15 Places to See and Things to Do in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland

August 7, 2023 Mustafa Natalwala 1929 Views

Enniskillen is a town in the Fermanagh County of Northern Ireland. The town sits on the shores of the Lower Lough Erne and on the bank of river Erne. The best things to do in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland revolve around exploring nature trails, historic castles, and regional culture.

You will get to do a lot of exploration along the shores of Lough Erne. The majority of the best places to visit in Enniskillen, and even around it, are on the shoreline. You should begin Enniskillen sightseeing with the town’s famous castle.

It is the oldest structure in the town. It is also home to museums that tell you a lot about the history and culture of Fermanagh. It will give you a better perspective on all the other things to do in Enniskillen town.

There are also plenty of other castles and estate houses in and around the town. These Enniskillen tourist attractions give you a peek into the life of the rich nobility of the region during pre-modern times.

These are wonderful works of architecture with elaborate gardens, some of the most wonderful things to see in Enniskillen. The interiors are opulently decorated with artworks, sculptures, furniture, show pieces, paintings, and more.

The other aspect of Enniskillen travel is about adventure activities and exploring natural landscapes. You have the Lough Erne, where you can go for all the fun outdoor activities to do in Enniskillen. People can go swimming, kayaking, boating, fishing, paddleboarding, and more. You will find a lot of places to go in Enniskillen for a water-side picnic and day trip. The Lough Erne is also home to the Devenish Island, which has historical Enniskillen attractions.

On either shore of Lough Erne, you will find beautiful landscapes with forests, grasslands, hills, streams, waterfalls, and mountains. One of the top things to do near Enniskillen also includes exploring underground cave systems that are millions of years old.

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Table of Contents

Top 15 Tourist Places to Visit in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland

1. Portora Castle

The castle was built in 1612 by Sir William Cole, the former residence of the Enniskillen Castle. Sir Cole and his family moved to this castle when the previous one caught fire.

Even this castle burst into flames in the 19th century and now lies in ruins. It is one of the best places to visit in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland for the history of its construction and destruction.

Apparently, this castle was turned into by a bunch of students experimenting with gunpowder. You will need an hour from Enniskillen travel to tour the castle ruins.

2. Enniskillen Castle

The history of the castle dates back to 1428 and was built by Hugh Macguire. The castle was an important site of battle during the Irish rebellion of the 16th century.

It is one of the best things to do in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland if you are interested in history and warfare. The castle withstood several battles, sieges, and even a fire.

The castle is now home to Fermanagh County Museum. This museum sheds light on the political and cultural history of the county.

It is one of the first Enniskillen tourist attractions you should visit to put the rest of the trip into perspective. You will need about 2 hours to tour the castle and the museum when you visit Enniskillen.

3. Castle Coole

This 18th-century mansion is one of the finest works of architecture among Enniskillen attractions. The Neo-classical structure focuses on symmetry and balanced proportions.

The castle was occupied by several prominent figures over the years. As you tour the mansion, you will learn about these occupants and their lifestyles. The interior is one of the most beautiful things to see in Enniskillen.

It is filled with incredible furniture, artworks, sculptures, and decorative pieces. You will need an hour or so to explore the mansion.

4. St. Macartin’s Cathedral

Built in 1842, the church is known for it beautiful architecture. It was built over several years. Parts of it included the structure of the 1627 church. The church is also one of the fun things to do in Enniskillen town for its musical artifacts.

The church has a ten-bell system that not only gongs but can also play tunes. It is also home to manual tracker action organs. It is one of the best places to go in Enniskillen to listen to traditional Irish church music.

You will need an hour to explore the cathedral. Do try to plan your visit based on the church’s events calendar.

5. Ely Lodge Forest

This lodge sits in the heart of a 250-hectare forest. It dates back to the 17th century and used to be a summer retreat for nobility. This nature retreat is one of the best things to do near Enniskillen for families.

You can enjoy beautiful nature trails through the forest. Take a boat to explore the Lower Lough Erne or go fishing. It is also one of the best places to visit near Enniskillen for picnics as well. Take 2 to 3 hours to enjoy in the lap of nature.

6. Castle Archdale Country Park

This caravan park also sits on the shores of Lough Erne and is full of fun things to do around Enniskillen for families. You can go for kayaking, boating trips, fishing, nature trails, caravan camping, forest camping, cycling trails, water bike, and so on.

The park also has a golf course and indoor activities to do in Enniskillen for children. You can easily spend half a day exploring the park.

7. Devenish Island

This Island sits in Lough Erne, just off the shore of the town. It is one of the most interesting places to see in Enniskillen for its history. The island is a Monastic Site with a history going back to the 6th century.

It was developed over several years to become the largest parish in the region by the 1600s. Even today you can see ruins of structures going back to the 12th century. You can take a ferry from Trory Point to reach Devenish Island and easily spend 2 to 3 hours exploring it.

8. Lough Erne Boat Tour

There are several points to get on a boat tour for exploring the Lower Lough Erne. There are boat tours for nature exploration, sightseeing, fishing, and more. You can also find lunch and dinner boat tours, which is among the top things to do in Enniskillen for couples. You will need at least 30 to 45 minutes for any of the boat tours.

9. Crom Castle

This country mansion was built during the 17th century and used to be the seat for the Earls of Erne. The stone castle is one of the most magnificent things to see in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland.

You can tour the castle to learn about its architecture and the history of the Earls. It gives you a peek into the luxurious life of nobility during the 17th and 18th centuries. You will need an hour from Enniskillen sightseeing to explore the castle.

