Top South West Ireland Historical Tours

Capture the wild spirit of the Ring of Kerry on an exhilarating full-day tour of the region’s natural highlights from Cork. Travel through the magical landscapes of Kerry and visit an array of quaint villages, blissful beaches, and sweeping valleys. Admire the colorful houses and ancient traditions of Sneem Village; absorb the coastal splendor of Dingle Bay; and gaze at magnificent views of mountains, lakes, and valleys in Killarney National Park. Receive an interesting introduction to the history and culture of Ireland from your expert guide on this enriching tour.

Do as the tourists of bygone years did, and explore Killarney by horse and carriage. The equivalent to a modern taxi, the jaunting car was popular in Ireland through the 19th and early 20th centuries. On this tour, you’ll learn about the area’s history, hearing tales of the Gaelic chieftains as you ride around Killarney National Park. Ross Castle, St. Mary's Cathedral, and Killarney House Gadens are a few of the landmarks on the route.

Maximize your time in the beautiful city of Cork on an enriching full-day shore excursion to Blarney Castle and other historical highlights. Greet your courteous guide at Cork Harbour and travel through the splendid Irish countryside to the ancient structure of Blarney Castle. Gain free admission to the 13th-century landmark and kiss the world-renowned Blarney Stone for good luck. Return to Cork for a panoramic coach tour of the city’s sights; visit the charming town of Kinsale; and make a brief stop in Cobh, famed for being the departure point of the ill-fated Titanic, before returning to Cork Harbour.

The waterfront town of Cobh in County Cork has a long and fascinating maritime history. Avoid wasting time wandering aimlessly with this guided tour, which is designed by a local historian. See key maritime sights around town, and learn about Cobh’s connections to the Titanic and Lusitania, and about the many millions of Irish emigrants who departed on ships from its port.

Marvel over the mighty Cliffs of Moher and the wild landscape of the Burren on a full-day tour from Cork. Enjoy dramatic views along the Atlantic coast as you stand atop the 702-foot (214-meter) high sea cliffs, then walk the vast karst plain of the Burren. That’s not all: pay a visit to Ireland’s 2014 City of Culture, Limerick, and pose for photos in front of the medieval Bunratty Castle.

Step back to medieval and Victorian times with a full-day admission ticket to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park near Shannon Town. Explore the 15th-century castle to see its rich furnishings, chambers and artworks, and wander through the folk park, a recreation of a 19th-century Irish village brought to life with costumed animators. See the replica cottages, shops, farmhouses, and Bunratty Walled Garden, and learn about traditional village life over a century ago.

To experience the culinary scene in Cork, don't miss this foodie-friendly guided tour designed for travelers to embrace the city's burgeoning culinary world. The highlight of your tour is a visit to the famed English Market where you can chat with local traders (or have the craic, as locals might say), while feasting on local treats like fish and bread, as well as tasty sweets. Wrap up your gastronic outing with a light pub lunch, included in the price.

Discover Killarney National Park at your leisure with a half-day self-guided bike tour. Pick-up your bike rental and a map guiding the way to popular park landmarks including Muckross House and Gardens, Muckross Abbey, Torc Waterfall, and Muckross Traditional Farms. Enjoy maximum flexibility to explore the countryside at your pace with this self-guided bike tour.

Cork is widely considered among Ireland’s must-see cities, but pounding the pavements to explore on foot takes time and effort. With this 24-hour ticket, spin through Cork by sightseeing bus and take in top attractions such as Cork City Gaol, the English Market, Shandon Bells, and University College Cork with ease. Hop on and off at your leisure, and learn of Cork’s colorful history through informative audio commentary.

Enjoy traveling in a small group on board a minibus around the scenic Ring of Kerry on this full-day tour. A smaller bus can navigate the famously narrow roads much better, and you have a better chance of good views out the bus windows in a smaller vehicle. Listen to guided commentary as you travel and enjoy the fact that you won't be responsible for the driving; you can focus on the scenery and snapping frame-worthy photos.

Customize your own itinerary and discover southwest Ireland’s breathtaking natural beauty on this private Ring of Kerry tour from Killarney. Follow your private guide along hiking routes around the Iveragh Peninsula. Visit pretty towns and villages including Cahersiveen and Kenmare, and discover top local attractions such as the Torc Waterfall. Enjoy panoramic cliff views along the Skellig Ring and hike to top spots like Valentia Island and Cahergall Fort. During your private tour, feel free to stop where and when you like!

Immerse yourself in the culture, history, music, and architecture of the Dingle Peninsula on this private tour. You'll enjoy personalized attention and a flexible itinerary; you can focus on parts of the landscape and history that interest you. The peninsula is known for its epic scenery, and since this tour includes all transportation, you'll be able to take it all instead of driving or directions.

