Best Scenic Drives in Ireland
Looking for the best scenic drives in Ireland for touring by car? Here's our list of the most popular driving routes on Emerald Isle.
Ireland is home to some of Europe's most rewarding drives. Despite its relatively small size, Ireland is a diverse and beautiful country.
With rugged mountains, steep cliffs, sandy beaches, dense woodlands, vast bogs, medieval castles, Neolithic sites, rolling hills, and lively cities, there is no shortage of spectacular places.
Without any doubt, taking a road trip in Ireland is the best way to see everything this striking island has to offer at your own pace.
If you're unsure where to start, you've come to the right place.
Here is our list of the most amazing road trips to take in Ireland.
Things to Know Before You Go
We've already established that Ireland is full of amazing scenic drives.
This country is meant to be explored on a road trip.
Therefore, you will need a car. Renting a car in Ireland is super easy.
Remember that a small compact car with an automatic transmission makes driving along narrow roads much easier.
We picked up our car right at Dublin Airport, though there are rental offices in pretty much every major city or tourist town around the island.
Travel Resources
When renting a car, we use Rentalcars.com.
Keep in mind that driving in Ireland can be a bit tricky, at least for first-time visitors.
If you're not used to driving on the left side of the road, you will need some time to adjust to it.
Traveling between towns and cities along highways and national roads is surprisingly easy.
It's the narrow rural roads that make the driving part more challenging.
Wild Atlantic Way
The Wild Atlantic Way stretches 2500 kilometers down the entire west coast of Ireland.
This is the most epic road trip in Ireland.
The route connects the picturesque town of Kinsale in the south with the rugged peninsula Malin Head in the north.
No matter where you start your journey, give yourself at least two weeks to explore this amazing stretch of road has to offer.
As you've probably guessed already, this unforgettable road trip includes many shorter scenic drives. The most beautiful ones you will find below.
Without any doubt, this is the most incredible long-distance scenic drive in Ireland.
Ring of Kerry
While the Wild Atlantic Way is Ireland's ultimate road trip, the Ring of Kerry is the most famous scenic drive on the island.
This iconic drive takes in rugged coastlines, towering mountains, sandy beaches, seaside towns, and historical sites.
You can start your journey around the Iveragh Peninsula in the small town of Killarney.
This busy tourist hub is home to Killarney National Park.
Apart from great hiking trails, you will find some popular places such as Ross Castle, Muckross Abbey, or Muckross House here.
Then, there is Torc Waterfall and Ladies View, a scenic viewpoint.
You can also make a detour to Gap of Dunloe, another scenic drive in the area.
As you can see, Ring of Kerry is packed with amazing places right from the start.
Continue driving toward Iveragh's western tip, and you will have a chance to visit Kenmare, Staigue Stone Fort, Sneem, Derrynane, and Waterville.
Then, the main road, N70, loops back to Killorglin.
Visit Cahersiveen, Cahergall, and Leacanabuaile Stone Forts and enjoy the rugged beauty of the peninsula's northern side.
We can't fail to mention that you will also have an opportunity to extend your trip by adding Skellig Ring and Valentia Island to your itinerary.
Gap of Dunloe
Situated near the Killarney area, Gap of Dunloe is one of Ireland's most famous scenic drives.
With MacGillycuddy Reeks and Purple Mountain on both sides and five pristine lakes along the way, Gap of Dunloe is a stunning place to visit.
While this mountainous road cutting through a U-shaped glacier valley is best explored on foot or by bike, you can also drive through this area.
As there will be walkers and jaunting cars on the road during the day, it's better to visit Gap of Dunloe either super early in the morning or late in the afternoon.
Killarney is often considered the gateway to the Gap of Dunloe.
This short scenic route stretches between Lord Brandon's Cottage in the Black Valley in the south and Kate Kearney's Cottage in the north.
Skellig Ring
Touring the Ring of Kerry is an incredible experience.
If you want to see more of the amazing Kerry scenery, you should extend this road trip by including Skellig Ring in your itinerary.
This 18-kilometer scenic road starts in Waterville and ends in Cahersiveen, or vice versa.
