trip round ireland

Find cheap flights to Ireland from $179

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Cheapest round-trip prices found by our users on KAYAK in the last 72 hours

Good to know

Faqs - booking ireland flights, which additional cities can travelers visit after flying into dub airport from the us.

From the US, you can swiftly fly to Ireland and then explore a number of additional cities near DUB Airport. From DUB, it is simple to go to surrounding cities including Rathcoole, Blanchardstown, Dunboyne, and Leixlip. To reach these cities from DUB Airport, you can take a taxi, a public bus, or even use a rented car.

Which airport should I use if I wish to participate in sports in Ireland?

Sports lovers from the US should consider flying into Shannon Airport (SNN) when visiting Ireland. This airport is close to a lot of athletic grounds, notably the Tallaght Stadium. More so on weekends, visitors from SNN Airport get the chance to cheer for their favorite neighborhood teams in this stadium. These stadiums also host significant European matches and championships, making them a popular arena among soccer fans.

Are there amenities for pet owners on the USO-IE0 flight route?

Yes. When flying to Ireland, passengers using the USO-IE0 flight route shouldn't be concerned about the security of their pets. The majority of US airports that provide international flights to Ireland, including SLC and SWF Airports, have a pet-friendly policy that permits visitors to enter the airport with their four-legged companions. The basic regulation in most US airports serving flights to Ireland is that all pets must be leashed at all times, with the exception of when they are using the pet relief areas.

How can travelers who plan to fly to Ireland on the earliest flight get to SWF Airport?

Staying at a nearby hotel is the most effective strategy to catch the earliest flight from SWF Airport to Ireland. The Homewood Suites by Hilton Newburgh-Stewart Airport is one of the accommodations that should be taken into account in this situation. Travelers can easily reach SWF Airport on foot as it is only 980 meters away.

Do I need a visa to travel to Ireland?

Citizens of the US and of the Eurozone do not require visas in order to fly to Ireland. Permanent residents of the United States and all other residents plus foreign nationals who desire to visit the country should check with their local embassy or consulate to see if they need to apply for one before they travel.

Should I purchase euros before or after I arrive in Ireland?

All three of the major international airports in Ireland are well equipped to handle currency exchange transactions and there are also plenty of ATMs if needed, so it is really an individual decision. However, many passengers tend to purchase foreign currency after they arrive at their destination.

If I wish to visit Donegal, which airport should I use?

Donegal is the northernmost county in the Republic of Ireland and if you wish to visit, you can use Dublin Airport as the destination for your flight from the US to Ireland since it is the closest of the major airports in the country.

Can I get a nonstop flight from the US to Ireland?

Yes, you can get a direct flight from the US to Ireland, however, the only nonstop flights from the US to Ireland depart from cities along the US East Coast including New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia (PHL). Among the airlines providing nonstop service are Aer Lingus, the Irish national airline, and Finnair.

How long is the flight to Ireland?

An average nonstop flight from the United States to Ireland takes 9h 58m, covering a distance of 3990 miles. The most popular route is New York - Dublin with an average flight time of 6h 30m.

What is the cheapest flight to Ireland?

The cheapest ticket to Ireland from the United States found in the last 72 hours was $375 one-way, and $280 round-trip. The most popular route is New York John F Kennedy Intl to Dublin and the cheapest round-trip airline ticket found on this route in the last 72 hours was $431.

Which airlines fly to Ireland?

British Airways, Aer Lingus & American Airlines fly the most frequently from the United States to Ireland.

What are the most popular destinations in Ireland?

Based on KAYAK flight searches, the most popular destination is Dublin (90% of total searches to Ireland). The next most popular destinations are Shannon (8%) and Cork (1%). Searches for flights to Knock (0.1%), to Milltown (Kerry) (0.1%) and to Donegal (0.1%) are also popular.

How does KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy?

KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a given destination and date is likely to change within 7 days, so travelers know whether to wait or book now.

Top tips for finding cheap flights to Ireland

Enter your preferred departure airport and travel dates into the search form above to unlock the latest Ireland flight deals.
Travelers with limited mobility can take advantage of a variety of specialized services at the New York Stewart Airport (SWF) when flying to Ireland. Parking facilities at this airport feature areas designated specifically for vehicles with disabled occupants.
As travelers wait for their flights from the United States to Ireland, airport lounges are generally regarded as one of the best locations to unwind. Most economy passengers using Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) to fly from the US to Ireland opt to relax in the Delta Sky Club before they take off.
Travelers who plan to go on vacation in Ireland from the US with their kids should consider flying aboard Norwegian Air International from New York Stewart Airport (SWF). This airline serves direct flights from SWF Airport to Dublin Airport (DUB). Use of direct airlines will ensure that you take the shortest time possible from the US to Ireland, which reduces the likelihood of your kids getting weary before reaching their destination.
Consider the idea of staying close to DUB Airport if your aircraft from the US is slated to land in Ireland at night. When travelers arrive at DUB late at night, one of the nicest and closest locations to stay is The Maldron Hotel Dublin Airport. Being one of the nearest hotels to DUB, this hotel is just 1.1 kilometers away and is easily accessible by foot for travelers.
The majority of travelers who want to take the shortest time possible from the USA to Ireland should consider departing from either New York Stewart Airport (SWF) or Philadelphia International Airport (PHL). These are the major airports in the US that serve as hubs for airlines offering direct flights to Ireland.
If you are planning a flight from the US to Ireland, you will most likely arrive at one of the three major international airports in the Republic of Ireland: Dublin Airport (DUB), which services the eastern counties, Cork Airport (ORK), servicing the southern counties, and Shannon Airport (SNN), serving the western counties.
Although Dublin Airport and Cork Airport rank ahead in terms of passenger traffic, Shannon Airport is the most centrally located of the three and, therefore, it allows for greater access to the interior and western counties. It is also an excellent staging point for exploring the Aran Islands off the coast of County Galway.
Flying into Dublin Airport puts you in the nation’s capital and allows for exploration of County Wicklow, County Kildare and County Meath, whereas Cork Airport provides excellent access to County Cork, County Kerry and County Limerick.
The Heartland of Ireland, which includes the counties of Roscommon, Tullamore, Mullingar and Offaly, lies midway between Dublin Airport to the east and Shannon Airport to the west, so a flight into either one should provide ready access. However, you are more likely to get better public transportation out of the capital city of Dublin.
If you’re looking for inexpensive, nonstop flights to Dublin, Ireland, why not consider flying aboard Norwegian Air International from New York Stewart Airport (SWF)? Located about an hour outside of Manhattan in Orange County, it’s a good alternative to the hustle and bustle of Newark Liberty Airport (EWF) and JFK Airport in addition to being only a short train ride away.

Top 5 airlines flying to Ireland

Delta is one of the best airlines I have flown

Made the Atlanta to Pittsburgh trip many times, with Delta no issues

I always fly with Delta. My friends tell me their horror stories of flying with other airlines. I just smile and say, “You should fly Delta”

I'm a larger, athletic guy (6'2", 260lbs powerlifter) and I found the seats incredibly uncomfortable with minimal leg room, especially in a window seat. Now, I full understand that being smaller may change my view but even if I was 80lbs less, my legs would be the same size and I was sandwiched between my seat and the seat in front of me.

Horrible. This was not first class. This was a connecting flight whi h was late. My original flight never came. I hated the fact that delta gave me a connecting flight from New York to Orlando Florida. No meals and the television screens were not working. There wasn't even any power to charge your phones. This is NOT FIRST CLASS DELTA!!! Do better next time!

This flight was ridiculous. I had to have a connecting flight from New York to orlando Florida??? The flight left late and because it was a short flight there was no first class amenities. I had one alcohol drink. The flight crew was fine, but it sure did not feel like first class. Delta to me dropped the ball by giving me a connecting flight. By the time we got to Raleigh we would have missed the next flight. Lucky for me the flight never came so now I was stuck waiting for a later flight that came in late also.

Our flight was delayed in Atlanta. The staff could have gave us an explanation for the delay and how long it would be.

I liked the ease of checking in, luggage check in, wheel chair assistance, boarding and flight.

On my way home I had a layover. The flight from ATL to CLT was amended 5x while I was waiting. I could have driven home sooner. Overall from Dallas, Tx to Charlotte, NC I started my trip at 4:30pm, I didn’t get home until past midnight. I know things happen, but 5x to make me run back and forth in an airport from different terminals is excessive. I also upgraded to comfort + , I didn’t feel it was worth it. There was no benefit

Nothing beats ANA customer service on my opinion. Maybe because of their Japanese culture (and food). Arigatō

So so. Terrible aircraft choice for that leg of the flight.

Due to one crew member not showing up to work, our flight was significantly delayed causing us to miss our connecting flight in Houston to Mississippi causing us to be delayed by more than 6 hours and missing our event all together. Very disappointing. All because ONE crew member called in sick. United did grant us a $15 meal voucher, which was a small but appreciated concession that I wasn’t able to use because I ordered my lunch and paid for it before applying the concession, and the staff said it was too late to use it. Ugh! We also had a TWO delay coming back from Mississippi, but that was on American Airlines and it was due to weather, so not their fault. Anyway, not at all impressed with United’s handling of our flight and the HUGE disappointment of missing our important family event for our 90 year old mother. All that money and all that stress and emotions for nothing. Having to wait the hour to bring an employee from LAX seemed like something that should not have happened. Why don’t you have a local back-up? Santa Ana is not a little airport in a rural area.

Flight delayed from Cape Town to Washington then got diverted to miami and in miami we had to fend for ourselves , im still trying to get to Shreveport now

delay several times and wait extra long to board. no entertainment service because there are problem for some rows. always encounter some delays for the last flight of the day.

I just wrote a text which was supposed to be for the flight from Denver to spokane not Frankfurt to Denver.

On time every leg of the journey and exceptional staff at counter, gate, and on board. I haven’t travelled in US for a long time and was genuinely surprised how pleasant this was.

Hated every minute of it. This flight should have only taken 1.5hrs but was delayed over 10hours. Now I am being told I cannot be compensated or refunded my ticket price or extra leg room, which I purchased but did not receive, because the airline is throwing the blame on the 3rd party I purchased tickets through and 3rd party putting the blame on airline. No one wants to help. They received their money and that's all they care about. Im going on 3 days of still trying to get to my final destination, had to cancel car rental, car insurance and hotel. Currently staying in airport until hotels open up. Thank you Lufthansa, Kayak, Underpricer and United for making this trip the worst ever.

The delays (5 hrs) were a comedy of errors, and the multiple safety issues encountered were very concerning.

flight delays, staff only communicating when pushed, food service lasting a grand total of 7 minutes, stuck in seat from 45mins into flight until landing

Just get Economy Plus for international flights, so worth it the extra room, bigger seats…

This flight is frequently delayed. The connections seemingly are more frequently delayed. I’ve missed connections as a result twice on the same route to charlotte then Charleston. Final destination arrival has been the next day, twice in a row. No pilots, no crew. Too many excuses. Unfortunately, my days with American are over.

Entertainment was okay not because anything was wrong but it is a short flight so having no wifi is annoying but understandable. Crew was outstanding as usual

It was spectacular. I had basic Economy and was given so much space and their seats lean back so far. Staff was superb, food was superb, everything was superb, Finnair is Fantastic.

Those seats were way too narrow. I had the middle seat, one person was a very skinny person and we still couldn’t avoid touching each other anytime one of us moved. The other person was larger and we were basically sitting in each others lap the entire flight. There was zero entertainment. The flight was long enough to justify tvs, but no. Gotta sit there in your infant seat and twiddle your thumbs.

The Flight attendant had an attitude and didn't allow anyone any time to prepare for landing despite being absent throughout the entire trip

Flight boarded without pilots. Sat on plane for 3 hrs. after over an hour late boarding. Plane never took off. Had to deplane near midnight. Line for rebooking was 3 hours + long. I had to leave.

The flight was great but board was a nightmare. The gate was changed 4 times during the layover period

The experience was great and much better than the flight going out. of course I was in first class but the service was excellent

Cold air blew constantly on my legs almost making me numb.

I loved how they arrange boarding (starting with people seated in back and moving to the front). Flight crew was very polite and welcoming. Seating was ok, I felt like there was enough leg space however it is noticeable when the passenger in front of you sets their seat back.

Flight staff very friendly and helpful where possible. Late flight and travelling with young child, cabin lights remained on for the duration of the flight which was a little disappointing considering the time of the flight. Overall very happy to travel with Aer Lingus.

Nice to be on a flight that wasn't fully booked so there were only two of us in the three seat row.

The only problem was there are games on the entertaiment system. The guy behind me played poker the entire time and poking the back of my seat. I hope they remove these.

Delayed due to weather... fine. But then the board us. Rows 15 and back had to go down the stairs and back up the back stair entrance to the plane. No assistance offered. Then they inform us that we are delayed for paperwork for an hour. So why did we board? Then, about 45min later they inform us that it'll be another 60-90mins. Really? No wifi, no seat entertainment, no drink or snacks offered. And we were not allowed to deboard.

Great travel. Wonderful experience. Hope to do it again in the near future. God willing

Aer Lingus doesn't have plug ins for devices at each seat. They also did not give me a dairy free meal as requested and confirmed by staff. It was as if I had not requested anything. Otherwise, they were great!

There were a lot of empty rows. As a single passenger I should not have been seated with 2 others. The WiFi didn’t work. The Kosher meal was awful.

Both flights were delayed due to maintenance issues. Because they where late boarding all four of our bags where left behind on our last connecting flight.

Aer Lingus interior is not the cleanest. I've seen crumbs on the seat and wrappers on the floor when I boarded

Excellent! Great flight attendants, good food (in business class, at least), very comfortable. Touchscreen and remote wasn’t great.

In economy and food was ok, but with limited leg space (and I was in a 2 seat configuration) it was difficult to eat with a tiny seat tray. I spilt wine on my trousers. First time on British Air (I usually fly Turkish Air) and in a 777. Heathrow was pleasant but changing terminals awkward.

Starting with the flight Cairo to London the plain was so poor no entertainment at all uncomfortable seats although it’s 5 hours long,then an American airline plain took me from London to Miami it was a bad experience the crew most of flight time not available and they asked us to help our selves for any snacks if we need. From Miami to London actually was perfect flight with a huge plain and perfect crew but from London to Cairo was horrible plain with stiff fixed seats not movable no entertainment or wi fi very poor Menu which is unacceptable for a business class

I've done hundreds of flights in my life, and this flight was one of the best I've ever taken, From beginning to end, everything went smoothly, professionally, and with a smile and friendly attitude from all employees I interacted with. The food was delicious (and free), as were the drinks. There was just a genial and effective way in the way that British Airways organized the flight -that reminded of days in the 70's, 80's, and 90's, when flying was a fun, and exciting adventure. I enjoyed and had confidence in the abilities of the flight crew, I'll be flying British Airways several more times this summer. Thank you so much for the great experience! Cheryl Olso

My baggage did not arrived with me. Took 3 days to get it after so may calls and follow up

Terrible! I missed my flight to my final destination and British airlines and American Airlines keep pointing fingers on each other’s. Nobody wants to take responsibility

Terrible. Flight was 3 hours delayed and I missed my other flight to my final destination

Overall, terrific service, accommodations, and experience. Only reason comfort was rated lower was because it was difficult to keep a comfortable sleeping position for the overnight flight, but I also had an economy seat.

Not sure if the crew were experiencing something unknown to me,but the service of passing water was non-existent.In addition,please take consideration when providing yogurt as alternative for breakfast as some of us, could be lactose intolerant.. thanks

Very cramped seats in economy, difficult to get comfortable with your legs and feet and back. The seat width is ok but I’m average size. Food is HORRIBLE. Crew is friendly. Delays and very tight connections made it tough for navigating. We would have missed our connecting flight if it wasn’t delayed too. The terminal transit was slow and normally every 10 minutes before 8pm, after 8 pm is every 30 minutes!!!!! No free wine or drinks!! Below average attitude.

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The Ultimate Ireland Road Trip Itinerary and Travel Guide

Last Updated: February 5, 2024

The ultimate guide to planning an epic Ireland road trip itinerary!

We’ve been lucky enough to explore countless countries, and it’s fair to say that it takes a lot to impress us.

But when we visited the Emerald Isle and explored the country on a two-week Ireland road trip, it honestly took our breath away.

Ireland boasts a rugged coastline, rolling pastures, picturesque lakes, quaint villages and some of the friendliest people we’ve ever met.

It also has more pubs per capita than any country we’ve ever travelled to, and we knew that was going to help cement Ireland in our list of favourite countries ever.

When we found out we were heading to Ireland in October to speak at the TBEX Europe conference we decided to rent a campervan and do an epic road trip around the country.

Ireland had been at the top of Alesha’s list of must-visit destinations since she was a kid, and we couldn’t be more excited to finally explore the European nation.

Having travelled in a campervan around Canada, Australia and Chile we knew that it was definitely the best way to see a country, and with the stories we had heard from travellers about the landscapes in Ireland we were sold on the van life.

After some research we found out the best campervan company in Ireland is Bunk Campers , and we decided to get something a bit more luxurious for our journey.

All the campervans we had owned or rented over the years were just basic vans, with a small bed and tiny kitchens.

This time we rented a fully kitted out campervan, and it was nice to have luxuries like running water, hot showers, a toilet (only number ones!!!) , a heater (so good on those cold mornings) and a dining table to sit at.

Once we picked up our campervan in Dublin we had two weeks for road tripping Ireland the best we could.

Of course two weeks is nowhere near enough time to see everything on a road trip in Ireland, but we were lucky that we had about eight days beforehand as well to see more of Kerry County, Dublin and Ireland’s Ancient East.

What we did see though made us fall in love with Ireland even more, and we’re already making plans on returning in the near future for a longer trip.

Here’s our guide, including tips, highlights and our full Ireland road trip itinerary.

Table of Contents

The Ring of Kerry

Ireland’s ancient east, donegal’s wild atlantic way, loop head peninsula, the giant’s causeway, achill island, the ring of beara, day 1 – dublin to wexford (150km), day 2 – wexford to cork (190km), day 3 – cork to kenmare via the ring of beara (200km), day 4 – kenmare to killarney via the ring of kerry (140km), day 5 – killarney, day 6 – killarney to tralee via dingle (160km), day 7 – tralee to lahinch via loop head (160km), day 8 – lahinch to galway via doolin (100km), day 9 – galway to achill island via kylemore abbey (200km), day 10 – achill island to donegal via ballina (220km), day 11 – donegal to londonderry via slieve league and malin head (250km), day 12 – londonderry to belfast via the giant’s causeway (190km), day 13 – belfast, day 14 – belfast to howth (or dublin) via newgrange (180km), want to save this for later pin it, 8 highlights of our ireland road trip.

Our Ireland road trip was an incredible experience, and we really fell in love with the country after our 2 weeks driving around.

We even took a quick trip into Northern Ireland (which is actually a part of the United Kingdom) , and we’re glad we did, as it added some other great stops into our itinerary.

From the famous Giant’s Causeway to the Kerry Cliffs, exploring the history of Ireland’s Ancient East to walking through the Dark Hedges, these are the highlights of our Ireland Road Trip.

Want to know where to go on a road trip in Ireland? Read on…

Dark Hedges Game Of Thrones Northern Ireland Road Trip Campervan

Arguably the best driving loop in the entire country, the Ring of Kerry starts off near Killarney in the southwest of the country and takes in the beautiful coastal scenery of the Iveragh Peninsula.

