driving tour around ireland

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…

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.

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]

Alesha and Jarryd

Hi, We’re Alesha and Jarryd!

We’ve been traveling the world together since 2008, searching for the planet’s best destinations and adventures.

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Loved reading this post! Really appreciate how comprehensive this all is. helps a lot as we try to figure out a two week itinerary for us taking a car over from France on the ferry!

Best Itinerary and photos.. Thanks for sharing the content.

This itinerary sounds great. It would be helpful to have a map. We are hoping to book vrbo’s along the way. We will rent a car and drive the coastline. Would love any tips.

Hello, I know you shouldn’t drink and drive anywhere but I rather ask the question and be safe. It seems that it would be difficult not to have a beer or two at a pub while in Ireland, so… what is the law regarding alcohol level allowed while driving? also… is there any law against having a bottle of wine or any other spirit in the motorhome to enjoy while parked?

Hi Marcelo, you definitely should not drink drive anywhere as you are putting yourself and other people in danger. You could harm yourself or others. Or worst, you could even kill someone or yourself. Definitely no go in any country.

As for the alcohol limit and the alcohol in the motorhome, we are not too sure. Sorry

Kylemore Abbey is not actually a castle. It is a monastery built on the grounds of the Castle. There are nuns who live there now and it also has a beautiful walled garden.

I am Irish and while you did see a lot on your trip, there is a lot more for you to discover when you next arrive here.

I would love a map of your route! I would also love to know where you parked each night. Did you stay at campsites or just parked in random spots. Thanks

Hi did you have a map. so I can download..it looks amazing.. we are going in April for 2 weeks .just me the wife and ted the dog ..happy holidays steve

Hi Steve, we had downloaded maps.me and the areas we need offline. You can pick up a sim card with data for cheap and we used this. There is great apps to help you plan your trip in Ireland also.

Hi Ashley, we had downloaded maps.me and the areas we need offline. You can pick up a sim card with data for cheap and we used this. We used Safe Nights Ireland to find cheap camping spots and there are many websites on the internet recommending free spots. All the best. Happy planning

Wow, Amazing pictures and fantastic guidelines. Thanks for the share!

Thank you so much. 🙂

Just reading your blog on the ferry from Cairnryan to Belfast with our camper van down below. So thanks for sharing your route with us. We are travelling around the world for a year and have 2 weeks in Ireland on our itinerary.

It would be great if you could also add a screen shot of a google map with your route. That would be helpful for readers to get a picture of your route.

Thanks for the pics and tips.

Hi Carolyn, what a trip. Sounds like you are going to have a great time. We followed the island anti – clockwise but you can definitely make up your route as everyone want to see something different. All the names above are in google and easy to find. There is also an app called Wild Atlantic Way. This is great to route out a road trip also. Have a great

Hola me gusto mucho la ruta en autocaravana por Irlanda, queremos ir en Agosto pero solo tenemos dos semanas incluyendo dia de llegada y salida desde Estados Unidos. Somos 6 y no quisieramos dormir todos los dias en el autocaravana. Cree usted que podamos ir rentando hoteles en el recorrido los dias que nesecitemos o seria complicado ya que es temporada alta?

” Hello, I really liked the motorhome route through Ireland, we want to go in August but we only have two weeks including day of arrival and departure from the United States. We are 6 and we would not like to sleep every day in the motorhome. Do you think we can rent hotels on the tour on the days we need or it would be complicated since it is high season?” comment above

Thank you for your message Yannet. I just translated it above as it may help others too. What a great trip you have planned. In the quieter towns you can easily book a hotel. But in the bigger cities such as Belfast, Killarney, Dublin, Dingle and other popular tourist places you may struggle. Definitely book ahead as your party is large and you know all 6 of you will have accommodation. There are great websites for freedom camping or low cost camping. Have a wonderful trip

Amazing trip – you’ve inspired us to do a week travelling in a campervan with our family in July, but yes only a week. We have family in Dingle to look up so will definitely be heading south and going clockwise. It looks cheaper to hire a campervan from London area (where we live) and ferry over instead of hiring in Ireland. Bit nervous to wild camp but hopefully it will workout! Would we need to pre book any campsites?

Hi Katherine, that is amazing. What a trip it is going to be. Dingle and the surrounding area is stunning. When you rent the camper from London make sure insurance covers you to go over to Ireland and Northern Ireland (if you are planning on going up there also). Personally with one week I would stick to the south and do a loop. There are some stunning drives down there. With wild camping in Ireland, it is illegal but tolerated. Just obey the leave no trace policy (even toilet paper). There is a a website called Safe Nights Ireland where you can park in peoples properties for a small fee if that feels better for you. If you are in a city and need to find a campground check out Camping Ireland website. Here is a great article below about camping in Ireland. If you do plan to stay in a campground definitely pre book as July may be busy. Have a great family trip and take lots of photos. 🙂

https://www.bunkcampers.com/en/holiday-advice/camping-guide/wild-camping/

Ireland road trip is very attractive to enjoy with awesome memories.

It definitely is. It is a stunning country. 🙂

We will be cruising with stops in Belfast, Dublin and Cork…Any suggestions of where to start a road trip as I don’t think we will need to go back to these places.

Hi Christine, Starting in Dublin and do a little loop of the south heading back past Dublin and then a loop in the north. When you do rent, make sure you can take the rental car/camper into Northern Ireland. Sometimes there are issues. Hope I answered your question. Let me know if I didn’t. Have a great trip.

Awesome recall of your trip! I am heading there next week and getting a campervan as well. Considering I have never traveled this way, reading stories like yours makes me even more excited!

So awesome. You will have a blast. We love Ireland. It was a lot of fun with the campervan. Have a great time and watch those tight Irish roads. It can get a little crazy sometimes.

This sounds amazing! I’m planning a trip (in July) to Ireland- but will only have 4 days 🙁 eek. Going to be a challenge to decide on which places to visit! (will most likely hire a car though to get around)

Hi Mel, so awesome you are heading to Ireland. Your trip is short but doesn’t mean you can’t see some awesome places. There is a lot to do and see. There are tour companies that will do trips up or down to place. Just be prepared for full on days with incredible views. If you don’t want it to be so hectic there is a lot to do around Dublin. Have an amazing trip and you can head back there in the future. 🙂

Your photos are gorgeous! Thank you for sharing! I love traveling by campervan, so it’s great to know that is an option in Ireland.