Even though the Ring of Kerry gets busy during peak season, Skellig Ring remains relatively quiet.
Some of the best stops in the Skellig Ring are Ballinskelligs Beach, St. Finian's Bay, and Coomanaspig Pass.
The main highlight is the 200-meter Kerry Cliffs situated on the west side of the ring.
Another amazing place you can find here is the Skelligs, a pair of islands that can be reached only by boat.
This UNESCO site is home to an ancient monastic site, a large colony of seabirds, and a Star Wars filming location. Mind you.
There is one more extension you can add to your bucket list.
Valentia Island is home to Geokaun Mountain and Fogher Cliffs, Valentia Lighthouse, Tetrapod Trackway, Bray Head Tower, and Transatlantic Cable Station.
Dingle Peninsula
The 110-kilometer driving route around Dingle Peninsula is popular among all types of travelers.
No matter if you start in Tralee or Castlemaine, you will get a chance to see some of Ireland's most beautiful landscapes.
Besides the Dingle, the largest town on the peninsula, you'll encounter only a few small settlements and villages along the way.
If you want to hit the beach or learn to surf, then you should stop at Inch. The village is home to a 5-kilometer sandy strip of golden sand.
Summer is the best time to visit, though Inch Beach is beautiful any time of the year.
Then, you can make a short detour to Minard Beach and Castle or continue directly to Dingle Town.
Here, you will need to decide whether to do the Slea Head Drive, drive the Conor Pass, or return via the same way.
As both scenic drives are also on this list, we suggest driving the Slea Head Drive first and then continuing to Conor Pass.
Just before you reach Tralle, visit the unique Blennerville Windmill.
Conor Pass
If you're looking for one of the best scenic drives in Ireland, including a mountain pass, Conor Pass is a great addition to your Dingle itinerary.
Conor Pass is an optional route when traveling around Dingle Peninsula.
If you happen to drive across the Conor Pass on a clear day, it is well worth the time and effort.
As we learned the hard way, driving along the narrowest stretch of this road in poor weather was actually quite nerve-racking.
The Conor Pass lies on R560, and the scenic road stretches only for 12 kilometers. The views from the top are simply breathtaking.
Slea Head Drive
Situated at the western tip of Dingle Peninsula, Slea Head Drive is another gem on this list.
Slea Head Drive is a 42-kilometer loop drive that features some of the most beautiful places on the Dingle Peninsula.
This coastal scenic drive starts and ends at Dingle Town and hugs the westernmost part of the peninsula.
So, what are the main attractions on the Slea Head Drive?
You can stop at Blue Flag Ventry Beach for a swim, enjoy stunning views from the Radharc na mBlascaoid viewpoint, and then continue to Dunmore Head, where you can hike to the westernmost point of the peninsula or explore adjacent Coumeenoole Beach.
Continue your trip to Dunquin Pier, one of the most photogenic places on the Dingle Peninsula.
The Blasket Centre tells the story of the nearby archipelago, while Clogher Strand is a great place for a walk.
If you want to explore some historical sites, Gallarus Oratory and Riasc Monastic Settlement should also be on your list.
Travelers with adventurous souls can take a ferry from Dunquin Peir to the nearby Blasket Islands, one of the most spectacular places in this area.
If you're considering a trip around the Slea Head Drive during the peak season, traveling in a clockwise direction is recommended.
Priest's Leap
Situated between County Cork and County Kerry, Priest's Leap is the perfect place to escape crowds.
You can start either at Bonane Village or Coomhola Bridge.
This 13-kilometer road follows a rural road to a scenic pass at 465 meters above sea level.
It can be pretty windy at the top, but the views are simply breathtaking.
Despite its relative shortness, this is one of the most challenging driving routes on this list.
Priest's Leap Drive is steep, narrow, and full of twists and bends.
If you're not a confident driver, there are safer options you can choose from.
Old Military Road
Ireland is full of amazing inland scenic drives.
Old Military Road, which connects Dublin with the Wicklow Mountains, is one of the most famous ones.
As this scenic route offers dramatic views of the Wicklow Mountains and easy access to Glendalough, it's probably on every Ireland itinerary.
