If you are planning to visit the best cities in Ireland then let us tell you that there are many unique, beautiful, and wonderful cities here. Dublin is not only the capital of Ireland it is a city that should not be missed when you plan Ireland vacations. There is an endless names of cites to visit in the list of the best cities in Ireland but mostly people traveling to Ireland start and end their journey in the capital that is in Dublin itself. But there are many best cities to travel to in Ireland. Here we have brought you the top best cities to visit in Ireland.
List of 11 Best Cities in Ireland to Visit
Ireland may be small but it has unbeatable scenery, landscapes, medieval castles, Parks, Zoo, Beautiful historic landmarks, tasty food, and much more to see in these famous cities in Ireland. Let’s start by knowing the name of these beautiful best cities to see in Ireland.
- Dublin
- Waterford
- Galway
- Limerick
- Belfast
- Cork
- Kinsale
- Killarney
- Dingle
- Tralee
- Athlone
Top 11 Best Cities in Ireland to See
Planning and visiting the best tourist cities in Ireland can be a daunting task because you have so many different beautiful places to see and to do wonderful things. To make it easy for you we have a list of the top cities in Ireland to make your task easy.
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Dublin
Dublin is not only one of the most fantastic cities in Ireland to visit it is the capital of Ireland and the largest city in the country. The city is full of monuments that must be visited on your trip to the best cities in Ireland Dublin has many landmarks and monuments for you which are of hundreds of years.
Dublin Castle is the oldest one. One of the newest monuments known as the Monument of Light. Do you know the Oldest library of Trinity College that has the Book of Kells is one of the most visited spots in Dublin? The Ha’penny Bridge is an iron footbridge over the river called Liffey and it is very famous for photographed sights also it is known as the most iconic landmark in Dublin.
There some other famous monuments like the Mansion House, the Molly Malone Statue, National Museum of Ireland, the National Library of Ireland, The Custom House.
Do not forget to visit the famous in Dublin city when you plan to visit the best cities in Ireland. Phoenix Park is one of the most famous parks with a wall that encloses 707 hectares i.e 1,750 acres and makes it one of the largest walled city parks in Europe. The other public parks that attract visitors are the Herbert Park, the St. Stephen’s Green, the Saint Anne’s Park, and the Bull Island.
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Waterford
Waterford is widely known for the Waterford Crystal that is for the legacy of Glass and crystal manufacturing in the city. It is one of the oldest cities that is fascinating as well.
If you are searching for the best cities to visit in Ireland for history then you must visit Waterford. You must check out the House of Waterford Crystal Factory & store where the visitors are taken for a tour where they show you the fragile glassware and also how each item is created from the mold making to the blowing and then finishing.
The city is full of cultural quarters. The oldest of them is the Viking Triangle which is a triangular shape and here you will find the original fortifications of the 10th century.
Some other interesting places to visit here are Ballybricken, John Robert Square, and The Mall which has the finest Georgian architecture, People’s Park, the Copper Coast, the UNESCO geopark, and the Ferrybank. Apart from this, there are many places funky shopping centers, and awesome food to eat.
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Galway
Galway a city that is one of the most popular cities in Ireland for the vibrant lifestyle and hosting festivals like the Galway Art Festival. The city has been recently given the title of the European Capital of Culture for 2020. Galway has also been listed in the top destinations to visit this year.
The city has a very bohemian vibe. The city has historic medieval town walls and the River Corrib has a striking stone bridge crossing through. While exploring the city you will bump into a dancing couple or maybe a street performer balancing and juggling.
When talking about food Galway is surrounded by fertile fields and oceans which is a bit different from other best cities in Ireland. The chefs take full advantage and have some finger-licking dishes for you to enjoy. You can explore the city by walking or on a bicycle while enjoying nature and taking some great photographs here
The most suggested place to visit here is Eyre Square which is also known as the Kennedy Memorial Park, the Dunguaire Castle, and going to the beautiful Aran Islands. Some other places to visit are the Galway Market, the St. Nicholas Church, and the Galway Cathedral.
