Touring Ireland’s most beautiful spots

*Originally published on KildareVillage.com

From east coast to west, Dublin to the sprawling counties, Ireland’s natural beauty and farm-to-table food promise a gloriously green getaway. Add in elegantly restored architecture and luxury hospitality and you’ll see why they call it the Emerald Isle.

To stay

Spanning four converted eighteenth-century Georgian townhouses, Dublin’s Merrion Hotel is a quietly unassuming spot, but don’t let the modest façade fool you. Once inside, you’re spoilt with original features, including chandeliers, claw-foot bathtubs and a beautiful neoclassical pool. But it’s the two-Michelin-starred restaurant, fronted by Patrick Guilbald, that seals the deal. Tuck into contemporary Irish dishes, each with classic French roots, before a nightcap in the Cellar Bar.

INSIDER SECRET: For sweeping vistas of County Wicklow, drive just 30 minutes from the city centre to Powerscourt Resort and Spa instead. Home to an idyllic spa overlooking Sugar Loaf Mountain, the hotel’s a stunning option for a greener break.

To drink

Insiders love Dublin’s newest cocktail bar, 9 Below, where four intimate rooms create a chic speakeasy amid the enclaves of the tastefully converted basement on St. Stephen’s Green. Formally part of the historic Hibernian Club, this unique space is filled with polished wood, velvet sofas and dim lighting – making it the perfect after-hours spot for those wanting privacy. 

INSIDER SECRET; While you’re soaking up the original vaulted ceilings, why not try a glass of the incredibly rare Midleton Pearl 30th Anniversary whiskey?

To eat

The hottest table in town is nestled in the basement of Dublin’s former Writers Museum – only those in the know have Chapter One on speed dial. Boasting two Michelin stars, the menu is a unique French fusion fronted by head chef Mickael Viljanen, and you can book the Chef’s table for a front row seat to watch the master at work. 

To discover

Get up close and personal with Irish equine royalty at the Irish National Stud & Gardens in County Kildare, home to immaculately-bred stallions, frolicking foals and more. It’s here where you’ll also find the famous Japanese Gardens, perfect for a stroll with a guide or to contemplate the meaning of life on the ‘Life of Man’ path, which symbolises a person’s journey from birth to death through the plants, flowers and rocks.

TOP TIP: Just minutes away is the open-air shopping destination Kildare Village, offering elegant boutiques from the world’s best designers, at the world’s best prices. This season, expect exclusive brand showcases and events from the likes of Eleventy, Mulberry and more – all set in the beautiful Personal Suites.

To sightsee

For the most magical tour of the Emerald Isle, opt for a helicopter ride above Ireland’s picturesque landscape and the quaint Inis Mór, one of the Aran Islands off the west coast. Starting in Galway, you’ll fly over Inis Mor, taking in its ancient dry stone walls, thatched villages and the prehistoric Dun Aengus – a series of hill forts sitting dramatically on the island’s cliff edge.

DON’T MISS: Prefer the sea to the skies? Sail along the picturesque eastern coastline and enjoy uninterrupted views of Dalkey Sound, Dalkey Island, Bulloch Harbour and Dublin Bay on a private boat tour.