The top places to visit in Ireland are Dublin, the Cliffs of Moher, the Ring of Kerry, Brú na Bóinne, and Galway. Ireland welcomed almost 6.6 million overseas visitors in 2024, up 5% from 2023, according to Tourism Ireland. These five span the capital, the west coast’s best-known cliffs, a scenic peninsula drive, and a 5,000-year-old monument older than Stonehenge.
- Dublin — Ireland’s capital and main international gateway, home to Trinity College and most first-night stays.
- Cliffs of Moher — County Clare’s 700-foot Atlantic cliffs, one of Ireland’s most-visited natural landmarks, running roughly nine miles along the coast.
- Ring of Kerry — A 179-kilometre scenic drive circling County Kerry’s Iveragh Peninsula, with boat access from the mainland to Skellig Michael, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996.
- Brú na Bóinne — A Neolithic monument complex in County Meath including Newgrange, built around 3100 BC, roughly 500 years older than Stonehenge’s current form, and UNESCO-listed in 1993.
- Galway — A west-coast city and gateway to Connemara and the Aran Islands, known for its compact medieval core.
Planning note: Dublin and Brú na Bóinne pair as an easy day trip from the capital; the Cliffs of Moher, Ring of Kerry, and Galway sit along the west coast and work best as a single loop of 4-5 days.
Sources
- Tourism Ireland — comment on overseas tourism figures for 2024
- Wikipedia — Cliffs of Moher
- Wikipedia — Ring of Kerry
- Wikipedia — Skellig Michael
- Wikipedia — Newgrange
See the Top 10 Countries to Visit in 2026 roundup for how Ireland compares globally.