The British built the road at the beginning of the 19th century to allow their army access to this, at the time, remote area.
Today, Old Military Road, or simply the R115, offers the most scenic way to reach the national park.
Some of the most notable places you can see are Lower Upper Lough Bray, Sally Gap, and Glenmacnass Waterfall.
Lough Tay is a short detour but well worth the time and effort.
Once you reach Glendalough, you should explore the Glendalough Monastic Site and enjoy some of the finest hikes this area has to offer.
Our favorite one was Spinc Loop, though there are trails for every visitor.
Despite the fact that the Old Military Road technically starts in Dublin, there are several more entry points.
For instance, we started our road trip in Enniskerry, a small village home to Powerscourt Estate and Powerscourt Waterfall.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
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Sheep's Head Peninsula
Though not as famous as the Ring of Kerry or Gap of Dunloe, Sheep's Head Peninsula is home to one of Ireland's most charming coastal paths.
Driving the Sheep's Head Ring is a great experience, especially if you prefer visiting places without crowds.
The road is quite narrow, and as the name suggests, there are many sheep on the peninsula.
So drive carefully, as they tend to wander where they please, even onto the road.
There are several viewpoints along the way, though Sheep's Head Peninsula offers mostly a driving experience.
Once you reach the turning point parking, you can do the Sheep's Head Lighthouse Loop. This lovely 4.2-kilometer trail is fairly easy and allows you to explore the peninsula's westernmost point.
Beara Peninsula
Located between Cork and Kerry counties, this 150-kilometer scenic road twists and turns around Beara Peninsula.
Beara is known for its rugged mountains, stunning coastline, and heritage sites.
No matter if you visit Ballydonegan Beach, Dunboy Forest Recreation Area, or Allihies Copper Mine Museum, you will have a great time while there.
If you're looking for something more adventurous, consider taking a cable car to Dursey Island.
This beautiful island offers a lovely 14-kilometer loop walk, which offers the best way to explore the island.
The island is home to many seabirds, so it's a popular spot for bird-watching.
Make sure you have enough time for Beara, as this area deserves all your attention.
You can start your adventure around Beara Ring either in Kenmare or Glengarriff.
By the way, even the stretch of N71 that connects both places is pretty scenic.
While Beara Peninsula is often overshadowed by the Ring of Kerry, it was one of our favorite scenic drives in Ireland.
Healy Pass
One of the most amazing things about Ireland is that there is always a new scenic drive waiting to be explored.
No matter where you go or which county you visit, you will always find a road that leads through a spectacular landscape.
Take, for example, Healy Pass. The road around Beara Peninsula is incredibly scenic.
If that's not enough, you can make a scenic detour and cross from one side of Beara to another via Healy Pass.
This 14-kilometer scenic connects Adrigole with Lauragh and can be driven in both directions.
The road across the Caha Mountains is steep, narrow, and winding, so drive carefully.
The views along the way are nothing short of spectacular.
Without any doubt, Healy Pass was one of our favorite drives in Ireland.
Mizen Head
There are three beautiful peninsulas in County Cork worth exploring. We already talked about Sheep's Head and Beara.
Now it's time to explore Mizen Head, a 90-kilometer scenic drive.
Plain and simple, there are some really gorgeous places you should incorporate into your itinerary.
Dunlough Castle is a beautiful ruined castle set in a dramatic landscape.
Barleycove Beach is arguably one of the most stunning of Ireland's beaches.
A few megalithic structures are scattered around the peninsula, such as the Altar Wedge Tomb.
You can also explore a few picturesque seaside villages along the way.
The main attraction on the peninsula is Mizen Head Signal Station, Ireland's most southwesterly point.
Apart from the interesting signal station, there is a wonderful cliff walk offering stunning views of the Atlantic.
If you're in Cork and looking for a great road trip, Mizen Head is an excellent choice for all visitors.
Sky Road
There are many short scenic drives in Ireland. Connemara's Sky Road, a detour from N59, is one the most rewarding ones.
Sky Road is a 16-kilometer circular route that starts and ends in the small tourist town of Clifden.
