Most beautiful places in Ireland

This whole-island collection brings together twenty landscapes and heritage places across Leinster, Munster, Connacht and Ulster. It is an unranked editorial route through coast, mountain, lake, garden and historic settings rather than a claim that beauty can be reduced to a single score.

By Patrick Cunningham · Reviewed 30 June 2026 · Curated, unpaid and unranked

Photograph of Cliffs of Moher in County Clare

Munster

Photograph of Cliffs of Moher in County Clare

Outstanding Irish landscape and sense of place

Cliffs of Moher

Spanish Point, County Clare

Cliffs of Moher represents one of the island's most memorable combinations of landscape, heritage and local identity. Its inclusion reflects geographic variety rather than a numerical ranking; use the official visitor information to plan around weather, access and seasonal conditions.

Photograph of Killarney National Park in County Kerry

Outstanding Irish landscape and sense of place

Killarney National Park

Muckross, County Kerry

Killarney National Park represents one of the island's most memorable combinations of landscape, heritage and local identity. Its inclusion reflects geographic variety rather than a numerical ranking; use the official visitor information to plan around weather, access and seasonal conditions.

Photograph of Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry

Outstanding Irish landscape and sense of place

Dingle Peninsula

Dingle Peninsula, County Kerry

Dingle Peninsula represents one of the island's most memorable combinations of landscape, heritage and local identity. Its inclusion reflects geographic variety rather than a numerical ranking; use the official visitor information to plan around weather, access and seasonal conditions.

Photograph of The Burren in County Clare

Outstanding Irish landscape and sense of place

The Burren

Kilfenora, County Clare

The Burren represents one of the island's most memorable combinations of landscape, heritage and local identity. Its inclusion reflects geographic variety rather than a numerical ranking; use the official visitor information to plan around weather, access and seasonal conditions.

Photograph of Copper Coast Geopark in County Waterford

Outstanding Irish landscape and sense of place

Copper Coast Geopark

Waterford, County Waterford

Copper Coast Geopark represents one of the island's most memorable combinations of landscape, heritage and local identity. Its inclusion reflects geographic variety rather than a numerical ranking; use the official visitor information to plan around weather, access and seasonal conditions.

Connacht

Photograph of Connemara National Park in County Galway

Outstanding Irish landscape and sense of place

Connemara National Park

Letterfrack, County Galway

Connemara National Park represents one of the island's most memorable combinations of landscape, heritage and local identity. Its inclusion reflects geographic variety rather than a numerical ranking; use the official visitor information to plan around weather, access and seasonal conditions.

Photograph of Achill Island in County Mayo

Outstanding Irish landscape and sense of place

Achill Island

Mayo, County Mayo

Achill Island represents one of the island's most memorable combinations of landscape, heritage and local identity. Its inclusion reflects geographic variety rather than a numerical ranking; use the official visitor information to plan around weather, access and seasonal conditions.

Photograph of Benbulben in County Sligo

Outstanding Irish landscape and sense of place

Benbulben

Sligo, County Sligo

Benbulben represents one of the island's most memorable combinations of landscape, heritage and local identity. Its inclusion reflects geographic variety rather than a numerical ranking; use the official visitor information to plan around weather, access and seasonal conditions.

Photograph of Lough Key Forest and Activity Park in County Roscommon

Outstanding Irish landscape and sense of place

Lough Key Forest and Activity Park

Boyle, County Roscommon

Lough Key Forest and Activity Park represents one of the island's most memorable combinations of landscape, heritage and local identity. Its inclusion reflects geographic variety rather than a numerical ranking; use the official visitor information to plan around weather, access and seasonal conditions.

Photograph of Glencar Waterfall in County Leitrim

Outstanding Irish landscape and sense of place

Glencar Waterfall

Glencar, County Leitrim

Glencar Waterfall represents one of the island's most memorable combinations of landscape, heritage and local identity. Its inclusion reflects geographic variety rather than a numerical ranking; use the official visitor information to plan around weather, access and seasonal conditions.

Leinster

Photograph of Glendalough in County Wicklow

Outstanding Irish landscape and sense of place

Glendalough

Glendalough, County Wicklow

Glendalough represents one of the island's most memorable combinations of landscape, heritage and local identity. Its inclusion reflects geographic variety rather than a numerical ranking; use the official visitor information to plan around weather, access and seasonal conditions.

Photograph of Wicklow Mountains National Park in County Wicklow

Outstanding Irish landscape and sense of place

Wicklow Mountains National Park

Wicklow, County Wicklow

Wicklow Mountains National Park represents one of the island's most memorable combinations of landscape, heritage and local identity. Its inclusion reflects geographic variety rather than a numerical ranking; use the official visitor information to plan around weather, access and seasonal conditions.

Photograph of Hook Lighthouse in County Wexford

Outstanding Irish landscape and sense of place

Hook Lighthouse

Churchtown, County Wexford

Hook Lighthouse represents one of the island's most memorable combinations of landscape, heritage and local identity. Its inclusion reflects geographic variety rather than a numerical ranking; use the official visitor information to plan around weather, access and seasonal conditions.

Photograph of Powerscourt House and Gardens in County Wicklow

Outstanding Irish landscape and sense of place

Powerscourt House and Gardens

Enniskerry, County Wicklow

Powerscourt House and Gardens represents one of the island's most memorable combinations of landscape, heritage and local identity. Its inclusion reflects geographic variety rather than a numerical ranking; use the official visitor information to plan around weather, access and seasonal conditions.

Photograph of The Boyne Valley in County Meath

Outstanding Irish landscape and sense of place

The Boyne Valley

Trim, County Meath

The Boyne Valley represents one of the island's most memorable combinations of landscape, heritage and local identity. Its inclusion reflects geographic variety rather than a numerical ranking; use the official visitor information to plan around weather, access and seasonal conditions.

Ulster

Photograph of Slieve League Cliffs in County Donegal

Outstanding Irish landscape and sense of place

Slieve League Cliffs

Teelin, County Donegal

Slieve League Cliffs represents one of the island's most memorable combinations of landscape, heritage and local identity. Its inclusion reflects geographic variety rather than a numerical ranking; use the official visitor information to plan around weather, access and seasonal conditions.

Photograph of Giant's Causeway in County Antrim

A memorable Northern Ireland day out

Giant's Causeway

Antrim, County Antrim

Giant's Causeway is an independently selected County Antrim experience that adds landscape, heritage or local character to a Northern Ireland itinerary. Consult the official Tourism NI listing for current opening times, access guidance and any advance-booking requirements.

Photograph of Mourne Mountains in County Down

A memorable Northern Ireland day out

Mourne Mountains

Down, County Down

Mourne Mountains is an independently selected County Down experience that adds landscape, heritage or local character to a Northern Ireland itinerary. Consult the official Tourism NI listing for current opening times, access guidance and any advance-booking requirements.

Photograph of Marble Arch Caves in County Fermanagh

A memorable Northern Ireland day out

Marble Arch Caves

Fermanagh, County Fermanagh

Marble Arch Caves is an independently selected County Fermanagh experience that adds landscape, heritage or local character to a Northern Ireland itinerary. Consult the official Tourism NI listing for current opening times, access guidance and any advance-booking requirements.

Photograph of Derry City Walls in County Derry

A memorable Northern Ireland day out

Derry City Walls

Derry, County Derry

Derry City Walls is an independently selected County Derry experience that adds landscape, heritage or local character to a Northern Ireland itinerary. Consult the official Tourism NI listing for current opening times, access guidance and any advance-booking requirements.

Sources and review

We use official tourism and venue information, then write and review every summary independently.