The result is surprising. Ireland’s highest-rated tourist attraction in 2026 is neither the Guinness Storehouse, nor the Cliffs of Moher, nor even Blarney Castle. According to a new study focusing on visitor reviews, the top spot goes to Roe & Co Distillery, located in Dublin’s Liberties district.
A ranking that challenges the usual must-sees and confirms travellers’ growing interest in more low-key, interactive experiences deeply rooted in Irish culture.
Roe & Co Distillery tops Ireland’s attractions
A Dublin distillery praised by its visitors
Roe & Co Distillery takes first place with 97.35% five-star reviews. It is followed by the 14 Henrietta Street museum, also located in Dublin, which achieves 94.77%, and the Irish Rock ’N’ Roll Museum Experience, credited with 92.12% top ratings.
The ranking was produced by Irish agency Baldwin Digital based on the 50 attractions listed among Ireland’s most popular activities on Tripadvisor. For each venue, the authors calculated the proportion of five-star reviews compared with the total number of comments.
Published on 15 July 2026 and reported by Euronews, the list favours museums, distilleries and immersive experiences.
Behind the top three come the Slieve League Cliffs in Donegal, followed by the Wild Atlantic Way. The Irish Whiskey Museum, EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, the Little Museum of Dublin, Killarney National Park and Tullamore D.E.W. Distillery complete the top ten.
Why is Roe & Co so popular?
A visit built around the experience
Located at 92 James’s Street, a few minutes from the Guinness Storehouse, Roe & Co occupies a former Guinness brewery power station. The imposing brick building has been transformed into a space dedicated to Irish whiskey, cocktails and the art of blending.
The visit moves away from the traditional route of display cases and lengthy explanatory panels. Roe & Co focuses on public participation. The Flavours Workshop offers an introduction to flavours and cocktail creation, while the Beyond the Blend experience introduces visitors to the principles of whiskey blending.
Both workshops last around 40 minutes and continue at the Powerhouse Bar, set up in the former power station. The bar can also be visited without booking a tour.
This short, interactive and friendly format seems to be particularly popular with travellers. It reflects a strong trend in Irish tourism: visitors no longer want simply to observe a place, but to experience it and leave with a story to tell.
A first place that needs to be put into context
The Guinness Storehouse remains one of the giants of Irish tourism
The ranking measures neither visitor numbers, international recognition nor the absolute quality of the attractions. It is based solely on the proportion of five-star reviews posted on Tripadvisor.
A very busy attraction naturally receives a larger and more diverse volume of comments. The Guinness Storehouse therefore remains one of Dublin’s most visited sites, despite ranking 44th in this study. The Cliffs of Moher are in 19th place, with 75.95% five-star reviews.
These results do not mean that Roe & Co attracts more visitors or that the major must-sees have lost their appeal. Rather, they show that more intimate experiences can achieve a particularly high satisfaction rate.
Tripadvisor’s own ranking is also based on other criteria, including the average rating, the number of reviews, page views and users’ locations. It can therefore produce a very different order.
A symbolic victory for the Liberties district
Dublin confirms its place in Irish cultural tourism
Six of the ten highest-rated attractions are in Dublin. More specifically, several are located in or around the Liberties, a former industrial district that has become one of the capital’s main tourist hubs.
Roe & Co takes its name from George Roe, whose distillery was once one of the largest in Ireland before closing in 1926. The brand was relaunched by Diageo in 2017, and production began at the site in 2019.
Since June 2025, distilling there has been placed on an extended pause. The visitor centre nevertheless remains open, while blending and packaging activities continue, according to specialist publication The Spirits Business.
This does not prevent the public from accessing the still room and discovering the production process. The official Roe & Co website continues to offer its experiences and workshops throughout 2026.
Should you add Roe & Co to your Dublin stay?
A visit particularly suited to whiskey enthusiasts
Roe & Co is an interesting alternative to Dublin’s major attractions, especially for travellers who have already visited the Guinness Storehouse or the Jameson Distillery Bow St.
The experience is reserved for people aged 18 and over. Children, including babies, are not admitted during the workshops. Non-alcoholic drinks are nevertheless available, and the building is wheelchair accessible.
The distillery is around a 20-minute walk from central Dublin. It can also be reached on bus 123 or from the St James’s Hospital tram stop. Booking is recommended, as places are limited.
This new ranking does not overturn Ireland’s tourist map. Rather, it invites visitors to look beyond the best-known sights. Between a former power station, a museum dedicated to Dublin’s social history and the backstage world of Irish music, the best surprises are sometimes just a few streets from the most photographed landmarks.
