Places to Visit Tips

Read these 43 Places to Visit Tips tips to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. Each tip is approved by our Editors and created by expert writers so great we call them Gurus. LifeTips is the place to go when you need to know about Irish tips and hundreds of other topics.

Places to Visit Tips has been rated 3.1 out of 5 based on 1457 ratings and 1 user reviews.

Visiting Dingle Peninsula.

The bleak but lush Dingle Peninsula, scattered with ancient monuments, has been the choice of Bronze Age settlers, Dark Age monks, Hollywood directors (most recently for Far and Away) and discriminating travelers.

   

Getting the Most Ireland for Your Money.

There's a lot of green to cover when you visit Ireland. For a first time visitor, it's hard to know when to go, where to go, what to do and where to stay.

I highly recommend that *new* visitors to Ireland sign up for a carousel tour of the country. Many tour providers offer such a tour--however, a good one is Trafalgar Tours (www.trafalgartours.com). In such a tour you will get a broad overview of Ireland, see many, if not all of the most popular attractions, and do so in a safe, comfortable manner that will not weigh heavy on your pocketbook/purse.

   

Visit Fintona, Co. Tyrone.

If you really want to experience the full flavour of this area visit Fintona, a small village situated 8 miles south of Omagh.

It was the O'Neill stronghold in the 15th and 16th centuries but its history dates back to 2000 BC. There are many examples of pagan centres, burial places, standing stones, stone circles and cairns dotted around the area. The drive alone to Fintona from Omagh is worth the journey as marshland gives way to a fertile valley.

   

Going to Portrush.

If you are traveling from the south (e.g. Belfast) to Portrush, hire a car and take the coastal road rather than the main Ballymena - Ballymoney route. The scenery is well worth the longer journey.

You can picnic beside waterfalls, have an icecream in Cusendall, dip your toes in the surf at Waterfoot and all before even reaching Portrush!

   

Glenariff - Queen of the Glens.

Glenariff - known as the Queen of the Glens in Co. Antrim is now a forest park, which can be approached from Parkmore on the Ballymena-Cushendall road.

   

The Heritage Centre in Cóbh, Cork

The Heritage Centre in Cóbh tells the poignant story of mass emigration from Ireland during the Famine. They provide a comprehensive selection of photos and letters which were written by many émigrés during their outbound journey. A visit to this exhibition is guaranteed to bring home to you the severity of the times and the sadness of the port in those days. The town's past links with luxury liners (e.g. Titanic, Lusitania and more) are also revealed in the Heritage Centre displays.

   

Waterford Crystal Tours.

When in Waterford you should visit the Crystal Factory at Kilbarry on the Cork Road (on the outskirts of the city). They offer a fascinating tour which runs every 15 minutes in the summer months.

More information including costs see:
Waterford Crystal

   

Visiting the Cliffs of Moher

When visiting the Cliffs of Moher check out O'Brien's Tower and the Visitor Centre:

Opening Times - O'Brien's Tower - March to October 29th (weather permitting) 9.30am to 18.00pm.

Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre - open year round 9.30am to 17.30pm. June to Aug 29th 9.00am to 20.00pm.

   

Amelia Earhart Cottage - County Derry.

When in Derry visit the Amelia Earhart Cottage and Ballyarnett Community Farm and Wildlife Sanctuary.

This 60 acre site is to be found to the north of Derry city and is not to be missed. The centre was built to recognize the achievement of Amelia Earhart –the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic on 21st May 1931. She landed in a field just beside this site. The farm animals and native Irish wildlife are also worth seeing. The Cottage is open Mon-Fri 9-5, and the Farm – 10am-dusk in winter, 9am-9pm in Summer (until 6pm at weekend). Phone for more information – 0044-7135-4040.

   

Kinsale and the Lusitania.

Take a boat to Garinish Island (near Kinsale, County Cork, Ireland), which lies just off the coast of Glengarriff. There is wonderful scenery in this part of the world, the chief among which is the ‘Old Head', a cliff point, off which the Lusitania (Titanic's sister ship) sank in 1915.

   

Ulster American Folk Park - Omagh, N. Ireland.

When in Omagh you simply must visit the Ulster American Folk Park† step back in time and follow the journey of the Irish emigrants during the 18th and 19th centuries to the New World† America.

