During this summer my girlfriend and I took the opportunity to take a quick trip to an incredible country, Ireland. Surely there are people who might have the belief that the most important thing to see in this country is its capital, Dublin, but it is much more than that. There are around 3,000 castles or fortifications on the entire island alone, which gives us an idea of all the places that can be visited on this wonderful island.

What places to visit in Ireland?

Some of the most important places that you should not miss on your visit to Ireland are the following:

Belfast

Belfast is located in Northern Ireland, this city being the capital of the country. Although it may not sound very familiar to you, the city of Belfast is a highly recommended place to visit. Belfast has a history marked by armed conflict between Republicans and Unionists, which has left its mark on the murals of both factions.

One of the best-known attractions in the city is the Titanic museum, since this ship was built there. Another very interesting visit is Belfast Castle, on the outskirts of the city.

Giant's causeway

It is the most famous tourist destination and therefore the most visited in Northern Ireland. Its landscape is impossible to forget, it was formed due to the expulsion of lava from active volcanoes millions of years ago. By the time the lava was ejected and came into contact with the sea, it cooled rapidly, solidifying and creating its unusual basalt structure in the form of columns and geometric rocks.

The legend told by the inhabitants of the place is that there was a battle between two giants who lived in Northern Ireland and Scotland. Due to this battle, huge stones were thrown at each other that generated the famous causeway.

Dublin

It is surely the best known city on the entire island of Ireland, this being the capital of the Republic of Ireland. Some of the places that you cannot miss in this city are Dublin Castle, St. Patrick's Cathedral, the Protestant Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Trinity College and for beer lovers the most important of all, the brewery. Guinness and Temple Bar.

Dublin is a busy city with plenty to do, you certainly won't be disappointed.

Wicklow National Park

Wicklow National Park is another place you should not miss on your visit to Ireland. It has more than 20,000 hectares of meadows and mountains with forests, peat bogs and lakes that constitute the habitat of a great diversity of native animals such as deer, red foxes, wild goats and badgers. Another of the tourist attractions within the national park is the Glendalough Monastery, founded in the 6th century, being one of the first Catholic religious centers on the island.

Galway

It is the quintessential town if you plan to visit the Cliffs of Moher and an excellent base if you plan to visit the east side of the island. But not only that, it is a picturesque city with a large number of young people, so the nights can be very lively. It also has relaxing canals to walk around and an elegant cathedral.

From this city it is also possible to visit one of the best known castles in Ireland, Dunguaire Castle.

Connemara

Connemara is a cultural region located in the west of Ireland that includes a wide peninsula. It has a large number of lakes and landscapes that can only be imagined in fairy tales. There are mountain trails for trekking between these bucolic hills populated almost exclusively by sheep. One of the quintessential places to visit in the area is Kylemore Abbey. Originally it was built between 1863 and 1868 with the function of being a residential castle and hence the spectacularity of the complex. From 1920 it was occupied by Benedictine nuns, although since 2010 it has been closed and only the gardens can be visited.

 Cliffs of Moher

The Cliffs of Moher are the most important natural attraction in Ireland.

What are the Cliffs of Moher or the Cliffs of Moher?

It is without a doubt the most important attraction in Ireland and one of the most famous images of the island. These cliffs have an extension of around 12 kilometers and a maximum height of 214 meters. They are located to the west of the island facing the Atlantic Ocean, it has eight capes and almost vertical black walls, which despite not being the highest in Europe, provide it with great spectacularity.

How to get to the Cliffs of Moher?

There are several ways to get there, either by car, by bus through a tour, public bus or walking along the coast.

• Car. This is the cheapest option if there are several people on the trip, in addition to the obvious comfort it represents. Remember they drive on the left and drive on the right. Important point that should not go unnoticed.
• Bus tour. There are tours that go to the Cliffs of Moher from Galway and also from Dublin. Leaving from Dublin it will take you longer to get there, so you won't have enough time to enjoy the scenery.
• Public bus. Doolin and the visitor center itself can be reached from Galway or Limerick by the Bus Eireann public buses on lines 050, 423 and 337.
• You can take a hiking route to reach the cliffs starting from the city of Doolin, which is the closest city to this attraction. There are around 7 kilometers of route and around two hours walking.

What was my experience?

This was my first time visiting Ireland, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect. We decided to plan a little before the trip since we were going to the island for a few days, what we had to see at any cost were the Cliffs of Moher.

Our flight departed from Barcelona and lasted around three hours. We did this trip with Ryanair. Arriving in Dublin we immediately left for Galway by bus, a transfer that lasted two hours. We did not stay in Galway city as the accommodation prices were very high, the hotel we stayed in is in a nearby town called Claregalway, 20 minutes by bus from Galway.

The first day we only had time to eat and walk around the city for a couple of hours. That same day we looked for the tour for the next morning to visit the cliffs, the price was a bit high, 45 euros per person and does not include food.

The tour left at 10am from Galway, we had to take a taxi from Claregalway to get there on time as we woke up late, this cost us around 12 euros.

The positive thing about taking the tour is that in addition to taking you to the Cliffs of Moher, they give you the opportunity to visit other places such as Dunguaire Castle with excellent views of Galway Bay whose main protagonist is the Atlantic Ocean.

We arrived at the cliffs around 2pm, just after stopping in Doolin for some delicious Irish stew. Without a doubt, the view you have when you reach the cliffs is impressive and well worth the trip. If you want to know more about my experience I invite you to watch the video.

Taking a trip always helps to create stronger bonds between people, it is also one of the most enriching and stimulating hobbies. Always getting to know new places, cultures and perspectives opens the mind a little more.

But those are not the only reasons to take a trip. Going on an adventure of this type with your partner is a perfect opportunity to strengthen ties, get to know each other better and even give you an idea of what a life together with that person would be like.

