5 Best Things to Do in Dingle, Kerry

If you find yourself in Kerry, a trip to Dingle should be on the cards. Our article will tell you the best things to do in Dingle.

Once home to the famous local dolphin Fungi, Dingle has so much to offer whether you stay for a weekend or two weeks. A Daingean is a place full of Irish culture, where you will hear the Irish language being spoken amongst locals and Irish songs being sung late into the night.

What I love so much about Dingle is how close everything is. You are only a short walk from every pub, and if you want to explore more, you won’t have to drive far. Dingle never fails to impress and is a place I will continue to return to forevermore. How could you get bored of a place that transports you back to old Ireland?

Table of Contents

• Things to do in Dingle: Pubs
• Things to do in Dingle: Indoor Activities
• Things to do in Dingle: Outdoor Activities
• Free things to do in Dingle
• Places to Eat in Dingle

1. Things to do in Dingle: Pubs

A must when in Dingle is visiting many of its quaint and cosy pubs. Dingle pubs are the epitome of creamy pints, good conversation, and great music. I have been to Dingle many times, and whether you come in the quiet season of January and February or the busy Summer season, you will have a great night out. So, what are the best pubs in Dingle to visit?

Dick Mack’s

“Where is Dick Mack’s? Opposite the Church. Where is the Church? Opposite Dick Mack’s” Dick Mack’s is an award-winning pub, and there is a reason for it. When I visited Dick Mac’s during the Summer, there was a food truck outside that served delicious snacks that you could bring into the pub with you. The interiors of this old Irish pub are unique, with many leather shoes stacked high on one side of the wall.

The pub comprises a narrow bar with a desk opposite and bar stools, many small rooms and an awe-inspiring beer garden. During your visit, make sure to look down on the ground as you make your way closer to Dick Mack’s, and you will see their very own Hollywood Walk of Fame. You will see names such as Julia Roberts, Tom Crean, Robert Mitchum, and Timothy Dalton etched onto a star embedded in the ground.

Foxy Johns

I can guarantee you have never seen a pub like Foxy Johns. This unique Irish pub is also a hardware store. When you walk in the door, you will see the bar and high stools on your left, and on your right, you will see any hardware tool you can imagine. These hardware goods aren’t just for decorative purposes but for sale. So, if you find yourself enjoying a drink in Foxy John’s and remember that you were meant to pick up a pack of screws, then don’t worry. You can just turn around and purchase them.

Walking through the pub, you will find a lovely room with an open fire that creates a very cosy atmosphere. The outdoor area is also lovely to sit on a sunny day.

A Droichead Beag

Dingles late-night bar, “A Droichead Beag”, is a great spot, translating to “The Small Bridge” in Gaelic. This sports and music bar has a trad session every night of the week. If you want to dance the night away, “A Droichead Beag” has a fantastic DJ that plays well into the night. I went to Dingle for a weekend in January, and the mixes that the DJ was playing in Droichead Beag were some of the best I have heard in a long time. I couldn’t get off the dance floor and didn’t see the hours go by.

Even in January, when many places would have quiet time, “A Droichead Beag” was jam-packed with primary teaching students who spent their time in the Gaeltacht for two weeks. When you are finished dancing and singing, leave outside An Droicead Beag and eat at “Eat. Dingle” for a delicious takeaway or sit-in grub that will satisfy you after your night out. Service is fast, and the food is excellent, even on its busiest nights. With the restaurant full, the friendly staff at “Eat. Dingle” still served good quality food.

O’Flaherty’s Bar

O’Flaherty’s is an excellent pub for traditional Irish music. What makes O’Flaherty’s Bar stand out? The owners of this pub treat their customers to traditional Irish music and have an open-door policy. If you spend an evening in O’Flaherty’s, you are sure to see more than one musician play their instrument or sing a song. If you play an instrument or can sing a tune, don’t be afraid to step up to the mic and join in on the entertainment.

Regardless of what pub you decide to sit down and drink pint after pint in, you are sure to find a cosy fire, good chat, great music and a joyful atmosphere. Why not do a pub crawl?

2. Things to Do in Dingle: Indoor activities

The Dingle Aquarium: Ocean World

It may likely rain on your trip to Dingle. The Oceanworld in Dingle is the perfect spot to take the kids to pass away sometime while you are in Dingle, especially if the weather stops you from seeing other sites. During your trip to the aquarium, you can see the adorable otters and the cute penguins being fed. If you catch the penguins at the right time and in the proper form, they will even put on a display of jumping and diving for you. Seeing how they shoot themselves out of the water so gracefully is spectacular.

You will also see various species in different shapes, sizes and colours, from Nemo and friends to frightening piranhas. The most enormous tank has two magnificent sharks and a tortoise called Molly. You won’t believe how big they are! Near that tank is the jellyfish display, lighting up their tank in an enchanting blue and purple colour. Dingle Oceanworld also has a touch tank where visitors can touch the animals inside, such as stingrays and eels, when a staff member is present.

Shop the Rain Away

Dingle has many different shops that you should pop into during your time there. A particular favourite of mine is Griffin’s Gift Shop. Here, you will find so many unique Irish novelty gifts to bring home, from magnets to bottle openers, keyrings, and paddy caps. Trust me, you will spend some time in this small shop looking at all its bits and bobs.

