Fáilte Ireland has published the definitive list of Ireland’s top visitor attractions for 2013 with the Guinness Storehouse once more topping the bill.

The Storehouse welcomed 1,157,000 visitors in 2013 - an increase of 70,000 visitors on its 2012 performance. Amongst the nation’s fee-paying attractions, the iconic Dublin attraction was followed closely by Dublin Zoo with just over a million visitors and the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience which had a significant 10% boost in visitor numbers thanks to 960,000 paying visitors passing through.
While the National Gallery of Ireland continued to lead the ‘free attractions’ listing, there was a significant new entry to the top ten in that category last year with the Newbridge Silverware Museum of Style Icons entering the top ten listing at number five thanks to the interest of 350,000 visitors during 2013. A breakdown of the top 10 most visited fee-charging and free tourist destinations is outlined below with the total number of visitors indicated below each destination.

Top 10 Fee-Charging Attractions 2013

1. Guinness Storehouse
Dublin 1,157,090

2. Dublin Zoo
Dublin 1,026,611

3. Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience
Clare 960,134

4. National Aquatic Centre
Dublin 858,031

5. Book of Kells
Dublin 588,723

6. Tayto Park
Meath 435,000

7. St Patrick’s Cathedral
Dublin 410,000

8. Fota Wildlife Park
Cork 365,396

9. Blarney Castle
Cork 365,000

10. Kilmainham Gaol
Dublin 326,207

Top 10 Free Attractions 2013


1. The National Gallery of Ireland
Dublin 641,572

2. National Botanic Gardens
Dublin 550,000

3. Farmleigh
Dublin 435,476

4. National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology
Dublin 404,230

5. Newbridge Silverware
Kildare 350,000

6. Science Gallery at Trinity College
Dublin 339,264

7. National Museum of Ireland - Natural History
Dublin 284,323

8. The National Library of Ireland
Dublin 260,152

9. National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History, Collins Barracks
Dublin 251,226

10. Chester Beatty Library 
Dublin 250,659