When I moved to Ireland, I had two specific goals in mind.
I wanted to step inside Trinity College’s gorgeous library, and I also hoped to finally see the Cliffs of Moher, a place many “Harry Potter” fans recognize as Voldemort’s Horcrux cave in “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.”
Once I arrived in 2022, though, Ireland surprised me. It was far more beautiful than I expected, and I wanted to explore more of the country than I’d originally planned.
Like many international students, I didn’t have a car, so I relied entirely on trains and buses to get around. Over the course of a year, I traveled across Ireland that way and found four places that were genuinely worth it and two that didn’t live up to the hype.
Howth was one of my favorite day trips from Dublin.
Just a 6-euro, half-hour train ride from Dublin’s city center, Howth feels like a completely different version of the city.
It’s a small fishing village on Dublin’s northeast coast, and the harbor’s eateries serve some of the best fish and chips I had in Ireland.
The real highlight, though, is the iconic Howth Cliff Walk. There are multiple routes to choose from; I mostly followed the Cliff Path Loop, which is relatively easy, can be done in two hours, and delivers incredible views of the Irish Sea.
Bog of Frogs Loop is also a great choice for a more challenging route.
Glendalough has some of the best scenery in the Wicklow Mountains.
I first saw Glendalough in a romantic scene in my favorite rom-com, “Leap Year.” I’d wanted to visit ever since watching.
An hour by bus from Dublin, Glendalough valley is a budget-friendly way to experience the Irish countryside, with round-trip tickets costing around 23 euros.
The valley is built around two glacial lakes and the ruins of a 6th-century monastic settlement, giving it a quiet, historic feel.
My favorite part is the Spinc trail, one of Glendalough’s best-known hikes with stunning views of the valley. It’s a bit challenging and time-consuming to complete, but once you see the landscape from above, it feels completely worth it.
Kinsale is where I fell in love with Ireland’s small-town charm.
Kinsale is a colorful harbor town near the city of Cork. There’s no direct bus from Dublin, but I got there by taking a 14 euro bus to Cork, and then a short local bus to Kinsale for 7 euros.
This town is known as the food capital of Ireland, and it lives up to the reputation if you love seafood. What I loved just as much, though, was Kinsale’s art scene.
It’s dotted with small galleries, and as someone who enjoys museums and creative spaces, I could easily spend hours wandering in and out of them.
If you have time, Old Head of Kinsale, just south of town, is worth the short trip for its sweeping cliffs along the Wild Atlantic Way. My visit there is still one of my favorite memories from my time in Ireland.
Dalkey offers a quieter, more scenic side of Dublin.
Dalkey is a big reason that South Dublin is my favorite part of the city.
It’s a small seaside town that’s easy to reach by train, with round-trip tickets starting around 5 euros. The town is compact and walkable, with several small parks scattered throughout.
Dalkey has strong links to Ireland’s most famous writers and is often associated with James Joyce’s “Ulysses,” which you can learn more about at Dalkey Castle.
That said, when I visited, I spent most of my time on Vico Road, which runs along the coast to Killiney Beach. If you enjoy swimming, the Vico Baths area is one of the best summer spots in Dublin.
Blarney Gardens are impressive, but the castle feels less engaging to explore.
Blarney Castle and Gardens in Cork are genuinely beautiful, especially the gardens, which were some of the prettiest I saw in Ireland. I found exploring the castle a little underwhelming, though.
Much of the visit revolved around lining up to kiss the Blarney Stone, and the roughly half-hour wait didn’t feel worth it. Even with my discounted 18-euro student entry fee, the experience didn’t feel especially memorable.
My experience at the Cliffs of Moher felt a bit rushed.
The Cliffs of Moher are undeniably dramatic, and seeing them in person, especially the Horcrux cave, made me glad I finally got to tick them off my list.
After locals warned me about the heavy summer crowds, I went in April, hoping for a quieter experience. Even then, though, the viewpoints were busy, and my visit felt rushed.
Reaching the cliffs without a car meant a 4½ -hour journey each way and about 36 euros in transport costs. Compared to the quieter cliff walks I found elsewhere in Ireland, it didn’t feel like the best use of time or money on a budget.
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