Ireland has been voted one of the top 10 must-visit destinations of the new year. The country came in at ninth – one place ahead of England.
Rough Guide readers voted for their favourite destinations globally. Two European countries, Iceland (3rd) and Italy (4th) were ahead of Ireland.
Driving on Ring of Kerry on the Wild Atlantic Way.
The guide books’ publishers said: “Ireland might be a short flight away from mainland Europe’s well-trodden backpacking trail, but you agree it’s always worth the trip.
“Plenty of cheap flights to Irish cities from all over the continent make it easy to get here, with epic events like the Galway Oyster Festival – let alone St Patrick’s Day – providing regular incentive.
“A proper night spent soaking up the live folk music of a jovial Irish pub should be high priority for everyone, yet Ireland’s rugged landscapes – steeped in myth and sublime in their beauty – are what capture most people’s hearts.”
Asia and South America dominated the voting for the Rough Guides list: , 1 Myanmar, 2 Nepal, 3 iceland, 4Italy, 5 Mexico, 6 Sri Lanka, 7 Colombia 8 Indonesia 9 Ireland 10 England. The full listings can be found here.
