Ireland’s coast is dotted with harbour towns, and the hard part is choosing where to go. This list covers ten of the prettiest, ranked by our team on four things: a real harbour, a walkable centre, good food and a view worth stopping for. Each entry has the practical details you need to plan a visit, plus a link to the official source.
These are our picks, so you are welcome to disagree. Opening times and prices change, so check the linked page before you travel.
| Town | County | Why go | Key fact |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Kinsale | Cork | Harbour, Charles Fort and a famous food scene | Charles Fort, 3km, €5 |
| 2. Dingle | Kerry | Fishing harbour, live music and the start of Slea Head | Slea Head Drive, about 48km |
| 3. Cobh | Cork | Titanic’s last port of call and emigration history | Titanic Experience, adult €13 |
| 4. Westport | Mayo | Georgian streets, Clew Bay and the Greenway | Greenway to Newport, 12km |
| 5. Kenmare | Kerry | Good food, a stone circle and two peninsulas | Stone circle, 15 boulders |
| 6. Howth | Dublin | DART to a harbour and a cliff walk | Cliff Path Loop, 7.8km, 2 hrs |
| 7. Clifden | Galway | Connemara capital with the Sky Road | Sky Road loop, about 16km |
| 8. Doolin | Clare | Trad music and boats to the Aran Islands | Ferry to Inis Oírr, 15 min |
| 9. Carlingford | Louth | Medieval lanes, a castle and oysters | Castle tours, May to October |
| 10. Ardmore | Waterford | Early Christian site and a cliff walk | Round tower 29m, cliff walk free |
1. Kinsale, County Cork
Narrow lanes, flower baskets, bright shopfronts and a harbour full of yachts: Kinsale is the town people picture when they say “pretty Irish port”. Walk the quays, then head out to the star-shaped Charles Fort on the headland. Kinsale is known as a food town, and its restaurants are the reason many visitors stay an extra night. For more in the county, see our guide to the top 10 things to do in Cork.
Know before you go
- Charles Fort: about 3km from the town. Open 16 March to 31 October, 10:00-18:00 (last admission 17:00); 1 November to 15 March, 10:00-17:00 (last admission 16:00). Adult ticket €5.
- Food: the town runs a Gourmet Festival every October, organised through the Good Food Circle. Check dates before you travel.
Official information: Charles Fort (Heritage Ireland) | Kinsale Good Food Circle (Discover Ireland)
2. Dingle, County Kerry
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Dingle is a working fishing harbour with a remarkable number of pubs, many with live traditional music most nights. The town is the starting point for the Slea Head Drive around the western tip of the peninsula, and the colourful main street is best in the evening. Many visitors also come for the town’s most famous resident, and you can read what happened to Fungie the Dingle dolphin.
Know before you go
- Slea Head Drive: about 48km, with views of beaches, forts and churches. Cycling it clockwise from Dingle is suggested to limit traffic on the narrow road.
- Tourist information: the Dingle Tourist Information Centre is on The Quay and can advise on walks and tours. Opening times change by season, so check before you go.
Official information: Slea Head (Discover Ireland) | Dingle Tourist Information Centre
3. Cobh, County Cork
Cobh climbs up from Cork Harbour in rows of bright houses, with the spire of St Colman’s Cathedral rising above them. The town is rich in emigration history: it was the Titanic’s last port of call in 1912, and Annie Moore left from here in 1892 to become the first person processed at Ellis Island. For anyone with Irish roots, it is an emotional stop. Official info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cobh.
Know before you go
- Titanic Experience Cobh: 20 Casement Square, in the former White Star Line building. Guided tour with a boarding pass for a real passenger. Adult €13, child €9, student or senior €11.50. On winter hours it opens from 10:00, last admission 17:00.
- Getting there: about 30 minutes from Cork city centre.
Official information: Titanic Experience Cobh
4. Westport, County Mayo
Westport is a planned Georgian town with a tree-lined mall and a river running through the centre. Clew Bay lies just beyond, with Croagh Patrick standing over it. It is lively, easy to walk and a good base for the west. Read more: our guide to Westport.
Know before you go
- Great Western Greenway: the Westport to Newport section is about 12km on a former railway line. The full route to Achill is around 42km, though sources vary slightly.
- Croagh Patrick: roughly 764m high, most often climbed from Murrisk. Allow around 3 to 5 hours for the round trip, and only go in good visibility.
