Welcome to your Sligo journey information.
Sligo is a hidden gem on Eire‘s gorgeous west coast and after simply spending an extended weekend there, I’m so excited to share all one of the best spots and locations I’d suggest on your Sligo journey. On this weblog put up, I’ll share one of the best issues to do in Sligo, one of the best locations to eat and one of the best locations to take in the unimaginable Irish historical past and tradition.
Situated within the province of Connacht, Sligo is a coastal city surrounded by breathtaking landscapes and a wealthy cultural heritage. Sligo boasts a vibrant meals scene, providing recent seafood, conventional Irish dishes, and a rising craft beer and whiskey tradition that may go away your coronary heart and tummy very blissful. However greater than that, Sligo is the right base location for exploring the Wild Atlantic Manner, browsing the world-famous surf breaks and the grand landscapes surrounding it.
Sligo’s tapestry of tradition and historical past is wealthy, alive and well-preserved. You possibly can immerse your self within the native traditions, native delicacies, discover historical Celtic websites, and go to landmarks related to the famend poet W.B. Yeats, whose affect can nonetheless be felt all through the area.
Being solely a one-hour flight from the UK and a 2.5-hour drive from Dublin, Sligo makes for a straightforward, no-hassle weekend break crammed with a plethora of wonderful meals and journey.
Proceed studying for all my finest issues to do in Sligo!
Different journey guides we predict you’ll love:
The perfect time to go to Sligo?
The perfect time to go to Sligo, Eire, depends upon your pursuits and motive for visiting. Summer time (June to August) gives gentle temperatures averaging round 15-20°C so in the event you’re eager on hikes and out of doors actions, this might be a very good time to plan to go to. Nevertheless on the flip facet, spring and autumn present fewer crowds and you will get higher offers on flights and lodging.
Winter might be chilly with temperatures round 5-10°C however nonetheless gratifying in the event you pack nicely as there may be nonetheless a lot to maintain you occupied (see remainder of put up!). Surfers are inclined to flock to Sligo within the autumn and winter months for optimum wave situations, although browsing is feasible year-round and for rookies – the summer season could also be a greater choice.
Take into account timing your go to with an annual occasion just like the Sligo Stay Music Competition, Sligo St. Patrick’s Day and Fleadh Cheoil. Many others all year long add cultural appeal to your go to! The Irish positive know easy methods to throw a celebration!
Finally, for one of the best time to go to Sligo, take into consideration what your precedence is to expertise and select the time that aligns, whether or not its for browsing, out of doors adventures, or experiencing native festivities.
We stayed at The Glasshouse Lodge throughout our keep in Sligo. It was an insane location to have as a base. Proper on River Sligo, strolling distance from all one of the best eating places and pubs and solely a 20-minute radius from a lot of the actions on this information! Oh they usually have FREE underground parking too for lodge friends!
The perfect locations to eat and drink in Sligo
We skilled some unimaginable foods and drinks throughout our time in Sligo. I needed to make a bit part right here for suggestions!
Eala Bhan £££
Situated in an enthralling riverside setting, Eala Bhan gives a various menu centered on recent seafood and Irish delicacies. Elegant ambiance and attentive service. One for a memorable eating expertise.
Shell’s Café £
Situated on Strandhill Seashore, Shell’s Café gives gorgeous views and healthful dishes like do-it-yourself soups, connoisseur sandwiches, and freshly baked items. Wonderful takeaway espresso and bakery within the store too!
Hargadon Bros £
A brilliant enjoyable pub with nice Guinness stew!
Lillie’s Cocktail Bar ££
A stunning cosy spot to seize a cocktail and a few stay music! Pornstar martinis have been fab!
Otto Pizza ££
Greatest pizza on the town! Wow. Attractive vibes, Neapolitan pizzas and small plates. Nice date night time spot!
Thomas Connolly Bar £
Supposedly one of the best Guinness in Eire! It needs to be tried!
Milligram Espresso £
Wonderful little espresso store with candy treats too. Few indoor seats.
Baker Boys £
Contemporary baked good, want I say extra!
Stoked ££
Cocktails and tapas with pals vibes. We didn’t get time to go however have been extremely beneficial by many individuals!
The Little Cottage Cafe £
Pretty little cosy cafe with an open hearth able to serve you sizzling drinks and meals after an extended stroll or out of doors exercise!
Hooked ££
Casual riverside restaurant with regionally sourced and scrumptious meals! I might say they do their Asian dishes finest! The slow-cooked pork and Korean fried hen have been the show-stoppers!
