Did you know? The island of Ireland is a tiny territory compared to many states and countries around the world! Despite its tiny size, the island enjoys an international reputation and fascinates thousands of travellers every year. The size of the Emerald Isle is ideal for tourism. The region is easily traversed from one end to the other in less than ten hours by car, making it the perfect place to explore without wasting time in transit!
Ireland is a country that shines particularly brightly around the world. Everyone knows it, for its green landscapes, its culture, the warmth of its people and the typically Irish spirit!
But few people have an accurate idea of its size compared to other countries in the world. And you just might be surprised when you take a look at Irish geography! Because the Emerald Isle is a tiny territory full of surprises!
To give you a better idea of Ireland’s size, here are a few figures to show you just how easy it is to get around the country, thanks to its short distances!
Let’s start with a few distances: from north to south, the island of Ireland is 486 km (302 miles) long and 275 km (171 miles) wide, from east to west.
It’s made up of towns and villages, but also of wide open spaces, between mountains, moors and thick forests, all crossed by impressive lakes!
But that’s not all. The island also boasts magnificent coastlines, punctuated by cliffs, bays and beaches.
The Irish coastline stretches for more than 3,172 kilometers (1,970 miles): a pretty reasonable distance when you think about it! In fact, it’s on these coasts that you’ll find the famous Wild Atlantic Way: a coastal path that runs along the Atlantic Ocean, covering more than 2,500 km of coastal road!
Similarly, it is estimated that the island is home to over 6.8 million Irish people: an astonishing figure compared to countries like France (which has over 10 times as many inhabitants), or Italy!
In short, Ireland is a small island!
It is estimated that :
With a surface area of 84,421 square kilometers (32,595 square miles), Ireland is not nearly as big as you might think.
And that has many advantages, especially for travellers!
Don’t be fooled. Despite the impressive diversity of the Irish territory, it will take you less than 8 hours to drive from the most northerly point in Ireland (Malin Head) to the most southerly point: Mizen Head lighthouse!
So discovering Ireland by car, motorcycle, train or even bicycle is no longer a problem. The island is perfectly sized and adapted for travellers wishing to make a complete tour of the island!
It’s true that you’ll need between 2 and 3 weeks for a complete tour of Ireland (if you take your time), but this type of holiday is widely preferred by tourists who want to discover the whole country (Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland as a whole)!
So don’t hesitate: the green Erin is just waiting for you! Sail, explore, discover! Ireland is a land of castles, dolmens, national parks and exceptional activities! A unique place that will reconnect you to the essentials, and let you enjoy the simple things in life.
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