Ireland is a unique destination to visit. Apart from enjoying its jaw-dropping views, you can embrace wellness in so many different ways here. It’s certainly a must-visit if you love being in nature, strive to eat clean, local food, experience other cultures, and take part in wellness activities that help renew your body, mind, and spirit.
So if you’re a health-conscious traveler like myself, stick around for my wellness guide to Ireland.
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What is Ireland like?
We spend about 2 weeks in Ireland, staying in Northern Ireland (Belfast), Dublin, and Doolin. I don’t recommend spending more than a weekend in Northern Ireland, because it’s a completely different vibe but it’s worth it to go out to Giants Causeway (more on this below). Ireland itself, on the other hand, is a beautiful and friendly country.
In Ireland, locals are extremely welcoming and the food is simple, with high-quality ingredients. I didn’t struggle to find food that accommodates my dietary restrictions, either. While not the sunniest place to visit, the weather was mild in February (not too cold, not too warm) and it was super green. This is one of the best countries to visit for nature lovers. I will also add that it’s extremely safe, easy to walk around if you’re in the cities, and towns outside of the city are fairly quiet.
Now let’s get into some of the wellness-forward activities I recommend.
Wellness activities to do in Ireland
- Spend a day in nature at the Cliffs of Moher
No one should miss the Cliffs of Moher on a trip to Ireland, and like many landmarks here, you can experience an awe-inspiring view outside with fresh air and open spaces. There are plenty of trails you can take along the coast here to get some movement in, all offering different viewpoints of the cliffs. Being in nature and so close to the ocean can help you escape the demands of modern life, clear your head, and help you feel restored.
- Slow down and recharge in a charming small-town
Since we drove ourselves out to the Cliffs of Moher, we stayed the night in the charming Irish town of Doolin at the Harvest Moon. This small town was near the cliffs, quiet with just a few restaurants/pubs and bed and breakfasts where we truly got to slow down and experience this culture’s way of living. To truly experience Ireland and have a reset, I highly recommend venturing out of the major cities to any small town.
- Try a seaweed bath
In the picturesque village of Sneem is a wellness retreat with warm seaweed-infused baths outside in nature. Bathing in seaweed offers various health benefits such as skin nourishment, detoxification, and stress relief. You can truly feel refreshed on your trip with this unique wellness experience, overlooking a beautiful view of the sea while you soak in whiskey barrel tubs with local seaweed.
- Take a scenic drive along the coast or across the country
There’s no better way to explore Ireland than by road-tripping. There are lots of scenic, coastal, and internal drives in Ireland with a lot of castles and other landmarks to stop at. This is a great way to explore what this country has to offer at your own pace, helping you to really unwind and experience all it has to offer. I recommend at least renting a car and driving out to the Cliffs of Moher from Dublin or taking a road trip to Giant’s Causeway from Belfast.
- Visit St. George’s Market in Belfast
In almost every European city you can find a local food market to pick up produce, meats, bread, or enjoy a freshly cooked meal. In Belfast, the St. George’s Market is historic dating back to 1604, with around 200 stalls. I found gluten-free goodies, gorgeous local fruits and vegetables, and delicious red beet hummus, smoothies, and juices. We also got to listen to local music while we ate. These are always worth seeking out if you’re a health-conscious traveler.
- Experience an indoor and outdoor spa day
The Ice House Hotel in Mayo is an indoor and outdoor spa with an incredible view. The retreat is located right on the edge of River Moy Estuary at Ballina featuring an award-winning Chill Spa with a Waterside Garden. There are thermal areas and spaces to relax including a Himalayan salt room, spice mud baths, steam rooms, and saunas. They also use organic, seaweed-infused products. The best part is you don’t have to stay here if you don’t want to – there are various spa day packages to choose from that are super affordable.
- Get outside to Giants Causeway
Another legendary landmark to see is Giant’s Causeway, located in Northern Ireland. This is another great opportunity to get outside in nature and get plenty of movement in. If you don’t want to drive yourself, J&J Tours is a great option. The tour was 6.5 hours and took us to the dark hedges and Dunluce Castle in addition to Giants Causeway. The Nook Cafe at Giants Causeway also has a delicious gluten-free raspberry almond bar.
- Explore Dublin by foot
Of course, you must explore Dublin. We were able to go everywhere on foot in this city. We stayed at the StayCity Aparthotel so we had a tiny kitchen. Here are some things I recommend checking out in Dublin:
- O’Connell street
- Penny Ha Bridge
- Temple Bar
- Dublin Castle
- St Patrick’s Cathedral
- St Stevens park
- Grafton street
Healthy places to eat in Ireland
The majority, if not all, of Ireland’s meat and dairy products are grass-fed and finished (and local, of course). I also found a good amount of gluten-free options. Here are some places I recommend eating at:
- Beans and Leaves in Athlone
This smaller city is super cute and is a great stopover for breakfast or lunch when road-tripping out to the Cliffs of Moher to or from Dublin. I discovered Beans and Leaves, which had a lot of gluten-free options such as bread and desserts.
- McDermott’s Pub
In Doolin, we went to McDermott’s Pub for dinner. I ordered the Irish stew, which was out of this world. Even if you don’t go to this restaurant, you should order stew at some point. Just double-check that it’s gluten-free if you can’t eat gluten at all.
- Beshoff bros
Fish and chips in Ireland are a must, but it can be difficult to find gluten-free options. But you’re in luck because Behoff Bros in Dublin offers the best gluten-free fish and chips – I’m talking #1 out of all the ones I had in Europe (which was a lot). They prioritize quality here as well which is important when it comes to seafood.
- Gino’s Gelateria
If you need a sweet treat, Gino’s offers gluten-free ice cream cones and 100% organic Irish milk gelato. It was so amazing and right near O’Connell Street.
- Sano Pizza
While recommending Italian food in Ireland may seem odd, they had the most amazing gluten-free homemade crust. It was just like real authentic wood-fired pizza. This restaurant is located in Dublin.
- Local grocery stores
When we travel, we usually always ensure we have a kitchen so we can eat in for some meals to make sure that 1.) we eat healthy, get enough veggies and protein, etc., and 2.) save money. In Ireland, our go-to grocery stores were Aldi and Lidl. Both offered a good amount of gluten-free options. What I loved most was how the majority of the stores are whole food and have a machine to make your own fresh squeezed orange juice. If you need an organic grocery store for even better gluten-free and dairy-free options, then go to Dunne Grocery in Dublin.
- Butlers hot chocolate cafe
If you need a dairy-free treat, look no further. Butlers in Dublin has coconut milk hot chocolates that are super decadent and creamy. It was a perfect way to warm up on a cold day.
I hope this wellness travel guide to Ireland excites you even further to visit this wonderful country, leaving you with plenty of wellness-forward activities and healthy places to eat. Make sure to check out my other wellness travel guides and my other blogs on How I Spent 5 Months Traveling Europe and the Top 5 Most Health Conscious European Countries.