Thanks so much Veronica. Ireland is a perfect place to campervan.

Stunning photographs! I love this post and so much detail. I am from the UK and still haven’t made it over to Ireland! Hopefully in the near future though! Thanks for sharing and the huge inspiration!

Thank you so much Mike. Ireland is amazing. Such a beautiful country. You will be amazed. Hope you get there soon. Happy travels.

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Stay in some of our finest Irish Castles and Manor Hotels including Ballynahinch Castle, an oasis of calm and luxury in Connemara in Ireland's Wild West!

10 Night Irish Castles and Manors Silver Tour

Stay in some of our finest Irish Castles and Manor Hotels on this 9 day vacation to Ireland complete with ferry trip to Inishmore, the largest of the three Aran Islands.

8 Night Irish Castles and Manors Silver Tour

Stay in some of our finest Irish Castles and Manor Hotels , a highlight will be the complimentary guided tour of the 15th Century Castle ruins beside Ballinalacken House by the owner

Irish Castles and Manors Silver 7 Night Tour

Highlights of the Irish Castles and Manors Gold tour will be attending the Dunguaire Castle Banquet in Kinvara, the Smithwick’s Brewery Experience Tour in Kilkenny, the Megalithic Tombs at Newgrange and much more.

10 Night Irish Castles and Manors Gold

7 Night Irish Castles and Manors Gold Tour

Stay in some Ireland's Best Castles and Manor Hotels on this 9 day vacation to Ireland complete with ferry trip to the Aran Islands.

8 Night Irish Castles and Manors Gold Tour

This tour has everything!! Stay in the most luxurious of our Irish Castles and Manor Hotels on this vacation to Ireland complete with ferry trip to the largest of the Aran Islands.

10 Night Irish Castles and Manors Platinum Tour

Stay in some of the very best Irish Castles and Manors on this 9 day platinum vacation to Ireland complete with ferry trip to Inishmore, the largest of the Aran Islands and home to the spectacular pre-Christian Dun Aonghus Fort.

7 Night Irish Castles and Manors Platinum Tour

Our most popular Ireland self drive tour - See Ireland’s best attractions and most scenic locations on this 10 night/11 day best of Ireland tour

Best of Ireland Tour (10 Night)

This Best of Ireland Tour, our most popular tour, can be accessed using any of the Irish Airports and is a 12 night tour based on Ireland’s most famous sights.

Best of Ireland Tour (12 Night)

This tour will leave you with a wonderful array of memories of the diverse scenery and cultural differences that they will encounter from one side of the country to the other.

Best of Ireland Tour (14 Night)

This tour based on Ireland’s most famous sights including Trinity College and Kilmainham Gaol in Dublin, Powerscourt House and Blarney Castle, Killarney & much more!

Best of Ireland Tour (7 Night)

See Ireland's best attractions and locations on this comprehensive 8 night best of Ireland self drive tour

Best of Ireland Tour (8 Night)

By far our most popular Ireland vacation, the Best of Ireland tour allows you to appreciate Ireland’s best attractions and most scenic locations in the shortest amount of time.

Best of Ireland Tour 6 Nights

Irish pubs are known throughout the world for the friendliness and warmth of their hospitality and also for being the meeting place for like minded souls who find themselves in search of quality conversation, humour, music and food.

Irish Pub & Folk Tour (12 Night)

Irish Pub & Folk Tour (14 Night)

Irish pubs are known throughout the world for the friendliness and warmth of their hospitality and also for being the meeting place for like-minded souls who find themselves in search of quality conversation, humor, music and food.

Irish Pub & Folk Tour (8 Night)

This Irish Pub & Folk Tour will help you discover great pub locations that are famous for their great atmospheres, food, drink and of course terrific traditional Irish music.

Irish Pub and Folk Tour (6 Night)

The Irish Pub & Folk Tour takes you to towns that offer numerous great pubs renowned for their atmosphere, food and superb traditional music.

Irish Pub and Folk Tour (7 Night)

Discover ireland’s best pub locations on this 10 night Ireland self drive tour. Pubs are well-known for their great atmospheres, food, drink and great music.

Irish Pubs & Folklore 10 Nights

This tour is a seven night tour based on Ireland’s most famous sights including Trinity College and Kilmainham Gaol in Dublin, Blarney Castle in Cork, Killarney and the Dingle Peninsula in Kerry, the Cliffs of Moher and the ‘Burren Landscape’ as well as the Aran Islands.

Best of Ireland Self Drive Tour & the Rock of Cashel (7 Night)

Your 10 Night Luxury Irish Castles & Hotels Self Drive Tour includes the best that Ireland has to offer in terms of service, location and gastronomy. Tasting menus are also available upon request.

Luxury Irish Castles & Hotels Tour (10 Night)

This luxury tour of Ireland includes overnights in Ireland's premier five star hotels and Castles allowing you to spend your dream Ireland vacation relaxing like a true king or queen.

Luxury Irish Castles & Hotels Tour (12 Night)

With our Luxury Ireland Vacations you don’t just get to visit many of Ireland’s history laden Castle’s. You stay in some of Ireland’s most prestigious five star castle’s and luxury hotels.

Luxury Irish Castles & Hotels Tour (6 Night)

This luxury tour of Ireland includes overnights in Ireland's premier five star Hotels and Castles allowing you to spend your dream Ireland vacation relaxing like a true king or queen.

Luxury Irish Castles & Hotels Tour (7 night)

Luxury Irish Castles & Hotels Tour (8 Night)

You will have plenty of time to discover the true romance that Ireland has to offer honeymoon couples! Spend time in city of Galway, Kerry, Cork and Clare.

Irish Romance with luxury Irish Castle Stay 10 Night Tour

Discover why Ireland is the best honeymoon location on this Romantic 12 Night Tour of Ireland. Spend time in Connemara and vibrant Galway City, Kerry & the luxurious Dromoland Castle.

Irish Romance with luxury Irish Castle Stay 12 Night Tour

This tour will give you ample time to discover our most romantic spots including gorgeous Galway, Cork City & Beyond, Waterford, Clare and the super luxurious Dromoland Castle.