If you leave from Killarney the Ring of Kerry is about 214km long, not including all the detours, but every single kilometre of that is an absolute joy.

Check out these epic day tours and activities you can do in Killarney !

Head in a clockwise direction from Killarney, straight to Kenmare and then onwards to Sneem. This is to avoid the tour buses, which are forced to drive in an anti-clockwise direction.

Every time you see a photo opportunity make sure you grab it! The landscape is out of this world, and ranges from sprawling farmland to lush forest, with jagged mountain peaks and a dramatic coastline topping it off.

The highlight is the Kerry Cliffs near Portmagee, with towering rocks dropping spectacularly into the sea, and you can even see the famous Skellig Islands in the distance on a clear day.

If you have the time, and the weather is nice, make sure you take a trip to the Skelligs, home to puffins and landscapes that can be seen in the latest Star Wars movie.

The Ring of Kerry roads are extremely narrow, so make sure you drive with care.

While the rest of the country boasts a world class coastline and jaw-dropping landscapes, for those with a love of culture and history then Ireland’s Ancient East is a destination where one day can easily turn into seven.

You can begin your journey in this fascinating area with a night (or more) at Waterford, delving into the Viking history that has been around for over 1000 years. Don’t miss out on the King of the Vikings virtual reality exhibition!

Head to Wexford and take a tour of the Dunbrody Famine Ship Experience. This authentic, interactive exhibition of what it was like to travel in an immigrant ship (complete with the actual Dunbrody ship!) back in the 1700s is absolutely remarkable, and while we are usually dubious of recreations, this was world class!

Enniscorthy is a gorgeous heritage village that was also home to centuries of sometimes tragic history.

The castle is well worth visiting, but don’t miss out on the views from Vinegar Hill, which was actually the location of a fierce battle between British and Irish soldiers in 1798.

Hook Lighthouse is the oldest operational lighthouse in the world, and if you’re looking for an iconic photo you’d be hard-pressed to find a better place than here.

By far the best attraction in Ireland’s Ancient East is the Irish National Heritage Park .

This sprawling venue has been built to showcase more than 9000 years of Irish history. Kids and adults alike will be completely entranced by walking around the traditional dwellings that have been recreated on the grounds.

Passionate actors share stories of what it was like to live in the times when humans first settled in the Emerald Isle, and the hardships endured over the years.

To complete the experience don’t miss out on a traditional Viking dinner in the restaurant. Expect ribs cooked underground on coals, hearty soups and fresh bread, all washed down with craft beer!

You’ll be required to dress up in old-fashion clothes as well, but don’t worry about the quality of food – it’s absolutely impeccable, and much healthier and tastier than would have been found back in the day.

The entire west coast of Ireland has become known as the Wild Atlantic Way , and the slick marketing campaign by the tourism board isn’t without just cause – It’s absolutely phenomenal, and should be the main objective of any Ireland road trip.

One of the more incredible, yet often skipped, areas of the country is Donegal County up in the far north of the Republic of Ireland.

The town of Donegal itself is enjoyable, with some great pubs, cafes and restaurants to keep you entertained, but it’s only when you hit the coast that you start to see the county’s true potential.

Slieve League is the main attraction, with its marvellous hiking trails that offer stellar views over the Atlantic Ocean and cliffs that almost rival the ones found in Kerry.

The drive out to Meencarrick is superb, and it is one of the nicest coastal routes in the country. Don’t miss driving out to the headland for some hiking next to the cliffs.

The entire length of ocean roads in Donegal is great, but make a special detour to Malin Head, the northernmost point in the Republic of Ireland (even further north than Northern Ireland).

It will be super windy, but the views are great and the bucolic roads to get there are alone worth the trip.

In the list of big attractions in Ireland, the Cliffs of Moher are right near the top. These soaring, vertical rock faces tumble into the sea, and stretch for kilometres like an impenetrable barrier against the Atlantic.

They are also supremely crowded with tourists.

Instead head a bit further south to the Loop Head Peninsula, where you can find similar landscapes and scenery with no entrance fee charged, and almost nobody else to get in the way.

You won’t find fences here either. If you want to walk right up to the edge of the cliffs, you can (just be careful).

If you have time, do both. But if you just want to choose one, skip the Cliffs of Moher and instead hit up Loop Head Peninsula.

Although the Giant’s Causeway is actually in Northern Ireland, it is still one of the best places on the Emerald Isle and should not be missed during your road trip itinerary.

Thousands of basalt, hexagonal columns rise out of the sea creating one of the most magnificent geological environments in the United Kingdom.

Legend has it that a giant built the Causeway as a path to connect Ireland with Scotland so he could take part in a fight, and if you use your imagination you can almost picture the columns forming a bridge between the two nations.

Walking around the Giant’s Causeway can easily take a few hours, with plenty of great photo opportunities and even some hiking trails around to occupy your time.

The audio tour that can be purchased from the wonderful visitors centre tells the legend, geology and history of the Giant’s Causeway, and is worth the price.

If you’re trying to keep your costs down though you can actually visit the Giant’s Causeway for free. Park in the closest town and hitch or take a bus to the site, then walk around the visitors centre.

When we were driving around Ireland we met one or two people that had mentioned a place called Achill Island, but it never came up as a ‘must do’ in our conversations.

Still, when we realised it would only be a short detour to check it out, we decided we had nothing to lose by making the visit.

It was one of the best decisions we made.

Achill Island is an absolute delight, and boasts ridiculously beautiful beaches, wonderful headlands, quaint fishing villages and fun adventure activities to enjoy.

After crossing over on the bridge we drove to the end of the road, and couldn’t believe the kind of views that surrounded us.

Sheep wandered on the steep farmland with an impossible ocean vista rolling out in every direction. Hills climbed all around us, offering great hiking for those feeling active.

We ended up watching sunset from a water reservoir that looked out over the whole town of Keel, and finding a place to camp next to an inland lake close by.

With more time you could rent some surfboards or kites and hit the ocean, or head up into the mountains for some trekking.

When we return to Ireland we’ll definitely be giving Achill Island a bigger portion of our schedule.

The Ring of Kerry is the go-to for road trips in Ireland, but the nearby Ring of Beara is just as beautiful, without the people.

Just like its neighbour, the Ring of Beara is a coastal loop that takes in the absolute best vistas of the Beara Peninsula.

You’ll find sheep grazing on pastures that butt up against the ocean. The roads twist and wind like a snake weaving through a field, and requires a lot of concentration to navigate.

Unfortunately the weather was quite bad on the day we did the Ring of Beara, but even then whenever we did get a glimpse of the landscape we were absolutely blown away.

Stonehenge might be the most famous Neolithic site in the United Kingdom and Ireland, but it definitely isn’t the oldest.

Only a few hours north of Dublin is the spectacular Newgrange archaeological site; a huge, circular stone structure that was built over 5200 years ago as a passage tomb and temple.

Approaching Newgrange is not what you would expect. It is surrounded by farmland, and you can see cows and sheep walking around just on the other side of the fence. But the site itself is wonderful.

The main tomb takes up over an acre of land, and stands 15m tall with an 85m diameter. It’s part of a larger complex as well, surrounded by other tombs named Knowth and Dowth.

One of the most remarkable things about Newgrange is that the entrance passage is aligned to let in a beam of light during sunrise during the winter solstice.

Guides can show you this phenomenon at any time of year though using flashlights.

You must head to the Visitors Centre to purchase your tickets first, which is actually a bit far away from the Newgrange site.

They offer free bus transport with your ticket from the Visitors Centre to Newgrange, but we recommend taking your own car to the site.

We didn’t know you could do this and spent almost 2 hours total waiting – not because of crowds, but because that was just the way the bus schedule worked. Save yourself the headache and drive your own car to the site.

Ireland Road Trip Itinerary

We ended up renting our campervan to try and find the best Ireland road trips for two weeks and managed to see a lot of the country.

However it did end up being a bit rushed, and you could easily extend this to a month if you wanted to do all the amazing side trips and hiking excursions around.

This is the exact itinerary that we followed, although where possible we’ve given alternatives that might be worth spending the night in.

Our trip was plagued with storms and a hurricane (yes, a hurricane), so we had to skip a few things.

We don’t mention many places to stay, because most of the time we slept in our campervan, and you can find your own spots along the way, or stay in any one of the dozens of epic B&Bs in the country .

We’ll definitely be adding to our list once we do our next Ireland road trip.

Once you’ve picked up your campervan in Dublin (and of course visited the Guinness Storehouse, which is a must see) head out of the city aiming for the town of Wexford in Ireland’s Ancient East.

The drive itself won’t be overly beautiful, but chances are you’ve picked up the rental in the afternoon and the goal is to just get out of the city.

In Wexford and the surrounding area there are plenty of things to do that could take up a few days of your itinerary. Some of the best things to do around Wexford are:

Visit the Dunbrody Famine Ship Experience in Wexford.
Do the King of the Vikings Experience in Waterford.
Go to Hook Lighthouse.
Spend a few hours at Dunmore Adventure Centre , which has a tonne of activities to enjoy, like kayaking, sailing, climbing, windsurfing, and our absolute favourite, the Wibit Waterpark. Ever seen the show Wipeout? Well Dunmore East has one of these giant inflatable parks set up out in the harbour! One of the funnest things we have ever done.
Hang out at Ireland’s National Heritage Park.
Go cycling along the Waterford Greenway.
Hang out in Enniscorthy and climb Vinegar Hill.

You can take your time driving to Cork and visit some of the great attractions in the area, or just enjoy the beautiful country scenery.

Get out and enjoy the beautiful coastal walks around Ardmore, and have lunch at the phenomenal Cliff House Hotel.

The roads are quite good and Cork itself is a fun city. Plenty of great pubs and restaurants to enjoy, and some great attractions nearby:

Visit Blarney Castle and kiss the famous Blarney Stone. Also don’t forget to spend some time walking around the stunning grounds.
Eat at Cliff House Hotel…Trust us on this one.
See the colourful houses in Cobh.

Leave early on this day because the plan is to tackle the beautiful Ring of Beara driving loop on the way to Killarney.

From Cork take the backroads to Ballylickey, then head onto the Beara Peninsula. You’ll be thankful you left early because this loop will take you all day with all the photo stops.

Once you finish the loop spend the night in Kenmare, which is a beautiful little village.

Some of the main attractions along the way are:

Drive the spectacular Ring of Beara.
Walking around Kenmare.

After a delicious breakfast in Kenmare head west onto the Ring of Kerry, and make sure those camera batteries are charged!

This loop is the most famous, and arguably the most beautiful, drive in all of Ireland, and if you get a sunny day it might end up being one of the best road trips of your life!

If you’re into hiking, or want to do some of the day excursions around the Ring of Kerry you might need to break up your trip into two or three days.

Visit the Skelligs – Two rocky islands off the coast of Ireland home to an old monastery, puffins, and was used as a film scene in the latest Star Wars movie.
Hike around the Kerry Cliffs.
Hang out at Derrynane Beach.

Be careful of the roads along the Ring of Kerry – they are twisting, narrow and often busy with tour buses!

After a few days of driving you deserve a well-earned rest. Except you’re now in Killarney, and there are so many things to do in Killarney that you could easily fill a week with activities!

We spent 4 days in Killarney before we started our road trip, and loved it so much we came back! You’ll be spoilt for choice here, whether you’re into history, gardens, adventure activities or simply drinking beer.

Rent a bicycle and explore Killarney National Park.
Go on a river cruise .
Visit Ross Castle and the Abbey.
Check out Muckross House and the gardens.
Get into nature at Torc Waterfall.
Head out to the Gap of Dunloe and admire the world-class scenery.
Drink delicious beer at Killarney Brewing Company.
Climb Carrauntoohil, Ireland’s highest mountain.

If you want to splash out and enjoy a night outside of your campervan, then head to the best luxury hotel in Killarney, Muckross Park Hotel .

Once you’ve managed to pry yourself away from Killarney (it might take a while), you have another epic drive to check out on your Ireland road trip.

Drive out to Dingle, a wonderful town that would make a nice base for a day or two, and move out to the end of the Dingle Peninsula.

This captivating area is home to the Slea Head Drive, another magnificent loop that features rolling hills jutting up against steep ocean cliffs.

As you’re now on the Wild Atlantic Way you can expect to see more than your fair share of coastal scenes, but this one around Slea Head is pretty special.

It’s not just cool scenery – there’s also a bunch of history, with stone beehive huts peppered along the coast and the impeccable Gallarus Oratory adding to the awesomeness of Slea Head Loop.

Spend the night in Tralee after doing some of the best attractions around Dingle:

Head out on the Slea Head Drive.
Visit the Gallarus Oratory, and all the beehive huts along the way.
Drink some Dingle Gin.
Do a boat trip to see Fungie the Dolphin.

Today isn’t a long day driving, and you really have two options on how you want to head to Lahinch – you could take the ferry, creating an excellent short cut, or drive out to the city of Limerick.

We personally decided to skip Limerick, even though we had heard good things, as we much prefer to be in the countryside. Plus there’s a massive highlight to see along the way!

While it’s only a short drive today your timing will be dependent on the ferry schedule that gets you across the small harbour from Tarbert to Killimer. Make sure you get there early in case you have to wait.

Once you get on the other side drive out to Loop Head Peninsula, home to some of the most wonderful cliffs in the entire country, and they’re completely free!

If you have time, or really love cliffs, you could also do the Cliffs of Moher, although these are very touristy. Spend the night in Lahinch, a wonderful beach town with a colourful main street.

Take the ferry from Tarbert to Killimer.
Drive out to Loop Head Peninsula and see the cliffs.
Visit the Cliffs of Moher.
Rent a surfboard and hit the waves in Lahinch.

On this day we unfortunately had to wipe all the attractions from our schedule as a hurricane hit the country, and we ended up bunkering down in the small town of Ennis to wait out the storm.

However if we had our time again, we would drive from Lahinch to Doolin, which is meant to be an amazing little beach village that gets a lot of rave reviews from our friends.

Then keep following the coast, eventually finishing up in Galway.

This stretch also could be turned into a two-day journey, with all the things to do.

Take a boat out to the Aran Islands, a World Heritage Site where the locals speak Irish as well as English and ancient, ruined churches are just waiting to be explored.
Grab a pint in one of Doolin’s colourful pubs.
Follow the sea and enjoy the Wild Atlantic Way views.
Go out to Spanish Point.
Party the night away in Galway.

If you’ve ended up partying a little too hard in Galway you might need to break this journey up into two days, as you’ll be leaving late. But if you’re feeling fresh get a move on early!

The first stop is going to be Kylemore Abbey, a sensational old castle with some of the most beautiful gardens in all of Ireland.

Keep following the road around and make a beeline for Achill Island, where if you’re not careful you may get stuck for a day or two.

Wander around Kylemore Abbey and the gardens.
Reach the end of the road on Achill Island and be blown away with the views.
Take a swim at the beach in Keel.
If you have more time enjoy all the hiking and surfing opportunities around Achill Island.

The beautiful drive takes in the countryside around Ballycroy, which is surprisingly delightful and has lots of great hiking opportunities.

The area around Ballina has some cool, old friaries, and once you get to Sligo you’ll find tonnes of outdoor adventures to enjoy.

If you have time before settling in Donegal do the drive out to Slieve League, otherwise you can do it in the morning.

Finishing up in Donegal hit up one of the excellent restaurants and down it all with a pint of Guinness.

Go for a hike in the Ballycroy National Park.
Visit the 600-year-old friaries near Ballina.
Head up one of the mountains or lakes in Sligo.

It’s another long drive today, which could also be broken up if you had the time, because the Donegal area has a lot of epic scenery and activities to enjoy.

The first thing you should do is enjoy the coastal drive out towards Slieve League, taking the side roads that turn down into the tiny fishing villages along the way.

Slieve League is hugely impressive, and with more time you could do the hike to the cliffs, or if you’re trying to fit it all in a day you can simply drive to the top and check out the views.

Get back in the car and head straight up to Malin Head, the northernmost point in Ireland. Afterwards head back south towards Londonderry.

We personally headed to Quigley’s Point and stayed at the Foyleside Caravan Park as we needed power to charge our laptops, and we enjoyed the spot.

Don’t miss out on Slieve League – epic cliffs and gorgeous ocean views.
The road to Meencarrick has some beautiful, old village and surf beaches to check out.
Fall in love with the scenery around Glenveagh National Park.
Stand at the northernmost point of the Republic of Ireland in Malin Head.

You’ll be spending the next few days in Northern Ireland, which means you’ll get to visit one of the United Kingdom’s most popular tourist attractions, the Giant’s Causeway.

Stick as close to the coast as possible on the drive to the Giant’s Causeway, stopping along the way to take some pictures.

Spend a few hours wandering around the famous basalt hexagonal columns, then get back in the car and make the drive into the countryside.

Swing by The Dark Hedges in Ballymoney – an avenue of enormous, twisting beech trees that is one of the most photographed places in the whole country.

It was already a popular spot, but when the HBO series Game Of Thrones filmed a scene there it was propelled into another level of busyness. Still, it’s worth seeing, even if you don’t know anything about the series.

Afterwards head into Belfast for the night, or pick a caravan park outside of town.

Enjoy the coastal road in Northern Ireland.
Walk across the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge near Ballintoy.
Walk (don’t drive) down the Dark Hedges.
Check out the Giant’s Causeway. Remember you don’t have to pay to enter if you don’t want to visit the information centre or use the carpark.

The Northern Ireland capital is filled with intense history, fascinating murals, a world-class museum and more than its fair share of awesome pubs.

Belfast is a city that oozes with grungy atmosphere, and whether you love it or hate it, you can’t deny that it has an overwhelming character that should be experienced.

We were really looking forward to visiting Belfast, and it did not disappoint. To really appreciate the city though you should be willing to embrace the tragedies of the last few decades, and admire how it has bounced back.

Spend a few hours in the marvellous Titanic Belfast, known for being one of the world’s leading tourist attractions. Get your ticket here .
Join a free walking tour of Belfast to learn about the city’s political history.
Check out the Crumlin Road Gaol.

For the last full day jump on the highway and head south of Belfast. You can easily be in Dublin in 2 hours, but it’s worth stopping off at the Neolithic site of Newgrange.

As mentioned above, Newgrange is one of the real highlights of any Ireland road trip, and learning all about the massive passage tomb is splendid, especially when you consider it’s older than Stonehenge and the Great Pyramids!

If you need to be in Dublin tonight then you can be in the city quite easily, but personally we recommend heading to the fishing village of Howth , only 30 minutes from the city.

Howth is genuinely wonderful, and the perfect place to finish up your Irish road trip. You can park your van by the dock and head out to get fish and chips, or if you want a perfect place to stay head into the only hotel in town (yes, the only hotel in town), King Sitric .

Visit the ancient Neolithic site of Newgrange.
Go for a hike around Howth, or enjoy the best seafood in the country at King Sitric Restaurant.

Sunset Howth Ireland Road Trip Campervan

Tips For a Road Trip of Ireland

Driving a campervan around Ireland is definitely the best way to see the country.

Having your own wheels is one thing, but having your own home is the icing on the cake!

Still there are some things you need to keep in mind before you start this fun adventure. For another good reference, check out this article on renting a motorhome in Europe.

Here are some tips for renting a campervan in Ireland.