Cobh is best known as an early stop on the RMS Titanic’s fateful voyage in 1912, but there’s a lot more to its history than just that one event. Uncover some on this short tour of the central city. Visit a number of locations where the history of the Irish Republic was written by Cobh volunteers: safe houses and prisons, barracks and sites where raging battles took place. Discover this often-unspoken side of the city with the help of your guide, a local historian.

Combine two of Ireland’s most dramatic natural wonders on this full-day tour from Limerick. Walk along the awe-inspiring sea cliffs of the Cliffs of Moher, which tower 702-feet (214-meters) over the Atlantic coast, then explore the otherworldly karst landscape of The Burren. That’s not all: you’ll also visit the fishing village of Kinvara, Bunratty Castle and Doolin, the home of traditional Irish music.

Discover the highlights of Ireland's oldest national park—and enjoy a one-of-a-kind way to explore—on this private horse and carriage tour. Pick from multiple departure times throughout the day, meet your guide at St. Mary's Cathedral in Killarney, and hop aboard. During your tour, you'll see lakes and mountains, will explore routes that are closed to cars, and can even go for a tour of the 15th-century Ross Castle (additional expense).

Stroll through Ennis, County Clare, with an award-winning tour guide to get to know the city thoroughly. On this walking your, you'll travel with a small group, which gives you plenty of personalized attention and the chance to ask questions. Visit hidden gems you might not otherwise find on your own and listen to tales of the city's history, culture, folklore, and people.

Embark on an incredible Irish adventure on a unique tour through County Kerry. Set out by open boat from Killarney National Park's 15th-century Ross Castle, passing islands and beneath old stone bridges along the Lakes of Killarney. Then continue via pony-drawn carriage through the remote Black Valley and the narrow and winding Gap of Dunloe. Meander through this stunning mountain pass, marveling at a handful of scenic lakes and crossing the Old Weird Bridge before catching a bus back to Killarney.

Enjoy swift access to one of County Cork’s top attractions with this skip-the-line Queenstown Story tour at the Cobh Heritage Centre. With your ticket in hand, beat the queues and head straight inside Cobh Heritage Centre to begin exploring. From the multimedia and audiovisual displays in place, learn of Cobh’s place in Ireland’s rich history. Gain insight into key events including the Great Famine, the transportation of convicts to Australia, cruise disasters like RMS Titanic and RMS Lusitania, and Ireland’s military and maritime history from the 17th century onward.

Book a private tour with a dedicated guide for a completely personalized tour of the Ring of Kerry from Killarney. Climb into a private vehicle, where you can relax and enjoy the scenery this route is so famous for, instead of focusing on driving and directions. Your guide will tailor the itinerary to your interests and provide in-depth commentary.

Ideal for first-time visitors, this 9-hour tour of the spectacular Ring of Kerry allows you to travel between southern Ireland’s natural wonders with ease. Departing Killarney, you’ll visit coastal gems such as Dingle Bay, Inch Beach, and the quaint villages of Waterville and Sneem. Also on the itinerary is Killarney National Park, a wonderland of mountains, lakes, world-famous gardens, where you’ll stop at Molls Gap and Torc Waterfall. Your guide provides history- and geography-rich commentary throughout the tour. 

Get a fuller experience of Killarney than would be possible with a single form of transportation on this combination tour by boat and jaunting car. Sail across Lough Lein in a glass-covered boat then hop aboard a jaunting car to travel through Killarney National Park, to places inaccessible by motor vehicle.

Cork ranks among the most attractive cities in Ireland, with beautiful architecture and fine Lee River views—but seeing the best of the city on foot takes time and effort. On this tour, spin along Cork’s cycle lanes and riverside pathways by bike, and hit top attractions including Fitzgerald’s Park and St. Finbarr’s Cathedral with ease. With bike and helmet hire included, listen as your guide brings Cork’s history to life.

Visit two of Cork's most important towns—Cobh and Blarney—in a single tour, with all transportation provided. No need to rent a car or puzzle over directions; just sit back and enjoy the ride and the scenery. Admission to the castle and gardens at Blarney is included, a savings off the day-of ticket price. In Cobh, learn about the history of Irish immigration through your guide's commentary and choose the attractions you'd like to visit independently.

Discover the best of Ireland’s Dingle Peninsula as you embark on a full-day excursion from the city of Dingle. Alongside a private guide, hit a number of archeological, cultural, and natural landmarks over the course of the day. Take in the views of the Atlantic from the cliffs, visit Irish-speaking villages, see ancient monastic sites, and much more.