Fáilte Ireland has published its annual survey of Ireland’s most popular visitor attractions for 2018.
Once again the Guinness Storehouse tops the list with over 1.7 million visitors last year. The Cliffs of Moher closely follows in second place with 1.5 million - an increase of over 3% on the previous year and Dublin Zoo holds the third spot with over 1.2million visitors in the same category.
The survey also collates visitor numbers on free-to-enter attractions with a new entry to the list, Kilkenny Castle Parklands claiming top place with the National Gallery of Ireland closely following.
The Castle attracted almost 800,000 visitors, making it Ireland's sixth most visited tourist attraction.
Ireland’s top ten ‘free to enter’ attractions for 2018 were:
1. Kilkenny Castle Parklands – 799,032
2. The National Gallery of Ireland – 775,491
3. Glendalough Site – 732,824
4. National Botanic Gardens – 655,609
5. Castletown House Parklands – 642,278
6. Irish Museum of Modern Art – 505,891
7. Doneraile Park – 490,000
8. National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology, 466,038
9. Farmleigh House Estate – 389,932
10. Battle of the Boyne/Oldbridge Est – 355,608.
Overall, the top ten fee-charging attractions during 2018 were:
1. Guinness Storehouse - 1,736,156 (visitors)
2. Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience – 1,580,000
3. Dublin Zoo – 1,230,145
4. Book of Kells – 1,057,642
5. Tayto Park – 700,000
6. St Patrick’s Cathedral – 627,199
7. Kylemore Abbey & Garden – 561,657
8. Muckrose House – 550,649
9. Powerscourt House Gardens and Waterfall – 472,523
10. Blarney Castle & Gardens – 460,000
