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Dingle town activities for free time

Hi, I'm taking the Ireland 8 day tour in May. We have a free mid-afternoon through to evening in Dingle and I'm wondering what to do. We will have already done a walking tour of Dingle, the Slea Head drive, the Great Blasket Centre, crystal cutting, and falconry.

Posted by
1815 posts

When I was there a couple years before Covid I enjoyed the harbor cruise. There are several options. I also just like wandering around and stopping for ice cream or at a pub. It is one of my favorite towns in Ireland, but my opinion might have been swayed by the lovely B & B hotel our tour stayed in.

Posted by
508 posts

Rent a car and drive up Connor Pass. If it's not pea-souped in, the views are grand.

Posted by
672 posts

Check to see if there are any traditional/folk music concerts at St. James Church.

Posted by
248 posts

There is a nice walk out past the Coast Guard station to the lighthouse and beyond.

Posted by
8572 posts

Visit and enjoy a pint at Foxy John’s.

Hike up to Kates Cabin via The Gap of Dunloe. Or pay for trap ride.

Wander about Killarney National Park

Posted by
84 posts

You’ll have only a couple of hours, really. Pay attention on your walking tour for places you might want to go back to on your own. Or, as someone has already said, you could just wander. (I remember finding a walled cemetery at a convent somewhere in town that was lovely and interesting. Can’t remember the details, though.) Otherwise, find a hiking/walking path if the weather is nice. There’s a nice path from town toward the folly/tower along the bay.

(Claudia’s suggestions of Gap of Dunloe/Killarney National Park won’t work—wrong location.)

Have a wonderful time!

Posted by
8572 posts

Stacy, the Gap of Dunloe is an hours drive from Dingle.

Killarney National Park a bit further. It would be tight BUT doable to visit one or another if they had a car.

Stayed 3 nights in Dingle and saw both on the same day so not understanding why you are saying wrong direction.

Posted by
10178 posts

Since you will be on a tour I think it’s safe to assume you won’t have access to a car. We’ve been to Dingle twice and I love it. Last August we went to a church that’s located next to a convent. There was a cemetery for the Sisters who had died and a nice green area to explore. Going to a pub to listen to music is always fun and the area down by the harbor is nice to explore.

Posted by
3 posts

Thank you, everyone, for the ideas! It's nice to have so many great options. No matter the weather, I'll have something lovely to do.

I won't have a car, so tooling around town or doing local activities are more of what I'm looking for.

Posted by
8572 posts

Without a car I’ll now suggest the following.

Upon arrival, after you are settled and refreshed, walk into the nearest church and find the church bulletin board. Often there will be flyers for music, art, dance, etc. I did this and found a charming irish dance performance by children

Should check the art center calendar.
https://diseart.ie/

Also ask any pub tender.

Lastly I walked to the Dingle Famine Cemetery as I love visiting and meandering about cemeteries.

Posted by
6431 posts

I had a whole day on the 14-day tour, took a walk out to the lighthouse (wet), a short harbor cruise (choppy), and a stroll through the town, including the Diseart Institute (on Green St.) and the former Presentation Sisters convent next door, with it's beautiful cemetery. There was some pub activity in the course of the day and evening too, as I recall.

Posted by
3 posts

Wow! Thank you, everyone!! I've already printed a map of Dingle and circled places to explore.