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Things to Do in Westport, Ireland
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Plan language: EnglishMost popular attractions in Westport, Ireland
When considering things to do in Westport, Ireland, start with the 300-acre estate and Georgian mansion at Westport House. Hike the 2,510-foot quartzite peak of Croagh Patrick for sweeping views over Clew Bay's 365 islands. Then pedal or walk a section of the 42-kilometer Great Western Greenway, a car-free trail along an old railway line.
1. Westport House
Pirate queen Grace O'Malley's ancestral home doubles as Ireland's most haunted house. Explore 500 years of history, then brave the dungeon where she once held prisoners.
Quick facts: Ireland's most haunted house has a pirate past: it was built with riches plundered by 16th-century pirate queen Grace O'Malley. The current structure sits on the foundations of her original fortress, and her ghost is said to still roam the halls with her pet eagle.
Highlights: Climb to the roof for a view that reveals the house's strategic genius: it commands the entire Clew Bay archipelago, exactly as O'Malley intended for spotting approaching ships. Inside, the dungeon still holds the original 16th-century iron rings where captives were chained, and you can literally touch the same stone walls a pirate queen leaned against.
2. Croagh Patrick
Ireland's holiest mountain rewards climbers with panoramic views over Clew Bay's scattered islands. You'll traverse ancient pilgrimage paths and stand where Saint Patrick is said to have fasted for 40 days.
Quick facts: Roughly 25,000 pilgrims climb the 764-meter high mountain each Reek Sunday, the last Sunday of July. Some devoted climbers make the ascent barefoot, a tradition dating back to the penitential practices of Saint Patrick himself.
Highlights: Halfway up the mountain, you'll find a small whitewashed church that hosts Mass even during howling Atlantic storms. On a clear day from the summit, the view stretches across Clew Bay's 365 drumlin islands, each one a glacial leftover sculpted by ice 12,000 years ago.
3. Clew Bay
Clew Bay's 365 islands create a landscape that shifts with every tide. You can kayak to a 130-year-old island pub or cycle along a coast where the only sounds are waves.
Quick facts: A sprawling 10,000-hectare bay with 365 islands, one for every day of the year. Local legend claims each island was formed when a giant dropped a bag of rocks into the water.
Highlights: Dorinis Island has a working pub that gets its mail delivered by boat and has the same family running it since 1885. You can kayak across at low tide, grab a pint, and paddle back before the water rises again.
4. Westport Quay
A working harbour where mountains meet the sea and fishermen mend their nets beside centuries-old stone walls. Watch the tide transform the shoreline, explore the quayside pubs, and take in views across Clew Bay's 365 islands.
Quick facts: Saltwater mingles with fresh mountain runoff at this working harbour where fishermen still unload their daily catch by hand. The quay sits at the end of the longest and straightest tree-lined avenue in Europe, connecting the harbour directly to the town's Georgian heart.
Highlights: At low tide, the seabed reveals the skeletal remains of ancient oak trees preserved in peat for over 5,000 years, a prehistoric forest that once stretched across Clew Bay. Locals know to arrive at sunrise to watch the light hit the 365 islands of Clew Bay, one for each day of the year according to local lore, with Croagh Patrick's conical peak as the backdrop.
5. The Great Western Greenway
Roll 42 flat kilometers through Ireland's wildest coastal bog without a single car in earshot. You'll pedal past medieval ruins, sea inlets, and mountain sheep that barely glance up from the grass.
Quick facts: At 42 kilometers, this is Ireland's longest off-road walking and cycling trail, following the route of a former narrow-gauge railway. The track bed was originally laid in the 1890s to carry turf, livestock, and mail between Westport and Achill Island.
Highlights: Somewhere around mile 15, the railway cutting opens abruptly onto the Atlantic at Mulranny village, where the silver light off Clew Bay makes everything look like a wet ink drawing. The trail crosses five old stone viaducts that snake through blanket bog, giving you front-row seats to flocks of whooper swans feeding in the loughs below.
6. St. Patrick's Statue
Stand where a saint once stood and see a 1,500-year-old footprint pressed into stone. You will face Clew Bay's 365 islands with the same view that greeted Ireland's patron saint.
Quick facts: Saint Patrick sailed past Clew Bay around 441 AD and supposedly left his footprint on a rock at this very spot. The statue itself is a 1980s bronze work by sculptor Séamus Connolly, standing near the old stone where the saint's print remains visible.
Highlights: Look closely at the rock below the statue and you will see a hollowed indentation locals swear is Saint Patrick's actual footprint from 1,500 years ago. Each year on the saint's feast day, locals pour water into the hollow and if it stays, legend says the year ahead will bring good fortune.
7. Westport Golf Club
A hillside course that delivers two hours of jaw-dropping bay views for a fraction of the price of neighboring links. You will navigate clever bunkering and fast greens while the Atlantic breeze keeps every round interesting.