How they lived before leaving the Emerald Isle and the sort of ship they would have embarked are all to be enjoyed. This is simply a remarkable outdoor museum with over 20 fully-built houses, cottages, outhouses and more. Also – if you are interested in genealogy they have comprehensive records. More information can be found here:

Folk Park

   

A Bit O' Blarney.

You can view Blarney Castle, the famous and perhaps most favourite of Irish castles here:

Blarney Castle

Kiss the Blarney stone and get the 'gift of the gab' - a fluent tongue!

   

Derry Visitor and Convention Bureau.

The Derry (also called Londonderry) Visitors Bureau, can be contacted by e-mail: info@derryvisitor.com or by snail mail at:

Derry Visitor and Convention Bureau
44 Foyle St.
Derry, BT486AT
Tel. (028)71267284 (from Ireland)

or, visit their website at

Derry Visitor

   

Marble Arch Caves

Marble Arch Caves in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland is a spectacular series of subterranean limestone caves. The visitor can explore, through winding passages and huge caverns, a fascinating complex of underground rivers, waterfalls, stalactite and stalagmite cave formations using spectacular walkways and by taking a subterranean boat trip.

Location: Florencecourt
Tel: +44 (0) 1365 348855

   

Liscannor

Liscannor is the perfect touring base in County Clare as it is situated on the edge of the Burren National Park. The area offers fishing, water sports, horseriding, day trips to the Aran Islands and shopping in Ennis only 20 miles away.

Check out this site:
Liscannor

   

Travel by Jeep in the Mountains of Mourne!

A unique way to see this fabulous area - take a jeep tour! Costs from 35 pounds per person. For more information and contact details check out their site:

Wild Ulster

   

The Guinness Factory Tour

The Guinness Factory Tour in Dublin shows you all the stages in the making of the famous brew:

Guinness Brewery and Museum: Crane Street 8 Tel 453 6700

   

Visit the Giant's Causeway, N. Ireland.

The Giant's Causeway on the Atlantic coast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland is not to be missed. Best time to visit is during the Spring or Summer.

   

Visiting the Aran Islands.

You can travel to the Aran Islands by ferry from Doolin, Galway and Rossaveal Harbour OR fly from Connemara airport.

The ferry

The plane:
Galway Office (Aran Islands Service)

Aer Arann,
Connemara Regional Airport,
Inverin,
Co. Galway,
Ireland.

Telephone(+ 353)-91-593034
Fax (+ 353)-91-593238
E-mail aerarann@iol.ie

Website:
Aer Arann

   

The Ring of Kerry by car.

Pack a picnic and jump in your hired car to experience the beautiful Ring of Kerry. Cars can be hired for the day (or longer) at various outlets including:

Budget Cars- Budget

Hertz Rent-a-Car - 28 Plunkett St., Killarney - 064-34126
Or Bawn Cars: Bawn Cars - they give rates!!

A car gives you much more freedom than the tour bus – you can stop when you want and take your time meandering along the scenic route. You may even manage to avoid the hoards of tourists and pretend you're a native!

   

The Lakes of Killarney.

The Lakes of Killarney are best experienced via car. Take the famous ‘Ring of Kerry' – a road encompassing the lakes and ending in the town of Killarney.

   

The Giant's Causeway.

The Giant's Causeway is situated on the Northern coast, in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is made up of 40,000 polygonal columns of basalt, forming stepping stones, some of which are up to forty feet in height.

   

Touring the Ring of Kerry

Want someone else to do the driving? Check these out!

Deros Tours - 22 Main St, Killarney, Co Kerry, Ireland. Tel +353 64 31251 or 31567 Fax +353 64 34077 - costs 15 pounds for the Ring and 6 for the Lakes of Killarney.

or

Finnegans Tours now operate tours of the Ring of Kerry; Glengariff-Garnish Island-Healy Pass; Killarney and the Ring of Beara.
Telephone (064) 41491.

   

Bus Tour Cork.

A great way to see Cork City and nearby Blarney is via a bus tour. Check out The Cork Vision Centre on North Main Street when you get to Cork – they'll provide you with all the information you desire!

   

Carrick-a-rede rope bridge.

The stunning Carrick-a-rede rope bridge spans a gaping chasm between the coast and a small island used by fishermen. Close to the Giant's Causeway it can easily be visited on the same day. The terrifying eighty foot drop can be crossed via the swinging bridge - not for the faint hearted!

   

Best time to visit Dingle.

