The Dingle Peninsula: A Beautiful Part of Ireland

Dingle Town Center in the Dingle Peninsula County Kerry Ireland

Updated On: November 07, 2023 by   Ciaran ConnollyCiaran Connolly

The Dingle Peninsula is one of our favourite places to visit in Ireland, located in the inviting County of Kerry. It’s one of the key points of interest on the Wild Atlantic Way Coastal Route.

Dingle Peninsula offers its own little paradise for visitors to truly enjoy and experience an authentic Ireland. It was once named as the “the most beautiful place of Earth” by National Geographic.

Every part of the Dingle Peninsula is unforgettable from the spectacular coastal scenery and landscape as well the friendly locals, cozy pubs and restaurants that make you want to never leave.

Dingle become a popular tourist destination when it was first introduced to people around the world, with the Oscar-winning movie, Ryan’s Daughter in 1970. It has since been captivating the heart of people around the globe.

Keep reading to find out more about Dingle Ireland and what to expect on a visit.

History of Dingle Peninsula

If you’re a history enthusiast, then you will love this place, with its incredible 6,000 years of history to soak up. Dingle Peninsula is home to many historic and archaeological monuments.

For many centuries, many different tribes and populations came through this part of Ireland. And due to the very unique location of the Dingle Peninsula, you’ll discover incredibly preservations of over 2,000 monuments. The archaeological heritage found here is one of the most special features it has to offer.

Breathtaking view of the cliffs in the Dingle Peninsula
Breathtaking view of the cliffs in the Dingle Peninsula

The history of the peninsula is very unique when you take into account the many tribes that have left their mark on the area over the centuries, with each sight offering its own folklore and mythology for visitors to uncover.

The Western part of the Peninsula is also known as one of the most popular Gaeltacht areas (Irish- speaking communities). The place is steeped in Irish language traditions and culture that are still very strong, even to this day.

Things to do in the Dingle Peninsula

Dingle Ireland is a place that won’t disappoint, whether you are coming to explore its amazing Irish landscape, which I can promise you, might just be the best in Ireland or if you’re coming to soak up the history and culture that the place offers; it will be one unforgettable trip in Ireland.

A visit to Dingle Town

The peninsula is centred around the endearing Dingle Town, offering both an old fashioned and cosmopolitan feel to the place. Dingle Town is home to many great traditional Irish pubs, where you can stop off and enjoy a drink with the locals and listen to some live traditional Irish music.

During the summer season, every pub here is captived by music with its summer music sessions. People come from all around the country to perform and enjoy traditional Irish music here.

Some of the best Dingle pubs for you to check out include O’Flahertys Bar, Lord Bakers Bar and probably the most popular bar in Dingle; ‘Dicks Mack’. These three bars will give you the best experience of the area, filled with character and quirky features.

Dingle OceanWorld

One of the popular family attractions in Dingle is Dingle Oceanworld, a fun aquarium for all to enjoy. The aquarium is home to Ireland’s largest collection of Sharks, where visitors are invited to explore the magnificent underwater world on offer inside.

You’ll get to be up close and personally, with some interest creatures of the sea. This is definitely one of the highlights on the Dingle Peninsula, and if you’re travelling with children, they are sure to love this place, just as much as the adults will.

A Stroll on Inch Beach

The Dingle Peninsula is home to one of the longest beaches in Ireland, Inch Beach, offering three miles of untouched beautiful golden sand. The beach isn’t short of spectacular and has even featured in many successful movies.

A view over the Dingle Peninsula
A view over the Dingle Peninsula

Visit the Unmissable Blasket Islands

This attraction located on the Dingle Peninsula is one to tick off your Irish bucket list.  Blasket Islands has even been voted the number one attraction in the peninsula. Located off the coast of Kerry, is where you’ll find the magnificent islands and understand why they are the biggest tourist attraction on the Dingle Peninsula.

The islands are famous for their rugged landscape and beauty, that was once inhabited by people up until 1953. The people who once lived there have left an amazing legacy behind for visitors to explore.

To truly appreciate the islands in all their glory, we recommend taking a boat trip over to see them up close. On the trip over, you might even get a glimpse of Dingle’s favourite and frequent visitor Fungi the Dolphin.

Hike to the top of Mount Brandon

If you think you’re up for it, hike to the top of Mount Brandon because it offers one of the best views of the dreamy Irish landscape.

The hike gives you a taste of wild Ireland, where you’ll want to make sure you have your camera with you, to capture all the beautiful moments. While the climb may not be the easiest, it’s made better by the enchanting scenery at the top.

The Dingle Peninsula is filled with so much for the visitor to appreciate and see, the scenic drive around the peninsula is honestly one of the best things you’ll experience in Ireland.

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