The Perfect Ireland Itinerary & Road Trip

The Best One Week Ireland Itinerary to plan a perfect Ireland vacation (16)

 

Visiting Ireland

I just got back from an amazing trip to Ireland. While the country wasn’t necessarily at the top of my list, a work opportunity in Killarney popped up and I jumped at the chance to stick around after to explore the country.

I’m SO glad I did!

The natural scenery, food and hospitality of Ireland really stuck with me. While the entire country is beautiful and scenic, with lots of rolling green hills, each county and region of Ireland offers a slightly different look and feel.

We spent about 3 weeks in the Republic of Ireland, exploring the coastal Wild Atlantic Way and the cultural Ancient East on a self drive route. I thought I’d share some advice and helpful tips about planning a trip to Ireland in today’s post.

Keep reading below for advice on how to plan the perfect trip to Ireland!

 

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Travel Guide to Planning an Ireland Vacation | Table of Contents

 

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See more photos on my Instagram account, @shershegoes

 

Where Should You Go in Ireland?

The island of Ireland is politically divided in two.

The southern portion constitutes The Republic of Ireland while a section of the north, called Northern Ireland, belongs to the United Kingdom. Unless you have significant vacation time, I would recommend choosing one or the other for a first time visit.

 

The Republic of Ireland has 2 main regions that are popular for first time visitors:

On the western coast from north to south is the famous Wild Atlantic Way, a coastal driving route which offers dramatic views of the Atlantic ocean juxtaposed against cute hamlets and fishing villages.

Must-see attractions along this route include Kylemoore Abbey, the Cliffs of Moher and the Dingle Peninsula, to name a few!

On the eastern coast is Ireland’s Ancient East, a region rich in 5,000 years of storytelling and legends as a result of the Viking invasion and subsequent Norman conquerors.

If you like museums, history and culture you’ll love journeying back in time to visit places like Waterford, Wexford and Cork – sites which inspired epic battles and strange tales.

 

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Must See Cities and Destinations in Ireland

If you have:

  • A short trip, base yourself in Dublin, explore the city and do some nearby day trips.
  • If you have 1 week, I recommend checking out Western Ireland, where the lush countryside meets the Atlantic – small towns like Dingle, Adare and Killarney National Park in County Kerry offer dramatic, beautiful views!
  • With 2 weeks or more, you can make a circular loop and see Dublin, Western Ireland and explore Ireland’s Ancient East to learn more about the country’s Viking past. Explore harbor front cities like Wexford and Waterford, picturesque Cobh and kiss the Blarney Stone in Cork! The eastern section was my favorite part of visiting Ireland.

 

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3 Week Ireland Itinerary

Ireland Trip Itinerary Irish Cities Overnight
3 days Dublin Dublin
4 days add: Dublin day trip (Newgrange, Howth) Dublin
5 days add: Galway, Kylemore Abbey, Connemara Galway
7 days add: Ciffs of Moher, Limerick, Adare Limerick
9 days add: Dingle Peninsula Dingle
10 days add: Ring of Kerry Killarney
14 days add: Kilkenny Kilkenny
21 days add: Cobh, Waterford, Wexford Waterford

 

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What’s Not in the Itinerary Below: Northern Ireland.

I didn’t have time to see everything and made the decision to skip Northern Ireland on this trip so it’s not included in this article. Northern Ireland itineraries frequently include a tour of Giant’s Causeway, the dark hedges and lots of the Game of Throne locations.

County Donegal, on the northwest, was recently voted by National Geographic as ‘the coolest place on earth’ and has gotten great recognition for outdoor adventure sports so that’s high on our list of places in Ireland to visit.

Northern Ireland is geographically close to Scotland, with ferry options from Belfast and since we’re hoping to road trip Scotland next year, we decided to save Northern Ireland for a later date!

Below is a suggested itinerary for visiting Ireland, which takes into account my personal favorite Irish cities and attractions. You can use it as a starting route planner!

 

Update: I visited Northern Ireland!

My Belfast travel guide is up here, and I’m working on more posts about Game of Thrones, the Giant’s Causeway and other great experiences to have in Northern Ireland.

 

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The Best Ireland Itinerary

After spending 3 weeks in Ireland, I had an amazing time and felt like I covered a lot!

We slowed down in some areas and sped up in others so I wanted to offer some tips on Ireland itineraries of various lengths, since I know not everyone has the luxury of three weeks.

Below, I’ve featured 7 of the best Irish cities to visit, including notes on the places I loved most, to give you an idea of what there is to experience in Ireland.

I find that it helps to see a visual summary when mapping out my trip so modify your Ireland travel itinerary depending on your preferences!

 

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1. Dublin


 

County Dublin

Most international airlines offer nonstop flights to Dublin. You can set a flight alert here for airfare deals.

2 full days is a must to explore the Irish capital but if you have more time, you can add in a couple noteworthy nearby day trips!

Dublin reminded me a lot of London, with gorgeous stone architecture, local pubs on every other corner and green spaces.

