Ireland Inspiration: Where to Go
Ireland is a beyond mind-blowing country in terms of raw, scenic beauty…
It was uncanny how much it reminded me of New Zealand. Similar size, similar population, rolling hills, unpredictable weather, incessant grey, mystical cloudy skies, cows instead of sheep, calling the highway the ‘motorway’, unbelievable landscapes…
While I fell in love with Dublin instantly – there are so many other places in Ireland to go.
Wondering what and where those places are?
Here are all of the places I went in Ireland:
1. Belfast
Remember, this isn’t Ireland – it’s Northern Ireland, meaning they use pounds here.
I opted to hop into a Centra (a great grocery store all over Ireland), grab something to picnic with, and spend my time at city hall…
…because I just couldn’t believe how beautiful it was to the naked eye.
2. Derry
There’s a little walk you can do around St. Columb’s Cathedral…
… not only is the view great (and reminiscent of San Francisco with all of the houses in such close proximity to one another) if you’re lucky, you’ll run into some school girls in uniform and feel like you’re in one of those 2000s movies for a moment.
3. Giant’s Causeway
Even if it’s windy and cold (which is a high possibility, when it comes to sightseeing Ireland!), you should walk alongside the entire thing.
4. Galway
Really picturesque city, especially when the rain hits the pavement and the colorful buildings bring luminescence to the dreary skies…
… you can take a river cruise, but I found that walking the quaint streets was the most amusing.
Going to pub here is ideal over somewhere like Temple Bar in Dublin; it felt like a story book image come to life – minus the inauthenticity of too many tourists. My friends and I went to the Skeff Bar and we can recommend it!
5. Sligo
When in Ireland, besides drinking bottomless beers – you need to try one of their famous “soup of the day” offers.
If you’re vegetarian, no worries – they often have meat-broth-free options for you…
… but if you’re vegan, and now lactose intolerant like I am, do not eat bread that looks like the one in the pictures above…
… because that’s Irish soda bread.
Irish soda bread is made with buttermilk – meaning if you accidently eat it…
… eh, let’s just say – I want you to learn from my mistakes.
P.S. – buy one of the oat bars at the counter.
P.S.S. – thank me later.
Honestly – I prefer my baguettes any day over the soda bread, because it tastes… thick, bland, and dense.
I don’t know about you, but I like my bread to be fluffy.
6. Cliffs of Moher
You can read more about my Cliffs of Moher experience here, but nevertheless – it is as beautiful as everyone says it is, and it is worth the drive out there even if it’s just as a day trip.
A photograph simply could not capture the details of the cliffs, and how they reflected against the water…
7. Bunratty
A castle town; I’d argue this is underrated – I wouldn’t have ever heard of it if my tour group didn’t take me there.
You can go up Bunratty castle, or just walk through the whimsical houses in the surround area.
Oh, and there’s a legitimate tearoom that you shouldn’t miss while you’re visiting!
8. Killarney
Once you’ve been to Galway and Bunratty, you start to get the gist of all the Irish cities – color blocked houses, plants coming out of the balconies, bikes parked everywhere, and charming streets to shop on.
I think Killarney is still worth a visit, but you may not need to go to all three.
9. Ring of Kerry
All over Ireland is jaw-dropping, but the Ring of Kerry…
… was even more exceptional.
Be sure to make a stop at Caherdaniel, near Kells, and drive by Muckross Lake.
10. Blarney castle
I found kissing the rock at the top vastly overrated – but the park itself surrounding the castle is a nice one…
The views make for irreplaceable photo opportunities, so even if you’re like me and get bored easily with exhibits and tour guides – don’t fret, because you’ll find a way to be entertained here.
I hope this gave you some ideas on where to go in Ireland! If you’re looking to read more about Ireland, click here.
Want to see all these places in action? Watch all of my Ireland vlogs down below!