Walking on Carrauntoohil
Walking on Carrauntoohil

Top 10 Irish Experiences Receive Awards

Updated October 2023–Earlier in 2022,  the TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best Awards list was released, and it included the Top 10 Irish Experiences, including some old favorites and other new attractions that many tourists may not know about.

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The awards honor tourists’ favorite destinations, hotels, restaurants, and things to do, all collected on the popular website over a 12-month period.

Here are the Top 10 Experiences in Ireland for 2022.

  1. Dark Dublin Guided Walking Tour

Who doesn’t love a grisly tale every now and again?

On this 2-hour walking tour, visitors will learn about murder, torture, cannibalism, grave robbing, brothels, and much, much more.

The tour begins in the lower courtyard of Dublin Castle, once part of Viking Dublin, and then moves toward the upper courtyard nicknamed The Devil’s Half Acre.

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One of the surviving Medieval towers that is part of Dublin Castle, which is a stop on the Dark Dublin Guided Walking Tour. Photo: Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=238688

St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Christ Church Cathedral, St. Audoen’s Church, St. Michan’s Church, and Smithfield Square are just some of the other spots that are included in this uncovering of Dublin’s dark past.

Tickets are an affordable $18.23/€17.21/£14.93 Sterling/$24.84 CAD/$28.59 per adult. The tour has a 5.0 rating (excellent).

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  1. Guided Climb of Carrauntoohil

Tourists looking for a good outdoor experience can’t go wrong with this highly recommended climb of Carrauntoohil, Ireland’s highest mountain.

Located in County Kerry, this is a challenging 6 to 7-hour hike that does not include any designated trails with 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) of ascent and descent.

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Walking toward Carrauntoohill in Co. Kerry, Ireland's highest mountain and one of the Top 10 Irish Experiences cited by TripAdvisor travelers. Photo: Fionn McCann, Failte Ireland.

With that in mind, participants (over 16 years of age) are asked to carefully consider this activity before purchasing the tour.

Guides provide an abundance of historical, geological, and natural history information that has made this tour a winner among TripAdvisor reviewers.

Come prepared with the proper clothing and footwear.

Tickets are around $69.70/€65.82/£57.11 Sterling/$95 CAD/$109 AUD per person. This tour has a 5.0 rating.

  1. Cliffs of Moher Tour Including Wild Atlantic Way and Galway City from Dublin

The Cliffs of Moher is perhaps the most popular outdoor tourist attraction on the island of Ireland.

a rock in the ocean County Clare
The beautiful Cliffs of Moher off the coast of Co. Clare. Photo: Mustang_79

For visitors using Dublin as their base and looking for good day tours that will take them to other parts of Ireland, this one is highly recommended by the tourists who have taken it.

The luxury bus passes Bunratty Castle and the village of Lahinch before arriving at the cliffs. A visit to Galway City is also included in the price.

This one-day tour costs around $83.64/€79.03/£68.54 Sterling/$114.03 CAD/$131.18 AUD. This tour has a 5.0 rating.

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  1. Windmill Lane Recording Studios

The Windmill Lane Recording Studios in Dublin has served international musicians over the years, including U2, The Cranberries, The Rolling Stones, Lady Gaga, and more.

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A group of visitors at the Windmill Lane Studios in Dublin make their own recording. The studio attraction is one of the Top 10 Irish Experiences that visitors can do while in the capital. Photo: © Windmill Lane Studios for Failte Ireland.

Visitors will get a behind-the-scenes look at the studios in this immersive 1-hour experience, which includes learning the history of the site, meeting a virtual band, and mixing their own session.

The price of the tour is around $23.98/€22.66/£19.66 Sterling/$32.70/$37.62 AUD. This tour has a 5.0 rating.

  1. Dublin Panoramic E-Bike Tour with Howth Adventures

Getting outside Dublin’s city center offers visitors a change of scenery and the chance to experience the Dublin coastline without traveling too far on the city's public transportation system.

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Take an e-bike tour along the County Dublin coast at Howth. Photo: ©[email protected].

The Dublin Panoramic E-Bike Tour with Howth Adventures is a relatively easy adventure on an e-bike where visitors get the chance to see Howth’s main attractions, including the Summit, the Howth Cliffs, the Baily Lighthouse, and the Sutton Martello Tower (made famous by Joyce, which is now a cool Airbnb), among others.