 

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Best Things to Do in Dublin

 

  1. Visit the Guinness Factory!

This is the #1 attraction in all of Ireland and for good reason, it’s an entire experience. Learn about how Guinness is made, try new flavors and eat at their cafe for some hearty Guinness-made cuisine.

Even if you’ve been before, come again – they add new experiences constantly to keep things fresh. On our last trip, they added the option to 3D print your face into the beer foam!

 

2. See The Book of Kells, an illustrated Latin manuscript of the four Gospels.

Dating back the early 9th century, you can see a whole host of beautiful ornate manuscripts in Trinity College’s Old Library.

3. Have a drink at Temple Bar, the colorful Dublin pub which inspired a whole area of pubs.

4. Relax in St Stephen’s Green, a large park with a Victorian layout

5. Also visit the Jameson Whiskey factory to learn about whiskey production

 

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Where to Stay in Dublin

There’s just no way around it, accommodation in Dublin is expensive. 

Even in “low season” in mid to late October, all the Dublin hotels I searched for my trip were about $350-$500+ per night on a weekday – I’m talking even the airport hotels. Crazy, right?!

It turns out Dublin has a hotel bed shortage so the limited number of hotels can charge sky high prices. Enter a great affordable pick like Generator Hostel, part of the new wave of chic, “not so hostel” hostels.

 

Overnight: Generator Hostel Dublin

Located right in the city center, Generator Hostel Dublin is set in the hip neighborhood of Smithfield – conveniently next to the Jameson Distillery and a quick walk to Temple Bar.

The space is brilliantly designed in a industrial chic vibe, with exposed brick beams and original stonework. The best part is, you can book a private bedroom and still make new friends in Generator's many social lounges & spaces.

Check rates: Hotels.com, Booking.comRead reviews: TripAdvisor

 

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More Recommended Hotels in Dublin:

1 | Shelbourne Hotel – If you want historic, iconic and luxurious you’d best stay at Shelbourne. Lots of US presidents and anyone of importance has stayed here! Or just admire the splendor during afternoon tea in their gorgeous parlor overlooking St. Stephen’s Green.

Book: Hotels.comBooking.com | Check prices: TripAdvisor

 

2 | O’Callahan – This well priced chain of hotels offers a good location and breakfast. Trinity College often puts up its guests and visiting professors here so it’s a solid, mid-range hotel!

Book: Hotels.comBooking.com | Check pricesTripAdvisor

 

3 | Airbnb – Lots of locals are opening up rooms or entire apartments.

While these aren’t cheap by any means (you’re paying what you would for a hotel in another city!) it can be much more affordable than a Dublin hotel, so check out Dublin airbnb listings as well.

Browse Airbnb listings here.

 

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2. Galway & Connemara


 

County Galway

On Ireland’s western coast is the city of Galway, a harbor town where the River Corrib meets the Atlantic Ocean. Galway has great shopping, colorful buildings and a large student population.

We enjoyed a quick day trip into town and then continued westward to the district of Connemara, a gorgeous rugged landscape home to Atlantic coastline, bogs, heathlands, mountains and lakes.

 

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Best Things to Do in County Galway

  • Explore Galway's shops and traditional pubs at Eyre Square. Pop in for some traditional Irish music!
  • Visit Kylemoore Abbey, a stunning castle now owned by Benedictine Nuns with magnificent Victorian Gardens.
  • Drive the exhilarating 11km circular loop known as the Sky Drive, a breathtakingly beautiful coastal route from Clifden
  • Hike through Connemara National Park and spot the herd of wild Connemara ponies
  • Explore the outdoors in Clifden – hiking, beaches and wild Atlantic seascapes are all nearby
 Read more:  20 Photos to Inspire Your Visit to Kylemore Abbey

 

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Where to Stay in Connemara

Overnight: Rosleague Manor

Pulling up to the ivy-decked pink exterior of Rosleague Manor, we knew we were in for a treat. This cozy country manor occupies 30 acres of private woodland and overlooks Ballinakill Bay.

The highlight of our stay was playing fetch with local resident, Tyson, who had the most human-esque understanding of any dog I've ever met! All the rooms are spacious and if the weather gets too rainy.. just cozy up to the parlor and have afternoon tea by the fireplace!

Check rates: Booking.com | Read reviews: TripAdvisor

 

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3. Cliffs of Moher & The Burren


 

County Clare

You can’t visit Ireland and not see the dramatic Cliffs of Moher! Even on a cloudy rainy day, these natural rock formations are quite dramatic.

We also explored the Burren, a stunning landscape characterized by rock karst formations all over the ground. It’s a barren region that reminds me of the moon and was J R Tolkien’s inspiration for The Lord of the Rings.

He actually was a guest of Gregans Castle Hotel, the manor house that I stayed at, which I discovered while I was exploring the grounds!

You can read my hotel review here.

