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Harbour · Dingle, Kerry
Dingle Harbour
Dingle's fishing port, with the boats' quay, the marina, the streets of colourful houses rising from the waterfront and the tour boats that operate on the bay and to the Blasket Islands.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Dingle Harbour
Dingle harbour is at the head of a sheltered bay on the south of the peninsula, and is still an active fishing port, with trawlers, warehouses and a fish auction on the quay. The town grew up around it as a trading port in the Middle Ages, with links to Spain and France, and today it combines fishing with tourism.
On the waterfront are the fishermen's quay, the marina with yachts and pleasure boats, and a promenade that follows the edge of the bay. From the harbour the streets climb uphill, such as Main Street, Green Street and Strand Street, with houses and shops painted in bright colours, pubs, seafood restaurants and craft shops.
In season, usually from spring to autumn, boats leave the quay for trips around Dingle Bay, out to the mouth of the bay and along the peninsula coast, and on some days to the Ilhas Blasket, depending on sea conditions. On the waterfront you can also find the Dingle Oceanworld, an aquarium with Atlantic species and a penguin colony.
The harbour is the centre of the town's nightlife, with traditional music pubs a few steps from the quay. The town usually hosts food and music festivals throughout the year, and a regatta of traditional boats in summer.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
1 hour for the waterfront and the town centre streets; 1.5 to 2 hours with a boat trip.
Best time
In the late afternoon, when the fishing boats return and the light hits the colourful houses. Boat trips operate in season, depending on the sea. At night the pubs have live music.
How to get there
The harbour is in the centre of Dingle, at the foot of Main Street and Strand Street. The bus stop is a few minutes' walk away. There is parking on the waterfront.
Tip
Buy the boat trip directly at the quay and ask about sea conditions on the day. Walk up Green Street at dusk to see the harbour from above, with the colourful houses in the foreground.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Dingle Harbour
Can you see dolphins in the bay of Dingle?
Dolphins and other marine animals sometimes appear in the bay and along the peninsula's coast, but there is no guarantee. Boat trips usually go as far as the mouth of the bay.
Do the boats operate year-round?
No. Trips run in season, generally from spring to autumn, and depend on sea conditions.
What is the Dingle Oceanworld?
An aquarium on the harbour waterfront, with Atlantic species, sharks, turtles and a colony of penguins.