6 Best Small Towns to Visit in Ireland

If you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the big cities, there are dozens of small towns to visit in Ireland that each have their own unique history and things to do. This list doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface of everything there is to do in these towns.

Just to preface, I only included towns/villages I have personally been to so I could write from experience. There are many amazing towns I’ve heard about that are not included on this list, such as Kinsale and Tralee. Perhaps later I’ll add them once I finally visit!

Here are the best small towns to visit in Ireland (from my experience, and in no particular order):

Doolin

Ah, Doolin. There is a very special place in my heart for this little village on Ireland’s west coast.

First of all, Doolin is close to the Cliffs of Moher, which makes it an excellent place to stay the night before or after your excursion to one of the best sites in Ireland. You can also hike the 7-ish km cliff walk from Doolin to the cliffs in about 1.5 hours. (Or even to Hag’s Head—the end of the cliffs—if you’re up for the 13 km hike.)

Doolin was the first small Irish town I visited while on a study abroad trip in 2019. In the evening most of my classmates decided to relax after an exciting day at the cliffs, but I wanted to explore more. A few of us took a walk through the village down to the ocean.

The small road had quaint, colorful shops with thatched roofs where you can find Aran wool garments, such as sweaters and scarves. If you’re looking for souvenirs, wool products are a great option in this area! Speaking of Aran wool, the Aran Islands are only a short boat ride away from Doolin. More on one of the islands later in this post.

We were walking during golden hour, and as the sun set the golden light made the lush green grass glow. I’d never seen anything so stunning, and it brought me to tears. That is a moment I will never forget. Ireland does that to ya.

The view of the ocean along the road to the Doolin harbor. Photos will never do the golden glow justice.

We stopped at the pier where you could faintly see the outline of the cliffs in the distance. I sat and took in the view of the sun setting over the tiny, uninhabited Crab Island.

The view of Crab Island from the shore in Doolin.

If you’re looking for a cozy pub to grab a pint or two, I’d highly suggest visiting Gus O’Connor’s. The atmosphere is very homey, and they often have at least a couple people playing trad music. When we visited, there were two gentleman playing the accordion and flute. It was a perfect end to a perfect day.

The two gentlemen in Gus O’Connor’s as mentioned above.

We lucked out on sunny weather our first day in Doolin, because the next day was gloomy and rainy. However, it only added to the magic of the village.

We stayed in The Lodge Doolin, which was such an amazing little place. The lodge has private B&B rooms, but there are also apartment-style buildings with a communal living space and individual rooms that can be booked for up to 10 people. We stayed in the latter, and the living space and kitchen were incredibly cozy. Oh, did I mention the floors were heated?! I also had the BEST French toast there I’ve ever had in my life. To this day I have not had better French toast. My wee 19-year-old self could not recommend that place enough.

Visit Doolin!!!

Dingle

Dingle is a quaint fishing village on the Dingle Peninsula, and it has some of the best fish and chips around. I’m not a huge fish fan, but the fish from Harrington’s Family Restaurant was pretty darn good.

Delicious fish & chips at Harrington’s.

The waters surrounding the town were famously home to a Bottlenose dolphin named Fungie. Fungie was first seen in Dingle Bay in 1983, and since then he interacted with boaters up until his disappearance in October 2020. Some say he might have moved to other waters, but it is widely speculated that he unfortunately passed. A statue of Fungie was unveiled in early 2000 near the harbor to honor him as the Dingle Dolphin. He still stands strong and smiling there today, his memory preserved in bronze.

The statue of Fungie at the Dingle Harbor.

Moving on from the cute dolphin, Dingle is a great place to stop on your trek along the perimeter of the Dingle Peninsula, known as the Slea Head Loop.

Some picturesque locations along the loop include Sybil Head and Dunmore Head, both of which the latest Star Wars trilogy filmed at. I didn’t have a chance to visit, but Dunquin Pier is reportedly another stunning viewpoint which overlooks the Blasket Islands.

Sybil Head (left) and the Three Sisters in the distance.

There are many other things to do in the area, but be sure to stop in Dingle town for some lunch, a walk along the harbor, and to say hi to the Fungie statue.

Bray/Greystones

Bray is a cute little coastal town around 20 km south of Dublin. It’s easy to reach by the DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transit), which speeds along a portion of the eastern coastline.

