These were Ireland's most visited attractions in 2023 - how many have you been to?

Fáilte Ireland, the National Tourism Development Authority of the Republic of Ireland, published the results of its annual survey of attendance at Ireland’s visitor attractions for 2023 on Thursday, September 26.

The survey analyzed visitor levels at 373 of Ireland's attractions. 

"Our visitor attractions play a crucial role in strengthening Ireland’s appeal as a destination and provides visitors with the opportunity to fully experience our country’s distinctive culture, heritage, and history," Mary Stack, Head of Visitor Attractions at Fáilte Ireland, said on Thursday upon the release of the report.

"With popular sites across all four of Fáilte Ireland’s regional brands – the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland’s Ancient East, Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands, and Dublin – these attractions also encourage visitors to explore further and extend their trips beyond the peak season."

Key highlights from Fáilte Ireland's 2023 Visitor Attractions Survey include:

Increasing Visitor Numbers

Visitor levels in 2023 were 95% of 2019 overall, higher than in 2022 (85%) - based on attractions that provided their visitor figures every year since 2019.

International Visitors on the Rise

The share of international visitors attending visitor attractions continued to grow post pandemic, reaching 57% in 2023.

Dublin hosted the greatest share of international visitors at 68%, while Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands experienced the biggest shift from 21% of international visitors in 2022 to 32% in 2023.

Online Booking Trends

The adoption of online booking has levelled off with 65% of attractions offering online booking in 2023.

Heritage parks, leisure, and theme parks were the most likely to offer online booking.

Walk-Up Visitors Dominate

Despite the increase in online booking capabilities, walk-up visitors remained the most common type of visitor for all attraction types in 2023, averaging 65%.

Ireland's top ten most-visited attractions in 2023

1. Phoenix Park Visitor Centre - 1,965,555 visitors
2. Guinness Storehouse - 1,469,536 visitors
3. Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience - 1,300,000 visitors
4. Dublin Zoo - 1,161,937 visitors
5. National Gallery of Ireland - 1,014,976 visitors
6. The Book of Kells - 968,654 visitors
7. Kilkenny Castle Parklands - 869,953 visitors
8. Emerald Park - 700,000 visitors
9. Castletown House Parklands - 698,229 visitors
10. National Botanic Gardens - 663,631 visitors

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Phoenix Park, Dublin. (Ireland's Content Pool)

Ireland's top ten most-visited free attractions in 2023

1. Phoenix Park Visitor Centre, Dublin - 1,965,555 visitors
2. National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin - 1,014,976 visitors
3. Kilkenny Castle Parklands, Co Kilkenny - 869,953 visitors
4. Castletown House Parklands, Co Kildare - 698,229 visitors
5. National Botanic Gardens - 663,631 visitors
6. Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin - 626,629 visitors
7. Doneraile Park - 523,800 visitors
8. National Museum of Ireland (Archaeology) - 510,236 visitors
9. Chester Beatty Library - 510,236 visitors
10. National Museum of Ireland (Decorative Arts & History) - 467,331 visitors

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Phoenix Park, Dublin. (Ireland's Content Pool)

Ireland's top ten most-visited paid attractions in 2023

1. Guinness Storehouse - 1,469,536 visitors
2. Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience - 1,300,000 visitors
3. Dublin Zoo - 1,161,937 visitors
4. The Book of Kells - 968,654 visitors
5. Emerald Park - 700,000 visitors
6. Dublin Castle - 622,346 visitors
7. St. Patrick's Cathedral - 576,647 visitors
8. Blarney Castle & Gardens - 470,000 visitors
9. Powerscourt House Gardens & Waterfall - 453,068 visitors
10. Kilkenny Castle - 452,383 visitors

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The Gravity Bar atop the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin. (Ireland's Content Pool)

The most-visited attraction in each county in Ireland in 2023

• Co Carlow - Altamont Gardens - 122,522 visitors
• Co Cavan - Cavan County Museum - 12,496 visitors
• Co Clare - Cliffs of Moher Experience - 1,300,000 visitors
• Co Cork - Doneraile Park - 523,800 visitors
• Co Donegal - Donegal Castle - 63,072 visitors
• Co Dublin - Phoenix Park Visitor Centre - 1,965,555 visitors 
• Co Galway - Kylemore Abbey & Garden - 328,272 visitors
• Co Kerry - Derrynane Parklands - 324,065 visitors
• Co Kildare - Castletown House Parklands - 698,229 visitors
• Co Kilkenny - Kilkenny Castle Parklands - 869,953 visitors
• Co Laois - Emo Court Parklands - 238,039 visitors
• Co Leitrim - The Shed Distillery, Drumshanbo - 50,000 visitors
• Co Limerick - King John's Castle - 105,000 visitors
• Co Longford - Corlea Trackway Visitor Centre - 14,487 visitors
• Co Louth - Mellifont Abbey - 28,356 visitors
• Co Mayo - Westport House - 148,737 visitors
• Co Meath - Emerald Park - 700,000 visitors
• Co Monaghan - Patrick Kavanagh Centre - 5,329 visitors
• Co Offaly - Clonmacnoise - 122,718 visitors
• Co Roscommon - Lough Key Forest and Activity Park - 45,975 visitors
• Co Sligo - The Model, Home of the Niland Collection - 55,015 visitors
• Co Tipperary - Rock of Cashel - 357,273 visitors
• Co Waterford - The House of Waterford Crystal - 154,000
• Co Westmeath - Belvedere House, Gardens and Park - 161,010 visitors
• Co Wexford - The Johnstown Castle Estate, Museum and Gardens - 178,000 visitors
• Co Wicklow - Powerscourt House, Gardens & Waterfall - 453,068 visitors

(Data courtesy Fáilte Ireland's Visitor Numbers to Attractions Dashboard)