Irish Romance with luxury Irish Castle Stay 14 Night Tour

This 6 night honeymoon tour of Ireland includes a romantic getaway in the super luxurious Dromoland Castle and five other magnificent days to tour Ireland.

Irish Romance with luxury Irish Castle Stay 6 Night Tour

This 7 night romantic getaway will allow you to explore Galway, Kerry and Clare and it includes an overnight stay in luxury Dromoland Castle.

Irish Romance with luxury Irish Castle Stay 7 Night Tour

Explore Galway, Cork, Kerry and Clare on this wonderful 8 Night Romantic Tour of Ireland. Spend your final day in the lap of luxury at Romantic Dromoland Castle.

Irish Romance with luxury Irish Castle Stay 8 Night Tour

This 5-Star Ireland honeymoon package includes the Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin, the Cliff House Hotel in Waterford, The Park Hotel in Kenmare, Dromoland Castle and Ashford Castle

Five Star Deluxe Ireland Honeymoon 10 Night Tour

12 Nights in Ireland gives you plenty of time to discover Ireland’s greatest treasures from the Ring of Kerry in the South to Connemara in the West. Stay in the best 5-star hotels as you travel.

Five Star Deluxe Ireland Honeymoon 12 Night Tour

On this 5-Star studded tour you will stay in some of the best hotels in Ireland including the Merrion Hotel in Dublin, The Park Hotel in Kenmare, Dromoland Castle, Ashford Castle and more!

Five Star Deluxe Ireland Honeymoon 14 Night Tour

Discover Dublin, Waterford, Kerry and Clare on this 5-Star Deluxe Ireland Honeymoon. On this tour you will stay in some of the best hotels in Ireland.

Five Star Deluxe Ireland Honeymoon 6 Night Tour

On this luxury honeymoon tour of Ireland you will stay in some of our finest hotels including the Shelbourne Hotel In Dublin and the Cliff House Hotel in Waterford, the Park Hotel in Kenmare and Dromoland Castle

Five Star Deluxe Ireland Honeymoon 7 Night Tour

8 nights gives you plenty of time to explore the areas of Dublin, Waterford, Clare and Connemara. In each location you will be staying in some of the finest 5-Star hotels in Ireland.

Five Star Deluxe Ireland Honeymoon 8 Night Tour

10 nights in Ireland gives you great scope for exploring Ireland’s best honeymoon locations on this affordable but unforgettable Irish honeymoon!

Irish Romance 10 Night Tour

This affordable honeymoon tour of Ireland gives you the opportunity to explore Ireland’s most romantic sites from Kylemore Abbey to Blarney Castle in Cork and much more.

Irish Romance 12 Night Tour

Discover romantic Ireland on this 14 night affordable honeymoon tour. Explore Galway with its outstandingly beautiful Connemara area and Kerry including Ring of Kerry.

Irish Romance 14 Night Tour

Discover Kerry, Clare and Galway on this Romantic yet affordable Ireland honeymoon package. Includes a romantic cruise on the lakes of Killarney and a horse and carriage journey through Killarney National Park and much more!

Irish Romance 6 Night Tour

Start 7 Night Irish Romance Tour in Ireland’s largest county, Cork. Famous for Blarney Castle where the stone of eloquence is said to grant the gift of the gab to those that kiss it!

Irish Romance 7 Night Tour

Discover the romance in Cork, Kerry, Galway and Clare on this affordable honeymoon tour of Ireland. Discover the remote Dingle Peninsula, the romantic Connemara region and the stunning Cliffs of Moher and much more

Irish Romance 8 Night Tour

Immerse yourself in one of the top driving routes in the world - The Wild Atlantic Way and discover the Wild Magnificent Ireland of your dreams!

Best of the Wild Atlantic Way (10 Night)

This Best of the Wild Atlantic Way Driving Tour is accessed through Shannon airport and is a 12 night tour based on the highlights of the spectacular coastal route that is the Wild Atlantic Way.

Best of the Wild Atlantic Way (12 Night)

This Best of the Wild Atlantic Way Tour is accessed through Shannon airport and is a comprehensive 14 night tour based on the highlights of the spectacular coastal route that is the Wild Atlantic Way.

Best of the Wild Atlantic Way (14 Night)

This Best of the Wild Atlantic Way Tour is is a 7 night self drive tour based on the highlights of the spectacular coastal route that is the Wild Atlantic Way.

Best of the Wild Atlantic Way (7 Night)

This 10 night tour features one of Ireland's best kept secrets, our northern territories, taking in Belfast, Causeway Coast, Derry/ Londonderry and Donegal & much more.

Northern Territories 10 Nights

A 7 night tour based on Ireland's best kept secret, our very own Northern Territories. Stay in Sligo, Donegal, the North Antrim Coast and Belfast in Northern Ireland.

Northern Territories Tour (7 Night)

Discover Northern Ireland's greatest treasures on our Northern Territories 8 night tour.

Northern Territories Tour (8 Night)

This comprehensive All-Ireland tour can be accessed via any of the Irish Airports and encompasses all regions of the country, including Northern Ireland.

All Ireland Tour (12 Night)

This tour does entail quite a bit of driving but it will leave the traveller with a wonderful array of memories of the diverse scenery and cultural differences that they will encounter from one end of the country to the other.

All Ireland Tour (14 Night)

9 days - 8 nights Self Drive Vacation & Tour in Ireland This 3 Centre Tour is perfect for the traveler who prefers to explore the countryside from a number of bases rather than switch accommodations every night or two.

3 Centre Tour of Ireland (8 Night)

Ireland’s South West region offers its visitors a great diversity of scenery, culture and plenty of leisure activities to enjoy. This rugged and mountainous terrain is steeped in ancient history and folklore!

Scenic South West Ireland Tour (6 Night)

This popular driving tour of the picturesque counties of Cork and Kerry, including the towns of Kinsale, Killarney and Dingle has the perfect mix of sightseeing and welcoming pubs, restaurants & hotels.

Scenic South West Ireland Tour (7 Night)

This 5 Centre Tour is perfect for the traveller who prefers to explore the countryside from a number of bases rather than switch accommodations every night or two.

