We were somewhere on the Dingle Peninsula, pulled over on a one-lane road with nowhere to be, watching the Atlantic do its thing below us, when it hit me just how well Ireland rewards slow travel.
That’s what makes scenic drives in Ireland different from anywhere else we’ve been on wheels.
The roads here aren’t just connectors between places.
They thread through sea cliffs, bogland, mountain passes, and coastline that changes every few kilometres.
This guide covers 20 routes, from classic loops like the Ring of Kerry and the Wild Atlantic Way to lesser-driven peninsulas that most visitors never find, including some of Ireland’s best coastal drives and a handful of routes in Northern Ireland that are every bit as spectacular.
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- The Most Beautiful Seaside Towns in Northern Ireland
- The Most Beautiful Towns In Ireland You Need To Visit
- A Weekend in Dublin, Ireland: The Perfect 2 Day Itinerary
- 20 Best Things To Do in Dingle, Ireland
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These 20 routes cover the full range of what Ireland can throw at you on four wheels: coastal cliffs, mountain passes, bogland plateaus, and peninsula roads that curl out into the Atlantic with nothing ahead but sea.
A handful of the routes sit in Northern Ireland, and they’re worth the border crossing. Check out The Best Scenic Drives in Northern Ireland for a deeper look at those.
Several of these drives connect naturally into longer loops, so if you’re planning a proper road trip rather than a single-day run, take a look at The Best Coastal Drives in Ireland and The Best Short Scenic Drives in Ireland to help piece it all together.
1. Ring of Kerry
The Ring of Kerry is Ireland’s most famous road trip for good reason.
It’s 179km of sea cliffs, mountain passes, and lakeshore roads looping around the Iveragh Peninsula in County Kerry.
You get everything on this one loop: the lakes and old-growth woodland of Killarney National Park, the wide Atlantic views from Coomakista Pass, and quiet fishing villages like Sneem and Waterville tucked along the coast.
It gets busy in July and August, especially with tour coaches running clockwise from Killarney.
Drive it anti-clockwise to stay ahead of the traffic and stop whenever you like without a bus on your bumper.
If you’d rather sit back and let someone else handle the driving, our full Ring of Kerry drive guide has everything you need, or click here to book a highly-rated guided day tour of the Ring of Kerry.
2. Slea Head Drive, Dingle Peninsula
Many people argue the Slea Head Drive is more dramatic than the Ring of Kerry, and after doing both, it’s hard to disagree.
This 50km loop from Dingle town takes you past Dunbeg Fort, the famous Blasket Islands viewpoint, ancient beehive huts, and some of the most striking sea cliffs on the entire island.
You can do it comfortably in half a day, which makes it one of the best short scenic drives in Ireland if you’re short on time, and it pairs naturally with a full day exploring everything else Dingle has to offer.
One caveat: the road narrows considerably as you approach Slea Head itself, and if you’re not comfortable edging past oncoming traffic on a single-lane cliff road, a guided day tour of the Dingle Peninsula is a much more relaxed way to take it all in.
Click here to book a highly-rated guided Dingle Peninsula day tour.
3. Wild Atlantic Way (Full Route Overview)
The Wild Atlantic Way runs roughly 2,500km from Donegal in the north all the way down to Cork in the south, making it one of the longest defined coastal routes in the world.
Several drives in this list are actually sections of it, so if you’re planning a big trip, it helps to think of the WAW as the overarching framework rather than a single road trip you knock out in a week.
You’ll want at least two weeks to do it justice.
A rental car is non-negotiable, and for a proper breakdown of which stretches are worth prioritising, the full guide to the best coastal drives in Ireland is the place to start.
4. Connemara Loop, County Galway
The Connemara Loop runs roughly 200km from Galway city, taking you through some of the most raw and open landscape in the country.
The R344 through the Inagh Valley is the real highlight, winding between the Twelve Bens mountain range and Lough Inagh with bog stretching out in every direction.
It drops you out at Kylemore Abbey, the Victorian Gothic building that looks almost too dramatic to be real.
One note on Kylemore: arrive before 10am if you can, because by mid-morning the car park fills up and the atmosphere shifts considerably.
