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Pubs, crawling. Castles, sprawling. You, oohing and aahing.

Ireland Travel Guide

Whether you’re a nature junkie, all about that #PubLife, or a diehard music fan—you won’t need the luck of the Irish to find a reason to love Ireland.

Experience Ireland

Where hiking shoes turn into dancing-at-the-pub shoes turn into hiking shoes.

Adventure

Crush your daily steps goal and say things like “these views are bang on.”

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Experience the struggle of ocean against rock at the Cliffs of Moher

Feel the power of Torc Mountain’s 66-foot waterfall

Go marching one by one along the famous One Man’s Pass trail

Count the Twelve Bens while trekking through Connemara National Park

Bike your way along Ireland’s west coast on the Great Western Greenway

Journey to the peak of Ireland’s tallest mountain, Carrauntoohil

Hike past world-famous lakes at Killarney National Park

Witness the unique geological formation of Giant’s Causeway

Ascend the Cuilcagh Boardwalk Trail AKA the Stairway to Heaven

Make like St. Patrick & see if you can find a four-leaf clover

Catch epic panoramic views along the Ring of Kerry

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History

Castle. Lots of Castles.

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Tour the 600-year-old Blarney Castle & Gardens

Kiss the Blarney Stone & be anointed with the gift of gab

Visit St. Patrick’s 800-year-old namesake cathedral in Dublin

See the library that inspired Hogwarts’ own at Trinity College

Read 1,200-year-old biblical stories in the Book of Kells

Uncover the fascinating story of Kilkenny Castle

Go back in time & discover the Aran Islands’ prehistoric forts

Get spooky on a historic Irish ghost tour

Walk the “Medieval Mile” in Kilkenny, featuring 14th-century castles

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Craic (good times)

Fact: Irish bliss starts with Guinness.

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Pour the perfect pint at the Guinness Storehouse

People-watch & pub-crawl along Dublin’s famous Grafton Street

Stepdance the night away anywhere (everywhere?) to live Irish music

Explore Galway’s Eyre Square, bustling with shops, cafes & art

Unleash your inner whiskey aficionado at the Jameson Distillery

Learn how to properly pronounce, and enjoy, Smithwick’s Ale

Supernaturalize your trip by visiting one of Ireland’s haunted pubs

Keep energized with a traditional Irish coffee from a local café

Enjoy some Irish comfort food, like beef stew or shepherd's pie

Listen to the buskers along Galway’s lively Quay Street

Buy yourself a locally crafted souvenir at the Kilkenny Design Centre

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Accommodations. Activities. Rockstar Tour Director that knows which pub pours the best Guinness.

This is group travel with EF Ultimate Break. Expertly crafted itineraries, everything included. We keep your stress levels low and holy-s#!t-that-was-awesome levels high.

Lowdown

Language: English
Currency: Euro
Color: Green. So much green.
Capital: Dublin
Must See: Cliffs of Moher
Highest Mountain: Carrauntoohil
Cutest Encounter: Sheep
Dance to: Live Irish music
Drink to: Live Irish music
Hangover Cure: Live Irish music—kidding. Obviously it’s a full Irish breakfast.

Slang

Bang on: Meaning you’re right or accurate
Black stuff: Guinness
Brutal: Meaning awful or dreadful
Craic: Pronounced like crack; good times
Deadly or savage: Fantastic or great
Knackered or shattered: Exhausted
Langers: Drunk
Wired to the moon: A little hungover and three cups of coffee before 9:00am? You’re wired to the moon.
Take the piss: To mock, tease, or poke fun

Eat like a local

Don’t get it twisted, bangers and mash are a must. But there’s a whole lot of Irish food you’ve got to try.

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Irish stew

Ireland’s most famous dish of meat, potatoes, onions, parsley, carrots & more.

The full Irish breakfast

Soda bread, bacon, eggs, fried sausages, vegetables; served with beans.

Salmon

Smoked or Irish-style, Salmon in Ireland is always fresh especially from April–June.

Oysters

A seafood staple, Irish oysters are some of the world’s best & often sustainably grown.

Soda bread

Every Irish family has their own recipe! Always good with butter alongside Irish stew.

Coddle

A slow cooked combination of sausage, bacon, onions & potatoes.

Guinness cake

Why not pair a fresh pint o’ Guinness with a cake made from the dark stout?

Boxty

Essentially a mashed & grated potato in pancake form. Yummy!

Black and white pudding

Pudding made from blood and fat mixed with barley, pork, oatmeal & suet.

