Lands of the Emerald Isle are hiding many adventures and numerous sightseeing marvels. From the country’s many dreamlike islands looking like they escaped from some Celtic fairytale about lands of heaven through ancient monasteries, many of which have important historical significance for the Irish people to magnificent cathedrals, natural wonders such as the Cliffs of Moher or Giant’s Causeway, prehistoric monuments older (and more exciting) than Stonehenge that is Brú na Bóinne, or good old whiskey tours, Ireland is more than rich with tourist attractions. But the island is most known for its tremendous collection of castles, with more than 30,000 castles and castle ruins sprinkled across Ireland.

The number is tremendously large, especially for a country as small as Ireland with a population just north of 6.5 million. Almost all settlements have at least one castle in their area and the land is filled with ancient ruins. Exploring them all could take a lifetime but why don’t you instead pick just the best ones and visit them the next time you decide to travel to the lush green lands of Ireland?

This list is just an incredibly small view of the incredibly rich collection of Irish castles. You can check out more than a hundred of the most famous ones by visiting Turtler’s bookmarks of castles in Ireland worth visiting which, by the way, features more than 100 castles.

We selected 10 castles that are definitely worth visiting and that should be checked out by everyone who picked Ireland to be their next holiday destination. We simply couldn’t rank them because each one guarantees an unforgettable experience. All we could do was to simply list them in a neat alphabetical order. Enjoy.

Ashford Castle

Ashford Castle is an excellent starting point for everyone with a desire to explore Ireland’s rich assortment of historic landmarks. Firstly, the castle is a luxurious five star hotel today, so why not begin your journey by spending a night in one of Ireland’s finest hotels? On top of that, the castle features a mixture of architectural styles so finely combined they give it stunning looks you won’t find anywhere else.

And the castle has an exciting story behind it, too. Built more than 800 years ago by the de Burgo family the building saw its fair share of battles. But its wild youth failed to ruin it and the castle stood proudly until Arthur Guinness (yup, the founder of the Guinness brewery) bought it in 1852 and turned it into a luxurious hunting and fishing lodge along with adding the final touch of neo-Gothic style that gave Ashford Castle the looks it has today.

Wander through ancient hallways, enjoy its beautiful surroundings, spend some time imagining what it was like living inside one of these during medieval times and take a few photos of the castle’s beautiful wine-covered walls. And then pack your bags and continue your unique exploration of Ireland’s best castles.

Blarney Castle

While not as old as Ashford Castle, Blarney Castle has its share of attractions the most famous of which is the Blarney Stone, one of the most popular tourist attractions in the whole of Ireland. According to the legend, the stone got kissed by Cormac Laidir McCarthy, the builder of Blarney Castle after he pleaded the goddess Clíodhna (the Queen of Banshees) to help him win a lawsuit. Clíodhna told him to kiss the first stone he stumbled upon the morning of his trial and he did and later that day won the case against him because his tongue suddenly became a perfect silver. And today, millions of tourists kiss the stone in hopes they will become perfect with words. The only downside is that the ritual is a bit frightening for those with a fear of heights. And while at it, enjoy the stunning view of the castle’s tower.

Other than the world-known Blarney Stone, the castle offers a beautiful exterior that isn’t flawlessly restored, keeping that gritty medieval looks reminiscent of countless castles seen in movies, and its surroundings are perfect green forests and pastures like they descended from a postcard. And its floral gardens (Fern Garden, Arboretum, and Poison Garden) filled with exotic plants like wolfsbane, mandrake we usually read about in fantasy novels or find in video games set in worlds filled with magic.

Bunratty Castle

If you want to experience a proper medieval feast, visit this one. Bunratty Castle is one of the island’s most well known medieval buildings and today it serves as a background for daily banquets which perfectly reflect the feasts of times past. Long wooden benches where guests sit, drink, and eat, simple yet extremely tasty food embodied in roasted pork, lots of potatoes, and the unskippable mead along with medieval live music, staff wearing historically accurate clothes, and candlelight replacing electricity.

