20 travel destinations inspired by Lord of the Rings

The Shire – Killarney, Ireland

Though most of The Lord of the Rings travel destinations are located in New Zealand, where Peter Jackson’s adaptations were filmed, or Oxford, where Tolkien once resided, fans who find themselves in Ireland should make it a point to visit Killarney.

Not only is there plenty of natural scenery to take in while visiting Killarney, but there are plenty of pubs to visit during a stay there. And one of these pubs is dedicated to Tolkien’s legacy, despite the fact that it has no history associated with the writer. Dubbed The Shire, the whole pub is structured so that The Lord of the Rings fans can immerse themselves in the world of Middle-earth while drinking and dining.

The Shire is decorated to look like a bar one would find in Middle-earth itself, and it has plenty of memorabilia that fans will find humorous—including a “Do Not Enter” sign that reads “You Shall Not Pass” and features Gandalf.

On top of its atmosphere, The Shire is also known for its menu, which includes numerous items named for The Lord of the Rings. And though adding “Shire” to burger names may not be the most clever usage of Tolkien’s legacy, “The Tower” is a pretty awesome name for a Lord of the Rings themed burger.

More impressive are the shot and cocktail names, which include the “Fires of Mordor,” “Kings of Gondor,” “Smeagol on the Beach,” and the “Mordorita.” Even fans who don’t drink often won’t be able to resist cocktails with names like those.