Ireland – A Land for All Seasons

Any day of the week, any month of the year, any season you choose, Ireland offers you an inviting, engaging and meaningful adventure that you won’t soon forget.

This island of 32 counties and four provinces has been a year-round destination forever.  It’s easy to get to, certainly from Boston’s Logan International Airport, but really, from anywhere in the United States.  Its well-honed hospitality industry excels at welcoming visitors from all across the world.

With so many festivals, cultural venues, heritage sites, delicious restaurants, exciting sports, outdoor wonders and natural beauty, it’s hard to know where to begin. That said, we’ve put together 32 cool ideas on what the island of Ireland has to offer in 2026.

Artisans

. Design your own tweed cap at Hanna Hats, Co. Donegal, a family business crafting Irish style for over a century.

. Craft your own Claddagh Ring in Dublin at Silverworks—a timeless Irish symbol of love, loyalty, and friendship.

. Take a tour at the Belleek Pottery Visitor Centre in Co. Fermanagh, showcasing Ireland’s oldest working fine China pottery operation.

. Stop off at Blarney Woollen Mills at Bunratty on your way to Shannon Airport for quality Irish brand clothing and gifts.

Castles and Lighthouses

. Enjoy whiskey tastings, carriage rides, and fine dining at Lough Eske Castle, Co. Donegal.

. Kilkenny Castle boasts a National Art Gallery, a tearoom, playground and hiking trails throughout the grounds.

. Loop Head Lighthouse is perched at the southern tip of West Clare, looking over to Co. Kerry and the Atlantic Ocean.

. Wicklow Head Lighthouse has six octagonal rooms that are rented out to visitors who appreciate nautical and natural landscapes.

Eat Well

. Belfast Taste & Tour Experience offers a tour of the city’s unique flavors, from whiskey, gin and craft beer to brunches, street vendors, quirky cafes and hidden-gem restaurants.

. Taste smoked salmon perfection at the Burren Smokehouse, Co. Clare, a family-run treasure of Ireland’s west coast.

. Located in Cork City, the English Market has the freshest local produce, plus cozy cafes, restaurants, bakeries and specialty shops.

. Try Falconry & Lunch at Adare Manor, Co. Limerick, where elegance meets adventure.

Explore Your Heritage

. Step into history at the Ulster American Folk Park, Co. Tyrone, and trace the journey of Ulster immigrants to America 250 years ago, where several of them were signatories of the Declaration of Independence.

. EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, Dublin, is an interactive journey through Ireland’s global story along with an Irish Family History Centre.

. The Cobh Heritage Center in Co. Cork tells “The Queenstown Story,” three centuries of Irish immigration, naval and maritime history.

. Visit a County Genealogy Centre anywhere in Ireland to get started on your family history.

Island Hopping

. Explore Ireland’s islands—from the Saltee Islands in Wexford to Valentia in Kerry and the Aran Islands in Galway—with private tours and instruction from Atlantic Powerboating.

. Cruise to Scattery Island, Co. Clare with Sionnan Luxury Cruises for sacred sites and island heritage.

. The Seabird Sanctuary on Rathlin Island, Co. Antrim is a joy for birdwatchers and island lovers.

. Take a sustainable coastal food tour with Atlantic Irish Seaweed around the islands of Derrynane Bay in Co. Kerry.

Music Lovers

. Tradfest, Ireland’s largest music gathering, turns 26 in 2026 in Dublin, where you’ll hear the finest traditional and folk musicians.

. Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, is the world’s biggest celebration of Irish music and culture, August 2–9, 2026 in Belfast.

. Listen to the Westport Festival of Chamber Music each September in Co. Mayo, featuring the finest chamber musicians from Ireland and the world.

. Tap your feet to the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival each October, featuring giants of the jazz world.

The Animal Kingdom

. Tour the Irish National Stud & Gardens, Co. Kildare, where legendary horses meet serene Japanese gardens.

. Walk with the Irish Wolfhounds tour in Westport, Co. Mayo and learn about these gentle giants of Irish mythology.

. Meet the gentle Mullaghderg Highlanders in Kincasslagh, Co. Donegal—friendly, photogenic Highland cows, with views of Errigal mountain.

. Try sheep herding with Glenshane County Farm, Co. Derry, guided by fourth- generation shepherd James McCloy.

Wellness

. Rejuvenate with a Voya Seaweed Bath, Co. Sligo, blending Atlantic wellness with wild coastal beauty.

. Sea dip, sauna, and plunge at The Sea Sauna, Portrane, Co. Dublin, a coastal wellness ritual with sea views.

.Unwind at Ballyness Resort in Co. Derry, surrounded by the stunning Benbradagh Mountains.

 . Get spiritual at the Glendalough Hermitage in Co. Wicklow, where people of all faiths seek spiritual renewal through retreat and pilgrimage.

For more adventure ideas, visit ireland.com