The best beaches in Ireland can match any in the world for scenic beauty. While tropical weather is lacking, spring and summer can bring glorious sunshine for beachgoers.
From miles of golden sand to tiny rock coves, there is a rich choice for beach lovers. Enjoy a long walk, surf high waves, or swim in a hidden bay: the choice is yours. Here are 15 of the best beaches in Ireland.
Counsellors’ Strand, Waterford
Counsellors’ Strand, Waterford
The pretty fishing village of Dunmore East in County Waterford spoils visitors with its choice of beaches. The most popular is Counsellors’ Strand, known for its sunny, south-facing aspect.
Hemmed in by distinctive red sandstone cliffs, it’s reached by steep steps or a wheel-chair-friendly ramp. Swimmers splash around in its clear water and the beach is lifeguard-protected in summer.
Running on from Counsellors’ Strand towards the village is Lawlor’s Beach. It can vanish at high tide but both beaches merge into one when the tide falls.
Dunmore East has a beautiful cliff walk that takes you to Hook Head. At 800 years old, the black-striped lighthouse here is the world’s second oldest still in operation.
Tramore Beach, Waterford
Tramore Beach, Waterford
One of Ireland’s longest beaches, Tramore stretches for three miles. Popular for surfing, it’s less suitable for swimming but is a great place for a seaside walk.
Several surf schools offer lessons and equipment hire. You’ll also see people kitesurfing, windsurfing, and horseback riding, with birdwatching popular on the Back Strand.
Backed by dunes, the beach made Tramore one of Ireland’s first seaside resorts in the 1850s. Explore the small town to find lovely ice cream shops, amusement parks, and good dining.
In 1816, the troop carrier Sea Horse sank in Tramore Bay with the loss of 363 souls. One legacy of this tragedy is that a sea horse is now the emblem of Tramore and of Waterford Crystal.
Annestown Beach, Waterford
Annestown Beach, Waterford
Annestown—Bun Abha in Irish, meaning “River’s End”—sits where the Anne River meets the sea. The beach sits in a sheltered, picturesque cove whose shallow water is perfect for paddling.
When the tide is out, a large area of sand is exposed, along with a soaring sea arch. With the tide in, surfers come to ride some great waves when conditions are right.
Dunhill Castle, Waterford
A gentle, mile-long stroll up the Anne Valley Walk takes you to the ruins of Dunhill Castle. From Dunhill—Dún Aill in Irish, meaning “cliff fort”—there are panoramic countryside views, with river otters, herons, and kingfishers to spot on the way.
Annestown is a centerpiece of Waterford’s Copper Coast, a beautiful stretch of rugged coastline running for some 15 miles. The first designated Geopark – a UNESCO-protected area of geological significance – in Ireland, it’s named for a 19th-century history of copper mining.
Kilmurrin Beach, Waterford
Kilmurrin Beach, Waterford
A short distance from Tramore is the gorgeous Kilmurrin Cove, with one of the best beaches in Ireland for swimming. Protected by two rocky headlines in a deep bay, the soft, powdery sand keeps the water clear, calm, and inviting.
Walkers will enjoy exploring the beach and its headlands to take in the sea views. A blowhole is another attraction for photographers, spraying water high in the air when the tide is right.
Bunmahon
The nearby village of Bunmahon was the center of the local copper mining industry. The Copper Coast Geopark Centre here, in a former church, tells that fascinating history.
Bunmahon has its own surfing beach from which a clifftop path leads to the even lovelier Trá na mBó. This last translates as “Beach of the Cow” although the reason why is lost in time.
Read: Ireland Travel Tips
Clonea Beach, Waterford
Clonea Beach, Waterford
Clonea Beach is a three—mile-long Blue Flag beach outside Dungarvan. Its firm, golden sand is perfect for long walks, runs, and horseback riding.
Passing close by is the Waterford Greenway, a 30-mile cycling and walking trail on a former railway line. The route runs from Waterford to Dungarvan, passing over several viaducts and through the long, brick-lined Ballyvoyle Tunnel.
Dungarvan is an historic harbor town with a 12th-century Anglo-Norman castle. Parts of its medieval walls and a 17th-century Market House also attest to its rich past.
