Attractions in Wild Atlantic Way South (Cork, Kerry, Ring of Kerry)
Epic drives, magical castles, and the kingdom of green 👑🐬
Showing 73 attractions · Sorted by importance
Barleycove Beach
📍 Goleen
⛱ BeachA beautiful West Cork beach famous for its extensive sand dune system and iconic floating pontoon bridge.
Blarney Castle & Gardens
📍 Blarney
🏰 CastleExplore a world-famous medieval fortress where families can kiss the Blarney Stone and wander through magical themed gardens.
Charles Fort
📍 Kinsale
🏰 CastleExplore one of Europe's best-preserved 17th-century star forts with vast grassy ramparts and stunning views over the ocean.
Coumeenoole Beach
📍 Dunquin
⛱ BeachA dramatic and visually stunning cove located at the tip of the Dingle Peninsula with views of the Blasket Islands.
Fota Wildlife Park
📍 Carrigtwohill
🐄 FarmAn expansive 100-acre park featuring free-roaming animals like lemurs and wallabies, providing an immersive wildlife experience for families.
Gap of Dunloe
📍 Killarney
🥾 Hiking & Cycling11km easy to moderate 3-4 hour walk or 1-hour cycle through a glaciated valley with 250m elevation gain. Features five lakes and high cliffs. Bike rental: O'Sullivan's Cycles (osullivanscycles.com).
Ilnacullin (Garnish Island)
📍 Glengarriff
🌿 GardenA unique island garden in Bantry Bay renowned for its Italianate architecture and a rare collection of exotic sub-tropical plants.
Inch Beach
📍 Annascaul
⛱ BeachA famous four-mile sandy spit on the Dingle Peninsula offering excellent surfing and dramatic mountain views.
Inchydoney Beach
📍 Clonakilty
⛱ BeachAn award-winning family beach featuring vast sandy expanses and excellent conditions for learning to surf.
Killarney National Park
📍 Killarney
🌲 NatureIreland's first national park features the stunning Lakes of Killarney, mountain peaks, and the historic Muckross House and Gardens.
Kinsale Historic Town
📍 Kinsale
🏘 Town / VillageA vibrant and colorful historic harbor town celebrated for its winding medieval streets, artisan shops, and world-class culinary scene.
Muckross House, Gardens & Traditional Farms
📍 Killarney
🏰 CastleVisit this grand Victorian mansion for a glimpse into 19th-century life, featuring horse-drawn jaunting cars and traditional working farms.
Ring of Kerry
📍 Killarney
🚗 Road Trip179km paved circular route (6-8 hours) encircling the Iveragh Peninsula. Highlights include Killarney National Park, the lakes of Killarney, Moll's Gap, Ladies View, and the coastal towns of Kenmare and Sneem.
Skellig Michael
📍 Portmagee
🏰 CastleJourney to a remote UNESCO island featuring ancient monastic beehive huts and dramatic cliffs, famous as a Star Wars filming location.
Spike Island
📍 Cobh
🏛 LandmarkAn award-winning island fortress and former prison known as 'Ireland's Alcatraz,' accessible by a scenic ferry ride.
The Beara Way
📍 Glengarriff
🥾 Hiking & Cycling206km moderate to challenging 9-11 day hike around the Beara Peninsula with 5,200m elevation gain. Features rugged mountain terrain and spectacular views of Bantry Bay. Bike rental: Nigels Bicycle Shop (nigelsbikeshop.com).
The Dingle Way
📍 Tralee
🥾 Hiking & Cycling179km moderate 8-9 day hike loop from Tralee around the Dingle Peninsula with 2,900m elevation gain. Includes coastal cliffs, beaches, and mountain passes. Equipment rental: The Mountain Man (themountainman.ie).
The English Market
📍 Cork City
🏛 LandmarkAn iconic 18th-century covered food market with ornate architecture, famous for its local delicacies and vibrant atmosphere.
The Kerry Way
📍 Killarney
🥾 Hiking & Cycling214km challenging 9-12 day hike loop starting in Killarney, with 5,400m total elevation gain. This trail explores the Iveragh Peninsula's rugged interior and coastal paths. Gear rental: Wild Side Sports (wildsidesports.ie).
Torc Waterfall
📍 Killarney
🏔 Scenic ViewA stunning 20-meter high waterfall nestled at the base of Torc Mountain within Killarney National Park.
Aqua Dome
📍 Tralee
🌊 Water ParkOne of Ireland's largest indoor water parks, featuring a massive wave pool, high-speed slides, and a relaxing lazy river perfect for families.
Ballyhass Adventure Park
📍 Mallow
🧗 AdventureIreland's premier outdoor activity center featuring a massive inflatable aqua park, wakeboarding, and high-ropes courses on spring-fed lakes.
Carrauntoohil via Devil's Ladder
📍 Beaufort
🥾 Hiking & Cycling12km challenging 6-hour hike to Ireland's highest peak starting from Cronin's Yard with 950m elevation gain. Requires good fitness and navigation skills. Mountain guides available via Kerry Climbing (kerryclimbing.ie).
