A photograph of Ireland

Country guide

Up to 1 hour in Ireland — page 4

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. Mill Street House Mill Street House
    57 45 min

    Mill Street House

    Mill Street House is a named visitor point in Dublin, on Mill Street south of the River Liffey. The listing places it within the central urban fabric, close to the Liberties and the wider historic city centre.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Dublin
  2. St. Assam's Church St. Assam's Church
    58 45 min

    St. Assam's Church

    St Assam's Church

    St. Assam's Church is a named church in Dublin and a place of worship within the city. Its principal character is religious and community-oriented, so visitors should approach it as a sacred building rather than as a conventional museum attraction.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Dublin
  3. St Brigid's Church (Castleknock) St Brigid's Church (Castleknock)
    59 30 min

    St Brigid's Church (Castleknock)

    Saint Brigid's Church

    St Brigid's Church is a Catholic parish church in Castleknock, a suburban district west of Dublin city centre. It serves local worshippers and functions as a religious and community gathering place.

    • Notable
    • Place of worship
    • Dublin
  4. Dartmouth Square Dartmouth Square
    60 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
  5. Fitzwilliam Square Fitzwilliam Square
    61 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
  6. Mount Pleasant Square Mount Pleasant Square
    62 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
  7. Pearse Square Pearse Square
    63 1 hour

    Pearse Square

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

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Dublin
  8. Wolfe Tone Square Wolfe Tone Square
    64 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
  9. Bord Gáis Energy Theatre Bord Gáis Energy Theatre
    65 1 hour

    Bord Gáis Energy Theatre

    Bord Gáis Energy Theatre is a performing arts venue located in Dublin, Ireland. The theatre presents large-scale musicals, opera, ballet, drama, and concerts. It opened in 2010 and was designed by architect Daniel Libeskind.

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Dublin
  10. Gate Theatre Gate Theatre
    66 1 hour

    Gate Theatre

    Gate Theatre and Assembly Rooms

    Gate Theatre is a Dublin performing-arts venue known for presenting live drama. It has hosted Irish and international theatrical work and forms part of the city’s strong theatre culture.

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Dublin
  11. New Theatre New Theatre
    67 1 hour

    New Theatre

    The New Theatre

    New Theatre is a performing arts venue in Dublin, Ireland, offering audiences a place to experience live theatrical work and cultural events. Its programming connects contemporary and classic dramatic traditions with Dublin’s wider theatre culture.

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Dublin
  12. Olympia Theatre Olympia Theatre
    68 1 hour

    Olympia Theatre

    Olympia Theatre is a long-established Dublin theatre and music venue in the city centre. It brings together theatrical productions, live concerts and touring entertainment in a setting with historic character.

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Dublin
  13. Samuel Beckett Theatre Samuel Beckett Theatre
    69 1 hour

    Samuel Beckett Theatre

    Samuel Beckett Theatre is a performing arts venue on the Trinity College Dublin campus in central Dublin. Its name honours the Irish playwright Samuel Beckett, while its programme serves the wider theatrical life of the university and the city.

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Dublin
  14. Smock Alley Theatre Smock Alley Theatre
    70 1 hour

    Smock Alley Theatre

    Smock Alley Theatre is a historic theatre venue located in Dublin, Ireland.

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Dublin
  15. 3Arena 3Arena
    71 1 hour

    3Arena

    3Arena is a major indoor amphitheatre located in Dublin, Ireland. The venue opened in December 2008 and was originally known as The O2. It was renamed 3Arena in 2014 following a sponsorship change.

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Dublin
  16. Fusiliers' Arch Fusiliers' Arch
    72 45 min

    Fusiliers' Arch

    Fusiliers’ Arch is a sandstone memorial gateway at the Grafton Street entrance to St Stephen’s Green in Dublin. It commemorates members of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers who died in the Second Boer War.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Dublin
  17. Convention Centre Dublin Convention Centre Dublin
    73 45 min

    Convention Centre Dublin

    The Convention Centre Dublin

    Convention Centre Dublin is a large conference and events venue on North Wall Quay beside the River Liffey in Dublin’s Docklands. The building opened in 2010 and was designed by architect Kevin Roche.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Dublin
  18. Blessington Street Basin Blessington Street Basin
    74 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
  19. Booterstown marsh Booterstown marsh
    75 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.