Sligo, Ireland: travel guide
Yeats country: Benbulben, megalithic tombs and Atlantic surf
William Butler Yeats — Ireland's greatest poet and Nobel laureate — grew up in Sligo.
About Sligo
Sligo is a lively town on the north-west coast of Ireland, and the landscape around it is closely tied to the poet W. B. Yeats. The flat-topped mountain of Benbulben rises above the plain to the north, and Yeats is buried in the churchyard at Drumcliff within sight of it.
Things to do in Sligo include exploring the prehistoric tombs of Carrowmore, taking a boat on Lough Gill towards the island of Innisfree, and heading to the beaches at Strandhill, a favourite for surfing. The town centre has a good run of pubs with live music and independent cafes.
Sligo suits poetry lovers, walkers and surfers alike. Late spring through summer is the best window for the coast and the hills.
- Country
- Ireland
- Currency
- EUR
- Time zone
- Europe/Dublin
- Nearest airport
- NOC
Last updated
Top places to visit in Sligo
Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery
megalithic cemetery · 4.7 rating · about 1.3 h · check the fee at the gate
Europe's largest megalithic landscape — a concentration of 30+ surviving dolmens, passage tombs and stone circles spread across a low-lying drumlin landscape just 3 km from Sligo town. The oldest tombs date to approximately 5,400 BCE —…
Benbulben Mountain
flat-top mountain · 4.8 rating · about 4 h · check the fee at the gate
Ireland's most instantly recognisable mountain — a vast flat-topped limestone plateau (526 m) rising sheer and dramatic from the north Sligo plain like a gigantic natural fortress, its vertical cliff faces streaked with scree and its…
Strandhill Beach & Seaweed Baths
surf beach · 4.6 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
One of Ireland's finest surfing beaches — a powerful Atlantic break at the foot of Knocknarea mountain, 8 km west of Sligo town. Not recommended for casual swimming due to dangerous rip currents, but the surf is excellent year-round. Voya…
Sligo Yeats Country Walk
literary-trail · 4.7 rating · about 4 h · check the fee at the gate
The Yeats Country Walking Trail — Sligo's spectacular literary heritage trail through W.B. Yeats's landscapes, including Drumcliff Cemetery (his grave) and Lough Gill.
Sligo Glencar Waterfall
yeats-waterfall · 4.7 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
Glencar Waterfall — Sligo's spectacular 15m waterfall immortalized by W.B. Yeats in "The Stolen Child", with the iconic Glencar Lough viewpoint nearby.
Sligo Streedagh Beach
armada-beach · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
Streedagh Beach — Sligo's spectacular 3km golden sand beach on the Atlantic, with the historic Spanish Armada shipwreck site (three galleons lost in 1588).
Sligo Abbey
Dominican friary · 4.6 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate
The Dominican friary of the Holy Cross — founded in 1252 by Maurice FitzGerald, Lord Justice of Ireland, and one of the best-preserved medieval abbeys in Ireland. Despite being sacked and burned three times (1414, 1641, 1642), the ruins…
Wild Ireland Animal Sanctuary
animal-sanctuary · 4.7 rating · about 8 h · check the fee at the gate
A day trip along the Wild Atlantic Way from Sligo to Wild Ireland at Burnfoot, County Donegal — an animal sanctuary home to rescued bears, wolves, monkeys and other species in native Irish woodland.
Sligo Yeats Memorial Building
yeats-museum · 4.5 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
The Yeats Memorial Building — Sligo's spectacular literary centre dedicated to W.B. Yeats, with the historic museum, the famous Hyde Bridge location, and the rich literary heritage.
Sligo Lissadell House
greek-revival · 4.6 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate
Lissadell House — Sligo's spectacular 1830s Greek Revival mansion, the famous Gore-Booth family home where W.B. Yeats spent his summers, with the iconic walled garden.
Sligo Inishmurray Island
monastic-island · 4.7 rating · about 8 h · check the fee at the gate
A day trip from Sligo to Inishmurray Island — the spectacular abandoned Atlantic island with the famous 6th-century monastic settlement, the historic Carrowmore-related sites.
Things to do
- Strandhill Surf Lesson Sligo Outdoor · 2 h · from EUR 33 per person
- Benbulben Summit Guided Hike Outdoor · 5 h · from EUR 21 per person
Where to stay in Sligo
- Sligo Town Centre about EUR 95 per night
Staying in Sligo town centre puts Sligo Abbey, the Yeats Memorial Building, the County Museum and the best restaurants and pubs within 10 minutes' walk. The bus and rail station is also central.
- Strandhill Village about EUR 85 per night
Staying in Strandhill gives you the best Atlantic surf beach, Voya Seaweed Baths and Knocknarea directly on your doorstep. More peaceful than the town. A car is needed for Sligo attractions.
Hotels
- Markree Castle Sligo 4-star · EUR 200 to EUR 520 per night
- Clayton Hotel Sligo 4-star · EUR 90 to EUR 235 per night
- White House Hostel Sligo 2-star · EUR 15 to EUR 65 per night
Where to eat
- Hooked Seafood Restaurant Sligo Seafood, Modern Irish · about EUR 52 per person
- Lyons Café Sligo Traditional Irish, Café · about EUR 15 per person
- Osta Café & Wine Bar Sligo Café, Wine Bar · about EUR 22 per person
Getting to Sligo
Airport: Sligo (NOC)
Getting around
- Car Rental Self
- Walking
More in Ireland
Frequently asked questions about Sligo
- What are the top-rated places to visit in Sligo?
- The highest-rated places in our Sligo guide are Benbulben Mountain, Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery, Sligo Yeats Country Walk, Sligo Glencar Waterfall, Sligo Streedagh Beach.
- Where should I stay in Sligo?
- Our guide covers these areas to stay in Sligo: Sligo Town Centre, Strandhill Village.
- How do I get around Sligo?
- Ways to get around Sligo covered in our guide: Self-drive car, Walking.
- Which airport is nearest to Sligo?
- The nearest airport to Sligo has the code NOC.