Bray is Ireland’s longest established seaside town, and there are quite a few fun things to do there on a day trip.

If you’re up for a short hiking climb, visit the top of Bray Head. The view from the top is spectacular. You can take in the northern scene of the town below, look east towards the expansive blue waters of Irish Sea, or look west to observe the rolling Wicklow Mountains.

The view of Bray and the Wicklow Mountains from Bray Head.

To keep the hike going, you can walk the 8 km coastal trail from Bray to Greystones. The trail takes about 1.5 hours to complete, and the entire time you get to take in the sea and the geological beauty of the rocky cliffside. You can also spot quite a few cormorants relaxing and feasting on the rocks, if bird watching is your thing. Once you get to Greystones, you can grab a bite to eat before heading back to Dublin on the DART.

A dramatic scene along the coastal trail between Bray and Greystones.

If hiking isn’t your thing, grab some fish and chips and take a short stroll along the Bray Promenade. There are also a few beaches around where you can relax and swim if it’s not cold and/or rainy.

A walk along the promenade, featuring Bray Head in the background.

Bray is also close to Ireland’s largest national park, Wicklow Mountains National Park. If you want a true adventure, hop over to the park to explore some of its nine trails and nearly 50,000 acres.

There’s so much to do in this area, especially if you’re an outdoorsy person who loves to walk like me.

Howth

Sticking in the Dublin area, Howth is a village on Howth Peninsula less than 20 km northeast of Dublin’s city centre. Like Bray, Howth is easily accessible by the DART.

One of the most popular things to do in Howth is to walk the Bog of Frogs loop—a 12 km trail along the beautifully dramatic coast of the peninsula. There are a few different trails you can take so you don’t have to walk the full 12 km, and there is so much to see no matter which route you traverse. Still, expect to spend up to 4 hours here between walking and stopping to see sites.

The rocky coast of Howth along the trail.

Before embarking on your journey, I’d suggest stopping at Leo Burdock to grab some world famous fish and chips to fuel yourself up for the hike.

Delicious chips from Leo Burdock.

As you walk the trail, you get to take in rocky cliffsides that plunge into the Irish Sea, Bailey Lighthouse, Howth Lighthouse, and Dublin Bay (on a clear enough day you can see all the way to Bray Head!). There are a few other things to see and do on the inland paths as well.

The view of Bailey Lighthouse from Howth, featuring more of Dublin and the Wicklow Mountains in the background (you can even see Bray Head on the far left!)

Tramore

Tramore is a lovely little seaside down in County Waterford, which originated as a fishing village many years ago. It’s only 13 km away from Waterford City, which makes it an excellent place for a day trip if you’re staying over there.

I didn’t have much time in Tramore, but my favorite memory there was walking on the long stretch of sandy beach at night. While it was a little windy, the breeze and open water ahead felt so freeing. The area is also a great place to surf.

If you find yourself taking a stroll along the beach or the promenade, be sure to check out the amusement park nearby for some fun activities if you’re looking for something to do with friends or family.

There are also a few different walking routes to take either through the city or in nature, like the Doneraile Walk, which is a ~5 km loop along small cliffs on Tramore’s coastline. While the walk is fairly short and easy, the great views reportedly can take up a lot of time. You can find the trailhead a little south of town.

In addition, like most Irish cities, there are a few historical monuments to check out, such as The Metal Man. Of course, there are other attractions to enjoy like the Japanese Gardens.

Adare

Adare, located in County Limerick, is one of Ireland’s prettiest villages. The little town is best known for it’s array of thatched cottages, which are homes built with roofs made of materials such as straw, reeds, and tough grasses. The technique and time to create these is incredible, and the result is a cozy, aesthetically pleasing home. Adare is cottagecore at it’s finest.

After you’re done admiring the quaint beauty of the cottages, you can pay a visit to some of Adare’s historical sites like Desmond Castle, the Holy Trinity Abbey Church, or one of the old Friaries. You can also take a quiet stroll through Adare Town Park and wander along the 1 km river bank walk.

Each of these small towns has so much to offer in historical, architectural, entertaining, and unique ways. Again, this list doesn’t even scratch the surface of things to do, but I hope this provides inspiration and a starting point for smaller towns to visit on your trip to Ireland.

Want to learn about Irelands best big cities? Check out this post.