Ireland Features from National Geographic Traveler

Although I’m a writer for an internet travel guide company, I still have a fondness for paper-related guides as well. I love travel books, and I love travel magazines. In fact, the only magazine I’ve subscribed to for years now is National Geographic Traveler – but even if you don’t want to subscribe to the print magazine you can sign up for their regular emails and still get to enjoy some of the great features. The last email I got from them included a few Ireland articles that I thought I’d highlight here, in case you weren’t already on their email list!

Top Ten Ireland
This list of the top 10 places to visit in Ireland comes from the magazine’s Ireland guidebook, and includes places like Trinity College, Waterford town, Burren National Park, Dingle Peninsula, and Sligo town. Those travelers who prefer to get off the beaten path and stay away from tourist traps may balk at the inclusion of such places as the Guinness Brewery and Storehouse (even if it does come with a free sampling at the end of the tour) and the Blarney Castle. Your top 10 places to visit will undoubtedly be slightly different than this one (if not vastly different), but if you’re new to Ireland this is as good a starting place as any.

Dublin
The Dublin page is from the magazine’s regular “Places of a Lifetime” feature, which function essentially as mini-travel guides to cities all over the world. This one covers Dublin’s tourism highlights (including must-sees, entertainment options, festivals, and nightlife), a list of things to “know before you go,” and a really cool multimedia section that’s got Dublin photos and quizzes to test your Dublin knowledge as well as walking tours of the city you can take with you and do yourself. While this isn’t a replacement for a more comprehensive Dublin travel guide, it’s a good reference, and the multimedia section is fun to look at.

Ring of Kerry
This is another excerpt from the magazine’s Ireland guide, and covers the famous driving route on the Iveragh Peninsula. Instead of just an overview of what you’ll find in the region, however, this is a detailed driving tour that you can download and follow for a full day of driving through the gorgeous scenery. If you want to make a multi-day trip of it, add on a few DIY side-trips or just stay the night in a couple of the towns you come across along the way. Either way you choose to do it, it’s an unforgettable drive and a delight no matter what the weather is like!