Ireland, the third largest island in Europe, has a rich heritage, varied natural landscapes, mild climate, and diverse cultural and sports activities, which makes it an ideal tourist destination. There are approximately 4 million people in the Irish Republic, with five major centres of population in Dublin, Galway, Cork, Limerick and Waterford. You will enjoy touring the cities and countryside of this fascinating land, which has inspired great Irish poets and writers.

The landscape of Ireland displays a range of scenic beauty, including coastal mountains, limestone lowlands, hills, large areas of bog, stunning seascapes, and numerous lakes and rivers well stocked with salmon and trout. If you’re a nature lover, you will delight in the national parks and nature reserves, with their distinctive fauna and flora. Make sure you visit The Burren, a unique area of carboniferous limestone, the spectacular Connemara region, the Cliffs of Moher, and The Giant's Causeway, an area of 40,000 interlocking basalt columns shaped by a volcanic eruption over 60 million years ago.

Ireland is full of historic structures, such as ancient castles and forts. The Rock of Cashel contains fortifications of great complexity, and has a notable collection of Celtic art and medieval architecture. Do not miss the Stone Age forts on the Aran Islands, or the impressive castles at Blarney, Cahir and Kilkenny. If you prefer spiritual sites, Ireland has awesome cathedrals, ancient abbeys and pilgrimage places, which still attract crowds. Jerpoint Abbey (12th century) is in ruins but it’s a splendid example of a Cistercian monastery with its own watermills, infirmary, kitchens, granary, cemetery and stables. St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin are also famed places.

For those who like the excitement of modern city life, you can sample the pubs, cafes, restaurants, theatres, museums, traditional music and trendy nightspots in Ireland’s urban centres. Cultural events can be taken in as well. Sports lovers have plenty of options to engage in their favourite outdoor activities, including surfing, fishing, sailing, golf, horse riding, scuba diving and traditional games like Gaelic football, hurling and camogie.

Your visit to Ireland will provide you with many novel experiences – savour a medieval banquet at an ancient castle, visit the Waterford Crystal factory, tuck into a typical pub lunch, view The Book of Kells ( an elaborately illustrated manuscript, produced by Celtic monks in AD 800) take a literary tour of Dublin including the James Joyce Centre, see the Guinness Brewery. You will discover endless possibilities for stimulating and fun times in Ireland. So why not treat yourself with a memorable trip to this bountiful island?

The three major international airports are Dublin Airport, Cork International Airport and Shannon Airport. All provide extensive services to the UK, continental Europe and North America. The Irish national airline Aer Lingus and the low-cost operator Ryanair are based at Dublin. While several regional airports exist, they mostly limit their services to Ireland and the United Kingdom. Extensive bus and train services are also available, which are convenient for travelling within Ireland. You will surely experience the warmth and hospitality of the Irish people as you explore their enchanting country.