Dingle, Ireland is a glorious green paradise to explore. There are rolling hills on one side dotted with sheep, a beautiful inlet of shimmering water on the other side and a babbling, mossy stream running through it all.
The town is just as cute as can be. It’s a wonderful place to shop, try the local cuisine, listen to some traditional music (what they call trad for short), and explore the surrounding Dingle peninsula. Dingle was the highlight of my first Ireland adventure!
Where to Stay in Dingle, Ireland
I stayed at the fabulous Greenmount House in Dingle, Ireland. It’s a lovely hotel at the top of the hill on the perimeter of Dingle Town. This award winning boutique B & B has breathtaking views of the bay, Dingle town and the rolling green hills.
Above is a selfie taken from the second floor of the hotel on my own private balcony overlooking the bay. Ah heaven! I felt like I had discovered paradise. It was definitely worth the splurge to get a Sea View Room and be able to watch the sunrise and set over the water.
Staying at this hotel was an experience in and of itself. Balcony rooms are huge, but homey and relaxing.
The room has a state of the art bathroom complete with rain shower, soaking tub and a skylight where you can see the rain drops falling and hear their soft pitter patter while you enjoy the bubbles from your hot bath after a long day of sightseeing.
I could have stayed at these place for a whole week. It would be a great place to relax, unplug and find yourself.
Even Julia Roberts escaped here after her breakup with Kiefer Sutherland way back in the day, so you know it must be good! It was also ranked as one of the top small hotels in all of Europe.
What to do in Dingle, Ireland
First take a few hours to explore old Dingle Town once you settle in at your hotel. The old Dingle town is easily walkable and you can walk the whole town in 2-3 hours.
It would be easy to extend your visit longer if you take time to explore all the cool shops and restaurants or listen to some traditional (trad) music at The Dingle Pub
The town is just so homey and friendly it like being wrapped up in a warm hug. I could have easily spent my whole week here relaxing, decompressing and savoring life.
This was my first trip to Ireland, so I only planned two nights in Dingle as I wanted to explore Dublin and Galway as well.
Next time I come back to Ireland I will plan more time in Dingle and go a little earlier in the season when more things are open and the sea is calmer for boat trips.
I would also love to explore more of the area, like The Great Blasket Islands and Sleah Head.
Visiting in early November some of the restaurants in Dingle Town were closed a few days midweek, as the tourist season had ended. I still found some great options though which I will talk about later.
There were many advantages to visiting Dingle, Ireland off season though. I scored a great price for my Junior Suite at Greenmount House. Traveling in the off season is a great way to stay classy on a budget.
Dingle town was quieter and less busy than I imagine it is in the Summertime, which I really prefer.
I also got some great deals shopping in town as they were slimming down their inventory after tourist season. As you’re exploring the town take some time to do some shopping.
Where to shop
Dingle, Ireland is a shoppers delight for local crafts. I found wonderful souvenirs to bring back home for myself, family and friends. Everything from gorgeous traditional wool sweaters, silver clauddagh rings, crystal, stunning paintings of the surrounding area and local handmade crafts.
Wool
No trip to Ireland would be complete without purchasing an Irish wool sweater, scarves or gloves. Why not buy all 3!
One thing you will see a lot as you explore the countryside are lots and lots of sheep.
I’m not normally a fan of wool as I find it too itchy, but I found that items made of super soft Merino wool were soft, luxurious, not at all itchy and oh so warm.
I purchased this gorgeous sweater in a beautiful shade of Mulberry from The Dingle Woollen Company.
This place has operated in Dingle since 1606!! Since I was there in early November at the end of the tourist season I snagged my sweater for over 60% off. It will be perfect for those cold, snowy days back at home in Colorado.
I also bought a beautiful pair of handmade mittens with a design that looks to me like little sheep. What do you think?
Check out their online store. They even have free shipping to the US and Canada if you spend over 100 Euros!
Get a little taste of Ireland even before you visit. 😄
Jewelry
Looking for a traditional Cladaugh ring? Check out The Dolphin Shop. They have a huge selection of Irish rings and other jewelry, plus Irish leather goods, scarves and wall hangings.
Arts and Crafts
I also love a good craft market! They are so great for finding unique gifts and souvenirs. I found a little gem on Main Street called, An Gailearai Beag which showcases handmade, local items from the West Kerry Craft Guild.
That’s where I fell in love with the work of Dingle Artist, Andrea Power who paints gorgeous paintings of the Wild Atlantic Way.
I bought an extremely affordable signed print of “Crazy Storm Colours: Coumeenole”, that I can’t wait to get framed and hang up in my home!
I love buying a little piece of art when I travel, so I can be reminded of my wonderful memories every time I walk by. It helps get me through until I can take my next adventure!
Continue strolling the town and admire the creative window displays.
Take some time to stop and pet the roaming kitties and old sheep dogs guarding their properties.
Slow down and have a coffee and just savor the peace and simplicity of this town. When you get a little hungry stop into one of the great restaurants in Dingle, Ireland.
Where to Eat
Breakfast
If you are staying at the Greenmount House take advantage of their included breakfast. There is no sad dried out buffet here.
The hotel has an amazing breakfast area surrounded by windows, so you can enjoy spectacular views of the bay while you savor your choice of breakfast.
They have a plethora of options starting with your choice of juice served in champagne flutes, coffee or tea and your choice of a number of breakfast entrees.
I tried the light and fluffy French toast as well as the cheese and herb omelette and both were delicious.
There is also a buffet of greek yogurt with a myriad of topping options as well as small pastry items to enjoy.
Coffee and pastries
Bean in Dingle
As your exploring town stop in at one of the local coffee shops. I loved the Bean in Dingle.
It’s a bright, cheery spot to rest your feet and get a nice shot of caffeine and a delicious pastry. Listen to the lively music, people watch and sip an artfully crafted chai latte.
Lunch or Dinner
Paul Geaney’s Bar and Restaurant
When you get hungry for something a little more substantial stop in at Paul Geaney’s Bar and Restaurant on Main Street for lunch or dinner.
It was a great pub option for a vegetarian like me. Irish food is not the most vegetarian friendly. Let’s just say I ate a lot of veggie burgers and chips (French fries) while I was traveling. It was nice to take a break from those and have some delicious pizza.
If you’ve read any of my other posts, you know I’m obsessed with pizza and a bit of a snob about it. I tried the veggie pizza and a pesto one. Both were made with fresh, quality ingredients and tasted amazing.
Wash it down with a pint of beer or the not too sweet or dry Rockshore hard apple cider!
Dessert
Murphy’s Ice Cream
When you are in the mood for something sweet you must stop by Murphy’s Ice Cream.
It’s the creamiest handmade ice cream and offers some unique flavors like Irish Brown Bread, Dingle Sea Salt, Dingle Gin and Irish Cream. The Chocolate Whisky and the Honeycomb Carmel were my favorites.
Getting There
If you’d like to visit Dingle too, it’s about a 3.5 – 4 hour drive from Dublin. Take care if you rent a car as the roads are twisty and very narrow. Not to mention you will be driving on the other side of the road if you are from outside the UK.
Don’t have a car? Take the train from Dublin to Tralee and then a bus from Tralee into Dingle which takes about 6 hours.
Want to fly to Dublin from the US in luxury? Check out my post on how to upgrade to business class for under $100!
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Dingle, Ireland is definitely worth the effort to visit. It’s such a wonderful town with so many great things to see and experience. I’m so glad I was able to visit and I can’t wait to go back and take all my friends.
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