If you want more context on the region, the full guide to Clifden and Connemara is worth reading before you go, and you can also build this loop into a wider day trip from Galway without much trouble.
Click here to book a highly-rated guided Connemara day trip.
5. Causeway Coastal Route, Northern Ireland
The drive from Belfast to Derry along the Antrim coast is one of the most dramatic stretches of road in Europe, full stop.
You’re talking about the Giant’s Causeway, the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, and the ruins of Dunluce Castle perched above the sea, all within a couple of hours of each other.
A few practical things to know: you’re in Northern Ireland here, so prices are in GBP (£), not Euro.
The Giant’s Causeway car park charges a fee even if you’re just stopping briefly.
For a full breakdown of how to drive it, what to stop at, and how long to allow, the best scenic drives in Northern Ireland guide covers the route in detail.
If you’re building a wider road trip, the most beautiful seaside towns in Northern Ireland pairs well with it.
Click here to book a highly-rated Giant’s Causeway tour.
6. Ring of Beara, Cork and Kerry
The Beara Peninsula gets far fewer visitors than the Ring of Kerry, which is exactly why it deserves a spot on this list.
The scenery is raw and genuinely remote, with the Healy Pass cutting through the Caha Mountains on a road that’s steep, narrow, and spectacular in equal measure.
Hungry Hill offers one of the more serious ridge walks in the southwest.
The Dursey Island cable car – Ireland’s only cable car – takes you out over the Atlantic to an island with barely a handful of residents.
Just be ready for the Healy Pass road: it’s not the place to find out you’re not comfortable on single-track mountain roads.
Click here to book a highly-rated Ring of Beara cycling or driving tour.
7. The Healy Pass, Cork to Kerry
The Healy Pass is a short mountain road through the Caha Mountains that connects Cork and Kerry, and it’s one of the most photogenic stretches of tarmac in the country.
The hairpin bends are steep and narrow, and the drop-offs are real.
The views over both counties open up the higher you climb, and it pays off at the top, where a crucifix marks the summit and you get a proper panoramic view across the mountains and down toward Glenmore Lake.
Even if you’re not doing a full Ring of Kerry drive or a longer southwest loop, the Healy Pass is worth doing as a standalone detour.
It takes less than an hour to drive but feels like a completely different world.
One note: in winter, ice on the upper section can be a real issue, so check conditions before you go, especially if you’re visiting as part of a wider coastal drive through Ireland.
8. Wicklow Mountains Scenic Drive
Most people visiting Dublin don’t realise that one of Ireland’s most dramatic landscapes is less than an hour from the city centre.
The R115 Military Road runs south from Rathfarnham through the Sally Gap and down toward Glendalough, cutting through open bog, dark mountain lakes, and sweeping valleys that feel nothing like the city you just left.
It’s one of the most underrated options on any list of the best scenic drives from Dublin, and it works well as a half-day loop or the start of a longer route into Wicklow.
If you have more time, tack on Powerscourt Estate near Enniskerry on the way out, or swing south to the Vale of Avoca for a quieter finish – both add under an hour and are well worth it.
9. Inishowen Peninsula, County Donegal
The Inishowen Peninsula is Ireland’s largest, and it sees a fraction of the visitors that crowd the Ring of Kerry or the Cliffs of Moher.
The Inishowen 100 is a 100km circular route that takes in Malin Head – Ireland’s most northerly point – the ancient hillfort of Grianan of Aileach, and empty Atlantic beaches that stretch for miles with barely a soul on them.
It’s a long drive north from most of Ireland, but if you’re already planning a trip around Donegal or tackling the Wild Atlantic Way, this peninsula deserves at least a full day – ideally two.
Accommodation here is limited, so book ahead if you’re coming in summer or it gets tight fast.
10. The Burren, County Clare
The Burren looks like nowhere else in Ireland, a vast plateau of grey limestone karst that stretches across north Clare like the surface of the moon.
The R480 cuts right through the heart of it, passing the Poulnabrone Dolmen, a 5,000-year-old portal tomb sitting in the open landscape like it was dropped there.
The road then drops down toward Doolin and the coast.
Most people combine the Burren with a visit to the Cliffs of Moher, which makes sense.
