In the summer of 2012, I traveled with a friend through Scotland, Ireland and England. This article is about beautiful Ireland. I will explain the highlights of my trip through this country below. I describe the people, the landscape, the culture and the sights. Enjoy reading!
Ireland
Ireland is a beautiful country to explore by train, bus or on foot. It is characterized by Irish conviviality, Guinness, strange accents, beautiful nature and promising culture. And they pay in euros here, so you don’t have to struggle with exchanging money. If you have just arrived in England, don’t forget to take the boat in Holyhead and cross over to Ireland. You’ll be there in a few hours. I visited two places in this beautiful country. Of course there is much more to discover, but if you travel to this country you should not miss the following two places.
Dublin
This city can proudly present itself as a vibrant city. There really is a lot to experience here! To be honest, it is not a beautiful city, but if you really want something to do then you should definitely go here. First, the shopping. In one word: wow! In addition to the many tourist shops, there are also many clothing and similar stores. Anyone who doesn’t mind a strong beer should definitely try the famous Irish Guinness. They even have a Guinness Storehouse museum where you can enjoy the view of the city while enjoying a beer. You can also experience plenty of culture during the day in the many (free) museums and attractions. Those who like a bit of entertainment and fun can have fun in the 3D center located next to the pillar (a high work of art in the middle of the city). Here they offer various short-term 3D experiences. No, it’s not a movie, it’s much better! Experience it yourself! You’ll be in stitches in no time. Tip: ask the man at the cash register what the best ‘movie’ is. This experience costs about 5 euros.
Tips for when you are in Dublin
- Visit St. Patrick’s Cathedral. This beautiful church is also called the cultural ‘hotspot’ of Dublin. Admission is also just under 6 euros and students/children can even enter for less
- Drink Guinness!
- The pubs open early here. Instead of what we are used to in the Netherlands, in Ireland they start drinking and partying early in the evening. Be alert to this!
- From Dublin there is a bus that takes you to Galway. There are also plenty of day trips to Galway to book. See the next heading for more information about Galway
Galway
You should certainly not forget this lovely town in the West of Ireland. Anyone who just wants to book a weekend in Dublin should really think again about Galway. This city is characterized by a cute city center with dancing people and musical talents in the middle of the street. There are plenty of souvenir shops here too! It has an old city center where you can shop to your heart’s content and visit the many pubs. There is also plenty to do in this city. Every year (and again in 2013) a lot of festivals take place here! But the most spectacular sight is really the Cliffs of Moher. See more information below:
Cliffs of Moher
These cliffs are one of Ireland’s most visited attractions. And I completely agree! You’ve never seen a view like this before. There are day trip buses to these cliffs that are quite pricey. Fortunately, it is worth every euro. You will be dropped off by bus and you can walk around there for about 1-2 hours. You can go in two directions and most people choose the left side. I recommend you take the right side, it’s much quieter there and you can see it just as beautifully! Clear weather is ideal and you can see the most, so choose a nice day. You will also find a souvenir shop here.
Tips for when you are in Galway
- Looking for a place to eat? Don’t just go into a restaurant. Restaurant owners and employees often stand on the street to make nice ‘offers’. For example, you can get a three-course menu for just 15 euros
- If you book a longer holiday to Ireland or Galway, it is best to rent a car to visit the Cliffs of Moher
- You have a lot of Bed&Breakfast’s! Also look at this before you book a hostel or hotel