There are a surprisingly large number of places in Ireland that you can visit completely free of charge – some of them among the most popular visitor attractions we have.
Most of those listed here simply have no admission fee.
Those marked * are more confusing – they appear to charge admission, but the charge is in fact for an adjacent visitor centre or exhibition space which you are not required to visit. You can simply walk by the centre and enter for nothing, though this may not always be immediately obvious.
Free Wednesdays
In addition to the places below, all of sites listed on for the Heritage card are free to enter on the first Wednesday of every month.
This is not a complete list and more places are added as we confirm they are free.
Co Clare
- Burren Perfumery and Floral Centre
- Dromore Wood Nature Reserve
- Scattery Island
Co Cork
Co Donegal
- Glenveagh National Park
- Donegal County Museum
- Newmills Corn and Flax Mills
Co Dublin
- Arás an Uachtarain
- Arbour Hill
- Farmleigh
- Garden of Rememberance
- Government Buildings
- Grangegorman Military Cemetery
- Iveagh Gardens
- Lusk Heritage Centre
- National Botanic Gardens
- National Gallery of Ireland
- National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology
- National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts & History
- National Museum of Ireland – Natural History
- Pearse Museum – St.Enda’s Park
- Phoenix Park
- Rathfarnham Castle
- Royal Hospital, Kilmainham
- St.Audoen’s Church
- St.Mary’s Abbey
- St.Stephen’s Green
- The Croppies Acre
- The Wonderful Barn
- War Memorial Gardens
Co Galway
- Connemara National Park
- Coole Park
- Kilmacdaugh
Co Kerry
- Gallarus Castle and Oratory
- Kilarney National Park
- Kilarney National Park, Muckross Friary
- Listowel Castle
- Skelligs (Boat trip charge applies)
Co Kildare
- Maynooth Castle
- Newbridge Silverware & Style Icons Museum
Co Kilkenny
- St.Mary’s Church, Gowran
- The Black Abbey
Co Laois
Co Leitrim
- Waterfall at Glencar
Co Limerick
Co Longford
- Corlea trackway Visitor Centre
Co Meath
- Loughcrew
- Hill of Tara*
Co Mayo
Co Roscommon
- Boyle Abbey
- Lough Key Forest Park
Co Sligo
- Meave’s Tomb in Knocknaree
Co Tipperary
- Famine Workhouse 1848
- The Main Guard
- Ormond Castle
Co Waterford
- Dungarvan Castle
Co Wexford
- Ballyhack Castle
- Fern’s Castle
- The Wexford Widlfowl Reserve
Co Wicklow
- Dwyer McAllister Cottage
- Glendalough*
- Kilmacurragh
- Wicklow Mountains National Park
4 Comments
so many sights in Kerry are free. I was shock when they started charging admission to see the cliffs of moher! Also some of the stone beehives on the slea head drive are charging tourists to see.
There are many free events in Kerry thought the year with free music. Puck Fair in Killorglin is on 9-12 August. Free nightly outdoor music.
Killarney National Park, Muckross Park and Gardens, Torc Waterfall, Ladies View, The MacGillycuddy reeks and so many more places
Would like to know is the wednesdays still free in 2013 and would it apply to people with disabilities. I am involved with cedar foundation and post polio support group and we were thinking of going to some of the historic places in the months too come,
Regards Mairead Mathews
It has changed, and I have edited the article appropriately. Now the first Wednesday of every month is free, all year round.
Just to be clear though, the places above are free EVERY day. The Heritage card places are in addition to this list.
Is the Heritage Card still applicable in 2012? We will be visiting Ireland shortly and would love to have this car if it still applies.
Thanks!
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