VISIT IRELAND

Often referred to as the Emerald Isle, Ireland is a country known for its marvellous views and its innate talent for Craic – aka the art of having a good time.

Currency

€ - Euro (1€ ≃ 1,05$ ≃ 0,86£)

POPULATION

7 millions

MAIN LANGUAGES

English, Irish

AREA

84,421 km²

TIME ZONE

UTC / UTC+1

FLAG

🇮🇪

The Republic of Ireland is located off the coast of England and Wales and is dubbed the 'Emerald Isle' for its recognizable lush landscapes. Both Guinness beer and famous writers like Oscar Wilde were born in the nation's capital, Dublin. In Dublin's Trinity College Library, you can view the Book of Kells dating from the ninth century as well as other illustrated manuscripts. The Irish are known across the world for their joyous celebrations, and the nation holds numerous events and festivals throughout the year, the most popular being Saint Patrick's Day.

There are a couple of things to know before travelling to Ireland:

Water: Tap water is considered safe to drink in Ireland.

Driving: Traffic drives on the left-hand side of the road. The main speed limits are as follows: 50 kph / 31 mph on main roads within built-up areas, 80 kph / 50 mph on regional and local roads, 100 kph / 62 mph on national roads (including dual carriageways), 120 kph / 74 mph on motorways.

Plugs: The plug type used in Ireland is: G, which has three rectangular pins in a triangular pattern. Ireland operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz frequency.

Tipping: As a general rule - although welcome - tipping is not compulsory in restaurants and cafés in Ireland, but it is common to leave around a 10% tip if you are happy with the service provided. Some places add on a service charge by default.

Payment: Bank cards - either debit or credit cards - are widely accepted across Ireland, the most common ones being Visa and Mastercard. American Express cards can be used in fewer places. The use of cash money is still very common, especially for low-value purchases.

Holidays and closing days: Sunday is a closing day for some stores, although nearly all stores on Sundays are open from midday until 6pm in Dublin. There are 10 official public holidays in Ireland: New Year's Day (January 01), First Monday in February, Saint Patrick's Day (March 17), Easter Monday, First Monday in May, First Monday in June, First Monday in August, Last Monday in October, Christmas Day (December 25), Saint Stephen's Day (December 26). On these days, most businesses and offices will be closed, and many attractions may be shut or have limited opening hours.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The information below is provided merely as an indication and applies for short-term tourism visa purposes only. Before your trip to Ireland, or if you are planning to come to Ireland for another purpose (work, studies, ...), check the official information on the Ireland Department of Foreign Affairs website: https://www.dfa.ie/

✅ No visa needed (up to 90 days) if you are a citizen of one of the following countries:
Andorra; Antigua and Barbuda; Argentina; Australia; Austria; Bahamas; Barbados; Belgium; Belize; Botswana; Brazil; Brunei; Bulgaria; Canada; Chile; Costa Rica; Croatia; Cyprus; Czechia; Denmark; Dominica; Estonia; Eswatini; Finland; France; Germany; Greece; Grenada; Guatemala; Guyana; Honduras; Hong Kong; Hungary; Iceland; Ireland; Israel; Italy; Japan; Kiribati; Latvia; Lesotho; Liechtenstein; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Macao; Malaysia; Malta; Mexico; Monaco; Nauru; Netherlands; New-Zealand; Nicaragua; Norway; Panama; Paraguay; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia; Samoa; San Marino; Seychelles; Singapore; Slovakia; Slovenia; Solomon Islands; South Africa; South Korea; Spain; St Vincent and the Grenadines; Sweden; Switzerland; Taiwan; Tonga; Trinidad and Tobago; Tuvalu; Ukraine; United States of America; Uruguay; Vanuatu; Vatican City

