Ballybunion has long been a popular seaside resort attracting great crowds during the summer months. The town has two golden sandy beaches at which tourists can swim, surf and relax. Warm Atlantic waters, night-life,amusement arcades, shopping and dining all combine to make Ballybunion a great holiday destination. The golden sandy beaches and nearby cliffs offer excellent scenery. On occasion one can see porpus and dolphins swimming under the cliffs which are alive with sea birds. There are great examples of sea stacks and sea arches on the coastline.
Beach-side one can see stalls selling salted periwinkles. Collins's Hot Seaweed Baths established in 1932 is situated on Ladies Beach . Lie back in a bath of warm saltwater and seaweed and soak in the softness of the iodine and natural oils of the seaweed released into your bath. The bath owners hand pick the seaweed daily from the “Blackrocks”. Great for aches and pains and tired muscles. Also beach side is the surf school.
On rainy days or just to take a break from the beach there is a newly built swimming pool and gym. Featuring state-of-the-art gym, 3 swimming pools, jacuzzi and sauna. The Tinteán Theatre off Church Road has regular performances, from plays to comedy shows.
Ballybunion has a wide range of quality accommodation to suit all budgets, ranging from hotels and bed & breakfasts to hostels and self catering accommodation. Ballybunion has a nice variety of pubs which are well worth a visit on a warm summers evening or a cold winters one!.
For diners there are a selection of restaurants
Ballybunion is a golf destination in its own right. It has two links courses on a beautiful stretch of sand dunes overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Ballybunion hosted Murphys Irish Open in 2000 and Palmer Cup in 2004. Bill Clinton once came here to play, as well as top golfers including Tom Watson are regular visitors. Shore-line fishing is a popular pursuit and sea fishing trips off the coast are organised on a regular basis. For the freshwater angler, salmon and trout can be found in nearby rivers and lakes. The local equestrian centre is open all year round, offering horse & pony trekking and rides to suit all levels of experience. There treks and trails take you on a tour through diverse scenery of the Irish countryside.