If you’re dreaming of lying on a beach right now, you might be picturing yourself on a Maldives atoll, or snoozing on a cove in Positano.
But there’s a stunning spot much closer to home, described as a ‘secluded paradise’ with ‘tropical vibes’.
It’s time to put Ireland’s Keem Beach on your radar.
The beautiful beach, sometimes within Keem Bay on Achill Island, along the Wild Atlantic Way.
It was named in the annual ranking by World’s 50 Best Beaches, coming in at number 7 in Europe, and 48 in the entire world. It beats the likes of Kuramathi Sandbank in the Maldives, and La Pelosa in Sardinia, to claim its spot.
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While the mercury never exactly soars here (visitors can enjoy pleasant average highs of 16C in July and August), its white sand and crystal clear sea have been praised for rivalling more exotic spots.
‘Keem Beach stands out for its raw natural beauty and surprisingly blue waters which resemble those found in more tropical locations,’ reads the list.
Fans of the Oscar winning-film, The Banshees of Inisherin, might also recognise it: Keem Bay is where Brendan Gleeson’s character, Colm Doherty, calls home. The beach at also the setting for the final scene of the film.
What are people saying about Keem Beach?
Keem Beach is beloved by those who have been lucky enough to visit.
The spot has five stars on TripAdvisor, with travellers saying it’s a destination like no other.
‘I have been around this funny old world,’ wrote one reviewer, ‘but I think this was possibly the most beautiful beach I have seen.’
Others agreed: ‘Keem, despite hundreds of visits since early childhood, continues to amaze as possibly my top wonder of the world.’
Over on TikTok, viewers had no idea that such a beautiful gem existed.
‘Wow this is stunning!’ wrote a commenter. ‘Would not have thought this was Ireland.’
However, the one critique visitors have of Keem is that, perhaps unsurprisingly, it gets pretty crowded.
‘It’s a great beach but can get busy,’ wrote a visitor. ‘There is a warden now who does his best to control the traffic and ensure sensible parking which is helpful.’
Another said the traffic was ‘worse than the M50’ while one guest advised people to ‘get there early to avoid the streams of traffic in the afternoon as parking is limited.’
Keem Beach: Need to know
- It’s one of five Blue Flag beaches on Achill.
- There is a lifeguard during swimming season
- The beach is completely free
- Public toilets are available
- Water temperature is pretty chilly, peaking at 16C from July to September
- There is an accessible ramp to get down to the beach, but no accessible toilets
What is there to do at Keem beach?
If simply gazing at your surroundings isn’t enough, there’s plenty to do at Keem.
During the cooler months, you can talk a stroll along the top of the cliffs – there’s a short walk (less than a mile) that ends at Achill Head, the most westerly point of the island.
Or, you can take a trip to Bunowna, a deserted village which used to be a seasonal home for workers that grazed cattle in the summer. Now, you can wander around the abandoned cottages.
In the summer though, the beach truly comes alive with families visiting and splashing about in the cool sea.
For adventurers, book on a tour with Achill Surf. The company provides kayaking and surfing lessons – they even offer five day summer camps for children aged nine to 17.
There’s also some pretty impressive wildlife to be seen at Keem – in particular, sharks. Not the scary kind though.
Tourists flock to see basking sharks, the second largest shark after the whale shark. The so-called gentle giants are often spotted around Achill Island in the warmer months and, thankfully, are generally friendly towards humans and boats.
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