5 Centre Tour of Ireland 14 Nights

The 4 Centre Tour is ideal for the traveller that wishes to see the best parts of Ireland, but would prefer not to be in different accommodation every night.

4 Centre Tour of Ireland 12 Nights

The 3 Centre Tour is ideal for the traveller that wishes to see the best parts of Ireland, but would prefer not to be in different accommodation every night.

3 Centre Tour of Ireland (10 Night)

This tour includes time in some of the most historical and picturesque areas of the southern half of the country.

Southern Tour (12 Night)

This easy-going and relaxing tour includes time in some of the most historical and picturesque areas of the southern half of Ireland

Southern Tour (14 Night)

This driving tour package includes time in some of the most historical and picturesque areas of the southern half of the country.

Southern Tour 10 Night

Explore Ireland with us on this family vacation which includes a combination of our favourite family hotels and an unforgettable overnight family stay in the 5* Dromoland Castle

Ireland with Kids – 5 Star Castle Adventure

This package includes seven nights’ in Adare’s most family friendly hotel and on booking your package with us you will receive a comprehensive tour pack which will include several day tours that you may choose to take from this historic location. .

Ireland with Kids - Adare

Ballycotton Bay in East Cork is your base location for this Ireland Family Vacation. With a rich maritime and historical heritage, East Cork has a unique variety of attractions to offer the discerning family.

Ireland with Kids - Ballycotton 7 Nights

For this Irish Tourism family vacation we have chosen Dingle as your base location. The Dingle Peninsula offers some of Ireland’s most stunning scenery from the towering Brandon Mountains to the spectacular seascapes of Dingle Bay.

Ireland with Kids - Dingle 7 Nights

Kilkenny is famous for its medieval building and castle. The atmosphere and character of this unique city makes it a great base for touring Ireland with kids.

Ireland with Kids - Kilkenny

As well as cosmopolitan Dublin City and traditional Irish music loving Galway City, this tour includes the renowned Cork Film Festival which runs from 09-17th of November.

6 Night Ireland’s Cities Vacation Including Cork Film Festival

Get away from it all to the unspoilt West of Ireland and explore rugged Connemara, Galway City, Cliffs of Moher, Westport & much more!

Way out West Tour (7 Night)

Get away from it all to the unspoilt West of Ireland. By day enjoy the magnificent scenery including, The Cliffs of Moher, The Aran Islands, Killary Harbour and the stark Burren Landscape of County Clare.

Way out West Tour (8 Night)

Spend 10 nights exploring Ireland while staying in the comfort of some of our best 4-star hotels. Highlights include the stunning Waterford Castle and Greagan's Castle Hotel.

Irish Delight Luxury Getaway 10 Night Tour

Spend time in the cosmopolitan city of Dublin, Romantic Waterford, Historic Cork, Beautiful Kerry, Clare, Connemara and the Garden of Ireland, Wicklow. Stay in beautiful 4-star hotels and castles.

Irish Delight Luxury Getaway 12 Night Tour

Ireland will give you a great opportunity to see all aspects of our culture and history. Spend time in the city of Dublin, Waterford, Cork, Kerry, Clare, Galway.

Irish Delight Luxury Getaway 14 Night Tour

Experience some great 4* luxury hotels on this honeymoon tour of Ireland. Package includes Dublin and scenic Kerry as well as an overnight stay at Waterford Castle.

Irish Delight Luxury Getaway 6 Night Tour

This honeymoon tour of Ireland will help you experience some great 4* luxury hotel. Package includes Dublin and scenic Kerry as well as an overnight stay at Waterford Castle and Gregan's Castle in Clare.

Irish Delight Luxury Getaway 7 Night Tour

Discover Dublin, Waterford, Kerry and Clare on this honeymoon tour of Ireland. The accommodations we have chosen for this tour are all four star luxury and you will stay at the authentic Waterford Castle.

Irish Delight Luxury Getaway 8 Night Tour

Our Irish Welcome tour will give you a taste of both traditional community life and the spectacular natural scenery that it nestles in.

10 Night Irish Welcome Tour

See locations associated with Ireland's contribution to world literature. Many world famous writers, poets and playwrights were born and lived here and were inspired to write about the spectacular beauty, culture and history of their native isle.

Literary Tour of Ireland (8 Night)

Join us in Dublin for St. Patrick's Day and immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere of Dublin’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade, feel the energy, enjoy the sights and sounds and marvel at the spectacular performance of the parade participants. .

St. Patrick’s Day Festival Tour

Get involved and celebrate being Irish with the Gathering Ireland. Ireland will open its arms to the many millions of friends, family, loved ones and connections overseas, inviting them home to celebrate.

The Gathering Ireland Tour (8 Night)

Discover Viking Ireland for yourself on this six night tour of Ireland.

6 Night Viking Tour of Ireland

Discover how the Vikings influenced the development of the modern Ireland that we know today.

7 Night Viking Tour of Ireland

This 8 night/9 day tour of Ireland will take you through Ireland’s Viking heritage beginning in the city of Dublin where our Viking history can easily be seen.

8 Night Viking Tour of Ireland

The counties of Cork & Kerry, including the towns of Kinsale, Killarney and Dingle lay claim to some of the most varied and spectacular scenery in the country.

Scenic South West Ireland Tour (8 Night)

If so, Go-As-You-Please Ireland B&B Vouchers are for you. The ideal alternative for the independent traveller, Go-As-You-Please Ireland B&B Vouchers provide total flexibility.

Bed and Breakfast Vouchers Ireland

Nothing captures the romance, architecture and history like the castles of Ireland do.

Luxury Irish Castles & Hotels Tour (14 Night)

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These 10 road trips will bring you into the heart of Ireland

Mar 9, 2024 • 7 min read

On Ireland’s winding country roads, expect to take it slow © Jade Prevost Manuel / Shutterstock

People often think that given  Ireland ’s small size, they can see everything in a matter of days. We can confirm that this is simply impossible.

Here’s a typical story: a visitor makes a stop in a quaint village to sit down for a quick coffee.  All of a sudden, they’re being whisked off to the local watering hole with Tom “from down the road” who wants to introduce you to the locals and share enthralling (and extended) tales of Irish history.