 

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Fun Things to Do in County Clare

  • Cliffs of Moher: Ireland's most visited natural attraction. Just don't go too close to the edge, it's a vertical drop!
  • Poulnabrone dolmen: a dramatic portal tomb dating back to Ireland's Neolithic period
  • Check out Bunratty Castle, a large 15th century tower house in the center of Ballyvaughan
  • Visit Aillwee Cave, underground karst caves full of stalactites and stalagmites.

 

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Where to Stay in County Clare

Overnight: Gregans Castle

A stunning luxury hotel in the heart of beautiful Ballyvaughan village.

This historic Irish hotel was once an 18th century manor house, but has been beautiful restored and I really loved the Irish country interiors! We also had dinner here,which I highly highly recommend.

Check room rates: Hotels.com or Read reviews on: TripAdvisor

 

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4. The Dingle Peninsula


 

County Kerry

Dingle is a charming seaside town perched on the Atlantic. 

As the only town on the Dingle Peninsula, the joke is that the next town over is Boston. From its dolphin resident to waterfront pubs, Dingle is a family friendly favorite to both Irish and international visitors.

The town is mainly supported through fishing and tourism and has a great street full of shops, pubs and restaurants. 

Dingle is one of Ireland’s largest Gaeltacht towns, where Irish is the official language and the town is technically called An Daingean or Daingean Uí Chúis. You’ll see this listed alongside Dingle on all the road signs!

 

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Fun Things to Do in Dingle:

  • Grab a scoop of Murphy's Ice Cream – try their Dingle gin and salted caramel flavors!
  • Stop by an authentic Irish Pub for dinner and enjoy the traditional Irish music
  • Take a boat tour around the harbor and spot Fungie, the local dolphin resident
  • Circle the Dingle peninsula by driving dramatic Slea Head Drive.
  • See the remains of Minard Castle, now just ruins along the Atlantic
 Read more:  Mingle in Dingle! Fun Things to Do on the Dingle Peninsula

 

Overnight: Dingle Skellig Hotel

Dingle Skellig is a family run hotel and one of the best hotels in Kerry. With friendly staff, a heavenly spa and epic views of the Atlantic Ocean, staying here is a treat!

Check room rates: Hotels.com | Booking.com or Read reviews on: TripAdvisor

 

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5. Killarney and Kenmare


 

County Kerry

Killarney remains one of my favorite areas to explore in Ireland.

It’s quaint, colorful and a little touristy – but in my opinion, it has a great mix of the outdoors and the comforts of luxury.

You can hike or ride a horse & buggy through Killarney National Park during the day and then come back into town for some shopping, afternoon tea or a massage.

 

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Best Things to Do in Killarney

There’s no shortage of things to do, excellent pubs and Irish food, and overall the charm of Killarney really won us over!

Kenmare is a similar twin to Killarney so if you have time, check out both towns. If not, pick whichever is more convenient to access on your road trip!

  • Ride a horse and buggy through Killarney National Park – or hike!
  • Explore magnificent Muckross Castle, Ross Tower and row across the lakes
  • Relax with a blissful spa at The Brehon's Angsana Spa
  • Take a day trip to Derrynane beach
  • See the fairy huts and sculpture garden in Sneem
 Read more:  7 Epic Things to Do in Killarney, Ireland

 

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Where to Stay in Killarney 

The Killarney Royal occupies a great location right in the center of town.

It's a short walk from the Killarney train station and its luxurious, comfortable beds are just what you need after all the adventure and outdoor pursuits in Killarney!

There's also a wonderful on site restaurant with a very reasonably priced set menu, if you're looking for a great place to eat in town.

Book: Hotels.com, Booking.com | Check prices: TripAdvisor

 

More Recommended Hotels in Killarney:

1 | Old Weir Lodge – A cozy, family run hotel in between Killarney town and the Convention Center.

This is a great pick for families or business travelers! We also like their breakfast options, which include oatmeal with Baileys :)

Book: Hotels.com | Booking.com | Check prices: TripAdvisor

 

2 | The Brehon – If you want 5 star luxury, there’s no place better in Killarney than the Brehon hotel. Just step into the lobby for a drink and you’ll experience the glam firsthand!

We also had deep tissue massages at the Angsana Spa – such a treat! Their Thai masseuses really know how to work out any tension.

Book: Hotels.com | Booking.com | Check prices: TripAdvisor

 

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6. Wexford


 

County Wexford

Wexford is a coastal haven in southeast Ireland.

There’s miles of spectacular coastline, quaint villages and an abundance of historic sights. We’ve heard the county is quite popular with local Irish, and that many buy vacation homes near the sea.