Bigger isn’t always better: The roads in Ireland can be notoriously narrow, and having a giant RV isn’t ideal in the Republic of Ireland. We went with the Aero model from Bunk Campers and it was a good balance of size and comfort, without being too big for the roads.
Try to free camp where possible: This is the whole bonus of having a campervan – You get to save on accommodation! In the Republic of Ireland we never had a problem finding a carpark or patch of grass to pull up for the night. We stayed next to a lake in Achill Island, behind a bus station in Ennis, on top of Vinegar Hill and plenty of other spots. It’s not always glamorous, but at least it’s free!
Sometimes you’ll have to stay in a caravan park: In Northern Ireland wild camping is illegal, so you have to stay in a caravan park. They’re not too expensive (sometimes 20 Euros or less), but they come with the added bonus of amenities like laundry, proper bathrooms, electricity hook ups and wifi.
Buy a prepaid SIM card from 3: Having data on the road is important, and we picked up a prepaid SIM from the telephone company 3. For 20 Euro we got unlimited 4G data and unlimited texts and calls for a month. We could also hotspot our laptops off of our phone with it. Get one from any 3 store.
Don’t underestimate driving distances: You might look at one leg and think, “Oh it’s only 150km, we’ll be there in 2 hours,” but that’s not always the case. Road conditions can slow you down, as will the hundreds of photo stops along the way. Don’t be too ambitious when planning your schedule.
Head south and drive clockwise: The weather in Ireland moves from the Atlantic Ocean and moves across the country heading northeast. A tip we got from the manager at Bunk Campers is to head south to Kerry County and drive clockwise. That way if you get nice weather you can basically follow it north.

[box] Our Ireland road trip adventure was made possible thanks to our partnership with Bunk Campers and support from Failte Ireland . All thoughts, opinions and pints of Guinness drunk at Irish pubs are, as always, our own.[/box]

Campervan View Ireland Road Trip Campervan

Alesha and Jarryd

Hi, We’re Alesha and Jarryd!

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Ultimate 10 Day Ireland Road Trip Itinerary (You Should Steal)

Girl appreciating views of the North Atlantic from the Dingle Peninsula during an Ireland road trip

This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you buy or book through one of these links, I may earn a small commission .

Have you been dreaming of a bucket list journey around Ireland that also includes Northern Ireland’s captivating landscapes? Maybe you’d like to witness the rugged beauty of the Cliffs of Moher before heading north to visit the Giant’s Causeway? If all this is true, below I’m sharing my own 10 day road trip itinerary around Ireland that covers all these experiences and more.

Adding Northern Ireland did make this itinerary a bit faster-paced than what I normally prefer. However, we weren’t shorted on any of the Emerald Isle’s cultural richness, with each day revealing a new colorful seaside village or charming road through the sheep-covered countryside. I still reminisce about staying in super cozy cottages, holding baby lambs, and admiring dramatic coastal cliffs.

Are you ready to embark on your own unforgettable 10-day Ireland road trip? Let’s get into it!

Perfect 10 Day Ireland Road Trip Itinerary

Table of contents.

Essential Things to Know
Arrival in Dublin + Kilkenny

Day 1: Jerpoint Abbey, Rock of Cashel, Cobh

Day 2: kinsale, killarney national park, kenmare, day 3: ring of kerry, day 4: dingle peninsula, day 5: cliffs of moher and galway.

Day 6: Donelgal & Portrush

Day 7: Portrush

Day 8: trim & dublin, day 9: dublin, day 10: dublin, depart from dublin, have only 7 days for your ireland road trip, do you have 2 weeks for a road trip around ireland.

Green grassy hillside along the Ring of Kerry - 10 Day Ireland Road Trip itinerary

Before we jump into the itinerary, here are a few Ireland basics to know before you travel.

Things to Know Before Your Ireland Road Trip

Currency: While Ireland uses the euro, Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom and uses the pound.
Driving: The Irish drive on the left side of the road. Additionally, drivers in the Emerald Isle sit on the right side of the car.
Daylight: Daylight hours during your trip can lengthen or shorten your sightseeing. During our March visit, we had 12-13 hours of daylight every day. In December, this would look more like 7-8 hours, while in July it would be around 16-17 hours.
Mobile Phones: Make sure your phone works in Ireland by setting up an international plan with your phone company or purchasing a sim card.
Electrical Converters: Ireland operates on a 230V supply voltage with a three-pronged plug. It’s the exact same in Northern Ireland. You will need to pack an adaptor if you’re coming from outside of Ireland or the United Kingdom.

Related: What Does a Trip to Ireland Cost? A Full Rundown

Kick-Off Your Ireland Road Trip in Dublin

Upon landing in Ireland, do the following:

Retrieve any checked luggage
Withdraw euros from an ATM (we typically withdraw around €200)
Pick up your rental car. Rent the smallest vehicle possible for maneuvering the narrow, sometimes one-lane roads you’ll encounter in Ireland.

Drive South Through the Wicklow Mountains

The charming medieval village of Kilkenny is a pleasant overnight stop before kicking off your 10 day Ireland road trip. It technically only takes about 1.5 hours to reach from Dublin via the highway, but wouldn’t the scenic route be more fun ( mapped here )?

If you’re game, I recommend a detour through Wicklow Mountains National Park to immerse yourself into Ireland’s gorgeous scenery immediately. As energy allows, consider stopping in Glendalough about an hour and twenty minutes into your journey. This is where you can visit ruins of the Monastic City , which was founded by St. Kevin in the 6th century.

Desolate road through the Wicklow Mountains during an Ireland road trip

Afterwards, the Hollywood Cafe in the tiny town of Hollywood is a cute place to grab a quick lunch and coffee before the final hour and twenty minutes of your drive. Yes, this route added an extra hour of travel, but we would never have seen sights like a heard of cows ambling across a bridge overhead had we taken the highway.

Overnight in Kilkenny

street view of medieval Kilkenny during an Ireland road trip

Upon arrival in Kilkenny, check into your hotel and then hit the town to stroll past the colorful storefronts of the Medieval Mile.

I’ll admit, we had an early dinner at 5:30pm because we were exhausted from our long journey. We ducked into the Cat and The Fiddle, a gastropub near our hotel, for a delicious burger, Thai green curry, and our first Guinness of the trip. Side note: Guinness actually does taste better in Ireland!

Afterwards, we had our typical first night ritual of a jet lag-interrupted sleep.

Travel Savvy Tip

We have found that ordering a medium burger (slightly pink in the middle) is not as common in Ireland as it is in the US. Unless you specify how you want it cooked, chances are your burger will come out well-done.

Suggested Stay: We stayed at the Kilmore Guest House in Kilkenny, which was inexpensive and conveniently located right around the corner from the Medieval Mile on High Street.

Couple sitting on bench admiring the colorful Deck of Cards houses with cathedral towering in the background

It’s time for the first big sightseeing day of your 10-day Ireland road trip extravaganza. You’ll just spend a short morning in Kilkenny because some seriously iconic stops are coming up on today’s itinerary! This includes a 12th century abbey, the Rock of Cashel, and the last port of call of the Titanic.

Morning in Kilkenny

Street view of Kilkenny Castle - 10 Day Ireland road trip itinerary

Begin your day with a stroll over to Kilkenny Castle to view the exterior and tour the inside if you have time (I recommend seeing as many Irish castles as possible!). Purchase tickets online in advance for the 9am timeslot and allow one hour for your visit.

Now it’s time to retrieve your bags and prepare to hit the road. Before leaving Kilkenny, make one last stop at La Rivista for a cappuccino and croissant served with butter and jam.

Jerpoint Abbey

Just a twenty-minute drive south of Kilkenny is your first stop of the day: Jerpoint Abbey. Our experience at this former 12th century monastery was quiet and pleasant, with only a couple of other tourists around us.

Aaron and I took a short stroll around the property, looking for evidence of the structure’s early Romanesque architecture before the eventual transition to tall gothic arches. There are also various stone sculptures on tombs and other memorials to admire that date back to the medieval period .

Rock of Cashel

Next, it’s time to drive just over an hour into County Tipperary to see one of the most visited sites in Ireland: the Rock of Cashel ($8 for adults). This impressive collection of medieval stone buildings perched strikingly on top of a hill was once the seat of the kings of Munster from the 4th or 5th century. According to legend, in the year 432 AD St. Patrick himself converted King Aenghus to Christianity at this site.

Today, you can several surviving buildings, including a Gothic cathedral, an abbey, the Hall of Vicars Choral, and a fifteenth-century Tower House. Additionally, it’s well worth a wander into Cormac’s Chapel to see the only surviving Romanesque frescoes in Ireland (this is a separate ticket purchased upon arrival) .

The hilltop might be a bit windy, so you may want to bring a light sweatshirt or jacket. Otherwise, don’t forget to enjoy the views over the town of Cashel and rolling acres of farm land all around.

If you a craving an additional adventure, take a downhill stroll into the fields west of the Rock of Cashel to see the lesser-visited Hore Abbey ruins (free). Although these ruins have not been well kept, they are what is left of the last medieval Cistercian monastery in Ireland.

Cheerful Cobh

Girl standing at bottom of the hill of the Deck of Cards in Cobh Ireland

Get back on the road for one last stop in County Cork: the quaint, hilly seaside town of Cobh (pronounced like cove ). Cobh has the world’s second-largest natural harbor and cheerful streets with colorful homes that lead down to the water. This town makes a great lunch stop and is worth a look around if you have a couple hours to spare.

Learn about the travelers who embarked from this port en route to Ellis Island and other immigration hubs at the Cobh Heritage Center . Cobh was also the last port of call for the Titanic before its fateful voyage, which you can explore at the Titanic Experience .

Of course, this hilly town is perfectly pleasant for simply wandering along the picturesque harbor. Another popular photo spot requires fighting gravity up a steep hill lined with the cutest colorful stretch of homes, known as the “deck of cards”.

Kissing the Blarney Stone

Is kissing the Blarney Stone on your bucket list? I’m not gonna lie – although I haven’t done it myself, this activity is viewed by many to be a tourist trap.

That said, plenty of people come to Ireland with this famous kissing ritual high up on their bucket list. After all, legend has it that those who do will receive “the gift of gab”.

If this is you, then you should definitely leave Cobh early (or maybe skip it all together) to hit up the Blarney Castle. It’s a 40-minute drive west from Cobh, but make sure to arrive to the castle at least an hour before closing (check hours here) .

The drawbacks? You might have to wait in line, and the way visitors are shuffled through quickly may take away from the overall experience. This is also a pricey activity at €20, with an additional €2 charge for parking.

Stay in County Cork

Afterwards, continue onto your lodging somewhere in County Cork, whether that’s in Cobh, Kinsale, or a rural Airbnb. Aaron and I opted for the last one in the town of Kilbrittain (I’ve listed it as a recommendation below). We ate a wonderful dinner at Monk’s Lane in the nearby town of Timoleauge, which was happily off the main tourist path.

Suggested Stay: Sleep at this super cozy cottage so that you can easily tour the nearby historic seaside town of Kinsale the next day.

Cozy white stone cottage right off a country lane near Kinsale, Ireland

Welcome to the Wild Atlantic Way. You are in for some astounding scenery, in case you weren’t already impressed by what you have seen so far.

Having awoken to a sunny March day in the mid-50’s (F), we fueled up for another harborside adventure with fresh brown bread, butter, and jam provided by our Airbnb host.

Colorful street in the Irish seaside town of Kilkenny

We headed to the town of Kinsale for an 11:15am tour with Don and Barry’s Historic Strolls (€8). Starting at the Tourist Information Center, Barry led us and other guests through Kinsale’s history over 1.5 hours.

We dove into how British control impacted the port from the early 1600’s, the impact of the Lusitania’s nearby sinking on WWI, and the town’s transformation from a walled city to a colorful haven that I found reminiscent (in a way) of Charleston, South Carolina .

Post tour, keep the sea vibes going with a lunch at Fishy Fishy that includes crispy fish and chips and seafood soup. Then its time to start your 1.5 hour drive towards Kenmare, detouring to Killarney National Park along the way.

Not quite ready to leave these cozy harbor towns? I don’t blame you. If you are unable to add an extra day to your Ireland road trip itinerary, consider making a swap on one of your remaining days.

For example, I have included two iconic peninsular drives in this 10 day Ireland road trip itinerary (they really are fantastic). Simple choose between either the green, fairy tale Ring of Kerry or the culturally rich Dingle Peninsula. Then you’ll be able to spend one extra day soaking in the sea breezes and learning maritime history in Cobh and Kinsale.

Killarney National Park

Tree with spiraling bark within the grounds of Muckross Abby - Ireland road trip itinerary

You’ll technically be visiting your first stop on the Ring of Kerry today, so you will not have to retrace this path tomorrow. Killarney National Park is full of hiking trails, but one of the most popular stops is Muckross House , a 19th century Victorian mansion.

Since we accidentally chose the wrong parking lot, we visited 15th century Muckross Abbey instead of walking 1.5 miles to the house. This was a happy accident, as we loved having the run of the place to wander up every narrow spiral staircase and pop into hidden rooms.

If you have time and energy, stop off for a ten minute hike to Torc Waterfall before continuing on to Kenmare. We made it to this sleepy town around 5:30pm, where two hours of daylight was just the right amount of time to explore.

Colorful store front of Crowley's Bar in Kenmare - Ireland road trip itinerary

Kenmare is the ideal place to overnight in preparation for completing the Ring of Kerry the next morning. First, we checked out a small local stone circle, where we were all alone with the rocks and fairy trees. There was just a small “honor” money box that charged a small fee at the entrance.

Next, we holed up in Crowley’s , a small pub filled with welcoming locals and seating near a toasty fireplace. This is also the place where I discovered I liked draft Murphy’s better than Guinness, though it can be harder to find this one on draft.

We finished off the evening by dining at The Horseshoe , filling up on delectable sea scallops over deceitfully good cauliflower purée and a full rack of BBQ ribs.

When ordering either Murphy’s or Guinness, do not and I repeat, DO NOT, grab your beer and start drinking it if the bartender sets your glass near you on the bar, but not in front of you. They are letting the foam settle before continuing with your proper pour.

I must have eagerly grabbed my glass prematurely three times before I finally absorbed the repeated scolding from both my husband and the bartender.

Suggested Stay: Rockcrest House in Kenmare is a husband-and-wife-run bed and breakfast that gives romantic panoramic views over Kenmare. It’s just five minutes from the town center. We paid in cash for our room at checkout.

Three sheep in a group near a wire fence along a gravel road along the Ring of Kerry

Today, you will be doing the first of two peninsular driving routes: the stunningly beautiful Ring of Kerry. Hit the road by 8 or 9am to maximize daylight and beat the crowds and large bus tours.

The route I have mapped takes about 4 hours and fifteen minutes (without stops) and is 211 miles long, ending the day with a drive to Dingle.

Here are the top sites going clockwise around the Ring of Kerry from Rockcrest House in Kenmare:

Glacier Lake (18.1 km) : Serene blue lake formed by a glacier 10,000 years ago.
Sneem (26.5 km) : Town where you can grab a coffee or snack before continuing.
Staigue Ring Fort (45.4 km) : Large, wonderfully preserved ring fort, possibly dating back to the Celtic period . Observe the 10 flights of stairs in an X shape leading to the ramparts and the tightly interlocked stones, demonstrating expert craftsmanship.

Exterior and front lawn of the Derrynane House

Derrynane House (58.1 km) : For €5, tour the ancestral home of Daniel O’Connell, a national hero who championed equal rights for Irish Catholics during the 19th century. Also check out stunning Derrynane Beach.
Waterville (70.4 km): Chill beach town with a Charlie Chaplin statue (he vacationed here with his family).
Skellig Ring Loop (87.8 km) : Bonus loop off the Ring of Kerry that boasts the breathtaking Kerry Cliffs (€5). Afterwards, stop at the Fisherman’s Bar in Portmagee for lunch.
Cahersiveen (112 km) : Another bonus loop, where you can see two more majestic ring forts: Cahergal and Leacanabuaile. Chances are you’ll encounter some sheep too.

Leacanabuaile Ring Fort on the Cahersiveen Peninsula - Ireland Road Trip

End the day in Dingle, a lively port town about two hours away, to be well-situated to navigate the Dingle Peninsula the next day.

Suggested Stay: Sleep at this cottage in Dingle, which is equipped with a fireplace and is a short walk from the town center.

Cap off one more day of peninsula circling with the Irish heritage-packed Dingle Peninsula. Don’t worry – this one is shorter than the Ring of Kerry, being 30 miles long. That said, you’ll still fill a day seeing the cluster of sights along this route.

Here are the must-see’s along the Dingle Peninsula (along with a map) :

Sheep grazing on a hillside leading to the ocean on the Dingle Peninsula - Ireland road trip itinerary

Dunbeg Fort (13.3 km) : Iron age promontory fort with gorgeous sea views.
Beehive Huts (14.2 km) : 1,000 year old medieval houses made of stone from the ancient method of drystone corbelling .
Hold a baby lamb (15.7 km) : Means exactly what it says!

Bright blue and turquoise water meeting low cliffs along the Dingle Peninsula

Cross at Slea Head (16.9 km) : From here there are pretty views out to the Blasket Islands.
Great Blasket Island and Dunmore Head viewing point : Roadside stop for pretty views. Option to do a 1.6-mile hike on Dunmore Head .
The Blasket Centre (23 km) : Exhibits tell the story of the unique community that inhabited the Blasket islands through 1953. Open March through November.
Clogher Head pullout (25.2 km): Scenic viewpoint. I recommend doing the 1-mile hike on Clogher Head for gorgeous sea views.
Town of Ballyferriter (30.9 km) : The largest village west of Dingle town. If you stop into a pub, you’ll likely hear Irish being spoken.

Riasc Monastery ruins (32.8 km) : A medieval monastic site with a 6th century cross-inscribed stone pillar in its original position.
Gallarus Oratory (36.3 km) : Must-see 1,000-year-old structure that is the best preserved ancient church in Ireland.
St. Brandon’s Oratory (39.8 km) : Predates Gallarus, but is not as perfectly preserved.
The ruined church of Kilmalkedar (40.1 km): Site of an early monastery along the significant Cosán na Naomh pilgrimage route. See the hilltop ruins of a 12th-century Norman Church, a mix of medieval and more recent graves, a 5th-or-6th-century swearing stone , and an early medieval sundial.

Evening in Dingle

Street view of colorful Dingle storefronts

After returning back to Dingle, we were craving some coffee. We found a cute little stand along the harbor and got cappuccinos to sip by the sea.

We decided to treat ourselves to a classy seafood dinner at Out of the Blue in downtown Dingle (closed during winter) . Afterwards, we grabbed one of the last chairs in The Dingle Pub to sip a pint while trad music filled our ears.

Suggested Stay: Sleep in Dingle for a second night.

Street view of Quay Street on a quiet March day in Galway

While your Ireland sightseeing has come in a lot of quick bursts so far, now it’s time to settle in for two consecutive days with a bit more driving. Unfortunately, a couple days like this are necessary when combining both Ireland and Northern Ireland into a 10 day road trip. Wear comfy clothes and pick a good playlist since you’ll be in the car for a while.

Lunch & Car Ferry

Soon, we we’re passing through a number of small colorful villages, stopping in Listowel at an adorable cafe called Lynch’s Bakery & Coffee Shop . This was the perfect cozy place to warm up before heading back out for more driving through the chilly March drizzle.