Official information: Great Western Greenway: Westport to Newport | Croagh Patrick (Discover Ireland)
5. Kenmare, County Kerry
Kenmare sits at the head of its bay between the Ring of Kerry and the Beara Peninsula. The streets are tidy and full of good food, and the mountains are never far away. It suits travellers who want comfort as well as scenery. Official info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenmare.
Know before you go
- Kenmare Stone Circle: an oval circle of 15 boulders (13 standing), about 17.4m by 15.8m, with a boulder burial at its centre. It is a protected national monument at the edge of town.
- Cost: several visitor reports mention a small honesty-box fee of about €2, but not all sources agree, so bring a coin.
Official information: Kenmare Stone Circle (Roaringwater Journal)
6. Howth, County Dublin
Howth is the proof that you do not need to leave Dublin to reach the sea. The DART runs to a working harbour, fresh fish and a cliff path with wide views over Dublin Bay. Allow time to wander the pier, where seals often gather near the fishing boats. Read more: our guide to Howth.
Know before you go
- Cliff Path Loop: 7.8km, moderate, about 2 hours with roughly 130m of ascent. It starts and finishes at Howth railway station and is waymarked with green arrows.
- Getting there: Howth is the end of the DART line, about 25 minutes from Dublin.
Official information: Howth Cliff Path Loop (Sport Ireland)
7. Clifden, County Galway
Often called the capital of Connemara, Clifden sits between mountains and Atlantic inlets. The Sky Road above the town gives some of the best coastal views in the west. Nearby, Alcock and Brown landed after the first non-stop transatlantic flight in 1919. For photographers, see our Wild Atlantic Way creator spotlight.
Know before you go
- Sky Road loop: about 16km from the town, listed as a cycling route taking an hour or more. Most guides give 16km, though a few differ.
- Clifden Castle: a ruin reached by a rough gravel driveway, so wear sturdy shoes.
Official information: Clifden Cycle Hub Loop 1: Sky Road (Sport Ireland)
8. Doolin, County Clare
Doolin is small, but it is one of the great music villages of Ireland. Boats leave from the pier for the Aran Islands and for cruises beneath the Cliffs of Moher. Read about one of its best-known stops, McGann’s in Doolin.
Know before you go
- Aran Islands ferry: about 15 minutes to Inis Oírr and about 35 minutes to Inis Mór. Ferries run daily from March to early November.
- Before you sail: timetables change each season and advance booking is advised. Check in at least 30 minutes before departure.
Official information: Doolin Ferry Co.
9. Carlingford, County Louth
Carlingford is a medieval harbour town between the Cooley Mountains and the lough. King John’s Castle guards the shore, the old streets are full of character, and the area is known for its oysters. It is an easy trip from Dublin and Belfast. Official info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlingford.
Know before you go
- King John’s Castle: Heritage Ireland lists guided tours from 14:00, May to October. Check the site for current prices and times.
- Carlingford Heritage Centre: lists weekday opening 9:00-17:00 and daily guided tours of the castle and town from April to October.
- Oyster festival: usually held in August, but we could not confirm this year’s dates.
Official information: Carlingford Castle (Heritage Ireland) | Carlingford Heritage Centre
10. Ardmore, County Waterford
Ardmore is a quiet seaside village with a long beach and one of Ireland’s oldest Christian sites, founded by St Declan according to Visit Waterford in the fifth century. A 12th-century round tower and cathedral stand above the village. A quieter choice than most on our list, which is exactly why we love it. Official info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ardmore.
Know before you go
- Round tower: 29m high and 12th century, beside a ruined 12th-century cathedral and an early stone oratory.
- Cliff walk: free to walk. It starts just beyond the Cliff House Hotel car park and passes St Declan’s Well and the ruins of St Declan’s Church.
Official information: Ardmore Round Tower and Cathedral (Discover Ireland) | Ardmore Cliff Walk (Sport Ireland)
Planning your visit
Most of these towns are at their best in spring and early autumn, when the crowds are smaller and the light is soft. Book accommodation early for summer weekends, and always carry a waterproof. Cliff paths and mountains such as Croagh Patrick need proper footwear and a check of the forecast. For more ideas, browse our list of the top 10 places to visit in Ireland, or see our list of the 10 prettiest coastal villages in Ireland.
Which town would you add? Tell us your favourite in the comments. If you want to trace where your family came from, start with what your Irish surname says about your origins.
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Image Credit: Dieglop / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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