Over the summer, I had the privilege of visiting Ireland, a country that, while impressive, I hadn’t really given much thought to before.
Even as someone who travels a lot, Ireland had never been somewhere I’d placed at the top of my bucket list. My trip this summer, though, completely changed my perception.
Now, Ireland is definitely one of the top destinations I’ve been to, and somewhere I can’t help but encourage others to visit. Here are three reasons why you should add Ireland to the top of your travel wish list.
The Cliffs of Moher are a must-see
Better known as the “Cliffs of Insanity” from “The Princess Bride” and the seaside Horcrux cave in “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” the Cliffs of Moher are something everybody needs to experience at least once in their life.
This location, made iconic through film, features stunning seaside cliffs in County Clare, Ireland, looking off the western coastline of the country into the Atlantic Ocean. The cliffs stretch for 8.6 miles and have drop-offs rising up to 702 feet above sea level, underscoring their magnificence and natural grandeur. In addition, they are also home to many different types of unique wildlife, including puffins, which tourists can see seasonally between the months of May and June.
For me, the cliffs were a big reason why Ireland set itself so far apart from all the other countries I’ve visited. The views were spectacular to take in, and I’ll admit, I couldn’t stop myself from doing an Instagram-worthy photoshoot with how amazing this location was.
The country has a lot of options for tourism surrounding the cliffs, including tours, walking trails and even repurposed castles along the coastline, all of which I would definitely recommend.
Overall, the Cliffs of Moher are an amazing place to visit, and definitely a reason to go to Ireland. I’m so grateful and lucky that I got the opportunity to see them with my own eyes and that I even got to act out my own “Wuthering Heights” dreams, running along the rocks. Everyone should see these at least once, and I can’t wait to try to go back as soon as I can.
If you’re into castles, Ireland is the place for you
If you were to Google things to do in Ireland, the castle culture would definitely be at the top of everyone’s list.
Castles are, I kid you not, everywhere in Ireland. I remember driving from our Airbnb to a local pub for dinner one night and seeing three castles along the road. Three castles in a row, all just while heading into town.
Driving out from Dublin toward the Cliffs of Moher, we stopped at Birr Castle Demesne to explore the grounds, which have now been converted for scientific innovation, which was interesting to see. The grounds and gardens were beautiful, and honestly reminded me of Peach Gardens from “Mario Kart,” which was super fun to interact with in real life.
My favorite castle that I visited, though, had to be the Rock of Dunamase.
These ancient castle ruins were visually stunning and featured an incredible view, being located at the top of a hill overlooking one of Ireland’s beautiful valleys within County Laois. The ruins themselves were lots of fun to explore, and my sister and I really enjoyed playing our own version of “Temple Run” as we ran around the stone walls, climbing and jumping across gaps.
With all the different styles of castles in Ireland and their abundance, I would definitely recommend visiting this country and seeing all it has to offer.
Carlingford is everything a girl could ask for
Carlingford had to be just about the sweetest town I’ve ever been to.
With brightly painted, colorful buildings and a vibrant culture, Carlingford is definitely a spot you won’t want to miss.
The medieval coastal town, which sits on a beautiful harbor, is known for its wide array of outdoor activities as well as being home to the “Leprechaun Whisperer,” an Irishman who claims to be in contact with modern-day leprechauns and fairies. Of course, upon hearing this, I had to make my way to the Carlingford Leprechaun and Fairy Cavern, where these mythical creatures are rumored to still live.
The amount of whimsy and quirk that this location held was enough to convince me of how much promise Ireland has, and I was texting pictures to my friends the entire time to show them how cute and bubbly this fairyland inside Carlingford was.
Carlingford’s cute factor is so much more than just leprechauns and fairies, though – I was simply dying over how adorable all the cafes and eateries around the coastal town were.
One of my favorites had to be Artebrano Cafe, where I had the best chocolate croissant of my life. Filled with chocolate and cocoa pebbles as well as topped with crunchy marshmallows, it was to die for.
My ultimate favorite, though, was definitely Ruby Ellen’s Tea Room, an iconically whimsical place to stop for tea or lunch.
This restaurant definitely encompassed everything there was to love about Carlingford, Ireland – vibrant colors, friendly faces and good food.
The aesthetic of this seaside town was everything a girl could dream of, and it is definitely a good spot to add a little color to your Instagram feed, so adding it to your travel itinerary is honestly a must.
So, Add ireland to the itinerary
Ireland has so much to offer, and there’s so much to explore, even outside of the attractions I mentioned in this article. If given the chance, I would visit again in a heartbeat, and I can’t emphasize enough how amazing an experience it was.
So, when you’re planning your next travel dreams, don’t forget to include Ireland. I promise, you won’t regret it.