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Limerick
Limerick is one of the best cities in Ireland that has many lovely things that you can do there. Limerick is believed to bet Ireland’s first Irish City of Culture. If you love sports and you are visiting Limerick then you must not miss catching a rugby game at Thomond Park.
The city has some traditional areas like King John’s Castle; Irish Town where you can see some old streets and the current economic center Newtown Pery. The Limerick City Museum has on its display the history and manufactures of the city.
There are some impressive architectural attractions in the city like Georgian Architecture, St. John’s Cathedral, Philip Charles Hardwick, and St. Mary’s Cathedral which is the oldest one nearly 800-year-old. There is a museum called the Hunt Museum that has 2000 works of art and antiques and is based on the 18th century Custom House.
The other tourist attractions in the city are King John’s Castle and the University of Limerick. There are many seasonal tours in the city like Angela’s Ashes walking tour, Historical Walking Tour, and the boat tour along the River Shannon.
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Belfast
If you are willing to visit one of the best cities to visit in Northern Ireland then Belfast which is the largest city in Northern Ireland. The city is the capital of North Ireland and also is said to be a mix of history and seaside activities with food making it the top best Irish cities to visit.
Once Belfast was a city that use to be avoided due to the clashes between Catholics and Protestants. But with time the city has redeveloped gracefully. There are places in the city like the Cathedral Quarter and Victoria Square that have been rejuvenated.
The city has a Titanic Quarter that is in the memory of the doomed ship. The work of transforming some former shipyard land into one of the largest waterfront development has begun here which also includes the plan of a Titanic-themed museum.
The other attraction in this one of the 5 best cities to visit in Ireland are the botanic gardens, the Belfast Naturalists’ Field Club, Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park, and the Belfast Zoo that has more than 1200 animals including the Asian Elephants, Barbary Lion, Western Lowland Gorillas, Red Pandas, some Goodfellow’s Tree Kangaroos, and Francois Langurs.
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Cork
Cork, Ireland pronounced as Corcach is a must-visit southern Ireland Cities in the list of best cities in Ireland. The city is the second-largest city in Ireland the first if Dublin. It is a beautiful place surrounded by River Lee that has a romantic feel and makes this one best from many best places to go in Ireland for couples.
You will find many food delights and art galleries with very interesting shopping centers and unique museums. Patrick’s Street is the main street in the city and is well known for the architecture and the pedestrian-friendly route and the landmark statue of Father Mathew.
The unique thing about the city’s building is that there are Georgian Styled, for example, the County Hall Tower which is the tallest building in Ireland. The Church Tower of Shandon is the most famous building here. Another most notable building is the Cork City Hall which is limestone. Some other architectures you would like to visit are the Elizabeth Fort, Cork Opera, grounds o University College Cork.
Some other interesting places to visit are Fitzgerald’s Park, the Beamish, and Crawford, the Bishop Lucey Park, and do not forget to visit The English Market on the princess street which is also famed for being the oldest municipal market in the world.
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Kinsale
Kinsale is a historic port and the most popular fishing town with some military history. This is among those best cities to go to in Ireland that is very pretty and beautiful. The city is also known as the seafood capital or the Gourmet capital of Ireland.
Every October the town has the Kinsale Gourmet Festival where you will be delighted to taste the delicious food. The Cobblestone streets here are full of incredible food and gorgeous architecture with the amazing history of the town.
When you are there you must explore the Kinsale’s fort i.e Charles Fort and James Fort. And do not miss the walk around the Kinsale Harbour where you will see some expensive boats. The trekking experience here is completely breathtaking.
Also, you will see that this best city in Ireland has cottages that are painted in every color rainbow that looks amazing.
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Killarney
Killarney is the shining star city. This beautiful city is been the most attractive place for tourism. Mostly the tourist believes that from the best cities to visit in Ireland in summer is Killarney. The most attractive here in the city is the organic surroundings here.
The city has very beautiful mountain peaks. You can spend the day here by hiking, climbing, and swimming or by viewing the beautiful lakes, waterfalls, and mountains in the Killarney National Park.
