10 Amazing and Beautiful Photos of Ireland to Inspire Your Trip

From Dublin to the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland is a picturesque destination with lush landscapes, quaint villages, medieval landmarks, and dramatic seaside cliffs. So, let’s take a virtual journey to the Emerald Isle with 10 beautiful pictures of Ireland!

But first, if you are planning a trip to Ireland, read my other Ireland and Europe articles for more trip-planning advice. You can learn how to save money for your Europe trip and which shoes to pack for Europe in summer.

And, if you are just here for beautiful and amazing pics that spark wanderlust, check out these posts featuring 10 photos of Greece and Switzerland.

Disclosure: This collection of Ireland images contains some affiliate links. I may earn a commission when you click on and/or make a purchase via one of these links. Of course, this is at no extra cost to you.

Are you dreaming of traveling to Ireland?

Surrounded by the North Atlantic Ocean in northwestern Europe, Ireland is the second-largest of the British Isles and can also refer to the Republic of Ireland, the country that covers about five-sixths of the island.

Making up the other one-sixth in the northeastern corner of the island is Northern Ireland, part of the United Kingdom.

As the home of Guinness and the birthplace of writers Oscar Wilde and Samuel Beckett, Ireland is a dream destination for culinary and cultural travel.

Also, nicknamed the Emerald Isle for its lush countryside, Ireland is one of the most beautiful destinations to rent a car and take a scenic road trip.

Of course, if you are a photographer or simply love to document your trips with travel videos and photos, you’ll find endless Instagram-worthy places to take amazing, beautiful pictures of Ireland.

As you begin planning your own dream trip, here are some must-have experiences in Ireland:

• Drink a pint of Guinness and learn about the world-famous Irish stout’s history at the Guinness Storehouse
• Visit the stunning seaside Cliffs of Moher 
• Taste Irish whiskey on a guided Jameson Distillery tour in Dublin
• See the illuminated manuscript of the Book of Kells at Trinity College
• Explore medieval castles (perhaps to kiss the Blarney Stone) and the beautiful countryside Kylemore Abbey

10 Beautiful Pictures of Ireland

What does Ireland look like, you wonder? If you are imagining lush, green landscapes and quaint Irish villages, you are spot on in your mental images of Ireland.

This collection of the 10 most beautiful pictures of Ireland from my two-week trip in the fall of 2017 features photos of the Irish scenery in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Kerry, and Clare.

I hope these pictures from Ireland of the green countryside, charming towns, and famous sights inspire your own trip. You can use this article to find ideas of where to go and where to find the best photo ops in Ireland.

Additionally, I’ve shared some of the top things to do in these Irish destinations and upscale and/or unique lodging nearby.

Must-Have Dublin Ireland Picture: The Long Room

A must-visit attraction for any literature lover in Dublin is the Long Room of the Old Library at Trinity College. It displays one of the world’s most impressive literary collections — with more than 200,000 of the library’s oldest books.

To visit the Long Room, you’ll need a ticket to the Book of Kells Experience, where you’ll be immersed in visual projections of the 1,200-year-old illuminated manuscript as you listen to an audio guide.

You can also pair seeing the world-famous Book of Kells with a campus tour of Trinity College, Ireland’s oldest university, or a Dublin sightseeing tour.

Stay near Trinity College to take your own pics of Dublin, Ireland:

• Upscale Boutique Hotel: The Fleet 
• Eco-Certified Boutique Hotel: The Alex Hotel Dublin
• Luxury Spa Hotel: The Shelbourne, Autograph Collection

A Picture of Ireland in Picturesque Cork City

Did you know Cork is considered the food capital of Ireland?

A must-visit for any foodie, Cork City is full of fantastic restaurants, third-wave coffee shops, craft beer pubs, and the English Market, considered one of Europe’s best food halls.

Visiting Blarney Castle to kiss the Blarney Stone is a popular day trip from Cork, but I recommend taking a food tour while you are visiting the Republic of Ireland’s second-largest city.

Stay in Cork, Ireland:

• Eco-certified Hotel: The River Lee Hotel
• Upscale Spa Hotel: The Imperial Hotel
• Luxury Boutique Hotel: Hayfield Manor

Pretty Ireland Pic in Kenmare, County Kerry

Meaning “head of the sea” for its position along Kenmare Bay, the charming small town of Kenmare is a popular stopping point for travelers on a scenic Ring of Kerry tour or setting off to explore the Beara Peninsula.

With five-star lodging at the Park Hotel Kenmare and Sheen Falls Lodge and charming bed-and-breakfast accommodations, Kenmare is perfect for travelers looking for a luxurious stay in the Irish countryside.

Stay in Kenmare, Co. Kerry, Ireland:

• Charming Bed & Breakfast: The Happy Pig
• Traditional Five-Star Hotel: Park Hotel Kenmare
• Five-Star Luxury Hotel: Sheen Falls Lodge

Beautiful Ireland Landscape Photos in the Beara Peninsula

Though lesser known than the Ring of Kerry, the Beara Peninsula in Southwest Ireland also offers seemingly endless scenic views of rugged coastline and green mountainsides. This is particularly true along the Healy Pass in the Caha Mountains.

