“If I had to choose one spot to enjoy the small-town charm of traditional Ireland, it would be Dingle and its history-laden scenic peninsula.”
-Rick Steves
When I first visited Ireland, I was chatting with a local man in a Dingle pub, telling him about my Ireland itinerary. He proudly informed me that Dingle would be the highlight of my trip. He wasn’t wrong. There is so much beauty and so many wonderful things to do on the Dingle Peninsula; I’d go back in a heartbeat.
The Dingle Peninsula, and the town of the same name, sits along the southwest coast of Ireland. Located in County Kerry, it is part of the Wild Atlantic Way (a tourism trail that winds along the rugged beauty of Ireland’s Atlantic coast).
This area of Ireland is not only beautiful to look at, but it is also steeped in history and culture. Whether you are looking to explore the bright blue waters and green cliffs, or want to learn about what life was like for past (and present) residents, there are many things to do in Dingle.
Plus, it’s Ireland, so of course there are plenty of pubs to visit!
Perhaps you too will strike up a conversation with a local. Honestly, the friendly people were one of my favorite things about Dingle.
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How to Get to the Dingle Peninsula, Ireland
- By car: The drive from Dublin to Dingle is about 4.5 hours via the M7 and N21, while the drive from Galway is about 3.75 hours via the M18 and N21.
- By bus: There is a Bus Eireann route from Tralee (about 31 miles/50 kilometres away). Ten buses a day leave from Tralee Rail Station and the ride to Dingle is about an hour.
- By tour: If you are looking to just spend a day on the Dingle Peninsula, you can take a day tour like this one from Killarney, or this one from Limerick.
Planning a trip to Ireland?
Check out my post about How to Spend 10 Days in Ireland: An Awesome Irish Road Trip Itinerary
(Dingle is Day 6!)
Things to Know About Exploring the Dingle Peninsula
- You’ll need a vehicle. The best way to see the Dingle Peninsula is with your own car. Some of the more remote areas are too far from town to reach on foot.
- Wear sturdy footwear. If you are interested in any of the natural wonders of Dingle, you will want to wear shoes with good tread, as much of the Dingle Peninsula involves cliffs.
- The weather is changeable. Like most of Ireland, the weather in Dingle can be rainy one minute and sunny the next, so you’ll want to dress in layers.
Things to Do on the Dingle Peninsula
Grab Coffee from Bean in Dingle
The best way to start a day in Dingle is to get coffee at Bean in Dingle. This cute cafe’s bright yellow interior is an embodiment of its warm atmosphere.
Bean in Dingle is popular amongst locals and tourists alike. As their name suggests, they roast their coffee beans locally. (You can even take a bag home if you like.) If you’re staying in Dingle for several days, purchase a to-go cup and refill it each time you swing by.
Come in for a coffee and make sure to try some tasty fresh pastries, like sausage rolls, cinnamon buns, and muffins.
Do the Slea Head Drive
One of the best things to do on the Dingle Peninsula is to do the Slea Head Drive. This circular route is one of the most scenic drives in Ireland and takes you around the western tip of the peninsula.
You can drive the Slea Head loop in 1-2 hours without stopping. However, you’ll want to give yourself a whole day because you’ll want to stop at the following places as you drive around:
Visit Dingle Sheepdogs
This stop was one of my favorite places in Dingle. Dingle Sheepdogs is a family-run business that has been handing down the tradition of herding sheep for hundreds of years, with the help of extremely skilled sheepdogs.
Observe a farmer giving commands to his dog in the native Irish language, Gaeilge, and watch as the dog takes off over the steep green hills, bringing the sheep back down. You’ll learn about farming and daily life in Dingle, and how it has changed (and how it hasn’t) over the years.
Also on the property at Dingle Sheepdogs are “famine cottages,” which are structures from the 1840s. The cottages are filled with plaques, pictures, and mannequins depicting how people struggled and survived the Great Famine.
As a bonus, if you visit Dingle Sheepdogs in the spring, you might be lucky enough to hold a newborn lamb. I’m not exaggerating when I say this was the highlight of my first trip to Ireland!
Frolic at Coumeenoole Beach
If the weather is nice, a fun stop on the Slea Head Drive is Coumeenoole Beach. With a sandy shore, dramatic cliffs, and blue water, it’s one of the most popular beaches in Dingle.
Coumeenoole Beach makes for a great walking or picnicking spot. However, because of dangerous currents, it is an unsafe place to swim. The wind can also be intense, so use caution when descending into the bay from the cliffside car park.
Hike Dunmore Head
One of the best things to do on the Dingle Peninsula is to hike to the end of it! Dunmore Head is one of the most westerly points in Europe.
With the waves crashing against the cliffs and rocky islands dotting out into the sea, it looks like the edge of the world. Perhaps that’s why Dunmore Head was used as a filming location in Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
From the Coumeenoole Beach parking area, you can do a 1.6-mile loop to Dunmore Head and back. The hike is considered moderate, and (again) caution should be used when walking along the cliffs.
Watch the Waves at Dunquin Pier
Dunquin Pier (called Cé Dhún Chaoin in Gaeilge) is one of the most recognizable stops on the Slea Head Drive. Located in the parish of Dun Chaoin (which is an Irish-speaking area), the uniquely shaped pier is where you can catch the Blasket Island ferry.
