The Five Best Beaches in Ireland
Where to go for the best beach experiences on the Emerald Isle
Benefits of being an island: Plenty of coastline and beaches in every direction. We’ve rounded up the top picks for the best beaches in Ireland. Just because it’s the end of summer doesn’t mean it’s the end of beach days. Whether you’re wanting to relax on the sand and jump in the sea, or want to walk the shoreline in sweater weather, this is where you need be if you see yourself visiting beautiful beaches in Ireland
5. Britta’s Bay Beach, Co. Wicklow
Photographer/Creator: Celtic Routes
Only an hour’s drive from Dublin, this popular and beautiful beach offers green hills, sand dunes, gentle waves for sunny days and is over 5 kilometers in length so perfect for those wanting to get in a long walk along the shore. Ideal for day trippers from Dublin or those on their way to Ireland’s South coast looking to get some sun and sand on the way through Wicklow.
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4. Barley Cove, Co. Cork
Creating Agency: Tourism Ireland, Photographer/Creator: Joshua McMichael
Dipping down between two large hills on the County Cork shore is the lovely Barley Cove Bay beach. Not just a pretty place for a day with friends or the fam, Barley Cove and its extensive dunes are also a Special Area of Conservation because of the variety of wildlife and habitats located there.
3. Silver Strand, Co. Mayo
Creating Agency: Fáilte Ireland, Photographer/Creator: Gareth Wray Photography
Green Coast Award? Check. Clean environment, excellent water quality? Check. Classic sand dune, waving grasses and unforgettable sunsets? Check, check. Located at the mouth of Killary Fjord, number three on our best beaches in Ireland list is Silver Strand. This large and spectacularly breathtaking beach close to Galway looks out over the Atlantic towards the isles of Inishturk and Inishbofin. Shallow waters and gentle tides make it ideal for a family swim day in the waves.
2. Keem Beach on Achill Island
Creating Agency: Tourism Ireland, Photographer/Creator: Gareth McCormack
Rugged and romantic, this beach is on Achill Island off Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way. Tucked into the base of cliffs, with rocky outcroppings along its coast, Keem Bay beach is not only beautiful, classic and rural, it is popular for water sports such as surfing and during warmer months is a good spot for swimming.
1. Dogs Bay, Co. Galway
Creating Agency: Tourism Ireland, Photographer/Creator: Gareth McCormack
The best beach in Ireland isn’t for the dogs, no matter what the name might suggest. The best beach in Ireland, based on the opinions of our locals, is Dogs Bay. The horseshoe shape of this beach makes for gentle waters splashing up on its shining white sands. Ideal for swimming, windsurfing and kitesurfing, Dogs Bay is perhaps the best beach in Ireland because of it naturally protective land features. Not just a pretty place, this beach is also important due to its ecological, geological and archaeological features including the sand, made of miniscule crushed shells not rock, and the grasses, only found in this region and some parts of Scotland.
