Welcome to your Sligo journey information.
Sligo is a hidden gem on Eire‘s beautiful west coast and after simply spending an extended weekend there, I’m so excited to share all the most effective spots and locations I’d advocate to your Sligo journey. On this weblog put up, I’ll share the most effective issues to do in Sligo, the most effective locations to eat and the most effective locations to take in the unimaginable Irish historical past and tradition.
Positioned 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 contemporary seafood, conventional Irish dishes, and a rising craft beer and whiskey tradition that may go away your coronary heart and tummy very pleased. However greater than that, Sligo is the proper base location for exploring the Wild Atlantic Means, 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 historic 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 simple, no-hassle weekend break crammed with a plethora of wonderful meals and journey.
Proceed studying for all my greatest issues to do in Sligo!
Different journey guides we predict you’ll love:
The very best time to go to Sligo?
The very best time to go to Sligo, Eire, is dependent upon your pursuits and motive for visiting. Summer season (June to August) gives delicate temperatures averaging round 15-20°C so if you happen to’re eager on hikes and out of doors actions, this could possibly be a great time to plan to go to. Nevertheless on the flip aspect, spring and autumn present fewer crowds and you may get higher offers on flights and lodging.
Winter will be chilly with temperatures round 5-10°C however nonetheless pleasurable if you happen to pack effectively as there’s nonetheless a lot to maintain you occupied (see remainder of put up!). Surfers are likely to flock to Sligo within the autumn and winter months for optimum wave circumstances, although browsing is feasible year-round and for novices – the summer time could also be a greater choice.
Think about timing your go to with an annual occasion just like the Sligo Reside Music Competition, Sligo St. Patrick’s Day and Fleadh Cheoil. Many others all year long add cultural appeal to your go to! The Irish certain know tips on how to throw a celebration!
Finally, for the most effective 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 the most effective eating places and pubs and solely a 20-minute radius from a lot of the actions on this information! Oh and so they have FREE underground parking too for resort visitors!
The very best locations to eat and drink in Sligo
We skilled some unimaginable foods and drinks throughout our time in Sligo. I needed to make slightly part right here for suggestions!
Eala Bhan £££
Positioned in an enthralling riverside setting, Eala Bhan gives a various menu centered on contemporary seafood and Irish delicacies. Elegant ambiance and attentive service. One for a memorable eating expertise.
Shell’s Café £
Positioned on Strandhill Seashore, Shell’s Café gives beautiful views and healthful dishes like home made soups, gourmand sandwiches, and freshly baked items. Superb 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 had been fab!
Otto Pizza ££
Finest pizza on the town! Wow. Horny vibes, Neapolitan pizzas and small plates. Nice date evening spot!
Thomas Connolly Bar £
Supposedly the most effective Guinness in Eire! It needs to be tried!
Milligram Espresso £
Superb little espresso store with candy treats too. Few indoor seats.
Baker Boys £
Recent baked good, want I say extra!
Stoked ££
Cocktails and tapas with mates vibes. We didn’t get time to go however had been extremely beneficial by many individuals!
The Little Cottage Cafe £
Beautiful little cosy cafe with an open fireplace able to serve you sizzling drinks and meals after an extended stroll or out of doors exercise!
Hooked ££
Casual riverside restaurant with domestically sourced and scrumptious meals! I’d say they do their Asian dishes greatest! The slow-cooked pork and Korean fried hen had been the show-stoppers!
Sligo, Eire is a hidden gem on the west coast, providing beautiful landscapes and a wealthy cultural heritage. When you’re planning a go to, listed below are the most effective issues to do in Sligo:
1. Discover one of many Benbulben hikes / trails
When you’re up for a problem and breathtaking views, don’t miss the chance to climb Benbulben Mountain, it’s among the best issues to do in Sligo. Reaching the summit itself is a reasonably difficult hike however there are different choices (listed beneath) that may help you benefit from the views at a extra leisurely tempo.
- Benbulben Summit (6km spherical journey): The most well-liked hike to the summit of Benbulbin is through the Gortarowey Path. From the summit, you’ll be rewarded with beautiful 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 various terrain, together with lush forests and open moorland.
- Benbulbin Forest Stroll (5km loop): This mild stroll by Benbulbin Forest means that you can immerse within the woodland and luxuriate in epic views of Benbulben as a backdrop. Usually takes 1.5-2 hours.
2. Take the scenic drive as much as Eagles Rock
If climbing isn’t your factor, concern not. So lots of Sligo’s unimaginable surrounding landscapes will be loved from the consolation of your automotive and easily driving across the lush inexperienced landscapes is without doubt one of the greatest issues to do in Sligo.
You need to take into account 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’ll be able to drive proper across the shoreline) after which the highway again to Sligo provides fairly superior views of Benbulbin Mountain. You possibly can lengthen the journey by driving by among the aspect 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 historic rituals and beliefs.