That’s before we encountered another delay: I hadn’t noticed that the shortest mileage route from Dingle to the Cliffs of Moher included a 20-minute car ferry crossing (€23). We arrived to the dock just as one was leaving, meaning we had to wait for an hour to catch the next one.

Cliffs of Moher

Things picked up once Aaron and I arrived at the incomparable Cliffs of Moher , which are every bit as vast and breathtaking as we’d pictured. We strolled about 700 feet above the North Atlantic thundering below, while the diffused evening light softened the rocky cliff faces stretching for five miles into the misty horizon.

We paused to take in the view and capture some photos before getting back on the road.

Warm bowl of soup on a wooden table in a cozy restaurant in Galway, Ireland

We ended the evening in Galway – an energetic college town with trendy eateries and fun nightlife. Since Aaron and I were delayed in our travels, we weren’t able to explore Galway as much as we’d hoped. However, we were able to grab some dinner at The Quay Street Kitchen , which had a lively atmosphere.

If you do have some extra time in Galway, do the following as your schedule allows:

Explore Galway Cathedral
Stroll past the colorful waterfront homes of the Long Walk
Observe the Spanish Arch, which dates back to the 1500’s
Check out the Galway City Museum
Go to Tigh Neachtain’s or The Crane Bar to hear trad music

Suggested Stay: We stayed within walking distance of top Galway sights at a bed and breakfast called Sli Na Mara .

Day 6: Portrush

View of the black basalt columns on the Giant's Causeway

Today you’ll have to make one more five hour journey to reach Portrush in Northern Ireland. You won’t run into any border between these two counties where you’d need to show your passport or anything. The road just continues on as normal.

Wooden ceiling been and large stone fireplace of Donegal Castle's interior

Break up the drive with a lunch stop in the medieval town of Donegal and with a visit to Donegal Castle . Originally built in the 15th century, major improvements were made to this castle after 1616 when it came into the hands of Sir Basil Brooke. You can see some of his proudest additions today, including the giant fireplace with an intricate carved-wood mantlepiece.

Note: Unfortunately, from November 2023 Donegal castle is closed for works until further notice.

Girl in black jacket walking past the twisted trees in the dark hedges - Ireland Road Trip

Once you’ve ended another long day of driving upon arrival in Portrush, you should still have time to visit some striking outdoor sights. While I’ll provide a general idea of how to spend your time in Portrush in this post, I recommend referring to my more in-depth 36 hours on the Antrim Coast itinerary here .

On your first afternoon/evening, make the following stops:

The Dark Hedges
The Giant’s Causeway: Take the blue trail down to the basalt columns on the water

Afterwards, check into your next stay and grab dinner in downtown Portrush.

Suggested Stay: We rented this cozy cabin in Portrush .

Girl standing before the organ along the Giant's Causeway - Ireland road trip itinerary

Time to wake up and hit the ground running for your one full day exploring Portrush. If it’s sunny, lucky you! Otherwise, be sure to bring an umbrella and soldier on (a waterproof jacket helps).

Today, you will do the following:

Cross the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge . There is also a short scenic hike along the coast to enjoy before reaching the bridge.
Tour the Old Bushmills Distillery , which has been making Irish whiskey for 400 years.
Visit a cafe for a snack and warm drinks in the town of Bushmills.
Do the red trail along the Giants Causeway to explore the coast and see “the organ”.
Visit the cliffside Dunluce Castle ruins

Eat dinner in Portrush again.

View of the Boyne Valley from Trim Castle

Today, it’s time to navigate to the last stop of your Ireland road trip: Dublin.

Break up the three hour highway drive with a stop in Trim, a pretty medieval town situated 45 minutes northwest of Dublin in the ancient Boyne Valley. This lush region, where rivers rush past rolling vibrant greenery, contains 5,000 years of Ireland’s history. The likes of pagans, Irish high kings, monks, Vikings, and Normans have all left their mark here.

Visit Trim Castle

Green grass and a river surrounding the stone tower of Trim Castle - Ireland Road Trip itinerary

Towering above Trim is 12th-century Trim Castle (€5, €1 for parking), which was once featured as a set in the movie Braveheart. This tall stone structure, rising vertically above the River Boyne down below, must have been a looming presence during the era of Norman. A tour allows you to take in panoramic views from the roof of what is the largest Norman-Anglo castle still standing.

Before departing Trim, grab a deli sandwich from the Harvest Home Bakery & Cafe before continuing on to Dublin.

Settle into Dublin

Vintage 1920's style bedroom at Hotel in Dublin with velvet red headboard and purple duvet cover

Depending on when you arrive into Dublin, a lot of popular sights, like Dublin Castle, might already be closed. However, if you’re intent on squeezing out every available ounce of sightseeing time, it’s still possible to do an evening pub crawl or food tour.

Here are three great evening tours of Dublin:

Dark Dublin Guided Walking Tour
Traditional Irish Night Show
The Whiskey Trail Dublin Tasting Tour

Aaron and I opted simply for dinner and drinks, wandering into a recommended pub called Doheny & Nesbitt , only to find crowds and a closed kitchen. Therefore, we got a table at Foley’s Bar instead, a music venue and gastropub with a tasty food menu. While eating nachos, a Cajun chicken burger, and a seafood pot pie, we listened to a DJ play 80’s and 90’s hits.

Note: Upon arrival in Dublin, you will no longer need your rental car. Consider dropping it off and then Ubering back to the hotel on your first night.

Suggested Stay: Unpack for the last time during your Ireland road trip in a vintage glamour-themed room at Number 31 . This quiet hotel is walkable to St. Stephens Green, Trinity College, the National Archeology Museum, the National Gallery, and the lively Temple Bar area.

It’s time to close out your Ireland road trip with a couple days exploring Dublin. Begin your first day with breakfast at your hotel before hitting the pavement for a busy day exploring some of Ireland’s hardest hitting sights.

Old Library & Book of Kells at Trinity College

Buildings around a central common at Trinity College in Dublin

Dive right into the literary side of Dublin by viewing one of the oldest books in the world: the Book of Kells , which is on display at Trinity College’s Old Library. Written around the year 800 by Scottish monks taking refuge in the Irish town of Kells, this book contains the four gospels in Latin. However, it is most notable for the ornate, pigmented illustrations for decor and depicting biblical scenes.

This was definitely the most crowded sight we visited in Dublin, even with having reserved an essential timed entry ticket . It was also among the most expensive, at €19 per adult. However, you’ll get to see this treasure opened up to one of its most impressive pages, and marvel at the centuries of people who’ve also come into contact with this book.

An audio tour comes with your ticket on the Visit Trinity app . It’s a good idea to download the app ahead of time (my husband couldn’t download it with the museum’s poor internet connection).

Rows of two story wooden bookcases at the Old Library at Trinity College - Ireland road trip

After viewing the Book of Kells, continue onto the Long Room at the Old Library, which dates back to the 18th century. This two-story space holds 200,000 of the library’s oldest books and the stuff of dreams for book lovers everywhere. You will also see marble busts of great thinkers and writers of the western world at the end of each bookcase, along with other artifacts, including a medieval harp.

Kilmainham Gaol Museum

Plain stone whitewashed interior of the Kilmainham Gaol former prison in Dublin

Next, continue onto the Kilmainham Gaol Museum, where you will once again need to buy a timed-entry ticket in advance for a guided tour. This jail was built in 1796 to house common criminals. Although this jail had a goal of reform, it would in reality become overcrowded with abysmal living conditions.

Many political prisoners would be held here as well. This includes 14 leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising until they were executed by firing squad on the property.

You will need to cross town from Trinity to reach Kilmainham Gaol, so either take the 60 or 13 bus (bring cash) or grab an Uber or taxi. I was able to quicky and easily find all necessary bus routes and times simply using Google Maps .

It’s been a busy morning, so take a quick lunch stop before some distillery fun. We grabbed some sandwiches from KC Peaches , which is a local chain.

Taste Irish Whiskey

Dublin whiskey tribute mural inside the Teeling Distillery

When in Ireland, it is essential to taste some Irish whiskey and there are several places where you can do so:

Jameson Distillery Dublin: The site where John Jameson first opened his Bow Street Distillery in 1780. Although Jameson whiskey production moved to Midleton, County Cork in 1975, today a visitor center remains at the old Bow Street location, offering tastes and tours.
Teeling Distillery : This establishment became the first new distillery to enter the Dublin Irish whiskey scene in 125 years when it opened its doors in 2012. Making whiskey is in the Teeling brothers’ blood, as their ancestor Walter Teeling ran a small craft distillery in Dublin back in 1782. Tasting and tour fees here are a tad lower than those of Jameson’s.
Irish Whiskey Museum: Where you can learn the unbiased general history of whiskey production in Ireland. You’ll taste a variety of styles and distillation methods from different Irish brands.

Aaron and I visited Teeling and stayed afterwards for a few more smooth samples of whiskey with a couple we met during the tour. We ended up bringing home two bottles of whiskey.

Shiny silver pots of bread, white rice, and sauce at an Indian restaurant in Dublin

We dined at Pickle North Indian Cuisine , which sits right on the edge of Dublin’s hip Portobello neighborhood. Our delightful courses included duck two ways, limbu jhinga (a prawn curry), and dessert that was reminiscent of beignets soaked in a sweet syrup.

For those looking for nightlife afterwards, there were plenty of pubs in the vicinity, some of which had lines down the sidewalk.

Red exterior of the iconic temple bar pub in Dublin - Ireland road trip itinerary

Today you’ll be exploring even more beloved sights around Dublin on this very walkable itinerary. Be sure to eat a filling breakfast because you’ll be having a late lunch.

St. Stephen’s Green

On your way to your first stop of the day, the National Museum of Ireland – Archeology, take a walk through St. Stephen’s Green. Just a three a three minute walk from the museum, this park was originally established in 1663 when a designated green space was set aside for public use, while surrounding lots were put up for rent.

By the 19th century the park had fallen into disrepair and was no longer open to the public. However, Sir Arthur Guinness, descendent of the original Guinness brewery founder, purchased the land and made it once again accessible to all. The park would be a part of history once again in 1916 when it was occupied by rebel forces during the Easter Rising.

National Museum of Ireland – Archeology

The National Museum of Ireland – Archeology is one of the top rated museums in Ireland for good reason. First off, the museum is open every day (except Christmas, St. Stephen’s Day, and Good Friday) and admission is completely free .

Second, the museum’s rich collection of artifacts allows you to delve into the origins of Ireland’s history and heritage. Learn about the 9th century Vikings who inhabited Dublin, view gold jewelry dating back to the Bronze age in Ireland, and see the Faddan More Psalter (a medieval book of psalms).

O’Connell Street & Temple Bar

Next it’s time to see O’Connell Street, a busy thoroughfare in Dublin that houses a string of statues that honor Irish national heroes. Cross the O’Connell Bridge, known for being wider than it is long, over the River Liffey to begin this stroll.

The first statue you’ll encounter is of Daniel O’Connell (remember Derrynane House on the Ring of Kerry?). Continue a little further down O’Connell Street to see additional tributes, eventually reaching The Spire, which sits 120 meters tall and gives a nod to Ireland’s past and future.

Other than these landmarks, this street is busy and lined with American fast food chains, so head back over the River Liffey via the Ha’penny Bridge to find more charm. First, make a quick photo stop at the iconic red Temple Bar Pub on the corner of Essex Street and Temple Lane. Stop in for a drink or a bite if it’s not too busy; otherwise, let’s keep moving.

Dublin Castle

I know you’ve already seen a lot of castles, but a stop at Dublin Castle is absolutely essential during a visit to the city. I mean, can you ever really see too many castles?

Originally a medieval fortress built during the 13th century, Dublin castle served as the seat of English (followed by British) rule in Ireland. In April 1684, a fire damaged much of the building, and from here it was rebuilt as a Georgian palace. That said, visitors can still see some portions of the original structure that survived the blaze.

On January 16, 1922, the palace was handed over the the newly formed Republic of Ireland, which had just become independent from the United Kingdom. Presidential inaugurations and many other ceremonial state events continue to be held at Dublin Castle to this day.

Tonight you’ll be joining a pub crawl, which falls right in the middle of traditional dinner time. Therefore, it’s best to eat a late lunch so you aren’t starving while sipping Irish whiskey.

I recommend popping into The Hairy Lemon , which is a ten-minute walk from Dublin Castle and will bring you back within 400m of St. Stephen’s Green. With a menu full of delicious pub food and Irish whiskey, this establishment has a friendly dive bar feel.

Literary Pub Tour

Literature and trad music are both Irish traditions to be found in Dublin, which you can be exposed to via a number of tour options.

If you’d like to see why Dublin was selected as the fourth UNESCO City of Literature in 2010, opt for this literary pub tour . Far from being dry, you’ll essentially be doing a pub crawl while a licensed guide brings to life the works of writers like James Joyce and William Butler Yeats.

However, if you haven’t got your fill of trad tunes yet, then try this musical pub crawl instead .

View over rolling green fields and farmland in Ireland from a plane

All the many legs of this bucket list Ireland road trip are now complete and it’s time to begin your journey back home (or onward). If your travels are done, grab a taxi or Uber back to Dublin Airport .

If you are like me and want to maximize your time abroad, consider taking a budget flight on Dublin-based Ryanair to another European city. In just two hours, I was able to reach Copenhagen and be immersed in an entirely different culture.

Sheep resting on rolling green hills off the Ring of Kerry in Ireland

If you’d like to shorten this 10 day Ireland road trip itinerary to just 7 days, do the following:

Cut out the Northern Ireland portion of the trip to revisit during future travels
Spend just one exhilaratingly hectic day seeing all that you can in Dublin

Girl standing on flattened section of basalt rock columns along the Giant's Causeway - 10 day Ireland road trip itinerary

Extend this 10 day Ireland road trip itinerary with any of the below:

Add a day trip to the Aran Islands from Galway
Spend an extra day in the Cobh/Kinsale area
Explore more sights around Dublin, including day trips like Wicklow Mountains National Park and the Boyne Valley
Add an extra day near the Cliffs of Moher for hiking and listening to Trad music in Doolin
Visit Belfast in Northern Ireland, which is where the Titanic was built

Whew! That was one intense sightseeing extravaganza around the Emerald Isle! However, if you want to get a taste of all that Ireland and Northern Ireland have to offer in just 10 days, then this road trip itinerary is exactly what you need. Prepare to be awed by the rich history, dramatic coastal cliffs, and vibrant green hills that are even more impressive in person!

Embark on the ultimate 10-day Ireland road trip adventure, weaving through iconic landscapes and cultural gems! Explore the enchanting Cliffs of Moher, wander the vibrant streets of Dublin, experience the scenic wonders of the Ring of Kerry, and even explore Northern Ireland's Giant's Causeway. This comprehensive Ireland itinerary and travel guide guarantees an unforgettable vacation to the Emerald Isle, complete with charming encounters with baby lambs along the way. Start planning your dream Irish getaway now!

Covered bridge in Woodstock VT during 7 day New England road trip itinerary

The Ultimate Irish Road Trip Guide: How To See Ireland In 12 days

Since you’ve been reading all our Ireland posts you’ve fallen in love with this magical land, right? We certainly did. Well now I’m going to make your life even easier with our ultimate Irish road trip guide . See how we explored the beautiful Emerald Isle day by day.

Dublin to Limerick

Accommodation: Travelodge Limerick ( check latest prices... )

Toll: €1.90

While we had already been in Dublin for 6 days this was our first day of the road trip. After a hearty breakfast at the Ballsbridge Hotel ( check latest prices... ) we picked up our car that we had organized through Rhino Car Hire.

While the process with Rhino Car Hire was easy and quick, the actual car agent in Dublin was not so much. Ireland is notorious for troublesome car hire practices and we experience nothing less than what had already been warned. Loads of extra hidden charges were added from airport drop off fees to Northern Ireland fees to extra drivers fees to admin fees – you name it. Really, there is only one way to see Ireland and it’s by road, but be prepared for all the extra costs. We ended up with more than an extra €300 on top of the original Internet hire price.

We drove the car back to the hotel and collected all our bags before heading off to Limerick . On our way, with the advice from a wonderful friend, we stopped in at the Rock of Dunamaise .

The kids were fast asleep so I stayed in the car and watched Josh hike up, but soon they woke up and we all wanted to explore. I am so glad we did, it was simply breathtaking. The Rock of Dunamaise is a rocky outcrop that stands 151 feet above a flat plain and contains the ruins of Dunamaise Castle on it dating back to 12 th century.

We all loved climbing its green hills and exploring the rock and ruins. The air was cool and the Rock was tourist-free, quiet and mysterious. It had to be an unexpected highlight on our road trip .

Before long the rain started coming down so we ran back to the warmth and shelter of the car. We drove the rest of the way to Limerick and checked in at the Travelodge. Small, wifi-less and terrible customer service - I can suggest accommodation elsewhere . But it was clean so I guess that’s something.

Later that evening we caught up with our friends for dinner that we had first met in Nazareth, Israel and then again in "no man’s land" between Jordan and Israel. You can read all about our experience at Casa Nostra in our food post , it was a wonderful evening.

Cliffs of Moher

Bunratty Castle & Folk Park

Toll: €3.80

We ate cereal in our room out of mugs this morning. Not quite the breakfast of champions, but we had an early start to the Cliffs of Moher . You can read all about that in our extremely popular post .

After the cliffs we drove to Bunratty Castle & Folk Park . During our visit we decided to come back the next night for the medieval banquet. By chance we found a cute B&B down the road and organized to stay there the following night ( find hotels in the area ).

Bunratty Castle

Accommodation: Gallows View B&B, Bunratty ( check latest prices... )

More cereal-in-a-mug before we hit up a nearby indoor playground. We let the kids play for several hours while we caught up on a backlog of work using the free wifi.

After the playground we checked out the medieval icon, King John’s Castle , and wrote all about that here .

From King John’s we drove a short distance to our first Irish B&B. It was simply gorgeous and we had a relaxing afternoon before heading to our outrageously fun medieval banquet dinner at Bunratty Castle .

Limerick to Killarney

Ring of Kerry

Accommodation: 19 th Green B&B, Killarney ( check latest prices... )

We had a delicious and filling breakfast at our B&B before heading to Killarney. It took a few stops before we found the wonderful 19 th Green B&B . We dropped all our bags off and got started on the Ring of Kerry .

The Ring of Kerry is a 179-km-long circular tourist route in County Kerry, south-western Ireland. "The Ring" is a popular day trip and numerous bus companies offer trips during the summer months. As the narrow roads make it difficult for tour coaches to pass, all tour buses run in an anti-clockwise direction. This means you have two options; one is to go the opposite way so you don’t get stuck behind them, but then you are forced to try and get around them. Or risk getting stuck behind them for the whole ring. We decided to do the anti-clockwise route.

We stopped fairly quickly for lunch at the Oldie Glenbeigh Hotel, which was delicious and one of the cheaper meals we had in Ireland.

The ferry to Valentia Island wasn’t running that day so we took the bridge instead, but didn’t find much of interest on the island. On our way off we decided to follow the signs to the “hidden Kerry”, Skellig Ring .

Skellig Ring is a predominantly coastal road that offers panoramic views of its namesake, the Skellig rocks. While it might be the Ring of Kerry’s lesser sister, it certainly was far more impressive .

