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Best Things to Do in Sligo Ireland: The Ultimate One Day in Sligo

Here are the best things to do in Sligo, Ireland that make for a wonderful addition to any Ireland travel itinerary. This Sligo travel guide lists the best Sligo attractions and activities that I know you’ll love. This one day in Sligo itinerary is perfect for an extensive road trip of Ireland or a weekend getaway.

Sligo is the perfect pit stop on an Ireland road trip. Nestled between Donegal and Galway, it’s the second largest city in western Ireland. With that said, it’s not crowded or overrun by tourists by any means. Surrounded by mountains and picturesque countryside, the drive to Sligo (as with much of Ireland) has some stunning scenery. Don’t miss Sligo on your adventures through the Wild Atlantic Way!

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Things to do in Sligo Ireland

Getting to Sligo, Ireland

When we traveled to Ireland, we rented a car to have the freedom to explore at our own pace. I highly suggest renting a car in Ireland, even if you’re not familiar with driving on the left. Sligo was a fantastic stop on my three week road trip of Ireland. We picked our rental car up at the Dublin airport, though you can pick up a rental car from many places around the country.

When you’re looking for a rental car, I recommend comparing the prices online to find the best rate. I use Discover Cars to book my car rentals. You can compare the rates between the various companies and choose the one that’s best suited to me. This is how to find the best deal online!

Road trip from Donegal

Driving into Sligo, I immediately fell for its adorable small town vibes. There are colorful buildings and planter boxes overflowing with flowers lining the rushing Garavogue River weaves through the town.

However, Sligo isn’t just a pretty face. There are many amazing things to do in Sligo that will entertain you for a half day or full day in town. I recommend spending at least a few hours here to fully explore this walkable town.

When we visited Sligo, we spent a half day there. Then, we continued on to Enniscrone to enjoy a couple of hours at its famous seaweed baths. After that, we drove down to Galway for the evening in order to wake up and have the full next day in Galway.

Sligo is an ideal destination to include on any Ireland travel itinerary. Here are my top recommendations for what to do in Sligo, Ireland.

Things to Do in Sligo: Sligo Abbey

Sligo Abbey

Sligo Abbey has quite the history. It was built in 1253, destroyed in 1414 by fire, ransacked in 1595 during the Nine Years’ War, and pillaged during the Ulster Uprising of 1641. Phew! That’s quite a bit for one structure to endure.

Sligo Abbey
Sligo Abbey
Sligo Abbey

While Sligo Abbey is ruined and the friars moved out in the 18th century, it was restored in 1850 and remains open to the public. It is right in the middle of town. Once you park your town in Sligo, you can walk everywhere you need to be.

Sligo Abbey
Sligo Abbey
Sligo Abbey

You should include Sligo Abbey on your list of things to do in Sligo. It is home to the only 15th century surviving structured high altar in any Irish monastery. It’s very well preserved, and you’ll notice many detailed Gothic and Renaissance carvings.

Sligo Abbey

You can borrow a laminated copy of a map with details about the abbey. Embark on a self-guided tour and wander around this gorgeous monastic church. It’s such a quiet and peaceful place, making it easy to get lost in your thoughts. I tried to imagine what Sligo Abbey may have looked like in its heyday.

Things to Do in Sligo: Walk Around Town

Things to do in Sligo Ireland

I really enjoyed walking all over Sligo Town and exploring on foot. Walk along the river that winds through the town and wander around the streets. You’ll see adorable houses, several decorated bridges, and colorful buildings.

Statue of W.B. Yeats in Sligo Ireland

I stumbled upon a statue of the famous poet, W.B. Yeats, who was continually inspired by Sligo throughout his life and work. It’s easy to see how Yeats loved Sligo and its surrounding pastoral views. Through Yeats words in his poem, The Lake Isle of Innisfree, you can picture this tranquil setting.

Sligo also has the Yeats Memorial Building, home to the Yeats Society. Every July, Sligo hosts the annual Yeats Festival with performances, music, exhibitions, and tours.

Best things to do in Sligo Ireland
Best things to do in Sligo Ireland
Best things to do in Sligo Ireland
Best things to do in Sligo Ireland
Best things to do in Sligo Ireland

Out of all the things to do in Sligo, wandering around the town was my favorite. I love watching people go about their daily lives and discovering what lies around every corner. It was difficult to stop taking pictures here (and I don’t think I ever put the camera down). If you stay until the evening, visit a local pub to hear traditional Irish music.