They’re less than 20 minutes apart, and a day that takes in both is one of the best drives in County Clare.
If you’re short on time, a guided day trip is the easiest way to do it, you get the geology explained properly, and someone else handles the driving on those narrow roads.
Click here to book a highly-rated Burren and Cliffs of Moher day trip.
11. Cliffs of Moher Coastal Drive, County Clare
Everyone pulls into the main Cliffs of Moher carpark, pays the €8 – €10 fee, walks to the viewing platform, and leaves.
What they miss is the coastal road itself, the R478 south toward Hag’s Head and the R477 north through Doolin, where you get the same cliffs with none of the crowds.
Hag’s Head sits at the southern tip of the cliffs and gives you a completely different angle on the rock faces.
The drive up through Doolin toward the village is one of the better stretches of coastal road in Ireland.
If you want the full experience without the navigation stress, a guided tour is worth it.
You’ll cover both ends of the cliffs and get the geology and history explained properly along the way.
Click here to book a highly-rated guided Cliffs of Moher tour.
12. Achill Island Drive, County Mayo
Achill is Ireland’s largest island, and the fact that you can drive onto it across a bridge makes it one of the most accessible remote-feeling places in the country.
The highlight is Keem Bay, a horseshoe-shaped beach at the far western tip of the island with water that looks more Caribbean than Atlantic, but the road to get there is narrow, steep, and not for nervous drivers.
On the slopes of Slievemore Mountain, the Deserted Village is one of the more quietly affecting places in Ireland, around 100 stone cottages abandoned during and after the Famine, still sitting on the hillside.
This drive fits naturally into a Wild Atlantic Way itinerary and is one of the stops I’d put on any list of the most scenic drives in Ireland.
Click here to book a highly-rated Achill Island tour.
More guides for your Ireland trip:
- 21 Unique Things To Do in Kerry, Ireland – The Kingdom County
- The Definitive Guide To Driving in Ireland For Tourists
- Whats’s the best thing about living in Ireland? #Reddit Responds.
- 33 Best Things To Do in Galway, Ireland
- Weekend in Killarney: The Perfect 2 Day Itinerary
- 10 Best Meals in Ireland (What to Eat and Drink)
- 10 Best Places To Stay in Bray, Ireland
- 15 Best Things To Do in Howth, Ireland
- 30 Best Things To Do in Ireland
- 15 Best Things To Do in Doolin, Ireland
13. Loop Head Peninsula, County Clare
Most people visit County Clare, tick off the Cliffs of Moher, and head straight back to Galway or Doolin.
That means the Loop Head Peninsula, about 30km southwest of Kilkee, stays almost entirely to itself.
The drive from Kilkee out to Loop Head Lighthouse takes around 40 minutes, and the scenery along the way is every bit as dramatic as anything you’ll see further north on the Clare coast – sea stacks, sheer Atlantic cliffs, and almost no other cars.
The lighthouse itself is still operational, and on a clear day you can see the Aran Islands, the Dingle Peninsula, and the mountains of Kerry from the headland.
If you’re already planning a trip to the Cliffs of Moher, Loop Head makes a natural half-day extension.
It’s one of the best entries on any list of the best short scenic drives in Ireland under two hours, and it earns its place among the most scenic drives in Ireland overall.
14. Sheep’s Head Peninsula, County Cork
Sheep’s Head is the smallest of Cork’s three peninsulas, and that’s exactly why it works.
If you’ve done the Ring of Kerry and found it a bit of a coach-tour conveyor belt, this is the antidote.
The R591 out to Sheep’s Head lighthouse is narrow, quiet, and lined with wildflowers in summer, with big Atlantic views and almost no traffic.
It’s one of those drives that earns its place on any list of the best coastal drives in Ireland without trying too hard.
One caveat worth taking seriously: services out here are almost nonexistent, so fill the tank in Bantry before you head out.
You won’t find a petrol station once you’re on the peninsula proper.
15. Mizen Head Peninsula, County Cork
The drive out to Mizen Head on the R592, through the colourful villages of Schull and Goleen, is one of the best stretches of road in the whole country.
It leads you all the way to the most southwesterly point in Ireland.
