Please note: This post may contain affiliate links. See our disclosure to learn more.

Destinations > Europe > United Kingdom > Ireland > Attractions in Dingle Ireland plus Surrounding Highlights - Ireland34

More Ireland Articles: Bunratty, Dublin, Powerscourt Gardens & Waterfall, Corned Beef and Cabbage?

Attractions in Dingle Ireland and the Southwestern Coast

Battered by the ceaseless Atlantic waves, the southwestern coast of Ireland provides an amazing backdrop to the persistence and hospitality of the Irish. The marks that humans have made on the rugged landscape have lasted millennia, providing awe-inspiring features both natural and manmade. The warm welcome of the locals is justifiably famous, whether it’s the generous portions of a full Irish breakfast or the cheerful evening sing-alongs in a local pub. Learn more about the attractions in Dingle Ireland and Ireland’s Southwestern Coast by exploring this article.

Culture Smart! Ireland

Avoid being offended, or worse - offending Irish locals, instead familiarize yourself with local customs and cultures by reading Culture Smart! Ireland.

See Inside

Where to Stay on the Ring of Kerry: Kells Bay House

We started our adventure around the Ring of Kerry by going counterclockwise - entering from the Dingle area - and we only had a day to really enjoy everything that we could. So, one of the first places that we decided to stop was at the Kells Bay House & Gardens - and boy are we glad that we did! This was one of the biggest highlights of our trip around the Ring of Kerry and we are sad that not so many people stop here.

The Kells Bay House features luxury 4-Star Accommodation and the Sala Thai Restaurant - both of which were added in 2012. Additionally, their “Delligeenagh” Cafe just near the entrance makes for a great spot to grab snacks.

Opening Hours

April to September from 9.30 AM - last entry at 7.00 PM
October to March from 10.00 AM - last entry at 4.30 PM
Open 7 days a week, all year long (except Christmas Eve & Christmas Day)

Close to:

Beautiful Beaches - a local Blue Flag beach is just a 5 minute walk away!
Ireland’s highest Mountains
Skellig Michael (Isle of Saints) or the Skellig Ring Drive
Puck Fair and Valentia Island
The Old Barracks, Cahergal Ring Fort, and Ballycarbery Castle
Horse Riding, Links Golf at Dooks or Waterville, Sheep Dog Trails

Luxury 4-Star Accommodations

If you enjoy nature and the sounds of mountain streams, this is an excellent place to stay on your trip around the Ring of Kerry! Kells Bay also has stunning views of Dingle Bay and the Dingle Peninsula. For a Country House feel, try staying at the Victorian Style Guesthouse: bedrooms and suites are available.

Additionally, Kells Bay is situated in the midst of the only Gold Tier Dark-Sky Reserve in the northern hemisphere - so don’t forget to go outside at night and check out how vibrantly you can see thousands of stars and the Milky Way!

The Sala Thai Restaurant: A Taste of Two Kingdoms

Freshly cooked authentic Thai cuisine using the best local produce. Finest choice of wines and stunning views. Penn was a chef in some of Dublin’s best Thai restaurants before opening Sala Thai. Advanced bookings are recommended. The wine list contains some excellent selections as well.

Open for lunch from 1-3 PM and for Dinner from 6-8.30 PM

A select take-out menu is also available if you choose to dine in your accommodation!

Delligeenagh Cafe

Open Daily from 9.30 AM to 5.30 PM

Serving a variety of quality coffees, teas, infusions, sandwiches, cakes and snacks.

Read more about Kells Bay Gardens below!

Featured

The Ring of Kerry

Not far from the attractions in Dingle, Ireland is the Ring of Kerry, a loop around County Kerry that takes visitors through iconic Irish landscapes and has stops at historic and natural attractions. There are several Ring of Kerry tour options if you prefer a more guided experience, but there’s plenty to explore if you want to go on you own. If you’re looking for a more adventurous trip, there’s also a posted bike loop, and the Kerry Way, a walking path that follows quite closely to the scenic driving route.

Kells Bay Gardens

Some of the more amazing features of this garden include:

Dinosaurs carved from trees
A magnificent waterfall and small river
Sub-tropical plants & trees
8km of woodland walks and
The Skywalk - Ireland’s longest rope bridge

The 8 elaborately carved dinosaur sculptures were made from trees lost to storms between 2009 and 2017 and hidden among a forest of 600+ dicksonia antarctica tree-ferns. The plant & dinosaur walking path will take roughly 1 hour to complete.

The garden displays have won multiple Bloom Gold medals due to its superb collection of exotic plants in a unique micro-climate. The gardens receive more than 60 inches of rain each year, giving excellent conditions for an amazing looking river and waterfalls year round!

The Cliff Walk and the Bog Walk make up 8 kilometers of the enjoyable walks on the 17 hectare grounds. Enjoy the spectacular views on these paths or consider climbing Knocknadobar, on the Pilgrim Path, to see fantastic views of Dingle Bay, The Blaskets, and the Skelligs!

