About Ireland

The gentle sea with the purest water and the magnificent sandy beaches of Ireland attract more and more tourists yearly. The crystal turquoise color of the seawater sets the level of your vacation somewhere between stunning and perfect. So if you are looking for the perfect sea, this is your place!

Ireland Best beaches

view the highest rated beaches in area

Good for Relax
Very good
8.7
Free entrance • Amenities beach • Easy access • Bright sand • Crowded in season • Large low tide
3.7 Amenities index
Good for Relax

Rathmullan Beach

Rathmullan 1.1 km
Very good
8.5
Free entrance • Amenities beach • Easy access • Bright sand • Crowded in season • Large low tide
5.3 Amenities index
Good for Relax
Very good
8.5
Free entrance • Amenities beach • Easy access • Bright sand • Crowded in season • Large low tide
2.7 Amenities index
Good for Relax

Enniscrone Beach

Inishcrone 0.3 km
Very good
8.4
Free entrance • Amenities beach • Easy access • Bright sand • Crowded in season • Large low tide
4.8 Amenities index
Good for Relax
Free entrance • Amenities beach • Easy access • Bright sand • Turquoise pure water • Large low tide
4.8 Amenities index
Good for Relax
Very good
8.4
Free entrance • Amenities beach • Easy access • Gray sand & pebble • Turquoise pure water • Sand & Pebbles bottom
3.7 Amenities index

Calm, measured rest and the sound of waves are perhaps the most common associations that arise with the word "beach". This is not surprising, as relaxation is exactly what many beach travelers are looking for. If you associate your vacation primarily with such activity, choose one of the 223 beaches in the country.

To make your choice easier, we have prepared a list of the best beaches for relaxation in Ireland.

Attraction and Infrastructure

As for the main features of the beaches of Ireland, they are as follows:

  • The country's beaches are mainly wide, moderate length and have a high level of cleanliness. The most common surface is sand of bright color.
  • Usually, entry into the water is gentle, which is very good for kids. There are 218 such beaches.
  • An important clarification, 202 beaches in the country have a long intertidal zone, which means that during low tide hours you may have to travel a considerable distance. This is also something to consider if you don't want to suddenly be in the water at high tide.
  • The average distance from the road to beach in Ireland is less than 500 meters. 218 beaches are relatively easy to access, 3 beaches are difficult to access, which in most cases means that you have to walk a quite long distance, and 1 beach are only accessible from the water. The latter include both island beaches and beaches with no land routes due to the natural borders.

Wild beaches with no infrastructure dominate the coastline of Ireland however, even here you can find a beach with a standard set of accessories: sun beds, umbrellas, restaurants, showers and toilets.

Latest reviews on Ireland's beaches

Sandymouth Beach
10 Violet O'Callaghan

The Poolbeg towers appear larger when viewed from a distance, but from this vantage point, they seem quite small. The beach is absolutely stunning and conveniently located near the road. I can't resist wanting to pet every dog I see there. During the evening, a unique blend of grey and blue hues illuminates the surroundings, creating a captivating sight that I haven't encountered in any other country.

Curracloe beach
10 Lara Ivanova

This beach is truly stunning, with its fine sand and sand dunes. It's a fantastic destination for everyone, especially children. The beach stretches for kilometers, providing ample space for everyone to enjoy. You'll find convenient amenities such as parking, a café, ice cream, and toilets (although they could be cleaner). I highly recommend visiting on sunny days.

Sandycove beach
10 Brayden Mitchell

It's a fantastic spot for swimming when the tide is at least halfway in. You can relax on the wall and bask in the warm sunshine. There are showers and restrooms located beyond the Joyce tower, just a short 3-minute stroll away.

Burrow beach
8 Max Sullivan

The sand is incredibly soft, making it feel like a true getaway. The beach tends to get quite crowded on sunny days. However, when we visited in the evening around 7:30pm, it was still bustling but not too difficult to find a pleasant spot to appreciate the weather and watch the sunset.

Donabate beach
10 Lorelei Jansen

This place is amazing. The beach is clean and you can bring your dog. There is a large parking lot available.

Please note that lifeguards supervise 76 beaches in the country, but you should rely on more than just them, remember the elementary rules, as lifeguards are not on duty around the clock, even on equipped beaches!

Finding hotels in relative proximity to the beaches is usually fine. Many beaches have enough nearby accommodation, which gives good opportunities to choose the right place to stay.

Do you know how many beaches there are in Ireland? In total there are 223 beaches and the most popular is Whiterocks Beach.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What are the main features of best beaches in Ireland?

When it comes to finding the best beaches in Ireland, the following aspects should be taken into account.

There are 223 beaches in total, of which about 95 can be called high-rated.

The best beaches in the majority:

They are also usually:

The best beaches in Ireland:

View all beaches in Ireland and create your selection by features

How to view only nearest to me beaches in Ireland?

To find the beaches closest to your current geolocation, click the Nearby Beaches icon in the search box. You will see the nearest beaches sorted by distance from you.

Note, that if you only want to see the beaches closest to you in Ireland, you must be in that area to get the correct results.

See also: View all beaches in Ireland and create your selection by features.

How to view all beaches in Ireland on map?

What are all easy accessible beaches in Ireland?

Most of the beaches located in Ireland are easily accessible, but there are also hard to reach beaches among them. Use the filter to sort the beaches by access details (parking, distance etc.).

Popular categories of beaches in Ireland by access:

See also the categories:

Top 5 popular beaches with easy access in Ireland:

View all beaches in Ireland and select by features

How to view all sandy beaches or beaches with other natural features in Ireland?

Use the "Main features" section of the filter in search results to see all the beaches with the feature you're interested in.

The most popular selections of beaches with natural features are listed below. Don't forget that you can create your own selection with any combination of features

Beach coverage and water

Natural scenery

Other popular categories

View all beaches in Ireland and select by features

How to find uncrowded beaches in Ireland?

The presence of crowds of tourists on the beach these days is becoming a mass character, and sometimes you want silence and solitude. Use the filter in search results to view the beaches in Ireland by occupancy.

Popular categories:

View all beaches in Ireland and select by features

Which beaches in Ireland are kid-friendly, good for relax, pet-friendly, naturist-friendly, camping-friendly?

How to view all beaches by amenities details in Ireland?

Use filter in search results to select a beach according to your preference for amenities.

Popular beach infrastructure categories:

See also:

View all beaches in Ireland and select by specific amenities

How to view all beaches by activity of interest in Ireland?

Use the "Activity" section of the filter in search results to view the selections of beaches by one or multiple activities. Below are a few popular selections that you can change as you like using our filter.

View all beaches in Ireland and select by activity