At the tip of the peninsula sits the Mizen Head Signal Station, perched dramatically above the cliffs with crashing Atlantic waves below and nothing but ocean beyond it.
Entry is €6 and the suspension bridge crossing alone is worth it.
Misty days, which are common even in summer, make the whole thing feel more dramatic rather than less.
If you’re building out a longer Cork road trip, pair this with the Sheep’s Head drive and you’ve got two of the most scenic drives in Ireland back to back.
Just don’t expect much in the way of services past Goleen, so stop for fuel and food before you head out.
16. Skellig Coast, County Kerry
The R567 runs along the southern shore of the Iveragh Peninsula and gets a fraction of the traffic that the Ring of Kerry does, which makes it one of the better-kept secrets on Ireland’s scenic drive circuit.
On a clear day, the two jagged peaks of Skellig Michael and Little Skellig sit on the horizon like something from another world.
If you’ve seen the Star Wars sequel trilogy, you’ll recognise them immediately – they were used as Luke Skywalker’s island hideout in The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi.
If you want to actually land on Skellig Michael, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a sixth-century monastic settlement clinging to its cliffsides, the boat trips from Portmagee and Ballinskelligs are extraordinary.
They book out months in advance, so plan well ahead or you’ll be watching from the shore.
Read the full guide to visiting the Skellig Islands before you go, and if Kerry is on your list more broadly, the things to do in Kerry guide covers the rest of the county in detail.
Click here to book a highly-rated Skellig Michael boat trip.
17. Donegal Highlands Drive
The R250 and N56 through Donegal is one of the rawest stretches of the entire Wild Atlantic Way, running through the Blue Stack Mountains and along a coastline that feels largely untouched.
The centrepiece is Slieve League, a set of sea cliffs that rise nearly 600 metres out of the Atlantic, making them among the highest sea cliffs in Europe.
The one-way cliff road at Bunglass is narrow and exposed, so take it slow.
The views from the top looking back along the Donegal coast are worth every white-knuckle metre of it.
The route through Ardara and Glencolmcille adds real texture too, with traditional weaving villages and barely any tour buses in sight.
That puts it in a different league to more heavily visited scenic drives in Ireland.
18. Gap of Dunloe, County Kerry
The Gap of Dunloe is a narrow mountain pass that cuts through the Macgillycuddy’s Reeks in County Kerry, with glacial lakes, dramatic rocky terrain, and barely enough room for two vehicles to pass each other in places.
Outside of peak season, driving it yourself is completely doable and spectacular.
In July and August, though, the pass fills with jaunting cars, cyclists, and walkers.
Driving through it becomes a logistical headache that most people regret attempting.
The jaunting car option, a horse-drawn carriage ride through the pass, is actually the better experience in summer anyway, and it’s the traditional way to see it.
Click here to book a highly-rated Gap of Dunloe jaunting car tour.
19. Mourne Mountains Coastal Drive, Northern Ireland
The A2 from Newry to Newcastle is one of those drives that doesn’t get nearly enough attention, sitting quietly in the shadow of the Causeway Coast while delivering some of the most striking scenery in the north.
You’ve got the Mourne Mountains rising on one side and Dundrum Bay stretching out on the other, with two worthwhile stops along the way.
Murlough National Nature Reserve is a 6,000-year-old sand dune system with easy walking trails down to the beach.
Dundrum Castle is a Norman ruin with sweeping views over the bay.
Note that you’re in Northern Ireland here, so prices are in GBP, not Euro.
For more drives worth doing up north, check out The Best Scenic Drives in Northern Ireland.
20. Vale of Avoca and Military Road Loop, County Wicklow
This circular loop from Dublin is one of the most satisfying full-day drives you can do from the city, covering around 180km and two completely different sides of the Wicklow Mountains.
Head south on the R755 through the Vale of Avoca first, stopping at the Avoca Mines, Ireland’s oldest working mine.
The Meeting of the Waters, the confluence of the Avonmore and Avonbeg rivers, was made famous by Thomas Moore’s poem and is worth a quick stop.
The R755 through the vale is narrow in places, so take it slow and be prepared to pull in for oncoming traffic.
The return leg on the Military Road over the Sally Gap is the contrast that makes this loop so good.
