One of the absolute best things about exploring all the beautiful small towns in Ireland is simply how many of them there are.
In fact, it would be easy to return to Ireland over and over again throughout your life, visiting different small villages in Ireland each time and walking away with new favorites with every trip.
Thatâs the delight of traveling in Ireland: everywhere is beautiful, everywhere is accessible, and nowhere is dull.
If youâre planning a trip to the Emerald Isle, though, and want to ensure you donât accidentally drive right by some of the loveliest, tiniest, and prettiest villages in Ireland, youâll definitely want to add these adorable small towns in Ireland to your list of towns to visit!
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The Best Way to Access These Small Irish Villages
Without a doubt, the best way to explore small Irish towns–and really the island as a whole–is by renting a car and setting off on the open road.
Ireland is the perfect place for a road trip, and if you hope to explore beyond the big cities and touristy highlights like the Cliffs of Moher, itâs practically mandatory (especially if you have limited time in the country).
We recommend searching for rental cars via Discover Cars, which will search many car rental companies to find the best price and rental inclusions for your dates.
Adorable Small Towns in Ireland
Dingle
As the gateway to the stunning Slea Head Drive and the Dingle Peninsula as a whole, Dingle is one of our personal favorite small towns in Ireland, based in large part on its location!
Come here to enjoy spectacularly colorful houses and streets, track down Star Wars filming locations, and eat delicious Irish food.
While Dingle’s previously most famous local, Fungie the Dolphin, is no longer in residence, you can pay homage to him at a statue built in his honor!
(And if you have your heart set on seeing dolphins when visiting Dingle, you might just luck out on a wildlife boat tour!).
Most importantly, visit Dingle to use it as a base to explore the entire peninsula, while returning back to town for a pint of Guinness and a round of traditional Irish music each night.
Adare
Packed full of 19th-century thatched-roof cottages, Adare is frequently touted as one of the prettiest small towns in Ireland–if not the absolute prettiest.
Its thatched-roof cottages, which today hold craft shops, boutiques, restaurants, and cafes, were originally built for the people working to build the beautiful Adare Manor.
Today, the tables have turned, and arguably the quaint cottages are a bigger draw to the town than the regal manor house (for those who aren’t checking into the opulent 5-star resort that the manor house now serves as, anyway!).
The cottages give Adare a distinct look that differentiates it from many of these small Irish towns, making it well worth a quick detour if youâre on a quest to find all the prettiest villages in Ireland.
Kenmare
Located south of Killarney National Park on Kenmare Bay, this adorable Irish town is all about brightly colored streets, adorable cafes, and cozy pubs.
Kenmare was one of our most unexpected favorite places in Ireland, as, like many visitors, we chose to stay there mostly based on its location near Killarney National Park and therefore the Ring of Kerry.
As it turns out, though, Kenmare is the perfect small Irish village, and a delight to enjoy even when youâre not driving the Ring of Kerry, exploring Killarney National Park, visiting the Ring of Beara for a day, or checking out the Kenmare Bay seals, all of which you should definitely do when visiting Kenmare.
In between all of the sightseeing that no doubt calls your name, be sure to set aside a little time to simply wander around the colorful streets of Kenmare!
Kilkenny
With a massive (and well-preserved) castle dating to the 12th century, a brightly colored town center, a walkable layout, some beautiful churches, and an easy-to-access location just 2 hours south of Dublin, Kilkenny is a fabulous gem of an Irish village and an easy addition to most Ireland vacations.
In addition to visiting Kilkenny Castle and spending some time lounging in the beautiful park located next door, be sure to tour the Black Abbey, check out St. Caniceâs Cathedral and its quirky round tower, and soak in beautiful views with a stroll along the villageâs canals.
And, for what are arguably the best views of Kilkenny Castle, consider taking a boat ride on the River Nore!
We also loved the shops in Kilkenny–especially the bookshops! The Book & Coffee Shop was particularly delightful.
Whether you’re visiting on a day trip from Dublin or using this beautiful Irish town as a base to visit nearby spots, you’re bound to be enchanted by the charm of Kilkenny.
New Ross
One of the best things about traveling is visiting places to expect to like, but instead fall completely in love with–and on our most recent trip to Ireland, that was us and the entirety of Irelandâs Ancient East⌠starting with New Ross.
Located right on the River Barrow (you canât miss the Dunbrody Famine Ship parked along town as you drive up!) and within easy reach of the highlights of County Wexford and County Waterford, cheerful New Ross is a tiny little port town that makes a fantastic base.
Nearby spots to add to your list include the Dunbrody Abbey and Maze, the Hook Lighthouse, Tintern Abbey, and Duncannon Fort.
The fact that we count our bed and breakfast there, Inishross House, among our favorite places weâve ever stayed in Ireland sure helps our impression!
Kinsale
Known as one of the most colorful small towns in Ireland and overlooked by not one, but two 17th-century fortresses, Kinsale is a ridiculously photogenic Irish village.
It’s definitely worth stopping to visit Kinsale if you pass by during your trip!
While youâre there, be sure to pay a visit to Charles Fort, check out Desmond Castle, admire the harbor views from Summercove, and, of course, snap plenty of photos of the incredibly colorful streets, which are bright even by Ireland standards!
Doolin
Most famous for being the gateway to the Cliffs of Moher, Doolin is an adorable small town that is well worth visiting in its own right.
Tiny and cozy, be sure to settle in for an evening at one of the villageâs delightful traditional Irish pubs (weâre personally partial to McDermottâs, but McGannâs or Gus OâConnorâs would also love to have you).
