1. Tour the lakes on foot, bike, or boat

Killarney National Park has the famous Lakes of Killarney, along with mountains, islands, waterfalls and more. This beautiful landscape is fabulous for walking or biking, giving you time to discover the area, enjoy the scenery, and savor the serenity of the park. Depending on your energy level and preferences, you can walk to your heart’s content on the quiet paths around the lakes, or you can rent a bike in town so you can cover more distance. The extensive trail network gives you a lot of options, and you can pick up a trail map at the park information center. There are also boat tours that leave from Ross Castle, so you can get views of the park from the water.

Ross Castle, Killarney National Park, Kerry, Ireland by Jim Linwood

2. See how Irish chieftains lived at Ross Castle

During the Middle Ages, a number of Irish Chieftains ruled different pieces of Ireland, warring between themselves. One such chieftain, O’Donoghue, built Ross Castle as his stronghold. This chunky castle with its strong, fortified tower was built for warfare. Everything in the castle was designed to aid the defenders in battle. The entryway, the spiral staircase, the parapets, and much more had special design characteristics for protection under attack. Be sure to take the castle tour – it’s hugely interesting. Not only will you learn about these interesting castle design details, but you’ll learn a lot about how the Irish lords and their households lived in the Middle Ages.

3. Picnic amid the ruins of an early monastery

In the middle of the lake is Innisfallen Island, with a set of evocative ruins to explore. A monastery was founded here in the year 640, that operated for over 800 years. This was also a center for education, and the lake was nicknamed the “Lake of Learning”. The famous Irish king Brian Boru was educated here, and other wealthy families sent their princes here to be taught by the monks. Today, the buildings are in ruins, with stone walls giving it an eerie sense of majesty and spirituality. You can take a small boat out to the island from Ross Castle, and spend some time exploring the ruins and the island. This is also a fabulous place for a picnic lunch. It’s quiet and secluded – you may even have the place to yourselves.

Ruins of monastery on Innisfallen Island, Ireland by Bkwillwm

4. Visit stately Muckross House and farms

Fast forward a few centuries to the 1800s, when the luxurious and imposing Muckross House was built. The owners spent lavishly, preparing the house and its gardens for a visit by Queen Victoria. You can tour the house (furnished in authentic period style), and find out about their elegant lifestyle. After touring the house, see how the other half lived, at the Muckross traditional farms. History comes alive as these working farms recreate the typical life of an Irish farmer – a simple and hardworking way of life. There are also artisan shops that practice traditional methods of spinning, weaving and pottery making. Of course, they sell some of the products right there, too.

5. Ride in an Irish jaunting car

A jaunting car is a type of horse drawn carriage, and this is the perfect way to get back to Killarney town at the end of your national park visit. You’ll see drivers and their horses in the park, who are happy to give you the scenic drive back to town. Your driver can point out sights of interest along the way, tell silly jokes, or answer any questions you may have. While the horse carries you along through this peaceful park, it’s easy to imagine being back in the old days, when this was a normal way of traveling. What a fitting end to a lovely day!

Horse drawn carriage in Killarney National Park, Ireland by Deanna Keahey

Deanna Keahey is a lifelong traveler, who ran an international travel company for years. Today, you’ll find her out traveling, hiking, and exploring. Deanna writes about travel clothes and accessories at Best-Travel-Clothes.com, and you can find her on Facebook, Twitter or Google+.

The post Visiting Killarney National Park, Ireland appeared first on Best of European Union.

Dublin Castle, Ireland by William Murphy

Food spots

Dublin offers some great places to eat in, ranging from cheap and cheerful to more expensive and upmarket. High on the list is the Italian eatery Dunne and Crescenzi on Frederick Street South in the Temple Bar area. With its fine wines, coffees and excellent menu choices this is an ideal place to dine at. Another great spot is Chapter One in Parnell Square offering reasonable prices as well as specialities from Irish seafood to sumptuous desserts.

Arts and culture

Among the artistic and cultural attractions is the national photographic archive in Temple Bar so perhaps this is a place to drop in to before or after your visit to Dunne and Crescenzi. Hundreds of thousands of images are stored here with exhibitions available. Also in the city is the Irish Museum of Modern Art (or IMMA) which is located near Heuston Station, in the building of the Royal Hospital Kilmainham.

Music

Also in the Temple Bar area is Andrew’s Lane which used to house plays and performances but has become a music venue in recent years. The vibe here is slightly out of the box, offering innovation not heard on your mainstream radio stations. Another superb venue is the Cobblestone in Smithfield in the north of the city. The Cobblestone is a fantastic pub as well as a setting for some of the finest in local music with distinctive interior design which really adds to the atmosphere.

Where to drink

Part of the fabric of Dublin is its proliferation of establishments in which you can sample the local drinks, which of course includes the finest Guinness. O’Donoghue’s in Merrion Row is an important place in the history of folk music and is always a hit for tourists. On Harry Street you can find McDaid’s with the standard food and drink offerings as well as a particularly attractive interior. For a livelier pub look no further than Kitty O’Shea’s, giving you a vibe more befitting of a holiday resort like Ibiza.

Steven Smith writes here about the many attraction on offer in Ireland, on behalf of Eirebus

The post The Best Things To Do In Dublin | Ireland appeared first on Best of European Union.