With its jagged, winding coastline and ancient, mist-covered mountains, the Irish landscape is unforgettably majestic. And hidden in this sparse beauty are some of Europe’s most charming little villages. Often just a stone’s throw from a seductive coastline or a ruined medieval castle, these colorful destinations are full of warmth, character and Irish hospitality! It’s time to discover our top list of Ireland’s most beautiful villages!
Dingle – Sharkshock
Located on the southern Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry, Dingle is a charming seaside village. We love its colorful houses, its incredible number of Irish pubs (compared to its 2,000 inhabitants, it’s simply enormous!), but also the friendliness of its people, the freshness of the food served in the restaurants… and of course, the fascinating beauty of its surrounding wilderness!
Dingle should not only be visited from the inside, with its lively streets, shops and attractions of all kinds… it should also be discovered through outdoor exploration…
The village is the starting point for many excursions: take a boat out to meet the bay’s dolphins, visit the Dingle Whiskey Distillery which produces some of the best Irish whiskey in the country… or put on your hiking boots and discover the wonders of the Dingle Peninsula! Take on Slea Head, walk barefoot in the wet sand of local beaches and enjoy extraordinary views wherever you are!
Desmond Castle – © Lyd Photography
While the cafés, craft stores and traditional pubs of Main Street are pleasant enough, it’s the neat rows of 19th-century thatched cottages that give Adare its distinct character.
Built by the Earl of Dunraven for the men who were building the imposing Adare Manor nearby, the whitewashed cottages are incredibly picturesque, and some are available to rent all year round.
Follow the meandering River Maigue along the north side of the village and admire the majestic ruins of Desmond Castle and the Franciscan brotherhood of Adare.
The place is wild and sublime, as if out of time!
Doolin – jan zeschky – cc
Although Doolin is probably most famous as the gateway to the Cliffs of Moher, it’s full of charm.
Evenings are made for relaxing with a few pints of Guinness to the energetic sound of live Irish music at Gus O’Connor’s or McDermott’s Pub.
And when morning comes, it’s not just the famous cliffs that are nearby. Doolin is not far from the ethereal form of Doonagore Castle, the mysterious Burren National Park and the ferry to the magnificent Aran Islands.
The colourful village of Kinsale – © Geoffrey B. Johnson_Media
Although it has been a bustling fishing port for over 300 years, Kinsale’s colorful cobbled streets seem to have been built exclusively for postcard scenes.
The rustic pubs and quirky stores that fill these winding streets have made this small County Cork town immensely popular with summer crowds, and it’s also the starting point for the Wild Atlantic Way trail.
While many will want to set off on the trail, stay first in Kinsale to sample the seafood at Martin Shanahan’s excellent Fishy Fishy Restaurant. We look forward to hearing from you!
Dunmore East – © Luke
There are few better places in Ireland to spend a languid summer evening watching the sun set than the picturesque waterfront of Dunmore East.
With a seductive coastal road that gently rises and falls with the sandstone cliffs of the shoreline, this is a town of secluded coves and pristine beaches.
Further south, the spectacular Dunmore East cliff walk offers unobstructed views across the bay to County Wexford’s Hook Head lighthouse, one of the oldest working lighthouses in the world.
The Kenmare Stone Circle – A Ryan – cc
While Kenmare attracts many visitors thanks to its proximity to the spectacular Killarney National Park, its lively, colorful streets are captivating in another sense, teeming with lively pubs like PF McCarthy’s on Main Street. But ancient curiosities are never far away in this weather-beaten land. Just a stone’s throw from the town is the Kenmare stone circle. Probably dating from the Bronze Age (2,200 to 500 B.C.), the 15 heavy stone blocks arranged in an elliptical pattern are one of the region’s most unique attractions.
Howth Head – © Evgeni
Just a stone’s throw from Dublin lies Howth, a seaside village that lives to the rhythm of the ocean, fishing and tourism. Magnificent, easily accessible by DART and well worth a visit!
The village will charm you with its pastel streets, its local market, the smiles of its inhabitants… and, of course, the beauty of its natural sites! There’s no shortage of activities and attractions in Howth: discover its lighthouses, follow the Howth Cliff Walk…
You’ll come back with a head full of sea air, and a taste of authentic landscapes fragrant with iodine and authenticity!
The western arm of the harbor is home to a vibrant array of restaurants and seafood bars. It’s the perfect place to relax after a great day out!
The Baltimore beacon – © Patryk Kosmider
A lively gateway to the Atlantic, Baltimore’s narrow streets almost drop into the ocean, and are particularly lively during the summer months.
Boat trips to enchanting Cape Clear Island and whale-watching excursions draw enthusiastic visitors to Baltimore’s shores every year, but there are plenty of good reasons to stay ashore, too.
In addition to the colorful pubs surrounding the harbor, the town lies in the shadow of the 13th-century castle of Dún na Séad, now home to a Turkish restaurant recently awarded a Michelin star!
The Rock of Cashel – © peteleclerc
The village of Cashel seems unchanged for centuries. Dominated by the imposing shape of the Rock of Cashel, a 12th-century medieval site, this village is the ideal place to admire one of Ireland’s most little-known landscapes.
The bustling high street is packed with cafés, pubs and hotels, while the handsome blue awning and white lace curtains of Mikey Ryan’s conceal a superb restaurant with a magnificent rear garden for the summer months.
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