"Other than St. Patrick's Day, the best time to visit Dingle is between May 1 (when the music starts in earnest) and July 15 (before the crowds get bad). The craziest time to visit is in August, particularly during the Dingle Races (second weekend) and Dingle Regatta (third weekend). Don't count on the luck of the Irish — reserve a room long in advance."

Also - the weather is likely to be a little better than during the spring or winter months. Don't count on it being dry though - it IS Ireland after all!

   

Christchurch Cathedral Dublin.

Visit Christchurch cathedral (top end of Dame Street) in Dublin to have a taste of historic Ireland.

   

The Cliffs of Moher.

Ireland's Cliffs of Moher on the west coast (County Clare), at 700 feet, are the tallest cliffs in Europe. A visit to this site provides breathtaking views and great photographic opportunities.

   

Best time to visit the Giant's Causeway.

The best time to visit the Causeway is in the summer. The walk round the entire Causeway is possible but if you feel you'd like to see this natural wonder in comfort take the minibus service which operates from the car park to the Causeway during the summer.

Also - the weather is likely to be better ;)

   

Dressing for Slemish.

Take warm clothes no matter what time of year you go to climb Slemish – the winds whistling from all directions would truly take your breath away! I recommend a windproof and waterproof coat at least and a wooly hat and scarf wouldn't go a-beggin' either!

   

Riding the Ring of Kerry.

The 110 miles of roadway that comprises The Ring of Kerry is hailed as "the most traveled scenic route" in Ireland. That depends on your perspective. For me it would be impossible to choose the most scenic route in Ireland!

The Ring of Kerry is a tourist mecca - tacky in places and beautiful in others! The ring ends in Killarney.

   

The Giant's Causeway Visitor Centre.

Last April (2000) an accidental fire destroyed the National Trust's Visitor Centre at the Giant's Causeway. A temporary Visitor's Centre is running and plans are underway for a new state-of-the-art Centre to be completed by March 2003.

   

Fungi the Dolphin.

Visit Fungi off Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry (Southwest tip of Ireland). He loves to pose for photos! Fungi, a bottlenose dolphin has been living at the mouth of Dingle Harbour since 1984!

   

Puffins in Ireland.

Rathlin Island off the coast of County Antrim, Northern Ireland has the only group of wild puffins in Northern Ireland. It can be reached by ferry from Ballycastle on the mainland.

   

Naming the Glens of Antrim.

The Glens of Antrim from south to north include: Glenarm, Glencloy, Glenariff, Glenballyeamon, Glenaan, Glencorp, Glendun, Glenshesk and Glentaisie.

An area of much beauty the Glens comprise valleys, forest, rivers and beaches and if you want to experience the multi-colours of green that are Ireland then this area is what you are looking for!

Glenariff is known as the "Queen of the Glens" and is the most famous of the Glens.

Walking in the Glens is one of the most peaceful activities I can think of - highly recommended for any trip to Ireland.

   

The Beautiful Botanic Gardens, Belfast.

Visit the Botanic Gardens right next to Queen's University, Belfast. It has a wonderful Palm House constructed of glass and steel.

   

Inch Beach Dingle.

The 5km long dune-covered beach at Inch is one of the largest dune fields in Ireland. This area is magnificent - a place of wild and windy beauty!

   

Coleraine Borough

Coleraine Borough has some of the most spectacular countryside Northern Ireland has to offer. It includes the seaside towns of Portrush, Portstewart, Downhill, Castlerock and Portballintrae, the busy town of Coleraine and the market towns of Kilrea and Garvagh.

   

Thatched Cottages in an Ireland Village.

Most first-time visitors to Ireland expect to see a plethora of thatch-roofed cottages, horse-drawn gypsy caravans and the Gaelic spoken everywhere.

Sorry if I burst this illusion because nothing could be further from the truth! However, if you do want to indulge this ‘image of Ireland' check out Adare Village, situated just a few miles from Limerick City. The village street is a picture of stonework and thatched roofs and walking the narrow main street you could be forgiven for thinking that you'd been transported to another era!

   

Visit the battlegrounds of Belfast.

Take a tour to see the Shankill and Falls Roads. It'll open your eyes – murals depict the North's history of religious battles.

   

The 6 Counties of Ulster.

Ulster (the other name for Northern Ireland) consists of six counties. These are: Antrim, Derry (or Londonderry), Tyrone, Down, Armagh, and Fermanagh.

   
Not finding the advice and tips you need on this Irish Tip Site? Request a Tip Now!


Guru Spotlight
PJ Campbell