Sligo, Eire is a hidden gem on the west coast, providing gorgeous landscapes and a wealthy cultural heritage. In case you’re planning a go to, listed here are one of the best issues to do in Sligo:
1. Discover one of many Benbulben hikes / trails
In case you’re up for a problem and breathtaking views, don’t miss the chance to climb Benbulben Mountain, it’s probably the greatest issues to do in Sligo. Reaching the summit itself is a reasonably difficult hike however there are different choices (listed beneath) that may will let you benefit from the views at a extra leisurely tempo.
- Benbulben Summit (6km spherical journey): The preferred hike to the summit of Benbulbin is through the Gortarowey Path. From the summit, you’ll be rewarded with gorgeous panoramic views of the encircling countryside, together with Sligo Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Pack for the climate – it may be windy and uncovered up there!
- Gleniff Horseshoe (10km loop): This looped path gives breathtaking views of Benbulbin and the encircling valleys. The path is reasonably difficult and takes you thru diversified terrain, together with lush forests and open moorland.
- Benbulbin Forest Stroll (5km loop): This light stroll via Benbulbin Forest lets you immerse within the woodland and luxuriate in epic views of Benbulben as a backdrop. Sometimes takes 1.5-2 hours.
2. Take the scenic drive as much as Eagles Rock
If mountaineering isn’t your factor, worry not. So lots of Sligo’s unimaginable surrounding landscapes might be loved from the consolation of your automobile and easily driving across the lush inexperienced landscapes is among the finest issues to do in Sligo.
You need to contemplate taking the scenic route alongside the Dartry Mountains, passing Eagles Rock viewpoint, which gives panoramic views of Benbulbin and the encircling panorama.
An alternative choice is to drive round Mullaghmore Head (you may drive proper across the shoreline) after which the street again to Sligo provides fairly superior views of Benbulbin Mountain. You possibly can lengthen the journey by driving via among the facet roads to get views just like the one pictured beneath!
3. Discover Sligo’s Tradition and Historical past
Immerse your self in Sligo’s wealthy cultural heritage while you’re right here! There’s SO a lot to see and study.
Start your journey by stepping again in time at Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery, an expansive web site that holds the secrets and techniques of historical rituals and beliefs.
Proceed your exploration on the historic Sligo Abbey, a medieval friary that provides a glimpse into the lifetime of the previous. You possibly can wander via the well-preserved ruins and let your creativeness transport you to a bygone period of knights and monks. Then there’s the pilgrimage to Drumcliffe Churchyard, the place legendary poet W.B. Yeats rests in everlasting peace. The long-lasting and postcard backdrop of Benbulben Mountain provides an ethereal contact to your go to, as you are taking a second to replicate on his timeless phrases.
4. Benefit from the world-famous waves rolling in at Mullaghmore Head
The perfect time for browsing (in the event you’re skilled) or watching the surf at Mullaghmore Head is in the course of the winter months when Atlantic swells are at their peak.
Skilled surfers journey from around the globe to take in the towering cliffs right here, the rugged surroundings, and the highly effective Atlantic waves. Nevertheless, you can too benefit from the gorgeous fantastic thing about Mullaghmore Head year-round by mountaineering alongside the coastal trails and marvelling on the majestic Classiebawn Fortress (pictured beneath).
5. Expertise St. Patrick’s Day in Sligo!
Sligo is famend for its vibrant festivals and there are a number of to select from within the calendar! Among the finest issues to do in Sligo is to expertise The Sligo Stay Music Competition, held in October, bringing collectively famend musicians for an unimaginable week of stay performances throughout numerous venues within the metropolis.
One other one which I simply skilled myself, is St. Patrick’s Day. Yearly on March 17, throughout Eire you’ll discover cities and communities coming collectively to have fun within the type of parades, music and events.
St. Patrick’s Day in Sligo was unimaginable!! That they had a stage within the centre of city with stay music all weekend, the entire city bought concerned with the St.Paddys Day parade, pubs have been crammed with native Irish expertise and the city was 50 shades of inexperienced! There was enjoyable and conventional Irish dancing round each nook and it was so superior to expertise.
I’d say probably the greatest issues to do in Sligo is to time your go to with Paddy’s Day!
6. Surf the Wild Atlantic Waves
Browsing is among the finest issues to do in Sligo as its shoreline is a haven for surfers of all skills.
There’s no higher method to begin the day than immersing your self within the ocean after which grabbing a freshly roasted espresso!
