Cliffs of Moher and the west coast: two jewels of the 'Emerald Isle'

Ireland is known the world over for its pubs and stouts, but the country of shamrocks and Saint Patrick's is much more than just a few clichés. If before it was the favorite destination for many Spaniards to learn or improve their English, the departure of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Brexit) has made interest in Ireland grow even more.

Getting away from the bustling Dublin, where almost 10% of the population of Ireland lives, and visiting the west coast of the 'Emerald Isle' is one of the best options to get to know the country of 'hurling' and Gaelic football, sports nationals of Ireland.

If you're planning to fly into Dublin Airport, and have a week to travel the country, it's best to head west to Galway and head north-south along the Atlantic coast to Cork. In Galway it is mandatory to walk through its pedestrian streets full of shops, pubs, restaurants and street artists. Although it is not in the center, a good option to stay is The Connacht Hotel, with a 20-meter heated pool, a children's pool and a large fully equipped gym.

On the way to Cork you must make a brief stop in Limerick, the city of 'Angela's Ashes', a historical portrait of Ireland in times of famine and poverty. Now pubs with live music abound and, if it's the weekend, you have to have a drink at 'The Milk Market' (the Milk Market). Near Limerick you can visit Adare (one of the most beautiful villages in Ireland) and Bunratty Castle, one of the best-preserved fortresses with a folkloric park included. Medieval banquets are organized every evening in the castle's great hall.

Once in Cork, located on the southwest coast, you won't have time to explore the second largest city in Ireland (after Dublin) and one of the liveliest and most cosmopolitan. With a bit of luck, the sun will rise and everything will seem more beautiful and cosy. And if you reach Cobh and Kinsale, a few kilometers from Cork, you will want to stay and live for a while.

Ireland's most popular attraction on the Atlantic Way. If it is already impressive to see it in photos, walking along the path that borders it at 200 meters high makes an even more impressive impact. If you have time, you can eat at Gus O'Connor's Pub and head over to Doolin Pier, the pier from which the ferry to the Aran Islands departs. Quite an experience that must have inspired Martin McDonagh for his film 'The Banshee of Inisherin'. In fact, all of Ireland is a huge natural set where dozens of well-known movies and series have been shot. Ennistymon and Lahinch are also nearby and well worth a visit.

The Latin Quarter is the most colorful in Galway, with many pubs and live music. If you travel at Christmas you can enjoy one of the most famous Christmas markets in Ireland. And of course, you can't leave without trying the 'fish and chips' (fish and chips). 'Hooked' is our favorite restaurant, but there are so many to choose from.

Located in the Connemara National Park, 85 kilometers from Galway, it was the mansion of a wealthy English businessman and later a convent for Benedictine nuns and an international boarding school for girls. Not far away is Cong, the town where 'The Quiet Man', directed by John Ford and starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara, was filmed.

It is a tourist circuit located in County Kerry that covers 170 kilometers and surrounds the Iveragh peninsula, the largest in Ireland. Starting in Killarney, it travels through several picturesque towns, including Waterville, one of Chaplin's favorite places to vacation with his family.

Nine kilometers from Cork is this medieval fortress surrounded by gardens with the stone of eloquence as its main attraction. To achieve this gift, the visitor must kiss the stone from below with the body suspended in the air at a height of 30 meters. Only suitable for those who do not suffer from vertigo.

This city a few kilometers from Cork is one of the most beautiful in Ireland for its colorful houses, the cathedral and the port, which has an interesting maritime history. It was the last stop of the 'Titanic' before sinking in the Atlantic with more than 2,200 people on board between passengers and crew (only 706 survived). It is essential to do the 'Titanic Experience' tour.