Open bog, big skies, and some of the most exposed mountain scenery in Wicklow.
If you’d rather leave the driving to someone else, this route sits right in the heart of Wicklow’s best day-trip territory and is easy to cover on a guided Wicklow Mountains day tour from Dublin.
Tips for Driving in Ireland
Ireland rewards road-trippers, but there are a few things worth knowing before you pull out of the car hire lot.
For the full picture, check out The Definitive Guide to Driving in Ireland for Tourists – but here are the essentials.
Drive on the Left
If you’re coming from North America or mainland Europe, this is the big one.
Driving on the left takes about 20 minutes to feel normal, but the moments to watch are roundabouts and turns out of car parks.
That’s where the instinct to drift right kicks in.
Expect Narrow Roads
Once you leave the main routes, Irish country roads get tight, sometimes tight enough that two cars can’t pass without one pulling into a passing place.
Take it slow and don’t assume the road widens around the next bend.
Don’t be embarrassed to reverse 50 metres when needed.
This is especially true on the Ring of Kerry and along the Donegal peninsulas.
Book Car Hire Early in Summer
Rental prices in Ireland spike hard from June through August.
Book as early as you can, ideally 3 to 4 months out, or you’ll be looking at eye-watering daily rates for whatever’s left.
Fill Up Before Remote Areas
Petrol stations thin out quickly once you head into Donegal, Kerry, or Connemara.
Fill the tank in the last big town before you head onto a peninsula and don’t assume there’ll be a station at the other end.
Don’t Rely Solely on GPS
Mobile signal drops out regularly in rural Donegal and parts of Kerry and Wicklow.
Download an offline map before you leave, or keep a paper map in the car as a backup.
Pack Layers and a Waterproof
Ireland’s weather doesn’t care what month you’re visiting.
Keep a waterproof jacket and a warm layer in the boot at all times, and you’ll need them at least once, guaranteed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are the questions I get asked most often about driving scenic routes in Ireland.
What is the most scenic drive in Ireland?
Most people would say the Ring of Kerry or the Wild Atlantic Way, and honestly it’s hard to argue with either.
The Dingle Peninsula is a close third, and in my opinion it’s less crowded than Kerry while being just as beautiful.
How long does the Ring of Kerry take to drive?
The loop is about 179 kilometres and takes roughly 2.5 to 3 hours if you drive straight through.
Realistically, with stops at viewpoints, a pub lunch, and a walk or two, you’re looking at a full day.
Do I need a car to explore Ireland’s scenic routes?
For most of them, yes.
Public transport doesn’t reach the Dingle Peninsula, the Inishowen Peninsula, or most of Connemara in any practical way, so renting a car opens up a completely different trip.
Is it safe to drive on Irish roads as a visitor?
The major roads are fine.
The narrow country lanes are a different story, especially in Kerry and Donegal, where two cars passing each other requires one of you to reverse to a passing place.
Take it slow, and read the definitive guide to driving in Ireland before you go.
What is the best time of year for a scenic drive in Ireland?
May, June, and September hit the sweet spot.
You get longer daylight hours, better weather odds, and far fewer tour coaches blocking the layby at Moll’s Gap.
July and August are peak season, which means higher prices and more crowds on the popular routes.
Can I drive the Wild Atlantic Way in a week?
You can cover the highlights in a week, but you’ll be driving a lot.
A more comfortable approach is to pick a section, like the nine best stops on the Wild Atlantic Way, and do it properly rather than rushing the full 2,500 kilometres end to end.
Final Thoughts
Twenty routes is a lot, and trying to tick them all in one trip is the fastest way to turn a brilliant holiday into a blur of laybys and car parks.
Pick two or three that genuinely excite you, build some slack into the schedule, and actually stop when something catches your eye.
The drives that stick with you are rarely the famous ones you felt obligated to do.
They’re the barely signposted coastal road you turned down on a whim.
If you want to narrow things down, The Prettiest Drives in Ireland is a good companion post, and The Best Short Scenic Drives in Ireland (Under 2 Hours) is worth bookmarking if your time is tight.
One practical note: book your rental car early, especially for May, June, or September travel.
Stock runs thin fast in Ireland and the price difference between booking two months out versus two weeks out can be significant.
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