Matador's Ultimate Guide to Ireland

Rugged coastline and castle-studded hinterland of moorlands ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [Ireland]( Matador's Ultimate Guide to Ireland Hi there, As many Americans have some trace of Irish heritage, pilgrimages to the ancestral homeland have become some of the most popular trips across the pond. And it lives up to every expectation, with emerald green hills, rugged sea stacks, and welcoming pubs beneath overcast skies to make it all somehow even more charming. Begin your adventure in Dublin, where you can explore the city with its quirky museums and world-famous pubs. Then, venture to Galway and hop on the scenic Wild Atlantic Way. Along the way, visit the Cliffs of Moher, stay in Killarney (on our list of [most romantic small towns in Europe]( and meander through quaint villages before making your way back. Dive into our guides below to maximize your trip's potential. [EXPLORE IRELAND]( [GuideGeek]( Get Inspired [Cushendun, County Antrim]( 7 Picture-Perfect Irish Villages We Want to Escape To Outside of the urban areas, you’ll encounter some of the rustic aesthetic and dramatic, craggy landscapes you’ve grown to expect. Here's where to visit if you're looking for pretty, scenic, and sometimes isolated places to explore. [READ MORE]( [The Book of Kells and the Old Library]( 7 Can't-Miss Museums in Dublin for Whiskey Tastings, Celtic Art, and Archeological Treasures There are cultural institutions for everyone in the Irish Republic’s capital: For those who like art, for those who want to learn more about Ireland’s history, and for those who like their museum visit to end with a whiskey tasting. [READ MORE]( [Ireland Train]( This Train Will Take You Across Ireland From East to West in Less Than 2.5 Hours Irish Rail’s trains from Dublin to Galway allow you to cross the country, from the Irish Sea to the Atlantic Ocean (and vice-versa) in a flash. [READ MORE]( [Inchydoney Island]( The 12 Best Things to Do on Road Trip Around Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way An incredible road trip by way of both land and sea — unscathed nature, incredible wildlife, villages, islands, and historical ruins dating back to the Bronze Age. [READ MORE]( [Guinness tour]( The Ultimate Guinness Tour Through Dublin, From the Storehouse to the Pubs A bucket-list destination for beer lovers around the world. Having a pint of Guinness in a cozy Dublin pub is the quickest way to imbue yourself in Irish craic. [READ MORE]( [Galway Cathedral]( This Small City on Ireland's West Coast Is the Birthplace of the Claddagh Ring Check out the small and charming city of Galway. Not only is it close to the must-see Cliffs of Moher, but it has plenty to offer visitors in search of a lesson in Irish culture and history. [READ MORE]( [Irish Castle]( Stay Like Royalty at These Airbnb Ireland Castle Rentals Why stay in a hotel room when you can rent an entire castle for the night? [READ MORE]( Nature + Adventure [the Cliffs of Moher]( Walk Along the Top of These 700-Foot-Tall Cliffs Towering Above the Atlantic Ocean You can walk along the dramatic eight-mile-long Cliffs of Moher for the hike of a lifetime. [READ MORE]( [Croagh Patrick]( The Ultimate Guide to Hiking Croagh Patrick, Ireland’s Most Famous Pilgrimage Site As an outdoor destination, Ireland is totally underrated. A hike up Croagh Patrick is just as spiritual, and the views just as spectacular. [READ MORE]( [The Rock of Cashel, County Tipperary]( 11 Gorgeous Views You'll Only See in Ireland Combine natural beauty with historic small towns and modern cities, and you’ve got a vibe that’s totally immersive and hard to replicate. [READ MORE]( Food + Culture [The Long Hall]( The Best Non-Touristy Pubs in Dublin to Drink at Instead of Temple Bar There are more than 750 pubs in Dublin, not including hotel bars and restaurants. Many have the level of charm that’s made the Irish pub one of the country’s most exported cultural institutions. [READ MORE]( [Seafood tour in Dublin]( These Dublin Food Tours Showcase Irish Cuisine at Its Finest From staples like fish and chips and seafood chowder to Irish Stew and, of course, the smooth whiskeys, the city is the world’s most under-the-radar foodie destination. [READ MORE]( [tea shop]( This Guide to Irish Gaelic Will Help You Charm the Locals If you want to learn more about one of the world's oldest languages, this traveler’s guide to the Irish language is the ticket. It’ll provide all the basic information needed to connect deeper with the locals in the Irish-speaking regions of the country. [READ MORE]( [man with a lot of cheese]( Why Ireland Makes the Best Cheese You Probably Haven’t Tried Ireland’s lush farmland produces some of the most underappreciated cheese in the world. [READ MORE]( Epic Stays Take the headache out of planning and check out our staff picks for places to stay [Ireland places to stay]( [Ireland places to stay]( [Ireland places to stay]( [Japan places to stay]( [Ireland places to stay]( [Ireland places to stay]( [Epic Stays TikTok]( [Open email in your web browser and bookmark for your next trip]( EXPLORE THE WORLD WITH MATADOR — FOLLOW US HERE [Facebook]( [Linkedin]( [Youtube]( [Instagram]( [TikTok]( [Pinterest]( [X.com]( [Threads]( [Update your email frequency and topic preferences here](. Or [unsubscribe from our newsletter.]( We'll be here when you need us! Copyright © 2024 Matador Network, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Matador Network, PO Box 7775, Suite 40021, San Francisco, CA 94120, United States