Ireland's Newest National Park Is One Of The Best In Europe

If you've visited Ireland, you may already know to pack these essentials for your trip, and you likely already crossed Ireland's must-see tourist attractions off your bucket list. However, unless you've gone far off the beaten tourist path since 2024, you haven't visited the country's newest national park. Kerry Seas National Park (Páirc Náisiúnta na Mara, Ciarraí in Irish) was created in 2024, conjoining many of Ireland's most scenic, historical, and cultural treasures into a single protected area. The park encompasses 70,000 majestic acres of some of the country's (and Europe's) most biodiverse and scenic locations across the secluded County Kerry, in southwestern Ireland. This quiet region of the country has Irish speakers and Gaeltacht culture, and is one of the only places where locals brought "Star Wars" down to earth. Although the park has only been open for a handful of years, it is noted as being one of the best in Europe for summer adventures, according to National Geographic.

Unlike many national parks in the United States and Canada, Kerry Seas National Park is not contiguous and includes separate natural and cultural attractions dotted across the Dingle Peninsula, the Blasket Islands, and the Iveragh Peninsula off the Ring of Kerry. If you're planning a trip from Dublin, roughly four hours away, your best option will be to rent a car and soak in the scenery on the road. Take your time exploring the jagged sea cliffs, dunes, and blanket bogs, and keep your camera handy.

Travelers coming to explore gorgeous scenery and European history will find both on the dramatic Dingle Peninsula (Corca Dhuibhne in Irish) in Kerry Seas National Park. The 30-mile-long strip of land holds many of Ireland's natural secrets that nature lovers shouldn't miss. Along the southern part of the peninsula lie Ireland's Inch dunes, some of the last intact dunes in Ireland, and Inch Beach, arguably one of Ireland's most picturesque beaches. With the Slieve Mish Mountains and MacGillycuddy Reeks towering behind one of Ireland's best Blue Flag beaches, you'll have few excuses not to stretch your legs, catch a wave, or take a dip during the summer season. A stone's throw from the beach, the small village of Inch has several charming homestays and a couple of pubs and restaurants serving hearty grub to fill you up — just save room for your favorite beverage. 

On the north side of the Dingle Peninsula, a snaking road approaches the park's natural gate, Conor Pass, where you'll be welcomed by stunning views as you cross. Past travelers note that visitors should drive clockwise, as the route is narrow. Hikers won't want to miss scaling Mount Brandon, a challenging day climb on one of the tallest mountains in Ireland. Start your hike early in Ventry and tread the Saints Road (Cosán na Naomh in Irish), a path used by medieval Christian pilgrims for centuries. Once you're finished, pay a visit to a local pub and explore what Rick Steves calls "the cornerstone of the Irish social scene." Travelers visiting in the summer shouldn't miss taking a boat to Great Blasket Island, an abandoned settlement with a unique literary heritage. 

Visitors who are ready to immerse themselves in Irish culture shouldn't skip exploring the Iveragh Peninsula. In this region of Ireland, unique towns and villages where visitors can hear and practice the Irish language in traditional Gaeltacht communities are intermixed with incredible natural sights surrounding the towering MacGillycuddy's Reeks, Ireland's tallest mountain range.

Some of the best-preserved cultural and natural icons in Kerry Seas National Park aren't on the Emerald Isle; they're even farther off the beaten path, bobbing in the Atlantic about 7 miles west of the far edge of the peninsula. Here, the Skellig Islands showcase a total package of history, culture, and incredible scenery. Skellig Michael (Sceilg Mhichíl in Irish), the largest of the islands, is a treat for nature lovers, pilgrims, and cultural aficionados. Around the sixth century, Catholic monks began to visit the island and constructed one of Ireland's oldest monasteries, part of which still stands. According to UNESCO, the remaining huts "provide an outstanding example of a perfectly preserved Early Medieval monastic settlement," which was made famous as Luke Skywalker's hideaway in "Star Wars: The Last Jedi."

Even if you're willing to climb over 600 steps as the monks did, you may need a bit of Irish luck to visit Skellig Michael due to rough seas. When sea conditions are calmer, between the summer and early fall, specialized tours land on the island from Portmagee, if the weather cooperates. Other boat tours explore the waters around the two Skelligs and cruise past one of the world's largest gannet colonies on Little Skellig.