Forget the Cliffs of Moher. Go to Dingle Instead.

I spent a good portion of my childhood in Ireland, and I’m always in awe of the ethereal green beauty that seems to wrap itself around the whole country. 

For a small island, Ireland is packed with places to see and things to do. Tourists usually spend most of their time in Dublin for nightlife and then take a day trip to County Clare to see The Cliffs of Moher.  

Now, I’m not here to knock the Cliffs of Moher entirely. The scenery is stunning, and I wouldn’t place this destination in the “overrated” category. You will certainly enjoy your time there. 

However, after driving through the country top to bottom and east to west, there’s another destination I think you should visit instead: Dingle. It’s the most beautiful place I’ve ever visited in Ireland. 

Fewer Tourists During Peak Summer Season

While summer is a great time to travel, many popular destinations are overwhelmed by tourists, which makes for long lines and traffic. 

Dingle is located in County Kerry and receives its fair share of tourists from June to early September. August is the busiest time of the year, particularly in the town. However, with so much space to move around, you won’t feel overrun by tourists. 

I spent two nights traveling the full Dingle peninsula by car in early September 2019, and my friend and I were pleasantly surprised by the sense of freedom we had to wander with so much space. 

The Slea Head Drive route receives the most traffic during the summer, but we had the road almost completely to ourselves.

Plus, since Dingle is Ireland’s westernmost peninsula, the temperature is much milder than most summer destinations. So, skip Santorini for the heat, and the Cliffs of Moher for the tourists, and book a weekend away in The Dingle Peninsula!

6,000 Years of History

One of the most fascinating parts of Dingle’s history is the archaeological heritage hiding in its mountains. All along the drive, I kept saying “What’s that?” after passing an endless amount of stone huts and oddly shaped monuments. 

We pulled over to take a look at a few of the stone-built beehive huts and read more about the history. To my surprise, I learned that people have inhabited The Dingle Peninsula for over 6,000 years. 

Because of its remote location, over 2,000 monuments have been preserved, which is rare in Western Europe. It definitely was a rough life due to its isolation, but that makes the topography even more surreal. 

I highly recommend pulling over as much as possible on the peninsula and seeing the monuments. Kilmalkedar Church is a monastery dating back to the early medieval period. The Gallarus Oratory is a small church almost completely intact and impossible for scholars to date. You just have to see these two historic sites in person. I was blown away by how old yet preserved they are. 

Since there’s so much space, you’ll have no problem parking and walking around the different sites without feeling rushed. You’ll want to take the time to enjoy each of the monuments anyway, because it really is a rare experience in an incredibly unique place.  

Wild Atlantic Way – The Best Scenic Drive in Ireland

I think I’ve made my point about the beauty of The Dingle Peninsula, but I fear my words don’t go far enough. 

Dingle is a slice of heaven off a rugged coast with a shocking amount of unique terrain. You’re treated to every shade of green on the mountains and multiple vantage points of Ireland’s southwest Atlantic coast and sandy beaches. 

The Wild Atlantic Way is 1,600 miles of coastal routes in Ireland. The Dingle Peninsula is on that route and has so much beauty in one place that we thought we were driving through different countries!

My favorite place to walk around was the Ballydavid Cliff Walk – much easier than some of the more mountainous parts. The best beach was Castlegregory, located north of Dingle on the Maharees Peninsula. The sandy beaches stretch for miles, and we even chatted with a few local fishermen. 

Cashel Murphy is where you’ll see the ancient stone settlements. We had to hike up a hill, but it wasn’t too strenuous. Slea Head Drive is the 30 km circular route we drove (and everyone else) to see these sites. It’s basically a giant loop with plenty of signs to direct you to different parts of the peninsula.

I should mention, make sure you pack an umbrella! Ireland is known for rain, and some intermittent showers met us on our drive. The good news? Storms clear up fast, and you’re treated to sensational beauty when the sun peeks through. 

Friendly Locals & A Great Pub Scene

The nightlife in Dingle is why I’m glad I booked a bed & breakfast to spend the night and enjoy the local scene after experiencing Slea Head Drive. 

If there’s one universal truth about the Irish, it’s their unbeatable hospitality. Irish people live for banter and good “craic.” Dingle was no different, and we chatted with locals in every pub and tavern we visited.

What immediately stood out was hearing the locals speak traditional Irish Gaelic. The Dingle Peninsula is a Gaeltacht, or region where it’s widely spoken. Being Irish myself, it was a treat since most of Ireland now speaks English! 

Another draw was the bright blue, green, and red hues of the taverns and pubs. I stepped into Foxy John’s pub for a more traditional feel and learned that it’s a hardware store by day turned into a bar at night. A traditional music session of violins and flutes was happening at a corner table, and patrons were singing along. 

My favorite pub of the night was Dick Mack’s, a popular spot for good reason. The place is cluttered and rustic in the best kind of way. I had to elbow my way to the bar since it’s usually busy and I met a cheerful bartender who convinced me to buy Murphy’s stout over a Guiness. By the way, the stout tastes WAY better in Ireland. 

Stunning Green Mountains for Hiking

Fun fact: Star Wars – The Last Jedi was filmed in Sybil Head, Ballyferriter (the photo with the sheep). 

My friend and I climbed the mountain and spent a few hours on the scenic walking trails. At every turn, there’s a hidden cave or a group of wandering sheep. You’ll feel the wind hitting your face, and the air is always damp. 

Ireland is an incredible place for hiking, and Dingle should make it to your list if you’re an avid outdoors fan. 

The Dingle Lighthouse Trail was fairly easy for us to walk, and you’ll run into more tourists than in other parts of the peninsula. It’s a great place to meet people and have a quick chat.

Cnoc a’Cairn and Conor Pass Loop were breathtaking but a challenging hike compared to the rest of the peninsula. We had to make our own way as the old trails were hard to define, but it was well worth it. If you do this hike, make sure the weather is dry. The ground was wet when we went, and we both fell a few times on the way up! 

Lastly – You’ll Need To Rent A Car

Now would be a good time to mention that you’ll need to rent a car to explore Dingle. Oh, and in Ireland, you drive on the left side of the road! And be careful, they tend to be narrow with sharp and sudden bends. 

If you fly into Shannon International Airport, it’s about a three-hour car ride to Dingle and 5 hours drive from Dublin Airport. 

👉 For more information, we’ve created a guide for renting a car at Dublin Airport!

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One of my top reasons to pick Dingle over the Cliffs of Moher is that you can easily spend 2 to 3 days packed with excursions. My cousin went in the summer of 2023 and recommended this dolphin and whale watching tour, the highlight of her trip. 

More than just hiking and sightseeing, the main town has a distillery, aquarium, and plenty of fantastic restaurants. If you’re a seafood fan, it’s hard to beat Dingle to enjoy a local catch. 

So, pack an umbrella, rent a car, and book a local B&B to enjoy an amazing trip to Dingle — one of Ireland’s best-kept secrets. 

🎧 The Travel Lemming Podcast: Travel Lemming Editor Abigail recently visited Dingle. Hear her and Nate chat about it in Episode 3 of the Travel Lemming Podcast! Listen to the Dingle segment here.