From the highest point of the road you can climb the hill on the seaward side of the saddle in twenty minutes or so for the most magnificent views out to the Skellig Islands, across to the Dingle Peninsula and the Blaskets, and inland to the Iveragh Mountains. This detour was our favourite part of the Ring and one of the most beautiful natural panoramas we’ve ever seen.

It took much longer than we expected to finish. We stopped a few times for photos and found a local playground for the kids as the sun was setting. They enjoyed stretching their legs and having a break from the car. Finally, exhausted from a full day of driving, we headed home to our Irish B&B.

Killarney to Cobh

Blarney Castle

Accommodation: Bella Vista, Cobh ( check latest prices... )

After another delicious breakfast, where my daughter inadvertently set a napkin on fire trying to get toast out of a toaster, we headed to Blarney Castle .

Blarney Castle was built nearly 600 years ago and the current one is the third castle on the site. Now it’s the most photographed building in Ireland.

The castle is now a partial ruin with some accessible rooms and battlements. It’s a mission to get to the top with the kids, but we finally got there. At the top of the castle lies the world-famous Stone of Eloquence, better known as the Blarney Stone . You can stand in the cue for your chance to hang upside down over a sheer drop to add your slobber to the same spot everyone else has. This myth supposedly gives the gift of eloquence.

I decided to join the fun. It’s very awkward leaning backward over a seemingly insane drop to kiss an old wet stone. And there is a lot of pressure to kiss the stone, get up and get out. But I do feel that I am speaking much better these days. Ha!

From the Barney Stone we drove a bit further to Cork . We did not have much luck finding a B&B in Cork, nor did we find anywhere to park in the busy little city so we drove on to Cobh . We found a wonderful 2-bedroom apartment and settled in for the night.

FOTA Wildlife Park

Cobh to Kilkenny

Petrol: AUD$133

Accommodation: New Park, Kilkenny ( check latest prices... )

Today we discovered FOTA Wildlife Park and it was a delight. Read about this beauty here . From giraffes to cheetahs, this place has it all. In fact it’s one of Josh’s favourite zoos anywhere in the world.

After FOTA we drove to Kilkenny . We found a lovely hotel called Newpark , which we decided to book in for two nights. It was a great price and very modern, they even had a mini kids zoo out the back.

After breakfast in our hotel we headed out to explore Kilkenny. The castle in the centre of town has a beautiful garden and a self-guided tour inside won't set you back much.

A lovely little town that we thoroughly enjoyed, especially Shake Out where we stopped for crepes and a milkshake. We got some Chinese takeout for dinner and spent a fairly relaxing time in our hotel.

Kilkenny to Belfast

Toll: €1.90 + airport toll: €4.90

Accommodation: Random roadside B&B ( check prices in area... )

After breakfast we started our drive to Belfast . On the way we stopped in at our scheduled house-sitting house in Kildare to meet the owner and check out our new home for the next few weeks. We left some of our larger bags there and then continued on.

Belfast was a big, busy city and we decided to keep driving, pulling into some random B&B as we drove the northeast coast of Ireland .

Belfast to Londonderry

Rope Bridge & Giant’s Causeway

Accommodation: BubbleBum Creator’s House ( check prices in area... )

This B&B ended up charging us more then what we had negotiated the night before and left a bad taste in our mouth. But we were off to the Giant’s Causeway and not even the cold, wet weather could dampen our spirits.

Our first stop was the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge and then the Giant’s Causeway. You can read all about that amazing day in our special post .

During our travels we have been using a Bubblebum car seat and had got to know the creators of this marvellous product via email. On an invitation we were delighted to meet them in Londonderry . We spent a delightful time dining with them and they generously gave us a place to stay the night as well.

I wouldn’t recommend you crash their house, but if you drive around Londonderry there are quite a few B&B and hotels to choose from. But I do recommend you buying a BubbleBum - we love ours!

Londonderry to Donegal to Galway

Accommodation: Sykes Cottages ( check prices... )

After a leisurely morning with our host we moved onto Donegal where we met a lovely reader at the Blueberry Café, tried some great Irish food and then finished the day driving to Galway . We had booked 3 nights through Sykes Cottages in a gorgeous Irish countryside cottage .

We spent the day relaxing and recuperating from our jam-packed road trip through Ireland. We took the kids to see a movie and I got to show Josh the Galway I fell in love with on my press trip . Lunch at the magnificent Twelve Hotel was definitely a highlight .

Accommodation: Sykes Cottages ( check prices... )

Another relaxing day visiting Galway and chilling out in our amazing cottage. It was so nice to take things easy after such a busy few weeks. We walked around the Quay Street pedestrian mall in Galway and Josh purchased a beautiful traditional Claddagh ring for me from an iconic jewellery shop to celebrate our wedding anniversary.

Galway to Dublin

Toll: €7.00

We left early this morning to be in Dublin to drop the car off first thing in the morning. The queue outside the car rental company was long, however as I got out to ask where to park the car I was told it was not necessary to join the queue, just park the car in the carpark and hand over the keys to the staff. It was surprisingly easy , they even stored our luggage for us as we spent the day in Dublin before taking the train to our house-sitting assignment in Kildare.

It was a short walk into the city centre, where we wandered the streets before heading to the delicious O’Neil’s for some pub food with my friend Corey from Irish Fireside.

After lunch we took our bags to the Trinity City Hotel nearby and met some new friends.

We walked to the nearby St Stephens Green playground and spent the afternoon with them before taking the train to Newbridge where our house-sitting host picked us up.

Road Trip Tally

Total Days: 13

Total Tolls: € 21.40

Total Distance: 2,099 kms (1,304 miles)

Total Leprechauns Run Over: 0 (phew!)

That Was Pretty Easy!

There you have it. Our Irish road trip adventure was complete and we fit a lot in a fairly limited amount of time, considering 2 young kids were in tow. There is so much to see and do, and touring the country by car is definitely the best way to go. And to top it all, we managed to reach our 7 Irish goals along the way:

Try Guinness - done!
Find a rainbow - done!
Find a leprechaun - done!
Find a pot of gold - done!
Find a 4-leaf clover - done!
Dance an Irish jig on the Giant’s Causeway - done!
Be blown away by the beautiful countryside - done!

Inspired? Check out the latest flight prices to Ireland and see how cheap it could be to start your own Irish road trip adventure.

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Reader Comments...

Thanks for sharing the story of your road trip around Ireland. I would love to do a similar trip one day so thanks for the inspiration!

Am looking to do road trip in Ireland June 2015. Noticed you had problem with Car Rental

Can't believe your road trip around Ireland did not include a trip to Tyrone or the Sperrins! Especially as panning for gold in the Sperrins is one of the top ten visitor attractions and the Sperrins Scenic Drive is one of only two in Ireland endorsed by the National Geographic's 'Top 101 of the Worlds Most Scenic Drives!'

I can't believe a trip around Ireland and did not include the most beautiful county of Donegal

Epic! You better believe I bookmarked that for the next time we are in Europe!

How long was your trip around the Ring of Kerry? It seems you used the whole day and it was worth it!

@Patti We spent the better part of the day. We started off late morning (since it took a while to find a B&B to leave our bags at), and then arrived back after sunset. So I'd suggest allowing a full day. If you have the luxury of time, doing it slower over 2 days would be even better. There's plenty of small B&B's along the way.

Is it possible to travel all around Ireland starting in early June without making hotel reservations? Ya know....just winging it. We did that in Europe in the early 90s, and it was fine but we're not sure now. Thanks for any information you may provide.

we are doing a simalur road trip next month. We are planning on not making any hotel reservations since we don't know where are going to end up everyday. Did you ever run into and problems getting a room without reservations?

Pity you skipped Waterford, it's the oldest city in Ireland!

Banzai touring. Eegit.

Dear fellow Aussies, what a gutsy decision you made to pack the family up and leave the lucky country. I came across your blog whilst searching for a new Europe experience and loved your 18 day Italy, France, Spain drive itinerary and seriously believe I don't need to look any further for that trip. We are also doing Ireland so here I am, another ready made journey which covers a lot of what we had heard about. Keep living the dream and thank you so much for your generosity of time and sharing your personal journey I couldn't think of a better education for your kids. Safe travels, warm regards Carol Logue, Perth WA

Very nice. You can put on Your trip map Connemara last celtic Bastion with Irish leng. and Ring of Kerry Irish Florida, Hindi Casimir or French Riviera - two places wich evrb. mast see.

I loved reading your story of Ireland, beautiful photos! I visited many of the same stops! You can read more about it here: http://natashaoutsidethelines.blogspot.ca/2017/01/spending-pot-of-gold-in-ireland.html

Your Ireland trip looked lovely - thank you for sharing! I am thinking about taking an Ireland trip with my boyfriend this upcoming Aug/Sept 2017. Asking your advice --- would you add or delete any stops in this itinerary? This would be our first time (maybe only time) visiting Ireland so we're trying to make the most of it. We found your trip to be fairly inclusive of many of the attractions so I'm just wondering if you would change anything now in hindsight. Thanks in advance for your help! Ashley

As an ex Professional Photographer, some one in this family has some serious experience with cameras. Cheers Jon Watts

Hello! In which month did you travel around Ireland? I cant see it :) Thanks a lot!

Sounds lovely! We are looking to book an Ireland road trip next year! How did you plan the accommodations? We’re they planned or did you stumble upon gem as you came to the next city?

Hello! Thank you for sharing details of your lovely road trip! Could you please post when did you go there? We are considering traveling there early May, and the weather is a bit of concern. Also, how old are your kids so you could use the BubbleBum? I thought about using BubbleBum for our 4 y.o., but looks like Irish laws "recommend" not using a booster until a kid is 5 y.o. I am thus confused whether it is a requirement or just a recommendation. Thanks a lot!

Loved your article. Gonna save this for later reading. Heading to Ireland in October. Thank you for all the info.

This guide is really fantastic for the road trip lovers.

Your blog and photos are wonderful, thank you for all the helpful information! My husband and I are planning a trip to Ireland and are trying to figure out the best route. I noticed on Day 10 that you went from Londonderry to Galway. Google maps has that as a 4 hour (approximately) trip.. did you find it cumbersome to do that long of a drive in one day? We are thinking to go from the Giant's Causeway area to Sligo in one day but don't want to over do it. Thank you!

This was great info, thanks for sharing! May I ask what month you traveled in and did you find the bnbs as you traveled or were they predetermined? Thanks!

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The Ultimate One Week Road Trip Itinerary for Ireland

T he island of Ireland is split into two with the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom. Even with Brexit there is no passport control or immigration when traveling between the two regions of the island.

In this 7 or 8 days itinerary we drove a total of 1,100 miles (1,800km) and gas cost a total of 160 euros. With only one week in Ireland it is impossible to see everything, but gives you enough time to see the main attractions and highlights across the island. Several of the days were more driving focused than others to squeeze all of Ireland in one week.

While it took us 8 days in Ireland to drive around the island and enjoy the entire itinerary below it is possible to do it as a 7 day itinerary to Ireland, you just have to wake up and get ready first thing each morning, as there is no time to sleep in.

Renting a car in Dublin

How much does it cost to rent a car in ireland, do i need extra car insurance in ireland, what type of car should i rent in ireland, day 1: streets of dublin, day 2: cobh – cork – killarney, day 3: killarney – the dingle peninsula – limerick, day 4: limerick & cliffs of moher – galway, day 5: erris head – downpatrick head – sligo, day 6: castle classiebawn – sliabh liag – glenveagh castle, day 7: northern ireland: dunluce castle, giant’s causeway & belfast, day 8: last day dublin.

Before renting a car in Ireland it is important to know that in Ireland and Northern Ireland you drive on the left side of the road. Our rental car even had a reminder sticker right above the windshield, but it was not our first time driving on the left, so we had no issues. It does take an extra second to remember especially when making turns and driving on an empty road.

We recommend renting a car only for your time outside of Dublin, as within Dublin parking is limited and expensive. Honestly walking between attractions is often quicker. Overnight parking costs upwards of 15 euro near the city center and that is with a discounted rate through the hotel. It is simply not worth the hassle of having a rental car in Dublin, only rent it for when you are leaving the city.

Because we spent the first two nights in Dublin we rented a car from Europcar picking up and dropping off at the Dublin City Centre, Spencer Dock location.

Rental cars in Ireland are relatively cheap compared to other countries that we have rented cars. For a 6 day rental it cost about 180 euro for a Hybrid Toyota Corolla. Had we opted for a smaller vehicle it would have only cost 100 for the 6 day car rental.

The one note of caution for renting a car in Ireland is the required special insurance coverage information to use our credit card rental car insurance that specifically states there is coverage in the Republic of Ireland. It is a simple phone call to the credit card but you might need to explain specifically what you need to the customer support as it goes beyond the normal coverage documentation.

To drive to Northern Ireland is well there is an additional 30 euro fee as it is part of the United Kingdom, with no real explication for the fee other than the rental company would like more money. We only added the Northern Ireland fee in the middle of our road trip via because we did know if the weather would be good enough to warrant the additional driving.

Additional car insurance is required in Ireland and is expensive. We read that If booking through a third party online, the additional insurance they offer is not actually accepted in Ireland and you will need to get insurance coverage directly with the rental car company, which can cost 20-30 euros per day.

Even with full CDW coverage through our credit card we were required to put a 5,000 euro hold on the card in case of any damage. Make sure you have enough credit available on your credit card for the duration of the car rental until the hold is released after retiring the car.

There are several questions to think about when renting a car in Ireland. The first is what size car should you need to rent in Ireland. With narrow roads, tight historic city centers, and limited parking spots, it is best to opt for the smallest car that your group comfortably fits in.

With three people, one checked bag and two carry on bags we chose a Toyota Corolla and the trunk was absolutely full. If you are traveling with two people and less luggage an even smaller car, like the Volkswagen Polo is enough.

7 or 8 Day (one week) road trip itinerary to Ireland and Northern Ireland

Since we have two full days in Dublin split between the start and end of our Ireland road trip, our first day in Dublin was spent mostly strolling along the streets of Dublin along the River Liffey. After dropping our luggage of at our hotel we began exploring Dublin on foot.

We started out walking through the relaxing Saint Stephen’s green park to enjoy some of the bright orange and yellow autumn foliage that was at its peak during our visit. There is also a small memorial in the park dedicated to the peaceful defenders of human rights around the world which is interesting to experience and read.

Heading towards the center of town we passed The Umbrellas Dublin which are colorful umbrellas hanging across the road, effectively in an ally between a few bars and casinos. While it does make for a cute photo spot, it is not really worth visiting if you have to go too far out of the way.

We then made our way to the campus of Ireland’s oldest university, Trinity College Dublin . While it is probably most famous for the Trinity College Library and see the Book of Kells, we opted to just walk through the grounds as it was several hours before the next available tour.

After that we walked into the Temple Bar neighborhood which is probably most famous for The Temple Bar Pub . We had stop inside to experience the bustling atmosphere, live Irish music, and of course get our first, and maybe most expensive, pint of Guinness in Ireland.

Tired from our overnight flight to Ireland we wandered back to our hotel trying to pass through as many beautiful and peaceful neighborhood streets as we could. We stayed at the historic Harcourt Hotel , which is situated an approximately 20 minute walk south of most of the top attractions in Dublin. We read complaints online of the adjacent nightclub being loud, but staying in the middle of the week we encountered no issues ourselves.

Waking up early in the morning I picked up our rental car from the Europcar Dublin City Centre, Spencer Dock location as soon as it opened at 7:30AM to get as much out our day as possible.

After packing up our luggage we began the 4 hour, 170 mile (270km) drive to Cobh . Traffic was relatively light during this drive, but being the first day driving in a new country, the drive did take a little longer as I was getting a feel for the flow of traffic.

Arriving in Cobh, we parked along Spy Hill road for the iconic view of the colorful “Deck of Cards” Houses with St. Colman’s Cathedral in the background. From this viewpoint it is mostly holding your camera above a stone wall to get a beautiful photograph. We then walked around the block to the small West View Park where you can get a similar view, but we do recommend both viewpoints as the park is at the same level as the Deck of Cards houses, so you can’t see the full cathedral.

We then made our way over to St. Colman’s Cathedral where we took a look inside this iconic church and enjoyed panoramic views across downtown Cobh and the entire port. On our way out of Cobh we drove down the main street and stopped for a few minutes to explore some shops before driving on to Cork.

On the way to Cork we stopped at the Blackrock Castle Observatory , which was unfortunately closed when we visited, but it still makes for a beautiful photo, from the edge of the parking lot and right along the water.

We spent the rest of the afternoon exploring Downtown Cork on foot walking along Paul St, Drawbridge St, and along both sides of the River Lee on Merchant’s Quay and St Patrick’s Quay. We stopped for an early dinner at Gallagher’s Cork on MacCurtain Street where you will find a wide range of restaurant options.

Since it was already dark by this point and we still have much of Ireland to explore, we continued driving the 90 minutes west to Killarney, where we checked into The Heights Hotel Killarney to get some rest after a long day of driving.

We started off with an early morning hike in Killarney National Park to the Torc Waterfall . It is only a 200 meter walk along a paved path to the waterfall which makes it perfect for every type of visitor. There are additional walking paths through the wooded areas and along Muckross Lake, but did not look as interesting to us.

We made a quick stop at the Ross Castle to enjoy the grounds of this 15th-century. The interior is closed during the winter, when we visited, so could only enjoy the amazing exterior of the Ross Castle.

We then drove 40 miles (60km) out along the scenic Dingle Peninsula stopping at several viewpoints with breathtaking views of the water and Inch Beach. We stopped in the city of Dingle to walk through the colorful fishing village. Make sure to stop by the famous Murphy’s Ice Cream shop and try our favorite homemade ice cream flavor, Dingle Sea Salt flavor.

Making our way out to the end of the peninsula our next stop was Coumeenoole Beach , with its pristine golden sand surrounded by jagged cliffs. It makes for beautiful photos from every angle. Just be careful if you walk around on the beach as it is narrow and relatively flat, which means the turbulent waves can come in quickly, trapping you out there.

From here you can also hike up to Dunmore Head , which is described as the most westerly point In Europe, nearest point to the Blasket Islands. It is also now famously known for being featured in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Based on our limited time and reviews from other visitors, Dunmore Head should be visited if you have the time, but is only really worth it if you are a big Star Wars fan, as there are more beautiful spots to focus on in the region.

Our last stop on Dingle is the iconic Dunquin Pier with its two picturesque pyramid shaped rocks jutting out of the water right beyond the pier. While our favorite photos were actually from atop the cliffs, it is definitely worth walking down to the pier, which serves as which serves as the departure point for the Blasket Island ferry during the summer season.

We then had a 3 hour drive back into the mainland of Ireland, heading north to Limerick. We made a last minute decision to drive the same road out of the Dingle Peninsula to avoid driving through the mountainous Conor Pass to the other side of the peninsula, as we could see heavy rain storms forming.

Checking into the luxurious George Hotel Limerick City , we called it a night as it continued to rain all evening.

We spent the morning walking through Downtown Limerick, primarily walking along the calm River Shannon. The two main highlights you must visit in Limerick are King John’s Castle and Saint Mary’s Cathedral . We spent most of our time just strolling down the streets enjoying our only relaxed morning during the whole Ireland road trip itinerary.

