A visit to the centre of the Irish faith, home to archbishops for both the Church of Ireland and the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland, is a must for tourists seeking to discover more about the fascinating story of this incredible country.
The "city of saints and scholars" has plenty to offer visitors, including ancient monuments, beautiful parkland, Georgian architecture and a popular planetarium housing Ireland's biggest telescope. Armagh is also the centre of County Armagh, nicknamed "orchard county" for its many apple orchards, where you'll find some of the country's best rural scenery.
It's hard to miss the two cathedrals, both named after St. Patrick, the Irish patron saint, as they loom high above the Armagh skyline on hills either side of the city centre. You'll want to visit both to get a feel for Armagh's place as the ecclesiastical capital of Ireland.
Located just two miles from Armagh city centre is the ancient monument Eamhain Mhacha, or Navan Fort, one of the most important archaeological sites in Ireland. It holds a special place in Irish folklore, pre-dating the arrival of Christianity, and was used for pagan ceremonies as early as 600BC. Today Navan Fort is a visitor centre with replicas of the buildings that once stood on the site and re-enactments involving its mythical characters.
Armagh Planetarium, part of the Armagh Astropark which also includes the city's 200 year-old observatory, makes another great family day out. It is the leading centre for astronomy in Ireland and boasts a unique scale model of the solar system that can be explored among the landscaped grounds of the park. From here you can also enjoy stunning views of the city.
In addition to the main tourist attractions in Armagh there are many other places of interest to explore during your stay in the city, including Armagh County Museum, the Market Place Theatre and Arts Centre, Armagh Public Library, Royal Irish Fusiliers Museum, and the Palace of Demense, the former home of the Church of Ireland's archbishops set in a beautiful public park.
Armagh is a hub for fine dining in Northern Ireland and boasts several award-winning restaurants, ranging from the traditional to the exotic, and many are nestled in and around the city's Georgian streets. For a lighter bite you won't struggle to find a cafe or deli in Armagh serving dishes cooked from locally-sourced produce.
There are plenty of shops in Armagh to dispose of your spending money, ranging from independent traders and artisan boutiques to a wealth of well-known brand stores at The Mall Shopping Centre.
There is every type of accommodation you could wish for in Armagh, including large hotels, guesthouses, hostels, B&Bs, holiday cottages and charming log cabins and farmhouses.