Even if you’re not taking the ferry, you can walk the pier’s curved path down to Dunquin Harbor. Tall cliffs rise up from the docking area, which is surrounded by bright blue water.
Learn About the Blasket Islands at the Blasket Centre
The islands you can see from Dunquin Pier are the Blasket Islands. Although they are now uninhabited, they used to hold rural communities. The Blasket Centre is a museum and cultural center detailing what life was like for the residents of the Blasket Islands.
Because of their remote location, the language, customs, and culture of the Blasket Islands remained unchanged for many years. The islands were finally abandoned in 1954 due to population decline and lack of emergency services for the aging folks who remained.
The Blasket Centre holds artifacts and interactive exhibits that help tell the story of Blasket Island life.
Take a Boat Ride to the Great Blasket Island
Interested in the Blasket Islands? You can see them for yourself! One of the best things to do on the Dingle Peninsula is to take a boat trip out to the islands.
From Dunquin Pier, you can take the ferry to The Great Blasket Island, the largest of the islands. The ferry ride is about 20 minutes, and you can take a free walking tour when you arrive. Check the Blasket Island Ferry Website for times and prices.
If you’re particularly interested in wildlife and marine life, you can take a tour like the Wonders of Blasket Islands Sea Life Boat Tour, during which you might spot whales, dolphins, seals, and plenty of seabirds.
Enjoy Fresh Fish and Chips
One of the best things to do in Dingle is to enjoy some fresh fish and chips. Being right on the ocean means fresh seafood, and the restaurants in Dingle have plenty to offer. However, there’s something so satisfying about a plate of steamy, greasy, classic fish and chips.
Some of the best restaurants to eat fish and chips in Dingle are:
- Reel Dingle Fish and Chips
- The Fish Box / Flannery’s Seafood Bar
- Out of the Blue
Visit Dingle Oceanworld Aquarium
If you’re visiting with children, one of the best Dingle attractions to visit is the aquarium. Dingle Oceanworld Aquarium is Ireland’s largest aquarium and offers various sea creatures to observe.
The main stars at Dingle Oceanworld Aquarium are the penguins and the otters, but they also have native and tropical fish, turtles, and rays. Plus, there is a shark tank where you can get up close and personal! Kids will enjoy playing in the touch pool as they discover the wonders of marine life.
Dingle Oceanworld Aquarium is dedicated to protecting vulnerable marine species through their conservation efforts. My favorite effort of theirs is the rehabilitation process for loggerhead turtles that wash up on the beach.
Once the turtles are nursed back to health, they are released back into the wild. However, some turtles, like Molly, become permanent residents due to injuries or illnesses that would prevent them from surviving in the ocean.
Book your ticket to Dingle Oceanworld Aquarium here.
Walk Around the Town of Dingle
The town of Dingle is exactly what you picture when you think of a village in Ireland: small colorful buildings and some colorful characters as well.
Walking around town is one of the best things to do in Dingle. There are many shops and galleries that support local artists, where you can purchase beautiful souvenirs or clothing.
There are also plenty of cafes, in addition to the Bean in Dingle. Wander into An Café Liteartha for a coffee, Irish literature, and some spoken Gaeilge.
Eat Ice Cream Made in Dingle
For those with a sweet tooth, one of the best things to do on the Dingle Peninsula is to eat local ice cream. You’ll find Murphy’s Ice Cream shops around Ireland, but especially in Dingle, where they first opened in 2000.
Murphy’s Ice Cream uses milk from local Kerry cows, a rare breed of dairy cattle native to Ireland. It makes deliciously creamy ice cream.
You can sample flavors before picking your scoop (or two), which is advisable because Murphy’s offers some unique flavors, like sea salt, honeycomb, and even Irish brown bread.
Imbibe at Some of the Best Pubs in Dingle
Since you’re in Ireland, one of the best things to do on the Dingle Peninsula is to visit some of the best pubs in the area. Whether you’re looking for a drink, live music, or hardware supplies (see below), Dingle has plenty of great pubs to patronize.
Some of the best pubs on the Dingle Peninsula include:
- Dick Mack’s: A popular pub in Dingle dating back to 1899
- O’Flaherty’s Bar: Casual and traditional
- Neligan’s: Great for live music and line dancing
- Foxy John’s: Part pub/part hardware store
- Kruger’s Bar: “Ireland’s most westerly bar” (located in Dunquin)
Tour Dingle Distillery
Speaking of imbibing, one of the best things to do in Dingle is to tour Dingle Distillery. This family-owned business filled its first whiskey casks in 2012 and has since expanded to make gin and vodka as well.
A guided tour will take you through the distilling process for all three spirits, including information about how they work to be an environmentally friendly, sustainable company. The tour ends with a tasting of two whiskies and your choice of gin or vodka.
Watch the Sunset at the Marina
Finally, one of my favorite things we did in Dingle was watching the sunset from the marina. After spending a fun-filled day in Dingle, it was the perfect way to unwind.
There’s a lovely path that loops around the Dingle Marina Breakwater with informational signs about the birds you might spot in the harbor. It’s a popular spot for locals to take their dogs for a walk, which is a bonus if you’re a dog lover.
I hope this guide to Dingle attractions has been useful as you plan your visit to the Dingle Peninsula. From the scenery to the culture, Dingle is a special part of Ireland that is not to be missed!
Interested in exploring places on the Dingle Peninsula with a guide? Check out these Dingle tours:
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