Ireland's Best Summer Vacation Destinations (Plus a Fall Preview)

It's no secret that the best months to visit Ireland are July and August, with a lower chance of rain, greater chance of sunny days, and a real opportunity to finally see all 40 shades of green the Emerald Isle is known for. So it should come as no surprise that planning a summer vacation in Ireland is one of the wisest decisions you could make to get the most out of your travels, not least because it’s northern latitude provides it with upwards of 17 hours of daylight and a comfortably mild warmth that (usually) never approaches the blistering heat of more traditional summer travel destinations. With all that daylight, you can pack more into a weekend summer getaway there than a week just about anywhere else, making summer the undeniably best time to visit Ireland.

And with an abundance of unique sights to see and moments to experience, Ireland has got something for holidaymakers of every taste and disposition. (Still, be sure to pack an umbrella, just in case.)

Read on to get the facts on ShamrockCraic’s top six destinations for an Irish summer trip you’ll never forget. And, if you’re looking towards fall travel, we’ve added a bonus location that is a can’t-miss for any autumn lover.

FOR FOOD, GALWAY CITY, CO. GALWAY

The Galway Market has been selling fresh food and crafts for centuries on Church Street in Galway City. (Tourism Ireland)

Thanks in a big way to the university which has shaped the city’s culture so distinctively, Galway is known all across Ireland for its thriving social scene and status as a quintessential haven for young people. As such, it’s one of the quickest cities in the country to lay bare any upcoming trends for locals and visitors alike to stay abreast of. This includes all of the latest foodie fads on the culinary scene—but rest assured, whether it’s something innovative and fresh or classically-prepared (and still fresh!) you’re after, Galway can serve up whatever it is you’re hankering after and exceed expectations to boot.

One fantastic way to taste-test your way through this colorful city is by taking a guided food tour, many of which can make up to eight stops across a vast range of flavorsome spots. Showcasing the sheer range of the Galway food experience, tours such as Sheena Dignam’s Galway Food Tours can feature tantalizing samples of everything from milk stout, to sushi, to rich artisan chocolate. And what’s more, this expertly-curated list of mouthwatering destinations is complemented by a narrative structure, providing explanations and context that draw tour-goers ever deeper into the intoxicating microcosm that is Galway City—leaving your heart and head every bit as blissfully fulfilled as your stomach.

And while you’re following your nose through the winding streets of this beautiful western urban center, be sure to take the time to wander off the beaten track and indulge in some traditional Irish pub grub, too. Dishes such as Irish stew, shepherd’s pie, and colcannon are stalwart fixtures on the menus of most Irish public houses, and rightly so; their hearty, straight-from-Granny’s-kitchen flavor profiles are guaranteed to deliver every time.

FOR CULTURE, BANTRY, CO. CORK 

Built around 1700, Bantry House is one of the best places to stay in Ireland in the summertime and a venue for the Bantry Literary Festival in July (Jim Linwood / Flickr)

Nestled in the verdant, rolling folds of West Cork, the town of Bantry is perhaps best known to many for being featured in a lyric of the traditional Irish ballad, “The Star of the County Down.” The song highlights Banty’s famed deep-water gulf as one of the highlights of the island of Ireland on the whole, with the chorus ringing out: “From Bantry Bay up to Derry Quay, from Galway to Dublin Town...” But for all of its natural beauty, of which there is an almost unbelievable magnitude, Bantry’s deeply enriching platforms for the arts are reason enough to pay it a visit during the summer months, when festival season is in full swing. Clearly, the natural wonder of the area serves up creative inspiration in spades!

In June, the West Cork Chamber Music Festival brings a series of musician meetups, composition competitions, instrumental masterclasses, concerts, and even crafty violin and bow-making workshops to Bantry, in order to showcase the many ways in which chamber music can touch the lives of its players and listeners and alike. During the month of July, the West Cork Literary Festival draws in both literature lovers and a plethora of bestselling authors (whose numbers have, in the past, included Colm Tóibín, who penned the critically-acclaimed Brooklyn, BBC television host Graham Norton, and hallmark American feminist Gloria Steinem) who gather for a series of talks, readings, and writing workshops to celebrate all things bookish. And rounding out the summer in August comes the five-day West Cork Masters of Tradition festival, centered around a schedule of traditional Irish music concerts and panel discussions to delight even the most discerning ear.

As home to so many creative gatherings all summer long, it’s little wonder that the town of Bantry thrums all the while with an unmistakably artistic energy. Even going out for a pint in the evening could lead to a barstool conversation with the next big literary dynamo.

FOR HISTORY, NEWGRANGE, CO. MEATH

Newgrange is an ancient passage tomb and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. (Caspar Diederik / @storytravelers / Tourism Ireland)

The prehistoric monument of Newgrange in the Boyne Valley, Co. Westmeath is without doubt one of Ireland’s greatest historical treasures, and one of the most important historic structures in all of Europe. The neolithic site dates back to about 3200 BC; that’s even older than both Stonehenge in England and the the pyramids at Giza in Egypt.

The site consists of a central stone mound with many intricate inner passageways and chambers. In fact, one of Newgrange’s primary claims to fame is the phenomenon it undergoes during the winter solstice, when sunlight shines perfectly through a “roofbox” and spills powerfully into the inner chamber.

However, with the celebration of the summer solstice in Ireland being inexorably linked with its ancient pagan landmarks, Newgrange is also an ideal destination to appreciate the warmer months to the fullest: it has been speculated by many a historian that the sun was massively important to the religious beliefs of the Neolithic builders responsible for the site. No better a way to celebrate it than to wander its mysterious shadows on a balmy summer afternoon.

