Lonely Planet Ireland (Travel Guide)

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The excellent 1916 Rebellion Walking Tour is led by Trinity graduates, who give you the lowdown on where, why, and how the 1916 Rising took place. Then there's the Dublin Literary Pub Crawl, where actors escort you through a selection of the city's most renowned literary boozers – with plenty of hilarious bits acted out for good measure. Music fans will enjoy the Dublin Musical Pub Crawl, which explores the history of Irish traditional music and its influence on contemporary styles in a number of Temple Bar pubs. With an arresting green coastal route, UnescoWorld Heritage-listed natural wonders and cities rich with history, both ancient and modern, Northern Ireland will have you thinking you’ve dropped into a mythical otherworld.

Choose 3, 4, 5, or 7 top Dublin attractions and enjoy great savings with Go City. Taste the world-famous Irish drink at Guinness Storehouse, enjoy the sights on Big Bus Dublin Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour, or discover Dublinʼs oldest building, Christ Church Cathedral - the choice is yours! Planning tip: General admission is free and free tours can be booked in advance. There is an audio tour and several self-guided tours aimed specifically at families with children. 9. Travel to the suburbs to see the National Botanic Gardens

Ireland may be known for its whiskey, though the gin craze has been taking over the last few years. Until recently, Ireland had no real history of making gin, but those days are over, as there are a number of renowned distilleries popping up. Key events: Galway International Oyster & Seafood Festival, Dublin Fringe Festival. October means Halloween With ancient ruins telling history of forgotten times, stunning mountain ranges and alluring small villages, there is something here that will captivate even the most seasoned traveler. Here are the don’t-miss things to do on your next trip to Ireland. 1. Road trip around the Wild Atlantic Way This former 17th-century hospital – built in the Anglo-Dutch style and inspired by Paris’ Les Invalides – is now the IMMA, home to the country’s foremost modern art gallery. The blend of old and new comes together wonderfully, and you'll find contemporary Irish artists including Louis le Brocquy, Sean Scully, Barry Flanagan, Kathy Prendergast and Dorothy Cross, as well as a film installation by Neil Jordan. The permanent exhibition also features paintings from heavy-hitters Pablo Picasso and Joan Miró, and is topped up by regular temporary exhibitions.

Detour: There’s a beach just off the Sky Road that will blow your mind. With crystal clear waters and beautiful golden sand, Eyrephort Beach is the perfect place to unwind on your trip. 10. The “Four Peaks” Challenge Road Trip

Planning Tip: You have to incorporate some, if not all, of the Cliffs of Moher cliff walk. Maybe even hop on a boat from Doolin to see them from below as well. 9. Sky Road Loop Planning tip: We recommend taking at least two weeks to complete this road trip if you want to see as much as possible. 3. The Ring of Kerry The pinnacle of Irish road trips. The Wild Atlantic Way will show adventurers both the natural beauty and the absolute craic that Ireland has to offer . Weave your way around mountains, bog lands and rugged karst landscapes as you experience the Emerald Isle.

Want to know what it’s actually like to hold a hurl and strike a sliotar? At Experience Gaelic Games you’ll get to meet members of a local Gaelic club and try your hand at hurling, as well as football and handball, a traditional Irish game very similar to the handball played in the US and elsewhere. The hugely impressive 709 hectares that comprise Phoenix Park have a lot to offer visitors. Attractions include Dublin Zoo, Áras an Uachtaráin, home of the Irish president, the official residence of the US ambassador and the Papal Cross, where John Paul II said mass to a million people in 1979. Visitors are always entranced by the large herd of fallow deer that call the park home.

The social and political story of Ireland is told in wonderful detail in Glasnevin Cemetery Museum. The City of the Dead covers the burial practices and religious beliefs of the half a million people in the cemetery, while the Milestone Gallery features a digitally interactive timeline outlining the lives of the Glasnevin's most famous residents. The May Bank Holiday (on the first Monday) sees the first of the busy summer weekends as the Irish take to the roads to enjoy the budding good weather. Planning tip: After you've built up an appetite, make your way to teaShed Café for some tea and tasty homemade treats. 15. Take the ferry to the Aran Islands The park also contains the opulent Farmleigh House, the Irish government's official guesthouse, a fine Georgian-Victorian pile that was originally part of the Guinness estate. It offers a guided tour that takes in the fantastic library and glass conservatory. The vast pleasure gardens, with their lake and walled and Japanese gardens, are a delight to stroll.

Another looped road trip from the south of Ireland makes it onto this list, and it is quite literally a stone's throw away from the Ring of Kerry – just one peninsula over. While we may not have a world-famous reputation for food, we do have some incredible places to eat, and the many restaurants and pubs around the country use fresh, high-quality ingredients. You won’t find better quality dairy anywhere in the world, from melt-in-your-mouth cheese to creamy milk chocolate and butter – best slathered on everything you can. Don’t attempt to haggle, even in local food markets. If you’re eating in, a tip of 10% is standard but not compulsory. Days can be spent lazing, surfing and horse-riding by the white dunes of Barley Cove or Inchydoney Beach, or k ayaking with seals near Glengarriff. Ireland’s only cable car leaves from Beara to cross ocean waters to Dursey Island. Mizen Head, Ireland’s most southerly point, has an interpretive signal station that is accessed by footbridge over wild Atlantic waves. 10. Iveragh Peninsula, County Kerry

Stroll along a riverside as you explore a moss-covered forest. This gentle hike offers you the chance to relax and enjoy the serenity of the flowing water and natural forest landscape. Many people will take the opportunity to go for a dip in the waterfall or meditate beside it, taking in the calming sounds of the flowing water.