Of course, the feast is just the apex of the visit; you can also roam around the castle and enjoy in the regular exhibit showing the life like it was in the 15th and 16th century. The castle site saw lots of battles and destruction. The original castle was built sometime around 1250 on top of the old Viking trading campsite (which itself dates back to 970 A.D) and it was destroyed three times because the surrounding area was a regular battleground between Ireland and England. This fourth iteration dates back to the 16th century and during the 1950s the castle was fully restored. And the civilization is just around the corner, with a major international airport (Shannon Airport) placed just 7 miles from Bunratty Castle. This means you can arrive around noon, take a full tour of the castle, go to the feast, and then continue your Ireland castle tour early the next morning. Neat.

Cahir Castle

Another well preserved Irish castle, Cahir Castle now welcomes tourists for daily tours that offer travelers a chance to get to know one of the oldest castles in the country to the smallest details. The castle was built in 1142 and, unlike many others, it still looks like it was almost a thousand years ago, with restoration efforts not altering its original architectural style nor its original layout of the keep, towers, and defensive walls. Of course, while the castle itself wasn’t destroyed, it suffered major damage during the 16th century but the massive cannonade didn’t manage to bring it down. Luckily, the next time it was attacked, the attacker took it over peacefully in 1650, leaving it intact for future generations.

Today Cahir Castle looks like it somehow spent the last 500 years wrapped in a protective bubble, looking much younger than it actually is, which is a perfect way to attract thousands of tourists each year. And aside from the castle tour during which you will be able to explore every nook and cranny of this monumental building, the tour also offers a special documentary film(Cahir Castle and the Story of Irish Castles) which explains the historical role and the importance of castles and fortresses to the island of Ireland.

Dublin Castle

While not the most beautiful, the oldest, or the best known, Dublin Castle is on this list because it looks pretty and it is located in Ireland’s capital. And if you decide to visit the Emerald Isle you will probably take a tour of its beautiful capital so why not visit a nice castle as well? Dublin Castle is located in the historic center of the city and while it is not a humongous construction like many other similar buildings, it does look monumental in its own way. You see, the castle is located in the middle of the city, giving it a special aura among all of those relatively modern buildings surrounding it, just augmenting its monolithic presence.

The castle was built by King John, the first Lord of Ireland, but the majority of the current building was erected during the 18th century. The site is located by the dark pool (“Dubh Linn”), from which Dublin gets its name. The castle was the center of the British Government in Ireland for centuries until it was officially handed over to Michael Collins’ Provisional Government in 1922. Today, the castle hosts many government offices but it is open for public. Daily tours include visits to the State Apartments, Medieval Undercroft and Chapel Royal as well as to the otherworldly beautiful Dubh Linn Gardens located right next to the castle.

Glenveagh Castle

This one is perfect for those who love nature. Glenveagh Castle is located in the middle of the enchanting Glenveagh National Park, which covers 170 square kilometers on the calm shores of Lough Veagh, a beautiful lake containing one of the most endangered fish European fish species, the famous European eel. The lake also hosts a small but thriving population of the magnificent golden eagle. The castle was handed to the Irish nation by Henry P. McIlhenny, a famous American philanthropist with Irish origins, who gifted the castle along with its gardens in 1981, both of which were added to Glenveagh National Park.

The castle itself isn’t as ancient and filled with battles and destruction as most other castles on this list, but it does have its share of tales about the harsh behavior of nobility towards common folk. You see, John Adair who got his fortune in the US by utilizing shady business of land speculation, built the castle in 1870 evicted more than 200 tenants because they spoiled his view on the landscape. Today, the castle is open to visitors from January to October and during your visit you simply have to explore Glenveagh National Park, which hosts a variety of plant species including exotic specimens from Chile and Tasmania, along with a huge amount of pine trees and ornamental rhododendrons.