While you’re there, also check out the nearby Burren Way, perhaps take a day trip to one of the Aran Islands (we love Inisheer), admire the colorful streets, and, of course, visit the Cliffs of Moher.
You can even hike to the cliffs from town if youâre so inclined!
Dunmore East
Keep driving past touristy (and lovely) Waterford, and youâll eventually come to the tiny Irish village of Dunmore East.
Best-known for its beautiful beaches that are arguably among the best in Ireland, this little fishing village is the perfect detour when exploring Irelandâs beautiful (and in our opinion, underrated) Ancient East.
NTF30, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Cobh
Beautiful, colorful Cobh is one of our favorite small towns in Ireland.
Perched on the edge of the sea, tiny Cobh (pronounced âCoveâ) has been historically significant for centuries as a place where many Irish people left the island as emigrants, both willingly and by force, and today is home to a compelling local museum telling their story.
It was also the final port of call of the Titanic before the ship and its occupants met its tragic, watery end.
More cheerfully, Cobh is home to the colorful street of 19th-century homes known as the âDeck of Cardsâ which, when admired with the gorgeous St. Colmanâs Cathedral rising out of the village behind them, make for a picture-perfect view.
From here, it is easy to see why Cobh is consistently counted among the prettiest villages in Ireland!
Westport
As the hometown of one of the most famous female pirates in history, Westport is bound to be an interesting place.
Itâs a beautiful one, too, featuring a lovely Georgian town center in addition to the fascinating manor house the Grace OâMalley once called home.
Located in arguably under-touristed County Mayo, Westport also makes a fabulous base for exploring some of the natural beauty of Irelandâs west coast.
You can take beautiful drives from Westport, and experience everything from exploring Clew Bay to climbing Croagh Patrick to paying a visit to the majestic Achill Island.
County Mayo – Westport – Westport House – Carrowbeg River Bridge & Entrance by Suzanne Mischyshyn, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Ballyferriter
Absolutely minuscule and yet incredibly charming, the tiny town of Ballyferriter is located on the far edge of Slea Head Drive, just about as far west as you can get on the Dingle Peninsula.
Colorful, quaint, and somewhat isolated (as much as one can be on the relatively small island of Ireland, anyway), Ballyferriter is home to many Irish speakers and is one of the few places left where you can hear the Irish language spoken in general conversation.
Students fill up the town during the warm(er) summer months to learn the language, but overall, the village remains a quiet place and the perfect spot to grab lunch when road-tripping Slea Head Drive.
We had a great lunch at Tigh an tSaorsaigh when we visited and can recommend it for its cozy atmosphere and tasty food.
Castletownbere
Also known as Castletown Berehaven, this fishing village is located along the delightfully under-the-radar Ring of Beara.
If you’re looking for small towns in Ireland where you can get off the beaten path and avoid the crowds that fill up more popular spots, Castletownbere is the place for you!
If youâd like to stay overnight somewhere along the Ring of Beara, colorful Castletownbere is an excellent choice, but even daytrippers will enjoy a stop here.
Be sure to stop by McCarthyâs Bar, which is home to tasty food and also has a bit of a claim to fame as a featured spot in the book version of McCarthyâs Bar, the memoir by comedian Pete McCarthy (not my kind of humor, as it turns out, but I did give the book a try after our visit!).
Howth
Located less than an hour from Dublin, the adorable fishing village of Howth is among the easiest of these small towns in Ireland to visit on a very short trip to the country, and you can even visit this village in Ireland by train!
Be sure to stroll through Howthâs beautiful harbor, check out the local market, and enjoy views of Howth Castle.
Of course, the real star of the show in Howth is a bit outside the village: the Howth Cliff Walk and Howth Lighthouse are absolute stunners, and any visit to Howth should be sure to include them.
Cashel
Best-known for the phenomenal Rock of Cashel that is perched above the town, Cashel itself is a quaint blink-and-youâll-miss-it Irish village.
While youâre there, of course, you canât miss touring the phenomenal Rock of Cashel and visiting the Cashel Folk Village!
However, Cashel also makes an excellent base for exploring the many ruins, attractions, and hikes of County Tipperary, including but not limited to Hore Abbey (we love this place), Swiss Cottage, Athassel Abbey, and Cahir Castle.
Read More About Visiting Ireland
If this guide to beautiful Irish villages has you eager to plan a trip to Ireland, we’d love to help here on Our Escape Clause!
You can check out all of our Ireland blog posts here, or browse these guides:
- Belleek Castle, County Mayo: Our Surprising Stay (+ How to Visit!)
- How Much Does a Trip to Ireland Cost? (On Any Budget)
- The Ultimate Europe Bucket List: 75 Fun Things to Do in Europe
- 9 Fun Things to Do on Inisheer, Ireland’s Smallest Aran Island
- The Ultimate 2 Days in Dublin Itinerary
Prettiest Villages in Ireland Map
My grandfather was from Doolin! If my memory is right, the Cliffs of Moher is in County Clare which I’m named after.
What an amazing place to be named after! The Cliffs of Moher are right next door to Doolin, so that would definitely fit your name. đ
We were in Ireland recently. Our unexpected favorite place was Kenmare. The atmosphere of the town was amazing. Warm, friendly and infectious! We all agreed we would have booked additional nights at our VRBO had we known!
When you do an update please include Mountfield, that’s where my paternal great-great grandfather was from
I live in Ireland and I’m Irish and I think there is a few towns you are missing out on; Gorey Co. Wexford, Greystones Co. Wicklow & Athlone Co. Westmeath. Next time you’re in Ireland, do yourselves a favour and check them out!