Learn about cool things to do in Dingle. Explore what to see on the Dingle Peninsula. Drive the Dingle Peninsula and discover Slea Head Drive, beehive huts, world-class ice cream and more.
The Dingle Peninsula is one of the premiere destinations for a road trip in Ireland. We'd been living in Dublin for five years and somehow still hadn't made the drive from Dublin to Dingle.
We decided to rectify the situation this year and planned a road trip to Dingle from Dublin over the Paddy's Day weekend in March.
Read on for ideas of cool things to do in Dingle on a 4-day St. Patrick's Day weekend.
Where to Stay in Dingle
Our accommodation for the weekend was outside of Dingle Town (just a 20 minute walk away). Browne's Bed and Breakfast featured lovely farm and bay views.
We could have spent the entire trip watching the lambs frolic across the street. Too cute and very zen. The breakfast was filling with a number of options to try each day. We'd definitely recommend checking out Browne's.
Overview of Things to Do in Dingle
You may be wondering is Dingle worth visiting? Here's a summary of things to do in Dingle that I recommend.
There are so many fun things to see in both Dingle Town and on the Dingle Peninsula. Read the rest of this post for all the details on where you'll find these attractions and why they are worth visiting.
- Down a Pint in Colorful Dingle Town
- Eat Amazing Seafood in Dingle Town
- Check Out Iron Age Dunbeg Fort
- Visit The Westernmost Point in Ireland
- Photograph Scenic Views On The Dingle Peninsula
- Take A Challenging Dingle Hike with (No) Snakes and Ladders
- Get Close to the Water on the Dingle Peninsula
- Explore Dingle's Iconic Beehive Huts
- Get Your Cuteness Overload with Spring Lambs
- Marvel at Gallarus Oratory
- Grab a Pint at Dingle Brewing Company
- Watch Gorgeous Dingle Sunsets
- Try a Murphy's with your Murphy's
- Tap Your Feet to Paddy's Day Trad Sessions
Down a Pint in Colorful Dingle Town
Walking into town, we were spoiled for choice of pubs to grab a Paddy's Day pint.
Eat Amazing Local Seafood in Dingle Town
Dingle is also known for its amazing and fresh local seafood. Most folks from the region balk about having seafood anywhere else, even in Dublin. It's just not the same. We enjoyed dinner at Out of the Blue, a seafood only restaurant in Dingle Town.
Check Out Dunbeg Fort on The Dingle Peninsula
For the ultimate freedom to explore, a car is a must. We drove the Slea Head Loop (part of the Wild Atlantic Way) to the far end of the Dingle Peninsula. Our first stop was at Dunbeg Fort, an Iron Age fort practically spilling into the sea.
Visit The Westernmost Point in Ireland in Dingle
Slea Head drive took us to the Westernmost point in Ireland. The point is marked by a big bright white crucifix.
Photograph Scenic Views On The Dingle Peninsula
The views on the way to Dingle and along Slea Head are positively stunning. We pulled over as often as possible to take pictures.
Take A Challenging Dingle Hike with (No) Snakes and Ladders
It's definitely important on any road trip to take time to get out and stretch your legs. We parked at the Blasket Centre and walked the nearby loop trail. We even detoured up a large hill for sweeping views of the sea and the Blasket Islands.
There were a couple points in the trail when it wasn't clear exactly which direction to go. The map suggested that the trail would continue along the water, but it was all fenced off. Fortunately, we spotted this ladder, climbed up and over, and continued on the trail.
Some of the best scenery on the trail is beyond these ladders.
Get Close to the Water on the Dingle Peninsula
Near the end of the loop trail, I spied a rough staircase descending to the sea. Always curious, we descended into what looked like a man made bath. We enjoyed the views at sea level as we listened to the waves crashing into shore. Positively stunning.
Explore Dingle's Beehive Huts
Ancient architecture features prominently along the Dingle Peninsula. We've already talked about the Dunbeg Fort.
The area also features a number of beehive stone structures that are more difficult to date but that are thought to originate around the 12th century when Normans forced the Irish away from the best lands.
This area may not be as good for farming, but those 12th century hut dwellers certainly had no shortage of amazing sea views.
Get Your Cuteness Overload with Dingle's Spring Lambs
I have to say, I was very tempted to go vegetarian on this trip especially after I saw this adorable little lamb peeking out at us curiously as we explored the beehive huts. If you visit Dingle in Spring, expect to see many cute sheep.
Marvel at Gallarus Oratory in Dingle
The Gallatus Oratory is another impressive stop on the Dingle Peninsula. It's a perfectly preserved beehive church believed to date back to the fifth or sixth century.
It's amazing to see how a structure like this, so unprotected and out in the windswept elements of Dingle has survived through the centuries.
Grab a Pint at Dingle Brewing Company
As with any road trip, it's a great feeling to drop the car off at the end of a fine day's exploration and tuck into a well deserved pint. Back in Dingle Town, we stopped at Tom Crean.
Tom Crean is a craft beer brewery named after the Irish Antarctic explorer. We sipped our pint as we toured the premises and learned more about this man who signed on for not one, not two, but THREE Antarctic expeditions before retiring to run the South Pole Inn in nearby Anascaul.
SIDEWALK SAFARI SPOTLIGHT: Can't get enough of Dingle and County Kerry? Take a day trip from Dingle Town to Tralee and explore additional things to do in Dingle like: driving the Conor Pass, taking a walk on Inch Beach and admiring the views of Dingle Bay, and discovering the legend of Antarctic explorer Tom Crean. You could also consider doing the Ring of Kerry drive, one of the most popular scenic road trips in Ireland, and then spending a week in Waterville.
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Watch Gorgeous Sunsets over Dingle Harbour
Our St. Patrick's Day weekend in Dingle was also blessed with some amazing sunsets. We enjoyed strolling along the harbor and watching the sun melt away to a deep orange glow.
Try a Murphy's with your Murphy's in Dingle Town
Dingle arguably has some of the best food in Ireland. Dingle is the land of Murphy's...ice cream, that is. There is a Murphy's outlet in Dublin but the original is in Dingle Town.
We stopped in to try a scoop made with Dingle sea salt and milk from Kerry cows. For a treat we thought, why not combine a scoop of Murphy's ice cream with a pint of Murphy's at a nearby pub :-)
Tap Your Feet to Paddy's Day Trad Sessions in Dingle Town
SIDEWALK SAFARI SPOTLIGHT: Looking for other Irish road trip ideas? Cork and Kerry are neighbors so why not pop on over to West Cork for excellent food and more great scenery. You could also drive from Dublin to Tipperary and visit the Rock of Cashel.
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If you have more time to spend in Dingle and County Kerry, why not consider a trip to iconic Skellig Michael? It takes about 2 hours to travel from Dingle Town to Valentia Island and Portmagee (jumping off point for tours to Skellig Michael).
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