Day 1 — Begin with Rock of Dunamase, then continue to Emo Court and spend the evening exploring the nearest town.
← All travel guides
County guide
Laois
Wooded hills, elegant gardens and quiet heritage towns in Ireland’s midlands.
ExplorePortlaoise and the Slieve Blooms
Best timeApril to October
Time needed2–4 days
Perfect forCulture, scenery, outdoor adventures and short breaks
Plan your visit
Why visit Laois?
Wooded hills, elegant gardens and quiet heritage towns in Ireland’s midlands.
Don’t miss
Top 20 landmarks and attractions
A curated starting point for planning your time in the county.
- 01Rock of Dunamase
- 02Emo Court
- 03Slieve Bloom Mountains
- 04Heywood Gardens
- 05Donaghmore Famine Workhouse Museum
- 06Timahoe Round Tower
- 07Dunamaise Arts Centre
- 08Abbeyleix Bog Walk
- 09Ballyfin Demesne
- 10Glenbarrow Waterfall
- 11Aghaboe Abbey
- 12Durrow
- 13Stradbally Hall
- 14Mountmellick Museum
- 15Oughaval Woods
- 16Cullahill Castle
- 17Ballaghmore Castle
- 18Gash Gardens
- 19The Heath
- 20Grand Canal Barrow Line
Suggested route
A simple three-day itinerary
Day 2 — Visit Slieve Bloom Mountains before an afternoon at Heywood Gardens.
Day 3 — Combine Donaghmore Famine Workhouse Museum with Timahoe Round Tower, allowing extra time for local food, viewpoints and unplanned stops.
Keep exploring
Discover another part of Ireland.
Browse all 32 county guides and start shaping a trip filled with places worth remembering.
Browse travel guides