• Cliffs of Moher

County Clare, Ireland Viewing spot: Coming from Doolin Google Ireland’s most famous attraction, and you’ll pull up words like “tourist trap” and “overrated” pretty quick. But blogger Shannon O’Donnell found a route through pastures starting in a charming village called Doolin (another town, Galway, is where most tourists head in from). Trade-off? There’s a high probability you will be stepping in cow patties.

• Best date spot: The Bath Pub

Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 This pub should win an award for being the prettiest boozer in Dublin, and will impress most people at first sight. The appeal goes beyond looks, though: it's also got a fun, laid-back atmosphere, serves gin cocktails in a teapot with saucers, and is in close proximity to several nice date restaurants, like Farmer Browns and Juniors.

• Best old-fashioned boozer: Grogan's

South William St, Dublin 2 If you want a pint of the black stuff, a ham-and-cheese toastie, and a slice of real Dublin life, Grogan's is for you. You can sit outside and watch the hipsters go by on South William St and Castle Market (bonus for dog lovers -- there are usually a few pooches hanging on the terrace with their owners) or take a seat inside. The toilets aren't glamorous, and the drink selection isn't marvelous, but it's a Dublin institution nevertheless.

• Best craft beer bar: 57 The Headline

Clanbrassil St, Dublin 8 The recent craft beer boom means there are many, many joints where you can find local or specialist brews, but this pub wins because of the sheer scope of its offerings, the inclusion of craft whiskey from all over the world, and a delicious food menu to boot. Plus, it’s away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre, and the interior design is authentic without being too hipstery.

• Best whiskey bar: The Palace Bar

Fleet St, Dublin 2 This is an old-fashioned pub beloved by Dubliners, which is rare in Temple Bar. Upstairs, it’s entirely dedicated to Irish whiskey, and the guys that run the place love the uisce beatha so much they invented their own brew. If you’re more into bourbon, give Bison Bar on the quays a go.

• Best for traditional music: O'Donoghue's

Merrion Way, Dublin 2 Famous for hosting the cream of the crop in Irish traditional music, the proximity of this bar to fancy hotels like the Merrion and the Shelbourne mean that celebrities often pop up in here. There's an open-air section for smokers or sun worshippers (on the rare event sunshine makes an appearance), as well as a couple of floors inside. Prices are reasonable, and the crowd is mostly professionals and trad worshippers.

• Best for bar food: L. Mulligan. Grocer

Stoneybatter, Dublin 7 This gastropub in the hip enclave of Stoneybatter is constantly winning awards for its fresh, beautifully presented, and delicious seasonal food. The pub itself is also popular for whiskey and craft beer, and hosts a fun, free quiz on the last Sunday of every month. If you’re in the neighbourhood, Walsh's pub a few doors down is great to watch a match or have a quiet pint.

• Best cocktail bar: Vintage Cocktail Club

Temple Bar, Dublin 2 Vintage is another rare find in Temple Bar, and there's no sign indicating this place even exists -- but if you know to knock on the black door, you’ll be escorted upstairs to a vintage paradise. The cocktails are fantastic (if not exactly cheap), and the smoking area is very cool too.

• Best beer garden: The Living Room

Cathal Brugha St, Dublin 1 This north side watering hole boasts the city's biggest beer garden (which also handily has big screens to watch sporting events on). It’s a sun trap on a bright day, and a bit of a hidden gem not far from some of Dublin's biggest tourist traps. On the south side, Baggot St is your best bet for a winning beer garden -- both McGrattans and Toners are winners.

• Best wine bar: ely wine bar

Ely Place, Dublin 2 Hidden away in Georgian Dublin, off the beaten track, this gem of a bar will have you descend into calm and serenity as soon as you walk down its stairs. The wine menu is vast, the accompanying nibbles delicious, the crowd sophisticated, and the location classy. A brilliant spot to catch up with old friends or to take somebody you want to impress.

• Best for cheap drinks: McGowans

Phibsborough, Dublin 7 Another Dublin institution, this is a sports bar, a nightclub, and a popular singles spot, but it's also known for its super-cheap drink promotions (typically on Sundays and student nights) -- and even when the promos are over, the drinks are a bargain. It opens really late, serves food in the early evenings, and has been the cause of many a hangover.

• Best rooftop bar: The Marker Hotel

Grand Canal Dock, Dublin 2 If you like your boozing al fresco at an elevated height, the very classy Marker Hotel is the place for you. High-end cocktails and bar bites, unparalleled views of the city’s docklands and beyond, and a very slick aesthetic mean this place is fun and seriously impressive. Call before you go, though, because it’s sometimes closed for private events.

