This richly romantic country offers rolling hills, misty oceanside cliffs, quaint seaside villages, plus grand castles and country manors, making it the perfect resting spot for vacationers.Rain showers are common in Ireland and they keep the rolling hills and meadows swathed in endless kelly green, rendered all the more vibrant next to piercing blue lakes, wildflowers, limestone castles, baahhhing sheep, and the shifting light of moody skies.
Before You Go: Need-to-know info
Entry requirements: Passport
Languages: English, Gaelic
Currency: Euro
Flight time: About 6 hours from NYC
When To Go: Ireland at its best
Best weather: May to September; short showers common throughout the year (don’t forget an umbrella or slicker)
Best prices: Mid-September to June
What To Do
Scan the rocky cliffs: For a dramatic setting, don’t miss Ireland’s biggest rock stars: the Rock of Cashel (St. Patrick allegedly picked a shamrock from here to explain the Trinity) and breathtaking Cliffs of Moher, a five-mile-long sea wall that soars up to 700 feet.
Visit heritage towns: Step back to a time of fairytale thatched-roof cottages in designated Heritage Towns that include Cashel and Kinsale. For a complete list of postcard-pretty spots, visit heritagetowns.com.
Explore the peninsulas: Drive around one of the numerous promontories that jut off the southwest coast of Ireland for breathtaking mountain and coastal views. The Ring of Kerry, a daylong drive that runs along the perimeter of the Iveragh Peninsula, is one of the most popular scenic drives. See also Dingle Peninsula for its unspoiled serenity.
Feast at a medieval banquet: Dine before a color-soaked pageant of medieval Irish history in music, dance, mime, and rhyme in the hallowed splendor of a 15th-century castle. Best bets include Bunratty Castle, Dunguaire Castle, and Knappogue Castle.
