12 of the most charming spots in Ireland
Admin February 16, 2024
This summer, I took my parents to Ireland on their dream trip, and little did I know that it would quickly turn into my dream trip too. What a delightful surprise!
It didn’t take long for the charming towns, cute houses, quaint countrysides, and beautiful landscapes to win me over. I mean, Ireland had everything I didn’t know I wanted!
From adorable seaside towns to lovely B&Bs to old houses (not in Paris) covered in vines to charming cafes where you can squirrel away on a rainy day, Ireland has no shortage of charming locals and haunts. I have found that the more I travel over the years, the more I look out for places that feel comfortable and homey, places I almost could imagine myself living in. Now, who do I have to marry to get a castle in Ireland?
Oh, and I’m saving Northern Ireland for another day because I have too much to say on it to fit it in here too.
Here are my picks for the 12 most charming spots to visit in Ireland – enjoy!
1. Cobh
Cobh was a happy surprise, and it turned out to be one of the most charming spots on my trip to Ireland. It wasn’t a place I had planned to visit or was even on my radar. I was staying nearby outside Kinsale with my family and was looking for a nice place to visit for sunrise. I saw it on the map and thought, "Hey, I’ll give it a shot."
The seaside town of Cobh (pronounced ‘Cove’), is pretty much the cutest place ever, full of bright colors and charm. The last port of call for the Titanic, it oozes charm, especially in the early morning before anyone else is awake.
If you want it all—the setting, the history, the charm—check out Cobh.
2. Muckross House in Killarney
Killarney is definitely very well-known on the Irish tourist trail, something that I usually give a miss when I’m on the road, preferring to get a little more off the beaten path. And while we skipped staying here on this trip, I really wanted to show my parents the Muckross House and Gardens because I knew they’d really enjoy it.
Especially as you can get around in jaunting cars (horse and carriages), which was great for my older parents who aren’t really up for big walks and heavy adventures.
I actually liked Muckross so much that I came back twice!
3. Kinsale
We spent my birthday in Kinsale, and it definitely was a great choice to ring in 29 years. A little town on the south coast of Ireland, it's super cute. When I discovered the most adorable Airbnb in all of Ireland on my search for places to stay, I knew we'd have to come here.
Kinsale is full of quirky shops, cozy pubs, really, really good restaurants (Finns' Table for my birthday dinner – AMAZING), artsy corners, colorful streets, and a lovely harbor.
4. Dingle Peninsula
What can I say about Dingle? Let’s start with delightful. Even though our day trip out to Dingle started off rocky (let’s say a 20 minute screaming fight with my parents in the tiny car – guys, traveling with your parents is SO HARD), it still ended up being one of my favorite places we visited – if only because Dingle is so damn cute!
Colorful buildings, moody atmosphere, fishing vibes, knit sweaters and little chocolate shops and cafes to hide away in, Dingle really had it all.
Definitely grab a coffee at Bean in Dingle, it was amazing!