And while you’re in the area, be sure to branch out and discover more of the surviving gems of Irish history dotted around this locality, such as the site of the 18th century Battle of the Boyne, which saw the greatest number of troops ever take to an Irish battlefield, and Beaulieu House, built in 1666 on an estate owned by the Plunkett family since 1082. In this special place in Ireland, the past is truly alive and breathing.

FOR SHOPPING, ST. GEORGE’S MARKET, BELFAST

The last surviving Victorian market in Belfast, the St. George's Market is ideal for your summer Irish shopping (Ardfern / Wikimedia Commons)

Turning our gaze to the North of Ireland, we arrive at the gates of one of Belfast’s oldest attractions, and one of the most delightful markets in both Ireland and the United Kingdom. Operating every Friday since the year 1604 (yes, really!), St. George’s Market was constructed as a physical fixture sometime between 1890 and 1896. Market days now run on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, making this location the perfect target for a low-key morning or afternoon while exploring the enchanting city of Belfast.

Named for the very venerated St. George (a Roman soldier who, according to legend, was sentenced to death for refusing to renounce his Christian faith), St. George’s market is an intimate shopping experience which provides visitors with the opportunity to get to know the craftspeople and traders who frequent its stalls, all the while availing of the bountiful fresh produce, unique jewelry, and handmade Belfast souvenirs up for purchase every week.

The open-air nature of this market makes it perfect for any lazy summer weekend morning, when grabbing a strong coffee and artisan snack sounds like heaven, and the local musicians performing on the central stage for the entertainment of the shoppers sounds like it all the more.

FOR THE VIEWS, GLENDALOUGH, CO. WICKLOW 

The views don't get much better than Glendalough in the Wicklow Mountains. (Macmillan Media / Tourism Ireland)

No visit to Ireland’s eastern coast is complete without a day trip to Glendalough (“The Valley of Two Lakes”), a glacial valley situated in Co. Wicklow which is renowned for its early monastic sites. This visually-gobsmacking terrain was formed during the most recent ice age, when a gargantuan glacier left a massive accumulation of rock and debris across the valley mouth. The Poulanass river of Glendalough gradually created a delta formation, which split the huge original lake in two and gave birth to the prized natural formations admired by Irish residents and visitors alike today.

The glistening lakes of Glendalough are ringed by dense oak woodland, the floor of which is carpeted by the lush presence of bluebells, wood sorrels, and wood anemones during the warmer months, creating a spine-tingling sight for any hikers keen to get a sense of the area’s natural beauty. The area offers many hiking trails of varying difficulty levels, as well as the option to rock-climb on Glendalough’s gorgeous granite cliffs, which have been in use as such since 1948. The climbing potential of the cliffs is so great that residents of the Greater Dublin Area often travel out to the site on weekends, determined to make the most of any sunshine they’re granted!

One popular destination in the area is St. Kevin’s Bed, a cave in the rock face roughly eight meters above the level of the Upper Lake. This is where St. Kevin, the founder and first abbott of the ancient Glendalough monastery, was said to retreat when he needed peace and quiet to speak to God. According to archaeologists, the cave is partially man-made, pushing two meters back into the rock: just large enough to fit one man and his prayers. Also of interest to many visitors are the ruins of an abandoned miner’s village located along the western edge of the Upper Lake, which is accessible only by foot; the perfect adventure for any thrillseeker on a long afternoon out in the Irish wilderness.

The summer months are also the ideal time for any would-be birdwatchers to pay Glendalough a visit, as it is during this time that some of Ireland’s newest breeding species expose themselves to the gentle sunlight with minimal shyness: the great spotted woodpecker, peregrine falcon, and even the striking, blue-winged eurasian jay have been known to make appearances.

As an added bonus, it’s worth noting that some of the most beloved ice cream in Wicklow is available by the scoop very nearby, served up with a truly giddying range of syrups and toppings at local stand, Kevin’s Cones (named for the above-mentioned saint). Trust us on this, and thank us later!

FOR AUTUMN, COUNTY DERRY

Derry is one of the best tourist destinations in Ireland for fall, known for its dazzling Halloween festival. (Chris Hill / Tourism Ireland)

If all of the above travel destinations are just a little bit too “summer sunshine” for your taste, have no fear. Or maybe you should—because our final recommended Irish travel destination is best seen at none other time of year than when the skies grow dark, the leaves begin to shrivel, and the thrills and chills of Halloween are upon us!

When visited towards the tail-end of October, Co. Derry is, in short, the ultimate Halloween experience. Not many know that Halloween is, in fact, an Irish festival with very ancient roots. Originally celebrated by the name of Samhain (meaning, fittingly, “end of summer”), the final day of October was considered by Celtic pagans to be the final day of the year, when the dead would return from beyond the veil to walk amongst the living.

For the people of Derry, Halloween is far more than just child’s play: it’s playtime for everyone! Since 1986, the program of spooky events has expanded every year, with more and more souls from all over flooding to the city in order to play a part in this most magical festival.

With many haunted and historical walking tours taking place throughout the city, Halloween in Derry is guaranteed to leave you terrified and inspired in equal measure by the many outlandish costumes on display every year. A plethora of shops and festival-exclusive pop ups provide every dress-up option imaginable, which is perfect for blending in at any of the creepy haunted house experiences or amazing live music events that dot the city during this exciting time… all of which promise to leave you thirsty for more by the time Samhain rolls around next year!