A narrow rural road leads around the nearby peninsula, giving you access to some amazing views of the Atlantic.
Drive slowly, take in the views, and watch out for the sheep. There are a few places to see when driving the Sky Road.
You can visit the D'Arcy Monument, explore the ruined Clifden Castle, or admire views from Pointe Amharc Atlantach Fiain Sky Bothar's viewpoint.
There is also a lovely Eyrephort Beach, though this is a short detour from the main road.
If you're looking for a fairly short but rewarding driving route in the western part of County Galway, look no further than Sky Road.
Quite frankly, the entire N59 stretching between Galway and Westport is incredible.
Apart from Sky Road, you also need to visit Kylemore Abbey, Killary Harbour, or Connemara National Park.
Burren Drive
Ireland is home to many incredible places. The karst region known as the Burren is among the most unique ones.
Unlike other scenic drives on this list, this road trip is a bit more difficult to plan.
Take the Burren Coastal Drive, which connects Lahinch with Kinvarra.
If you start in Lahinch, you can drive to the Cliffs of Moher, then explore nearby Doolin Cave, and continue to Fanore Beach afterward.
Once you reach Ballyvaughan, you can stay on N67 and drive directly to Kinvarra.
This route also includes Corcomroe Abbey and Dunguaire Castle.
However, we believe it's better to turn right in Ballyvaughan and connect onto R480 after a few kilometers.
Follow R480 and visit Poulnabrone Dolmen and Caherconnell Stone Fort.
We also suggest making a detour to Burren National Park. There are several great hiking trails for all types of hikers.
Our favorite trail in this area is a moderately challenging Mullaghmore Loop.
Once you reach Corofin, you can turn left onto R460, visit Kilmacduagh Abbey, and continue to Gort.
Or you can continue to Ennis, the biggest town in County Clare. Either way, driving through the Burren is an incredible experience.
Glengesh Pass
Col Glengesh is a mountainous pass in County Donegal.
This scenic route leads through a narrow valley carved by a glacier 20,000 years ago.
If you're driving from Donegal Town to Killybegs and eventually to Teelin in order to visit the stunning Slieve League sea cliffs, you don't have to return to N56 the same way afterward.
Drive to Carrick instead, and from here, continue to Glengesh Pass until you reach the village of Ardara.
This scenic route is very narrow, with a few sharp switchbacks, so drive carefully.
When coming down the road, there will be a small parking area on your left where you can safely pull over and snap a photo.
Inishowen 100
Situated in the island's northern part, Inishowen is one of the wildest and most rugged peninsulas Ireland has to offer.
As the name suggests, Inishowen 100 is a 100-mile (160-kilometer) scenic drive encompassing the peninsula.
There are several ways to explore Inishowen, though we believe this driving route offers the best overall experience.
Depending on your Ireland itinerary, you can start Inishowen 100 at Buncrana or Derry.
There are plenty of things to see and do in Inishowen. Fort Dunree, Glenevin Waterfall, and Five Finger Strand are some of the most remarkable places you can visit along the way.
Our favorite stop on Inishowen is Malin Head, the most northerly point of Ireland's mainland.
If you want to do the Wild Atlantic Way, Inishowen is technically the starting or ending point of your journey.
Causeway Coastal Scenic Drive
All the scenic drives mentioned above are located in the Republic of Ireland.
Chances are you might also want to visit neighboring Northern Ireland during your vacation.
Don't worry. Northern Ireland has some amazing scenic drives as well.
Without any doubt, Causeway Coastal Scenic Drive is the most famous driving route in Northern Ireland.
The 200-kilometer Causeway Coastal Scenic Drive connects the cities of Derry and Belfast.
The most visited place along this scenic route is Giant's Causeway, known for its impressive cliffs and hexagonal basalt columns.
There are tons of other places you should see, such as Mussenden Temple, Dunluce Castle, Carrick-a-Rede, or Ballintoy Harbour.
You can make detours to Torr Head, Dark Hedges, or stop at Bushmills for a great whiskey-tasting experience.
You will need about two to three days to get a sense of Causeway Coastal Scenic Drive's splendor.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