A two hour drive northwest of Limerick is one of Ireland’s most famous attractions, the Cliffs of Moher . When you arrive make sure to head to the main car park on the opposite side of the road from the cliffs. Entrance tickets are €12 per adult, paid for when you park. From there make your way across the street and walk your way up to the top of the cliffs on the right hand side. After enjoying the panoramic views from this angle walk back down, sticking to the cliff edge to the southern end to get multiple perspectives of this breathtaking scenery.

Since the entrance tickets is technically for the parking, you can park a bit south of the Cliffs of Moher Experience at the Cliffs of Moher Liscannor Walk parking lot near Hag’s Head for only €5. The walking path along the cliffs connects between the two, and is open for anyone to walk through. However, this does make you walk a 7km more round trip along the cliffs as the best views are from the northern side.

After 3 hours exploring the Cliffs of Moher, we drove to the nearby village of Doolin which is home to the now Instagram famous pink cottage. Inside is a sweater shop with a great range of high quality merino wool products at the lowest prices we saw around Ireland.

With some new merino wool items in hand, it was a 90 minute drive north to Downtown Galway . After checking in to the chic Western Hotel in Galway we spent the evening walking around Galway and into many of the cute shops lining the streets.

We started in Eyre Square where the Christmas Markets were in full swing by mid-November. We walked down the pedestrian roads through the heart of the Latin Quarter . The route is relatively straight but the road changes names four times during the 10 minute walk from William St, Shop St, High St, to Quay St.

The next morning started off with a 3 hour drive north to County Mayo until we reached Erris Head Loop Walk . It is a 5km walking loop that starts off walking through sheep pasture and then takes you along the rugged west Irish coastline. The route passes near the small ragged Llandavuck Island, which is the perfect place for a photoshoot.

We encountered many wet and muddy patches along the route, so highly recommend wearing waterproof boots. It is also important to remember that the trail starts off cutting through private pasture, respect the owners land and sheep. The walk took us 2 hours in total including stopping for photos.

Back at the car we drove an hour east to Downpatrick Head where you can see the picturesque Dún Briste Sea Stack . We recommend visiting close to sunset as the golden hour glow is out of this world. Standing on the top of the cliffs can be windy, so a jacket is a must. There are no fences, but don’t go too close to the edge, as you cannot see the erosion happening under your feet.

Unsure of how far we would be able to drive at the end of the day, we made a last minute reservation at Castle Dargan Hotel in Sligo, which was still an hour and a half drive from Downpatrick Head. This luxury hotel is nestled on 170 acres estate in a modern renovation of a 18th century Castle. Honestly we wish we had heard about this hotel in advance so we could spend more time at this luxurious countryside oasis.

Remember, with only 8 days in Ireland driving between destinations in the evening can be a good way to maximize the time. Just be careful as roadways in some areas of Ireland are narrow and winding with limited visibility if it starts raining.

Day six is a driving heavy day with over 6 hours in total driving time throughout the day, as we had to make it halfway across Northern Ireland, to make sure we had enough time to see the top attractions in Northern Ireland in just one day.

A one hour drive north of Siglo is the fairytale looking Castle Classiebawn. Although you can’t visit the castle, we stopped at the Castle Classiebawn Viewpoint located across the cliffs, where it is safe to pull off and snap some photos. If you have a telephoto lens or zoom on your phone, now is the time to bring it out.

We then continued driving 2 hours north along the rugged coastline to Sliabh Liag , the second highest sea cliffs in Ireland and some of the highest sea cliffs in Europe. Parking costs €5 for 2hrs and you can drive all the way to the main viewpoint during the off season. Otherwise you have to pay for the shuttle or walk several kilometers.

The cliffs are significantly higher than the Cliffs of Moher, but each offer its own set of beauty. From the viewpoint parking lot at Sliabh Liag are some of the best views. While you can hike up well into the mountains from here, we recommend only about 20-30 minutes uphill to get a nice range of angles to enjoy the view.

After about an hour at Sliabh Liag we continued driving east for two hours until we reached Glenveagh Castle , a late-19th century castle built along the idyllic Lough Beagh, now within the Glenveagh National Park. From the Visitor Center you can take a shuttle bus to the castle for €3 round trip per adult. We arrived just in time for the last shuttle heading out.

Arriving to the castle with only about 20 minutes we quickly paid the €7 entrance fee per person to start our self guided tour. Since the staff had to wait for the last shuttle as well, they let us stay and take our time walking through the castle as they were closing up. We spent about 45 minutes in total walking through the castle, but could have easily spent twice the time if we had it. Just as we finished up the last return shuttle was arriving and it was back to the car to keep driving.

We drove for another 2 hours east in the dark, entering into Northern Ireland until we reached our hotel for the night, ibis Coleraine Riverside . The hotel was comfortable, but only recommended for a short stay as it was showing signs of its age.

Now entering into Northern Ireland from Ireland means we had entered the United Kingdom and while there is no border or passport control, it does mean prices are in British Pounds, not Euros like Ireland uses.

Just a 20 minute drive north of Coleraine is Magheracross View Point with panoramic views of the Causeway Coast’s stunning landscape. If you walk back along the road a little bit you can see Elephant Rock which looks like an elephant jutting out of the cliffs and into the water.

Right next door is the medieval Dunluce Castle which now sits in partial ruin. Tickets are £6 per adult. Walking through this romantic Irish Castle offered many unique photoshoot spots both of the castle itself and the surrounding cliffs. Try to arrive early as when tour buses start to arrive, the complex quickly fills with people.

Then it was on to the most popular attraction in Northern Ireland and one of the most iconic spots in the entire island, Giant’s Causeway , just a 20 minute drive further east. The unique landscape of Giant’s Causeway consists of tens of thousands basalt columns in hexagonal shapes, as tall as 40ft.

Using the main parking lot at the visitor center requires purchasing the visitor center experience in advance, which is not required to visit the Giant’s Causeway. This experience costs £15.50 per adult and includes closer parking, a guided tour, and access to the exhibits.

Otherwise add the Causeway Coast Way Car Park to your GPS at 60 Causeway Road where it costs £10 to park. It is just an extra 5 minute walk to the start of the Giant’s Causeway trail. From here it is 1km walk, about 20 minutes down a paved road to the Giant’s Causeway. There is an option of a shuttle bus which costs £1 per person each direction.

The main spots to visit are the Grand Causeway , Wishing Chair , and Giant’s Boot . There is also a small rock mound that juts out into the water as the most instagrammable spot, just be polite with your time as everyone wants to get a photo here. There are plenty of other spots if you just want to sit and enjoy the view.

You can walk around on the basalt columns, but be careful as they can be slippery, especially when wet or near the water. There are also staff there for your safety so please respect them if they ever make any requests.

We then continued on to Downtown Belfast which is a two hour drive from Giant’s Causeway, making it the perfect day trip from Belfast if you are staying there. We just spent an hour walking around the streets of Belfast, making sure to visit the beautiful Belfast City Hall and many of the surrounding buildings with its impressive facades. After exploring for a bit it was a two hour drive back south from Belfast to Dublin.

Arriving back to Dublin in the early evening we wanted to experience a bit Irish culture and music before the end of our road trip. We attended the Celtic Nights Dinner & Show , which included a three-course meal off a set menu, for €49 per adult. It was a good way to squeeze the experience traditional Irish dance, Irish music, and Irish food into one evening, but felt like we could have experienced a better version of each one outside of this tourist attraction.

For our last night in Dublin we decided to stay on the other side of the historic center at Staycity Aparthotels, Dublin, City Centre located a few blocks north of the River Liffey. Since we arrived to late in the evening to return the car, we had to park it at a garage several blocks from the hotel, at a discounted rate.

For our last day in Ireland we still had to check off some of the best attractions in Dublin off our list. But first, I dropped of the rental car back at the Europcar Dublin City Centre, Spencer Dock location. Two important notes about this rental location are that there is no after hours drop off offered, and they have limited weekend hours, only opening Saturday from 8 AM–1 PM and Sunday 10 AM–1 PM.

We started off at the Dublin Castle , which from 1204 until 1922 it served as the seat of British rule in Ireland. Since Ireland’s independence it has still been used for state ceremonies, with Ireland’s presidents inaugurated in St Patrick’s Hall. Our favorite rooms in the castle are The throne room, The Battleaxe Staircase, the State Drawing Room, The Chapel Royal, and of course St. Patrick’s Hall. Self guided tickets are €8 per adult.

Our next stop is the iconic St. Patrick’s Cathedral , Ireland’s largest Cathedral dating back over 800 years. This massive ornate church is well worth the visit and €10 entrance fee per adult.

Dublin once had a vibrant distilling industry district called the Golden Triangle, with business declining dramatically in the early 20th century. Teeling Whiskey Distillery was the first new distillery in Dublin for over 125 years, with an old family distilling knowledge dating back to 1782. Here you can take a guided tasting tour, learning the history, distilling process, and of course how to taste whiskey starting at €20 per person. You can also upgrade your experience with additional small batch and single malt tastings.

No visit to Dublin or Ireland in general would be complete without the Guinness Storehouse Experience . With tickets starting from €20 per adult, experience the multi-story self guided tour to learn about the brewing process and history of Guinness, entry to Guinness Tasting Rooms, ending at the crowded Gravity Bar overlooking Dublin, with an included pint of Guinness.

In my personal opinion, as someone who has been on brewery tours before and has brewed my own beer, most of the experience was built around an amusement park vibe. It is definitely something worth doing once, but will probably not be going back when I am in Ireland again.

That brings us to the end of the ultimate one week road trip itinerary to Ireland, while we stayed one more night in Dublin and left first thing the next morning, you can also get a flight out the same afternoon or evening.

With just 8 days in Ireland it is impossible to see all the attractions, but we were able to visit many of the top things to do in Ireland. We look forward to visiting again soon to visit some more out of the way natural landscapes, and of course taste some more Guinness.

If you have any suggestions of things to do in Ireland or your favorite hidden gems that are missing from this road trip itinerary, please let us know in the comments below so we can check them out ourselves on our next visit to Ireland.

The Ultimate One Week Road Trip Itinerary for Ireland

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Your Ireland Vacation

Visit the Emerald Isle and experience the luck of the Irish for yourself with a jam-packed Ireland vacation package. Start your adventure in Dublin , where the Guinness flows freely, and the craic is at its finest. You could visit the Guinness Storehouse to learn how the good stuff is made, wander around the famous Trinity College, and even do a literary pub crawl in the footsteps of the legends inspired by the city. To dive deeper into Ireland, potter around the harbor town of Galway, kiss the Blarney Stone at Blarney Castle a few minutes from Cork, or drive the spectacular Ring of Kerry around the Iveragh Peninsula on your travel package to Ireland.

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Dublin showing religious elements, heritage architecture and a church or cathedral

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Ireland vacation.

West of Great Britain, Ireland is known for its abundant rain, rolling hills and rugged, meandering coastline. It’s here you can experience enchanting culture and folklore, music and welcoming locals.

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While you’ll find 6,634 hotels here starting as low as $127 a night, if you bundle your hotel and flight bookings through Expedia, you’ll score better prices. Create a personalized Ireland Vacation Package and add extras to suit your needs, like car rental or activities. For example, if staying in Dublin, consider a day tour to Blarney Castle you can book it when securing your hotel and flight package.

Your Ireland Vacation Itinerary

Day 1-2: Many people arrive via Dublin Airport. Once you’ve found your hotel and freshened up, make your way to some of Dublin’s most popular attractions, like Trinity College, St Patrick’s Cathedral and one of Ireland’s oldest pubs, the Brazen Head.

Day 3-6: Next, book a zippy rental car to explore Ireland’s rugged Atlantic coastline, which includes the famous Cliffs of Moher . You can also get a ferry to the dramatic and desolate Aran Islands.

Day 7-8: Finish your road trip in Cork, Ireland's second-largest city. On your way here stop in vibrant towns such as Galway and Limerick and explore the fascinating Burren National Park and stunning Ring of Kerry.

Ireland Information

Ireland’s National Day, better known as St Patrick’s Day, is celebrated March 17 each year. Numerous parades are held around the country, with the largest in Dublin.

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The County Galway is a massive region in west Ireland where you'll find scenic countryside and stunning historical sites. Old castles are prominent throughout the area, with many dating back many centuries. Of course, the natural features here are dominated by vibrant green grasslands and bright blue lakes. Numerous monasteries are set up throughout the region, with impressive architectural stylings.

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County Cork is an unforgettable region in southern Ireland where you'll find urban attractions and tranquil countryside. However, no matter which you visit, you won't have to go far to discover fascinating historic sites, from the massive Saint Fin Barre's Cathedral to quaint churches in modest parishes. Some of the ruins in this area date back to the 13th century and are still standing well enough.

Experience the unique personality of a Dublin vacation

Dublin is an iconic Irish city known primarily for its unique atmosphere and personality. Known as its craic, you'll find a satisfying combination of intelligent and sarcastic humor embodying the banter here. The phenomenon has influenced writers and artists throughout the ages, and you can even see how that affected the history of the town more directly in the local museums.

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Frequently asked questions, discover the most popular places to visit in ireland, trinity college.

Walk the cobbled lanes of Ireland’s oldest university, alma mater to literary greats and home of the precious Book of Kells.

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Watch a game of rugby or soccer and take a tour of the changing rooms and players’ tunnel to peek behind the curtain.

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A tour of this pint-shaped hall in a historic brewery provides an intoxicating journey through the making of Ireland’s signature drink.

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22 Travel Tips For Ireland For First-Time Visitors

Categories Travel Guides

Going to Ireland for the first time? This lush green country, aptly named ‘ Emerald Isle ’ sure packs a punch when it comes to attractions.

There are diverse landscapes, ancient archeological structures, old churches and lots of castles . It’s not the biggest country in the world but daunting nonetheless.

Ireland is an easy country to get around in, the Irish are warm and accommodating, and going there looks like a huge epic adventure. Make the most of your trip by taking into consideration these travel tips for Ireland.

Things you'll find in this article

Travel Tips Before Going to Ireland

Travel tips for staying in ireland , travel tips in eating in ireland , travel tips getting around ireland, travel tips for enjoying ireland .

1. Ireland is a great place to visit any time of the year because of its mild, temperate climate.

However, if you want to be sure that most attractions are accessible or open, the best time to visit is during the shoulder season.

These are months that are in between the peak and low seasons. There’s March to May and September to November . During these months, temperatures are still mild, tourist sites are less congested and you’d definitely enjoy the beauty of the Emerald Isle.

2. Ireland is beautiful at any time of the year but it also has pretty unpredictable weather. Expect rain, even during summer.

It’s best to be always prepared so pack an umbrella, slip-proof shoes, a cardigan, and a waterproof jacket to stay warm and dry. Check out this packing list for Ireland for all seasons .

Dark Hedges, Image by Christine Rogador

3. Don’t forget to bring your adapter plug, especially if you travel with multiple electronic devices.

You would surely want to capture and document your trip so your cellphone and camera needs to be fully charged before you leave your hostel or hotel. Pack your adapter to help save time while in Ireland with a busy itinerary.

4. An essential advice not just when traveling to Ireland but to any other country is to buy travel insurance.

Good travel insurance will protect you and take care of you when you get sick or injured while traveling, as well as during theft and cancellations.

It is pretty much your very own comprehensive protection if anything goes wrong while you’re on vacation. Never go on any trip without it.

5. Make sure to check first if you need a visa to go to Ireland to avoid unnecessary inconveniences. For Philippine passport holders like me, you can check out this guide on how to apply for Ireland Tourist Visa for Filipinos.

6. If you’re looking for an easy way to save some cash while in Ireland, it’s best to stay in a hostel. They’re cheap, give you access to the bare necessities and usually includes free breakfast. Check out this list of places to stay by cities .

7. However, even if it’s slightly pricier, a bed and breakfast is a great option as well. You get to stay in a homey atmosphere, and has additional opportunities to interact with locals.

Bed and breakfasts and guesthouses also often serve Irish food instead of getting them in pricier restaurants outside. These accommodations are often in old or historic houses, some are even in castles.

8. You can also combine your accommodation choices. For example, stay in a hostel when in big cities like Dublin or Belfast, then book a guesthouse then in smaller cities or towns.

9. Take advantage of the free food, especially free breakfast in your accommodations. Be sure to eat right before going anywhere.

10. Ireland has some cool low-cost local supermarkets. Take advantage of these by buying some basic pick-me-ups like canned or bottled juice, cereal bars, digestive biscuits, and crisps.

They come in handy when you get hungry in between exploring sights or during long-distance trips to the countryside.

11. A great way to save some cash is to eat early, whether it’s lunch or dinner. Many restaurants in Ireland offer budget lunch nor dinner to the’early birds’ and they’re cheaper.

There isn’t a lot of options though as they’re usually set meals. It is another way to experience local cuisine, too!

12. Try at least any of the food and drinks that Ireland is known for. Have the traditional Irish breakfast , some stew, bangers, and mash or even fish and chips.

Have a pint of Guinness, a glass of whiskey or Irish coffee. Trying these definitely adds to the experience.

13. Ireland has excellent public transportation, so take advantage of it especially in the big cities. Most offer free wifi, have friendly drivers and are known to always arrive on time.

14. If you want to save more, get a LEAP card . This is a card you can top up to use on Ireland’s public transportation. With the card, you get discounts on fares compared to cash tickets. It’s very useful in Dublin and Belfast as well as Cork , Galway , Limerick , and Waterford .

You can also get a Dublin Pass that will give you access to over 30 attractions in Dublin for free and a hop-off and hop-on bus tour. You can get it Dublin Pass .

15. If you’d like to explore Ireland past the big cities at your own pace, it is best to rent a car. It’s quite easy to rent a car in Ireland and in the long run, it will be your cheapest option.

Renting (or hiring) a car is also a fantastic way to see most of the Emerald Isle as there’s a lot of scenic drives going from one city or town to another. If you’re unfamiliar with driving rules in Ireland, you can check out this guide for driving in Ireland .

Where to Book: Rentalcars.

16. Try ridesharing, which is another lowcost means of transportation for visitors in Ireland.

Here, you only have to pass a small background check to get approved. The drivers who rideshare are also registered and vetted. Once approved, the driver will pick you up.

With this option, you only need to pitch in for gas. Two good ridesharing apps you can try are BlaBlaCar and CarpoolWorld

17. Be sure to get a Heritage card — it’s a card you can to up and gives you access to some of the best attractions across Ireland. Specifically, the Heritage card gives free admission to site managed by the Office of Public Works.

These include Dublin Castle , Ennis Friary, the Iveagh Gardens, Glenveagh National Park, Killarney National Park, Ross Castle , and more. This is valid for a year so you can explore as much as you want here.

18. When in cafes, restaurants or even spas, know that Ireland does not have a set culture on tipping. However, a few euros will be very much appreciated easily especially for exceptional service. Check out this tipping tips for Ireland.

19. Don’t drink too much when in a pub. If you’re trying to save but want to experience Ireland’s pub culture, go ahead and order a pint of Guinness. Pub drinks are a bit pricer, so stick to just one pint.

A fantastic way to do this is to find a pub with a great atmosphere and especially one with a band that features traditional Irish music. Then, you can order one drink and enjoy the rest of the evening

20. Talk to as many locals as possible — in your hotel or bed and breakfast, a pub or wherever you happen to be. The Irish are a friendly, accommodating lot and are happy to help out visitors to their country.

