Smart Self-Managed Tours

Country guide

Ireland

A photograph of Ireland
Photograph · Suicasmo · CC BY-SA 4.0

Ireland here means the state covering 26 of the island's 32 counties; the other six are Northern Ireland, and the two share the republic's only land border. About 5.4 million people live in the 26, more than 1.5 million of them in Dublin on the east coast, where most arrivals begin. Everything else is a direction away from the capital - the Atlantic west and its cliffs and harbour towns, the Celtic Sea to the south beyond Cork, the Irish Sea coast running north. The island is small enough to cross by car in a day, which regularly tempts people into trying it.

Cities

Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.

Practical information
Language spoken
Irish and English
National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
Dialling code
+353
International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
Currency
Euro (EUR)
Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
Emergency number
112 or 999
Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
Plug type
Type G · 230 V
Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
Tap water
Safe from the mains
Public supplies are monitored; follow any local boil-water notice

Planning a visit

  1. January: no seasonality data recorded
  2. February: no seasonality data recorded
  3. March: no seasonality data recorded
  4. April: no seasonality data recorded
  5. May: no seasonality data recorded
  6. June: no seasonality data recorded
  7. July: no seasonality data recorded
  8. August: no seasonality data recorded — this month
  9. September: no seasonality data recorded
  10. October: no seasonality data recorded
  11. November: no seasonality data recorded
  12. December: no seasonality data recorded

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

Filter the list

58 places match
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Category

Historic monuments 1063 Museums 45 Places of worship 407 Nature sites 232 Viewpoints 1 Food and drink 58 Markets and shopping 123 Entertainment 15 Nightlife 595 Family attractions 2 Art and culture 542 Activities 0

Typical visit duration

Up to 1 hour 58

Interests

History 0 Art 0 Museums 0 Nature 0 Sea and beach 0 Viewpoints 0
  2. Chapter One
    02 1 hour

    Chapter One

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Dublin
  4. Bastible
    04 1 hour

    Bastible

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Dublin
  6. BoCo
    06 1 hour

    BoCo

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Dublin
  7. Café Sol
    07 1 hour

    Café Sol

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Dublin
  8. Caffè Nero
    08 1 hour

    Caffè Nero

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Dublin
  9. Costa
    09 1 hour

    Costa

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Dublin
  16. Vice
    16 1 hour

    Vice

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Dublin
  18. 1900
    18 1 hour

    1900

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Dublin
  19. 31 Lennox
    19 1 hour

    31 Lennox

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Dublin
  21. Art Café
    21 1 hour

    Art Café

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Dublin
  23. Bambino
    23 1 hour

    Bambino

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Dublin
  24. Beanhive
    24 1 hour

    Beanhive

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Dublin
  27. Café Sol
    27 1 hour

    Café Sol

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Dublin
  28. Chai Yo
    28 1 hour

    Chai Yo

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Dublin
  29. Chewbrew
    29 1 hour

    Chewbrew

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Dublin
  30. chiya
    30 1 hour

    chiya

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Dublin
  32. Daniel's
    32 1 hour

    Daniel's

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Dublin
  33. Darwins
    33 1 hour

    Darwins

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Dublin
  35. Etto
    35 1 hour

    Etto

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Dublin
  36. Featherblade
    36 1 hour

    Featherblade

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Dublin
  38. Hawksmoor
    38 1 hour

    Hawksmoor

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Dublin
  39. Hugo's
    39 1 hour

    Hugo's

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Dublin
  40. Hunan Spicy
    40 1 hour

    Hunan Spicy

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Dublin
  41. Insomnia
    41 1 hour

    Insomnia

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Dublin
  42. Insomnia
    42 1 hour

    Insomnia

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Dublin
  46. Maneki
    46 1 hour

    Maneki

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Dublin
  47. Milano
    47 1 hour

    Milano

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Dublin
  49. NLI (HR)
    49 1 hour

    NLI (HR)

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Dublin
  52. Ronan's
    52 1 hour

    Ronan's

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Dublin
  53. Sanai
    53 1 hour

    Sanai

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Dublin
  54. Sprout & Co
    54 1 hour

    Sprout & Co

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Dublin
  55. The Botanic
    55 1 hour

    The Botanic

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Dublin
  58. Wildflower
    58 1 hour

    Wildflower

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Dublin

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·

Common questions

How long should a first trip to Ireland be?

Seven to ten days supports Dublin plus one coherent coastal or western circuit. A shorter trip should choose either the southwest, Galway and Connemara, or Northern Ireland connections rather than tracing the entire island.

What entry documents are needed for Ireland?

Irish Immigration explains the documents examined at the border. Visa need, passport validity and supporting evidence depend on nationality; Ireland is not part of Schengen, so a Schengen permission alone does not settle Irish entry.

What is the best way to travel around Ireland?

Dublin is the largest air gateway, with Shannon and Cork useful for western and southern routes. Intercity rail and coach links serve the main cities, while rural peninsulas and small settlements often require a car or planned bus connection.

When is a practical time to visit Ireland?

May to September offers longer daylight for road and coastal itineraries. Rain and wind remain possible throughout the year, so ferry crossings and exposed walks need a current forecast rather than a seasonal assumption.

What money and payment basics apply in Ireland?

Ireland uses the euro (EUR). The cited national tourism source does not record a universal payment rule; confirm card acceptance for rural transport, small accommodation and deposits, and retain an alternative.

What practical safety details should I save for Ireland?

Emergency services in Ireland answer 112 or 999. Type G sockets use 230 V, and mains tap water is recorded as safe.