Quirky, Charming, and Slightly Damp: Essential Things to do in Westport

Must-Try Things to Do in Westport (Rain or Shine)

The essential things to do in Westport begin with acknowledging a fundamental truth: all activities come with an implicit “weather permitting” disclaimer that locals have long since stopped noticing. The good news is that whether bathed in rare sunshine or wrapped in mystical Irish mist, Westport’s attractions maintain their magic—sometimes even enhanced by the atmospheric conditions that tourists politely call “authentic Irish weather.”

Pilgrimage Up Croagh Patrick: Where Faith Meets Fitness

Looming 2,507 feet over Westport, Croagh Patrick has been hosting religious pilgrims since 441 AD, when Saint Patrick allegedly spent 40 days fasting at its summit. Today, it hosts an improbable mixture of devout Catholics, hungover college students, and Americans who didn’t read the hiking difficulty rating in their guidebooks. The mountain offers what might be Ireland’s most spectacular views—Clew Bay’s legendary 365 islands (one for each day of the year, though no one has actually counted) sprawl beneath you like nature’s attempt at an archipelago connect-the-dots puzzle.

A typical ascent and descent takes 3-4 hours, requires shoes with actual tread (contrary to what you’ll see from barefoot pilgrims on Reek Sunday in late July), and costs about $6 for parking. Morning climbers are rewarded with golden light bathing the bay, while afternoon climbers are rewarded with the smugness of having waited for slightly warmer temperatures. The surreal juxtaposition of seeing red-faced tourists in high-performance outerwear passing elderly pilgrims in their Sunday best provides a cultural collision worth the climb alone.

Cycling the Great Western Greenway: Railway Ghosts and Pub Stops

Ireland’s longest off-road cycling trail stretches 26 miles from Westport to Achill Island along a former railway line, offering what might be the flattest route in a country that seems allergic to level ground. Bike rentals run $25-35 daily, with shuttle services that allow one-way trips for those who realize halfway that they’ve overestimated their cardiovascular capabilities. The cycle path winds through countryside that appears unchanged since prehistoric times, except for the occasional cappuccino stop.

The Newport to Mulranny segment provides the most scenic bang for your pedaling buck, featuring bay views that will have your smartphone memory full before you’ve reached the halfway point. The trail is punctuated with strategically placed pubs and cafés, as if designed by someone who understood that cycling builds both appetite and thirst. McGreevy’s in Newport pours what locals consistently vote the county’s best Irish coffee—medicinal warmth for cyclists who’ve discovered that “light Irish rain” translates to “horizontal water” in meteorological terms.

Westport House: Where Aristocracy Meets Amusement Park

Westport House stands as one of Ireland’s few remaining historical mansions, with connections to the legendary pirate queen Grace O’Malley that every tour guide mentions approximately 37 times per visit. Built in 1730, the house offers an $15 glimpse into aristocratic Irish life, complete with priceless antiques and portraits of people who would be horrified to learn their home now charges admission. Children pay $8 to be bored by history before becoming unbearably excited by the adjacent amusement park—an architectural juxtaposition that could only happen in Ireland.

The gardens provide photo opportunities missed by visitors rushing through the standard tour. The secret Italian garden, tucked behind a grove of 200-year-old beech trees, offers the perfect backdrop for social media posts designed to make friends believe you’re culturally sophisticated. The house’s dungeon exhibition details Grace O’Malley’s exploits with an enthusiasm that suggests piracy might be Ireland’s proudest tradition after traditional music and competitive drinking.

Traditional Music Sessions: Auditory Time Travel

No list of things to do in Westport would be complete without experiencing the traditional music that serves as the town’s heartbeat. Matt Molloy’s (owned by The Chieftains’ flutist) delivers sessions seven nights weekly, while McGing’s and The Porter House offer slightly less touristed alternatives where you might actually find seating. Sessions typically begin around 9:30pm—early arrival is essential unless standing for three hours appeals to your sense of cultural immersion.

American visitors should understand session etiquette: these aren’t performances but musical conversations. Appreciation is shown through attentive listening and drink purchases rather than applause after every tune. Requesting “Danny Boy” will earn you the same reception as asking for ketchup at a Michelin-starred restaurant. Beyond the obligatory Guinness, try Mescan Brewery’s local craft beers or a West Mayo whiskey flight that will have you contemplating Irish citizenship by the third sample.

Clew Bay Boat Tours: Dolphin Spotting and Island Hopping

The deeply indented Clew Bay, with its crown of drumlins (islands formed by retreating glaciers), deserves exploration from water level. Wildlife tours ($40) spotlight the bay’s dolphin population, who appear with suspicious regularity when tour operators announce that sightings aren’t guaranteed. Island-hopping expeditions ($65) visit Clare Island, where Grace O’Malley’s castle stands alongside a 12th-century Cistercian abbey, creating a historical double feature that justifies both the cost and potential seasickness.

