Tourism Ireland

Welcome to Dublin, a city that's as intimate as a village and as friendly as an Irish pub. Framed by mountains, centred on a river and edged by a beautiful bay, the city's streets and alleys are filled with vibrant art and historic buildings, hip cafés and traditional "old man" pubs, as Dubliners call them. Walk the streets and you'll feel the energy of over 1,000 years of history, as echoes of the Vikings mix with buzzing boutiques, cobbled streets reverberate with the sounds of buskers, and 18th-century parks play host to festivals, film and food markets.

Dublin is a resoundingly social place, packed with culture, creativity and craic (fun). You'll see it in the busy pubs, in the rolling nightlife scene, in the music and in the chat. But this ancient gem basks in natural beauty, too. Head out beyond the city, and the UNESCO Biosphere of Dublin Bay opens up with coastal walks, little villages, wide sea views and rugged mountain backdrops. Take to the Dublin mountains for a hike, go rock-climbing in Dalkey Quarry, walk the cliff path at Howth or join the Dublin hardcore who sea-swim whatever the weather. There's an adventure around every corner.

It’s the satiny sheen of a quiet canal that cuts through rolling green fields. It’s the walking trails that weave through peaty bogland where ancient Celtic rituals once took place. It’s the flash of a kingfisher darting from a riverbank. Defined by its connection to both water and land and heralded for its pure beauty, Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands is a destination that basks in nature, with under-the-radar experiences that feel like you’re getting to the real heart of Ireland.

Here, amidst a natural wonderland of rivers, canals and lakes, the world slows down. Calm your soul with a paddle along glass-blue rivers, lakes and canals; walk centuries-old canal paths once used for horses drawing barges; cosy up over candlelit dinners in waterside thatched pubs; and unearth thousands of years of history in heritage parks, historic abbeys and monasteries. In Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands, it pays to take it slow.

When it comes to accolades, Northern Ireland has it covered. Come here and you can experience what’s been called “one of the greatest drives on earth” (The Causeway Coastal Route), “the best place to spend Halloween” (Derry~Londonderry), and Golf Digest’s number one golf course in the world (Royal County Down). But there’s more to Northern Ireland than epic sights and world-class experiences – there’s a spirit. This is a land that resounds with myths from the Sperrin Mountains to the Giant’s Causeway. It’s a place of unbridled creativity, from the music scene in Belfast to literary greats both, past and present. And it’s hub of great food, with cutting-edge restaurants and cosy old pubs.