County Tipperary is the largest inland county in all of Ireland, bordered to the north by County Galway, County Offaly and County Laois to the north-east, County Kilkenny to the east, County Waterford to the south and the counties of Cork, Limerick and Clare to the west. The county is home to some of the most fertile and picturesque scenery countryside in all of Ireland, with an abundance of archaeological sites and reputation for historical and cultural wealth.

Bordered to the south by the Comeragh range of mountains and by Lough Derg to the north, the diversity of County Tipperary's scenery makes it a favourite haunt of nature lovers and adventure sports fans. It is commonly referred to as 'The Premier County' due to the high feeling of nationalist support in Tipperary. Indeed, the county revels in Thomas Davis, editor of The Nation newspaper's claim that "where Tipperary leads, Ireland follows". This is in part due to County Tipperary’s long and proud history of resistance to English and British rule. Invaded repeatedly since the time of Henry II, County Tipperary was also the site of the first action of the Irish War of Independence in 1921.

Tipperary is the county's most famous town, although contrary to common misconception it is not the capital – the county having been divided into the administrative regions of North Tipperary and South Tipperary − with respective administrative centres at Nenagh and Clonmel. It is nevertheless the most beautiful town in the county, situated on the River Ara between the Galtee Mountains, the highest inland mountain range in Ireland, to the south and the Slievenamuck Ridge to the north, right in the heart of the Golden Vale. Although its medieval fortifications have long since disappeared, its wide avenues radiating out from Main Street give it a charming, genteel air.

The market town of Cahir, most famous for Cahir Castle, is one of the most well visited towns in Ireland thanks to its strategic location on the main Dublin–Cork and Limerick–Waterford roads, as well as the Limerick–Waterford railway line. Thurles is another major town in County Tipperary, located in the heart of the Suir Valley to the south-east of the Silvermine Mountains. It is home of Semple Stadium, the second largest sports stadium in all of Ireland, and the spiritual home of Munster hurling. Indeed, County Tipperary has a long and proud sporting tradition, recognised as the home of the Irish games of Gaelic Football, Handball, Camogie and Hurling. County Tipperary is particularly famous for Hurling as its teams have been champions of Ireland on a regular basis since the 19 th century.