No doubt there are plenty of Instagrammable-worthy shots to take on this 3-hour and 30-minute excursion that takes participants on back lanes and shortcuts that only local guides would know.

Tickets are $63.27/€59.82/£51.92 Sterling/$86.31 CAD/$99.36 per person. This tour has a 5.0 rating.

Read More: Dublin's Seaside Resorts and Villages

  1. 1916 Rebellion Walking Tour

Learn all about the Easter 1916 Rebellion that took place in Dublin more than a century ago in this interactive and popular walking tour.

The local tour guide provides some perspective by recalling the Irish Famine of the 1840s and how events of the following years would have contributed to it happening.

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The statue of James Larkin with the GPO in the background. Photo: By Laurel Lodged – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=54174857

Visitors stop at Trinity College followed by the Old Parliament and the Rosie Hackett Bridge.

Famous landmarks like the Daniel O’Connell memorial and the Jim Larkin statue are included, in addition to a stop at the GPO where bullet marks are still visible from the conflict.

The tour finishes at Dublin Castle, the seat of British rule in Ireland until 1922.

Tickets cost about $16.35/€15.46/£13.41 Sterling/$22.30/$25.67 AUD per person. This tour has a 5.0 rating.

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  1. Howth Walking Tours

Another experience in Howth that has tourists raving on TripAdvisor is the Howth Walking Tour.

two people sitting on a bench in a field The Top 10 Irish Experiences
Some of the views that visitors will get on the Howth Walking Tours, one of the Top 10 Irish Experiences recommended by reviewers on TripAdvisor. Photo:©[email protected].

The 3-hour tour starts off on the Howth Cliff Path, with local guide John recalling stories of folklore, myth, and legend while visitors savor the fabulous East Coast views.

Tickets cost approximately $36.38/€35.58 per person. The tour has a 5.0 rating.

 

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  1. Dublin Coastal Hike & Pints, with Mark and Missy

Yet another popular Howth hiking tour with TripAdvisor reviewers is the Dublin Coastal Hike & Pints, with Mark and Missy.

a lighthouse at the end of a headland The Top 10 Irish Experiences
Bailey Lighthouse at Howth Head in Co. Dublin. Photo: mustafa6noz

Highlights of this 3-4 hour small-group hiking tour include St. Mary’s Abbey, the Howth and Bailey lighthouses, as well as the Hurdy Gurdy Museum of Vintage Radio, among other Howth attractions.

Tickets for the tour are from $46.11/€43.60/£37.83 Sterling/$62.92 CAD/$72.41 AUD per person. This tour has a 5.0 rating.

  1. Irish Rock ‘N’ Roll Museum Experience

Located in the heart of Dublin’s Temple Bar section, the Irish Rock ‘N’ Roll Museum provides visitors with the story of Irish rock ‘n’ roll and how it impacted Dublin’s youth culture.

a red 3-story building The Top 10 Irish Experiences
The exterior of the Irish Rock ‘N' Roll Museum in Dublin. Photo: Irish Rock ‘n' Roll Experience Facebook.

Memorabilia from Irish musical superstars Thin Lizzy, Sinead O’Connor, and U2, among others, can be found in this interactive museum. Participants can even record their own compositions.

Each tour is limited to 4 people. Tickets cost approximately $25.74/€24.34/£21.12 Sterling/$35.12 CAD/$40.42 AUD per person. The tour has a 5.0 rating.

Take a Private of the Dingle Peninsula

  1. Exhilarating Rib Experience – Dingle Sea Safari

people on a boat watch a dolphin The Top 10 Irish Experiences
Passengers on the Dingle Sea Safari boat watch a playful dolphin in the ocean nearby. Photo: Dingle Sea Safari Facebook.

An invigorating ride on a rigid inflatable boat tour gives visitors an opportunity to enjoy the dramatic scenery in the Dingle region of County Kerry, and also catch a glimpse of the local marine life, including whales, dolphins, and puffins.

The tour accommodates up to 12 people. Tickets cost from $91.15/€86.17/£74.78/$124.38 CAD/$143.12 AUD per person. The rating for this tour is 5.0.

All prices in currencies other than the US dollar are based on the currency exchange rate as of Oct. 17, 2023.

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