Ballybunion: IDM Award Winner for Ireland’s Best-Kept Secret – Coastal Town Experience

Tucked away on the northwestern edge of County Kerry, Ballybunion is the kind of place that feels like a secret the locals are hesitant to share—and that’s exactly why it won our 2025 IDM Travel Ireland Award for Best-Kept Secret - Coastal Town Experience.

Famous for its championship golf course, Ballybunion offers so much more than 18 holes and coastal winds. This charming seaside town boasts a Blue Flag beach that’s rarely crowded, a peaceful cliff walk (access free across from the Cliff House Hotel)  with views of Virgin Rock and Nun’s Beach, and dramatic nearby headlands like the Bromore Cliffs that rival the Cliffs of Moher in beauty—without the crowds. Add in a picture-perfect town centre and the friendliness of a tight-knit community, and you have one of Ireland’s most underrated gems.

Visitors can kayak along the Atlantic coast, learn to surf at the Ballybunion Surf School, or watch the sun dip over the water after a stop at the Tinteán Theatre, which hosts music, drama, and comedy year-round. Families will love crazy golf and kids' cookery classes at Checkers Café, while adults can savour the view and local hospitality at one of the town’s many welcoming pubs and restaurants.

For non-golfers, Ballybunion Golf Club is still worth a visit. The public can relax in the second-floor restaurant with sweeping views of the Atlantic and world-famous links, or pick up a souvenir in the pro shop—an iconic stop even for those who have never swung a club.

Why We Chose It
Ballybunion isn’t just a stop on the map—it’s a soulful experience. We chose it for its natural beauty, its abundance of family-friendly activities, and its under-the-radar appeal. It’s a place that isn’t trying to impress anyone—and ends up impressing everyone.

That’s why Irish Dancing Magazine includes Ballybunion as a featured stop on our annual summer tour. It may not appear on most international group itineraries, but for us, it’s always one of the highlights.

Plan Your Visit
Learn more at: ballybunion.ie