Fáilte Ireland has this month released its list of Ireland’s top visitor attractions in 2013 with lists for fee charging attractions and free attractions.  Rankings are based on the figures gathered in the Fáilte Ireland Visitor Attractions Survey 2013 with the Guinness Storehouse once more topping the bill for the most visitors.

Former Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar said:

“It’s good to see visitor numbers growing at so many of our key attractions, and it’s further proof that Irish tourism is going from strength to strength. Visitors like to have a wide range of things to see and do, and Ireland has some fantastic free and paid attractions. That’s why the Government continues to invest in new attractions and in refreshing established ones.”

Top Fee-Charging Attractions 2013

Name of Attraction & Visitor Numbers

1)      Guinness Storehouse Dublin                                                           1,157,090

2)      Dublin Zoo Dublin                                                                               1,026,611

3)      Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience Clare                                       960,134

4)      National Aquatic Centre Dublin                                                     858,031

5)      Book of Kells Dublin                                                                          588,723

6)      Tayto Park Meath                                                                                435,000

7)      St Patrick’s Cathedral Dublin                                                           410,000

8)      Fota Wildlife Park Cork                                                                      365,396

9)      Blarney Castle Cork                                                                            365,000

10)  Kilmainham Gaol Dublin                                                                   326,207

11)  Bunratty Castle & Folk Park Clare                                                   285,013

12)  Old Jameson Distillery Dublin                                                         267,836

13)  Rock of Cashel Tipperary                                                                  255,338

14)  The Sheep & Wool Centre Galway                                                 250,000

15)  Castletown House & Parklands Kildare                                       244,416

16)  Kilkenny Castle Kilkenny                                                                  241,302

17)  Powerscourt House & Gardens Wicklow                                    208,916

18)  The House of Waterford Crystal Waterford                               180,000

19)  Christ Church Cathedral Dublin                                                   165,000

20)  Dublinia Dublin                                                                                 162,582

21)  Clonmacnoise Offaly                                                                        139,413

22)  Phoenix Park Visitor Centre Dublin                                             137,755

23)  The National Wax Museum Plus Dublin                                     135,000

24)  Brú na Boinne Newgrange Meath                                                133,616

25)  Aquadome Kerry                                                                                129,384

26)  Muckross House Kerry                                                                     118,789

27)  Glenveagh National Park Donegal                                                116,975

28)  Irish National Stud & Japanese Gardens Kildare                    114,363

29)  Aillwee Cave & Burren Birds of Prey Centre Clare                   110,000

30)  Dún Aonghasa Galway                                                                     105,539

31)  Skerries Mills Dublin                                                                          105,101

32)  Malahide Castle Dublin                                                                    104,414

33)  Dublin Castle Dublin                                                                        103,287

34)  GAA Museum & Croke Park Stadium Tour Dublin                  103,000

35)  National Sealife Centre Wicklow                                                  100,000

Top Free Attractions 2013

 Name of Attraction & Visitor Numbers

1)      The National Gallery of Ireland Dublin                                    641,572

2)      National Botanic Gardens Dublin                                              550,000

3)      Farmleigh Dublin                                                                            435,476

4)      National Museum of Ireland-Archaeolog Dublin                 404,230

5)      Newbridge Silverware Kildare                                                     350,000

6)      Science Gallery at Trinity College Dublin                                 339,264

7)      National Museum of Ireland-Natural History Dublin          284,323

8)      The National Library of Ireland Dublin                                     260,152

9)      National Museum – Decorative Arts & History,  Dublin        251,226

10)  Chester Beatty Library Dublin                                                         250,659

11)  Connemara National Park Galway                                                 169,845

12)  Galway City Museum Galway                                                           157,603

13)  Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane Dublin                                   152,301

14)  Holy Cross Abbey Tipperary                                                            150,000

15)  Sliabh Liag Cliffs Donegal                                                                  125,000

16)  Irish Museum of Modern Art Dublin                                             121,221

17)  Nicholas Mosse Pottery Kilkenny                                                     115,000

18)  Malin Head Viewing Point Donegal                                                 106,000

19)  National Museum of Ireland – Country Life, Mayo                     99,358

20)  Limerick City Gallery of Art Limerick                                                  67,000

21)  National Photographic Archive Dublin                                           66,120

For more information on Ireland’s attractions please click here to enter our sightseeing section.

Sightseeing In Ireland

Shaun Quinn CEO Fáilte Ireland had this these comments and advice for the tourism sector:

“Today’s research provides another positive piece of news for tourism as our visitor attractions are quite clearly experiencing the same growth that we are seeing right across the tourism sector.  Attractions such as these are an integral part of what Ireland has to offer visitors. Recognising the importance of having a good variety of things to do and see, Fáilte Ireland has directed significant investment into the tourism sector over the last five years.  This year alone, we are investing €8m in capital infrastructure along the Wild Atlantic Way.

Tourism is in a good place compared to five years ago but we can’t become complacent. In order to draw more visitors to our shores we need to ensure we are providing the right type of holiday experiences – particularly for our overseas markets and we in Fáilte Ireland will continue to play our part in developing and improving Ireland’s tourism offering.”