Ireland’s Best Instagram Locations
I love to travel, but sometimes what you are looking for is right on your doorstep! Ireland has many stunning beaches, extraordinary landscapes and world class attractions. Check out 20 of Ireland’s best Instagram locations, just in case you need a little reminder of how beautiful our homeland is.
1. Glenadalough, Co Wicklow
As a Dublin native, Glendalough is a place I have visited on many occasions. Just a short drive from the capital, yet worlds apart, this stunning part of Wicklow is home to Ireland’s oldest monastic site, as well as some of Ireland’s best Instagram locations. There are walking trails suitable for all fitness levels, as well as a monastic site that was founded in the 6th Century. This medieval city survived many attacks from the Vikings and is now one of the top attractions on Ireland’s Ancient East.
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2. Giants Causeway, Co. Antrim
One of Ireland’s three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Giants Causeway is probably our most famous. This small, yet fascinating site, consists of 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic eruption. Located in Antrim in Northern Ireland, it is perfectly situated to enjoy a weekend on the Causeway Coast. You can read all about my stay on the Causeway Coast here.
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3. Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, Co. Antrim
Another one of Northern Ireland’s famous attractions, I loved visiting the Carrick-a-Rede Rope bridge. However it is not for the faint hearted, as it is suspended 100 ft above sea level! The Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge was raised annually for 250 years to allow fishermen access their nets, but it now stays up all year round. The photos from the bridge and the surrounding area are superb. Located just a short drive from the Giants Causeway, it is a great idea to combine two of Ireland’s best instagram locations in one trip!
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4. Cliffs of Moher, Co. Clare
Rugged cliffs with breathtaking views best describes Ireland’s top tourist attraction. Located in Co. Clare, the remarkable Cliffs of Moher stretch for almost 14km of coastline. Enjoy the cliff walk and then pop into one of Doolin’s traditional Irish pubs afterwards!
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5. Killarney National Park, Co. Kerry
There are so many attractions within the Killarney National Park that it is difficult to choose just one to include in this list of Ireland’s best instagram locations. Torc Waterfall, Muckross House and the stunning Killarney Lakes are all impressive in their own right, but it is the typical Irish jaunting carts that are visible throughout Killarney National Park, that caught my eye. Read about my family holiday in Killarney here.
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6. Temple Bar, Dublin
For Irish natives, this will not be considered one of Ireland’s best instagram hotspots, but for tourists it certainly is. With crowded pubs playing Irish folk music, quirky boutiques selling local crafts and cobbled stone pedestrian streets – Temple Bar the picture postcard Dublin scene.
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7. The Dark Hedges, Co. Antrim
For Game of Thrones fans, a trip to the The Dark Hedges in Antrim is a must. The beech trees were planted in the 18th century as the impressive entrance to the Stuart’s family house. 200 years later Bregagh Road is one of the most photographed roads in Northern Ireland. The Dark Hedges is moody and magnificent, but try to go in the morning or evening to avoid the crowds and to get the best light.
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8. Cobh, Co Cork
Famous for being the Titanic’s last port of call and for the Titanic Experience, Cobh is a popular spot with tourists. Fota Wildlife Park is also close by, as is Spike Island, but it is the colourful buildings in the town centre that make it one of Ireland’s best instagram locations.
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9. Dun Chaoin Pier – Slea Head Drive, Co. Kerry
The Slea Head Drive in Kerry offers endless photo opportunities but Dun Chaoin Pier has to be one of Ireland’s best Instagram images. Located on the most westerly tip of the Dingle Peninsula, you can see the Blasket Islands just three miles off shore. It’s stunning location lends itself to amazing sunsets, if you happen to be there on a clear day. Make sure you pop into the lively town of Dingle after your visit and catch a traditional Irish music session in one of the local pubs.
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10. Gap of Dunloe, Co. Kerry
The Gap of Dunloe is a narrow mountain pass in Kerry that offers stunning scenery synonymous with the Irish Landscape. Expect to see mountains awash with herds of sheep, five different lakes, old stone bridges and country cottages. You can hire a jaunting cart to travel through the 11km pass and take the boat back to Killarney. It is quintessential Ireland at it’s best.
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11. Dun Briste, Down Patrick Head, Co. Mayo
Ireland’s most famous sea stack – ‘Dún Briste’ was once joined to the mainland. The name is Gaelic for Broken Fort, and it is 150 feet tall. It is easily reached by car and the car park is only a ten minute walk to the cliffs, where you will get amazing photos. Don’t miss the blow hole in the same location, and the EIRE 64 sign that was carved into the ground during World War 2. This was there to show American planes overhead that they were passing a neutral country. Not only is Down Patrick Head one of Ireland’s best Instagram locations, it is also one of its most interesting.
