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.

  1. Davy Byrne's pub
    04 2 hours

    Davy Byrne's pub

    Davy Byrne’s

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Dublin
  2. The George
    06 2 hours

    The George

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Dublin
  3. The Windjammer
    07 2 hours

    The Windjammer

    The Wind Jammer

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Dublin
  4. M.J.O'Neill's
    09 2 hours

    M.J.O'Neill's

    O’Neill’s

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Dublin
  5. Mulligan's
    10 2 hours

    Mulligan's

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Dublin
  6. Whelan's
    12 2 hours

    Whelan's

    Whelan’s

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Dublin
  7. Gravity Bar
    19 2 hours

    Gravity Bar

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Dublin
  8. Jackie’s
    20 2 hours

    Jackie’s

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Dublin
  9. Knights Bar
    23 2 hours

    Knights Bar

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Dublin
  10. Mooney’s
    26 2 hours

    Mooney’s

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Dublin
  11. Nubar
    27 2 hours

    Nubar

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Dublin
  12. Tenters
    28 2 hours

    Tenters

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Dublin
  13. 4 Dame Lane
    37 2 hours

    4 Dame Lane

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Dublin
  14. 74 Talbot
    39 2 hours

    74 Talbot

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Dublin
  15. Alfred's
    40 2 hours

    Alfred's

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Dublin
  16. Angel's
    42 2 hours

    Angel's

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Dublin
  17. Anne's Bar
    44 2 hours

    Anne's Bar

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Dublin
  18. Anseo
    46 2 hours

    Anseo

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Dublin
  19. Ardlea Inn
    47 2 hours

    Ardlea Inn

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Dublin
  20. Arthur’s
    51 2 hours

    Arthur’s

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Dublin
  21. Ashtons
    52 2 hours

    Ashtons

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Dublin
  22. Bad Bob's
    54 2 hours

    Bad Bob's

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Dublin
  23. Bar 1661
    56 2 hours

    Bar 1661

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Dublin
  24. Bar Anam
    57 2 hours

    Bar Anam

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Dublin
  25. Barbers Bar
    58 2 hours

    Barbers Bar

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Dublin
  26. Barcode
    59 2 hours

    Barcode

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Dublin
  27. Barebone
    60 2 hours

    Barebone

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Dublin
  28. Bar Eile
    61 2 hours

    Bar Eile

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Dublin
  29. Bar Rua
    62 2 hours

    Bar Rua

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Dublin
  30. Bar@Tolka
    64 2 hours

    Bar@Tolka

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Dublin
  31. Bison Bar
    69 2 hours

    Bison Bar

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Dublin
  32. Blackbird
    71 2 hours

    Blackbird

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Dublin
  33. Block
    73 2 hours

    Block

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Dublin
  34. Board
    74 2 hours

    Board

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Dublin
  35. Bonobo
    76 2 hours

    Bonobo

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Dublin
  36. Boomers
    77 2 hours

    Boomers

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Dublin
  37. Bowe’s
    79 2 hours

    Bowe’s

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Dublin
  38. Brady's
    80 2 hours

    Brady's

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Dublin
  39. Brady’s
    81 2 hours

    Brady’s

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Dublin
  40. Breffni Inn
    83 2 hours

    Breffni Inn

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Dublin
  41. Brewery Bar
    84 2 hours

    Brewery Bar

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Dublin
  42. Briody’s
    85 2 hours

    Briody’s

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Dublin
  43. Brogan's
    86 2 hours

    Brogan's

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Dublin
  44. Bruxelles
    87 2 hours

    Bruxelles

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Dublin
  45. Cafe Bar H
    90 2 hours

    Cafe Bar H

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Dublin
  46. Caribou
    93 2 hours

    Caribou

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Dublin
  47. Cassidy's
    94 2 hours

    Cassidy's

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Dublin
  48. Cassidy’s
    95 2 hours

    Cassidy’s

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Dublin
  49. C Central
    96 2 hours

    C Central

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Dublin
  50. Cellar Bar
    97 2 hours

    Cellar Bar

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Dublin
  51. Chaplin’s
    99 2 hours

    Chaplin’s

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • 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.