What are the benefits of traveling as a couple?

• It strengthens the relationship, since it allows you to see a different facet of your partner. When challenges and difficulties arise on a trip and they are faced as a couple, a stronger and more resistant connection develops.
• It is cheaper, since you share the expenses such as accommodation, transportation, food and other activities.
• Decisions are shared, which allows us to see more clearly the way of thinking of the other and accept different points of view, this increases the opportunities to make correct decisions.
• You learn to trust, they will inevitably have to work as a team to make the trip a pleasant experience.
• You create unforgettable memories, when you travel with another person an unimaginable amount of memories are created with the other person that will be valued for a lifetime.
• Improves intimacy, couples who travel together have a better intimate life compared to those who do not.

If you are interested in the idea of traveling as a couple and you would also like to know some of the most romantic places that exist in Mexico, then these options are ideal for you.

Los Cabos

Los Cabos is a municipality in Baja California Sur, its climate is semi-dry desert, hot in summer and mild in winter.

In the month of February is when the whales conclude their journey from Alaska, returning to their place of origin to seek the temperate and nutrient-rich waters of Los Cabos to mate and give birth to their calves.

One of the places that you cannot miss in Los Cabos is the beach of love. This is a natural sanctuary of marine species, crystal clear waters and white sands. Undoubtedly, a perfect destination for lovers who want to contemplate the sea, in a very intimate and cozy atmosphere.

At Playa del Amor you can swim, snorkel and of course, photograph El Arco and the placid sea lions.

San Miguel de Allende

San Miguel de Allende, a colonial-era city in the central highlands of Mexico in the state of Guanajuato. This year, San Miguel de Allende was recognized as the second best city in the world to travel by the World's Best Awards 2020.

Its beautiful colonial buildings from the 17th and 18th centuries have been preserved to this day, its cobblestone streets, an ideal climate throughout the year and its calm atmosphere make it one of the most beautiful and romantic cities in Mexico.

Riviera Maya

The Riviera Maya is an extension of the Caribbean coast on the Yucatan peninsula in northeastern Mexico. The Riviera Maya is the idyllic destination in the Mexican Caribbean. Its beaches and its archaeological zones such as Tulum attract tourism from all over the world.

It is a multifaceted tourist destination, as it offers theme parks for families, romantic spots for couples, famous golf courses, first class shows and accommodation for all tastes.

The climate of the area is privileged, since it has 250 sunny days a year and an average annual temperature of 25°C.

The Riviera Maya is part of the mega destination called the Mexican Caribbean, which also includes Cancun, the main islands of Quintana Roo (Isla Mujeres, Cozumel, Holbox and Contoy), the Grand Costa Maya and the Mayan Zone.

Tequisquiapan

Tequisquiapan is one of the liveliest cities in the state of Querétaro, as it has colonial architecture, colorful markets, beautiful parks, hot spring spas, and interesting festivals.

Walk the streets of Tequisquiapan to discover a fascinating combination of colonial charm, traditional crafts and delicious dishes. This ancient city is one of the Magical Towns of Mexico, which are destinations recognized for their cultural, historical, and natural treasures. Tequisquiapan is located among the rocky and mountainous landscapes of the state of Queretaro.

Also in its surroundings you can find multiple vineyards that will make your trip even more fun.

Huasteca Potosina

La Huasteca is located at the convergence between five states, Veracruz, Tamaulipas, Hidalgo, Queretaro and San Luis Potosí, and is made up of 20 municipalities out of 58 that make up the state; It is one of the four regions (highland, central, and median) into which San Luis Potosí is divided, and the municipality of Ciudad Valles is one of the most important in the region since it is located in the center of the action, where find the largest hotel and industrial development in the area and from where it is easier to move to the various destinations in the jungle; However, the Huasteca route lends itself a lot to camping, and visiting the various municipalities knowing a little more about their ethnic groups and discovering a little more about their pre-Hispanic customs and traditions.

The Huasteca is divided into three zones, Huasteca Sur, Huasteca Centro and Huasteca Norte. The Huasteca Potosina offers a wide variety of open natural landscapes, without crowds, so safety is assured for its visitors.

Riviera Nayarit

Extended along 307 kilometers of coastline on the coast of the state of Nayarit, it stretches from the northern border with Sinaloa, in the municipality of Tecuala, to the mouth of the Ameca River, on the border with Jalisco.

It includes magical towns, the incomparable Sierra de Vallejo Biosphere Reserve with coastal lagoons, mangroves and wetlands, a sanctuary for the royal crocodile, the sea turtle and various endemic birds; the national parks of Isla Isabel and the Islas Marietas; the pre-Hispanic vestiges of Altavista; and beautiful beaches, scenarios for practicing water sports.

Riviera Nayarit is not only a place for you to rest on its golden sand beaches, but also for you to enjoy a wide variety of water and adventure sports. In addition, you will have the opportunity to rejuvenate your mind and pamper your body in the best spas in Mexico.

Chiapas

Chiapas is a state in southern Mexico that borders Guatemala. Its high mountainous areas and dense tropical forest have several Mayan archaeological sites and Spanish colonial towns.

In the colonial city of San Cristóbal de las Casas, the Santo Domingo Temple and Ex-Convent houses a Baroque church and a museum displaying regional artifacts. Around it, there is a market where items such as colorful fabrics are sold.

Some of the tourist places that you cannot miss when visiting Chiapas are:

• San Cristobal de las Casas
• San Juan Chamula
• La Selva Lacandona
• Cañon del Sumidero
• Zona arqueológica de Palenque

Have you already traveled to any of these parts with your partner? Do you think we missed somewhere? Tell us more in the comments.