 

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Best Things to Do in Wexford

  • Hook Lighthouse is the oldest operational lighthouse in the world, with a classic black and white exterior and incredible views of Hook Peninsula.
  • Enniscorthy is a picturesque town dating back 1500 years. We checked out the castle, met locals for a step back into Irish / British history and visited some local pubs!
  • To explore Ireland's cultural evolution, visit the Irish National Heritage Park, an open air museum with lots to do. We had a fun Viking meal here and also got to meet the park's falcons!
  • Local Wexford weavers have created Ross Tapestry, a series of colorful, elaborate tapestries illustrating the Norman invasion and history of Ireland. It's a completely volunteer led community project and was a nice way to learn more about the city and Irish history.
  • Genealogy trips to Ireland are a common reason for overseas Irish to visit the country. If you're interested in learning about the Irish famine period and Irish history, visit the Dunbrody Famine ship for an interactive experience.
 Read more:  All the Best Things to Do in Wexford

 

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Where to Stay in Wexford

Overnight: Brandon House Hotel

A 4 star country manor house, Brandon House is a comfortable hotel midway between Waterford and Wexford. It's conveniently located on the N25 road (on route to Dublin) and is close by to many of Ireland's best beaches.

We ate dinner here and it was an excellent meal – in particular, they have a huge dessert menu and a group of us ordered everything off it and literally everything was amazing. Try the cheesecake!

Book: Hotels.com, Booking.com | Check prices: TripAdvisor

 

More Recommended Hotels in Wexford:

1 | The Clayton – Clayton Whites is located right in Wexford’s city center and a great choice for sight seeing and shopping. It’s within walking distance of the train and bus station and rooms are large and comfortable.

Book: Hotels.com, Booking.com | Check prices: TripAdvisor

 

2 | The Talbot Hotel – The Talbot Hotel is located in downtown Wexford, right on the harbor. With huge, apartment style rooms this is an ideal hotel for families visiting Wexford. Free parking and a pool on site!

Book: Hotels.com, Booking.com | Check prices: TripAdvisor

 

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7. Waterford


 

County Waterford

Waterford is Ireland’s maritime getaway and has a vivid past.

First invaded by Viking raiders, then Norman conquerors and medieval merchants, it was notably also the last port of call for many Irish seeking their fortunes overseas.

 

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Best Things to do in County Waterford

  • Waterford Crystal is headquartered in duh, Waterford! They offer a really fun guided tour that I highly recommend. You can read more about the crystal and tour in this post here.
  • For medieval history fans, check out Waterford Treasures and the Bishop's Palace.
  • Into adventure? Head to Dunmore East and jump in the ocean for kayaking, stand up paddle boarding or try the adventure obstacle course!
  • Make sure to try Dungarvan Brewing Company beer while you're in the area. Try the Copper Coast Irish Red Ale!
  • Understand Ireland's Viking past through virtual reality at The Viking Museum
  • Cycle along the Waterford Greenway, the longest off-roading and cycling experience in Ireland!
  • Explore Mount Congreve mansion and gardens, a must if you like dahlias!
  • Make sure to eat at the Irish pub, The Reg. The food here is incredible. Again, don't skip dessert!
 Read more:  8 Reasons to Fall in Love with Waterford

 

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Where to Stay in Waterford

Overnight: Dooley's Hotel

Located right on The Quay harbor front, this family run hotel has cozy rooms and a full Irish breakfast. It's near the city center, shopping and sights and is a great affordable hotel pick in Waterford.

Book: Hotels.com, Booking.com | Check prices: TripAdvisor

 

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How to Plan a Trip to Ireland

 

Visiting Ireland

I planned my Ireland vacation itinerary quite quickly and relied heavily on Rick Steves Ireland and Lonely Planet.

The reason I used both guidebooks is that Rick Steves’ tends to cover his favorite Irish cities and he omitted Killarney entirely. Lonely Planet covers more places but lacks Rick Steves’ warm commentary and insightful suggestions.

P.S. Get a 30 day trial free of kindle unlimited here!

 

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If you’re like me, you enjoy a healthy dose of travel inspiration through popular culture. I’ve always loved reading about the Celts and Irish folklore and in high school, Irish authors like James Joyce were part of our curriculum.

And of course, most people wanting to visit Ireland nowadays are hoping to see locations made famous from Game of Thrones! Below are some popular books and movies written about Ireland should you want some inspiration before your trip.

 

Recommended Books, Shows & Films About Ireland:

 

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Should You Plan a Self Drive Ireland Itinerary?

In my opinion, the best way to tour Ireland is by self driving.

Ideally, plan an Ireland itinerary for enough days to cover a full circularly loop around the island, so that you get to experience a bit of scenery from the Wild Atlantic Way and the rich culture of Ireland’s Ancient East.

It’s best to rent a car and self drive so you have the freedom to stop and go as you wish. If you’re hesitant to drive on the left, I wrote about our experience driving in Ireland here.

 Read more:  How to Master Driving on the Left

 

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Driving in Ireland

While Ireland is a small country, the roads are really curvy and narrow compared to driving in America.

Add the uncertainty and hesitation that comes with driving on the left, we found that it took a bit longer to get from place to place than Google Maps suggested. So if you want to self drive a Dublin to Dublin loop, I would budget at least 10 days and ideally 2 weeks.

We rented a small, 4-door sedan and extra collision insurance.

Most cars are manual, so specify if you need an automatic. You can also pick up and drop off in different cities. 