21. You should absolutely visit Northern Ireland . It’s a long drive bit truly worth it. Visit Belfast, drive along the Causeway Coastal Route or see the gorgeous town of Portrush .

22. Ireland is 32,595 square miles (84,421 square kilometers) and is packed full of sights. Pace yourself and don’t squeeze ten attractions in a single day or two.

When in Ireland, you may opt to visit just a few sights or try around two interesting activities in a day. Be sure to really enjoy and savor each place you visit.

Hi, I’m Christine – a full-time traveler and career woman. Although I’m from the Philippines, my location independent career took me to over 40 countries for the past 8 years. I also lived in 3 continents – from the Caribbean, South East Asia to Africa. But despite living in several countries, my love for Ireland remains the same. A country that had been a part of my life since I was 14 because of my love for Irish music and bands. Ireland Travel Guides was born because of this passion and hopefully, in some little ways, this website will be able to help you on your next trip to Ireland.

Céad míle fáilte!

Welcome to Travel Around Ireland!

I’m Cath, a Dublin girl, avid traveller, and lover of all things Ireland.

I want to help you plan a trip to Ireland that will be unforgettable and help you fall hopelessly in love with the Emerald Isle.

With my local expert knowledge, you can experience the best that Ireland has to offer and create a trip of a lifetime.

The Emerald Isle will always be home to me, despite now being an Irish expat and living abroad.

I return to Ireland every year to see my family, and to explore the far corners of the Emerald Isle so I can share my experiences with YOU.

Come explore this beautiful corner of Europe with me! Let’s discover Ireland together!

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Taking the train in Ireland – what you need to know

Apr 19, 2024 • 11 min read

Iranrod Eireann. Rosslare to Dublin line. Woodenbridge golf course

Traveling by train is one of Ireland ’s great, if under-appreciated, pleasures.

It’s a small island and the rail network is limited, so no journey is especially long – but riding the rails across the country is one of the loveliest ways to enjoy the rolling countryside.

Compared to its European counterparts, Irish trains aren’t especially spectacular, but this is a country that doesn’t need high-speed or sleeper trains: you roll along at a maximum of 160km/h (99mph) and before you know it you’re on the other side of the island.

The particular nature of Irish demographics has shaped train travel in Ireland: with around a quarter of the population clustered in the greater Dublin region, it makes sense that most train journeys begin or end in the capital. In Northern Ireland the same is true of Belfast .

Irish trains might not be especially quick or super luxurious, but they’re an efficient and eco-friendly way of exploring the island – so long as your explorations are focused on the major cities and towns. Here is our essential guide to train travel in Ireland.

Overhead shot of trains on rails at a depot

The lowdown on rail travel in Ireland

Irish trains are efficient, relatively frequent and usually on time. Irish Rail/Iarnród Éireann operates the entire network of trains in the Republic, from intercity trains linking the major urban centers to the busy commuter network that services the greater Dublin region.

There are two main lines into the west and three into the south and southwest; spurs off the main lines connect to a host of smaller towns throughout the country. There’s also a line to Belfast, from where Translink services connect the city with the Antrim Coast and Derry (Londonderry) .

Within the greater Dublin region, a network of commuter services connects the capital with a host of suburbs and dormitory towns in the surrounding counties. Dublin’s coastline between the northside suburbs of Howth and Malahide, and Greystones in County Wicklow is served by DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transport) trains.

There are some notable gaps in the country’s rail network, with no services in counties Donegal , Monaghan and Cavan , and no trains into West Cork . Some towns – like Buttevant in Cork or Annacotty in Limerick – are on the rail line but they’re bypassed as they have no functioning station.

Ireland’s bigger train stations – including Cork , Limerick , Galway , Sligo, Belfast and the two in Dublin – are all pretty well stocked when it comes to picking up supplies and other assorted sundries for your journey. Most other stations will have a small shop.

A train crosses a viaduct below a dramatic cloudy sky

Train tickets are relatively good value

The good news about traveling by train in Ireland is that it is relatively inexpensive compared to train travel in some places, such as the UK, for example. If you buy it online, a standard one-way fare between Dublin Heuston and Kent Station in Cork costs €30–35, and around €55 in first class.

Online is the best place to buy your tickets for train travel in the Irish Republic. Not only do you get the best fares (with savings of up to 50% compared to buying the ticket at the station), but you can purchase your ticket up to 90 days in advance and reserve a seat when you do.

You have the option of collecting your bought ticket from a machine at the station as you’re boarding, or downloading a QR code at the point of purchase. If you wait to buy your ticket at the station, you’ll pay significantly more and have to get there early to queue up at the ticket kiosk.

For travel in Northern Ireland, you’re better off buying the ticket at the station as only a limited number of tickets are available online. Show up a short time before your intended departure time and just buy your ticket there.

Only a handful of services offer first class, but upgrading is relatively inexpensive. On average, expect to pay around €20–25 more to sit in first. There are three kinds of first class service on Irish trains. CityGold is on direct Dublin to Cork services, and includes an onboard host and a complimentary newspaper on selected early morning services. The Enterprise service between Dublin and Belfast offers the same, plus a fine breakfast. Premier Class is similar, but is only available on direct services between Dublin and Tralee and some Dublin to Cork trains.

A train runs through a village near the edge of the sea

Some discounts and offers apply

There are discounted fares for children and young adults aged between 19 and 25, as long as they have a valid discount card. Under fives and those aged 66 and over travel for free.

The commuter network in the Greater Dublin area has a fare cap of €6 for travel between the capital and a host of towns in the surrounding counties.

There are two rail passes aimed at visitors. The Trekker Four Day (€88) offers unlimited travel for adults on all Irish Rail services on four consecutive days from the date of issue. The Explorer (adult/child €128/64) provides five days of travel on all services in a 15-day window.

However, before investing in either, be sure that you plan on making the most out of it. The limited rail network means that connections are limited and traveling between some destinations involves backtracking: Cork and Waterford are both on the south coast, but to get from one to the other means travelling to Limerick, while Sligo and Westport are only 140km (87 miles) apart along the west coast, but to go between them by train you’ll have to travel through Dublin – which is on the other side of the country.

In Northern Ireland, the Sunday Fun Day Tracker ticket gives passengers unlimited train travel on a Sunday for £9 (£4.50 for children). Tickets are available from all ticket offices, the mLink ticketing app and from the conductor on the train.

These are the busiest times to travel by train

Unsurprisingly, peak times for train travel coincide with busy rush hour periods. Early morning services to Dublin from cities including Cork, Galway and Limerick can be busy, especially if the train is due to arrive in Dublin around the start of the working day. Friday evening trains departing Dublin can also be quite busy. However, as online bookings also include the option of booking a seat, you’ll never have to stand.

The commuter network is busiest on weekdays from 7am to 9am and from 4:30pm to 6:30pm as thousands of people travel in and out of work. You can’t prebook seats on these services, so plenty of people do end up standing. Keep an eye out on changing schedules, especially for weekend and holiday travel, as frequencies diminish.

The train network is limited, but it has some benefits over road travel

There are no rail links to any Irish airport, which means you’re relying on taxis, private cars or buses once you arrive in the country. Irish ferry ports are better connected to rail lines, however, and you can catch trains in Rosslare, Dublin and Larne; there is no rail link to Belfast Port.

If you want to reach the more remote corners of the island, then the Irish rail network is quite limited, and a car will give you the flexibility you need. However, rental fees can be very expensive and fuel is another considerable cost, with the price of unleaded and diesel hovering between €1.75 and €2 a liter. Parking is also pricey in all urban centers, especially Dublin.

Traveling by bus is the cheapest way to get around, but it can be a slow business, as most make lots of stops along the way. There are some direct express services, but they are at the mercy of traffic, which can also add considerable time to a journey compared to traveling by train. Plus, buses don’t have bathrooms, with those traveling longer distances relying entirely on rest stops.

A train passes through autumnal countryside

On board facilities vary depending on the type of train

There are two kinds of Irish trains: InterCity and commuter. InterCity trains are all the same – relatively modern with comfortable seats in standard class and fancier recliners in first – and they travel at speeds of up to 160km/h (99mph). There’s no journey in Ireland that is longer than 2½ to 3 hours. Commuter trains are slightly older, with less comfortable seats; older trains are used on some small-distance spur lines in rural areas and are very basic (facilities include seats and a toilet).

While Ireland’s flagship service is the one between Dublin and Cork, the fanciest train is the Enterprise service between Dublin Connolly and Belfast Lanyon Place, which is a joint venture between Irish Rail and Translink. This train is on a par with most services you’ll find in mainland Europe and first class is the most luxurious of any in the country.

All InterCity trains have three-pin sockets at every row where you can plug in a charger or a laptop. Most commuter trains in the greater Dublin area also have sockets. All trains have toilets and there is a cross-network wi-fi service operated by Irish Rail, but it is patchy and inconsistent. Translink has its own wi-fi network, which is accessible on all bus and rail services in the north, but, like in the Republic, you’re at the mercy of signal strength and contention levels.

Food options are pretty limited. There is a trolley service on the Dublin to Cork service, while the Enterprise between Dublin and Belfast operates a full service menu in a dedicated dining car; first class passengers also get a pretty good breakfast as part of their ticket.

Some trains on the Dublin to Cork route have a “quiet carriage” (usually Carriage G, marked in purple when booking) where the use of phones is prohibited and passengers are encouraged to keep noise levels down.

You can bring a bike on any Irish Rail train for free, although there are some restrictions during busy periods (such as sporting fixtures and concerts). The Dublin to Cork line is the only one to have a dedicated bike storage area; all other InterCity trains have (very) limited bicycle spaces within the passenger compartment – it’s not unusual for only two bikes to be allowed into the compartment, so be sure to book in advance. Bikes are not allowed on commuter and DART services during peak hours – before 10am and from 3:30pm to 7pm Monday to Friday.

A train follows a scenic route by the sea

There are many scenic train routes: here are the best

No matter where you are in Ireland you’re going to find a beautiful landscape or two, but some journeys are worth keeping your eyes wide open for.

Dublin to Sligo

Once you’ve gone past the huge suburban sprawl of the greater Dublin area, the landscapes get quite gentle; beyond Mullingar the train skirts alongside the edge of beautiful Lough Owel. For the best views, sit on the left-hand side of the train.

Dublin to Belfast

The Enterprise service is the best in the country, with the most comfortable seats and the best food options – especially in first class. The train skirts alongside the Irish Sea between Malahide and Balbriggan, so be sure to sit on that side as you travel (on the right-hand side if you’re traveling to Belfast).

Derry (Londonderry) to Coleraine

The Translink service between Northern Ireland’s second city and Coleraine is a stunner, a 40-minute journey along the Causeway Coast that comes with beautiful beaches, huge cliffs and unimpeded views out over the North Sea.

Downpatrick to Inch Abbey

It’s only a 10-minute journey, but the trip from Downpatrick in County Down to the monastic ruins of Inch Abbey takes place in a vintage steam train (or a 1960s diesel train) that chugs its way along the line, over the River Quoile and past the drumlin-specked landscape.

Cork to Cobh

One of Ireland’s most scenic trips is the 25-minute trip from Cork City to the seaside town of Cobh , which takes you along the river (sit on the right for the best views), past marshy Harper’s Island and over the bridges on Lough Mahon and the Slatty Water. You can always stop off at Fota and visit the wildlife park there.

Book in advance for wheelchair access to trains

All InterCity services are nominally accessible, but if you do need assistance you will need to book it in advance so that suitable arrangements can be made. This usually means that a conductor will have a ramp ready for wheelchair access, but we have also heard plenty of anecdotal evidence of staff simply lifting a wheelchair onto a train, which depending on the individual can either be a help or an annoying hindrance. Whatever you do, make sure to communicate your requirements before you travel as assistance is not guaranteed otherwise.

For passengers with learning difficulties or any issue where there may be a challenge with communication (such as autism) Irish Rail staff are trained to recognize visual cue cards such as the JAM card , which inform the interlocutor of the holder’s condition. JAM cards are available online or at mainline train stations in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Waterford and Sligo.

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How To Get Around Ireland: The Pros + Cons To Cars, Tours and Public Transport

By Author Keith O'Hara

Posted on Last updated: December 29, 2023

How To Get Around Ireland: The Pros + Cons To Cars, Tours and Public Transport

Deciding how to get around Ireland can be stressful.

Especially if this is your first time visiting and you don’t know the lay of the land.

Over the 34+ years that I’ve lived in Ireland I’ve travelled about by car, train bus, bike and everything in between.

The guide below leans on my many years of getting around Ireland while making every mistake imaginable along the way!

Table of Contents

Some quick need-to-knows about how to get around Ireland

Click to enlarge

Take 30 seconds to read the points below as they’ll get you up-to-speed on how to get around Ireland quickly:

1. Your options are car, bus, train, tour and tram (kinda)

Public transportation in Ireland varies by county-to-county. You’ll find all of the above in Dublin (the capital) and most ‘main’ cities and towns (e.g. Killarney) will have the first four. More info below.

2. If you’re unsure, focus on your planned route

I’d recommend that you don’t even think about how to get around Ireland until you’ve at least mapped out a rough Ireland itinerary . The reason for this is that it may not be possible to do what you want to do without a car (of course, it may turn out that your road trip is completely doable via public transport).

3. There are pros and cons to every mode of transport

Most people (myself included) say that the best way to get around Ireland is by car, but there’s pros and cons to it and every mode of transportation. It’s worth weighing up the pros and cons of each as they’ll ultimately help you decide.

4. Budget will often be a decider

9 times out of 10 budget is the decider to how visitors end up travelling around Ireland. Renting a car in Ireland is often pretty expensive and, if you’re doing Ireland on a budget , the cost of your trip to Ireland will drop dramatically by using buses and trains.

The best way of getting around Ireland boils down to 3 things

Photos via Shutterstock

Deciding how to get around Ireland isn’t a decision to take lightly. Your main mode of transport, where it be a car or a bus, is going to have a massive effect on your trip.

There are three different things to consider when making your decision:

Your experience
Your budget
What you want to see

1. Your experience

The biggest thing to consider about how to get around in Ireland is how the chosen mode of transport is going to affect your overall experience while travelling.

If you’re nervous behind the wheel and you’re driving in Ireland for the first time , will having to drive each day cause you stress and ruin the trip?!

Or maybe you love driving and the thoughts of driving the Ring of Kerry or the Antrim Coast will be the highlight of the trip?!

Or , if getting around Ireland needs to be as stress-free as possible for you, maybe you’re better off booking on an organised tour!

2. Your budget

Another massive consideration for when you’re trying to figure out the best way to travel around Ireland is how much money you have to spend.

Car rental can be expensive if you’re travelling solo. However, it works out nice and reasonable if you’re travelling with a group. Big group tours can be pretty good price-wise, whereas smaller tours can be expensive.

If you’re looking at ways to save money when you visit, hop into our guide to Ireland on a budget . It’s packed with easy ways to save money.

3. What you want to see

Another good way to help you pick the best way to get around Ireland is to write down all of the various places that you want to visit.

If, for example, you’re only visiting big towns or cities in Ireland , public transport will be fine (see our guide to getting around Ireland without a car ).

If you fancy visiting places off the beaten track, a rental car or a private driver (expensive) are your best bests.

At the end of the guide, I’m going to pop down a few different scenarios and recommend what I think are the best modes of transport for each example.

The pros and cons to getting around Ireland by car, tour and public transport

When deciding how to get around in Ireland, it’s worth weighing up the pros and cons to each mode of transport.

Below, you’ll find the advantages and disadvantages of getting around Ireland by bus, train, car and tour.

1. Travelling around Ireland by car

Arguably the best way to travel in Ireland is by car (it’s why our self drive Ireland tours are so popular!).

A car gives you the freedom to go where you want when you want, without having to rely on public transport or tour providers.

Getting around Ireland by car has far more advantages than disadvantages. The main advantage is freedom; being able to go where you want whenever it tickles you fancy makes this a very attractive mode of transport for many.

Freedom and flexibility
It makes planning a trip to Ireland more straightforward
And you can change it as you go if you like
It can work out cheap if there’s a group of you to share costs

Disadvantages

The biggest disadvantages of using a car for getting around Ireland is that it’ll be expensive for solo travellers and it’s likely to make the trip unnecessarily stressful for some drivers.

If you’re on your own, it can be expensive
If you’re a nervous driving, it can make the trip stressful

2. Getting around in Ireland using buses, trains and trams

Public transport in Ireland can be very hit and miss. It’s generally good in the main towns and cities, but services get poorer the more off-the-beaten-path you go.

Now, we’ve published hundreds of Irish road trip guides using only public transport for those of you that want to avoid the planning pains. Here are the pros and cons:

It can be the cheapest option if you’re travelling solo and plan on getting around Ireland on a budget
Trains and buses run frequently in the busier towns and cities in Ireland
It can work out well if you combine it with private tours
Public transport can be unreliable
Trains, in particular, can be expensive if they’re not booked in advance

3. Getting around Ireland with a tour company

Another popular way for getting around Ireland is by using a tour provider that organises all-in tours of Ireland. These tend to be pretty popular and they vary in terms of group size and trip length.

One quick word of warning: if you’re booking a tour of Ireland in advance, make sure to do plenty of research in advance. Be crystal clear on what’s included and what’s left to pay for.

They’ll do all of the hard work
There’s no need to think about car rental, itineraries or any of that craic
It’s less stressful
You’ll be travelling around Ireland with a group of people that you’ll (hopefully) have a laugh with
Most organised tours have experienced guides
Tours, especially the larger ones, tend to be very inflexible
They can be expensive (the smaller tours tend to be far pricier than the larger ones)
You can get stuck with a load of people that irritate you (hopefully this won’t be the case)

4. Using a private driver

If you’re wondering how to travel around Ireland and you have a fat budget, a private driver is arguably the best way to get around Ireland.

If you fancy going down this route, do PLENTY of research – you’re going to be stuck in a very small space with this person for long periods of time – you need to find someone that’s going to enhance your experience and not hinder it.

If you pick the right guide, you’ll tap into a wealth of knowledge
The driver will generally follow your desired route
A private driver is also a handy option for those of you that want to do part of a trip with a guide and part on your own
The most expensive way of travelling around Ireland
You need to do thorough research to ensure that you get the best bang for your buck
If you end up getting a guide that you don’t gel with, you’ll be stuck in a very small space with them each day, which isn’t ideal

5. Combine modes of transport

The best way to get around Ireland, in my opinion, is to combine modes of transport.

This is especially useful for those of you who want to avoid car rental.

1. The public transport and organised tour combination

A combination of public transport and organised tours is going to be a solid option for those of you that can’t (or that don’t want to) rent a car.

Example : you fly into Dublin and you’re there for three nights. You can get around easily on foot and by using buses, the LUAS (a tram) and the DART (train).

You explore the city for two days and take one of the many day trips from Dublin (e.g. Meath).

You take a train to Galway and spend several days there. You can spend day one exploring the city. Day two on an organised tour to Connemara and day three on a day tour to Clare.

2. Rental car and public transport combination

Another solid combination is by using a rental car and public transportation. Let’s say you fly into Belfast. You spend the first day exploring the city.

Then you rent a car for a few days and drive the Causeway Coastal Route and then head on to Donegal.

Or, let’s say you fly into Shannon. You rent a car near the airport and then drive to Kerry. You explore the various peninsulas for a few days before dropping off the car and heading to Killarney.