Derrynane Beach
📍 Caherdaniel
⛱ BeachA pristine white-sand beach set within a national historic park known for its sheltered swimming and clear water.
Fota House, Arboretum & Gardens
📍 Fota Island
🌿 GardenFeatures one of the finest collections of rare and exotic trees in Europe and a meticulously restored Victorian walled garden.
Mizen Head Signal Station
📍 Goleen
🔬 ScienceA maritime discovery centre located at Ireland's most southwesterly point, featuring exhibits on lighthouse history and transatlantic communications.
Muckross Traditional Farms
📍 Killarney
🐄 FarmA heritage site within Killarney National Park showcasing authentic 1930s-style working farms, traditional cottages, and historical farming equipment.
Ring of Kerry Cycle Route
📍 Killarney
🥾 Hiking & Cycling175km challenging 1-3 day cycling route following the Iveragh Peninsula coastline with 2,500m elevation gain. Bike rental: O'Sullivan's Cycles (osullivanscycles.com) or Killarney Rent A Bike (killarneyrentabike.com).
Slea Head Drive
📍 Dingle
🚗 Road Trip47km paved circular route (3-4 hours) around the western tip of the Dingle Peninsula. Highlights include dramatic cliff views of the Blasket Islands, prehistoric Beehive Huts, Dunmore Head, and the iconic Dunquin Pier.
Banna Strand
📍 Ardfert
⛱ BeachA long, historical sandy beach popular for family recreation and its significance in Irish revolutionary history.
Bantry House and Garden
📍 Bantry
🏰 CastleTour a magnificent stately home and its world-class Italianate gardens with breathtaking views of the rugged Bantry Bay coastline.
Cobh Heritage Town
📍 Cobh
🏘 Town / VillageA picturesque seaside town famous as the Titanic's last port of call, featuring iconic colorful Victorian houses and the towering St. Colman's Cathedral.
Conor Pass
📍 Dingle
🏔 Scenic ViewThe highest mountain pass in Ireland, providing breathtaking panoramic views of the Dingle Peninsula and its glacial lakes.
Derreen Garden
📍 Lauragh
🌿 GardenA lush, 60-acre sub-tropical woodland garden famous for its towering tree ferns and peaceful coastal walks along the Kilmakilloge Harbour.
Dingle Town (An Daingean)
📍 Dingle
🏘 Town / VillageA lively cultural hub and Gaeltacht town known for its traditional Irish music, bright harbor-side pubs, and deep-rooted maritime heritage.
Gallarus Oratory
📍 Dingle
🏰 CastleMarvel at this unique early Christian church built entirely of dry stone that has remained waterproof for over a thousand years.
Guinness Cork Jazz Festival
📍 Cork City
🎭 EventLate October, 5-day music festival, over 100,000 annual visitors. One of Europe's most prestigious jazz events featuring 500+ international artists across 90+ venues. Family-friendly daytime street parades, brass band performances, and music workshops occur throughout the city center.
Ladies View
📍 Killarney
🏔 Scenic ViewA world-renowned scenic stopping point offering the best panoramic vista of the three Lakes of Killarney.
Mount Brandon (Cosán na Naomh)
📍 Cloghane
🥾 Hiking & Cycling9km challenging 4-5 hour hike on the Dingle Peninsula with 950m elevation gain. A famous pilgrimage route offering panoramic views of the coast. Trail starts at Baile Breac or Cloghane.
Rose of Tralee International Festival
📍 Tralee
🎭 EventAugust, 5-day cultural celebration, attracts over 100,000 visitors. A world-famous event involving the global Irish diaspora from over 100 countries. Highly family-oriented featuring a large street carnival, floral parades with floats, live outdoor concerts, and a nightly fireworks display.
Ross Castle
📍 Killarney
🏰 CastleDiscover a restored lakeside tower house that offers boat trips and fascinating stories of Irish chieftains and medieval sieges.
Siamsa Tíre
📍 Tralee
🖼 Art GalleryHome to Ireland's National Folk Theatre, this cultural hub features a dedicated gallery showcasing rotating exhibitions of modern Irish art.
St. Fin Barre's Cathedral
📍 Cork City
🏛 LandmarkA stunning masterpiece of French Gothic architecture featuring intricate stone carvings and impressive triple spires.
The Glucksman
📍 Cork City
🖼 Art GalleryAn award-winning contemporary art museum on the UCC campus offering interactive family workshops and innovative exhibitions.
Collins's Seaweed Baths
📍 Ballybunion
♨ Hot SpringEstablished in 1932, this historic standalone bathhouse is a landmark of Irish coastal culture. It features traditional private rooms with Victorian-style cast-iron tubs filled with heated, nutrient-rich Atlantic seawater and hand-harvested 'serrated wrack' seaweed, known for its high iodine and mineral content.
Dingle Sheepdogs
📍 Ventry
🐄 FarmLocated on the scenic Slea Head Drive, this farm offers visitors interactive sheepdog trials and the chance to bottle-feed lambs in a coastal setting.
