Ireland's history and folklore draw in many a wandering soul, but its physical features will charm you just as much. There's that famous rugged coastline interspersed with pretty stretches of beach and the interiors are green, lush, and wild. Plenty of stamina is needed if you want to enjoy this country fully. And if you plan a trip that involves a drive, walk or cycle out into the more remote regions you'll be rewarded. It is deep within the countryside that you will find some of the best places to stay in Ireland, perfect for true escapism, from cosy little B&Bs to restaurants with rooms and top notch luxury hotels.
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Ireland's colourful history is woven into every street corner and every Catholic church you pass. The lyrical language lends warmth to every welcome and an extra ring to the folk music you'll hear almost everywhere you go.
If you're here for traditional Ireland head out to the dramatic scenery of County Donegal, the wild, wind-whipped peninsulas of the south-east, home of the wonder-inducing Cliffs of Moher, or the mysterious Connemara region. Here you'll find the thatched roofs, fishing villages and amiable pubs - though of course, you will find those everywhere!
If you're after solid history rather than traditions you'll be wanting Dublin's St. Patrick's Cathedral, Trinity College or Kilmainham Gaol, Cobh's Titanic Museum, Cashel's Rock of Cashel, or Newgrange and the other prehistoric monuments on Bru na Boinne. Ireland is rich with castles and forts, ruins and monuments, museums, galleries and important reminders of the past - both distant and more recent.
If you want to see the Ireland in the incredible photographs used to entice us there, drive or cycle the Ring of Kerry, step on the Giant's Causeway, walk amongst the majestic mountains of Mourne, or look out across the epic Atlantic coast. Counties Cork and Kerry are known for their beauty, and Sligo is pretty spectacular as well.
Dublin is regularly called friendly, arty, welcoming, beautiful and atmospheric. People do find that, despite being Ireland’s capital, Dublin does feel more compact and village-like than many European cities. It has some beautiful architecture - from medieval castle and cathedrals to the Georgian splendour of some of its houses - but it also has some corkers, and it's the miss-matched effect which really gives Dublin its great character.
Then there’s Cork, whose rivalry with Dublin is legendary. Locals call this the ‘real capital of Ireland', or, from the more mischievous ‘The People’s Republic of Cork’. There are plenty of folk in Cork with a mischievous air and a song in their hearts - or on their lips even. Cork's youthful energy comes partly from its rebellious traditions and partly from its university. This makes for vibrant nightlife and a great live music scene. Even Dubliners might agree that Cork is Ireland's foodie capital. Visitors should visit the markets as well as sampling some of what's on offer in the slew of cafes and restaurants.
Galway is known for its tides and its summers, which are packed with over fifty festivals a year. Killarney is the starting point for many trips along the Ring of Kerry. Kilkenny is a medieval beauty with an imposing Norman castle. Sligo has the mountains, the beaches and W.B. Yates.
Ireland's not short of pretty spots with good access to the country's scenic heartlands, but if you like a friendly, riverside city featuring plenty of medieval and Georgian architecture and with views over a majestically dilapidated Norman castle, then Limerick is for you.
With so many different areas and things to see and do there is no shortage of beds in the best places to stay in Ireland. The problem is where to start.