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Condé Nast Names Sligo One of Europe’s Most Underrated Cities

Sligo has been announced as one of the most underrated cities in Europe by the prestigious travel brand – Condé Nast Travel. This award winning luxury travel website and magazine has a global reach and commissioned on the ground operators to reveal destinations that are truly worth travelling to.

Sligo took its place among esteemed company including Málaga, Tallinn and Verona with special recognition for the natural beauty of Sligo along with its unique cultural rhythm.

The role that Sligo plays in Irish Mythology was noted with tales of Fionn and the Fianna and Moytura. The dramatic landscape was recognised for the inspiration it gave to the Yeats family and the distinctive Sligo style of traditional music was emphasised.

This glowing tribute celebrates Sligo’s “thin places” — where legend, nature, and history intermingle, and where the veil between the ordinary and the magical feels tantalisingly thin.

Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council, Cllr Donal Gilroy was thrilled to see Sligo platformed to such a global audience; “The inclusion of Sligo in this prestigious list of underrated cities in Europe demonstrates what a special place that Sligo is. Visitors to our wonderful county can enjoy the very best of Irish landscape, activities, experiences and culture – all along the breathtaking Wild Atlantic Way.”

Visitors to all parts of Sligo can now get a personalised, bespoke itinerary for their trip by using the award winning Ideas Engine from Visit Sligo. This free digital tool is available on www.sligo.ie

Sligo is a short distance from Ireland West Airport, Knock and easily accessible from Dublin with a frequent train service that departs multiple times each day from Connolly Station.

You can read the Condé Nast article here.

A three-time Olympic gold medallist was among the first guests to explore Sligo’s heritage and landscapes with Ireland in Focus, a new tour company launched by local landscape photographer Ciarán McHugh.

The week-long heritage and photography tour, based out of Temple House Estate, offers visitors an immersive small-group experience uncovering Ireland’s hidden heritage, from sweeping coastlines and ancient tombs to local craft studios.

While designed to showcase the “real Ireland,” Ireland in Focus tours also weave in gentle photography instruction from McHugh, helping guests learn how to better capture their journey, whether using professional cameras or mobile phones.

“My aim was to create something personal and authentic – an experience that lets guests connect with Ireland the way locals do,” said Carney resident Ciarán McHugh. “The tour moves at a relaxed pace, giving guests time to take it all in. Photography becomes a tool for seeing, not just taking pictures. It helps guests slow down and notice the details that make Ireland so special.”

Among the inaugural tour guests was Nancy Hogshead, a three-time Olympic gold medallist and one of the most accomplished female swimmers in U.S. history. Hogshead, now a leading advocate for gender equity and athlete rights, joined the tour as part of her first visit to Ireland.

Speaking after the tour, Nancy Hogshead said: “Every day was unforgettable, one heart-stopping view after another. We watched pottery and iron being forged into art, listened to a harpist during dinner. We listened to the local storyteller regale us with stories of the fairies and local customs”.

The group spent seven days based entirely at Temple House, a 1,000-acre estate that includes a lakeside 13th-century Knights Templar castle. Staying in one location allows guests to unpack once, unwind, and truly immerse themselves in the surroundings.

The tour was also a showcase of local collaboration, bringing together some of Sligo’s most talented craftspeople, musicians, and storytellers. Guests enjoyed exclusive meet-the-makers visits, including a behind-the-scenes look at John Ryan Ceramics and a hands-on demonstration at the forge of master blacksmith Michael Budd.

One of the most memorable evenings at  Temple House saw the haunting Uilleann pipes of Brian Leach drift across the lakeside night sky, guiding guests to a surprise firepit gathering. There, under the stars, the group sipped hot chocolate and listened to ghost and fairy stories told by renowned Mullaghmore storyteller Joe McGowan – an experience that perfectly captured the magic and intimacy of the week.

From private visits to traditional workshops to exploring the wild beauty of the Atlantic coast and ancient sites, each day offered a unique encounter with Irish culture. The tours particularly appeal to senior travellers and solo female travellers seeking meaningful, well-paced experiences with exclusive local access and genuine personal connection.

“Around 90% of our week was spent in Sligo, and we still only scratched the surface,” added Ciarán McHugh. “It’s the total opposite of those big whistle-stop tours that try to cover all of Ireland – you see everything, but experience nothing. Sligo has so much to offer, and what we’re doing proves you can build an incredible experience around one region.”

With Ireland in Focus now fully booked for 2025 and new dates for 2026 soon to open, the company looks set to put Sligo firmly on the map for visitors seeking authentic Irish cultural experiences.

This December, families in Sligo – and visitors from across Ireland – can forget queues in the rain and long drives in the dark of winter: Santa’s Movigloo is here.

Created especially with families in mind, this brand-new immersive Christmas experience marks Hawk’s Well’s very first production at the newly acquired Art Deco Theatre in Ballymote, with 22 magical performances only – designed to make Christmas memories for children and the grown-ups who come with them.

Families step straight inside to magic, music, mischief and movies: Meet Santa in his BIG glowing holiday igloo. Meet their MOViGLOO band, Elf and Safety, who have songs to sing and plenty of mischievous tricks up their sleeves. Relax with a festive film while you wait.

It’s everything in one ticket, one trip – Santa + film + music + gift + photo – all on your doorstep in Sligo.

And getting there couldn’t be easier. Ballymote is just a short train ride away, with kids under 8 travelling free, and the theatre is only a six-minute walk from the station – part of the adventure for families making the trip.

No long queues in the cold, no cross-country travel, no stress. Just cosy, magical memories. In our imaginations, the family adventure of visiting Santa comes with soft falling snow, frosted wonderlands and the perfect Christmas photo.

The reality in Ireland is often very different – biting winds, battering rain, dampened spirits. Movigloo changes all that. Warm, welcoming and full of fun, every moment of the visit becomes part of the experience.

Getting there is easy too! The Art Deco is just a 6-minute walk from Ballymote Train Station, and with free train travel for under-8s, it’s the perfect festive day out for families.

“As a parent, I know the challenge – sometimes the wait can feel longer than the visit itself, or it’s a late drive into the countryside in the dark and in terrible weather conditions,” said Kieran Griffiths Director of Hawk’s Well Theatre.

“We wanted Movigloo to be different: warm, welcoming and joyful, but with all the magic of Christmas. Every minute adds to the magic, not the stress. We wanted to design something which appealed to the child, the parent and the child within the parent.”