I have an in-depth post here covering everything you need to know about renting a car in Ireland, with helpful information about costs, extra fees and advice so you can check out that post for more info!

 Read more:  Useful Tips for Renting a Car in Ireland: Prepare for the Road Ahead

 

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Ireland in 1 Week

If you have less time of course, you can speed through and/or cut out towns.

We added the Dingle Peninsula and Connemara to our driving itinerary in Ireland, but both are geographically a bit west, so you can cut these out if you have just 7 days and keep to a tighter route.

Or, you can fly into Dublin and out of Shannon or Cork to save additional time.

 

Public Transportation in Ireland

Regarding public transportation, there isn’t a wide spread bus or train network that covers the entire Irish countryside. Instead, you can take buses from city to city and book individual tours to day trip to popular sites.

For example, you can take the bus from Cork to Killarney and then book tours for the Gap of Dunloe, Killarney National Park, Muckross House etc. It’s a little more piece meal this way and requires a bit of planning but Irish bus route schedules are available online.

 

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A third option is to book a package tour if you’re not comfortable with driving and don’t want the hassle of booking public transportation.

I saw loads of tour buses all over the entire journey, everything from Trafalgar to Globus. I’m always curious how self-planning trips compares to tour packaged itineraries so I looked online afterwards – they do hit all the popular cities and sights in their “best of Ireland” tours and so if you wanted to avoid driving on the left yourself, I think they would be a good option.

Or you can book individual day tours to popular places. I’ve included some of the most popular day tours below:

 

 

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Where to Stay in Ireland

Ireland of course offers 3, 4 and 5 star hotels, just like you would find anywhere else. Some glamorous, some bare bones – there’s lots to choose from. You can browse current hotel deals for Ireland here.

If you want standout and unique accommodation in Ireland, look for one of the typically Irish bed & breakfasts and castles!

 Read more:  Where to Stay in Galway, Ireland

 

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Country Houses & Historic Hotels

Ireland’s Blue Book has a stunning portfolio of Irish country houses, historic hotels and manor houses.

All of them remain family run, with charming exteriors and brilliantly decorated interiors and for a romantic Ireland vacation, you will definitely want to stay in one of these!

Historic Ireland hotels also tend to have incredible chefs running their on site restaurants. I’m not typically one to eat at a hotel but in Ireland we ate dinner at so many hotel restaurants because they’re excellent!

Then after, we would head over to the bar / pub area inside and there would be so many people, both locals and tourists, listening to live Irish music and having a great time.

 

Here are some of the charming hotels we experienced on our trip to Ireland:

Where to Stay in County Waterford: The Cliff House Hotel Review

Where to Stay in County Galway: Rosleague Manor Hotel Review

Where to Stay in County Clare: Gregans Castle Hotel Review

Where to Stay in County Kerry: The Killarney Royal and The Brehon

 

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Staying in an Irish Castle

Most of Ireland’s castles lay in ruins and there aren’t many castle attractions remaining in Ireland. Instead, the most dramatic castles are privately owned and have been restored into luxury 5 star hotels.

Most all the castle options are luxury hotels, given the cost of maintenance but even if you just splurge on 1, it’s such a treat.

Staying in a castle in Ireland gives you an insider look at some really gorgeous architectural details and the grounds typically have masterpiece gardens to explore.

For kids, there’s archery, falconry, horse back riding and other medieval pursuits to enjoy while parents can relax at the spa or play a round of golf.

 Read more:  10 Epic Castle Hotels in Ireland – You Can Actually Book!

 

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And that’s it! Hope this Ireland itinerary guide was helpful. Feel free to ask any questions in the comments!

 

Essential Tips for Visiting Ireland

Getting In | Aer Lingus, the national Irish airline, offers non-stop flights from select US cities. Two reasons to recommend Aer Lingus: low nonstop fares from many US cities and their pre-clearance facilities. We found cheap flights to Ireland in October – you can check for flight deals and routes here.

When returning to the U.S., take advantage of the U.S. pre-clearance facilities at Dublin and Shannon airports, where you complete U.S. immigration, customs and agriculture controls before departure so that when you land in the U.S., you can just collect your bags.

Getting Around | If there's one thing I can recommend, it's to rent a car and drive around Ireland. Not only is the Wild Atlantic Way coastal route one of the world's most scenic drives, transportation in Ireland is a bit difficult without your own vehicle. We were nervous about driving on the left but ultimately renting a car was the best decision! Check car rental prices for your dates here.

Where to Stay | I highly recommend staying at an Irish country house during your trip. Irish hospitality is truly something else. For unique luxury accommodation check out out Ireland's Blue Book. Or, take advantage of Airbnb for a local experience!

Protect | Lastly, be sure to visit Ireland with travel insurance. Whether you get injured and need to be hospitalized, your phone gets stolen, or a flight delay leaves you with nothing but the clothes on your back, travel insurance will help when you need it most. Hurricane Ophelia hit the country smack in the middle of our road trip! Get a quote for your trip here.

