Ireland Tourist Traps

 
by mcuriel
 
  •   Tourist Traps
    by mcuriel
  •   Tourist Traps
    by mcuriel
  • View from one side of the Gravity Bar,
      View from one side of the Gravity Bar,
    by sirdavidanthony
  • Even the Shelbourne has some strange guests!
      Even the Shelbourne has some strange...
    by Jefie
  • St. James Gate
      St. James Gate
    by mrolson65
 

Most Viewed Tourist Traps in Ireland

1.

Temple Bar   Dublin

Temple Bar, Dublin

 23 Reviews  Nice area with plenty of shops, pubs and restaurants but definitely aimed at tourists & hence pretty expensive. Go & see it but if you want souvenirs, food or drink there's plenty of other places to... 

 See All 110 Tourist Traps in Dublin

2.

Blarney Castle   Cork

Blarney Castle, Cork

 10 Reviews  Blarney Castle - yes I know I have photos of it in my travelogue but really unless you get excited at the thought of hanging upside down 300 feet up just to kiss a big stone then give it a... 

 See All 16 Tourist Traps in Cork

3.

Bunratty castle   Limerick

Bunratty castle, Limerick

 5 Reviews  While I agree that Bunratty Castle and Folk Park may be a tourist trap, it is incorrect to list this as a 'Limerick' tourist trap as some other reviewers have placed it. Bunratty Castle and Folk Park,... 

 See All 10 Tourist Traps in Limerick

4.

Jaunting carts   Killarney

Jaunting carts, Killarney

 3 Reviews  We were stopped by a jaunting cart driver who wanted our business. We told him we were looking for horse back riding and he got kind of rude and said it was too late inn the season for that and he was... 

 See All 11 Tourist Traps in Killarney

5.

National Craft Gallery   Kilkenny

National Craft Gallery, Kilkenny

 1 Review  The National Craft Gallery is across the road from the castle, but there really is not much worth looking at in there. Within these grounds, is Butler House, which is also a hotel. It was formerly the... 

 See All 2 Tourist Traps in Kilkenny

6.

Pony & Trap   Inishmore

Pony & Trap, Inishmore

 1 Review  Even though they definitely fit better here than to any big touristy city in the world - they still have the tourist trap touch for me. Take a picture of the cool old fellas and their horses! Rent a... 

 See All 3 Tourist Traps in Inishmore

7.

Bunratty Castle   Shannon

Bunratty Castle, Shannon

 2 Reviews  Hmmm... so what does this title mean? Well, in my humble opinion, this should not be considered at "Tourist Trap". But since it is already on the list, I want to add my thoughts. To me, a "Tourist... 

 See All 2 Tourist Traps in Shannon

8.

Guinness Brewery   Dublin

Guinness Brewery, Dublin

 13 Reviews  So before i visited the brewery i read lots of fellow VT'ers opinions on it. I have to say for the most part they were correct. Altough there were a few intresting things to see and you get a "free"... 

 See All 110 Tourist Traps in Dublin

9.

Book of Kells   Dublin

Book of Kells, Dublin

 5 Reviews  I do not know if it is a usual practice, but we arrived 20 or so minutes before the Book of Kells exhibition closed and were let in for free. With that behind us, we were rather impressed. I agree... 

 See All 110 Tourist Traps in Dublin

10.

Transport   Dublin

Transport, Dublin

 7 Reviews  Day Tours Unplugged is just one of many companies running tours from Dublin to the County Wicklow Area, Glendalough and the Hill of Tara. Speaking from personal experience I found this company to be... 

 See All 110 Tourist Traps in Dublin

11.

Millenium Spire   Dublin

Millenium Spire, Dublin

 4 Reviews  Big ugly thing stuck in the middle of the main street O Connell St. What an eye-sore. What an expensive eye-sore it was to build too... If you have to visit, view it from Henry St...you get the full... 

 See All 110 Tourist Traps in Dublin

12.

