A photograph of Ireland

Country guide

Ireland

Ireland here means the state covering 26 of the island's 32 counties; the other six are Northern Ireland, and the two share the republic's only land border. Abo...

Photograph · Suicasmo · CC BY-SA 4.0

3,098 Places
1Cities

Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor

Ireland here means the state covering 26 of the island's 32 counties; the other six are Northern Ireland, and the two share the republic's only land border. About 5.4 million people live in the 26, more than 1.5 million of them in Dublin on the east coast, where most arrivals begin. Everything else is a direction away from the capital - the Atlantic west and its cliffs and harbour towns, the Celtic Sea to the south beyond Cork, the Irish Sea coast running north. The island is small enough to cross by car in a day, which regularly tempts people into trying it.

Checked 2026-08-25

Cities

Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.

Practical information

Language spoken
Irish and English
National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
Dialling code
+353
International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
Currency
Euro (EUR)
Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
Emergency number
112 or 999
Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
Plug type
Type G · 230 V
Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
Tap water
Safe from the mains
Public supplies are monitored; follow any local boil-water notice

Planning a visit

Seasonal closures come from recorded opening hours.

  1. January: seasonal closure recorded
  2. February: seasonal closure recorded
  3. March: seasonal closure recorded
  4. April: seasonal closure recorded
  5. May: seasonal closure recorded
  6. June: seasonal closure recorded
  7. July: seasonal closure recorded
  8. August: seasonal closure recorded
  9. September: no seasonality data recorded — this month
  10. October: seasonal closure recorded
  11. November: seasonal closure recorded
  12. December: seasonal closure recorded

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

  1. St. Patrick's Cathedral Park St. Patrick's Cathedral Park
    07 1 hour

    St. Patrick's Cathedral Park

    Saint Patrick's Park

    Saint Patrick's Park is a public park situated adjacent to St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin, Ireland. The green space provides a setting for the historic cathedral and serves as a recreational area for visitors and residents.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Dublin
  2. Belcamp Park
    08 1 hour

    Belcamp Park

    Belcamp Park is a public park in Dublin’s northern suburbs, serving as open green space for nearby residential communities. The park offers an urban setting for outdoor recreation, walking and time away from built-up streets.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Dublin
  3. Bram Stoker Park Bram Stoker Park
    09 1 hour

    Bram Stoker Park

    Bram Stoker Park is a public urban park in Dublin named after Abraham Bram Stoker, the Irish author best known for the 1897 Gothic novel Dracula.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Dublin
  4. Bushy Park Bushy Park
    10 1 hour

    Bushy Park

    Bushy Park is a public park located in the Terenure area of Dublin, Ireland. The park occupies a notable green space within the suburban landscape of Ireland's capital city.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Dublin
  5. Dubh Linn Garden Dubh Linn Garden
    11 1 hour

    Dubh Linn Garden

    Dubh Linn Garden is a public garden located in Dublin, Ireland. The name derives from the Irish Dubh Linn, meaning black pool, which is the historical origin of the city's name.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Dublin
  6. Ellenfield Park
    12 1 hour

    Ellenfield Park

    Ellenfield Park is a mapped public green space in Dublin, recorded as way 27206647 in OpenStreetMap.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Dublin
  7. Fairview Park Fairview Park
    13 1 hour

    Fairview Park

    Fairview Park is a public park in Dublin’s Fairview district on the north side of the city, close to the River Liffey estuary.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Dublin
  8. Father Collins Park Father Collins Park
    14 1 hour

    Father Collins Park

    Father Collins Park is a public green space in Dublin, named after Father Collins. It offers an outdoor setting for a pause away from built-up streets, with room for informal recreation, walking and relaxation.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Dublin
  9. Griffith Park Griffith Park
    15 1 hour

    Griffith Park

    Griffith Park is a public park in Dublin and a straightforward place to add outdoor time to a city itinerary. It belongs to the city's network of recreational green spaces, offering a change from streets, shops and indoor attractions.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Dublin
  10. Herbert Park Herbert Park
    16 1 hour

    Herbert Park

    Herbert Park is a public park in Ballsbridge, south of Dublin city centre, named after Sidney Herbert, 1st Baron Herbert of Lea. It combines open lawns, tree-lined paths and spaces used for outdoor recreation.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Dublin
  11. Irishtown Nature Park Irishtown Nature Park
    17 1 hour

    Irishtown Nature Park

    Irishtown Nature Park is a semi-natural public green space in Dublin's Ringsend and Irishtown area, near the River Liffey estuary.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Dublin
  12. Lansdowne Valley Park
    18 1 hour

    Lansdowne Valley Park

    Lansdowne Valley Park is a public park in Dublin, Ireland, and a useful stop for travellers who want open outdoor space within the city.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Dublin
  13. Saint Anne's Park Saint Anne's Park
    19 1 hour

