If you are looking for things to do in Mayo, you are in luck because this county has plenty to offer! Co. Mayo is located in western Ireland, is surrounded by the Wild Atlantic Way, and is home to the largest island in Ireland. Whether you want to travel to Mayo for family fun, adventure, food, or history, this alluring destination in Ireland has something for everyone. So pack your super comfy rain boots, grab your travel umbrella get ready to experience the best that co. Mayo has to offer!

The Ultimate Guide Of Things To Do In Mayo Ireland

Take A Tour And Visit With Birds Of Prey At Westport House

Paying a visit to Westport House is one of the top things to do in Westport! This 300-year-old heritage site was once Grace O’Mally’s castle and is now a treasure trove of Irish history. The grounds are quite large so budget a little extra time if you hope to explore more than just Westport House itself. You have the opportunity to take a tour through the house and can even see the dungeons that Grace used in their original state.

In addition, you may have the opportunity to visit Westport House in Ireland during one of their birds of prey demonstrations. Here you will get to meet various owls and falcons and watch them in action as they fly around the grounds with their trainers. This is a truly special experience for couples, singles, and families alike and one of the most memorable things to do in Westport. We also include it on our Ireland road trip itinerary as it shouldn’t be missed. 

Eat Your Way Around Westport On A Bike Buffet

A bike buffet is one of the best things to do in Mayo because it allows you to taste many different flavors a city has to offer. The food in Ireland is delicious so why settle on just one place for dinner? Instead, stop looking for things to do in Westport and start researching bike buffets [Clew Bay Bike Hire in Westport is the one we rode with]. A bike buffet is exactly what it sounds like.

A bike buffet is exactly what it sounds like. You bike from each restaurant or pub to the next so you can work off your food and enjoy a range of flavors. Don’t worry, the biking isn’t very difficult and is perfect for all ages. When riding on a bike buffet, you stop at four different dining establishments for a memorable evening. Westport is such a wonderful town to visit when traveling to Mayo Ireland.

Best Accommodations And Hotels In Westport Ireland

• The Wyatt Hotel (From $65 per night)
• Kockranny House Hotel (From $120 per night)
• Clew Bay Hotel (From $102 per night)
• Elephant Guest House (From $84 per night)

Ride Electric Bikes On Ireland’s Great Western Greenway

Yes, you read that correctly! You are now able to rent electric bikes and tour the Great Western Greenway in Mayo! Electric bikes do not do all of the work for you, but instead, give you a boost when going up a hill and help you to travel longer distances with ease. You still have to pedal or else they won’t work, but when you get going the experience is one of the most fun things to do in Mayo. Start in Westport and end in Mulranny where you can stay at the Mulranny Park Hotel and enjoy stunning vistas and yummy food.

The electric bike made traveling 18km across Mayo’s Great Western Greenway enjoyable and fun rather than tiring. If you are looking for things to do in Mayo that allow you to get outdoors and enjoy nature at your own pace, consider taking to the Greenway on your very own electric bike! Biking has become one of the most popular things to do in Ireland and you will love the extra help an electric bike provides.

Explore The Pristine Beaches Of Keem Bay

During your time in Co. Mayo make sure you hop on Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way and head out to Keem Bay. It is one of the suggested stops on the Wild Atlantic Way so you know it is worth the extra drive. Keem Bay is located on Achill Island which is the largest island in Ireland. While you are at Keem Bay, make sure to walk around the pristine white sand beaches or climb the nearby cliffs for a view you won’t soon forget.

Go Stand Up Paddle Boarding On Achill Island

You better pack your swimsuit because yes, you really can go stand up paddle boarding in Ireland! Pure Magic Watersports provides SUP, surfing, and kitesurfing trips out of Achill Island. If you are looking for something adventurous to add to your list of things to do in Mayo, consider doing stand up paddle boarding in Ireland! You will get the opportunity to paddle board on the ocean, but if the ocean is too rough, you may be lucky enough to head to a mountain lake. Either way, if you are looking for adventure, paddle boarding may be the perfect thing for you to do in Ireland!

Suggested Achill Island Hotels:

• Teach Cruachan Bed And Breakfast (From $107 per night)
• West Coast House Bed And Breakfast (From $76 per night)

Visit An Abandoned Village On Inishkea Island

The Inishkea Islands were once home to a lively fishing village until tragedy struck and almost all the men of the town drowned in a fishing accident. With no way to sustain themselves, the remaining survivors abandoned the Inishkea Islands and headed to the mainland. The stone structures on the Inishkea Islands have been abandoned ever since. Consider purchasing an affordable drone before you go because Inishkea Island looks super cool from above!