Quick facts: Perched on a hillside overlooking Clew Bay with its 365 islands, the course offers views that stretch all the way to Croagh Patrick. The 6,000-meter parkland layout has hosted the Connacht Senior Cup multiple times since opening in 2008.
Highlights: The elevated 14th tee delivers a pulse-quickening moment, where the entire bay, the peak of Croagh Patrick, and the Atlantic horizon line up in a single frame. Green fees here run roughly half of what you would pay at nearby Carne Golf Links, yet the conditioning and scenery rival anything in the region.
8. Clare Island
Step onto an island where a pirate queen once ruled and a medieval abbey hides a painted ceiling no one expected. Cycle quiet roads past sheep-dotted hills, explore a 13th-century tower, and hike to sea cliffs that drop dramatically into the Atlantic.
Quick facts: Roughly 4,000 people are buried in the Clare Island Abbey graveyard, yet the island's current population hovers around just 130 residents. The island served as a stronghold of the legendary pirate queen Granuaile (Grace O'Malley) in the 16th century, and her family tomb lies within the abbey walls.
Highlights: Pirate queen Granuaile's Abbey contains a stunning 360-year-old fresco ceiling, one of only two surviving medieval church frescoes in all of Ireland. Look up to see painted angels, stars, and mythical beasts that have survived centuries of salt spray and neglect.
Where to Stay in Westport, Ireland
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Traditional Sweet Dishes
Barmbrack
Barmbrack is a traditional Irish tea bread studded with dried fruit, and in Westport it is often served sliced and buttered. It is traditionally baked with hidden symbolic items like a ring or coin, foretelling the finder's fortune.
Irish Apple Tart
Westport is famous for its Irish Apple Tart, a buttery shortcrust pastry filled with locally grown apples from the orchards of County Mayo. It is often served warm with fresh cream or a dusting of cinnamon sugar.
Soda Bread with Jam and Cream
While soda bread is savory on its own, in Westport it is commonly transformed into a sweet treat when slathered with local berry jam and thick clotted cream. This simple dessert highlights the region's excellent dairy from grass-fed cows.
Traditional Savory Dishes
Westport Boxty
Boxty is a traditional Irish potato pancake that is especially beloved in Westport, made from a mix of raw grated potato and mashed potato. The phrase "Boxty on the griddle, boxty in the pan, if you can't make boxty, you'll never get a man" is a well known local rhyme.
Irish Stew
Westport's Irish Stew is a hearty one pot meal made with locally raised lamb, potatoes, carrots, and onions simmered for hours. It is a staple in Westport pubs, especially during the chilly months along the Wild Atlantic Way.
Clew Bay Seafood Chowder
This creamy chowder features fresh catch from Clew Bay, including mussels, salmon, and haddock, often served with brown soda bread. Westport's location on the bay means the seafood is incredibly fresh and central to the local diet.
Traditional Beverages
Guinness
Guinness is the iconic Irish stout universally enjoyed in Westport's many historic pubs. The locals take pride in a proper pour, which takes a full 119.5 seconds to settle before the pint is topped off.
Irish Whiskey
Westport has a thriving whiskey culture, with many pubs offering top shelf Irish whiskeys like Jameson, Bushmills, and local craft single pot still varieties. A traditional hot whiskey (with cloves, lemon, honey, and hot water) is a favorite winter warmer in Westport.
Irish Breakfast Tea
A strong blend of black teas, Irish Breakfast Tea is the everyday beverage of choice in Westport, often taken with milk and sugar. It is served throughout the day and is a cornerstone of Irish hospitality in every home and cafe.
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Most popular day trips
Achill Island
Ireland's largest offshore island with stunning cliffs and beaches.
Croagh Patrick
Iconic mountain pilgrimage site with panoramic views of Clew Bay.
Clifden
Charming capital of Connemara with colorful shops and scenic walks.
Kylemore Abbey
Historic castle and Benedictine monastery set in a mountain valley.
Connemara National Park
Vast wilderness of bogs, mountains, and woodlands with hiking trails.
Getting there
Train stations
Dublin Heuston to Westport intercity rail line
From Ireland West Airport Knock, take Bus 440 or a rental car for the 1-hour drive to Westport town center.
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Comments (9)
Two nights felt too short. Wish I'd planned at least 3 or 4 to really soak in the vibe and do some hikes.
The crowd was older than I expected, mostly couples and families. Not much of a nightlife scene if that's your thing.
Westport is easily one of the prettiest towns I've seen in Ireland. The colorful buildings along the river are postcard perfect.
If you're driving, park at the train station lot. Way cheaper than the central car parks and a short walk into town.
Had the best seafood chowder of my life at a tiny pub near the octagon. No idea what it was called but wow.