Dublin Castle   Dublin

Dublin Castle, Dublin

 3 Reviews  The Dublin castle basicaly doesn't exist anymore, it was destroyed during the uprisings and rebuilt in a diferent style than the original. If you epect a real castle you WILL be disapointed,... 

 See All 110 Tourist Traps in Dublin

13.

Museum of Moldern Art   Dublin

Museum of Moldern Art, Dublin

 2 Reviews  I hate to bad mouth this place as I guess they try hard, but it can't hold a candle to other museums of modern art I've seen. The displays were minimal at best; not minimalist, just minimal. I sort... 

 See All 110 Tourist Traps in Dublin

14.

St Patricks Cathedral   Dublin

St Patricks Cathedral, Dublin

 2 Reviews  I was dissapointed to find out you had to pay to get into St. Patricks (5 €) and that the shop was larger than the cathedral itself. I didnt pay to get into a shop, instead, I enjoyed the outside of... 

 See All 110 Tourist Traps in Dublin

15.

Dublin Zoo.   Dublin

Dublin Zoo., Dublin

 2 Reviews  Dublin Zoo is very old and space is limited. It is depressing to see the animals in small enclosures, but for the most part, they're really well looked after, and the keepers care about them. However,... 

 See All 110 Tourist Traps in Dublin

Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Be warned.....

by sourbugger

They say that there is no one as irish as O'Bama !And it is true...new research has traced Mr Obama's maternal family tree back to his great-great-great-great grandfather Joseph Kearney, a cobbler from Moneygall, County Offaly (1794 to 1861).An invite from the county for the president elect to visit has already been condemned in the Irish press and a grubby money-making and opportunistic venture.I rather hope it actually happens, although I guess other countries have better claims on his ancestry - after all, we are all connected to each other within six degrees of seperation !

Tip Photo
Day Tours Unplugged - unhappy experience

by swissfondue

If you are thinking of taking a day tour to the Wicklow Mountains from Dublin be aware that your day may not go according to plan. I had prebooked a tour on the internet and received confirmation of the date and pick up time. I chose this particular company because of their good reviews and because the hotel we were staying in was a designated pick up point.Sadly, I was not able to provide a review of any sort because THEY DID NOT PICK US UP!!!!After waiting for over half an hour to be collected, and seeing a bus drive past and not stop, I rang Day Tours Unplugged to find out what the hold up was. There was no hold up.... they just drove past us...without stopping...even though our names and the correct collection hotel were on their list.After a bit of a half hearted apology, an offer was made to take us the next day, but we were flying to London so this was not possible. They said they...

Guinness Storehouse/Brewery Tour

by mrolson65

I absolutely love Guinness.........but please skip the overpriced and underwhelming brewery tour. The tour is like a museum you just walk through to get to the top which is the Gravity Bar. The view from the Gravity Bar is not to be missed. However, if you are really a die-hrad Guinness lover than just visit any pub in Dublin and you won't be disappointed. I'd recommend a visit but only to visit the gift shop and then take the elevator up to the Gravity Bar. Both of these are free (except for the price of the Guinness while at the bar) while the tour costs about 14 Euros. Save the 14 Euros for the pints at the Gravity Bar as the tour is a waste of money. Visit so you can say you've been there but don't take the tour.

Tip Photo
Aillwee Cave

by globetrott

Aillwee Cave is a place I did not enjoy at all, but of course I know lots of people who enjoyed that place a lot ! I dont like it simply because they make a lot of advertisment and all over Ireland you will get their brochures and when you are finally there, you just may walk inside a cave and see places, where obviously bears hibernated a long time ago. And around that simple fact they constructed a gigantic program, light-effects in the cave etc.In the underground of all of the Burren there are several caves, BUT Aillwee Cave is the only one that you may enter :Aillwee Cave is open for visitors dailyall year long after 09.30a.m.entrance-fee is 10 Euros / children : 5 Euros !see their web-page : www.aillweecave.ie At least I think that Aillwee Cave is a good place to take a rest, use the toilettes, park your car on a large parking, cook a meal inside your motorhome or go to the...