Visit the Waterford County Museum, then the Dungarvan Brewing Company if you find history too dry. There are also many traditional Irish pubs and restaurants specialising in local seafood.
Inchydoney Beach, Cork
Inchydoney Beach, Cork
Only just over an hour from the city of Cork, Inchydoney is often rated among Ireland’s best beaches. Fortunately, it’s big enough to absorb the summer crowds and is usually quiet off-season.
The beach is split into two by the Virgin Mary Headland from which a lifeguard station keeps an eye on both. The beach has a Blue Flag, awarded for its water quality.
Inchydoney is popular for walking, rock pooling, and stand-up paddle boarding. Several surf schools can provide everything you need, from tuition to board hire.
Nearby is the market town of Clonakilty, where you’ll find the Michael Collins House, dedicated to the Irish patriot. The Blackpudding Visitor Centre is among other, quirkier attractions in the town.
Barleycove Beach, Cork
Barleycove Beach, Cork
Barleycove is one of West Cork’s most picturesque beaches, highlighting the wild side of this scenic part of Ireland. It sits between two headlands on the Mizen Peninsula, the most southerly point of mainland Ireland.
The sands in this deep bay are said to have been deposited by a tsunami after the Lisbon earthquake of 1755, its epicenter more than 900 miles to the south. The dunes are a Special Area of Conservation to protect their delicate flora and wildlife.
Mizen Head Signal Station, Cork
At the Mizen Head Signal Station, reached by 99 steep steps, you have a fascinating maritime museum and awesome views. Waves roll in off the Atlantic in changing moods to meet the rocks, from a gentle caress to violent rage.
On rainy days, you’ll want to enjoy the warm hospitality in Crookhaven, Ireland’s southernmost village. The pretty, colorful harbor is the place to join a dolphin and seal watching tour.
Garryvoe Beach, Cork
Garryvoe Beach, Cork
Garryvoe Beach shows off the gentler nature of East Cork compared to the wilder west coast. Only 30 minutes from Cork, this long, sandy beach is popular with families for its swimming and body boarding.
The beach is ideal for long walks and bird watching when paired with nearby Ballycotton Bay bird sanctuary. Ballycotton village has a five-mile cliff walk with panoramic coastal views where you might see choughs or peregrines.
On wet days, the Ballymaloe Cookery School offers a warm haven. You can join a half-day Irish cookery class, or watch demonstrations every afternoon.
Another local attraction is FOTA Wildlife Park, one of Ireland’s biggest attractions outside Dublin. Focusing on conserving endangered species, it has rare animals such as Indian rhino, Asian lions, and Sumatran tigers.
Read: Exciting Things to Do With Kids in Ireland
Garrylucas and Garretstown Beaches, Cork
Garretstown Beach, Cork
Near Kinsale town, with its growing reputation as “Ireland’s gourmet capital”, are the twin beaches of Garrylucas and Garretstown. They stand just west of the Old Head of Kinsale, the starting point of Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way.
The prettiest of the two beaches is Garrylucas, the smallest and most easterly. One of Cork’s most popular beaches, it has Blue Flag status for its water quality.
The two are separated by a headland of layered rock. Garretstown is slightly more exposed, reflected in the presence of a surf school.
In summer, there is also a mobile sauna and several food trucks on the busier Garretstown. There is a walking path connecting both beaches around the intervening headland.
Youghal Beach
Youghal Beach
Youghal, under an hour from Cork, has several splendid soft-sand beaches. You can see the three main ones from the Youghal Eco Boardwalk, Ireland’s longest at nearly four miles.
The hardwood surface is wheelchair friendly and takes you from the town center to the Blue Flag Redbarn Beach. The long Claycastle beach also has a Blue Flag award.
Along the boardwalk you’ll find plenty of benches to sit and take in the view. Changing shelters are also available if you want to join the many swimmers braving the Irish Sea.
Youghal is an historic port with still-standing medieval town walls and churches. Its narrow streets are rich with colorful old buildings, many of them now arty shops and cosy cafés.
