Ireland travel guide

Any tour to the Wicklow Mountains will include a stop at this stone bridge. It became a local celebrity, when it appeared in the movie "P.S. I Love You" from 2007. The bridge, and particularly the setting, are very nice, but it's the mayhem that is funny to watch. To see one or even two bus loads of tourists trying to get a selfie at the same time is a bit of a spectacle.

Cliffs of Moher are not the only spectacular cliffs in Ireland. All around the coast there are dramatic landscapes, but the Cliffs of Kerry are of almost similar beauty as those at Moher. From high up on the ridge you have panoramic views over the wild Atlantic Ocean and Puffin Island, where almost 10,000 Alantic puffin reside. In the distant you can spot two rocky islands, those are the Skellig Islands. The greater island is called Skellig Michael and is home to 7th century monastery, which is one of Ireland's only two UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It's possible to visit Skellig Michael on an often rough boat trip from Portmagee.

Ireland is gifted with a spectacular coastline, but it doesn't get more iconic than at Cliffs of Moher. Here the green fields break off in a sheer drop of more then 120 m into the Atlantic Ocean. The cliffs stretch for about 8 km and reach up to 214 m at the highest point near O'Brien's Tower. Since Cliffs of Moher is one of Ireland's most popular tourist sites, expect a crowd near the main viewing area, which also holds the huge parking lot, visiting centre, and some souvenirs shops. For bit more solitude and thrill, trek along the cliffs in south direction. Here are no fences and, if you dare, can peek over the very edge - but be careful, death from falling are not uncommon.

Any road to Dingle Peninsula is pretty, but the one that leads over Connor Pass is a league of its own. From the coast the winding road leads into the mountains, passing corrie lakes, as you slowly climbs toward the pass. At some point the already narrow road becomes an one lane road carved into the mountain side. However, oncoming traffic is still there, in addition to the occasional sheep, so beware. Dense fog often roll in over the pass and obscure the otherwise spectacular view over Dingle Peninsula. The drive over Connor Pass is so extraordinary, that it's worth doing it from both sides.

Why does any trip to Dublin end up in drinking. However, if you can drag yourself out of bed and do a bit of sightseeing before the pubs call again, there is actually a lot of reasons to fall in love with Dublin with does not involve a drinking. The rather small city is drenched in history and a great way to soak it all up is by walking through the streets. Trinity College (remember to see the old library), St Patrick's Cathedral, Marsh's Library, Kilmainham Gaol, and Dublin Castle (or just Dubh Linn Gardens behind it) should all be on the itinerary. And after that you're welcome to do the tour at Guinness Storehouse. Cheers.

There are castles everywhere in Ireland and tiny Dunguaire Castle is not among the best. But its location is pretty, right at the shore of a lake. Make a stop if you're passing through.

The Grange Stone Circle measures 47.5 m in diameter, making it the largest stone circle in Ireland. It was constructed around 2000 BC during the Stone Age, and there are two smaller stone circles in the same area, along with some standing stones and a megalithic tomb. Not much is known about what the Grange Stone Circle was used for, but it's believed that harvest rituals were preformed at midsummer, when the rising sunbeams pass though the narrow stone passageway and focus right at the center of the circle. The stone circle lies right next to the road and there are no entrance fee, but a small donation is encouraged.

The lake's real name is Lough Tay, but since the dark water and the white sandy shore resemble a pint of Guinness, the lake is known as Guinness Lake. The Guinness family had actually something to do with that, since they own the estate at the northern shore of the lake and have imported the white sand. Guinness Lake makes a pretty stop on any trip through the beautiful Wicklow Mountains, but as the land around the lake is private, the only views are from the passing roads. The panoramic views above the lake from the viewpoint next to the road R759 are particularly spectacular.

Some beaches are named after how long they are, but that is not the case with Inch Beach for it's about 5 km. The beach has an unusual location on a small peninsula sticking out from the bigger Dingle Peninsula. The long waves roll straight on to the beach, making it a perfect place to surf - if you don't mind the cold temperatures. You will be spoiled with pretty views over Inch Beach and the bay on a backdrop of mountains, as you approach the beach from Dingle town.

Many have been to a so-called Irish pub outside Ireland, but how is a real Irish pub in Ireland then. Well, there are the tourist pubs, which can be absolutely brilliant with an international crowd and live traditional music, even during the week. Then there are the ordinary Irish pubs, which can also double as a restaurant or a club. These are most lively during the weekend or when a big game of Gaelic football is on. And then there are the real local pubs, often run by some old granny. These act as the towns meeting place and is great for some people watching. Since even the smallest town has a few pubs, you can always go pub crawling and find out which one serves the best Guinness.