Such social connections are the soul of Ireland – and that’s on top of the island’s staggering raw beauty. What’s the best way to get the best of both? Hit the (rural) road – and plan to take it slow. 

Our list of the best 10 road trips in Ireland should help inspire you.

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 . This route will have you weaving your way around mountains, boglands and rugged karst landscapes as you experience the Emerald Isle at its most dramatic.

You’ll spot Wild Atlantic Way markers at every point of interest along the way to enhance your trip; follow the symbols attached to almost every road sign along the route to make sure you don’t get lost.

Planning tip:  We recommend taking at least two weeks to savor every moment of this epic journey.

2. The Mayo Coast 

Best less-traveled road trip Ballina–Killary; 543km (337.5 miles), 1 week

Many visitors to Ireland miss out on  Mayo , which has one of the most beautiful coastlines in the country. It’s home to the highest mountain in Connacht, secret swimming spots and dramatic cliff walks.

Plan for numerous stops as you make your way down the coast. Plenty of free activities, hostels and campsites make it possible to tackle this trip on a budget.

Planning tip: If you time your road trip to reach the sacred mountain Croagh Patrick on the last Sunday of July, you can join the annual pilgrimage known as Reek Sunday. Some people even attempt this hike barefoot as part of their spiritual journey.

3. The Old Military Road

Best road trip for mountain landscapes Rathfarnham–Aughavannagh; 60km (37 miles), minimum 1 day

As you travel along the spine of the Wicklow Mountains, you’ll follow a winding road shrouded in a dark history. The route  was constructed between August 1800 and October 1809 to allow the British Army access to the mountains following the 1798 rebellion in Ireland.

Today, the road is home to some of Ireland’s most challenging and beautiful trails . If hiking isn’t your thing, an abundance of excellent restaurants, lodges and activity centers lie along the route. The true beauty of this trip? You can take as long as you like to complete it. There are so many things to see and do packed into such a small distance that you’ll never be bored.

Planning tip: If you’re taking a few days to complete this trip, be sure to pack for all weather. The Wicklow Mountains are notorious for suddenly changing conditions.

4. The Copper Coast

Best road trip in the east Tramore–Dungarvan; 40km (25 miles), 1 day

With the Copper Coast’s countless opportunities for walks and dips in the cold sea, you'll never be stuck for something to do on this short but action-packed route. And amateur geologists will love that part of the Copper Coast is  UNESCO Global Geopark , thanks to its unique combination of environments packed into such a small area.

Detour: Take a trip to the nearby Comeragh Mountains and tackle one of Ireland’s most rewarding hikes, the Coumshingaun Loop.

5. The Ring of Kerry

Best road trip to experience old Ireland Starts and ends in Killarney (travel clockwise); 179km (111 miles), 2–3 days

Towering mountains, glistening lakes and enchanting forests: the Ring of Kerry is one of those unforgettable road trips that stuns from start to finish. There are so many landmarks to see along this route, it can be hard to fit it all into one trip. Yet the beauty of this drive is that even if you rarely leave the car, you’ll still experience some of Ireland’s most beautiful spots.

Detour:  This route takes you not far from Ireland’s highest mountain, Carrauntoohil . It’s worth taking a day to attempt the hike via the Devil’s Ladder.

6. The Burren Loop

Best road trip for beautiful barren landscapes Starts and ends in Ballyvaughan; 150km (93 miles), 1–2 days

This is the only figure-eight route on this list, a configuration that allows you to stay in the same accommodation if you want to complete the route over two days. The Burren itself has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site for its unique karst landscape, which covers approximately 250 sq km (96.5 sq miles).  The drive will take you down narrow roads that cut through the barren landscape to sheer cliffside views.

Planning tip: Leave time to incorporate some, if not all, of the Cliffs of Moher cliff walk. If time allows, consider hopping on a boat from Doolin to see them from the sea as well.

7. Slea Head Drive

Best road trip for experiencing true “Irishness” Starts and ends in Dingle Town (travel clockwise); 46km (28.5 miles), 1–2 days

Pubs doubling as hardware stores. White sandy beaches. Lambs you can hold. What more could you ask for from a 46km (28.5-mile) road trip?

The Slea Head Drive is located on Dingle , one of Ireland’s most fabulous peninsulas, which has everything from coastal hikes to island escapes and some of the best nightlife in the country. All of this is plastered against a picturesque backdrop of green hills, sandy beaches and the wild Atlantic Ocean.

Detour: Since you’ll already be on the road, you should add the Conor Pass, one of Ireland’s highest, to your list. Located just outside of Dingle Town , it’s a great add-on to this itinerary.

8. Sky Road Loop

Best short road trip Starts and ends in Clifden; 16km (10 miles), 1 day

This road trip is short, and it doesn’t disappoint, offering some of the best, most sweeping views of the Connemara coastline. You can also look forward to encountering castles, quaint villages with delicious food and views of rugged mountains in the distance – a full taste of Ireland in just one day.

Detour: Pack your camera (and your swimming gear) to visit the shore along the Sky Road. With crystal-clear waters and beautiful golden sand, Eyrephort Beach is the perfect place to take a break.

9. The Ring of Beara

Best road trip for unspoiled scenery Starts and ends in Glengarriff (travel clockwise); 148km (92 miles), 2–3 days

Another looped road trip in the south of Ireland makes another worthy addition to our list, just a stone’s throw (or rocky peninsula) away from the Ring of Kerry.  With multiple mountain passes, delightful villages filled with local foods to try and many hikes and walks along the way, you’re bound to find something that’s perfect for you.

Detour:  At the tip of the Ring of Beara , make a stop to take the cable car to Dursey Island, a neat  way to cross the choppy waters below.

10. The “Four Peaks” Challenge road trip

The best challenge of a road road trip Carrauntoohil–Mweelrea–Slieve Donard–Lugnaquilla; 865km (540 miles), 1 day to 1 week

Road trips are usually all about the journey. This one is a little bit different. The Four Peaks Challenge involves tackling the highest mountains in each of Ireland’s four historic provinces by hike. Most take on the challenge at a leisurely pace – but some (very ambitious) people strive to complete it in 24 hours.

You will be treated to some of the most epic views of Ireland from each of these peaks – though the adventure is definitely not for the faint-hearted. We recommend planning for one hike per day, which will let you take in the beautiful Irish countryside while putting your body to the test.

