Where to Go on Holiday from Ireland

Deciding where to go on holiday can be difficult when there are so many destinations to choose from. The best choice often depends on when you’re travelling, how far you want to fly and the type of holiday you’re looking for.

From Ireland, you can choose from beach resorts across Spain, Portugal, Greece, Turkey and Cyprus, year round favourites in the Canary Islands and destinations that combine sunshine with sightseeing.

Your departure airport matters too. Dublin offers the widest choice, while Cork, Shannon, Ireland West Airport Knock and Kerry can provide convenient alternatives depending on the destination and time of year.

Whether you’re looking for summer sunshine, a winter escape, a family beach holiday or somewhere for a couples’ getaway, this guide will help you narrow down where to go on holiday from Ireland.

Find Your Perfect Holiday

Choosing Where to Go on Holiday

Before comparing individual hotels, think about what matters most to you.

The perfect destination for a family travelling during the Irish school summer holidays could be very different from somewhere you’d choose for a winter break or a few days away as a couple.

Consider:

When you’re travelling – weather and temperatures can vary considerably throughout the year.
Flight time – a shorter journey may be important for families or shorter holidays.
Type of holiday – beach, all inclusive, sightseeing and nightlife can lead you towards very different destinations.
Your budget – accommodation and everyday costs vary between resorts and countries.
Departure airport – not every destination is available from every Irish airport.

If you’re still at the early stages of arranging your trip, our Holiday Planning from Ireland guide covers choosing an airport, when to book, package holidays and other things to consider before booking.

Where to Go for a Sun Holiday from Ireland

For many Irish holidaymakers, choosing a destination starts with one thing: sunshine.

Spain and Portugal remain obvious choices for European sun holidays, while Greece, Turkey, Cyprus and Malta offer plenty of alternatives during the warmer months. For winter travel, the Canary Islands become particularly useful because of their location and milder year round climate.

Canary Islands

The Canary Islands are one of the most useful destinations to consider when you want sunshine outside the main European summer. Tenerife offers everything from lively resorts to quieter coastal areas, while Lanzarote combines beach resorts with a distinctive volcanic landscape. Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura provide further options for beach and resort holidays. The Canaries can be particularly attractive for autumn, winter and early spring trips when many Mediterranean destinations are cooler.

Mainland Spain

Mainland Spain gives Irish travellers a large choice of established holiday resorts.

The Costa del Sol combines beaches with resorts such as Benalmadena, Torremolinos and Fuengirola, while the Costa Blanca includes Alicante and popular holiday areas such as Benidorm.

Spain works particularly well when you’re looking for a traditional summer sun holiday with plenty of accommodation and resort choice.

Majorca

Majorca offers a wide range of resorts, from family friendly beach destinations to livelier areas and quieter coastal towns.

Resorts such as Alcudia, Palma Nova and Santa Ponsa provide different styles of holiday, making the island suitable for families, couples and groups.

Algarve

Portugal’s Algarve is known for its beaches, coastal scenery and established resorts. Areas such as Albufeira, Vilamoura and Lagos offer different combinations of beaches, restaurants, nightlife and sightseeing, making the Algarve worth considering for both family and couples’ holidays.

Greece

Greece provides plenty of choice during the main holiday season, particularly across islands such as Crete, Rhodes and Zante.

The experience can vary considerably between resorts, from lively nightlife to traditional towns and quieter beach areas, so choosing the right part of an island can be just as important as choosing the island itself.

Turkey

Turkey is particularly popular for resort and all inclusive holidays, with large hotels and beach resorts available across its main holiday regions.

It can be a good option when hotel facilities and spending plenty of time around the resort are priorities.

Cyprus

Cyprus combines beach resorts with historic towns, restaurants and sightseeing, while its location in the eastern Mediterranean can provide warm conditions beyond the height of summer.

Different parts of the island suit different types of holiday, from lively resort stays to quieter beach breaks.

Malta

Malta can work well for travellers who want sunshine combined with sightseeing rather than a holiday spent entirely around a resort.

Its historic towns, coastline and compact size make it relatively easy to combine days by the water with exploring.

Where Is Hot When You Want to Travel?

The time of year can quickly narrow down your destination choices.

A Mediterranean resort that’s ideal in July may be much cooler in January, while destinations such as the Canary Islands become particularly useful during the Irish winter.

Winter: December to February

For winter sunshine, the Canary Islands are one of the first places to consider from Ireland.

Tenerife, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura generally offer milder and sunnier conditions than much of mainland Europe during winter.

Depending on how far you’re willing to travel, destinations such as Egypt can also be worth considering.

Spring: March to May

Spring is a transition period for European sun holidays. The Canary Islands remain useful earlier in the season, while southern Spain, Portugal, Cyprus and parts of Greece become increasingly attractive as the weather warms towards May. If swimming and high temperatures are important, don’t assume every Mediterranean destination will already feel like summer in early spring.

Summer: June to August

Summer provides the widest choice.

Spain, Portugal, the Balearic Islands, Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, Malta and Bulgaria can all be considered for summer sun holidays.

At this time of year, the decision is often less about finding warm weather and more about choosing the right resort, flight time, hotel and overall holiday price.

Families travelling during the Irish school summer holidays may also have less flexibility with dates, making availability an important consideration.

Autumn: September to November

September still provides a broad choice across Mediterranean destinations, while October and November require more attention to local weather conditions.

As winter approaches, Tenerife, Lanzarote and the other Canary Islands become increasingly attractive for travellers who still want a sun holiday without travelling much further afield.

How Far Do You Want to Fly?

Flight time can make a big difference when choosing where to go, particularly for families with young children and travellers taking shorter holidays.