🛂 Short stay 'C' visit (tourist) visa required (up to 90 days) if you are a citizen of one of the following countries: Afghanistan; Albania; Algeria; Angola; Armenia; Azerbaijan; Bahrain; Bangladesh; Belarus; Benin; Bhutan; Bolivia; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Burkina Faso; Burundi; Cambodia; Cameroon; Cape Verde; Central African Republic; Chad; China; Colombia; Comoros; Congo; Congo (Dem. Rep); Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast); Cuba; Djibouti; Dominican Republic; Ecuador; Egypt; El Salvador; Equatorial Guinea; Eritrea; Ethiopia; Fiji; Gabon; Gambia; Georgia; Ghana; Guinea; Guinea-Bissau; Haiti; India; Indonesia; Iran; Iraq; Jamaica; Jordan; Kazakhstan; Kenya; Kosovo; Kuwait; Kyrgyzstan; Laos; Lebanon; Liberia; Libya; Madagascar; Malawi; Mali; Marshall Islands; Mauritania; Mauritius; Micronesia; Moldova; Mongolia; Montenegro; Morocco; Mozambique; Myanmar; Namibia; Nepal; Niger; Nigeria; North Korea; North Macedonia; Oman; Pakistan; Palau; Palestinian territories; Papua New Guinea; Peru; Philippines; Qatar; Russia; Rwanda; Sao Tome and Principe; Saudi Arabia; Senegal; Serbia; Sierra Leone; Somalia; South Sudan; Sri Lanka; Sudan; Suriname; Syria; Tajikistan; Tanzania; Thailand; Timor-Leste; Togo; Tunisia; Turkey; Turkmenistan; Uganda; Uzbekistan; Venezuela; Vietnam; Yemen; Zambia; Zimbabwe

❄️ December – February: Irish winters are known for their wind and rain. You may get less time during the day to travel and take in the sights because of the shorter days, but you'll benefit from uninterrupted expansive views and fewer crowds. Winter can be a good time to spend a city break in Dublin. During winter, the temperatures in Dublin usually range from 2°C (36F) to 9°C (48F).

🌱 March – May: When the signs of spring begin to appear, fluffy lambs start romping across the fields, and misty mornings give some of the year's most spectacular sunrises (and later sunsets). Even better, travelling to Ireland in the spring will allow you to experience the Emerald Isle before the summer tourist season begins. Many sites will be less crowded, and flight and lodging costs won't have peaked yet - except on St. Patrick's Day (March 17th).

☀️ June – August: Summer is one of the greatest seasons to travel to Ireland because it is relatively warm and provides longer days. It is a popular time for taking the wheel on an Irish road trip. Summer being the peak tourism season, Ireland's top tourist locations might be crowded, and the most popular attractions may have lengthy queues. During summer, the temperatures in Dublin usually range from 9°C (48F) to 19°C (66F).

🍂 September – November: After the summer season's busiest months, Ireland experiences a slight quietening, and many of the popular tourist spots become more serene and tranquil places to visit. In October, The majority of the nation is in the midst of harvest, thus there are many celebrations leading up to Samhain, the Celtic holiday that serves as the inspiration for Halloween. Please note that some accommodations and sites close in late October.

Prepare your trip

Pick an (Irish) destination

Make your choice from the list below or the map to access all the articles related to specific cities or regions of Ireland.

IRELAND HIGHLIGHT ATTRACTIONS

ADMIRE THE CLIFFS OF MOHER

Cliffs of Moher, unquestionably Ireland's premier tourist destination, dominate the untamed Atlantic coastline of West Clare. Not only imposing and dramatic, but this place is also a unique birdwatching spot.

HAVE FUN IN AN IRISH PUB

The hospitality and atmosphere of Irish pubs are renowned throughout the world. With almost 7000 pubs throughout the country, you won't have any trouble locating a place to drink a Guinness beer!

EXPLORE DUBLIN

The Republic of Ireland's capital, Dublin, is located on the country's east coast. Among its historic structures are St. Patrick's Cathedral and Dublin Castle, respectively dating to the 12th and 13th centuries.

ROAD TRIP ON THE WILD ATLANTIC WAY

Measuring 1600 miles (2600 km), this scenic road is on the world's longest-defined coastal drive. This is the unmissable road if you want to enjoy the natural and wild beauty that Ireland has to offer.

VISIT GALWAY

Galway's vibrant environment, picturesque scenery, and variety of enjoyable activities, including festivals (more than 100 each year!), have helped it grow into one of the most well-liked tourist destinations in the country.

ETHICAL WILDLIFE TOURISM IN IRELAND

SPOT WHALES ANS DOLPHINS ON A SEA SAFARI

One of the best spots in Ireland to watch whales is West Cork. From killer whales to humpbacks, a wide variety of whale species have been spotted in these chilly waters over the years.

Did you know?

Ireland’s national emblematic animal is the Irish hare.

ALL IRELAND BLOG ARTICLES

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