Our most recommended things to do in Cashel, Ireland

Blarney Castle Full-Day Tour from Dublin

1. Blarney Castle Full-Day Tour from Dublin

Visit Ireland’s most famous castle on a full-day tour from Dublin. Enjoy free time to explore the city of Cork and visit Blarney Castle. Stroll in the footsteps of St Patrick at the Celtic Crosses and Round Tower. Meet your guide at Paddy's Palace in Dublin and hop aboard a comfortable and climate-controlled van for a scenic drive through green fields and dairy farms of the Golden Vale of County Cork. Enjoy panoramic views of the Galtee Mountains and County Tipperary. Stop in Cork on banks of the River Lee and spend an hour of free time exploring the city at your own pace. Have the option to visit the historic English Market, or marvel at the architecture of St. Finbarre’s Cathedral. Drive on to Blarney Castle, home of the legendary Blarney Stone. It’s said that if you kiss the stone you will receive the “gift of the gab” for 7 years. Pucker up and kiss the stone or snap a picture.  Explore the castle grounds and gardens to discover the Witch's Cave. Take advantage of the tax free shopping at the Blarney Woollen Mills and craft shop. Step back in time at the evocative Celtic Crosses and Round Tower. Depart for Dublin on a path through the Golden Vale of County Tipperary and arrive back in the city at night. 

From Dublin: Blarney Castle Full-Day Tour

2. From Dublin: Blarney Castle Full-Day Tour

Set off on board a luxury, air-conditioned bus and watch Dublin's urban cityscape give way to the rolling, green hills of the Irish countryside. Drive through several areas of interest, including the Galtee Mountains and the Curragh in County Kildare, which is home to Ireland's National Stud Farm. First, arrive at Blarney Castle which is known around the world for its famous Blarney Stone. Kiss the stone and receive the “gift of the gab." Be sure to explore the rest of Blarney Castle as well as its lush grounds and woodland walks. Discover the scenic Rock Close by taking the Wishing Steps.  Depart Cork and arrive at one of Ireland’s 7 Wonders, the Rock of Cashel in County Tipperary. Explore the Hall of Vicars, Cormack’s Chapel, the Celtic Cathedral, the Round Tower, and the surrounding grounds filled with ancient high crosses. Admire one of Ireland’s oldest Romanesque wall paintings inside this world-famous historical landmark. For your final stop of the day, visit one of Ireland's largest and best-preserved castles, Cahir Castle. The Castle was built in the 13th century, to house the Butler family. Built as a defensive castle it still boasts a lot of the original structure. Afterward, return to Dublin city center to complete your tour.

Cliffs of Moher and Blarney 2-Day Tour from Dublin

3. Cliffs of Moher and Blarney 2-Day Tour from Dublin

Experience the dramatic landscapes of the southwest of Ireland on a 2-day budget tour to the Cliffs of Moher, Blarney Castle, and more. Kiss the famous Blarney Stone, enjoy panoramic views across the Atlantic Ocean, and stay in the historic city of Cork to enjoy the local life up-close. Day 1: Dublin - Rock of Cashel - Blarney - Cork Depart Dublin at 08:00 for a relaxing drive through scenic County Cork. The first stop will be the world famous Rock of Cashel. One of Ireland's most evocative sites, you can stroll in the footsteps of St. Patrick flanked by ruins, Celtic crosses and round towers and feel the soul of Ireland. The Rock of Cashel was the traditional seat of the Kings of Munster until they donated the complex to the Catholic Church almost 1,000 years ago for use as a cathedral. The site is one of the best examples of medieval architecture in Europe. The next stop is Ireland's second city, Cork. Here there is time to visit the English Markets recently visited by Queen Elizabeth II, that offer a wide range of local produce from artisan meats and cheeses and all that is good about Irish fine fare. This is an ideal place to enjoy lunch. In the afternoon you will go to the quaint town of Blarney to kiss the legendary Blarney Stone (optional) at the medieval stronghold of Blarney Castle. Learn the story behind the tradition as you explore the castle’s dungeons, caves and hidden bedrooms. Return to Cork, where you will spend the night. Day 2: Cork - Burren - Cliffs of Moher - Dublin Start the day with a drive through the beautiful Golden Vale, home to some of the best farm land in Ireland. Stop in Limerick to see the River Shannon and get some fine photos of King John's Castle. Continue west to County Clare, enjoying views of the wild Atlantic Ocean as you drive along the West Coast. Marvel at beautiful beaches of golden sand, looking out for dolphins and whales. Admire the lunar landscape of The Burren, where Alpine, Arctic and Mediterranean flowers grow side-by-side. Hear inspiring tales of how the Irish overcame the horrors of the Great Potato Famine of 1845-49, when over 1 million Irish fled to all 4 corners of the earth to escape. Upon arrival at the Cliffs of Moher, gaze in awe at the sheer majesty of the cliffs and crashing waves. See why world surf champ, Kelly Slater, came here for the award-winning surf movie “Wave Riders.” En route back to Dublin, enjoy a short photo stop at the 15th-century tower house of Bunratty Castle.