Helen’s Bay Beach, Belfast, Northern Ireland
Helen’s Bay Beach in Belfast, Northern Ireland
A popular seaside resort on the southern shore of Belfast Lough, Helen’s Bay is one of the best beaches in the UK, located just 20 minutes from Belfast. It was developed as a model village in Victorian times, when first connected by train to the capital.
The two lovely beaches here have great views of Belfast Lough and even Scotland on a clear day. Popular for walking, they also form part of the North Down Coastal Path.
Bordering the beach is Crawfordsburn Country Park, which has its own woodland walks and nature trails. Photographers love the diversity of trees and other plants during the changing seasons.
Grey Point Fort close by has a military museum within its historic coastal defenses. Among its military artifacts from both world wars is a display about the ill-fated Titanic.
Brown’s Bay, Northern Ireland
Brown’s Bay, Northern Ireland
Brown’s Bay is on the Northern tip of the Islandmagee peninsula in County Antrim. The sheltered horseshoe bay has a small, sandy beach backed by gentle, green hills.
The remote setting made the bay a haunt of smugglers in days gone by. It’s now frequented by cold water swimmers and occasional windsurfers, being generally too calm for surfers.
Gobbins Cliff Path, Northern Ireland
Several walking paths let you take in the beauty of the bay and the neighboring coastline. The most famous of these is the Gobbins Cliff Path, a breathtaking route through tunnels and across suspension bridges. It’s known as one of the best hikes in the UK.
Blackhead Lighthouse, dating to 1902, stands on the cliffs overlooking Browns Bay. Take a guided tour for an insight into the area’s rich maritime history.
Ballygally Beach, Northern Ireland
Ballygally Beach, Northern Ireland
Ballygally Beach is a scenic spot on Northern Ireland’s beautiful Causeway Coast. Fronting Ballygally Bay, the sand/shingle beach has views across to Scotland’s Mull of Kintyre on clear days.
It’s one of the best Ireland beaches to walk in search of shells or sea glass. Birdwatching or rock-pooling are also popular ways to pass the time here.
Nearby Ballygally Castle Hotel, built in 1625, is reputedly haunted, although most spirits seem confined to the hotel bar. More reliably, it’s among the oldest occupied buildings on the island of Ireland.
Ballygally is on the Antrim Coast Road, an engineering marvel when finished in the 1840s. Running for 25 miles from the port of Larne to the pretty village of Cushendall, the road is among the world’s most beautiful drives.
Portrush East Strand, Northern Ireland
Portrush East Strand, Northern Ireland
Portrush is a seaside resort that in Victorian times blossomed due to its rail connection to Belfast. Its East Strand is only one of several spectacular beaches in the area.
The two-mile-long sandy beach stretches from the town, backed by high dunes. Behind those again is the lovely Royal Portrush Golf Club, venue for the Open Championship in 1951, 2019, and again in 2025.
Walk the beach to watch surfers, admire the Skerry Rocks offshore, and maybe glimpse the Scottish island of Islay. At the far end are the White Rocks, oft-photographed limestone chalk cliffs up to 140 million years old.
Portrush itself is a very walkable town, with cosy bars, fish & chip shops, and a handsome harbor. Nearby is the iconic Giant’s Causeway, historic Bushmills Distillery, and the dramatic clifftop Dunluce Castle, one of Ireland’s most beautiful castles.
Newcastle Beach, Northern Ireland
Newcastle Beach, Northern Ireland
In the shadow of Slieve Donard, Northern Ireland’s highest peak at 2,790 ft, is Newcastle Beach. Only an hour from Belfast, Newcastle has long been a popular local seaside resort.
The beach runs on from Murlough National Nature Reserve, which has a sensationally beautiful dune system. It’s an important winter feeding ground for birds and has 600 species of butterfly.
Newcastle boasts a Victorian-era promenade, off which you can explore the town’s shops, cafés, and dining. Those interested in history will also want to see the views of—and from—historic Dundrum Castle.
Nearby is Royal County Down Golf Club, which golfer Ernie Els puts among the world’s top three links courses. Hikers can literally lose themselves in the dramatic Mourne Mountains, or take gentler strolls in Tollymore Forest Park.
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