Planning tip:  If you can, get someone to do the driving for you. Your legs will be worn out enough without the 12 hours of driving in between peaks.

This article was first published April 2021 and updated March 2024

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Destination Guides , Itineraries , Road Trips

10 days in ireland: the ultimate ireland road trip itinerary.

There’s something magical about Ireland. With emerald fields dotted with sheep (hence the nickname “The Emerald Isle”), Ireland is a perfect destination any time of the year. And, as a small island nation, it’s especially prime for spending 10 days in Ireland.

Most travelers will spend at least one day in Dublin during an Irish vacation, be it to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day or to see the famous sights and historical spots.

More intrepid travelers will want to explore further. There are some amazing scenic drives in Ireland to take: the Ring of Kerry and the Wild Atlantic Way are chief among them. If you want to explore Ireland in 10 days by car, this is how to do it!

In 2013, three friends and I spent a week in Ireland, drinking all the Guinness and driving around the countryside (not at the same time!). I’ve also been to the country multiple times since and have gone on various road trips around Ireland. Based on these experiences, here’s the perfect guide for planning your own trip to visit Ireland in 10 days with a car.

This post was first written in 2016 and was last updated in February 2023.

Table of Contents

Quick Glance: Your Ireland Itinerary for 10 Days

Here’s the super-quickest, TL;DR version of my suggested 10-day itinerary for an Ireland road trip. Below you’ll find a table that gives the start and end points each day, plus a map that shows you exactly how much of Ireland you’ll see. If you like what you see on this Ireland road trip itinerary for 10 days, you can read the rest of the article for more detail!

Tips for Your Ireland Road Trip for 10 Days

Before we get into the details, here are a few other tips to help you make the most of your Ireland road trip:

• Have a packing list. Making sure you have everything you need before you go can help you avoid extra stops on your trip, so you can reference my list of what to pack for Ireland if you need ideas.
• Rent a car. While I do have advice on how to drive in Ireland without a car , that doesn’t apply to this post. You will need to be able to drive or have someone in your party get you to all the destinations on this list.
• Drive on the left! Due to its British heritage, Ireland observes the British rules of the road, which include driving on the left. You’ll need some time to wrap your head around it, but if I can do it – you can do it!
• Go manual to save. As is the case for most rental car situations in Europe, you can save a lot by renting a manual transmission car instead of an automatic one. I ended up as the sole driver for my Irish road trip because I was the only one who knew how to drive a manual transmission.
• Rent a small car. While a larger vehicle may be just fine on the freeways, you will not be able to fit in many small-town streets. I’ve been on so many that could barely fit my sedan, much less two cars at the same time, so always go for smaller ones when possible to make your 10 day Ireland itinerary easier.
• Distance doesn’t correlate to time. Though some of the distances I mention seem brief for a day, you’ll notice the estimated time might be quite long. Some of these routes include winding two-lane roads and mountain passes. It takes a while to see this much of a country, okay? Settle in for the ride, and remember to bring snacks.
• Adjust accordingly. This Ireland 10 day itinerary is flexible. If, for example, you’ve already visited Dublin or have planned out your trip, you could cut those days and turn this into a 7-day Ireland road trip itinerary instead. If you fly into Cork or Shannon airport, you could start from that point on the itinerary and work your way around. I’m not here to tell you exactly how to do this trip – just to provide suggestions and help you have an unforgettable experience.
• Understand the rules of the road. You’ll want to research driving tips in Ireland so you will feel more confident before you set off.
• Be flexible. I personally think this is the best 10 day Ireland itinerary because I’ve done it myself, but feel free to take out some attractions or even whole days and spend more time in others if you find that you prefer them. This is just a suggestion!

The Ultimate Itinerary for 10 Days in Ireland

Without further ado, let’s get into the nitty-gritty details of this Ireland road trip I’m suggesting. You’ll find a day-by-day breakdown below, with suggested start and stop points, plus breaks and scenery/sites to see along the way. While this is for a 10 day trip to Ireland, you can always add or subtract a few days to match how much time you have.

Day 1: Arrive in Ireland

I often see itinerary and road trip posts jump right in and put you on the road from Day 1. I’m a bit more realistic: if you’re flying into Ireland from North America, you’re going to need a day to recover. Unless you’re invincible, you’ll likely have jet lag and need to rest up for a day to be ready to go.

This is that day. Catch up on sleep, get on Irish time, and be ready for adventure for your 10 day Ireland itinerary. I promise you – it’ll be worth it to have one slower day before driving around the country.

If you’re a hotel person, try checking Booking.com to see what hotels fit your budget and style. Here’s a map you can use if you’d prefer to stay based on location during your road trip around Ireland.

I have a whole list of where to stay in Dublin , as well as bed and breakfasts in Dublin , but here are a few hotels I recommend otherwise:

• Wren Urban Nest is a modern hotel that’s close to the Temple Bar area and other attractions that are within walking distance. Rates start at $122/night.
• The Address Connolly is a treat to stay at, with a sauna, gym, and rooms with power showers. Rates start at $158/night.
• Ashling Hotel Dublin is right by the LUAS tram and Heuston Station, making it a breeze to get around. Rates start at $169/night.

If you’d instead go for a more local option, consider a VRBO. Here are a few, right in the heart of the city, that catch my eye:

• This penthouse is a rare find in Dublin with a large patio overlooking the city and a kitchen, and it sleeps up to four, from $283/night.
• This two-bedroom is another good group option; it says it can fit up to eight people and has two bathrooms, from $176/night.
• For a little less – and if you’re not spending much time in the room – this homely apartment fits two comfortably, from $89/night.

Resources for Day 1:

• You’ll need to book three nights at your Dublin accommodation. Ensure your Irish travel adapter is on hand to charge your electronics.

If you don’t have as much time, you might prefer a 6 day tour of Ireland instead.

Day 2: Dublin

For the first two days of this Irish road trip, you should spend some time in the Irish capital: Dublin. I’ve already detailed extensively what you should do for three days in Dublin , so here’s a short version of that.

