. While you can get there by car, for a truly medieval approach, go by boat.
City Break
More like, take a break from the big cities when you visit the Hidden Heartlands, because this is where you can visit less-traveled towns. Walk past a blue building, then a peach one, then a yellow one, and so on as you amble through the colorful riverside town of Athlone and visit attractions such as a castle dating back to 1129 and modern art at Luan Gallery.
Travel north about an hour and visit the historically strategic town of Carrick-on-Shannon. Known as the "marina capital of Ireland," the water is a focal point but be sure to amble over to the Costello Memorial Chapel, claimed to be the smallest chapel in Europe and second smallest in the world.
Hidden Gem
If you’re hunting for an unspoiled, authentic experience, then you can’t go wrong with a trip to the River Shannon. At 224 miles, it is the longest river in Ireland and divides the west of the country from the east and south. Along with the river come major freshwater lakes such as Lough Derg and Lough Ree, where you can go sailing or swimming to views of the peaceful countryside.
The Shannon Blueway in Leitrim is a network of trails following the river via water and land, so you can hike along and stop for a riverside picnic or paddle your way down via canoe, kayak or stand-up paddleboard. While you’re in Leitrim, you can stop at the Shed Distillery for some Irish gin or whiskey
to help with the tranquillity as well.
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More than 3,000 years ago, when the pagans celebrated the beginning of winter with the ancient festival of Samhain in Ireland’s Ancient East, they had no idea they were instigating the spooky modern day candy festivities we know as Halloween. If you find yourself in Ireland in late October, you’ll have a chance to attend the Púca Festival. Taking place in two counties – Meath, where the druids once performed their sacred ceremonies and Louth, one of the island’s oldest towns – the festival incorporates light shows, musical events and interactive experiences.
Hidden Gem
Known as the Garden of Ireland, County Wicklow is full of its namesake mountains, the Irish Sea coastline, county estates and the Wicklow Way, a network of self-guided walking trails. Head to Powerscourt Estate, where you can be dazzled by manmade beauty and stunned by natural wonders like Ireland’s highest waterfall (397 feet). In the heart of the Wicklow Mountains National Park, you can visit Glendalough, translated as “valley of the two lakes”. Not only is there a 6th-century monastery to explore, but there are a number of walking trails and opportunities to dip your toes in the water.
City Break
Ireland’s second largest city, Cork, is also known as the culinary capital of the country. Not only does it have the English Market, widely regarded as one of the best food markets in Europe and in business since 1788, but also some of the best produce in Ireland comes from the craggy hills and green pastures of Cork. As you might expect, restaurants here get rave reviews, even from the likes of the Michelin Guide. Stop for a bite at the Farmgate Café inside the English market or try the vegetarian cuisine by celebrity chef Denis Cotter at Paradiso. If you want to wash down your food with some Irish stout, try the popular local favorites of Murphy’s and Beamish.
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On the site of a medieval wooden castle built under the direction of a Norman knight nicknamed Strongbow, Kilkenny Castle is a 12th-century landmark along Kilkenny's Medieval Mile. Three of the original four towers are still standing (as is at least one reported ghost), and the grounds include woodland paths, a lake, a rose garden and exhibit spaces for the Butler Art Gallery. Though it later became the principal Irish residence of the powerful Butler family, the castle was sold to the Castle Restoration Committee in the 1960s for a paltry £50.
Ireland's Ancient East
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Picture a sea of endless rocks with grass and flowers sprouting in between and there you have the Burren in County Clare. This vast cracked pavement of glacial-era limestone is full of cliffs, caves, fossils, rock formations and archaeological sites, plus over 70% of Ireland’s species of flowers are found here. There are also four Burren Food Trails where you can experience locally produced food, meet the makers, take a cooking class, attend events and more to enjoy meals from farm-to-table and sea-to-fork. Be prepared to pack your appetite.
Hidden Gem
City Break
Named the European Capital of Culture 2020, Galway is considered one of the island’s most creative cities. It’s got an artsy bohemian vibe mixed in with a love of traditional music and boundary-pushing chefs. It’s also a UNESCO City of Film. If you go in the summertime, you might be able to catch one of the many annual festivals, like the Galway Oyster Festival (September), the Galway International Arts Festival (July) or the Galway Film Festival (July).
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Fly into Shannon Airport, rent a car and proceed with your own epic drive to the southwest coast. Make sure that the Ring of Kerry is on your must-see list. A scenic drive around the Iveragh Peninsula in County Kerry, it takes about 3.5 hours to complete the circle without stopping – but please, plan on stopping, so you can appreciate everything you’ll pass, from the deep forest and wild stagsroaming to the crash of the waves against the coastline and the quieter trickle of streams. For more epic drives along the 1,500-mile Wild Atlantic Way, click here.
Wild Atlantic Way
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Hidden Heartlands
Ireland's Ancient East
Wild
Atlantic Way
If you’re itching to break out some binoculars, then head to Sliabh Liag (or Slieve League Cliffs). Located in southwest Donegal, at 1,998 feet, the cliffs here are nearly three times the height of the Cliffs of Moher and among the highest sea cliffs in all of Europe. Guided walks are available, but prepare for all seasons when it comes to the weather.
Shannon Airport
dventure awaits in this friendly city known for its writers and poets.
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mbrace a giant spirit and discover a land full of history, scenery and culture.
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tranquil stretch of the midlands where life moves to the pace of its waterways — an escape into nature.
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ncover 5,000 years of history with ancient mysteries, hidden stories and millenia-old myths.
tunning views, dramatic settings, soaring sea cliffs and rolling hills equal one epic road trip.
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"Think you're escaping and run into yourself. Longest way round is the shortest way home."
– James Joyce
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