Stop at a Cozy Cafe for Lunch or a Coffee

Sweet Beat Cafe

When I visited Sligo, I stopped for lunch at the quaint and cozy Sweet Beat Cafe. Unfortunately, Sweet Beat Cafe closed down in September 2022. However, they remain as a plant-forward online store now offering shipping nationwide in Ireland.

If you are looking for a coffee in Sligo, I suggest checking out WB’s Coffee House, Milligram Coffee, or the Sweet Dreams Cafe. These are all highly rated cafes in Sligo that I’d definitely venture to check out.

If you are looking for vegan eats in Sligo, Sweet Beat Cafe used to be the most vegan-friendly, vegetarian spot in town. While there aren’t any entirely vegan or vegetarian restaurants in Sligo, there are many veg-friendly ones. Try Bistro Bianconi for vegan pizza, Flipside for a veggie burger, Jalan Jalan for Asian street food, or The Glasshouse Kitchen for vegan dishes.

Take a Boat Trip to Lough Gill

If you’re visiting Ireland between July and September, you can add this to your Sligo travel plans. Travel aboard the Rose of Innisfree from the town of Sligo to Lough Gill, a beautiful freshwater lake. This is an hour-long enchanting cruise that transports you from town to this picturesque lake. The spectacular scenery that you’ll witness was much beloved by the poet W.B. Yeats.

Sligo Dark Tales Tour

It’s time to see a different side of Sligo on an evening tour called the Sligo Dark Tales Tour. Learn about Sligo’s dark past and its links to Bram Stoker and the cholera epidemic that inspired Dracula. See tourist attractions and historical sites like Sligo Abbey and Sligo Gaol after dark.

This two hour guided tour is loaded with interesting facts about Sligo’s history leading up to recent years. It’s an intimate, small group tour with a maximum of 15 people. Book your spot on the tour here.

Things to Do in Sligo: Sligo County Museum

Any history buffs visiting Sligo? You don’t want to miss the Sligo County Museum, one of the best places to visit in Sligo. It’s home to a collection of fascinating artifacts that showcase Sligo’s rich history, dating back to the stone age. Notably, there’s a large firkin of 100-year-old bog butter.

For fans of William Butler Yeats, there is an entire room devoted to him. The Yeats Room has manuscripts, photographs, letters and newspaper cuttings, as well as a copy of his 1923 Nobel Prize winning medal. In addition, you’ll be able to admire many magnificent paintings in the museum by Irish artists like George Russell, Sean Keating, and Jack B. Yeats (W.B. Yeats’ brother).

More Things to Do in County Sligo

Things to Do in County Sligo

While you will certainly keep yourself entertained for at least a couple of hours in Sligo Town, there are many more things to do in County Sligo. Sligo County is also known as Yeats County, so you won’t be surprised to see a few points of interest on the list that once inspired this great poet.

If you decide to add on any of these activities to your Sligo itinerary, you may need an extra day or two in County Sligo. While one day in Sligo is perfect, it will take you some time to experience all that County Sligo has to offer.

Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery

Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery

Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery is a six minute drive from Sligo and it’s a fascinating heritage site to visit. It contains the oldest and the densest concentration of Neolithic tombs in Ireland. They were built almost 6000 years ago and there are the remains of over 35 passage tombs in total.

It’s one of the largest stone age cemeteries. Visiting this attraction of the top things to do in Sligo, and it’s a must for your Sligo road trip. This is one of the top ancient sites in Ireland. On top of the cemetery itself, there’s an exhibition about the landscape and its treasures in a restored cottage house on site.

There’s only a small fee for admission, payable in cash only. Please note that the Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery is open seasonally. The exact dates change each year, but it’s approximately open from the end of March to November.

Knocknarea Mountain

Knocknarea Mountain

Knocknarea Mountain is often referred to as “Sligo’s ultimate rock pile”. It’s a 1.2km uphill hike that takes anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes to reach the top. Knocknarea Cairn is located at the top of Knocknarea Mountain, a flat limestone plateau. From the top of the mountain, you’ll enjoy incredible views of Benbulben, Rosses Point and the Atlantic Ocean.

This natural site is thought to be the grave of Queen Maeve from Irish mythology. W.B. Yeats once wrote, “The wind has bundled up the clouds high over Knocknarea, And thrown the thunder on the stones for all that Maeve can say.”

Go Surfing in Sligo

Things to do in Sligo Ireland - go surfing

Did you know that Ireland is an amazing destination for surfing? Ireland has world class surfing on the Wild Atlantic Way. Sligo’s surf coast has the most consistent swell, making it one of the top places for beginners and experts alike. In fact, Sligo’s coastline holds the record for the largest wave surfed in Ireland.