Ireland: 5-Day Escape to the Southwest Tour

4. Ireland: 5-Day Escape to the Southwest Tour

Discover the scenic splendor of southwest Ireland on a comprehensive 5-day tour of The Burren, the Dingle Peninsula, and the fabled Ring of Kerry. Stop at historic castles and monasteries, and wander the colorful fishing villages to sample fresh seafood. Enjoy dramatic views from the Cliffs of Moher, and stroll along the vast stretch of Inch Beach watching the local surfers. Transportation is by small minicoach, with accommodation in quaint bed and breakfast guesthouses for a more intimate experience. Day 1: Depart Dublin and head west through the farmland and peat bogs of Kildare and Offally counties. Stop at Locke’s Distillery, reputedly the oldest legal distillery in the world. Sample the local whiskey to experience the true spirit of Ireland. Continue west to the mighty Shannon River, and vist the early Christian site of Clonmacnoise. Admire its collection of churches, stone crosses, and round towers. After an afternoon stop in a traditional pub in one of the attractive villages, travel to Galway City to check into your base for the night. This lively student town has no shortage of good pubs and restaurants to enjoy in the evening. Day 2: From Galway City it’s only a short drive along the coast to The Burren, one of Ireland’s great natural treasures. Marvel at the limestone pavements, barren hills, and rare flora. See Christian settlements and ancient stone monuments. You will spend most of the morning exploring this unique area, stopping in Kilfenora for lunch. Known as the “Town of the Crosses,” there will also be time to visit the old cathedral before driving to the Cliffs of Moher. Marvel at this natural beauty, where the cliffs drop almost 700 feet into crashing Atlantic Ocean waves. Take a walk along one of the cliff top trails, and watch the seabirds at work. Alternatively, visit the award-winning environmental exhibition to learn about the region’s ecology. Then, travel south through County Clare, passing the famous golf course and beach at Lahinch to catch the ferry across the Shannon Estuary and into County Kerry. Go to the beautiful lakeside town of Killarney, your base for the next 3 nights. The pubs here are great for food and most have live music in the evenings. Day 3 Today, you will explore the Dingle Peninsula, one of the most scenic parts of Ireland. Your first stop in this heartland of Gaelic culture will be Inch Beach, a vast expanse of sand facing the Atlantic Ocean popular with surfers. From here, increasingly narrow roads lead onto the peninsula itself, through the town of Dingle and out to Slea Head. This is an area of ancient forts and dwellings that date back thousands of years. Visit some of the best examples along the way. Enjoy views of the Blasket Islands as they rise dramatically from the sea. Marvel at the mountains of the famous Ring of Kerry to your south. Weather permitting, time will be allotted for a walk on the beach or along the cliff tops. Learn why the area is important in Gaelic literature. Then, head back to Dingle town with its brightly colored buildings and busy harbor. Spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure, before returning to Killarney. If the weather is good you could enjoy an evening walk in Killarney National Park, just on the edge of town. Day 4: Today, you will take one of the world’s classic routes, the 100-mile Ring of Kerry. Depart Killarney and enjoy the views to Carrauntoohil, Ireland’s highest mountain. Join the coast road through Glenbeigh and Kells to Cahersiveen. Possible stops along the way include Daniel O’Connell’s birthplace, and the ring fort of Cahersiveen. Go to the little fishing village of Portmagee for a lunch of local seafood. Alternatively, cross to the island of Valencia and visit the Skellig Experience to learn about the small community of monks who once lived on the nearby rock island of Skellig Michael. In the afternoon, stop in picturesque Waterville, a favourite holiday destination for Charlie Chaplin. Stop again at the top of the Coonmakista Pass for one of the best views in Ireland. From here, the road drops down to sea level, where you will visit Derrynane House, the family home of Daniel O’Connell. You can stroll in the gardens and down to the beach, as well as look inside the house itself. Continue around the Ring, stopping at Moll’s Gap and Ladies View. There will also be time for a short walk to the Torc Waterfall before returning to Killarney. Day 5: The final day of your tour heads east through the mountains of West Cork and the market town of Macroom. Then, drive along the Lee Valley to Blarney Castle. Visit the castle and take one of the woodland walks to the mystical Rock Close. Explore the village of Blarney, stopping for lunch and a bit of shopping. There may even be time to kiss the famous Blarney Stone, although in peak season it can be very busy. In the afternoon, head to the Rock of Cashel to see the medieval monastery complex high above the town. Finally, go to Kilkenny, a bustling city with a fine castle and park, as well as some lovely riverside walks. Visit the National Craft Centre, or just hang out in one of the pubs for a last Guinness. Hit the road again for the final leg of your journey, arriving back in Dublin at approximately 19:30.

