What to do in Dingle, Ireland
This small, beautiful village on the western coast of Ireland is one of my favorite places on the planet. From falconry lessons and exciting speed boat tours around the peninsula, to hiking, picnicking and enjoying a pint in a 100 year old pub, there's much fun to be had in Dingle.
#1. Take a boat tour of the peninsula
Thanks to the wild Atlantic Ocean’s powerful carving, the western coast of Ireland has some of the most shockingly beautiful and unique scenery in the world. There's no better way to experience these massive cliffs, sea caves and arches than by boat, and we loved the Dingle Sea Safari. For 65 Euros you can spend the morning (or afternoon) out at sea discovering Ireland's rugged coast and gorgeous green islands. These sights make it clear why this location was chosen as the backdrop for multiple tv shows and movies, including the Mandalorian! You’ll also have the chance to see dolphins, plenty of seals and even puffins if you’re lucky! It was my first time seeing the Great Blasket Islands which were inhabited until the mid-1950’s, at which point the weather had gotten so harsh the residents were forced to relocate to the mainland. From your boat, you can still see their houses and other remnants of the village that once was on this island, now home to a massive seal colony. The captain was very dedicated and ensured we spotted some dolphins which jumped all around the boat and that everyone had a memorable time.
#2. Falconry Experience
For about 23 Euros a person, this is an unmissable experience. Kingdom Falconry, located just past the distillery right on the harbor offers the chance to glove up and have a huge bird of prey land right on your fist, straight out of the movies. To this day I feel so lucky to have experienced this and I would highly recommend it to anyone visiting Dingle. The knowledgeable handlers discuss interesting facts about each owl, hawk and falcon and are happy to answer any questions. If your timing is lucky, you may also get to pet a baby bird as well. The most impressive to me was the eagle owl, I had no concept how large these birds were! Keep in mind Kingdom Falconry’s public experiences are not available in the winter months so be sure to check their site for availability.
#3. Picnic at An Díseart Gardens
The Dingle peninsula is a Gaeltacht region, meaning the government officially recognizes and protects the Irish language and gives high priority to traditional Irish culture history. The Díseart Centre of Irish Spirituality and Culture is such an amazing place to take a break and see this history for yourself. It features a chapel with stunning stained glass windows, surrounded by a beautiful garden. A perfect day for me was picking up some delicious snacks from The Little Cheese Shop and heading to An Díseart gardens to enjoy it at a picnic table. The cheese shop was seriously my cottagecore dream come true and eating in this picturesque, peaceful garden was a highlight of our time there.
#4. Dinner at the Dingle Skellig Hotel
The Coastguard restaurant at the Dingle Skellig Hotel
Ending your trip with a lovely dinner at the Coastguard is something we seriously recommend. The service is excellent and the hotel is gorgeous with sweeping views of the bay all around. I’m a huge smoked salmon fan so their Dingle Gin and Vanilla Cured Salmon appetizer was top notch for me. Other than that, I really recommend any of their seafood dishes and definitely save room for dessert. We had a question about the wine menu and the staff was so friendly and accommodating; they really made sure we had an excellent meal. Our beautiful candlelit table was right next to huge windows and overall it was a very romantic vibe. I would return in a heartbeat.