Beara is also home to Ireland’s slow food movement with a farmhouse cheesemaker, a distillery that makes gins infused with Atlantic Ocean saltwater, and a family-owned organic mussels farm.

If you are interested in visiting this underrated area of West Cork and County Kerry, I highly recommend booking a bespoke private Beara Peninsula tour with Con Moriarty’s Hidden Ireland Tours.

Stay in Ireland’s West Cork:

• Glamping in Eyeries: Eyeries Glamping Pods
• Glengarriff Boutique Spa Hotel: Eccles Hotel & Spa
• Castletownbere Bed & Breakfast: Sea Breeze Bed & Breakfast

Irish Landscape Photos of Dingle Ireland

Also along Ireland’s southwest coast lies the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry. With waves crashing into its rugged shore and rolling green hills, where spray-painted sheep graze, the Dingle Peninsula is worth visiting during an Ireland road trip or as a day trip from Killarney.

During your visit, explore the seaside port town of Dingle to see its colorful storefronts and famous Fungie the Dingle Dolphin statue. Also, boat cruises are offered year-round to see dolphins, whales, puffins, seals, and the rugged coastline.

Culinary travelers will love Dingle, too. You can stop by Murphy’s Ice Cream for a scoop (or two) of Sea Salt ice cream handmade in Dingle using salt from the seawater. Then, go to Dingle Whiskey Distillery to do an Irish whiskey tasting.

Best of all, you can also take a guided food tour to taste Dingle’s authentic pub fare, fresh seafood, and locally distilled gin in one food-filled afternoon!

Stay on Ireland’s Dingle Peninsula:

• Historic Boutique Hotel: Dingle Brenners Hotel
• Seaside Bed & Breakfast: Heaton’s Guesthouse
• Upscale Bed & Breakfast: Greenmount House

  Must-Have Ireland Scenery Picture: Cliffs of Moher

The most famous of Ireland’s sea cliffs, the Cliffs of Moher is one of the most visited attractions in Ireland and has been designated a UNESCO Global Geopark.

Also, the Cliffs of Moher was a filming location for The Princess Bride, Leap Year, and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, adding to the site’s popularity with visitors.

The cliffs are located at the southwestern edge of the Burren, a rocky district in County Clare of limestone hills, sea cliffs, and underground caves. Often, Cliffs of Moher bus tours from Dublin and Galway include other scenic stops in the Burren.

From the cliffs, you can take in breathtaking views of Galway Bay. Also, on a clear day, you can see out to the Aran Islands and to the Maumturks and Twelve Bens mountains in Connemara National Park.

Stay near the Cliffs of Moher in Doolin, Co. Clare, Ireland: 

• Charming Country House: Doolin Inn
• Upscale Vacation Rentals: The Lodges at Sea View House
• Luxury Cottages & Boutique Hotel: Fiddle + Bow Collection

A Capture of Picturesque Ireland at Dunguaire Castle

Dunguaire Castle is a 16th-century tower house located along Galway Bay. It is a popular stop on a day trip to the Cliffs of Moher from Galway.

Though originally built in 1520 by the O’Hynes clan, Dunguaire Castle was later restored in the 1920s and became a gathering place for Irish Literary RevivaIist playwrights and poets, including George Bernard Shaw and W. B. Yeats.

The castle is open seasonally for tours and for four-course dining in the medieval banquet.

Stay like royalty in these luxurious castle-like accommodations in County Galway, Ireland:

• Clifden Castle Hotel: Abbeyglen Castle Hotel
• Bushypark Luxury Estate: Glenlo Abbey Hotel & Estate
• Recess Riverfront Estate Hotel: Ballynahinch Castle Hotel

Cool Picture Spot in Ireland: Galway City’s Latin Quarter

Have you dreamed of listening to Irish folk music at a pub or played by buskers on the street? Then, add Galway to your Ireland trip itinerary!

In addition to listening to trad music and sipping a pint of Galway Hooker Irish Ale at spirited pubs, you can eat fresh seafood, shop for a Claddagh ring, and attend cultural celebrations and festivals at this harbor city in western Ireland.

At the center of Galway’s dining and cultural scenes is the lively Latin Quarter with pubs, restaurants, shops, and medieval landmarks like the famed Spanish Arch.

Stay in Galway, Ireland: 

• Upscale Boutique Hotel: The Twelve Hotel
• Charming Bed & Breakfast: Corrib House Tea Rooms & Guest Accommodations
• Luxury Spa Hotel: the g Hotel & Spa Galway

Conclusion

In this post, I shared 10 photos of Ireland from my personal Ireland photo gallery. I hope my prettiest pictures of Ireland have inspired you to travel there someday!

Want to learn more about Ireland? Or, are you currently planning a trip there? Then, check out these posts:

• Seven Traditional Irish Foods to Taste in Ireland
• Why Guinness Storehouse Should Be on Your Ireland Trip Itinerary
• What to Expect if You Travel to Dublin for a Traditional Irish Wedding

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