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Best ways to visit Ireland

Every way’s a good way to see Ireland, but we’ve kind of perfected it.

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We know a spot or two

Everybody knows Ireland is ridiculously good looking. But we know just the spots to experience the best of the Emerald Isle.

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Dublin

Beyond its world-class pub scene, Ireland’s capital city has majestic castles, fascinating museums, and stunning public hangouts like St. Stephens Green.

12 of Dublin’s Oldest, Coolest Pubs

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Galway

Come for the live music on Quay Street, stay for the charming villages and cobblestone alleyways.

6 Ways to Soak Up Galway’s Quay Street

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Kilkenny

Soak up 14th-century history on the “Medieval Mile” then wash it down with a cold pint at the famous Smithwick's brewery, churning out the good stuff (red ale) since 1710.

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Count Kerry

This Is where Ireland’s natural scenery and epic adventure combine with attractions like Killarney National Park, the Ring of Kerry, and Macgillycuddy’s Reeks.

9 Awe-Inspiring Outdoor Adventures

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County Clare

Drive through Ireland’s vast green countryside on your way to the Cliffs of Moher, where the only thing more impressive than the cliffs will be your selfie skills.

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The Aran Islands

Visiting these three rugged yet beautiful islands is like traveling back in time—the locals speak traditional Irish Gaelic and fisherman haul their catch in traditional wooden boats.

9 Must-See Ireland Spots & Attractions

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Pro tips

  • Spuds get all the love, but make sure to enjoy Ireland’s incredibly fresh seafood, too.
  • We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: the weather changes in an instant. Expect the unexpected—bring a waterproof jacket and shoes!
  • The locals in Ireland are known for being friendly. Spark up conversation in the pubs and you may even find a new BFF.
  • Support Ireland’s long history of craftsmanship and delicacies by buying local—from sweaters and jewelry to cheese and chocolate and more.
  • When at the pubs with a group, it’s common for each person to take turns “buying a round” for the rest of the group. Try it out with your new friends!
  • It’s tempting to take pictures at every corner or of every pint you purchase, but remember that life in Ireland is all about living in the moment. Enjoy it!

Ireland inspo

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two men standing in front of a row of bars along a street
Destinations

12 of Dublin’s Oldest, Coolest Pubs & the Crazy Stories They Have to Tell

Ring of Kerry with grassy, rocky mountains surrounding
Destinations

Must-See Ireland: 9 Most Beautiful Sights & Attractions

Castle in County Kerry, Ireland
Destinations

Visiting Ireland in Your 20s: 11 Tips for First-Timers

A busker plays his guitar on Quay Street in Galway
Destinations

Better Than Dublin? 6 Ways to Soak Up Galway’s Quay Street

Two beer bottles, one Guinness and one Asahi, being held in the air.
Destinations

Beer Me: Our Favorite International Beers Around the World

Travel stories

Out of Office: Grand Tour of Ireland

A huge parade of people walking through city streets of Dublin during St. Paddy's Day.
Destinations

Surviving & Thriving: Tips for Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day In Ireland

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Traveler photos from Ireland

5/5: the perfect pour!

Our travelers love visiting Ireland, and they aren’t afraid to tell us.

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Our kick-a** Tour Directors

We ❤️ them—and you will too.

Gavin

“Being from Ireland is something that I’m very proud of. No matter how far I travel or for how long, Ireland will always be my home. Ireland is the land of a thousand welcomes. Whoever you are, Ireland will welcome you with open arms and a hot mug of tea! Being a Tour Director allows me to dispense this welcome over and over again, and there’s nothing I enjoy more than meeting new people and showing off this little Emerald Island!”

Laura

“I was born in Ireland and live in a friendly little seaside village on the West Coast. Ireland is a magical place of music, dancing, and stories on a backdrop of rolling green hills, woodland, and cliffs standing over the Atlantic Ocean. Being a Tour Director is the perfect life for me, as it allows me to share with travelers what my amazing homeland has to offer!”

Marco

“I grew up between Sligo (West Coast of Ireland) and Florence (Italy). After graduating in Archeology, I traveled quite intensely around the world for 10 years, but no place feels like home more than sitting in a pub anywhere in Ireland—surrounded by strangers of every age and gender, chatting, downing a pint, listening to live music and having a great craic! My fiery passion for history and culture is something I love sharing with my groups, and for that I can thank EF Ultimate Break! Sláinte.”

Still undecided? We’ll help you find the perfect trip.

Our expert Trip Consultants are waiting to hear from you. Seriously. They freakin’ love helping travelers figure out their dream trips.