Malahide Castle

Another perfect destination for nature lovers, Malahide Castle is the home for one of Ireland’s four botanical walled gardens. Inside it, you can find more than 5000 plant species originating from all over the world. The garden is known for its stunning collection of plants originating from Southern Hemisphere, most notably from Chile and Australia. Aside from the splendid botanical garden, the castle is surrounded by 250 acres of parkland, which looks amazing and is almost as beautiful as the garden located at its center.

And the castle is also beautiful and it has a rich history. Malahide Castle dates back to the 12th Century when Richard Talbot (who accompanied Henry II to Ireland in 1174) decided to erect a castle on the lands he got from King Henry II himself. During the next 800 years, the Talbot family called the Malahide Castle their home and residence. The only period when Talbot family didn’t live in the castle was from 1649-60, during the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland when Miles Corbet received it as a prize from Oliver Cromwell. The original keep got upgraded several times; during the 18th century the castle received its current outline and today it is a fully restored castle that hosts daily guided tours that are offered all year round.

During the 45 minute tour visitors are introduced to the story of the Talbot family (including the grim story of 11 family members dying at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690, just hours after they ate their supper inside the castle), are guided through the castle’s reception rooms and bedrooms and also have the chance of visiting the garden exhibition area along with the Walled Botanical Garden.  And as the icing on the cake, the castle is just a 30-minute drive from Dublin.

Rock of Cashel

The castle that is found in almost every Ireland tourist guide, The Rock of Cashel is one of the most known places in the whole of Ireland. This is the one castle everyone has to visit in case they are short on time or simply don’t want to spend their time visiting monumental medieval fortresses Ireland is full with. The castle was almost a thousand years old; with the original keep dating back to circa 1100 A.D, but according to a legend the site was even older. Aengus the King of Munster was converted to Christianity by St. Patrick in the 5th century right at this place, making the castle even more important for residents of the island.

According to a different legend, the nearby mountain was bit by the devil, who managed to break his teeth while taking a bite, dropping a huge chunk of rock which served as the foundation for the castle. Today, the castle is an extremely popular site for visitors from around the world. Daily tours are organized where you can explore the castle and its surroundings, which kept their rustic appeal. And as an added bonus, the nearby town of Cashel hosts a replica Folk Village where you can learn about the country life in Ireland during times of yore.

Ross Castle

Ross Castle is a perfect spot for those seeking an active vacation. The castle is located inside the Killarney National Park, which itself is filled with hiking and bike trails that offer a combination of picturesque vistas, calm wilderness perfect for taking a bit of time off, and various plant and animal life that make the park a worthy visit for everyone enjoying nature and its primal beauty. The castle isn’t a large as some other featured on this list but it is worthy of a visit because it features unique looks and a timeless charm.

It was built during the late 15th century and since then Ross Castle changed many different owners before it became a natural monument owned by the country of Ireland. Today, you can visit it after an action-filled journey across the Killarney National Park with tours being open during the whole year. And after you finish the tour you can go to the other side of the lake surrounding the castle and take some stunning photos of it during sunrise or sundown.

Trim Castle

Last but not least is Trim Castle, the largest Norman castle in Ireland. It was built by Hugh de Lacy during the 12th century. The castle ground was chosen because of its perfect placing; on top of a small hill, overlooking the River Boyne, and just 25 miles from the Irish Sea, Trim Castle was a perfect center of Norman administration. Because of this perfect spot, the castle stayed mostly intact as centuries passed, and is today one of the best-preserved castles on the island. It could have been destroyed during the 17th century when Cromwell’s forces attacked it, but it remained intact somehow.

The castle can be visited in organized tours during which you can explore the outer wall along with the castle’s ground floor filled with models showing how the castle looked during its golden era. Finally, the tour also includes a visit to the tower and topside walls that offer a stunning view of the surrounding area. And if you love movies, you should know that Trim Castle had a major role in Braveheart, where it was used to depict castles of Edinburgh and York and well as the famous Tower of London.