The most popular INEC (Ireland’s National Event Centre) has hosted many major conferences and events for big names like Google, IBM, and GSK, with its capacity 2,500. Apart from this many sporting events have also been hosted here.
Killarney is also known in the list of best cities for nightlife in Ireland and is most popular among partygoers. Amazingly, the nightspots are busy here for 24 hours and 7 days a week that also throughout the year and are the best places to visit in Ireland for weekends.
Other attractions pull the visitors here like Aghadoe, Killarney House, Lakes of Killarney, Muckross House, Ross Castle, St. Mary’s Cathedral, and The Black Valley.
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Dingle
The Mystical Dingle Peninsula is a very beautiful part of Ireland. The city has some pretty hills and narrow lanes that have some quirky shops. The city restaurants also serve some farm-to-table fresh food.
There is a picturesque lighthouse that attracts visitors. Also, there is a medieval stone tower that is from 1847 and some brightly painted building that is the charm of the city.
Dingle is of the best small cities to visit in Ireland that has many interesting things to do and you will love the fun there. Dingle is also known for Murphy’s Ice Cream, it is a café that serves ice cream and coffee.
Other places to visit here are Gallaunmore which is a standing stone and National monument and the St. Manchan’s Oratory.
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Tralee
You want to see the old world meeting the modern world then this is the perfect place for you in the 10 best cities to visit in Ireland. You will see many historic Georgian homes and contemporary buildings here. Let’s not forget the concrete piazzas here.
The city is majorly known for the Rose of Tralee International Festival held in August every year. The city has major tourists visit here at this time.
Another very popular spot in Tralee is Kerry Couty Museum where you will see a life-sized diorama. The Tralee Bay Wetlands Centre is one more place which is crowded, it is filled with wildlife and beautiful scenery.
These are some more places that are interesting: Siamsa Tire, Blennerville Windmill, Tralee Town Park, Tralee Bay, Tralee Ship Canal, and Ratass Church.
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Athlone
Athlone is a beautiful city that is divided by the Shannon River into two sections. You will find here very colorful buildings in the best cities in Ireland and here in Athlone, you see many authentic Irish restaurants that serve bangers and healthy Irish Stew. The east side of the city is the place where all the commerce happens. In Athlone, you can enjoy many water sports, sailing and fishing.
You must not miss by any chance to visit the Anethole Castle. It is an imposing structure is from the 13th century and rises high above the riverside.
For shopping, you have the Anethole Town Centre that has 54 shops, cafes, and many four-star hotels. Another famous shopping center is the Golden Island Shopping Center which is located in the center of the city.
Other places to visit in this one of the best cities in Ireland are Burgess Park, Sean’s Bar, and the Luan Gallery that opened with the Irish Museum of Modern Art that has art from various national and international Artists.
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FAQ
What are the best cities in Ireland to visit?
These are the 11 best cities in Ireland
- Dublin
- Waterford
- Galway
- Limerick
- Belfast
- Cork
- Kinsale
- Killarney
- Dingle
- Tralee
- Athlone
What is the most beautiful city in Ireland?
All the best cities in Ireland are and all these top 11 cities of the country are beautiful and must be visited when in Ireland
- Dublin
- Waterford
- Galway
- Limerick
- Belfast
- Cork
- Kinsale
- Killarney
- Dingle
- Tralee
- Athlone
What is the best city to stay in Ireland?
The best cities in Ireland to stay are
- Kinsale
- Dublin
- Galway
- Tralee
What is the best part of Ireland?
The best parts of Ireland are the beautiful best cities in Ireland with amazing surroundings, nature, sceneries, valleys, seafood, beaches, National parks, and much more.
Conclusion
These are the top tourist best cities in Ireland that should not be missed if you are planning to spend your vacations or going on a trip to Ireland. All these are the best cities in Ireland that you will enjoy each place with the positive and joyful vibes from the places there. Do not forget to enjoy and taste the seafood here and visit the beautiful historic places in the best cities in Ireland.
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Altaf Shaikh