Keep your eyes open for deer, foxes, hares, red squirrels, diving gannets, and rabbits as they roam around the grounds as well.

The SkyWalk measures 35 meters long (120 feet) and 12 meters high (36 feet), and is deemed to be Ireland’s longest rope-bridge. If this is your primary stop, it should take you no more than 30 minutes to arrive at and complete the sky-walk, so it’s definitely good for a short stop along the Ring of Kerry as well.

Cahergall Stone Fort

Just off the Ring of Kerry, Cahergall Stone Fort is a great example of a fortified farmstead. Built around 600 CE, the recently reconstructed walls surround the remains of a circular farm house. The walls offer stunning views of the surrounding countryside that in the past would have been integral to the protection and defense of the people living there.

Ballycarberry Castle

Another stop along this route is Ballycarberry Castle. These impressive ruins were once the home of the McCarthy Clan. The multi-storied structure dates from the 15th century, and it gives visitors a glimpse into Ireland’s past. The ruins are free to visit, but since they are not maintained by the state or any other historical organization, it’s a good idea to be careful as you explore and catch some of the views.

Skellig Michael

Located just off Kerry’s Iveragh Peninsula, Skellig Michael is a small rocky island that is home to an early Christian monastery that is still a pilgrimage site today. Though small – probably only housing ten or twelve monks at a time – it was supposedly founded by Fionán in the 6th century and continuously occupied for around 600 years, until the end of the 12th century. Its rough structures are a testament to the monks’ faith and fortitude in the face of the powerful environment.

The rugged conditions and location of the island mean that it’s only accessible to visitors during the summer months. The island has been the filming location of several movies and documentaries, including some of the most recent Star Wars films - as the first Jedi Temple - so in addition to the vistas, history, and wildlife, fans have another reason to visit the island.

Featured

Portmagee

You can catch the ferry for Skellig Michael at Portmagee, on the southwest side of Valentia Harbor. For those interested in the history and nostalgic romance of pirates and smugglers, a stop in the village of Portmagee itself also is a must. Though the colorful village is more peaceful today, it’s past was a bit more tumultuous. The port is named after Captain Theobald Magee who was a notorious smuggler in the early 1700s.

Ladies View

Ranked as one of the most photographed places in Ireland for a reason, Ladies View is another must-stop along the Ring of Kerry. The ladies-in-waiting of Queen Victoria who give the scenic overlook its name had good reason to be so taken with the view – it is spectacular! The spot in Killarney National Park looks out over the lakes of Killarney, and there’s usually a small café nearby where you can get refreshments as well.

Killarney

Nearby, Killarney is another excellent stopping point along this route. Full of history and central to many of the attractions in the area, there is a great deal to see and do in this small town. Its location in Killarney National Park makes it a great jumping off point for outdoor adventures, and its history as a point of conflict throughout Ireland’s past provides much of interest to those with a more academic bent. The nightlife and entertainment options in Killarney are generally quite good, with both traditional and modern music regularly featured. The town has a very real traditional Irish feel to it.

Torc Waterfall

Torc Waterfall is another feature of Killarney National Park that is not to be missed. A quick walk from the road, the Owengarriff River cascades 110 meters down Mangerton Mountain into the Devil’s Punchbowl. More adventuresome travelers can climb around 100 steps up and will be rewarded with some amazing views of the lakes below. The falls are one of the most popular stops for tours, so they can get a bit crowded especially during the summer months.

Killarney National Park

There’s much more that Killarney National Park has to offer. Known as “The Jewel in Kerry’s Crown” for good reason, the park covers over 25,000 acres and is home to many more attractions than those mentioned so far. Free to visitors, the park features mountains, lakes, and woodlands for the nature lovers, and castles, churches, and gardens for those who prefer civilization – truly something for everyone.

Cliffs of Moher

Heading north up the western coast, and getting closer to the attractions in Dingle, Ireland, is the iconic Cliffs of Moher, one of Ireland’s most popular attractions. Rising above the Atlantic 215 meters at their highest point, the cliffs stretch along the Burren region of the Irish coast for about 14 kilometers. From their heights visitors can see the mountains to the north in County Galway and the Aran Islands in Galway Bay, as well as Loop Head to the south. A visitors’ center offers exhibits and cultural and informational programs.

By Germán Poo-Caamaño, CC BY 4.0, via Flickr

Aillwee Cave

Discovered by a farmer in 1944, Aillwee Cave was opened to the public in 1973. Now part of a partnership with the Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark, the cave is open for guided tours that take visitors past fascinating rock formations, an underground waterfall, and the bones of a now-extinct brown bear. Tickets are required and should be booked online in advance. On the cliffs above you can check out the birds of prey centre and even book a hawk walk.

The Burren

The Burren is a region in northwest County Claire and southwest County Galway with a unique geological landscape made of glaciated karst – features created by the wear and erosion of rocks like limestone. Along with the UNESCO Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark, there is also the Burren National Park providing preservation and access to this captivating landscape with its variety of mountains, bogs, heaths, grasslands, and forests, studded with interesting rock formations and cave systems.

