Is Ireland Safe to Visit?
Read our guide on Ireland travel safety and whether it's safe to visit the Emerald Isle right now. Including safety tips on weather, crime, driving, hiking, solo travel, and much more.
In general, Ireland is a very safe country to visit.
There's no reason to avoid going here, especially if you follow basic travel safety rules, which should minimize the risk of something going wrong.
In fact, Ireland is among the safest countries not just in Europe but also in the world.
And that's fantastic news, as there is so much to see and do in Ireland.
By the way, that's not just our opinion, but the Global Peace Index ranks Ireland as one of the safest countries in the world.
Still, no country is completely safe, and there are still things you should watch out for, regardless of how seasoned a traveler you are.
And it's always better to be safe than sorry, especially if you're visiting Ireland for the first time.
Luckily, most unpleasant situations can be avoidable if you follow your common sense and general safety advice.
Without further ado, here's what you should look out for to stay safe in Ireland.
How to Stay Safe in Ireland
When planning a trip to Ireland, one of the first questions you will have is whether it's safe to visit Ireland right now.
It's definitely a valid question to have.
Right now, Ireland is a very safe place to visit. And it will most likely be safe to travel to even tomorrow or in two months.
Still, always make sure to gather as much information on what's going on in the country right now as possible before you go.
The best sources on this topic are often the local news, your government's warnings, and travel forums where fellow travelers share their first-hand, most up-to-date experiences.
Even when you're in the country, you should not stay out of the loop.
We felt very safe in Ireland, and troughout this article, you will find our opinions and personal experience.
However, your experience might not be the same as ours. Having a safe trip is one of the most important parts of every journey abroad.
With a bit of common sense and following general safety tips, everything should go as planned.
Travel carefully and stay safe.
Is It Safe to Drive in Ireland?
Ireland is a great country for renting a car and setting out for a road trip. In fact, some of the scenic drives are among the best ones in the world.
Mizen Head or Beara Peninsula were among our favorite places we visited in Ireland.
Therefore, we believe it's the best way to get around Ireland.
So, what about driving safety in Ireland?
We've already covered this topic extensively in our guide on driving tips for Ireland, but it never hurts to go through some of the basics one more time.
Driving in Ireland is safe, though the initial experience might be more difficult for first-time visitors.
In Ireland, you drive on the left side of the road.
Some people might get used to this change almost instantly, while others might need more time to adjust to driving on the wrong side of the road.
Another essential thing to know about Irish roads is that they are narrow and winding, especially those you find in the countryside.
Renting a car in Ireland with an automatic gearbox will help to make some tricky situations much easier.
Lastly, it's always a good idea to check the local news and GPS navigation for delays to find an alternative route if needed.
Petty Crime
The good news is that violent crime towards tourists is not common in Ireland.
While the country has little violent crime, petty crime occurs in tourist hot spots.
Obviously, petty theft is most common in crowded tourist areas, usually in big cities downtowns.
Galway, Cork, and Dublin are extremely popular with tourists, and pickpocketing or even bag snatching can happen if you're not paying attention.
Be extra careful around city landmarks or when using public transport.
Secure your belongings, keep your wallet safe, and never wear your phone in the back pocket of your jeans.
One of the best things about Ireland was that we could pay by credit card pretty much in every store, restaurant, or tourist attraction.
Therefore, you don't need to carry large sums of cash with you, which makes traveling around the country more stress-free.
Still, you might consider using a money belt to carry a small amount of emergency cash just in case something goes wrong.
While some areas are more dangerous than others, don't be afraid to explore Irish cities.
Just stay vigilant and use basic safety precautions.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
Parking Safety Tips
If you're road-tripping Ireland, you will spend plenty of time away from your car.
Never leave your valuables inside the car, as thieves may target parked cars in popular tourist areas such as the Ring of Kerry or Dingle Peninsula.
While this might not always be possible, the trick is to leave your home country with as few valuables as possible.
If there's no way around it, never leave anything on display in your car. It's not just the phone or wallet.
Even your rain jacket might be tempting for thieves enough to break your vehicle's window.
In big cities, we used reputable and secure parking facilities with 24/7 access whenever it was possible to lower the risk of theft or vandalism.
Leaving a rental car unattended in a foreign country is always a bit more stressful than at home.
So even though this option is more expensive - see visiting Ireland on a budget - we believe it's worth it.
Politics
As we all know, even the safest countries have their own problems.
And due to the turbulent history between Ireland and Northern Ireland, some people might be thinking about whether it's safe to visit the island or not.
One of the essential things to know about the period known as The Troubles is that the violent conflict between both countries mostly took place in Northern Ireland, though it affected areas in the Republic of Ireland as well.