 

 You Might Also Enjoy: 

 

Ireland Vacation Planning Articles

Ireland Travel Tips: Know Before You Go

The Most Beautiful Places in Ireland

How to Plan the Perfect Ireland Itinerary

Where to Stay: 10 Enchanting Irish Castle Hotels 

Packing Checklist: What to Wear in Ireland

For Foodies: All the Best Food We Ate in Ireland

 

Ireland Road Trips

The Best Stops on the Wild Atlantic Way (with map!)

7 Useful Tips for Renting a Car in Ireland

How to Master Driving in Ireland (as a tourist!)

 

Irish Sights, Activities & Tours We Especially Enjoyed:

Co Galway: Visiting Kylemore Abbey, Ireland's Most Beautiful Castle?

Co Kerry: Can't Miss Sights in Killarney & Dingle

Co Waterford: Waterford, Ireland's Oldest City, the House of Waterford Crystal & Mount Congreve Gardens

Co Wexford: Don't Skip Wexford - Here's Why!

Co Kilkenny: Exploring Kilkenny Castle, in photos

 

Restaurant & Hotels We Loved:

County Clare: Gregans Castle Hotel

County Galway: Rosleague Manor Hotel, Where to Stay in Galway

County Wexford: The Strand Inn

County Waterford: The Cliff House Hotel, The Reg Pub

 

Northern Ireland

Travel Guide: Belfast

Where to Stay in Belfast as a First Time Visitor

 

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55 Comments

  1. Mike
    November 8, 2017 / 2:15 pm

    Hey Sher, great write-up…very comprehensive. I agree, Ireland was never really tops on my list either, but I’m so glad I had a chance to go. I love it when a place exceeds my expectations. How did you do with the driving? Did you fall in love with Tyson at Roseleauge?

    • Sher
      Author
      November 8, 2017 / 2:19 pm

      Ha I wrote about our experiencing with the driving in this post.

      It ended up being fine so now I want to road trip Scotland! The main thing I found strange was how you had to pay inside at the gas station, there would also be like empty parked cars while everyone waited to pay ha!

      I read your Tyson story – loved the interview with Mark! Funny enough I wrote my post about Rosleague last night.. will be publishing it in a couple weeks :) Which was your favorite of the blue book properties?

    • Ted
      July 12, 2021 / 9:30 am

      Hello Mike. Yes it’s true. Ireland is a nice place to visit. Even I never thought of going to Ireland but somehow we made a plan with friends and my experience to travel Ireland was one of my best trip ever.

  2. The Guestbooks
    November 13, 2017 / 8:37 am

    Love this post! I’ve always wanted to do a trip to Ireland so this is so much food for thought and really comprehensive! I’m based in Dubai at the moment but definitely one for the bucket list when I’m based in the UK again. Thanks for sharing all your tips! : )

  3. Donna
    February 14, 2018 / 8:31 am

    Hi Sher: Love all your articles! We are budget travelers, but would like to splurge 1 night to stay in a castle or another luxury type accommodation. Do you have a suggestion for one that will accommodate 4 per room? We’re open to any location at this point as we are still working on our itinerary for 8-9 days. I looked at Gregan’s Castle and it appears we would have to get 2 rooms there which would be out of our budget even for a splurge! Thanks for all the great info!

    • Sher
      Author
      February 14, 2018 / 1:57 pm

      Hi Donna! Thanks for the kind words. Yes – I would definitely recommend splurging a night in one of Ireland’s cool castle hotels. Have you seen my post on the list here?

      Hm, I’m not sure if they have room for 4 at Gregans, perhaps you could email them to ask if one of their suites could accommodate? Gregans is a more cozy house. If you can’t get rooms there, I would still recommend making a dinner reservation. It was very good!

      At Rosleague, in Connemara, the rooms are HUGE and they might be able to fit 4.

      In Killarney there’s lots of options for bigger parties. We had 4 of us in a loft style room at Old Weir Lodge for incredibly affordable rates.. I think we each paid around $30/night but this was also off season. I wouldn’t say it’s luxury but definitely very comfortable.

      We also stayed at the Killarney Royal in one of their corner rooms which had 2 queen size beds and I’m sure 4 would be comfortable there.

      If I went back to Ireland I would love to stay at Adare Manor or Ashford. Both are pricey (depending on the season) but they seem like once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Falconry, boating, archery, golf etc. Adare opened right after my trip ended but we saw the outside renderings and it looks FAB. Ashford books out months in advance, even in the off season. They also have a cottage on the grounds which are converted into rooms, I believe those are cheaper and you still get to experience the castle + grounds.

      I will say in general the Irish are very hospitable and friendly. We made a mistake one night and booked a last minute room in Dingle which only came with a twin (there were 2 of us). It was meant for a single. They were very nice at the front desk and didn’t force us to upgrade rooms. Instead, they added in an extra cot / rollaway bed.