Tip Photo
Dublin Castle

by molough

Sorry to say, but it was a bit disappointing! It wasn't as grand as we were expecting. I would suggest skipping it and heading over to the Guinness Storehouse! Guinness Storehouse! It's about a 5-minute walk down the street

Tip Photo
Cliffs of Moher

by gardenglenn

Beautiful indeed but what you dojn't see in the gorgeous photos of this rugged coast line is the tour busses, vendors, unnatural stiars, Tshirt stands. I would skip this and see the real thing in DIngle.

We did it...well my mother did...

by thechels

We did it...well my mother did anyway...we climbed up those circular castle stairs...(God only knows how many...but there were alot and they were falling apart)We get to the top of this huge castle...and my mother tells me we're going to 'kiss the blarney stone'...oh good heavens! I looked down...and then, they (the they being these two men working the blarney castle kiss me spot that day, and my mother), explained to me that i would lay on my back and they would scoot me over the edge of this castle while holding my feet as i dangled upside down....shyyyaa riiiight!!! NOT!!! She kissed the side of this castle ~upside down, mind you, by scooting herself off the ledge on her back,with these two men holding her by her ankles!!!!But, hey now... i wasn't about to let these strange men hold me to my death ...uh uh...i think it was then that my fear of heights was developed... LOL... climb...

Ireland

by osully5040

Ireland is one big tourist trap in Spring/Summer. Go in the offseason. Best time to go to Ireland is October/November. Half of America goes to Ireland in the Spring/Summer. I've been to Ireland a half dozen times. Always in October/November. Once in February. No tourists anywhere for the most part. Not to mention everything is cheaper _ airfare, hotels, car rental. Dublin, Killarney, Blarney are all palatable in the offseason. You might give up something with the weather but as I always say a damp day in Ireland is better than a sunny day most places!

Roads

by singimorning

They say that you know that you are in Ireland when you are lost. This is very true... Its roads are very bad and quite dangerous. When you get lost stop and try to find something familiar....also is very important to count the kilometres in your car kilometres counter as the maps will normally tell you the distance between towns. If the map says 30 kilometres and when your car says 30 you are not there.... welcome to Ireland.....You are lost.....However, do not get nervous as there is plenty rest areas on the roads and it won't take you too long to find your way again....To get lost only adds a bit of emotion to your trip.

You have to go, though

by C&JTay

Blarney Castle Blarney Castle is a great landmark in the southern part of Ireland. Apparently Blarney Castle is the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow because the Irish are making a fortune with the story of the Blarney Stone and the fact that people will play to kiss a piece of a wall. Admisson is 8 euro and includes a photo of you kissing the stone. In defense of the Irish, the castle does sit in a beautiful park. Some of the other castles charge 2-4 euro to get in, so Blarney considerably more expensive, but if you don't go, your friends will never let you live it down. A huge tourist trap, but a must see. The castle is in good shape and provides great views from the top.

Tip Photo

Top 3 Hotels in Ireland

Westbury Hotel  Dublin

 4 Reviews and 722 Opinions  If location is a must and you have the extra to spend, Westbury's is certainly a place to go. Just... 

 Hotels in Dublin

Fitzgerald's Vienna Woods Hotel  Cork

 1 Review and 172 Opinions

 Hotels in Cork

Park House  Galway

 2 Reviews and 657 Opinions  I selected the Park House Hotel because it is very convenient to both the bus and train stations in... 

 Hotels in Galway

Questions and Answers

Cubiche profile photo

Q:  Hi everyone! We are planning a trip to Ireland, 12 days, in May. We are going to drive from Dublin out West and circle back... 

leics profile photo

A: Any of the worldwide (Avis, Hertz, Enterprise etc), or Europe-wide (Autoeurope, Budget, Thrifty etc) or local firms will be fine imo. Car hire in Ireland is regulated.... 

Read 4 Replies

postQuestion_button