This Incredible European National Park Is One Of The Best With Spectacular Seaside Views

Ireland's first marine national park is also one of its newest. Kerry Seas National Park — or Páirc Náisiúnta na Mara, Ciarraí — was announced as recently as April 2024. It's the country's largest protected area, spanning over 70,000 acres of rugged coast and Atlantic waters. Situated at the Wild Atlantic Way along the Dingle Peninsula, it delivers some of the continent's most dramatic seaside vistas, where ocean meets sky in dazzling displays of light and biodiversity.

From the iconic Conor Pass — perched at 1,400 feet with narrow, winding roads and jaw-dropping views over Tralee and Dingle Bays — to beaches, reefs, and islands, the park unites land and sea in one breathtaking coastal tapestry. You can expect to see sweeping clifftop panoramas, the haunting stone steps of Skellig Michael rising from the ocean, blanket bogs teeming with alpine flora, and miles of unspoiled dunes and reefs home to rare species like natterjack toads.

The seaside scenery here isn't just pretty — it's immersive. Kerry Seas redefines what a European coastal national park can be. It weaves together world-class nature with cultural stories rooted in monastic stone and island community heritage. (If you prefer waterfalls to ocean cliffs, however, you should check out Oulanka National Park in Finland.)

Kerry Seas is roughly 60 miles from Kerry Airport at Farranfore and a four-hour drive from Dublin. You can fly into Kerry or Shannon Airports, take a train or coach to Killarney or Tralee, then rent a car or hop on a bus to Dingle, Portmagee, or Valentia Island. Many boat tours depart for the Skelligs from Portmagee and Ballinskelligs.

Make sure to visit Skellig Michael, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site where guided climbs lead you to a 7th-century island monastery. Tours typically run from May through September, and reservations sell out quickly, so check boat operators' websites for times, availability, and safety tips. Another essential is Coumeenoole Beach, just past Dunquin on Slea Head Drive. Often hailed as one of the world's most beautiful beaches, it offers golden sand, turquoise water, spectacular views of the Blasket Islands, and even occasional dolphin sightings.

The U.K. coastline makes for some gorgeous waterfront hikes. You can take the Bray Head Loop on Valentia Island at sunrise, explore the Owenmore River Valley, wander sand dunes on Inch Beach, or take a wildlife cruise to spot puffins and gannet at Little Skellig during nesting season (April through August). Get some rare insight into ancient coastal life at Dunbeg Fort, an Iron Age cliffside promontory just south of Slea Head — though erosion has limited access, the visitor center is a treasure trove of information.

The perfect time to visit Kerry Seas is late spring through early autumn when the skies are clearer, seabird colonies are active, boat tours operate regularly, and crowds remain manageable. Late autumn brings dramatic lighting and migrating whales, though it also comes with rough seas that limit boat access.

Accommodations abound in Portmagee, Valentia Island, and Waterville, ranging from ocean-view B&Bs to boutique hotels and guest lodges. Rates typically start around $140 to $170 per night for mid-range bed-and-breakfast stays, while more upscale options can exceed $290 a night during the peak of summer. When you get hungry, seafood is waiting in Dingle Town at restaurants like Fish Box and Out of the Blue — freshly caught and locally sourced.

Make sure you pack for seaside adventures: good hiking shoes, rain-proof layers, swimwear, bug spray, and binoculars for spotting seabirds and whales are all musts. Don't forget to look up tide times before heading to beaches like Coumeenoole, and check boat schedules early to nab a spot on popular Skellig tours. With its seamless blend of beautiful seaside views, ecological importance, and cultural resonance, Kerry Seas National Park stands out as one of Europe's finest coastal parks. Whether you're hiking clifftops at dawn, spotting seals and puffins at sunset, or wandering ancient island ruins beneath a wild Irish sky, this is oceanfront drama at its most spectacular. Or, trade the Atlantic Ocean for the Baltic Sea at Germany's smallest national park, Jasmund.