Updated August 5, 2020
You’ll find a lot of awesome stuff to do in Ireland—the country is packed with majestic history, vibrant culture, and natural beauty. But all that can make it hard to decide what to add to your itinerary. We asked some Irish locals—they helped us come up with this list of 11 fun things to do in Ireland!
If you’re looking for a unique and fun thing to do in Ireland, try kayaking on Lough Hyne—at night! This saltwater lake in the west of County Cork is magical once the sun goes down and the stars come out. As you paddle out at dusk, the sky turns an inky black, and the sparkle of bioluminescence leaves a trail of glitter in its wake.
You’ll find tons of great things to do in Cork. It’s one of our favorite cities to visit in Ireland! Because the surrounding county contains many of Ireland’s best places to see, Cork is a perfect home base for excellent day trips.
King John's Castle saw its share of skirmishes, but Limerick's modern-day battles are fought just up the road at Ireland's most iconic rugby stadium—Thomond Park. Join the locals for one of the coolest things to do in Limerick and cheer on their favorite team, Munster. Munster is one of the best clubs in the world, and the fans are so enthusiastic you’ll feel like you’re at a rock concert.
Once summer hits Ireland, it seems like every weekend there is some sort of celebration going on—from monster music bashes to tiny village shindigs! One of the best things to do in Galway—the undisputed *king* of the festival season— is attend one of its awesome festivals. From the Oyster and Seafood Festival to the theatrics and music of the annual Arts Festival to the world-famous Galway Film Fleadh, Galway is the place to be if you want to enjoy the biggest parties in Ireland.
Heads Up: Looking to sample seafood as good as Galway’s? Indulge in oysters and fish and chips in Portrush or Portstewart. Eating seafood in these dynamic towns is one of the most enjoyable things to do in Northern Ireland.
Doolin in County Clare is the place to enjoy traditional Irish music sessions. This makes visiting this village one of the most fun things to do in the west of Ireland. Head to any of the village pubs (we especially love McGann’s Pub), and you’ll find locals squeezed in to hear an old-fashioned, toe-tapping trad session. Feel free to bring your own instrument or just clap and sing along.
To see more of Ireland's popular pubs, take a pub crawl—it’s one of the most fun things to do in Belfast. Starting with the Victorian-inspired Crown Liquor Saloon.
If haunted houses are your type of fun, then head to Leap Castle—widely regarded as the most haunted castle in the world. It’s spooky, but exploring Leap Castle is one of the coolest things to do in Ireland—if you dare.
Amp up the fun by visiting the mummified remains of some of Dublin’s most influential families, at another creepy place—Saint Michan’s church. Descending into the church’s crypts is one of the most unusual things to do in Dublin.
A hawk walk at Ashford Castle is definitely one of the most exciting things to do in Ireland—you’ll never forget the first time a hawk lands on your arm! Ashford Castle houses Ireland’s School of Falconry where you can learn to fly one of these regal birds. If you’re going to spend one week in Ireland, then this has to be on your itinerary!
If you’re hoping to see more wildlife, then check out one of the most fun things to do in Dingle: taking a boat ride to meet Fungie the bottlenose dolphin. Fungie loves humans and often stops along the local boats to say hello.
Sligo is famous for being the birthplace of W.B. Yeats—and also for the seaweed harvested daily from local shores. So if you’re looking for a bit of unusual fun, treat yourself to a seaweed bath. Local spas offer the chance to unwind in a luxurious steaming bath of fresh seawater and wild, organic seaweed. After a dip, you’ll feel totally rejuvenated. And you’ll realize why Sligo is one of the best places to stay in Ireland.
After a stay at the spa, take a stroll along the River Garavogue and visit the 13th-century Sligo Abbey, one of Ireland's cool points of interest.
What is coasteering, you ask? It’s an exhilarating combination of wild swimming and cliff jumping, and Clare Island is the best place to indulge in this fun activity. (Clare Island is a rugged land off the northwest coast—an awesome place to get off the beaten path in Ireland.)
The Ballyhoura Mountains, which span both County Limerick and County Cork, are one of the best places to go mountain biking in Ireland. The mountain bike trails are the most extensive in Ireland and offer a wide range of options depending on your skill and fitness level. A day on the trails is a great way to burn off all those pints of Guinness!
Blokarting (aka land yachting) is an exciting way to cruise across the beaches of Bundoran. It involves sitting in a beach buggy with a sail and flying down the wide-open beaches of Donegal. Whew! Talk about exhilarating.
Bundoran is also the perfect place to catch some killer waves—it’s recognized as the surfing capital of Ireland! Surfing on land or the ocean are high adventure fun, and definitely two of the coolest things to do in Donegal.
It’s always fun to live out a legend, and one of the most famous of all of Ireland's tourist attractions is the Blarney Stone. Just a simple kiss and you could be rewarded with the gift of gab. Who doesn’t want that? After you’re done hanging upside down and planting one on a slab of limestone, explore all the nooks and crannies of 15th-century Blarney Castle. The castle is awesome, and the surrounding gardens are fantastic.
Another must-do in Ireland is visiting the Foynes Flying Boat Museum, in County Limerick Irish coffee was invented here—and if you haven’t had Irish coffee in Ireland, then what are you doing?
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