Ireland, the intoxicating Emerald Isle, beckons holidaymakers with its beautiful countryside, fascinating history, and famous warmth and charm. Dublin is charismatic and historic, with excellent shopping opportunities, great entertainment and cuisine.  

In the country, you’ll find rolling hills and pastoral landscapes, stately homes and castles plus stone villages with a welcoming pub and its resident storyteller. Visitors can also participate in an exciting programme of festivals, events and entertainment around the country. And that’s just the start of why one should travel to Ireland. 

Why visit Ireland 

• This is where Guinness stout originated.  
• Many of the scenes for the iconic Game of Thrones TV series were shot here.  
• The country’s breathtaking landscapes, including Giants Causeway, the Cliffs of Moher and the Ring of Kerry are simply breathtaking. 
• Ireland has some incredible beaches, and the surfing is some of the best in the world.  
• Irish people have a great sense of humour and love to have fun, which they call ‘craic’.  
• Ireland is home to some world-class hotels including magnificent Ashford Castle on the Irish coast.  
• Ireland boasts prehistoric sites such as Céide Fields, the world’s largest Neolithic site.  
• It’s a great place to explore on holiday with so many things to see and do.   

Lush, beautiful and bewitching, Ireland has a charm all its own, a dynamic cultural scene, numerous natural wonders – and let’s not forget the Guinness! Wherever you go, there’s history and a story to be told, people to meet, things to do and places to see. Whether you’re thinking of taking a magical family holiday, want to go pub hopping around the country with friends, planning a beach holiday with your loved one, or are exploring alone on a tour package, Ireland travel is your answer. Before you visit Ireland in 2026, let Thompsons Holidays put together a ‘craic’ package from South Africa.