Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Northern Europe · IRL
Editorial Snapshot
Why Go To Ireland
Ireland works best for travelers who want a manageable road-trip country with green coastal scenery, a straightforward capital, and enough historic depth to keep the trip from being only about landscapes. First visits usually land better as Dublin plus one or two western or southwestern loops, rather than trying to circle the whole country in a few days.
Popular For
Things To See
- Dublin
- Cliffs of Moher
- Sceilg Mhichíl
- Brú na Bóinne - Archaeological Ensemble of the Bend of the Boyne
- Blarney Stone
- Royal sites of Ireland
Best Months
Know Before You Go
- June through September is the easiest broad window in the current brief.
- Ireland is stronger as Dublin plus one or two regional loops than as a rushed full-island circuit.
- The biggest payoff comes from combining coastal scenery with a few heavyweight historic stops rather than treating the country as one long drive.
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Flights
Hotels & Accommodations
Compare stays across major booking options
Open hotel and accommodation options for Ireland.
Guidebooks
Rick Steves Ireland
Rick Steves
Comprehensive guide to Ireland's landmarks, culture, and travel tips from an acclaimed travel writer.
View on Amazon →
Lonely Planet Ireland
Lonely Planet
Essential travel guide covering Irish attractions, local experiences, and practical travel information.
View on Amazon →
DK Eyewitness Ireland
DK Eyewitness
Visually stunning guide with detailed maps, illustrations, and insider tips for exploring Ireland.
View on Amazon →Tours & Activities
Country Data
Stats At A Glance
Practical travel, safety, climate, and quality-of-life stats for Ireland.
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Dublin
- Population
- 5,458,600
- Area
- 70,273 km²
- Region
- Northern Europe
Languages
- English
- Irish
Currency
euro (€)
EUR
1 USD = 0.85 EUR
Cost of Living (World Bank)
80.2
Price level index (US = 100)
- Groceries
- 68.8
- Restaurants
- 76.6
- Rent
- 43.8
Safety & Peace
higher score = safer everyday environment · derived from World Bank homicide data
Monthly Climate Averages
These weather averages are based on data for Dublin (53.32°N, 6.23°W).
LGBTQ+ Friendly
90/100
Traveler LGBTQ score
- Legal protections
- 100/100
- Lived safety
- 70/100
This traveler-facing score is lower than the legal protections score because lived-safety context is weaker, based on broader traveler safety and development conditions.
This score blends legal protections with lived-safety context so strong laws alone do not automatically push a country to the top of the ranking.
- Homosexuality legal✅
- Relationship recognitionMarriage
- Adoption recognition✅
- Anti-discrimination laws✅
- Employment protections✅
- Legal gender recognition✅
- Conversion therapy ban✅
Human Development Index (UNDP)
0.949
Very high human development
- 5-year change
- +0.005
- 10-year change
- +0.034
- Trend
- stable
- Data year
- 2023
- Gender Dev. Index (GDI)
- 1.001
- Gender Inequality Index (GII)
- 0.054
- Planetary-adjusted HDI (PHDI)
- 0.752
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (2)
- 🏛️
Sceilg Mhichíl
Inscribed 1996
- 🏛️
Brú na Bóinne - Archaeological Ensemble of the Bend of the Boyne
Inscribed 1993
Natural Beauty (World Bank)
- Protected land area
- 14.4%
- Forest cover
- 11.5%
Source: World Bank.
Wildlife & Birdwatching
- Threatened mammal species (IUCN)
- 4
- Threatened bird species (IUCN)
- 9
Source: World Bank / IUCN Red List. Higher counts indicate richer biodiversity, typically in tropical rainforest, island, and savannah ecosystems.
Food & Cuisine
63/100
Food and dining score
Built from two layers: dining-scene breadth and open prestige signals. We combine restaurant density, cuisine diversity, distinguished restaurants, and gastronomy-city recognitions from open data sources.
Luxury Infrastructure
88/100
Luxury & premium accommodation score
Based on OpenStreetMap luxury hotel density and World Bank international tourism receipts.
US Travel Advisory
Exercise normal precautions in Ireland. Advisory Summary Ireland is generally a safe destination for travelers. Petty crime is common, especially in popular tourist locations. Stay aware of your surroundings. Most crimes against foreigners are crimes of opportunity, like purse snatching and pickpocketing. Large-scale demonstrations related to the local political situation may occur with little notice. Demonstrations may disrupt transportation and other essential services. If you decide to travel to Ireland: Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to get important updates and alerts from the U.S. embassy or consulate. Enrolling helps the U.S. embassy or consulate contact you or your emergency contact in an emergency. Review the Country Security Report for Ireland. Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website for the latest Travel Health Information for Ireland. Whether you are a first time or frequent traveler, use the International Travel Checklist. We highly recommend that you buy travel insurance before you travel. Check with your travel insurance provider about evacuation assistance, medical insurance, and trip cancelation coverage.
Read full advisory →Data current as of May 2026 and subject to change. Travel advisory information is sourced from the U.S. State Department and reflects conditions at the time of data collection, not real-time conditions. Do not rely solely on this information for travel decisions. Always check current government advisories for your nationality. Terms of Use · About our data