Cork: Cahir Castle and Rock of Cashel Tour in Spanish

5. Cork: Cahir Castle and Rock of Cashel Tour in Spanish

First, visit Cahir Castle. Located on a rocky island in the Suir River, Cahir is one of the best preserved castles in all of Ireland. It kept its impressive keep, tower and much of its original defensive structure. From here, travel to the picturesque city of Cork which is located between two channels of the River Lee. The compact nature of the city provides a cozy atmosphere and everywhere is easily accessible on foot. You will have 2 hours time to explore the city, the narrow streets and bridges, the bustling English market and St Finbarr’s Cathedral with its magnificent bell towers. There is also the opportunity to ring bells yourself in the 300 year old St Anne’s church! Heading back towards Dublin, make a final stop at one of the most iconic locations in Ireland – The Rock of Cashel. A spectacular set of medieval buildings set in a huge rock. It includes a Circular Tower, the traditional Irish Celtic Cross and a Gothic Cathedral. You will arrive back in Dublin around 7:30 - 8:00 PM.

From Dublin: 3-Day Dingle, Killarney & the Wild Atlantic Way

6. From Dublin: 3-Day Dingle, Killarney & the Wild Atlantic Way

Day 1 Head south of Dublin and travel through the Wicklow Mountains to your first stop at the famous Glendalough. Here, enjoy some free time to admire the lovely lakes, learn more about their history at the visitor center, and bask in the serenity of the monastic city ruins. Afterward, continue your quest to the West and visit the traditional market town of Kilcullen for a lunch break. After lunch, travel to the Rock of Dunamase and the ruins of Dunamase Castle in the ancient plains of County Laois. Later on, visit "Ireland's Prettiest Village", Adare; where you can admire a superb collection of thatched cottages and old structures, including the ruins of a 15th-century Franciscan Monastery. Finally, head for County Kerry and the windswept Dingle Peninsula, a stronghold of Irish culture and language, where you will be staying in the town of Dingle for the next two nights. Day 2 Today, find out why the Wild Atlantic Way is known as one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world in the Dingle Peninsula. Enter the heartland of the Gaeltacht (the areas within Ireland where the Irish language is the principal tongue of the local people). Discover the best of the peninsula including highlights such as Conor Pass, Tóchar Maothaithe, the Beehive Huts, Slea Head, and Gallarus Oratory. After a day full of natural splendor, spend the night in Dingle. Day 3 Before leaving the Dingle Peninsula, stop at Inch Beach, where you can get a glimpse of your next destination, the Kerry Mountains and Killarney National Park. Pass by a few lakes and take a short walk to the Torc Waterfall, a 20-meter high cascade of water that originates high in the mountains. Break for lunch in the lively town of Killarney before making your way across country to the Rock of Cashel, a spectacular group of medieval buildings set on an outcrop of limestone. Take some time to explore its Round Tower, High Cross, and Gothic Cathedral. From here, enjoy a relaxing drive with time to reflect on the past three days as you make your way back to Dublin for the early evening.