Tours run April through September, with advance booking essential during July and August when visitors suddenly remember Ireland has a coastline. Weather considerations are paramount—a “calm day” by Irish standards might still qualify as “moderate gale” elsewhere. Marine wildlife typically includes seals, dolphins, and occasionally otters, plus seabirds that will photobomb every carefully framed landscape shot. The lighthouse tour on Clare Island offers history with panoramic views that make visitors wonder why anyone would choose such an isolated posting in pre-Netflix days.

Shopping: Handcrafts and Heritage

Bridge Street and The Octagon form Westport’s retail heart, where shops display an impressive array of items that somehow won’t look nearly as charming once they’ve returned to American suburbia. Carraig Donn carries premium knitwear that costs roughly the same as a small car but will last several human lifetimes. O’Reilly and Turpin Booksellers stocks local authors alongside international titles, with staff recommendations that have been known to alter vacation reading plans and, occasionally, life trajectories.

Marlene’s Chocolate Haven produces handmade confections that make excellent gifts for those left behind, assuming they survive the flight without “sampling.” Visitors spending over €75 can claim tax refunds, effectively receiving a government subsidy for souvenir hoarding. Those with limited shopping time should focus on The Quay area, where craft galleries cluster like artistic barnacles, featuring work from local artisans who’ve translated Mayo’s landscapes into purchasable form.

Where to Rest Your Head: Accommodations for All Budgets

Westport’s accommodation spectrum runs from hostels to heritage hotels, with pricing that follows predictable seasonal patterns—July and August command premiums that make Manhattan real estate seem reasonably priced. Budget travelers find clean, centrally located beds at Old Mill Hostel ($50-80/night) or Atlantic Coast BandBs, where full Irish breakfasts frequently constitute both breakfast and lunch. Mid-range options include Westport Plaza ($125-200/night) and Hotel Westport, offering river views and proximity to town attractions without requiring a second mortgage.

Luxury seekers gravitate toward Knockranny House Hotel ($250+/night), where rooms feature canopy beds and views that compensate for Ireland’s general lack of air conditioning. The property’s spa specializes in treatments designed to counteract the effects of hiking, cycling, and enthusiastic pub research. Summer visitors should book 3+ months ahead, particularly for weekend stays when Dublin residents flee the capital for Mayo’s more temperate climate and slower pace. Off-season travelers (October-April) enjoy rates approximately 40% lower, albeit with a higher statistical chance of horizontal rain.

Dining Experiences: Beyond Irish Stew

Westport’s culinary scene has evolved dramatically since the days when “Irish cuisine” was considered an oxymoron. Breakfast standards are set by Cian’s on Bridge Street, where traditional Irish breakfasts come with black and white puddings that require culinary courage from American palates. Café Rua serves artisanal versions of Irish classics using ingredients so local the staff can point to their origin from the front door.

Lunch options include The Pantry for soup-and-sandwich combinations that solve the midday hunger crisis without requiring afternoon naps. Dinner venues range from An Port Mór, where seafood fresh from Clew Bay meets contemporary Irish cooking techniques, to JJ O’Malleys, where traditional dishes receive subtle updates that don’t trigger protests from purists. Local specialties worth trying include Mayo lamb (raised on coastal grass with hints of salt spray) and Clew Bay mussels that taste like they’ve been marinading in the Atlantic’s finest mineral bath.

Day Trips from Westport: Expanding Your Horizons

While the list of things to do in Westport could fill a week, nearby attractions demand attention. Achill Island, Ireland’s largest island connected by bridge, offers dramatic Atlantic cliffs and deserted famine villages that provide somber historical context amid stunning beauty. The 45-minute drive crosses landscapes that transition from pastoral to primeval, culminating at Keem Bay—a perfect horseshoe beach that appears transplanted from the Mediterranean on rare sunny days.

Céide Fields, 90 minutes north, presents the world’s oldest known stone-walled field systems, dating back 5,500 years. The prehistoric farmers who created these fields had surprisingly sophisticated agricultural knowledge and apparently zero concern about the vertiginous cliffs beside their livestock. Ballycroy National Park, Ireland’s only Dark Sky Park, offers stargazing opportunities that remind visitors just how light-polluted their home cities are. The visitor center provides exhibitions on bog ecology that are far more fascinating than the phrase “bog ecology” might suggest, particularly the preserved bodies of ancient Irish nobility extracted from peat bogs.

Seasonal Events and Festivals: Timing Your Visit

Westport maintains a festival calendar that reflects both traditional celebrations and contemporary cultural interests. The Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival in June showcases how thoroughly Irish musicians have absorbed and transformed American musical traditions. The Westport Festival of Chamber Music in September attracts international performers to venues ranging from formal concert halls to atmospheric churches with acoustics that suggest divine architectural involvement.

The Sea2Summit Adventure Race in November draws endurance athletes who apparently find standard marathons insufficiently challenging, adding mountain climbing and ocean swimming to create an event that’s equally entertaining for participants and spectators. Festival periods transform Westport’s accommodation availability from “limited” to “mythical,” requiring booking strategies normally associated with securing Taylor Swift tickets. The upside is that the town vibrates with energy during these events, with impromptu performances and celebrations spilling from designated venues into streets and pubs.