• Best bar to see and be seen: Sophie's

Harcourt St, Dublin 2 It’s a restaurant, a nightclub, and a bar, and it attracts Dublin's beautiful people in droves. There's a cool terrace overlooking the city's most famous strip of nightclubs (including Coppers) and an indoor bar surrounded by windows, offering a panoramic view of the south city.

• Best dive bar: Dice Bar

Benburb St, Dublin 7 It was a toss-up between this dark and mysterious boozer on the north side Luas tracks, and the pub across the road, Frank Ryans. Dice Bar won because it embodies the kind of dive you’d find in New York, the drinks are cheap and the music is always spot on.

• Dublin whiskey bars

Dingle Whiskey Bar L Mulligan Grocer The Palace Bar Kehoe's Vintage Cocktail Club The Blind Pig

• Trinity College

A visit to my old university, Trinity College and its Long Room and Book of Kells are a must. The Book of Kells is regarded as the finest medieval manuscript in existence, and with good reason: it has surprisingly been able to withstand the test of time with barely a scratch. Dating from the 7th-century, the colors in this hand-crafted and intricately illuminated tome are still as vivid as the day the monks etched them on to decorate its main contents, the Four Gospels. Today the 340-folio book is housed within the university’s impressive Old Library—which has served as a set for many a movie—that merits a visit of its own while in Dublin. Every day, library staff open the temperature-regulated encasing to turn a new page. Appreciating the illuminated manuscript in its entirety would take you about half a year! (Or you can just buy a copy in the gift shop.)

• The Little Museum of Dublin

Gives a quirky, authentic and engaging take on the history of Dublin.

• Boyne Valley

Where you can visit 9,000 years of history including the ancient passage tombs of Bru Na Boinne (which predate the Egyptian pyramids), kayak on the River Boyne and visit Slane Distillery, For food options, check out Boyne Valley Food Series

• VINTAGE COCKTAIL CLUB - Dublin

Since opening in 2012, VCC has been at the helm of Ireland’s cocktail culture, but if you walk too quickly down Crown Alley in Dublin’s Temple Bar neighborhood, you just might miss it. In true speakeasy style, this cocktail bar is hidden behind a discreet black door that simply says "VCC." Those ‘20s-era vibes continue inside, too, with antique furniture, vintage trinkets, and a fireplace inside the three-floor (plus rooftop deck) bar. The cocktail menu features a history lesson in drinking culture through the centuries, categorizing drinks by the era in which they reached popularity. The bar’s punches, which were a favorite in the early 1600s, for example, come before “Golden Age of the Cocktail” drinks, like the classic whiskey smash. VCC offers its own takes on these classics, too, making for one of the most extensive bar menus this side of the city center. Take, for example, the Manhattan section of the menu, where you can find the Fernet It, made with tequila and Fernet Branca, and rounded out with sweet vermouth, Green Chartreuse, VCC porter, gomme syrup, Orinoco Bitters, and lemon oils.

• THE COPPER ROOM - Limerick

If you want to visit one of Ireland’s most romantic bars, you need to head underground. The Copper Room is set inside caverns that once formed part of Roche’s Hanging Gardens, a historic structure in Limerick that once housed storefronts underneath 25-foot arches with elaborate gardens on top. The Copper Room, which specializes in wine and port, sits partially underneath those historic structures, in a cavernous, dimly lit space. The wine list features red wine and sparkling options from Italy, France, Argentina, and more -- plus some beer options, but why would you bother? -- served alongside ideal wine accompaniments (think lots of cheese and charcuterie). Throw in lots of candles and old brick walls and it’s the ideal spot to bring a date -- or to start planning your return trip to the Emerald Isle over a glass of red.

• THE MERCHANT HOTEL - Belfast

The Merchant Hotel is something of a kingmaker. It’s where the owners of New York’s The Dead Rabbit, unanimously considered one of the best bars in the world, ran the show before making the move to the states. The Merchant Hotel boasts not one, but four worthy hangout spots inside, including one solely dedicated to the cocktail. Located just off the hotel’s Great Room (where you’ll see the island’s largest chandelier), you’ll find the appropriately named “Cocktail Bar.” The menu boasts 112 (!) pages of cocktails, plus vintage champagnes and rare spirits. To make your decision slightly easier, though, there is a page with their 12 top-selling options, which includes the Blushing Lady, a vodka cocktail with fresh pomegranate, white grapefruit, and lemon juice, plus house-made orgeat syrup and rosewater. If live music while you sip is more up your alley, Berts Bar hosts live jazz every night of the week, while the Champagne Bar is designed to look like a bottle of Veuve Clicquot. Both are also located inside the massive, historic hotel. Finally, though, if all you’re looking for is a simple pint, head down to the Cloth Ear. It’s the hotel’s own little in-house pub, with an entrance on Waring Street.