Proceed your exploration on the historic Sligo Abbey, a medieval friary that gives a glimpse into the lifetime of the previous. You possibly can wander by 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 enduring and postcard backdrop of Benbulben Mountain provides an ethereal contact to your go to, as you are taking a second to mirror on his timeless phrases.
4. Benefit from the world-famous waves rolling in at Mullaghmore Head
The very best time for browsing (if you happen to’re skilled) or watching the surf at Mullaghmore Head is through the winter months when Atlantic swells are at their peak.
Skilled surfers journey from world wide to take in the towering cliffs right here, the rugged surroundings, and the highly effective Atlantic waves. Nevertheless, you too can benefit from the beautiful fantastic thing about Mullaghmore Head year-round by climbing alongside the coastal trails and marvelling on the majestic Classiebawn Citadel (pictured beneath).
5. Expertise St. Patrick’s Day in Sligo!
Sligo is famend for its vibrant festivals and there are just a few to select from within the calendar! Probably the greatest issues to do in Sligo is to expertise The Sligo Reside Music Competition, held in October, bringing collectively famend musicians for an unimaginable week of stay performances throughout varied 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 obtained concerned with the St.Paddys Day parade, pubs had 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 among the best issues to do in Sligo is to time your go to with Paddy’s Day!
6. Surf the Wild Atlantic Waves
Browsing is without doubt one of the greatest issues to do in Sligo as its shoreline is a haven for surfers of all talents.
There’s no higher solution 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. When you’re a newbie, you’ll be able to rent tools and take surf classes with native surf faculties (I extremely advocate Rebelle Surf in Strandhill). For the extra superior surfers, Mullaghmore is famend for its large waves!
When you surf in Strandhill, remember to seize breakfast at Shell’s Cafe afterwards!
7. Get pleasure from Pub-Crawling in Sligo
Immerse your self in Eire’s beer tradition by occurring a pub crawl, it’s surely among the best issues to do in Sligo.
Pattern native brews, tuck into an iconic Guinness, and take in the nice and cozy and hospitable pub ambiance that Eire does so effectively. Hopping across the pubs in Sligo is a pleasant solution to meet new folks, 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 mentioned to serve the most effective Guinness in Eire! You’ll need to let me know! Shoot the Crows is one other good spot and Fiddlers Creek.
8. Calm down at Voya Seaweed Baths on Strandhill Seashore
For a singular and rejuvenating expertise, among the best 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 a giant hike. Their baths, infused with hand-harvested Irish seaweed, present therapeutic advantages for the pores and skin and physique, selling deep leisure, remineralisation and cleansing. 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 comfort room the place we lay on the spa beds and loved views throughout the seashore with natural tea and water.
9. Chicken-Watching at Sligo’s Nature Reserves
Sligo is a paradise for hen watchers with its numerous vary of habitats that appeal to quite a few hen species. When you love nature, visiting nature reserves like Lough Gill, the place you’ll be able to spot a wide range of waterfowl and wading birds is without doubt one of the greatest issues to do in Sligo.
- Head to the Caves of Kesh to look at raptors hovering within the skies.
- The Sligo Bay Estuary is one other good spot for bird-watching, particularly throughout migratory seasons when you’ll be able to see uncommon species passing by.
10. Guide a yoga class or sound bathtub at Salt And Soul Studio
There are such a lot of bodily demanding adventures and actions to interact in while in Sligo, you’re spoilt for selection.
When you’re seeking to stability out your physique, get a full-body stretch in and restore on an lively and religious degree, there’s a beautiful little studio I’d extremely advocate – Salt and Soul.
The gorgeous studio the place you’ll be able to breathe transfer and play will not be too removed from Strandhill and so they supply a wide range of lessons and immersions to go well with any degree of Yogi. This was the proper praise to a morning within the water! Guide a category right here.
11. Go to one in all Sligos Market
When you’re searching for an genuine style of Sligo and need to strive some native produce, don’t miss the Sligo Markets! Right here’s just a few to discover throughout your time in Sligo:
- Head over to Rathcormac Nation Market, a hidden gem the place you’ll be able to uncover home made 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 contemporary produce, home made treats, and distinctive crafts.
12. Get pleasure from a sundown sauna and sea dip at Scorching Field Saunas
Scorching Field Saunas in Sligo are among the best issues to do if you happen to love a panorama and also you’re into your cold and warm remedy.
You possibly can e-book a slot to benefit from the wood-fired saunas and so they even have additionally a chilly plunge (pictured beneath). The saunas are positioned proper on the water so there’s quick access to the ocean to alternate your temperature immersion.
The mix of intense warmth from the sauna and invigorating chilly plunges gives quite a few well being advantages, together with improved circulation, diminished irritation, and enhanced psychological readability. It’s among the best issues to do in Sligo as a result of it’s not climate dependant! Maybe a great wet day exercise if you happen to’re caught with issues to do in Sligo!
Have you ever been to Sligo?
What are the most effective issues to do in Sligo? Something you’d add to this Sligo bucket record?
Love as at all times and pleased adventuring…