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12. Lough Tay, Co Wicklow
Another gem in Co.Wicklow, Lough Tay is easily accesible from Dublin, if you fancy a hike or even a scenic drive. The Guinness family estate runs through the area and the white sand at the top of the lake is said to resemble a pint of guinness! The views from Military Road are spectacular, especially if you get a fine day.
13. Ha’penny bridge, Dublin
Located in the heart of Dublin’s city centre, the famous Ha’Penny Bridge is one of the earliest cast-iron structures of its kind. It connects the north side of the city to the south side and it is next to Temple Bar, one of Dublin’s top night spots.
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14. Skellig Michael, Co. Kerry
One of Ireland’s oldest sites is now one of our top tourist attractions. It is one of only three UNESCO world heritage sites in Ireland and is one of the famous locations in Star Wars, The Last Jedi. However it is not the easiest place to get to, visitor numbers are restricted and the boats only visit the island if there are calm seas. You need to pre-book your experience by phoning one of the local boatmen. Don’t panic if you are unable to step on to Skellig Michael, Portmagee or Valentia Island offer superb views of the islands and are instagrammable hotspots too.
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15. Cuilcagh Boardwalk – Stairway to Heaven Walk, Co. Fermanagh
Cuilcagh is a mountain between Fermanagh and Cavan and is home to the famous ‘Stairway to Heaven’ walk. You need to walk for 4km before you reach the boardwalk and the final ascent is via steep steps, so it is not for the faint hearted. However once you reach the viewing platform, you will be rewarded with breath-taking views of the surrounding landscape. This is surely one of Ireland’s best instagram locations.
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16. Glaslough village, Co. Monaghan
This small Irish village is well known for being the home town to the luxurious Castle Leslie Estate in Monaghan. Although surrounded by beautiful lakes and woodlands, it is the stone cottages with colourful flowers that make it one of Ireland’s prettiest villages. Read all about how I was captivated by Castle Leslie and Glaslough village here.
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17. Doolin, Co. Clare
Famous for it’s traditional Irish music, or ‘trad sessions’ as the locals call it, Doolin is also a pretty colourful town and shouldn’t be missed if travelling along the Wild Atlantic Way. The fact that is just happens to be 10 minutes from the Cliffs of Moher is another bonus!
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18. Keem Beach, Achill, Co. Mayo
Regarded as one of Ireland’s best beaches – Keem beach took my breath away when I visited. It is located at the very end of the Achill Island, Ireland’s largest island and is easily reached by car. My advice would be to go early and get a parking spot right beside the beach. Make sure you climb up the mountain behind the beach for the most incredible views and the famous Instagram shot.
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19. The Long Room in Trinity College, Dublin
One of the top things to do in Dublin is visit Trinity College. And one of the few regrets I have in life, (I have very few), is that I wish I went to college there! The main chamber of the Old Library of Trinity College is called the Long Room. It is 65 metres in length and filled with 200,000 of the Library’s oldest books. It is one of the most impressive libraries in the world and certainly deserves it’s place on Ireland’s best instagram locations list.
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20. Titanic Museum, Co. Antrim
Not only is this one of the world’s leading tourist attractions, but the Titanic Museum looks great on the gram! This modern building, designed by Eric Kuhne, has been designed to look like a ship, with sharp edges and a striking structure that stands out against the Belfast’s docks.
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21. Donegal Airport
Voted the most scenic airport in the world for the second year in a row, this is an incredible feat when you think that it fought off competition from St Maarten, Nice and Mahe. The combination of the rugged coastline, sandy beaches and majestic mountains helped it win the coveted prize. However just two routes operate from Donegal, so perhaps it is best to combine a visit with a stay in Dublin – check out Stobart Air for flights.
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22. The Guinness Store House
No visit to Dublin would be complete without a visit to its number 1 attraction, the Guinness Store House. Enjoy seven floors of interactive experiences, before you are rewarded with a pint of the black stuff in their world-famous roof top Gravity Bar. With panoramic views of the Dublin skyline, is there a better way to toast Ireland than this?
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23. Coumshingaun Lake, Waterford
The viewing point for Coumshingaun Lake is without a doubt one of Ireland’s best instagram locations. There is aLoop Walk (7.5 km) walking route around the lake and the surrounding mountains in County Waterford – see more here.
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I hope you have enjoyed my list of Ireland’s best Instagram locations but perhaps I have missed some? If you have any suggestions I would love to hear them, just comment below.
Like holidays in Ireland? See more here.
Sarah