Robert Linsdell from St. Andrews, Canada, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Doolin Cave

Doolin Cave, renamed in English but meaning “Ivy Cliff Cave” in Irish, is known for the Great Stalactite, which is the longest free hanging stalactite in Europe and one of the longest in the world. Site amenities include a visitors’ center and a café. There’s also a nature walk on the surface. If you’d like to take a bit of the cave home with you, a local artist creates pottery from hand-dug clay sourced deep inside the cave.

Kilrush

Moving back down the coast to the mouth of the Shannon River, the heritage town of Kilrush is a great place to stop to experience some traditional music and dancing. There are festivals in the summer and entertainment in the pubs all year round. The marina in town also provides access to the Shannon estuary, with wildlife tours including dolphin spotting. Catching a boat to Scattery Island is another fun excursion – uninhabited since the 1970, there’s a visitors’ center and free tours of this peaceful island that take you through the historical village and ruined churches.

Not far west is Kilbaha, which has a few iconic spots that were used as filming locations in the Star Wars film “The Last Jedi” - see which specific locations were used by checking out this article.

To the east of Kilrush is the magical Bunratty Castle & Folk Park - which we wrote an entire separate article about.

Attractions in Dingle Ireland

A bit further south, Dingle, the only town on the Dingle Peninsula, is another great stop to experience Ireland’s culture and music. In addition to the cultural elements, there are many attractions in Dingle Ireland including a number of pubs and restaurants that offer truly tasty local fair. Dingle is home to Murphy’s Ice Cream, made from famous Kerry milk and cream. There’s also a local distillery for whiskey lovers!

The local Neo-gothic church, St Mary’s, offers lovely examples of the Arts and Crafts Movement in the 19th century. The stained-glass windows were created by Harry Clarke, a leading figure in the movement. Nearby, St Manchan’s Oritory and Gallaunmore provide an even deeper look into the past with standing stones and Ogham monuments.

Here's a curated list of attractions in Dingle, Ireland for you:

Restaurants:

- Out of the Blue Seafood: Known for its fresh seafood dishes. Open Mon-Sat 5pm-9:30 pm, Sun 12:30 pm-3pm.

- Doyle’s Seafood Restaurant: A charming spot offering a variety of seafood options. Open Mon-Sat 5pm-9:30 pm, Sunday 5pm-7:30 pm.

- Ashe’s Bar & Restaurant: Offers a traditional Irish menu. Open Mon-Sun 10:30 am-9:30 pm.

Pubs:

- Dick Mack's: A microbrewery offering daily tours and beer tastings behind a historic pub.

- O'Flaherty's Bar: A traditional music bar that's a staple for live Irish tunes.

Activities:

- Dingle Oceanworld: An aquarium showcasing a diverse range of marine life. Open daily from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.

- Dingle Distillery: Raise your spirits with a visit to this award-winning whiskey distillery.

Nature Activities:

- Slea Head Drive: A scenic drive with breathtaking views, historical sites, and charming towns.

- Conor Pass: One of the highest mountain passes in Ireland, offering stunning landscapes.

These are just a few attractions in Dingle Ireland. This town is also known for its vibrant festivals, beach trekking, kayaking, and much more. Enjoy your adventure in this beautiful part of Ireland! 🍀

Featured

Attractions in Dingle Ireland and the Southwestern Coast

The dramatic landscapes and friendly towns and villages of Western Ireland, including the attractions in Dingle, Ireland, offer so much for visitors to see and experience. The warm welcome you receive and the awesome vistas you photograph will remain with you, so that whether it’s your first visit or your fiftieth, you will immediately be looking forward to coming back.

If this will likely be your only Trip to Ireland, this is what we recommend:

National Geographic’s Iconic Ireland trip - with all of the options
- See the highlights of Dublin, Cork, Blarney, Killarney, and Galway
- Experience the Ring of Kerry
- See the Cliffs of Moher
- Enjoy traditional Irish food, storytelling, and music in an Irish pub
- Try a locally brewed pint of Murphy’s Irish Stout
- Try a pint of Guinness Stout from the Guinness Storehouse
- Kiss the legendary Blarney Stone
- Explore the harbor cities with seabirds, such as puffins, and more!

Found this post useful? You can buy us a coffee to help support the site’s running costs. Alternatively, please support the site by sharing this post with your friends, following along on Instagram, or signing up for the free Eat Wander Explore weekly newsletter.

Thank You VERY Much!

Thank you VERY much for reading our article. We actually created this website to help people reach financial independence. Did you know that by having a remote job and traveling endlessly, or living in a country that has low costs of living, you can actually reach retirement quicker? Plus, retirement abroad is up to 75 percent cheaper as well! Learn more by exploring our website: EatWanderExplore and REmotiFIRE.

See our Thank You page to sign up for our free weekly newsletter - you’ll receive only 1 email per week letting you know about our latest travel articles, remote-work life, and amazingly affordable destinations!

Found this post useful? Buy us a coffee to help support this site’s running costs OR share this article with a friend.