Head to Mullaghmore, Strandhill, Easky, or Streedagh to get out within the surf and expertise the Wild Atlantic waves. In case you’re a newbie, you may rent tools and take surf classes with native surf faculties (I extremely suggest Rebelle Surf in Strandhill). For the extra superior surfers, Mullaghmore is famend for its big waves!
In case you surf in Strandhill, make sure you seize breakfast at Shell’s Cafe afterwards!
7. Get pleasure from Pub-Crawling in Sligo
Immerse your self in Eire’s beer tradition by happening a pub crawl, it’s for sure probably the greatest issues to do in Sligo.
Pattern native brews, tuck into an iconic Guinness, and absorb the nice and cozy and hospitable pub ambiance that Eire does so nicely. Hopping across the pubs in Sligo is a pleasant method to meet new individuals, chat with the locals and expertise the colourful pub tradition.
Connolly’s Bar is a well-liked spot for an genuine Irish pub expertise – it’s additionally stated to serve one of the best Guinness in Eire! You’ll need to let me know! Shoot the Crows is one other great place and Fiddlers Creek.
8. Calm down at Voya Seaweed Baths on Strandhill Seashore
For a novel and rejuvenating expertise, probably the greatest issues to do in Sligo is to go to Voya Seaweed Baths.
Immerse in pure wellness and restore your vitality after an evening in town or an enormous hike. Their baths, infused with hand-harvested Irish seaweed, present therapeutic advantages for the pores and skin and physique, selling deep rest, remineralisation and detoxing. Seaweed remedy is a centuries-old custom that may go away you glowing and nourished from the within out.
We booked a 2 particular person spa room that had two seaweed baths and a steam room. We then had a 50-minute session to get pleasure from earlier than placing on our robes and heading to the relief room the place we lay on the spa beds and loved views throughout the seaside with natural tea and water.
9. Hen-Watching at Sligo’s Nature Reserves
Sligo is a paradise for chook watchers with its numerous vary of habitats that entice quite a few chook species. In case you love nature, visiting nature reserves like Lough Gill, the place you may spot a wide range of waterfowl and wading birds is among the finest issues to do in Sligo.
- Head to the Caves of Kesh to watch raptors hovering within the skies.
- The Sligo Bay Estuary is one other great place for bird-watching, particularly throughout migratory seasons when you may see uncommon species passing via.
10. E-book a yoga class or sound bathtub at Salt And Soul Studio
There are such a lot of bodily demanding adventures and actions to have interaction in while in Sligo, you’re spoilt for selection.
In case you’re seeking to stability out your physique, get a full-body stretch in and restore on an lively and non secular degree, there’s a beautiful little studio I’d extremely suggest – Salt and Soul.
The attractive studio the place you may breathe transfer and play shouldn’t be too removed from Strandhill they usually provide a wide range of courses and immersions to go well with any degree of Yogi. This was the right praise to a morning within the water! E-book a category right here.
11. Go to considered one of Sligos Market
In case you’re in search of an genuine style of Sligo and wish to attempt some native produce, don’t miss the Sligo Markets! Right here’s a number of to discover throughout your time in Sligo:
- Head over to Rathcormac Nation Market, a hidden gem the place you may uncover do-it-yourself items and native crafts. From freshly baked pastries to lovely artisanal merchandise, this market exudes appeal and heat.
- Beltra Nation Market, located within the picturesque village of Beltra, gives a pleasant mixture of native produce, baked items, and handmade crafts. Don’t miss the chance to discover the stalls and meet the pleasant distributors.
- Drummartin Market, nestled within the serene countryside, is a real gem. It options recent produce, do-it-yourself treats, and distinctive crafts.
12. Get pleasure from a sundown sauna and sea dip at Scorching Field Saunas
Scorching Field Saunas in Sligo are probably the greatest issues to do in the event you love a panorama and also you’re into your cold and hot remedy.
You possibly can e book a slot to benefit from the wood-fired saunas they usually even have additionally a chilly plunge (pictured beneath). The saunas are situated proper on the water so there may be easy accessibility to the ocean to alternate your temperature immersion.
The mixture of intense warmth from the sauna and invigorating chilly plunges supplies quite a few well being advantages, together with improved circulation, lowered irritation, and enhanced psychological readability. It’s probably the greatest issues to do in Sligo as a result of it’s not climate dependant! Maybe a very good wet day exercise in the event you’re caught with issues to do in Sligo!
Have you ever been to Sligo?
What are one of the best issues to do in Sligo? Something you’d add to this Sligo bucket listing?
Love as all the time and blissful adventuring…