10. Marble Arch Caves

These caves have formed over several ages, more than 340 million years back. Now it is an ecosystem of cave systems, rivers, waterfalls, rock formations, gorges, and ancient woodlands.

It is one of the best things to do near Enniskillen if you like exploring the subterranean world. You will get guided tours to see the wonders down under. However, you can also explore nature trails above the caves. The tour stretches for 1.5 km and takes about an hour.

11. Florence Court House and Gardens

This 18th-century estate house was also a residence of the noblemen. You can tour the opulent interiors and the mansion’s architecture. It is yet another one of the Enniskillen tourist attractions that shows the life of affluent folks during the 18th and 19th centuries. The tour also includes the mansion’s garden, surrounding woodland, and parkland.

You will also get to see the blacksmith forge that used to build farming equipments. The gardens is also home to the original Irish Yew tree, which is 250 years old. You need about 2 hours from Enniskillen sightseeing to tour this castle.

12. Cuilcagh Boardwalk Trail

This scenic boardwalk trail is also called the Stairway to Heaven, and rightly so. The trail is surrounded by forest, hills, grasslands, streams, and waterfalls and leads to a beautiful lake. It is one of the best places to visit near Enniskillen for hiking.

The trail is part of Cuilcagh Mountain Park, where you can find many more trails and outdoor activities. The park also has historic sites that trace the activity of Neolithic humans in the area. If you are interested in early history, the site is among the top things to do around Enniskillen.

You will need about 30 minutes to reach the mountain park and another 2 hours for the trail. You can also make a day trip and dedicate 4 to 5 hours for exploring other attractions of the Cuilcagh Mountain Park during Enniskillen travel.

13. Blueway Water Activity Zone

This adventure zone is popular for kayaking, sailing, canoeing, banana-ride, and paddleboarding. You can also get boat tours from here to explore Lough Erne. The zone also offers a variety of outdoor activities to do in Enniskillen such as hiking, nature trails, archery, wall-climbing, and more. You can easily spend a few hours engaging in these activities.

14. The Buttermarket

This market has nineteen shops aligned in a restored 19th-century dairy market. It is one of the best places to go in Enniskillen to shop for souvenirs. The majority of shops sell handicrafts, artworks, and locally produced items. You can spend an hour or so exploring the market.

15. Blakes of the Hollow

This is one of the oldest Victorian pubs in Ireland. The pub has more than 125 years of history and has become one of the most popular places to see in Enniskillen. But, the best way to experience the place is to grab the famous pint of Guinness or an Irish Coffee. Take a few minutes from Enniskillen sightseeing to enjoy this cultural attraction.

If you are looking for more fun things to do in Enniskillen town or around it, check out the sections below. We have put together a complete list of activities and attractions.

Things to do in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland

Monuments, Museums & Historical Places to Visit in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland

Tully Castle
Headhunters Barber Shop and Railway Museum
Enniskillen Castle Museum
Castle Coole
The Inniskilings Museum
St. Macartin’s Cathedral
Tully Castle
Florence Court House
Cole’s Monument
Portora Castle
Devenish Island

Nature & Wildlife Tourist Spots in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland

Marble Arch Caves
Ely Forest
Cuilcagh Mountain Park

Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Spots in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland

Boatyard Distillery
Fermanagh Lakeland Forum
Erne Water Taxi
Lough Erne Lodge
Forthill Park
Boardmeadow

Shopping in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland

Butter Market
Erneside
River Island

Offbeat Places, Tours, & Adventures in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland

Hiking
Cave Exploration
Kayaking
Paddle Boarding
Sailing
Cycling Trails
Boat Tour

Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland

Blakes of the Hollow
Catalina
Horseshoe & Saddlers
Kove
Franco’s
The Moorings
Dollakis
Devenish Bar
The Firehouse
The Golden Arrow
Granny Annies
The Bees Knees
Crowe’s Nest
The Belleek
Pat’s Bar
Ruby Palace
Tully Mill
Cafe St. Angelo
28 At The Hollow
The Village Inn
Little Wing Pizzeria
WV Bar

Where to Stay in Enniskillen?

Here we have listed Top Rated Hotels in Enniskillen. You can check the below-listed hotels for your perfect stay in Enniskillen.

How to Reach Enniskillen, Northern Ireland?

By Air

The Belfast Airport sits about 150 km from Enniskillen and is the closest major airport to the town. You can take rental cars or buses to reach Enniskillen from the airport.

By Road

The closest train station also sits about 100 km away from the town. So buses and rented cars are the only viable options to visit Enniskillen. If you are planning to travel by road, you should head for routes A4, A32, or A46.

By Water

There are no direct water routes to reach Enniskillen. But you can take ferries and water taxis to reach town on the shores of the Lower Lough Erne.

Image Reference

Portora Castle – Kenneth Allen / Geograph.org.uk
Enniskillen Castle – Keith Ewing / Flickr
Castle Coole – Alpha Bravo Foxtrot / Flickr
St. Macartin’s Cathedral – JohnArmagh / Wikimedia Commons
Ely Lodge Forest – N Chadwick / Geograph.ie
Castle Archdale Country Park – Nick / / Flickr
Devenish Island – James Stringer / Flickr
Lough Erne Boat Tour – Caroline Johnston / Flickr
Crom Castle – shrighley / Flickr / Wikimedia Commons
Marble Arch Caves – Purple 10tacle / Flickr
Florence Court House and Gardens – Andrew Humphreys / Wikimedia Commons
Cuilcagh Boardwalk Trail – Caroline Johnston / Flickr
Blueway Water Activity Zone – Barry Jones / PixaBay
The Buttermarket – Kenneth Allen / Geograph.ie
Blakes of the Hollow – John Garghan / Flickr