Stayations 2026: Discover hidden gems all across the isle of Ireland
Dorothy Uí Thuama, tour guide with Macroom Buffalo Farm Tour, Co Cork offering authentic, flavour-led reasons to explore Ireland.
looks ahead to another exciting year of great breaks in Ireland
Ireland’s tourism offering is diversifying like never before and 2026 is gearing up to be another exciting season. So just how will we be staycationing this year? I spoke to the experts at Fáilte Ireland and Discover Ireland to find out.
Fáilte Ireland has undertaken extensive consumer research to tap into domestic travel behaviours, motivations and emotional drivers. Rather than just a numbers game, these explore what inspires people to take short breaks in Ireland and how tourism experiences can be positioned to support sustained engagement and long-term, sustainable growth in the domestic market. And our appetite for staycation remains hale and hearty as we head into the new season.
Findings from Fáilte Ireland’s most recent domestic tracker (September 2025) show that while most people seek rejuvenation on a short break, that will have myriad meanings this season. For some, peace and tranquillity will mean a spa visit, time in nature or properly switching off, while for other consumer rejuvenation is about reconnection, spending quality time with a partner or close friends.
Expect activity breaks to be big new too. Increasingly, whether climbing the Comeraghs, swimming in secret beaches of the Beara Peninsula or even enjoying the buzz of a vibrant city break. In 2025, there was a slight shift towards higher-energy experiences, with 41% of adults, particularly under-45s, seeking adventure and social energy, while 38% prioritised time out and bonding, rising to 50% among over-45s.
Public events also remain a strong driver of travel. Between June and September 2025, 67% of domestic short breaks were for leisure or events such as festivals and sporting occasions, while 33% were to visit friends and family. And let’s not forget food which is also a growing motivator.
Ireland’s global rep for supreme local produce – with a story – continues to strengthen, with visitors increasingly planning trips around food markets, regional specialities, distilleries and immersive farm-to-table experiences. Standout examples include artisan coastal experiences with Gormú, seafood dining at 505 in Dingle, Priory Food Market in Tallaght, Flavour Trails in Dublin, Tullamore Food Fayre, Margaret’s Kitchen Cookery School in Roscommon, Wicklow Way Wines and Macroom Buffalo Farm, each offering authentic, flavour-led reasons to explore.
There’s also a fine new crop of hotels opening up across the country from The Hawthorn in Galway, the fabulous Millbrook House in Co. Laois and several fresh faces in the capital, from the recently opened Hoxton to the latest Moxy in Dublin’s Docklands. We’ll be busy beavers with those reviews in the months ahead.
It’s an excitement which is buoyant on all sides of the island, with the folks at Discover Northern Ireland also gearing up for a bumper year. And, as ever, there’s a continued effort to attract first-time visitors from south of the border.
“If you have never been to the North, or you think you have seen all there is to see and do there, then 2026 offers even more reasons to visit”, Fiona Cunningham, spokesperson from Discover Northern Ireland, tells me. “Northern Ireland is set for an unforgettable 2026,” she adds. “It’s really packed full of major events, landmark milestones and exciting new visitor experiences, from Belfast hosting the world’s largest celebration of traditional Irish music at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann this August, to Derry marking forty years of its world-famous Halloween festival. It’s fair to say that Northern Ireland is gearing to embrace a giant year of events.”
Connectivity to Northwest will also see a boost. A new direct flight from Dublin to Derry is also in the pipeline, which is set to bringing a huge new opportunity to the region of the island, while Fermanagh’s stunning lakes, waterways and natural landscapes have become part of Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands this year too.
For travellers to the region seeking the great outdoors, regions from the Sperrin Mountains to the Glens of Antrim call out for dream hiking. Meanwhile, it’s all time to say welcome back to the dramatic Gobbins Cliffpath along the Causeway Coastal Route, which will reopen in March following a year-long closure due to repairs.
And when looking for that base, there’s also a fine new crop of properties to enjoy on this side of the island too. Millennial favourite the Yotel, as well as the Tempo by Hilton, are opening its first offering on the island in Belfast, Derry has recently welcomed its new Walled City Hotel while if you’re looking for a great value little gem, check out The Harborview Hotel in Carnlough. Co Antrim … which is Ireland’s first ever whiskey-themed hotel.
It’s clear that there’s still a trove of new spots to discover across Ireland and we hope that this guide, packed with ideas, will inspire your next getaway.
For more, see discoverireland.ie and discovernorthernireland.com
