If you plan to travel to Europe alone in the coming months but are uncertain where to go, as an overseas traveller I would definitely add Ireland to your Europe itinerary.

Ireland every year makes it to the top destinations of many publications and travel magazines, as one of the most magical countries worth visiting, on the old continent, offering a great mix of things to do.

From dramatic natural landmarks to the rich history that goes back to 3000 BC, to the colourful Irish culture, Ireland for sure is a destination that will create long-lasting memories in your travels.

Being an easy and safe country to explore, it’s ideal for the adventurous solo traveller, that loves road tripping, nonetheless going on a tour can be a great idea too for a first-time visit to Ireland.

CIE Tours have been leading tours of Ireland for 85 years, can create custom tours and also help you organise a self-guided tour, if you prefer to go independently.

A trip to Ireland has been long on my bucket list and hopefully I will make it happen soon. For now I can give you a taste of best places to visit in Ireland, for first-timer visitors, and what I believe are the main reasons for touring Ireland.

Road Tripping along the Wild Atlantic Way

With ist 2,500 km the Wild Atlantic Way is the longest scenic coastal route in the world. There is nothing like walking to the “Sliabh Liag” or Slieve League cliffs, drinking in the terrific views over the Atlantic ocean, knowing that there is nothing between the ocean and the next land is Northern America. This site was also known to be a Christian Pilgrimage for over 1000 years.

If you love nature, Ireland has some truly impressive places with a varied wild coastline. From surfer and sandy beaches, like in Kerry, to the ancient and rugged coast of the north, to breath-taking cliffs.

The Cliffs of Moher, stretching for 8km on the West Coast of Ireland, about 2 hours drive from Galway, is a top attraction first-time travellers visiting Ireland.

The Giant’s Casuaway is a Unesco World Heritage site as it is of the most ancient places in the world. Its impressive 40 thousands basalt columns are estimated to be 60 million years old as the result of a volcanic eruption. You can wander through unique rock formations towering the bays for hours. This is probably one of the top places in the world for photography and bird-watching lovers.

Furthermore you can also learn about one of the many Irish myths, that one from Finn MacCool, who is believed to have started chucking boulders into the sea and building a bridge out to Scotland.

Learning about the Magical Regions of Ireland

There are endless tiny bays, little villages and picturesque regions that you can explore along the Wild Atlantic way. One region that stands out for its beauty, peace and the magic is Connemara. Sandy beaches and quirky places like Derrigimlagh Bog, a wild and mysterious place, mosaic of lakes and peat, are just a few of the Connermara landmarks. You can also witness the remnants of the first transatlantic radio station built by Marconi Company.

Visit some of Ireland’s best ancient sites

Ireland has a wealth of ancient sites that makes the history so rich and varied. From the prehistoric Ireland to early Christian era, to the Viking and Norman invasions to the Celtic era, every site in Ireland bear so much historic significance and every place is deeply rooted in its history. Here are just a few places among the many worth visiting when planning a trip to the best ancient sites of Ireland.

Skelling Michael, a 6th Century Christian Monastery, featuring stone beehive huts, located 160 mt above the sea level is the oldest ancient site in Ireland, off the South West Coast of Ireland on the Iveragh Peninsula. It’s more popular after the name of the Ring of Kerry, a circular loop of 179 km that encompasses colourful villages, towns and lakes. A must-visit coastal route for keen road tripper.

Glendalough is another monastic site with churches and a tower in a mountain landscape that also offers beautiful walks to the nearby lakes.

Ireland has many prehistoric stone circles too. The most popular free site is Dromberg Circle in County Cork with 17 stones and a few huts to visit. Another one is Beltany Stone Circle, which dates back to 1400-800 BC, if you visit Donegal.

Stay in a castle in Ireland

Another great reason for visiting Ireland is its unique and heritage castles scattered throughout the country. From state towers, to old ruins, to nobility homes, there are many impressive castles in Ireland. And many are now hotels too, where you can stay overnight.

One Irish Castle worth mentioning is the Trim Castle, the largest Norman Castle, built in late 12th century by the Normans which was also used, in recent times, as a filming location by Mel Gibson. Today is open to the public for visits and is one of the best castles to stay in Ireland.

Enjoy the Irish Music and the Irish Craic

Irish are legendary friendly folks and they know how to have fun! You will be able to meet the frienly locals by visiting the colourful towns like Galway, Kilkenny and many more. Pubs are the place where you can meet the locals, dance with Irish music, either fiddles or guitars, and listen the many “Craic storytelling“. The word craic is used in so many context, but if finally defines fun and entertainment in Irish.

Planning a trip to Ireland

No matter what you want to do, the best time for touring Ireland is probably Spring and Summer when the weather is warmer and the mild temps allow to explore the outdoors and enjoy the natural beauty.

Springtime is probably the best to avoid the crowds in summer too. If you love flowers from March to May fields get covered by all shades of yellow, pink, blue and purple. Make sure you plan ahead and  choose the best suited way for visiting the country, either going alone or on guided tours of Ireland.

Enjoyed this post? Pin this photo for later!

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. All opinions on this post are nonetheless my own.

Photos Credits: All above photos are from ShutterStock.

The post 5 Reasons Why You Will Love Touring Ireland appeared first on Rocky Travel.