There are loads of attractions in Dublin (consider getting the Dublin Pass to save money), but here are some of my favorites to check out during your 10 days in Ireland:

Jameson Distillery Tour

The Jameson Distillery on Bow St is a must-see during your ten days in Ireland if you’re interested in Irish Whiskey. Consider it part of your cultural education, and book a tour even if you’re not. They have three tour options:

• The Jameson Distillery Guided Tour is a 40-minute group tour that includes a drink at JJ’s Bar. Tickets are €20 for Adults and €16 for Students and Seniors. Book here.
• The Skip the Line Tour is a 90-minute small-group tour where you learn how the drinks are made from a Jameson Ambassador and get to try the beer and whiskey. €90 per person. Book her e.
• The Whiskey Cocktail Making Class is a 60-minute small group where you can make and try three Jameson cocktails. €50 per person. Book here.

Like visiting the Guinness Factory (which I recommend on Day 2, to help balance the impact of a trip to Dublin on your liver), the Jameson Factory is a must-do during your 10 day Ireland road trip!

Ha’penny Bridge

On my trip to Dublin, I stayed in an Airbnb literally right at one end of the Ha’penny Bridge – I could see it out the window from the tiny studio I was sharing with the three classmates traveling with me!

Officially called the Liffey Bridge, this cast-iron span is a pedestrian-only crossing of the River Liffey and connects the Temple Bar and North City.

Here’s another rental apartment right next door to where I stayed if you want another option right near the Ha’penny Bridge.

Oh, and conveniently, it’s a short walk from the Jameson Factory to the Ha’penny Bridge, which you can then cross to visit Temple Bar! It’s touristy but fun to put on your Ireland itinerary for 10 days, and you may learn some fun Ireland facts while there.

Temple Bar is possibly one of the most popular parts of Dublin, especially around St. Patrick’s Day. This neighborhood is the center of all tourist nightlife in the city, and you have your choice from noisy pubs to bass-pumping clubs (perfect for trying traditional drinks in Ireland ).

Since I stayed so close to Temple Bar (like I said, literally across the Ha’penny Bridge!), I had dinner here almost every night and partook of a few pints too! It is very touristy though, so make sure you know what not to do as an Irish tourist first.

Resources for Day 2:

• Stay another night in your Dublin accommodations.

Day 3: Dublin

For your second day in Dublin, take in the city’s Greatest Hits: the masterpieces of history, architecture, intellect, and cuisine that make the Irish capital unique. You could see these sights in any order, but I’ve arranged them in an order that makes sense for walking between them. You’ll also learn a ton of fun facts about Dublin while you’re there.

Trinity College

Trinity College is an active academic institution – but it’s also one of the most touristed sites in the city. You can walk freely through the gorgeous green courtyards past the statues of famous Irish citizens. I think this is one of the best winter activities in Dublin , so you can stay warm and dry.

Or, book a tour of the picturesque library with its Long Hall and the exhibit on the Book of Kells , the most famous medieval manuscript in the world. Can you believe students actually go to school here?

Dublin Castle

Dublin Castle dates back to the year 1204, which is older than just about anything I’ve ever seen – how about you?! The castle was the seat of British power in Ireland until the civil war in the 1920s; now, it houses government staterooms and two museums.

The building and grounds are generally open to the public, and sometimes public events like concerts are hosted here. Since you’re mainly inside, it’s one of the best things to do in Ireland in December .

You can do a self-guided tour (€7 for adults, €6 for students/seniors, €3 for kids) or book a guided 70-minute tour which includes the State Apartments, the Viking Excavation, and the Chapel Royal (€10 for adults, €8 for students/seniors, €4 for kids) to make the most of your Ireland road trip for 10 days.

Save up to 50% off attractions with the Go City Pass ! It’s a great way to save money if you plan on visiting multiple sights in Dublin.

Christ Church Cathedral

Christ Church Cathedral is close to Dublin Castle, just a five-minute walk. The Cathedral is the older of the two medieval cathedrals in Dublin, dating back to 1028. (Seriously, if you’re from the U.S. like me, it’s pretty mind-blowing how old buildings can be – and they’re still preserved and open for tours!)

You can explore the crypt (including seeing the famous mummified cat and rat), walk in the footsteps of pilgrims (this church was once a famous site for Catholic pilgrims), and experience Evensong (typically sung at 5 pm or 6 pm, so this depends on your time of visit).

Religious travel is a common activity, and if you enjoy visiting sacred sites, Christ Church Cathedral is a must. Christmas in Dublin is an especially special time of year to visit.

Guinness Storehouse

While everything else you visit in Dublin for Day 2 is pretty old, the Guinness Storehouse is relatively new: it was only established in 1902. However, it’s likely to be around as long as any of them since Arthur Guinness signed a 9,000-year lease on the land!

The Guinness Storehouse is part brewery, part museum, and part bar. When you book a tour, you get to see all three. Tickets are €18.50 (adults/students/seniors), and you can pretty much wander through the museum as long as you like. Make sure you end at the Gravity Bar, with its panoramic views of Dublin, where you can enjoy the freshest pint of Guinness in the world. You can also take a private guided tour to skip the line.

Alternatively, you could also take a day trip from Dublin if you want to see the surrounding area but still return to your hotel at the end of the night.

At the end of this day, take an easy night and rest – tomorrow, you hit the road to continue your 10 day driving tour of Ireland!

Resources for Day 3:

• Stay a final night in your Dublin accommodations.

Make sure to book your car rental in advance! I love using Discover Cars when I travel.

Day 4: Dublin to Kinsale

Details for Day 4:

• Start: Dublin
• Stops: Kilcullen, Gowran, Inistioge
• End: Kinsale
• Distance: 200mi (323km)
• Estimated time: 4.5 hours, not including stops

The first thing you’ll need to do this morning is pick up your rental car to start your 10 days in Ireland by car. You can rent a car from the city center or the airport (or read about other ways to get from the Dublin Airport to Dublin City Center until you’re ready to rent a car). Both Sixt and Europcar have rental locations near the city center; Enterprise and Hertz are further out of town.

Setting out from Dublin is an exciting prospect: once you leave the city traffic behind, Ireland’s rolling emerald-green fields appear almost immediately.