You spend the day in the national park before taking the train to Dublin and exploring the capital. Or you could take the train to Waterford or Tipperary.

My 2 cents on picking the best way to get around Ireland

Deciding how to get around Ireland can be stressful, as it has such a massive impact on your overall trip.

The easiest way to decide the best transport type for you is to consider:

When you’ve taken the above into account, you’ll then want to map out a rough itinerary ( follow the steps here – they’ll remove stress from the process).

Once you have your route, you’ll be able to determine how to get around. Or, if you don’t want the hassle of planning the itinerary, follow one of our detailed road trip guides .

FAQs about how to get around in Ireland

We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from ‘How to get around Ireland on public transport?’ to ‘What’s the cheapest option?’.

In the section below, we’ve popped in the most FAQs that we’ve received. If you have a question that we haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments section below.

What is the best way to get around Ireland?

In my experience, based on 33 years of living here, the best way to get around Ireland is by car. However, if you’re only visiting main towns and cities, you could easily use public transport.

Is it easy to get around in Ireland?

Yes and no. For example, without a car, getting around Donegal can be a nightmare. With a car, you’ll have no hassle. Main towns and cities are well served by buses, also.

What is the cheapest way to travel around Ireland?

If you’re looking to keep costs low, getting around Ireland via buses and trains is the cheapest option. You can reduce costs further by booking tickets in advance.

Keith O’Hara has lived in Ireland for 35 years and has spent most of the last 10 creating what is now The Irish Road Trip guide. Over the years, the website has published thousands of meticulously researched Ireland travel guides, welcoming 30 million+ visitors along the way. In 2022, the Irish Road Trip team published the world’s largest collection of Irish Road Trip itineraries . Keith lives in Dublin with his dog Toby and finds writing in the 3rd person minus craic altogether.

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Kevin, Shelley, Aidan and Josh

Monday 6th of March 2023

My wife and I are coming to Ireland for 2 weeks at the end of July with our two teenage boys. Our first four day are in Dublin using public transportation. Then we would like to tour, at a pace that is our own, without having to be on a schedule with booked B and B's or hotels. What we are pondering is renting a camper van for our time outside Dublin. Is using a camper van a viable option, if so would you recommend a maximum size of camper van in width or legnth?

Keith O'Hara

Hey! Yep, plenty of people travel about by camper and, if you're used to driving one, then it's worth considering. It's just worth keeping in mind that there are restrictions about where you can park it up.

Mary Hankins

Tuesday 22nd of March 2022

Planning a trip in the Spring of 2023. So far plans include landing in Shannon, 2 days sightseeing Galway area, then on to Kenmare and seeing Ring of Kerry and the Beara Peninsula. Beara is primary objective as mother was born and raised there. However can't clarify if there's bus service to Kenmare or service from Kenmore to Castletownbere. Is there? Will have approx 2 weeks to sightsee and visit, cant decide if a car will be doable for second week. Your thoughts please.

Hey Mary! From what I can tell, you'd need to take a bus (the 286) from Castletownbere to Glengarriff and then take another from Glengarriff (the R51a) to Kenmare. When you say that you can't decide if a car will be doable, what do you mean?

Politics latest: Key voter on Humza Yousaf's future will make proposals to 'help him out of a tight corner'

Ash Regan, who is the Alba Party's sole MSP and potentially the deciding vote in a no-confidence motion in Mr Yousaf, is expected to meet with the first minister.

Sunday 28 April 2024 11:15, UK

Sunak refuses to rule out July general election
Watch in full: Trevor Phillips interviews the prime minister
Key voter on Yousaf's future will make proposals to 'help him out of a tight corner'
Connor Gillies: First minister must reset relations with very people he's burned bridges with
Salmond asked Alastair Campbell to negotiate on behalf of Scotland if it gained independence
Explained: How did we get here - and what happens next?
Tap here to follow Electoral Dysfunction
Sam Coates explains why the local elections matter
Live reporting by Brad Young

By Trevor Phillips, presenter

I've known Rishi Sunak slightly for almost a decade, having first met him after he penned a thoughtful, comprehensive, well-received report on Britain's minority communities, which I'd say is still the best of its kind.

Sitting down to interview him in a state-of-the-art defence facility this week, I could still see the same energetic, likeable problem solver that I met back then, even if he's now surrounded by the prime ministerial cavalcade of aides, security and media.

That Peloton and fasting regime are clearly doing their job. He's keen to show his detailed grasp of the situation, whether that's welfare reform, defence or migration. It's easy to see why he shone in Silicon Valley and thrived in the Treasury.

However, in the political world he chose, there's a downside to being highly intelligent, disciplined, and super-focused on delivery, as they might say in California.

He betrays frustration with what he - not wholly unjustifiably - sees as a media obsession with polls and presentation.

Unfortunately, as Enoch Powell once pointed out, a politician who complains about journalists is like a sailor who doesn't much fancy being at sea.

He rightly points out that it's his job to make hard choices - for example, funding the defence budget even if it's at the expense of schools and hospitals.

But a political leader should also know that what follows is an even harder job: to cajole the electorate into supporting that choice - and the voters aren't always governed by the logic of the computer.

Read on here...

Lorna Slater, co-leader of the Scottish Greens, has said her party will not be changing its mind about supporting the upcoming motion of no confidence in First Minister Humza Yousaf.

Ms Slater said they would vote in favour of the motion on BBC Scotland's Sunday Show,

"I cannot imagine anything at this point that could change that position.

"This was a spectacular breach of trust."

She was asked if policy offers from Mr Yousaf ahead of the vote could persuade them to abstain.

“[The Bute House Agreement] was based on mutual trust and respect. I do have trust and respect for many of my SNP colleagues," she said.

"But Humza Yousaf himself has broken that and he needs to face the consequences."

Policing minister Chris Philp said he was posing a "rhetorical question" after he appeared to ask whether Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo were different countries.

The MP for Croydon South said he was struggling to hear when he was asked about the government's new law on deporting some asylum seekers to Rwanda by a Question Time audience member.

He told the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg: "I was struggling a little bit to hear the question.

"When I put that point to him I was asking that as a clearly rhetorical question rather than a substantive question, as I think any fair-minded listener would conclude."

What did he say on Question Time?

The audience member, from Congo, pointed out there has been a long history of violent conflict with neighbouring country Rwanda.

He asked Mr Philp: "Had my family members come from Goma [a city on the country's border] on a crossing right now, would they then be sent back to the country they are supposedly warring – Rwanda? Does that make any sense to you?"

Mr Philp replied: "No, I think there's an exclusion on people from Rwanda being sent to Rwanda."

After the audience member objected that his parents were not from Rwanda, the Conservative MP appeared to ask: "Well, I mean, Rwanda is a different country to Congo, isn't it?

"It's a different country?" he said, followed by laughter from some audience members.

Rishi Sunak was quizzed over the local and general elections, the Rwanda Scheme and defence spending today on Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips.

If you missed it, here's your chance to catch up on all the key moments - or watch the interview in full.

The prime minister tried to manage expectations for Thursday, saying: "Local elections are always difficult for incumbent parties";
Asylum seekers travelling across the land border to Ireland was a sign the Rwanda scheme was working as a deterrent, he said;
Despite being asked several times, Mr Sunak refused to rule out a July general election;
He declined to comment on polling and, when asked if he would have any regrets should the Conservative Party lose, Mr Sunak said: "You're again focused on all this personality stuff."

A little earlier this morning, Rishi Sunak told Sky News that the movement of migrants from Northern Ireland into the Republic of Ireland showed his Rwanda scheme was working as a deterrent.

But the Irish government is to consider legislative proposals next week on returning asylum seekers back to the UK who have travelled across the land border.

Justice minister Helen McEntee will also meet Home Secretary James Cleverly next week, after saying the number of migrants crossing the border was now "higher than 80%".

"I'll have emergency legislation at cabinet this week to make sure that we can effectively return people to the UK," she told RTE.

Ms McEntee added Brexit was responsible for the UK seeing an increase in people seeking asylum.

A spokesman for Irish premier Simon Harris said he is "very clear about the importance of protecting the integrity" of Ireland's migration system.

"Ireland has a rules-based system that must always be applied firmly and fairly.

"In that context, the Taoiseach has asked the minister for justice to bring proposals to Cabinet next week to amend existing law regarding the designation of safe 'third countries' and allowing the return of inadmissible international protection applicants to the UK."

Alex Salmond asked Alastair Campbell to negotiate on behalf of Scotland with the UK government in the event it voted for independence in 2014, Mr Campbell tells Sky News.

The proposal was made when the pair were in Scotland ahead of the referendum, making tributes to Tony Benn, the former Number 10 communications director says.

"If Scotland had become independent, then that would have been a massive, massive thing for the country, so I would have been very happy to do that.

"I would want people who weren't necessarily pro-indpendence to be part of that team."

As Humza Yousaf fights to maintain leadership of Scotland, the Alba Party's Alex Salmond joins Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips.

Meanwhile, Ash Regan, the Alba Party's sole MP and potentially the deciding vote in a no-confidence motion in Mr Yousaf, is expected to meet with the first minister.

Ms Regan will "make a set of reasonable proposals to help him out of a very tight corner", says Mr Salmond.

"Scotland is lucky that somebody like Ash Regan is in that position."

Independence forces should be "cooperating together to try and get independence back as a priority in Scottish society".

Asked if an agreement can be reached with the SNP, Mr Salmond says Mr Yousaf is "in a very difficult position" but he will be in a "listening mode".

"He wouldn't have sacked the Greens from his administration unless he wanted a significant change in direction," says Mr Salmond.

"One possible outcome of this political crisis is there might be a Scottish election."

Earlier this week, Labour pledged to nationalise the railway system.

Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting says the plan is a "reflection of the failure of privatised rail and the absence of competition".

If you bring the franchises back into public ownership as they come up, the profits can be reinvested into better services and fairs, argues Mr Streeting.

"There is already enormous public ownership of our railways, but they are owned by French, German, Dutch and Italian taxpayers, and our profits go into their countries."

"It's time that we had public ownership of our railways so we can reinvest."

Trevor Phillips continues to put questions to shadow health secretary Wes Streeting.

He is about Keir Starmer's pledge to maintain the triple lock, with Phillips raising statistics showing median wealth for those in their early 60s was nearly nine times higher than those in their early 30s.

"I don't buy into that intergenerational conflict argument. We need to give pensioners the reassurance to know that as they have planned for retirement... that Labour will protect the triple lock."

Wes Streeting is asked about the possibility of a July election, which the prime minister has refused to rule out.

The shadow health secretary says: "He should get on with it. We are not just ready, we are, as with the rest of the country, fed up of waiting."

People are "crying out for an opportunity to deliver their verdict on this government and vote for change", he says.

"That's why the prime minister bottled an election earlier this year, that's why he's bottled it now, and that's why he will have to be taken out of Downing Street by his fingernails."

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IMAGES

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COMMENTS

Cheap Flights to Ireland from $203
An average nonstop flight from the United States to Ireland takes 10h 00m, covering a distance of 3987 miles. The most popular route is Newark - Dublin with an average flight time of 6h 30m. What is the cheapest flight to Ireland? The cheapest ticket to Ireland from the United States found in the last 72 hours was $375 one-way, and $279 round-trip.
The Best Ireland Itinerary (Irishman's 2024 Guide)
The Best Ireland Itinerary (Irishman's 2024 Guide) By Keith O'Hara. Last updated: April 15, 2024. We spent 8 months and €15,728 building what is, in my opinion, the best Ireland itinerary library available anywhere. It became clear long ago that there is no such thing as a 'one-size-fits-all' Ireland travel itinerary.
The ULTIMATE Ireland Road Trip Itinerary (2024 Guide)
The Ring of Beara. Newgrange. Ireland Road Trip Itinerary. Day 1 - Dublin to Wexford (150km) Day 2 - Wexford to Cork (190km) Day 3 - Cork to Kenmare via the Ring of Beara (200km) Day 4 - Kenmare to Killarney via the Ring of Kerry (140km) Day 5 - Killarney. Day 6 - Killarney to Tralee via Dingle (160km)
10 Days in Ireland: 56 Ready-Made Itineraries (2024)
Ireland itinerary 10 days from Belfast. Click here to see a high-resolution map. Another great way to tackle Ireland in 10 days is to fly/get the ferry into Belfast and take it from there. Belfast is a great starting point for a road trip as you can explore the Antrim Coast before continuing on to Derry and Donegal.
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Ireland's small size means it's super easy to see lots of the highlights in a short space of time. So if you've got 14 days to spend in Ireland, here is our ultimate two weeks in Ireland road trip itinerary. At just 36,000 sq miles (84,421 sq km), the Emerald Isle is pretty small in size. For perspective, that is only slightly larger than ...
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12 days645 miles. All around Ireland. From Dublin to Dublin. Nearest Airport Dublin Airport. AttractionsPowerscourt, Cliffs of Moher, Giant's Causeway, Titanic Belfast, Brú na Bóinne. Take to the roads less travelled, and the places well loved. Visit sky-high cliffs and relax in the warm welcomes you'll receive in our buzzing towns and ...
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The quickest way to find the best 20-day Ireland itinerary below is to click on your starting point from the list of places below. We've used Ireland's main airports and ferry terminals for our starting points. Simply click on one of them and you'll be brought to itineraries that begin from that point: Dublin. Shannon.
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1. The Wild Atlantic Way. Best road trip for the ultimate Irish experience. Inishowen Peninsula - Kinsale; 2600km (1600 miles), 2 weeks. This is the pinnacle of Irish road trips. The Wild Atlantic Way will show adventurers both the natural beauty and the pure craic that Ireland has to offer.
The Ultimate 2-Week Ireland Road Trip Itinerary
The Ultimate 2-Week Ireland Road Trip Itinerary. Here's the complete guide to the Ireland road trip that features our 14-day itinerary around the Emerald Isle. This travel itinerary includes a 3-day trip to Northern Ireland. However, it can be easily adjusted to 10-day Ireland itinerary in case you have only this amount of time for your vacation.
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The Ultimate Two-Week Ireland Road Trip Itinerary
From there, cycle down the minor roads toward Killarney and back to St. Mary's Cathedral. You will get back into Killarney around 3:30 pm. It's a 23 km (14 mi) cycle trip in total so you'll want to come prepared with food and sunscreen. Once you are back into town, take the short trip out to Aghadoe.
Ultimate 10 Day Ireland Road Trip Itinerary (You Should Steal)
Extend this 10 day Ireland road trip itinerary with any of the below: Add a day trip to the Aran Islands from Galway. Spend an extra day in the Cobh/Kinsale area. Explore more sights around Dublin, including day trips like Wicklow Mountains National Park and the Boyne Valley.
Ultimate Irish Road Trip Guide: See Ireland In 12 days
The Ring of Kerry is a 179-km-long circular tourist route in County Kerry, south-western Ireland. "The Ring" is a popular day trip and numerous bus companies offer trips during the summer months. As the narrow roads make it difficult for tour coaches to pass, all tour buses run in an anti-clockwise direction.
Ireland Itinerary
What's in this Ireland Trip Planner: 🍀 7 Day Ireland Itinerary. ⚓ Day 1 - Galway. 📷 Day 2 - Cliffs of Moher. 🌲 Day 3 - Killarney National Park, Ballybunion. 💍 Day 4 - Ring of Kerry. 🏖️ Day 5 - The Dingle Peninsula. 🏰 Day 6 - Dublin. 🍺 Day 7 - Dublin.
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In this 7 or 8 days itinerary we drove a total of 1,100 miles (1,800km) and gas cost a total of 160 euros. With only one week in Ireland it is impossible to see everything, but gives you enough ...
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Your Ireland Vacation. Visit the Emerald Isle and experience the luck of the Irish for yourself with a jam-packed Ireland vacation package. Start your adventure in Dublin, where the Guinness flows freely, and the craic is at its finest.You could visit the Guinness Storehouse to learn how the good stuff is made, wander around the famous Trinity College, and even do a literary pub crawl in the ...
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Malin Head. Epic coastlines, natural phenomena and dramatic history - welcome Malin Head. Dublin is the best of both worlds - a cosmopolitan European capital that feels as friendly and intimate as a village. Become a local in no time by exploring its literary pubs, ancient castles, stunning parks, and national museums.
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Day 17: Antrim. Day 18: Louth. Day 1. Wicklow. To make the most of our first day on the road, get out of the bed and into the car for 8:00. Our first day sees us take a nice and handy spin from Dublin to Wicklow. 1. Gallivanting Around Glendalough (start 09:00) Photo by AndyConrad/shutterstock.com.
22 Travel Tips For Ireland For First-Time Visitors
10. Ireland has some cool low-cost local supermarkets. Take advantage of these by buying some basic pick-me-ups like canned or bottled juice, cereal bars, digestive biscuits, and crisps. They come in handy when you get hungry in between exploring sights or during long-distance trips to the countryside. 11.
Home
Céad míle fáilte! Welcome to Travel Around Ireland! I'm Cath, a Dublin girl, avid traveller, and lover of all things Ireland. I want to help you plan a trip to Ireland that will be unforgettable and help you fall hopelessly in love with the Emerald Isle. With my local expert knowledge, you can experience the best that Ireland has to offer ...
How to Get Around Ireland
LAIDBACK TRIP. How to Get Around Ireland. Read our travel guide on how to get around Ireland. Before traveling to Emerald Isle, you must choose a specific mode of transportation. Options include a rental car, taxi, bus, train, or tours.
The essential guide to train travel in Ireland
The good news about traveling by train in Ireland is that it is relatively inexpensive compared to train travel in some places, such as the UK, for example. If you buy it online, a standard one-way fare between Dublin Heuston and Kent Station in Cork costs €30-35, and around €55 in first class.
Getting Around Ireland: A Locals 2024 Guide
Disadvantages. The biggest disadvantages of using a car for getting around Ireland is that it'll be expensive for solo travellers and it's likely to make the trip unnecessarily stressful for some drivers. If you're on your own, it can be expensive. If you're a nervous driving, it can make the trip stressful. 2.
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Tánaiste Micheál Martin has visited a United Nations Palestinian refugee camp south of the Jordanian capital Amman as he concludes a two-day visit to the Middle East.
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The Ultimate Ireland Road Trip Itinerary and Travel Guide

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Pack your bags

Ultimate 10 Day Ireland Road Trip Itinerary (You Should Steal)

Perfect 10 Day Ireland Road Trip Itinerary

Day 1: Jerpoint Abbey, Rock of Cashel, Cobh

Day 7: Portrush

Things to Know Before Your Ireland Road Trip

Kick-Off Your Ireland Road Trip in Dublin

Drive South Through the Wicklow Mountains

Overnight in Kilkenny

Travel Savvy Tip

Morning in Kilkenny

Jerpoint Abbey

Rock of Cashel

Cheerful Cobh

Kissing the Blarney Stone

Stay in County Cork

Killarney National Park

Evening in Dingle

Lunch & Car Ferry

Cliffs of Moher

Day 6: Portrush

Visit Trim Castle

Settle into Dublin

Old Library & Book of Kells at Trinity College

Kilmainham Gaol Museum

Taste Irish Whiskey

St. Stephen’s Green

National Museum of Ireland – Archeology

O’Connell Street & Temple Bar

Dublin Castle

Literary Pub Tour

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The Ultimate Irish Road Trip Guide: How To See Ireland In 12 days

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That Was Pretty Easy!

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