Ireland really lives up its name as the "green island". Lush meadows sometimes extend as far as the horizon, with small, friendly villages or old, semi-derelict abbys inbetween. In these ancient churches and monasteries, the Celtic heritage still seems to be present everywhere. Defiant castles and old manor-houses can be found all over the island as well. One of the most beautiful estates is Muckross House near Killarney, where tremendous rhododendrons are blooming in may and june. Ireland's coast is incredibly diversified: there are small sandy beaches as well as craggy cliffs. Particularly well-known are the Cliffs of Moher, that plunge down over 200 metres into the sea. Sometimes, river dolphins can be seen in the Shannon, Ireland's largest river. Connemara. a region in the west of the island, has beautiful moorlands, and in the Connemara National Park, there are still some undomesticated Connemara ponys. The weather in Ireland is often better than it is said to be. It is raining quite often, indeed, but usually after a few minutes, the sun will brighten the wet landscape again. The Irish people are well-known for their hospitality and heartiness.

Getting there: Flight to Dublin or Cork, rental car