• GLASSHOUSE - Galway

Located in an actual glass house on top of Galway’s Electric nightclub, this bar feels like part speakeasy, part Bohemian living room. And while the nightclub downstairs is the spot to check out if you are looking to see anything from cabaret to international dance acts, Glasshouse has a quieter, more intimate vibe, especially thanks to boho-style rattan furniture and lots of candles. The drinks, though, are even more unique than the setup. The bar aims to bring “farm to table” ideology into Ireland’s cocktail scene -- so if your drink calls for herbs, they were probably grown on the bar’s rooftop garden.

• LOVE AND DEATH INC - Belfast

If you walk up to Love and Death Inc and immediately get divey biker bar or sketchy tattoo parlor vibes, don’t worry -- that’s part of the appeal. This Belfast bar is known for its punk rock quirks, but with a chef-backed food menu and craft cocktails. You’ll find some oddball decor inside, like creepy skull candles and an antique piano, but you’ll also find a bustling dance floor on Saturday nights. Whether you plan to dance or not, we recommend a “Blood Reviver”: tequila and mezcal, plus a beetroot hollandaise, lime juice, chili tincture, orange bitters, and a balsamic reduction.

• LIQUOR XXX - Belfast

While Ireland’s most well-known liquor may be whiskey, that doesn’t mean the Emerald Isle doesn’t know a thing or two about other spirits, especially at this Belfast bar. Liquor XXX opened just last year and has since become the go-to spot for Latin American drinks. That means tequila, rum, and piscos are the feature here, with a menu broken down geographically with selections from the Caribbean, Mexico, Peru, and more. Take, for example, “The 51st State,” made with Bacardi Carta Blanca, strawberry vermouth & strawberry balsamic, with a touch of lime, salt, and sugar. Don’t think for a second that means you’ll find an island vibe inside Liquor XXX, though. Instead, you’ll find a dark space for only 70 people, so be prepared to get a little close.

• SALT - Galway

Salt is located in Salthill, a harborside town in Galway, and an area that’s becoming something of a culinary hotspot in Ireland. But even with a lot of competition, this cocktail lounge and upscale restaurant is the standout after opening just last year. Salt’s craft cocktail menu features drinks like an amaretto sour with muddled black currants and black walnut bitters, as well as old fashioneds “whatever way you want,” with the caveat that at Salt, they are always stirred. Pair your drink with French-inspired Irish bites, like their “fish and chips,” served with pomme croquette and a tartare sauce beurre blanc. If that doesn’t say “vacation,” we’re not sure what does.

• PINK LOUNGE AT THE ROSS - Killarney

This place may be decorated like Elle Woods’ sorority dorm, but just like the world’s most beloved blonde attorney, that doesn’t mean it isn’t to be taken seriously. Especially when it comes to gin. Located inside The Ross Hotel in Killarney, the Pink Lounge has more than 60 gins from all over the world behind the bar, and the menu details each with its origins, tasting notes, and even serving suggestions. The bartenders are also known to be gin fanatics, and can guide you through a tasting. Once you settle on an option, tonics and mixers like Fever Tree Elderflower and Sicilian Lemonade are also available, plus speciality cocktails. The Brockmans Old Fashioned, for example, is a gin version of the classic libation, but made with both grapefruit and peach bitters. Just remember, the Pink Lounge is only open on Friday and Saturday nights, so if you want to imbibe among all the hot pink accents, shoot for a weekend visit.

• OLD TOWN WHISKEY BAR - Cork

This is Ireland’s best-stocked whiskey bar -- as in 600 different bottles from all over the world. It’s located in what was once St. Peter’s Market, in Cork’s Old Town, in a spacious, cathedral-like space that’s considered one of Ireland’s most beautiful buildings. Anyone looking for a good cocktail should try the Black Raspberry, which is Jameson served with raspberry liqueur, espresso, and agave. But if you’re going to make a whiskey pilgrimage to Cork, you ought to arrange a whiskey tasting, with a guided tour through a few of the bar’s bottles. Finally, if spirits aren’t in the cards on your visit, the Rising Sons Brewery is directly across the street, so Old Town Whiskey Bar has five of their gold-medal-winning beers behind the bar, and if you get hungry, never fear: Old Town Whiskey Bar’s kitchen won “Best Regional Food Pub” in 2017 from the Irish Pub Awards.