Close by, you will find the Dolphin Shop; if the shop’s exterior doesn’t draw you instead, then I don’t know what will! With six giant dolphin sculptures popping out of the front wall, the Dolphin Shop is very picturesque. Although Fungi, the beloved dolphin of Dingle, hasn’t been seen since 2020, the Dolphin shop keeps the spirit fungi alive and well.

Dingle Crystals, which can be found just down from Dick Mack’s pub, is a lovely shop. Here you will find hand-cut, unique Irish crystal ornaments, glasses, bowls and vases, to name a few. Sean Daly is the man behind the fantastic crafts you will see, and he runs the shop with his family.

3. Things to do in Dingle: Outdoor Activities

A Trip to the Blasket Islands

Take the boat across the sea to the Great Blasket Island and step onto an island steeped in Irish history. To truly experience the Blasket Islands, a boat trip is advised to get up close to these captivating remote islands. You can even choose to stay in one of the self-catering cottages on the Island.

Visiting the Blasket Islands is a top tourist attraction in Dingle for a reason, stepping onto the island transports you back in time and you feel a great sense of history as you are aware that the ground you are standing on once inhabited hundreds of people and was a place they called home. As the old Irish saying goes, “Níl aon tinteán mar do thinteán féin” (There’s no place like home)

Visit Gallarus Oratory and Beehive Huts

The Gallarus Oratory is an ancient church that is over 1,000 years old and still stands tall today. I recommend visiting this magnificent building, as seeing it in person is so much more powerful than any picture you will see. The same can be said about the Beehive huts. It is fantastic to see how these structures are still in such great condition thousands of years after they were first built.

The Famine Cottages

The Great Irish Famine was a huge part of Irish history, and if you are interested in history, the Famine Cottages are worth the visit. To visit these cottages and learn fascinating information about them, you only have to pay €3 per person. At the end of the tour, a nice treat is that you get the chance to bottle feed and feed the animals nearby.

4. Free things to do in Dingle

Spend the day at Inch Beach

Although the name of this beach may lead you to believe it is small, it is quite the opposite. Inch beach is quite long! Inch Beach is a stunning beach that is a hugely popular spot for surfers. If you want to try surfing for a day, why not opt for one of the various surf lessons available on the beach and surf the day away? Well, try to anyway. You can’t beat a day on the beach. Whether you want to walk the length and breadth of the sand shore or swim in the sea, it is up to you to decide.

Drive Slea Head

Slea Head Drive is a very scenic loop that offers fantastic views throughout. The loop starts and finishes in the Dingle Peninsula, so it is up to you what direction you want to drive in. You should allow yourself a couple of hours to complete this drive, as, trust me, you will want to stop off at some of the unique viewpoints along the way.

Walk Dún Chaoin Pier

During your Slea Head drive, you should stop by to walk down to Dún Chaoin pier. Walk, not drive. Don’t make the same mistake as many before and drive down Dún Chaoin pier. Walking down, you will be greeted by the most stunning view of Dún Chaoin pier, looking out to the Atlantic Ocean. This makes for a very Instagram-worthy picture opportunity.

Conor’s Pass

Conor’s Pass offers a beautiful scenic view if you are brave enough to drive cliffside. However, I would not advise Conor’s Pass to very nervous drivers, as the road can narrow and be very bendy. It is essential to take your time when driving Conor’s Pass. The spectacular views are worth the drive.

5. Places to Eat in Dingle

Walking around and touring Dingle, you will surely build an appetite. Dingle will satisfy your hunger with its unique fresh food. Here are three restaurants that are worth a visit while in Dingle:

The Fishbox

The Fishbox does not disappoint. You are guaranteed good quality food here, and if fish isn’t for you, they also serve gorgeous chicken meals. The Fishbox serves some dishes: good old reliable fish and chips, crispy chilli monkfish and prawn and monkfish curry. Every dish is as delicious as the next. If you take any information from this article, it should be as follows: Eat at the Fishbox.

John Beeny’s Pub

John Beeny’s Pub is the place for you if you are in the mood for music, food and drink. The food is fresh and tasty, and their desserts are delicious. You can get anything from lite bites, sandwiches and main course meals throughout the day. Service is also amiable and attentive. What’s not to love?

My Boy Blue

My Boy Blue is the place to go for breakfast, lunch, or brunch. Whether you’re looking for pancakes and muffins or burritos and chicken melts, My Boy Blue has you covered. If you’re looking for a lovely place to grab a bite to eat and enjoy a lovely coffee, you’ve come to the right place. You can’t go far wrong by walking through this cafe’s door.

Sidenote: If you plan on visiting Dingle during its off-season, such as January and February, just beware that many cafes and restaurants tend to close during this period. Some pubs and other places also use this time to renovate so they may only be partially open. Always check in advance to see if places are open.

Undoubtedly, Dingle should be at the top of your list of things to do when you visit Ireland. Make sure it is a long stop on your Wild Atlantic Way Route. With so much to offer and many memories to make, Dingle is just waiting for you to visit.