Foreigner outdoor lovers need to prepare... Ireland is one of the best country to see the most beautiful nature landscapes on earth. If you don't feel confortable in English, thanks to this guide you won't have to ask the Irish people and try to understand their pronounced accent !
But when it comes to the best of the best, here is the 5 most spectacular places in Ireland you need to see as a foreigner and all our tips.
1. The Cliffs of Moher
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This place is one of the most iconic and visited natural attraction of Ireland. Rising up to 214 meters above the Atlantic Ocean in Western Ireland, it offers incredible views on the imposing cliffs but also on a clear day on the Galway Bay and the Twelve Pin mountain range. Unsurprisingly, you should know this place gets busy really fast from 11am to 4pm. To make sure you have the best experience, I advise you to go first in the morning or later in the afternoon (for the sunset) and to skip the crowded areas near the visitor centre and the O'Briens Tower (which offers a great viewing platform from the top, though there is a fee to access). The Cliffs are 8km long so you can continue further along the Cliffs where you will find more stunning views with fewer people. Last but not least good walking shoes are a must because the ground is uneven and can be very slipery when it's raining !
2. Killarney National Park
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Killarney is famous for its gorgeous lakes, waterfalls, forests and dramatic mountains who was named a UNESCO Biosphere reserve. Home to one of the most beautiful waterfall in Ireland, Torc Waterfall, towering 60-foot falls plunge from the Torc Mountains via a river known as the Devil’s Punch Bowl. In Killarney park you can see three lakes ; Lough Leane, Muckross Lake (Middle Lake), and Upper Lake. This the perfect place to walk and hike around the lake, as well as sailing with the boat tours. Before leaving make sure you have a cool souvenir of the landscape. You should definitely go to one of the most beautiful viewing points for these lakes which is called Ladies View. It was named after Queen Victoria’s ladies in waiting. This viewpoint is part of the famous Ring of Kerry route, along the N71.
3. Glendalough, Wicklow Mountains
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As a monastic old town, Glendalough has a rich and fascinating history, from the time St. Kevin started living there as a hermit, through the construction of the monastic settlement and up to the modern day. Hiking is really popular in Glendalough and it’s a pretty easy hike, it takes only between 2 and 4 hours to do the full loop around both lakes. Starting from the Visitor’s Centre, simply keep the lakes to your left and climb up and around the loop. You should know when walking along the side of the upper lake to the miners’ village, you’ll spot St. Kevin’s bed. This is the cave he is said to have lived in. People come from the whole world to do the different trails. Make sure to bring water, no water is available in the trails and during a long day there are picnic tables in the grass areas near the upper lake.
4. Giants Causeway (Northern Ireland)
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Want to travel back in time ? For centuries, many visitors have explored the Causeway and at its spectacular rock formations. Located on one of World's most incredible coastlines, its rock formations have, for sixty million years, stood as a natural rampart against the ferocity of the North Atlantic storms. The rugged symmetry of the columns intrigues and inspires all the visitors. The place is totally free to visit, you do not have to pay the visitor centre to access the causeway. Most people walk straight though the tunnel and down to the Giant’s Causeway. However, there is a trail where you can see the place from the mountain top. It offers a much nicer view. As a very touristic place, I would advise you to visit the Causeway in the morning or at the end of the afternoon to avoid people from tour trips. Bring a waterproof warm jacket and confortable shoes, the wind is constantly blowing and the floor is usually uneven. When coming to the Causeway, I recommand going to Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge and Dunluce Castle that are stunning attractions nearby.
5. Aran Islands
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Aran Islands is a group of three islands in the Galway Bay. The first island is Inishmore which is the largest island, the second is Inishmaan and the last one is Inisheer which is the smallest one. There are many things to do on these islands such as exploring ancient stone forts and churches or seeing extraordinary cliffs, flore and fauna. I highly recommand doing the Aran Islands Bike Hire tour which is really fun and enables you to see as many things as you can in a day with someone that knows all the history of the place !
To go on the Islands, you have ferries in Doolin port and Rossaveal, the journey is only half an hour but make sure to check in half an hour before sailing time. The round-trip fare is about 30€ from Doolin and 25€ from Rossaveal, all the tickets can be bought in the ports or on the ferries' website. Please double check before booking because the ferry from Doolin doesn't work all year. If you plan to visit the islands on your own, bring water, snacks and a fully charged phone in case you get lost.
I wish you a really nice trip in Ireland and I hope you will enjoy the natural beauty of the country !