You can charter a boat to ferry you out for one of the lesser known things to see in Ireland. You will be all alone on the island with just donkeys and sheep to keep you company. You could spend hours wandering the large island and all of the stone structures left behind. This is one of those things to do in Mayo where you won’t want to leave your camera behind!

Discover The Unknown Journey Of An Arctic Bouy At The Ionad Deirbhile Heritage Center

A few years ago a man living in Blacksod Bay in Mayo Ireland discovered a random yellow object on the beach near his home. Through a ton of digging, he eventually discovered that it was an arctic buoy used by scientists to measure the environment. It had gotten dislodged from where it had been planted on the north pole and journeyed for years through the Atlantic Ocean until it reached Ireland. His research and story are like something out of a feature film and this undiscovered piece of history in Co. Mayo is a wonderful thing to do in Co. Mayo Ireland. His experience can be seen at the Ionad Deirbhile Heritage Center.

Check To See If Your Ancestors Were A Part Of The Blacksod Bay Assisted Emigration Sailings

In 1883 and 1884 eleven ships embarked on fifteen voyages bringing over 3300 Irish emigrants from North West Mayo to a new and more promising life in the United States and Canada. Unfortunately, many people born from these emigrants are unaware of their heritage. Ionad Deirbhile Heritage Center and the people who live around Blacksod Bay have made it their mission to help find the descendants of these emigrants and help them understand where their ancestors came from. Check the Blacksod Bay Assisted Emigration Database HERE in the event you are trying to track down your ancestors.

Marvel At The Stonework At Deirbhiles Twist

Deirbhiles Twist is a stone circle made up of giant granite slabs that form a circular twist formation. Like Keem Bay mentioned above, Deirbhiles Twist is another one of the “official” and suggested stops along the Wild Atlantic Way. There are exactly 22 stepping stones that lead up to Deirbhiles Twist and it is a part of North Mayo’s sculpture trail. Deirbhiles Twist is one of the things to do in Mayo that is easily accessible for everyone. It can be accessed by a short walk from a parking lot.

Go Coasteering in Ireland And Jump Off Coastal Cliffs

If you have never heard of Coasteering in Ireland you are not alone! Coasteering is the ultimate adventure activity where you suit up in a wetsuit and helmet and swim along the hidden caves along Ireland’s Erris Coast and jump off cliffs into the crystal blue water below. If you can’t swim, that isn’t a problem as experienced guides will help you navigate the rocky coast.You are most definitely going to want to bring a GoPro for cool photos of you jumping into the water! If you are in Bellmullet or in Mayo in general, Wavesweeper Sea Adventures offers epic and affordable Coasteering adventures that you won’t soon forget. Coasteering is one of the more memorable things to do in Mayo, especially if you love adventure and adrenaline!

Best Hotels In Ballina Ireland:

• Great National Hotel Ballina (From $65 per night)
• Ballina Manor Hotel (From $64 per night)
• Belleek Castle (From $150 per night)
• Downhill Inn (From $52 per night)

Drive The Winding Roads Of The Wild Atlantic Way

All of the best things to do in Mayo are connected by Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way. Instead of rushing from place to place, make sure to take the time to explore the Wild Atlantic Way and enjoy the beautiful scenery that it has to offer. The Wild Atlantic Way winds along the coast of County Mayo and wraps around the entire western half of Ireland itself. Make sure to keep your eyes open for sheep in the road!

Explore Mayo’s Ballycroy National Park

Ballycroy National Park is Ireland’s 6th national park and is located in western Co. Mayo. It is home to a massive portion of blanket bog [the bog is 11,000 years old!] and is Ireland’s first dark sky preserve. If you love photography or star gazing, pay Ballycroy National Park a visit at night to enjoy the unspoiled dark sky. Pack a sturdy tripod and get ready for epic Milkyway photos! One of the best things to do in Mayo for both adventure lovers and those who enjoy slower paced activities, Ballycroy National Park offers longer hikes and shorter nature walks from the visitor center.

Don’t forget to pack these items for your trip to Ireland:

What are your favorite things to do in Mayo Ireland? Let us know in the comments! If you have never visited Ireland before, let us know which activity you would love to try!

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A special thanks to Failte Ireland and Tourism Ireland for hosting us in Co. Mayo! All opinions are our own. Please note that affiliate links were used in this post meaning a small portion of a sale may come to us at no additional cost to you. This helps us continue to put out content! Thanks for reading!