• THE LIQUOR ROOMS - Dublin

It wouldn’t be far off to say the Liquor Rooms feels like running away to the circus, but with handcrafted cocktails. In what looks like the interior of a vintage Big Top, the Liquor Rooms serves specialty drinks as well as unique punch bowls out of four distinctly themed rooms. There’s The Boom Room with a bandstand and dance floor, the Black Rabbit burlesque club, a conservatory, and the main gathering space, called the Blind Tiger. As for those cocktails, they are all named for badass Irish women in history, like the “Queen Wolf,” for third-century Queen Meadhbh, who allegedly murdered her own sister to take the crown. Her drink is made with Jameson Caskmates, whiskey, fennel & ginger liqueurs, lemon, walnut bitters, and a red wine float.

• CASK - Cork

Cask opened just last year in a former antiques shop in Cork’s Victorian quarter, returning it to its stone-walled, tile-floored original bones. The only thing cooler than the bar’s interior, though, is its menu. Based completely on seasonal, forageable items, there are zero classics on this cocktail list that changes every eight weeks. There are, however, plenty of “Cork stories” in the concoctions they create, like when they paid homage to Cork’s footballer Roy Keane. If you needed more proof the drinks are on point, though, try this: Cask practically swept the 2017 Irish Craft Cocktail Awards, winning “Best New Cocktail Bar,” “Outstanding Cocktail Menu,” and “Overall Best Cocktail Bar” for the year. Cask complements its drinks with an affordable small-bite menu created by Cork chef Bryan McCarthy, so you won’t even have to decide between making your wallet or your belly happy.

• LIBRARY BAR - Dublin

Sometimes, you just want to enjoy the peace and quiet with a pint, and for that, you head to the Library Bar. True to its name, this place is essentially a living room tucked inside Dublin’s Central Hotel, in a historic spot between Dublin Castle and Trinity College. It’s full of comfy armchairs and two roaring fireplaces, making it the perfect place to curl up with a book, and, of course, a cocktail -- or, if you’re there in the afternoon, a proper cup of tea. As for the drink menu, stick to simple here: Classic Guinness by the pint or Jameson on the rocks are the go-to options if you aren’t in the mood for the healthy wine list. Essentially, this is the place James Joyce would have wanted to hang in while he wrote if he were still around -- especially because the Wi-Fi is free.

• The dark hedges - Northern Ireland
• Hatch and Sons - Dublin
• Ard Bia at Nimmos - Galway
• Bean in Dingle - Dingle
• Latch Restaurant - Tallow
• Monkstown - The Bosun
• Matt the Miller’s - Kilkenney
• The Winding Stair - Dublin
• Killarney to Dingle road trip

The lovely town of Killarney is the perfect blend of history, city, and nature, with lodging that ranges from quaint guesthouses to luxury five-star hotels. Killarney National Park, Ireland’s oldest and a designated UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, is lush, green, and enchanting. You’ll want to spend a few days exploring Killarney’s historic castles and museums. From there, it’s about a two-hour drive west to the coastal town of Dingle on R-563 and R-561. This small port town offers rugged scenery, friendly pubs, fresh seafood, and the starting point for one of Ireland’s most interesting and beautiful drives — the Dingle Peninsula. Parts of the Star Wars movie “The Last Jedi” were filmed there, and the drive is lined with historic monuments, partial stone houses, and remnants of Bronze Age settlers and medieval buildings. The drive is about thirty miles, and after the trip from Killarney and the Dingle Peninsula drive, you’ll want to relax with a night in one of the charming town’s hotels or guesthouses. And perhaps enjoy a pint at a local pub. Heading back to Killarney, if that’s your plan, could be done on a slightly different route, taking N-86 north towards Tralee (definitely worth a stop for lunch and a look around) and then south to Killarney on N-22. The trip should take less than two hours driving time. (Keep in mind the right-hand-drive cars and driving on the opposite side of the road.)

• The Giant's Causeway

Visit this natural World Heritage Site to see the remnants of an ancient volcanic eruption that left tens of thousands of hexagonal basalt columns swelling out of the sea.

• GOT spots

The Dark Hedges, Ballintoy Harbor, and the Cushendun Caves.

• Torc Waterfall

Located within Killarney National Park at the base of Torc Mountain in County Kerry, these scenic woodlands and gushing falls are the stuff of legend. Climb the steps immediately to the left of the waterfall to get some of the best views, but whatever you do, be sure to get your Torc on early. Less than a five-mile drive from town, the waterfall is one of Killarney’s most popular tourist attractions and can quickly become bombarded with other snap-happy travelers.

• Hike Cuilcagh
• Number 31 - Dublin

Beautiful and affordable B&B