Eclipse Ireland Adventure & Activity Centre
📍 Kenmare
🧗 AdventureAn expansive outdoor center offering horse riding, mud runs, archery, and orienteering in the heart of the Kerry countryside.
Kells Bay House & Gardens
📍 Kells
🌿 GardenKnown as 'Ireland's Skywalk', this primeval sub-tropical garden features Ireland's longest rope bridge and an extraordinary collection of southern hemisphere ferns.
Kissane Sheep Farm
📍 Kenmare
🐄 FarmA traditional working mountain sheep farm offering highly acclaimed sheepdog demonstrations and insight into generational Irish hill farming.
Ring of Beara
📍 Kenmare
🚗 Road Trip148km paved route (1 day) circumnavigating the Beara Peninsula between Kenmare Bay and Bantry Bay. Key stops include the Healy Pass, Dursey Island Cable Car, Allihies copper mines, and Garnish Island gardens.
Star Outdoors Adventure Centre
📍 Kenmare
🧗 AdventureA waterfront adventure hub on the Ring of Kerry offering water trampolines, kayaking, archery, and scenic cruise tours.
The Donkey Sanctuary
📍 Mallow
🦁 ZooA world-renowned rescue center home to hundreds of donkeys, providing peaceful walking trails through the scenic North Cork countryside.
The Sheep's Head Way
📍 Bantry
🥾 Hiking & Cycling93km moderate 4-6 day hike around the narrow Sheep's Head Peninsula with 2,200m elevation gain. Famous for its wild coastal scenery and diverse flora. Trail maps available at the Bantry Tourist Office.
The Skellig Experience Centre
📍 Valentia Island
🔬 ScienceA discovery centre that uses film and exhibits to detail the history, archaeology, and wildlife of the UNESCO Skellig Michael site.
Trabolgan Subtropical Wave Pool
📍 Midleton
🌊 Water ParkA climate-controlled indoor aquatic complex with water slides and splash features within a popular coastal holiday village, following a multi-million euro refurbishment completed in 2025.
West Cork Model Railway Village
📍 Clonakilty
🎢 Theme ParkA charming miniature theme park featuring hand-crafted 1:24 scale replicas of historic West Cork towns and a fully operational model railway system.
Derrynane House
📍 Caherdaniel
🏰 CastleDiscover the historic seaside home of Daniel O'Connell, featuring a museum and scenic trails through a beautiful coastal park.
Glengarriff Nature Reserve
📍 Glengarriff
🌲 NatureA lush woodland reserve featuring some of the best-preserved ancient oak forests in Ireland and scenic river walks.
Gougane Barra Forest Park
📍 Macroom
🏔 Scenic ViewA peaceful valley at the source of the River Lee featuring a picturesque lakeside oratory and forest trails.
Carnegie Arts Centre
📍 Kenmare
🖼 Art GalleryA historic library building on the Ring of Kerry that houses a vibrant gallery featuring local and national fine art exhibitions.
Cill Rialaig Arts Centre
📍 Ballinskelligs
🖼 Art GalleryA unique art gallery located on the Ring of Kerry showcasing works from international artists in a beautifully restored rural setting.
Clonakilty Park Adventure Centre
📍 Clonakilty
🧗 AdventureAn aerial adventure park featuring a two-level high ropes course, a 100-meter zip line, and a power fan jump for thrill-seekers.
Kennedy's Pet Farm
📍 Killarney
🐄 FarmA family farm attraction near Killarney featuring a wide variety of tame animals in a free-roaming setting, with outdoor play areas for children.
Lifetime Lab at Old Cork Waterworks
📍 Cork
🔬 ScienceAn interactive science and education centre situated in a restored Victorian waterworks, focusing on sustainability and industrial history.
Mizen Head Drive
📍 Ballydehob
🚗 Road Trip60km paved route (3 hours) exploring the southernmost tip of mainland Ireland. Key highlights include the Mizen Head Signal Station, a high suspension bridge over the Atlantic, Barleycove Beach, and Fastnet Rock lighthouse views.
Sandy Feet Farm
📍 Camp
🐄 FarmA family-run petting farm on the Dingle Peninsula featuring rare breeds, a sensory garden, and tractor-trailer rides for children.
Sea Synergy Marine Awareness Centre
📍 Waterville
🐠 AquariumThis interactive marine discovery center provides hands-on touch tanks and educational exhibits focusing on the diverse marine life of the Ring of Kerry.
Sheep's Head Drive
📍 Bantry
🚗 Road Trip70km paved circular route (3 hours) around Ireland's narrowest peninsula. Known for its 'unspoilt' wild scenery, highlights include the Seefin ridge viewpoint, Kilcrohane village, and the walk to the Sheep's Head lighthouse.
Smugglers Cove Adventure Centre
📍 Rosscarbery
🧗 AdventureA family-favorite park famous for its giant wooden maze, outdoor tubing slides, and adventure mini-golf overlooking the coast.
The Farm Grenagh
📍 Grenagh
🐄 FarmA traditional working farm and 1950s heritage village with vintage tractors, machinery, and interactive animal activities for families.