It lasted from the 1960s to 1998, but even now, the echoes from the past can be heard.
Nowadays, the situation is more stable, and traveling to Ireland and Northern Ireland is safe.
Still, talking about politics in certain areas, such as Northern Ireland and areas around its border, will definitely require some discretion from your side.
As a rule of thumb, it's always better to avoid these topics, regardless of the country you're currently visiting.
From our personal experience, we never felt unsafe in Ireland, even when wandering around Northern Ireland's big cities such as Derry or Belfast.
But again, we enjoyed the sightseeing part and kept our opinions to ourselves.
Scams in Ireland
Street scams and other types of scams are not that common in Ireland. It doesn't mean you should drop your guard, especially in the cities.
While staying vigilant is not always fun, it helps you to stay safe.
Solo Travel
Ireland is safe for solo travel, and most travelers don't experience any difficulties during their stay.
Female solo travelers might want to avoid walking alone in certain parts of the larger cities after dark.
If you're not sure which areas to avoid, ask the staff at your accommodation as they often know the situation in nearby areas.
The best part about Ireland is that there are so many beautiful attractions outside the cities that you can always spend there as little time as you want.
And what has to do with the safety topic?
The Irish countryside is even safer to travel to, and you will always find there some exciting things to do.
Also, visiting local bars and pubs sounds exciting but requires extra caution.
Avoid super-friendly locals, buy your own drinks, protect your drink from spiked, etc. This brings us to another topic.
Drinking
Thanks to famous Irish pub culture, coffee-like dry stout, and triple-distilled whiskey, Emerald Isle is a popular drinking destination for international tourists.
Even though it's not a cheap experience, visiting a local Irish pub is pretty much on every traveler's bucket list.
For some, getting drunk on your vacation might sound like a brilliant idea.
Unfortunately, it can get you into unpleasant situations from time to time.
And awkward mornings or bad hangovers are still not the worst things that can happen from partying till dawn.
Even though we're not here to kill joy, this is still an article on staying safe in Ireland.
And you don't want to end up in more serious situations.
Popular drinking areas such as Latin Quarter in Galway or Temple Bar in Dublin are known for their rowdy atmosphere and drunk people.
These places often attract shady people, and you should be more careful when visiting the bars there.
Taxis
The taxis in Ireland are relatively safe.
Keep in mind that even though there is Uber in Ireland, it doesn't work the same way as in the U.S. or Canada.
Nevertheless, you can always take a registered cab that has yellow signs on the top and uses a meter.
Alternatively, you can use the traditional-looking cabs called hackneys that don't have a meter.
Weather Safety
Ireland has a mild climate but changeable weather. If you come here prepared for any type of weather, you should be fine.
Most international visitors prefer visiting Ireland in the summer due to the highest chance for clear skies and rain-free days.
Normally, this period has the warmest months of the year, and it's considered to be the best time to visit Ireland.
Still, the weather in Ireland is unpredictable, and the weather forecast might be a bit deceiving.
Moreover, due to rain and wind, the feels-like temperature will often be lower in some areas than you would expect.
While Ireland is not often considered the top world's hiking destination, you can surprisingly find plenty of great trails here.
Whether you want to walk the Spinc Trail, explore the Mullaghmore Loop, or tackle the Diamond Hill, always hike smart.
Pick the adequate trail to your fitness level, and be weather-ready.
Always make sure to wear sturdy footwear and proper clothing for the weather.
Don't forget to let people know where you are going and when you should return, especially if doing solo hikes.
Cliff Safety
Ireland is home to some of the most beautiful cliffs in the world.
Whether you visit Kerry Cliffs, Cliffs of Moher, or Slieve League, it will be an unforgettable experience.
Unfortunately, cliffs are not only breathtaking but also relatively dangerous places to visit.
First of all, they are highly unstable, and caution must be exercised when visiting them.
The worst part is that they can give way at any time with no warning, so every visit poses some risk and danger.
Another major danger when walking along the cliffs is the strong wind gusts, which can throw you off balance.
Lastly, walking on a beach too close to the cliff base is not safe due to landslides and rockfalls as well.
Especially the less visited cliffs, such as Old Head of Kinsale, Downpatrick Head, or Malin Head, offer plenty of freedom to walk around the area.
As there are often no fences or warning signs at all, it might be tempting to get closer to the edge than what would be considered a safe distance.
The general rule of thumb is to enjoy the cliffs from a distance, stay on the designated trails, and stay away from the edge of the cliff top.
By the way, if you also plan to explore Northern Ireland, make sure to visit Giant's Causeway, which features some of the most stunning cliffs on the island.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
