Where should you visit outside the Dublin City Centre?
When my mom visited me in August 2022, I tried to cram in as much as I could in the 4 days she was in Ireland. We spent a full day exploring the Dublin City Centre. The rest of the time, we went outside the city centre to get a taste of other parts of Ireland.
So here’s where to visit outside the Dublin City Centre.
Where to Visit Outside the Dublin City Centre
Visiting outside the Dublin City Centre took about 2 days since my mom was only spending 4 days in Ireland.
We ended up visiting Howth and doing a day-long tour to the Cliffs of Moher which included stops at a few villages on our route.
Howth
Howth is a seaside village about an hour outside of Dublin City Centre. Anytime I ask someone for recommendations for things to do in Dublin, Howth is always one of the first suggestions.
I believe most people go there for the Howth cliff walks but my mom and I didn’t get a chance to do that.
We started our mini-day trip walking down Howth pier and wandering around the shops. We got coffee and snacks at Beshoffs The Market. The market had a selection of snacks, pastries, and a coffee bar. On certain days, they also sell oysters at the counter. There’s even a restaurant attached to it if you prefer to sit down and enjoy a meal.
Afterwards, we walked along the other side of the pier to the lighthouse to take in the sights and lovely weather before going to King Sitric Seafood Bar for a light lunch of smoked salmon and soda bread.
All in all, it was a lovely, relaxing summer day wandering around with my mom.
Cliffs of Moher Day Tour
Ok, I know people have strong opinions about organised tours but honestly, they’re such a convenient way to see a lot in a short amount of time with very minimal effort!
My go-to organised tour company is Paddywagon Tours. I’ve used them twice now and both times have been great experiences.
This time, I chose the Cliffs of Moher Tour from Dublin.
We started the day at 8am and didn’t get back to Dublin til it was dark but we saw A LOT during the day.
Not only do you have several hours to explore the Cliffs of Moher but you also stop by a lot of small villages and landmarks for photo opportunities such as Bunratty Castle, Doolin, the Burren, Kinvara, and going along the Wild Atlantic Way.
Every stop was more picturesque than the last. We were also blessed with the most amazing weather. It was so incredibly sunny, warm, and the landscape was so vibrant and lush.
A bonus, which was NOT advertised, was stopping at the Barack Obama Plaza. It’s a “service station located at Junction 23 on the M7 Dublin to Limerick motorway.” I never would have expected it to be where it is for such a high profile name.
As the name suggests, it’s a service station. The ground floor is a food court and the first floor is a free museum dedicated to the 44th United States president. It was a strange experience being somewhere that was so American but knowing you’re actually in European country. Would I go back? 100%.
But I digress…
The star of the show was without a doubt the Cliffs of Moher.
You know those moments where you realise how insignificant you are compared to the rest of the world or universe? That’s how I felt there.
There’s no way to adequately describe them. To put it plainly, the cliffs are HUGE and everything else next to it is tiny.
I’ve lived in cities for most of my life and I’ve seen buildings taller than the Cliffs of Moher. However, one really tall building is nothing compared to 5 miles of tall cliffs and the endless ocean in the distance.
If you have the chance to do this tour or simply see the Cliffs of Moher, DO IT.
4 Days in Dublin: Where to Visit Outside the Dublin City Centre
This post is by no means a comprehensive list of all the amazing things to do in Dublin and Ireland. But if you’re looking for things to do on a quick trip, this is a great place to start!
Since my mom visited, I’ve had a couple more visits from home where we did slightly different things depending on the person’s tastes. It’s fun putting together guides for them that are specific to each person!
If you want more travel guides, let me know at sophiabalacingitall@gmail.com.