Spain and Portugal provide many relatively accessible holiday options from Ireland, while destinations further into the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands generally require more time in the air.

For a week or two away, an extra hour on the plane may not matter much. For a three or four night trip, keeping the journey shorter may become more important.

Flight times also vary according to your departure airport, route and conditions, so any published times should be treated as approximate.

Where to Go for a Family Holiday

A good family destination isn’t simply somewhere with a beach.

Flight times, airport transfers, hotel facilities, pools, nearby restaurants and activities can all become more important when travelling with children.

Popular options to consider include Majorca, the Algarve, Costa del Sol, Costa Blanca, Tenerife and Lanzarote, all of which offer a broad choice of established holiday resorts.

All inclusive can also appeal to families who want more of their food and drink included in the holiday price.

The best choice will depend on the ages of your children, when you’re travelling and whether you want a busy resort or somewhere quieter.

Where to Go for a Couples Holiday

There’s no single type of couples’ holiday.

Some travellers want a quiet hotel and beach, while others prefer restaurants, nightlife, sightseeing or a resort where they can combine several of these.

The Algarve and Majorca offer plenty of resort choice, while Tenerife and Lanzarote can work particularly well when travelling outside the main summer season.

Greek islands such as Rhodes and Crete can combine beaches with towns, restaurants and sightseeing, while Malta is another option when exploring is as important as spending time beside the pool.

Rather than choosing a country purely because it’s described as a “couples destination”, look closely at the individual resort. Two resorts on the same island can offer very different holidays.

Which Holiday Destination Might Suit You?

If you’re still undecided, start with what you want most from the trip.

If you’re looking for…	Destinations to consider
Winter sunshine	Tenerife, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria or Fuerteventura
Family beach holiday	Majorca, Algarve, Costa del Sol, Costa Blanca or the Canary Islands
All inclusive resort holiday	Turkey, Tenerife, Majorca, Greece or Cyprus
Sunshine with sightseeing	Malta, Cyprus, Rhodes or Crete
Greek island holiday	Crete, Rhodes or Zante
Lively resort	Benidorm, Playa de las Américas, Albufeira or selected resorts in Zante
Plenty of resort choice	Majorca, Tenerife, Algarve, Costa del Sol or Costa Blanca

These are starting points rather than rules. The individual resort, hotel and time of year can make a significant difference to the type of holiday you’ll experience.

Check Which Irish Airport You Want to Fly From

Before settling on a destination, check what’s available from the airport you want to use. Holidays from Dublin generally provide the widest choice, but depending on where you live, holidays from Cork, Shannon, Knock or Kerry could make the overall journey much easier. Routes from regional airports can also vary by season, so a destination available during the summer may not necessarily operate throughout the year.

Start Exploring Holiday Destinations from Ireland

There’s no single best holiday destination from Ireland. The right choice depends on when you’re travelling, who you’re travelling with and what you want to do when you get there.

If winter sunshine is the priority, Tenerife, Lanzarote and the other Canary Islands are obvious places to start comparing. For a summer beach holiday, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Turkey, Cyprus and other Mediterranean destinations give you a much wider choice.

If you’re flexible about where you travel, comparing several destinations can also help you find a holiday that better suits your dates and budget.

Popular destinations to explore include Tenerife, Lanzarote, Majorca, Costa del Sol, Costa Blanca, Turkey, Cyprus, Malta, Rhodes, Crete and Zante.

Or return to our Holiday Planning from Ireland guide for help with choosing an airport, deciding when to book and comparing different types of holidays.

Where to Go on Holiday from Ireland FAQs

Where is the best place to go on holiday from Ireland?

There isn’t one destination that’s best for everyone. Spain, Portugal and Majorca are popular choices for summer beach holidays, while Tenerife and Lanzarote are useful options for winter sunshine. Greece, Turkey, Cyprus and Malta provide further choices during the warmer months.

Where can I go for winter sun from Ireland?

The Canary Islands are among the main options to consider for winter sun from Ireland, including Tenerife, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura. Destinations further afield, such as Egypt, can also be worth considering.

Where can I fly for a sun holiday from Ireland?

Sun holiday destinations available from Irish airports can include Spain, Portugal, the Canary Islands, Greece, Turkey, Cyprus and Malta. The choice depends on your departure airport, travel dates and seasonal flight schedules.

What are good family holiday destinations from Ireland?

Majorca, the Algarve, Costa del Sol, Costa Blanca, Tenerife and Lanzarote are all worth considering for family holidays because they offer a wide choice of established resorts and accommodation. The best option will depend on your children’s ages, preferred flight time and the type of resort you want.

Which Irish airport has the most choice for holidays abroad?

Dublin generally offers the widest range of international holiday routes in Ireland. Cork, Shannon, Knock and Kerry can also provide convenient holiday departures, although the destinations available vary by airport and season.

Holiday planning from Ireland

Dawn - Travel Expert

Dawn is the lead deal finder at Cheap Deals Away Ireland and loves helping Irish travellers discover new places without spending a fortune. Whether it's a summer getaway, a city break or a last minute escape, she's always searching for great value holidays and sharing the deals she thinks travellers will genuinely love.

For Dawn, the best part of travel is the excitement of planning a trip and finding those hidden gems that make a holiday memorable.

Some of Dawn's favourite destinations include Lindos in Rhodes, with its beautiful whitewashed buildings and winding streets, Old Town Alcudia in Majorca and Tavira in the Algarve, which she loves its fantastic food scene and stunning beaches. When she's not hunting for the latest deals, Dawn writes travel articles, destination guides and practical tips to inspire others to explore more of the world. Dawn has also been featured in the Irish press, including the Irish Mirror.