    Saint Anne's Park

    St Anne's Park

    Saint Anne's Park is a large public park in Raheny on Dublin's northside. Its grounds were once part of the estate associated with Saint Anne's House, which has been demolished.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Dublin
  14. Stardust Memorial Park Stardust Memorial Park
    20 1 hour

    Stardust Memorial Park

    Stardust Memorial Park is a memorial park in Dublin dedicated to the victims of the Stardust nightclub fire of 1981. Forty-eight young people lost their lives, and many others were injured.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Dublin
  15. The Cabbage Garden The Cabbage Garden
    21 1 hour

    The Cabbage Garden

    The Cabbage Garden is a historic cemetery in Dublin, established in the seventeenth century. It began as a vegetable garden and later became a burial ground for Catholic ecclesiastics and others during periods when Catholic burial options were restricted.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Dublin
  16. Tymon Park Tymon Park
    22 1 hour

    Tymon Park

    Tymon Park is a large public park in Dublin and an important green space for outdoor leisure and exercise. Its broad grounds give the city a place for walking, recreation and time outside the built-up centre.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Dublin
  17. Burrow Beach Burrow Beach
    23 1 hour

    Burrow Beach

    Burrow Beach is a sandy coastal beach located in the Sutton area of Dublin, Ireland. It sits on the northern side of Dublin Bay, facing Howth Head across the water.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Dublin
  18. Dartmouth Square Dartmouth Square
    24 1 hour

    Dartmouth Square

    Dartmouth Square is a Georgian garden square located in Dublin's south inner city. It forms part of the historic streetscape of Ranelagh and Rathmines, areas developed during the 18th and 19th centuries.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Dublin
  19. Fitzwilliam Square Fitzwilliam Square
    25 1 hour

    Fitzwilliam Square

    Fitzwilliam Square is a Georgian garden square in south-central Dublin. Its surrounding terrace of historic townhouses creates a remarkably unified streetscape, with repeated proportions, elegant entrances and restrained façades.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Dublin
  20. Mount Pleasant Square Mount Pleasant Square
    26 1 hour

    Mount Pleasant Square

    Mountpleasant Square Park

    Mount Pleasant Square is a Georgian garden square located in the Ranelagh area of Dublin, Ireland. It forms part of the city's notable collection of 18th and 19th century residential squares, characteristic of Dublin's architectural heritage.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Dublin
  21. Pearse Square Pearse Square
    27 1 hour

    Pearse Square

    Pearse Square is a public urban square in Dublin, part of the city's Georgian streetscape.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Dublin
  22. Wolfe Tone Square Wolfe Tone Square
    28 1 hour

    Wolfe Tone Square

    Wolfe Tone Square is a public square in Dublin, named after Theobald Wolfe Tone, a leading figure in Irish republican history. The square functions as an open urban space, gathering point and pedestrian thoroughfare within the city centre.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Dublin
  23. Blessington Street Basin Blessington Street Basin
    29 1 hour

    Blessington Street Basin

    Blessington Street Basin is a historic reservoir located in Dublin, Ireland. Constructed in the early nineteenth century as part of the city water supply system, it formed a crucial component of Dublin's municipal infrastructure.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Dublin
  24. Booterstown marsh Booterstown marsh
    30 1 hour

    Booterstown marsh

    Booterstown Marsh

    Booterstown Marsh is a salt marsh nature reserve located in Booterstown, a coastal suburb of Dublin, Ireland. It sits alongside the DART railway line and the coast road between Blackrock and Booterstown.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Dublin

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·

Common questions

How long should a first trip to Ireland be?

Seven to ten days supports Dublin plus one coherent coastal or western circuit. A shorter trip should choose either the southwest, Galway and Connemara, or Northern Ireland connections rather than tracing the entire island.

What entry documents are needed for Ireland?

Irish Immigration explains the documents examined at the border. Visa need, passport validity and supporting evidence depend on nationality; Ireland is not part of Schengen, so a Schengen permission alone does not settle Irish entry.

What is the best way to travel around Ireland?

Dublin is the largest air gateway, with Shannon and Cork useful for western and southern routes. Intercity rail and coach links serve the main cities, while rural peninsulas and small settlements often require a car or planned bus connection.

When is a practical time to visit Ireland?

May to September offers longer daylight for road and coastal itineraries. Rain and wind remain possible throughout the year, so ferry crossings and exposed walks need a current forecast rather than a seasonal assumption.

What money and payment basics apply in Ireland?

Ireland uses the euro (EUR). The cited national tourism source does not record a universal payment rule; confirm card acceptance for rural transport, small accommodation and deposits, and retain an alternative.

What practical safety details should I save for Ireland?

Emergency services in Ireland answer 112 or 999. Type G sockets use 230 V, and mains tap water is recorded as safe.