Come and learn how to surf on the Atlantic Coast with professional instructors. You’ll learn how to surf your first wave in a super fun learning environment. They provide all of the necessary equipment, including surfboards, warm wetsuits and boots. Book your surf lessons here.

Devil’s Chimney

The Devil’s Chimney is Ireland’s highest waterfall with a height of 150 meters. It sits on the border of County Sligo and County Leitrim, situated in the Dartry Mountains in the west of Ireland. Its name in Irish, Sruth in Aghaidh An Aird, means “stream against the height”. When the wind blows from the south, the waterfall blows backwards up and over the cliff.

Be sure to visit this one after a rainfall. That shouldn’t be too tough – this is Ireland, after all! It takes about 50 minutes to walk there from the parking lot. Devil’s Chimney isn’t too far from the Glencar Waterfall, so it’s easy to see both in the same day.

Glencar Waterfall

Glencar Waterfall

Another inspiration for Yeats was the Glencar Waterfall. It was featured in his poem, “The Stolen Child”. Located in County Leitrim, the Glencar Waterfall is such a close drive from Sligo that I had to include it in this blog post.

It is a beautiful 50 foot tall waterfall with a small viewing platform. Take a short walk through the forest on a nature trail to reach the falls. It’s one of the best free things to do in County Sligo. You can also embark on the 7km Glencar Hill Walk from the same car park.

Seaweed Baths in Enniscrone

Seaweed Baths in Enniscrone

I never knew that bathing in seaweed was a thing until I travelled to Ireland. Who ever thought it would be a good idea to climb into a tub filled with slimy seaweed? The seaweed baths in Enniscrone are a fun and unique experience to enjoy when you travel to Ireland.

We made a special trip out to Enniscrone, a tiny Irish seaside town with a population of just over 1000. It’s something you must add to your Ireland travel itinerary as you won’t find it many other places in the world. Treat yourself to a traditional seaweed spa at Kilcullen’s Seaweed Baths when visiting Ireland.

Where to Stay in Sligo

Looking for the best hotels in Sligo? I didn’t stay in Sligo myself, but rather visited Sligo as a stopping point between Donegal and Galway in northwestern Ireland. You can make a one day trip to Sligo between both destinations like I did. If you’d like to spend more time in Sligo, I suggest choosing a hotel from the handy map below. Enter your travel dates and click on each property to learn more.

Where to Stay in Donegal Town

Lough Eske Castle

If you’re looking for a place to stay in Donegal, I stayed at Solis Lough Eske Castle. Yes, it’s a real castle turned into a luxury hotel and you’ll feel like royalty as soon as you arrive. Book your stay at Lough Eske Castle or read more reviews by fellow travelers.

Where to Stay in Galway

The Connacht Hotel Galway

In Galway, I stayed at a comfortable, cozy, and affordable accommodation – The Connacht Hotel. While this hotel is just outside the city centre, it includes free parking. It’s perfect for someone driving all over the country. Book your stay at the Connacht Hotel or read more reviews by fellow travelers.

With so many things to do in Sligo, you might find yourself spending more than just a few hours there. I’d love to return someday to experience this picturesque place even more.

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Roger P. Mulligan

Monday 25th of April 2022

Great information - thanks! We're Canadians going to a wedding in England then will car hire for 2 weeks in Ireland this September. Thanks to your page, we've added Sligo to our list of places to go. Our trip is centered around many of the places featured in the photo essay book "In Ruins - The Once Great Houses of Ireland" by Simon Marsden and Duncan McLaren. Should be fun, and we'll try not to get in trouble for trespassing! Thanks again. Roger Patrick Mulligan

Annabel

Wednesday 7th of March 2018

Really enjoyed reading this! My husband oftentimes works in Sligo, reading this makes me realise I should pop over and join him!

Samantha Sparrow

Wednesday 7th of March 2018

I really just need to visit Ireland and soon, and now I'm adding Sligo to my list!. It looks like such a pretty town - especially the colourful houses and riverside walks. The Abbey is particularly impressive, I love seeing structures like that and it is so well restored!

Suruchi

Tuesday 6th of March 2018

As I keep on reading about Ireland, my urge to visit the place keeps on increasing. Walking along the river, wandering around the streets, seeing adorable houses, flowers along decorated bridges will be my favorite things to do. Beautiful pictures.

Dorene

Tuesday 6th of March 2018

I was in Sligo years ago and I completely missed seeing the Sligo Abbey. Great pics. Agree with you that walking around the town is the best part of Sligo (and the people there are lovely) Nice to see there is vegan options there! I had far too many Irish breakfasts there!