There’s no shortage of colorful towns in Ireland and quaint Irish villages with a splash of color! In fact we found that the most colorful towns in Ireland were ones we stumbled on by accident!
So whether you’re on the hunt for an Ireland hidden gem or some of the most picturesque towns in Ireland for your next Insta post, check out this list of my favourite colorful Irish towns and cities!
Ireland’s Colorful Towns and Cities
Doolin, County Clare
Doolin Village
A classic and one that’s definitely more well known thanks to its proximity to the Cliffs of Moher in County Clare.
In fact, you can begin your walk to reach the Cliffs of Moher along the Doolin to Hags Head cliff walk here. Doolin is also where you can get the ferry over to the Aran Islands.
You’ve probably seen the vibrant pink thatched house on Instagram and thanks to Doolin’s small size, you definitely won’t miss it either!
Absolutely don’t miss this vibrant Irish village on your Ireland itinerary.
Lahinch, County Clare
Lahinch
Lahinch in County Clare is definitely one we stumbled on by accident but that made it even more of a wonderful surprise.
We stayed in Kilkee and passed through Lahinch one day on our way to the Cliffs of Moher. on the Wild Atlantic Way drive It’s an unassuming but charming Irish seaside town with a colorful high street!
If you’re passing through the area, definitely worth a photo or two. Alternatively it’s a great option as a place to base yourself if you’re visiting the Cliffs of Moher and you want to stay overnight in the area.
Ennistymon, County Clare
Add this one to your coastal drive too when you’re near the Cliffs of Moher as it’s another stop in County Clare.
Just up the road from Lahinch, this town also has plenty of amenities and places to stay as well as colorful houses and buildings up and down the main street.
Adare, County Limerick
Located in County Limerick, Adare is a vibrant village with a particularly picturesque yellow thatch cottage on the main street running through the centre of the town.
They also have a charming Town Park with a bandstand and plenty of cafes and boutique shops along the main street.
Adare is an easy stop to make if you’re travelling to or from Kerry on your way to Limerick or Galway.
We stopped by on our way from Limerick as we headed toward Killarney and the famous Ring of Kerry and Dingle Peninsula.
Galway, County Galway
Galway is a must see in Ireland right?!
Galway gets a lot of hype and rightly so! It’s full of character, music, food, drink and it is absolutely charming. It’s also a great base for day trips and day tours near Galway.
The Latin Quarter in Galway is a must-visit, with cobbled streets, boutique stories, colourful shop fronts, live music on the street and plenty to see, eat and drink, you’ll find it’s one of the most colorful cities in Ireland!
Don’t miss the Charlie Byrne bookshop, The King’s Head Bistro or the Dough Bros for pizza - all in the Latin Quarter!
Cobh, County Cork
Probably the most famous colorful town in Ireland!
Cobh (pronounced Cove) is located in County Cork, about 30 minutes drive from Cork city itself.
Cobh is most famous for the ‘Deck of Cards’ houses. This is the colorful street of houses on a hill with Cobh cathedral in the background. If you’re wondering where to find the colorful houses in Cobh, the actual street is called West View.
To get the famous view of the houses with the cathedral behind, you can either take photos from West View Park opposite the houses. Or head to the top of the hill, turn left onto Lower Middleton Street and walk along it until you have a clear stretch of wall on your left. Here you can stick your camera over the top and get a better view of the houses with the cathedral behind like this photo here.
But don’t think that’s all there is to Cobh. The waterfront is also full of colourful Irish buildings and as the last stop in Europe before the Titanic made her fateful voyage, there is plenty of history to explore too!
Cork, County Cork
I didn’t expect Cork to be as vibrant as it was!
There’s definitely not as many typically colorful Ireland streets in the city centre but there’s definitely a lot of color dotted about, along the river and particularly on the opposite side of the river from the Marina Market (which has awesome street food trucks in the food market!)
Kinsale, County Cork
Without a doubt the most famous colorful town in Ireland!
You’ve probably seen Kinsale on Instagram, with its vibrant fluorescent streets with lime green, hot pink and vivid orange buildings and store fronts.
Kinsale is also located in County Cork and sits on Ireland’s south west coast.
You’ll find the colorful street in Kinsale on Newman’s Mall, this pedestrianized courtyard area is full of color everywhere you look! It can get pretty busy, I’d suggest early in the morning or on a weekday if you’re hoping to take some photos without crowds in.
But don’t miss the surrounding streets around Market Lane and the other streets off Newman’s Mall, there’s plenty of color and things to do in Kinsale!
Westport, County Mayo
Probably my favorite unexpected colorful Irish town: Westport in County Mayo.
County Mayo, Donegal and Sligo were all massively underrated gems on my trip to Ireland, but Westport really won out for its colorful town centre and vibrant atmosphere.
You’ll find the most colorful buildings in Westport in the town centre from the Carrowbeg River bridge and up Bridge Street. Once you reach the Clock Tower, turn right onto Shop street and there are more colorful buildings along here and up to the Octagon.
Don’t miss taking a stroll along the river in the town centre and Cian’s on Bridge Street for great food!
Dublin
Of course the Irish capital has to be on this list too!
Dublin is a large city but the famous Temple Bar area is a vibrant and colorful part of the city which is a must-see for any visitor to Dublin.
The Temple Bar Pub is very well-known and with its traditional facade and vibrant red exterior, it’s a popular photo spot in Dublin. But don’t miss Crown Alley around the corner where you’ll find the Jam Factory and a completely different but very colorful street in Dublin.
If you’re looking for the umbrella street in Dublin, you’ll find it on Anne’s Lane.
Sneem and Waterville, County Kerry
Two popular towns to pass through on the Ring of Kerry drive, Sneem is a colorful town on the Ring of Kerry route with vibrant buildings and street art.
The main street is full of yellows, purples and reds and it definitely stands out on your drive around the famous loop in County Kerry.
Don’t miss nearby Waterville further along the coast which has a couple of colourful buildings but also a lobster holding a pint of Guinness on the side of The Lobster pub!
Cahersiveen, County Kerry
Yellow building in Cahersiveen
Another unexpectedly colourful town on our Ring of Kerry drive was the main road through Cahersiveen.
This colorful Kerry town is one you won’t miss if you’re driving the Ring of Kerry. Also don’t miss the really cool Oratory Pizza and Wine bar here which you’ll find in a church!
Dingle, County Kerry
I LOVED the Dingle Peninsula for a lot of reasons and this colorful Irish town was one of them.
Also located in County Kerry, the Dingle Peninsula is a great loo drive to do as well as the Ring of Kerry route.
Dingle is home to the Dingle Gin Distillery, Dingle boat tours and Sea Safari from the harbour, the Dingle Aquarium and the popular An Droichead Beag pub among many other things!
But the colorful harbour front street and surrounding streets make this a vibrant stop on the Dingle Peninsula drive.
Eyeries, County Cork
Saving the best for last!
I found out about this town on the Beara Peninsula in County Cork completely by chance and I am so glad I did!
This is possibly the most colorful town in Ireland, almost every house is painted and the colors are so vibrant and extremely well-maintained.
The best part is that it’s much lesser known and less visited, with locals sitting outside cafes and kids heading home from school. It felt like a real hidden gem and without a doubt one of the best colorful Irish towns!
Summary: The best towns to visit in Ireland that are full of color!
How beautiful is are these Irish towns?! The truth is, there are countless colorful towns all over Ireland which you’ll encounter on your travels. But hopefully this guide will help you plan them and include them in your Ireland trip if you’re interested in finding them!
Pin this for later to plan your future trip!
