An Irish landscape has joined Lonely Planet’s global Best in Travel 2027 selection. Nestled between Connemara and County Mayo, Killary Fjord has been recognised among the destinations and experiences to discover in 2027. It is an international accolade for this spectacular 16-kilometre sea inlet, ringed by mountains and crossed by the Wild Atlantic Way.
Killary Fjord recognised by Lonely Planet for 2027
Lonely Planet has unveiled its Best in Travel 2027, a selection of 50 places to discover around the world. Ireland is represented by Killary Fjord, chosen in the experiences category and particularly recognised for its fjord landscapes.
The travel guide describes Killary as one of the country’s most spectacular landscapes. The accolade shines a light on an area already emblematic of Connemara, yet often less familiar to international visitors than the Cliffs of Moher, the Ring of Kerry or the Giant’s Causeway.
A spectacular landscape in the heart of Ireland’s west
Killary Harbour extends for around 16 kilometres between the mountains of Galway and Mayo. The site forms a natural boundary between the two counties, with the hills of Connemara on one side and Mweelrea, Connacht’s highest peak at 814 metres, on the other.
The result is one of the west coast’s most striking landscapes: a long stretch of dark water, steep slopes, mussel farms and mountains whose appearance changes constantly with the light and weather.
Why Lonely Planet recommends Killary Fjord
A slower, wilder Ireland
Lonely Planet’s 2027 selection highlights more than the beauty of the landscape. Killary also reflects a travel trend favouring immersive experiences, wide-open spaces and destinations where visitors can take their time getting to know an area.
The fjord is particularly well suited to this approach. It can be admired from the road, explored on foot along its shores or viewed from the water, with the mountains rising all around.
The Wild Atlantic Way at its most dramatic
Killary lies along one of the most spectacular stretches of the Wild Atlantic Way. Here, the road linking Connemara to south Mayo passes through a landscape far less built up than Ireland’s major tourist destinations.
Just a few kilometres away are Leenane, Kylemore Abbey, Connemara National Park and the Twelve Bens mountains. Killary can therefore easily be included in a multi-day itinerary through western Ireland.
How to experience Killary Fjord
From the water
One of the most spectacular ways to appreciate the scale of the landscape is to sail on the fjord. Sightseeing cruises offer views of the mountains, aquaculture farms and, with a little luck, marine wildlife from the water.
Discover Ireland particularly recommends this approach for enjoying an unobstructed view of the terrain surrounding Killary.
On foot along the old Green Road
Walkers can also follow the Green Road, an old route running alongside part of the fjord. The trail offers a much slower way to experience the landscape, among mountains, water and traces of the region’s rural history.
The road is notably associated with the relief works established during the Great Famine in the 19th century. Today, it is one of the most rewarding ways to explore Killary away from traffic.
Stop off in Leenane
At the eastern end of the fjord, the small village of Leenane makes a natural base for exploring the surrounding area. Its location between Galway and Mayo also makes it a particularly appealing stop on a road trip between Connemara and the Westport area.
A new international spotlight on Connemara
Killary Fjord’s inclusion in Best in Travel 2027 should bring fresh international attention to Connemara. Lonely Planet has also accompanied its selection with a new guide to the region, published in September 2026.
For French travellers, this recognition is above all a good reason not to limit a stay in Connemara to Kylemore Abbey and the national park. Killary is close enough to these key sights to be included in the same itinerary, while offering a very different atmosphere.
Killary Fjord, one of Ireland’s great experiences for 2027?
Lonely Planet’s recognition does not suddenly turn Killary into an unknown destination revealed to the world. The fjord has long been one of the great landscapes of western Ireland and a popular stop on the Wild Atlantic Way.
But its inclusion in Best in Travel 2027 confirms something Connemara lovers already know: in this part of Ireland, it can sometimes take only a few kilometres away from the busiest routes to find yourself before a monumental landscape.
And with its mountains plunging towards the water, narrow roads and almost timeless atmosphere, Killary Fjord has precisely the extra touch of soul that so many people come to Ireland in search of.
Sources: Lonely Planet, Best in Travel 2027; Discover Ireland; information published in September 2026.