  4. Savannah
    March 30, 2018 / 3:56 pm

    Hi!! This was an amazing guide!
    I was wondering what your opinion on staying at one hotel in Dublin for the duration of the trip and taking multiple day trips to certain sights?! It seems to be less expensive and less stressful than trying to find a bunch of different hotels, but I also don’t want to miss anything since this is a once in a lifetime thing! Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!!

    • Sher
      Author
      March 31, 2018 / 10:25 am

      Hi Savannah – glad the guide was helpful! Hm, so do you mean you don’t plan to rent a car? If that’s the case then yes, a great way to see Ireland is to base yourself in Dublin and do day trips. Dublin is on the northeast of the Republic of Ireland and a lot of the famous sights are on the western coast, so it will be a bit of a longer drive. It’ll also probably be much more expensive than if you rented a car to drive around Ireland on your own and Dublin hotels tend to be much more expensive than in other cities. But, a guided tour will take care of all your transportation! so, there’s pros and cons :)

  5. Kasey Buchinger
    March 7, 2019 / 12:46 pm

    This is the best itinerary of an Ireland trip I have read yet! Thank you so much. I traveling with children (3.5 years and 8 months) is there any of the stops that you would recommend NOT going to? Or ones that you would recommend on adding? I often wear the baby in a carrier, so needing to use a stroller is not necessary.

    Thanks in advance.

    • Sher
      Author
      March 7, 2019 / 1:48 pm

      Hi Kasey,

      Thanks so much for the kind words!! I am actually planning to head back to Ireland this year!

      Hm… So let me preface this by saying I don’t have kids so I may not aware of all the do’s & don’ts for young children. I would suggest spending less time in Dublin, which is most popular for its bars, and seeing the countryside. I think kids would like Dingle, with the dolphin, boat tours and the Slea Head drive is very beautiful. Skip Minard Castle, it is a long drive and they are ruins, not a still standing & furnished castle like Kilkenny. The town of Kilkenny is nice too.

      Kerry is probably very kid friendly. The town center is very cute, lots of shopping, great food + ice cream, Killarney park is beautiful and kids probably like the horse buggy rides. If you have time, pop over to Wexford and the Irish National Heritage Park – the park itself is a open air museum, and then they have some excellent activities you can book like falconry, archery, dressing up like Vikings, etc. I wrote some more about it here, and you can check out their Youtube channel to get a feel for it.

      Hope that helps!

  6. K
    April 1, 2019 / 10:19 am

    Thank you so much for this! Just a quick 1uestion re Itinerary…Does the number of days include the previous days’ plans? I.e. for the 5 day itinerary, is the idea that you’d do the itinerary for days 3 and 4 as well? (i.e. Dublin, Newgrange, Howth, Galway, Kylemore Abbey, Connemara Galway)? Thank you!

    • Sher
      Author
      April 1, 2019 / 1:11 pm

      Hi! It’s flexible depending on how many days you have and whether or not you’ll be renting a car! If you have 3-4 days, I would recommend staying in Dublin and taking a day trip or two :)

  7. TCLee
    April 19, 2019 / 6:36 pm

    Thank you so much for this post. We will be first time overseas travelers with a “once in a lifetime” trip next year. It’s a 2 week trip and we are hoping to see as much as we can. You gave me some feedback initially when we were thinking of taking a Viking Cruise. We’ve changed our minds and are now looking at Ireland, England, and Germany. Do you think we could see enough of Ireland in 4 days? Dublin looks great but we aren’t as interested in the bigger ‘cities’ so we are thinking only 1 day there. After I mapped out your recommendations, it looks like we would be most interested in the Galway/Clare areas. Thinking maybe we fly into that side of the island and out of Dublin to England. Interested in how many days you think we would need to see Kylemore/Clifden/Connemara Park/Aran Island/Mohr/Bunratty Castle?

    • Sher
      Author
      April 19, 2019 / 6:53 pm

      Hi! You can see a lot of Ireland in 4 days, but you’d probably need to rent a car (and be comfortable driving on the left). I don’t think Galway has its own airport, so you have to check for the closest airport + factor in driving time.

      Aran Island would be a full day trip.
      Connemara you could drive through or you could spend all day hiking and exploring.
      Kylemore Abbey might still be under construction, in which case, just a couple hours (it’s mainly the garden as the castle was under renovation when I visited)
      The Clifden drive is beautiful – it would take maybe a couple hours.
      Galway would be nice to spend a day in, we just drove through and had lunch. Galway is a smaller city and known for its pubs so if you like nightlife you could spend the night.

      It depends on how long you want to linger in each place, and the driving. Typically what do is I add all the destinations I want to see in Google Maps and use their driving distance as a benchmark. The roads in Ireland are very narrow, and we were unused to driving on the left, so I’d add 30-45 minutes longer to the Google Maps driving estimates.

      At a quick glance, I’d estimate 5 days at minimum for the places you listed, and 6-7 if you wanted to take it leisurely? Hope that helps!

