Introducing Ireland
Few countries have a tourist image so plagued by cliché as Ireland. From shamrocks and shillelaghs to leprechauns, lovable rogues and 40 shades of green, there’s a plethora of platitudes to wade through before you scramble ashore on the real Ireland.
Advertisement
But it’s well worth looking beyond the tourist tat, for the Emerald Isle (oops, there we go again) is one of Europe’s gems, a scenic extravaganza of lake, mountain, sea and sky that’s still gorgeous enough to make your jaw drop despite the best efforts of developers to scar some of the most beautiful bits with serried ranks of holiday homes. From the lonely, wind-lashed wilderness of Donegal to the picture-postcard harbour villages of County Cork, there are countless opportunities to get outdoors and explore, whether it’s surfing the beach breaks of Bundoran, cycling the coast of County Antrim, or hiking the hills of Kerry and Connemara.
There are cultural pleasures too, of course, in the land of Joyce and Yeats, U2 and the Undertones. Dublin, Cork and Belfast all have top-notch restaurants, party-on pubs and a foot-stomping live-music scene, while you can track down impromptu pub sessions of traditional Irish music in places like Galway, Doolin and Killarney. And there’s a wealth of history to discover, from the countless medieval castles and early Christian monasteries to the powerful political murals of Belfast and Derry, and one of the biggest concentrations of prehistoric monuments in Europe.
So enjoy your Guinness by all means, but push aside the forest of shamrocks for a bit and try to get a glimpse of the real Ireland.
Ready to go?
These tours & activities make it easy:
- Discover the views of the famous Kerry countryside and coastline
- Experience the natural beauty of the Dingle Peninsula
- Explore Ireland's west coast highlights
Get started
Download our free PDF: 'Plan your dream trip to Ireland', an excerpt from Lonely Planet's Ireland travel guide.Last updated: 19.4.2012
Tips & articles
-
Live it up! The greatest mansions and grand houses.
1 toukokuu 2012
Explore these magnificent palaces and mansions and see how the other half lived…1. Marble Palace Mansion, Kolkata, IndiaThe extraordinarily grand ...
-
Saddle up for the world’s best cycling routes
1 toukokuu 2012
There’s no better way to explore a place than by bike. In honour of our favourite two-wheeled travel companion, here...
-
The world’s iciest surf spots
17 huhtikuu 2012
Surfing is usually associated with warm climates, where the smell of coconut oil drifts through the air and bronzed bodies...
Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
-
RE: 14 Day Itinerary in Ireland- Need advice!
by timothysolberg 19 toukokuu 2012
I like Ennis. I spent one night there and had lots of fun listening to traditional music in a pub. However, unless you have a special…
-
14 Day Itinerary in Ireland- Need advice!
by liskarita 18 toukokuu 2012
Hello! My boyfriend and I are planning a 14 day car trip around the southern portion of Ireland. I have made most of the reservations,…
-
Euro 2012 in Peru/Bolivia??
by itchyfeet_ 18 toukokuu 2012
Hi everybody, Just wondering has anybody any recommendations on: 1. somewhere in Cuzco to watch Ireland beat Croatia on June 10th? …
Hotels & Hostels
Top cities in Ireland
Browse more cities in IrelandFeatured property
See all hotels and hostels in Ireland
Advertisement
Ireland
Things to do
- All things to do (2 843)
- Activities (383)
- Entertainment (570)
- Restaurants (767)
- Shopping (328)
- Sights (788)
- Tours (7)
Make it happen
Our Top Picks For Ireland
-
1 Connemara
Traverse its wild and barren hinterland and skirt its dramatic coast
-
2 Aran Islands
Stroll or cycle these small magical islands
-
3 Brú Na Bóinne
Walk the dark tunnel into prehistory at these magnificent Neolithic passage graves
-
4 Derry
Ancient history, and terrific pubs in one of the country’s most fascinating cities
-
5 Glen Gesh Pass
A generous slice of alpine magic in the wilds of Donegal
Fast Facts about Ireland
- Irish adults who have satellite TV
25%
- Mobile phone subscriptions in Ireland
4.3 million for 86% of the population
- Number of visiting tourists per year
7.3 million (more than there are residents)
- Territory size
70, 300 sq km
- Annual earnings from tourism
€5 billion
- Biggest no-no
Don’t say ‘begorrah’ – they’ll just laugh at you
- Inflation
4.5%
- Unemployment rate
12.6%
- Population
4.2 million (Republic), 1.7 million (Northern Ireland)
Our favourite Ireland Blogs (beta)
-
Tips for Seeing Ireland on a Budget, Surgery and Online Classes
Blog: Video Diary of an American in France - 17 toukokuu 2012
A week ago we got back from a nine day trip to Ireland. Visiting Ireland has been a life-long dream for me since some of my ancestry on my dad’s side (and my last name) is Irish. It was an amazing trip and tons of fun and we managed to do it on very little money. [...]
-
Q & A: Ireland Travel Checklist
Blog: Irish Fireside - 15 toukokuu 2012
Do you happen to have a countdown/to do list for getting ready for a trip to Ireland? We leave on June 1st. I feel like I should be doing something, but not sure where to start. – Katie Malloy (@Mini_Malloys) via Twitter Katie, no matter how much I plan, I always feel like I’m forgetting [...]
-
Pubs of Belfast 2
Blog: Aerohaveno: A Travel Blog - 15 toukokuu 2012
Last week I shared images of three fine old laneway pubs I visited on my trip last year to Belfast, Northern Ireland (hosted by Aer Lingus and Tourism Ireland). Here are three more to make up the set...1. Duke of York (11 Commercial Ct). This pub was situated in the most attractive entry (the Northern Ireland term for alley) which I'd seen so far, dominating the space with planter boxes, colourful signage and outdoor seating.