From Galway: Electric Fat Bike Connemara Private Tour

7. From Galway: Electric Fat Bike Connemara Private Tour

During your time in Galway, take the opportunity to discover the natural beauty of Connemara on a day trip to some of the region's top sights. Explore the area on an electric fat bike and admire the diverse landscapes on a private guided excursion with roundtrip transportation from Galway City. Begin with pickup from your accommodation in Galway City and travel toward the heart of Connemara. Before you begin the ride there will be a detailed demonstration and time for you to get familiar with your electric fat bike. Connemara has an abundance of changing landscapes, wonderful features and attractions to enjoy along the cycle route. Loch Na Fooey is a fresh water lake with breathtaking scenery. Here, there's opportunity to experience a sheepdog demonstration (optional extra).An ‘off the beaten track’ route explores the regions surrounding lower Lough Mask. Stop and take a break at the fabulous lookout to admire the views over the lake. Lunch choices for a sit down meal in Clonbur village or a casual picnic stop close by are recommended options. The return from Clonbur village provides wonderful views over mighty Lough Corrib and Maumturk Mountains. At the end of the ride, you will be dropped back at your accommodation in Galway.

Dublin: Blarney Castle Small Group Tour

8. Dublin: Blarney Castle Small Group Tour

Depart from Dublin in the morning from a selection of leading hotels. Climb into a luxury Mercedes-Benz touring vehicle, with a maximum of 25 passengers on a small group tour led by a professional guide. Travel through the picturesque midlands of Ireland, the Golden Vale agricultural plains of counties Tipperary and Cork. Enjoy the panoramic views of the Galtee Mountains as the tour passes fields with grazing stallions and dairy cows. Arrive at the world famous Rock of Cashel in Tipperary where you will have the opportunity to stroll in the footsteps of St. Patrick flanked by ruins, Celtic crosses, and round towers. Feel the soul of Ireland as you admire the Catholic Church one of the best examples of medieval architecture anywhere in Europe. Next, head to Blarney Castle which is famous is songs and stories. Kiss the Blarney Stone situated on the battlements and receive the “gift of the gab” - 7 years of eloquent speech. Enjoy a stroll around the fabulous gardens of the Blarney Estate or take the beautiful Lake Walk. Visit the Witches Cave in the castle grounds before having plenty of time to indulge in the tax-free shopping haven of the Blarney Woollen Mills and craft shop. Return to Dublin at around 7:45 PM in time for refreshments and evening dinner reservations.

Other Sightseeing Options in Cashel, Ireland

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What people are saying about Cashel, Ireland

You get approx 30 min at Cashel, 90 min in Cork, and 2 hours at Blarney Castle. It was the perfect amount of time in my opinion. 2 hours is more than enough to visit the park and the castle and kiss the stone if you want. We visited in November, so there was no waiting time for the stone. The guide was awesome! Told us some nice bits about Irish history.

We had such a good time! We had 3 different guides, Brian jj and John. JJ was the best and was very funny! The b&b was the only downside of the whole two days!

Fun tour stopping at rock of cashel, Blarney castle and a pub. Bus driver was entertaining. He helped make the dismally, rainy day fun!

The guide Leo was so great and made the trip for me. So much knowledge and passion.

John was our guide and he was awesome! Such a great tour, highly recommend!