  8. Isabelle
    May 11, 2019 / 11:25 am

    Hi! I live your Ireland pages, but I wish your pictures were labeled. They are all so nice! :)

  9. Tracey Jones
    May 22, 2019 / 6:21 am

    I am going to visit Ireland month of June 19, and these tips are very helpful for me before landing there. Thanks for sharing these wonderful tips <3

  10. Sherry McCosh
    June 4, 2019 / 12:27 pm

    You failed to mention The Quiet Man in your list of films! The best movie ever made. Cong was the filming location. If you haven’t seen this movie yet it is a must see!! John Wayne at this best.

  11. kit simmons
    June 9, 2019 / 7:53 am

    Can you recommend which areas to begin and end on a 4 night country trip. Leave from Dublin on Tues AM. Spend Tue/Wed/Thur/Friday night in country. Picked these areas:

    Doolin – Doolin Inn or Limestone Lodge? Cliff Walk/Caves
    Clifden –
    Cong – Ashord Lodge
    What is best base for Connemara National Park area – want beautiful scenery

    Don’t know where to go first. Dublin to Doolin, night in Doolin. Doolin to Clifden night in Clifden. Clifden to Cong 2 nights Cong then home to Dublin. Can you recommend a better itinerary. 2 Teenage boys in tow. First time in Ireland. Thanks.

    Help please. Hope for somewhat relaxing trip.

    • Sher
      Author
      June 10, 2019 / 5:41 pm

      Hi Kit,

      For the best route, plug in all the stops you want to make in Google Maps and then order your itinerary by the most efficient driving route. That’s what we did, and I recommend trying to keep driving to no more than 2.5 hours a day if you can.

      Haven’t been to Doolin!

      Ashford Lodge is gorgeous, you will love it. They have lots of add on activities like salmon fishing, golfing, archery, falconry etc which kids would enjoy.

      We stayed in Clifden and Delphi Mountain in Connemara. Both were great, but slightly different experiences. Clifden is closer to Connemara National Park and Kylemore Abbey. We stayed at Rosleague – fabulous hotel, great service but slightly older clientele. Our review post is here if you want more photos.

      Delphi Mountain Lodge was our second overnight. The hotel is more of a casual hunting lodge style and they sit on 1,000 acres so pretty scenery and also add-on activities. We tried ziplining and archery, very fun. Some more photos of that on our Facebook, here.

      Hope that helps!

  12. shannon orr
    August 25, 2019 / 10:12 am

    I am loving your information! I am planning a trip with my 23 year old daughter. Could you share your google map?

    Shannon

    • Sher
      Author
      August 28, 2019 / 12:31 am

      Hi Shannon, Sorry I don’t have a saved Google Map for Ireland. I just plugged in the destinations I was interested in when I was planning my trip. That gives me an idea though – I’ll start creating maps with saved locations for the future!

  13. Rob+Ann
    September 1, 2019 / 5:08 pm

    Great itinerary! We definitely need to go back to visit more of the places on your list, and ours. We were excited to see you mention Minard Castle on the Dingle Peninsula. Judging by how remote it seemed, and the complete lack of people visiting, we felt like we stumbled onto our very own stunning secret spot! Looks like the secret is out! ;)

  14. Lori
    September 27, 2019 / 10:56 am

    The link for the best time to visit Ireland wasn’t working and my apologies if I missed it in the comments section but when is the best time to visit?

    • Sher
      Author
      September 29, 2019 / 1:17 am

      Oh, thanks for letting me know! I will fix the link.

      Generally the shoulder season (May, September) is best. Summer can get pretty crowded. We’ve visited in both April and October and had a great time! There’s always on and off rain so be sure to pack a good rain jacket and some rain boots if you have.

  15. Lori
    September 27, 2019 / 10:57 am

    When is the best time to visit Ireland?

  16. Renato Gusmao
    November 3, 2019 / 5:16 pm

    Excellent introduction to Ireland

  17. Mairead
    March 31, 2020 / 9:13 pm

    Thank you for such a thorough post with so much information for planning my trip to Ireland. I really appreciate it. There is so much information here I will need to study it to take it all in. Many thanks.

  18. Deanna Huey
    June 24, 2020 / 2:23 pm

    Wow! Incredible blog, thank you so much for taking the time to put this together. Very helpful for planning my Ireland 2021 trip!

  19. Anna
    July 21, 2020 / 12:29 pm

    Thanks for the help, we want to go if the virus allows us in the fall, and your post has helped us learn more about what it takes to go.
    We hope to enjoy Irish culture and cuisine.

  20. juan carlos
    March 30, 2023 / 9:19 pm

    I was lucky to know Ireland because I went for a study trip and I had the opportunity to know almost the whole country, very modern and quiet to stay for good.

  21. James Morgan
    April 18, 2023 / 12:37 pm

    My family and I are going in June. I was wondering if the places to stay book up in early June? I was wondering if we need to book ahead or can we wing it?

    • Sher
      Author
      April 18, 2023 / 1:53 pm

      Hi James – definitely recommend booking ahead for summer travel!

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