More than 6,000 international travellers were asked to rate the scenery they saw on holiday, and the results put Ireland at the top of the list. The study, conducted by DiscoverCars.com, gave Ireland a score of 9.52 out of 10, the highest among all countries included. Ireland sits next to the UK, sharing a border via Northern Ireland.
Participants rated the views of locations they visited on a scale of 1 to 10, and only responses from international visitors were considered. Destinations that received at least 50 responses were the only ones included in the rankings.
“We wanted to see where in the world has the most picturesque views according to our customers,” said Aleksandrs Buraks, Head of Growth at DiscoverCars.com. “One of the best parts about going on holiday is taking in the sights and scenery that you don’t see every day.”
Ireland's natural wonders
Ireland is known for its cliffs, beaches and lakes, and its scenery proved a hit with survey respondents. The island includes the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom.
In the east of the Republic, the glacial valley of Glendalough in County Wicklow is a popular attraction. South of that lies the Copper Coast of County Waterford, while the famous Wild Atlantic Way stretches along the west.
The Cliffs of Moher are among the most recognisable scenes, having appeared in several Hollywood movies and TV shows. However, they are not the tallest in the country. The Sliabh Liag (Slieve League) Cliffs in County Donegal stand at nearly 2,000 feet, making them the tallest sea cliffs in Europe.
Other notable spots include the Ring of Kerry and Killarney National Park, both offering coastal and mountainous scenery, along with the coastal trails of West Cork. The Burren presents an otherworldly limestone landscape, and Connemara National Park is easily explored from nearby Galway City. In Northern Ireland, the Giant's Causeway and the North Antrim coast are major scenic landmarks.
Top 10 ranking
Ireland's score of 9.52 out of 10 was the highest in the study, beating stiff competition from New Zealand, which placed second with 9.43. Portugal and the United Kingdom were tied in third, while Croatia and Greece shared fourth.
Poland and Italy tied in fifth place, followed by Cyprus in sixth, France in seventh, Spain in eighth, the United States in ninth, and Mauritius in tenth.
“We found that there were several ties in our top 5 ranking, with plenty of locations across Europe making up the majority of the list,” Buraks said. “Ireland took the top spot, though, which is no surprise as the Emerald Isle is full of natural beauty and landscapes that wow visitors.”