Rather than taking the most direct motorway from one town to the next, I recommend smaller highways and roads for your 10-day self-drive in Ireland. Therefore, take the M7 to the M9 and stop for a late breakfast in the town of Kilcullen. I recommend Ann Tearmann for a light breakfast and coffee.

From Kilcullen, continue on the M9 toward Gowran. There, friends and I stopped to explore the ruins surrounding St. Mary’s Collegiate Church, parts of which date back over 2,000 years to Celtic times:

These kinds of diversions are one of the best parts of taking a road trip through Ireland: you can stop and explore at will, on your own schedule. There are numerous famous landmarks in Ireland to enjoy. Please be respectful of ruins and historical sites while exploring!

From Gowran, I recommend you continue to the small town of Inistioge (“In-ish-teeg”) during your road trip around Ireland for 10 days. An Irish friend recommended lunch here, and the diversion from the main route is worth it. Aside from lunch at Circle of Friends Cafe, you can see a beautiful arched bridge across the River Nore:

From Inistioge, make the 2.5-hour drive along the N25 to Kinsale for the evening. While there, spend time admiring the boats as they come into the harbor for the night; their fresh catches will be on the menu at many restaurants around town.

The best is Fishy Fishy , recommended by my Irish friend and verified when friends and I dined there during our 10 day Ireland road trip itinerary. With a full belly of fresh seafood, enjoy a well-earned night of rest after your first day on the road.

Resources for Day 4:

• Actons Hotel , the top-rated hotel in Kinsale. Rooms from $152 per night.
• Kinsale Hotel & Spa , a beautiful hotel with an indoor swimming pool and spa. Rooms from $153 per night.
• Or opt for a VRBO, such as this  harbor view apartment   (from $191/night) , this  charming home   (from $102/night) , or  this two-bedroom home  in the center of Kinsale that has a garden (from $158/night) .

Day 5: Kinsale to Ballinskelligs

Details for Day 5:

• Start: Kinsale
• Stops: Blarney Castle, Blarney Stone, Drombeg Stone Circle, Schull
• End: Ballinskelligs
• Distance: 186mi (299km)
• Estimated time: 5.5 hours, not including stops

Rise early for an ambitious day of sightseeing and driving. Explore Kinsale a little while making your way to breakfast at the Lemon Leaf Cafe . They claim to offer the best coffee and breakfast in the county, and I agree. You’ll also love the colorful buildings when deciding what to see in Ireland in 10 days.

Cork & Blarney Castle

Backtrack slightly on a 45-minute drive to the city of Cork and Blarney Castle. This must-see sight during your 10 days in Ireland is home to the famous Blarney Stone. If you arrive early enough (or on a rainy day, as I did), you can avoid the crowds that form and explore the castle and grounds at your leisure.

Without crowds, the precariously perched Stone will also be slightly less gross or terrifying.

While you can’t stay at this castle, there are many Ireland castle hotels that you can book a room at, or you can find a place to stay in Cork !

Drombeg Stone Circle & Schull

By mid-morning, head away from Cork toward the town of Schull (“Skull”) to continue your 10 day road trip in Ireland. En route along the N71, stop off to see the Drombeg Stone Circle, a 75-minute drive.

This megalithic site dates back to the Bronze/Iron Ages (as far back as 3200BC) and is one of the most-visited sites of its type. It also looks out across stunning rolling fields dressed up in Irish green. It’s not hard to see why people have settled here for five millennia.

Note: The road to Drombeg Stone Circle is what my past passengers call a “Valerie Road.” It’s narrow, unpaved, and a bit tricky to navigate. However, it’s really cool to see the stone circle, thus proving Valerie Roads are always worth it.

Drive another 45 minutes along the N71 to Schull for lunch. This seaside town is popular with visitors in the summer months due to close ocean access and beautiful countryside. I recommend you enjoy lunch at the Black Sheep Bar; during winter in Ireland , they usually have a fire going where you can warm up.

Ballinskelligs

After a leisurely lunch, you still have roughly three hours of driving on your road trip in Ireland from Schull to Ballinskelligs on N71 and N70. The majority of this drive will be along Ireland’s famous Ring of Kerry, and this renowned route creates a circle on the Kerry Peninsula, which you’ll drive in part from Kenmare to Ballinskelligs.

You should arrive in Ballinskellings with enough daylight to stop at Ballinskelligs Castle and the nearby Abbey and watch the sunset on the Pacific coast.

Once the sun goes down, you’re in for one last treat for the day: Ballinskelligs is part of the Kerry Dark Sky Reserve. This area of Ireland has one of the darkest skies in the country, making it an excellent spot for stargazing. You can check their website to see if any events are happening or just head out of town to a darker spot to look up at the night sky.

Resources for Day 5:

• Stay at a cute B&B, The Old School House B&B , for waterfront and mountain views in the Ballinskelligs. From $111 per night.
• Skelling Cottages are close to the beach and St. Michael’s Abbey. From $175 per night for six adults.
• This  family-friendly cottage  has room for 10 people with four bedrooms and three bathrooms. From $155 per night.

Day 6: Ballinskelligs to Dingle through Killarney

Details for Day 6:

• Start: Ballinskelligs
• Stops: Gap of Dunloe, Killarney National Park, Killarney
• End: Dingle
• Distance: 117mi (187km)
• Estimated time: 4.0 hours, not including stops

Hopefully, you didn’t stay up too late stargazing last night! There’s another exciting day of driving ahead. You might wonder: how can only 100 miles take four hours to drive?! Remember what I said about two-lane roads and mountain passes?

This is one of the main days you’ll experience both . You’re also taking a meandering route rather than a direct one to enjoy the sights along the way. The scenery is definitely worth it, though.

Gap of Dunloe

Set out from Ballinskelligs after breakfast (Cafe Cois Trá seems to be the place for a morning bite!) back to N70, then head north. You’ll follow the Ring of Kerry around to N72, then cut south on Gap of Dunloe to… the Gap of Dunloe!

Park. Stop off to stretch your legs and enjoy the view, or take a tiny two-lane road to the Gap of Dunloe and the Wishing Bridge.

This mountain pass is famously beautiful, and as you can tell, it’s for a good reason.

Killarney National Park

Continue south on Gap of Dunloe to Molls Gap, then turn east toward Killarney National Park on N71. You may want to stop at this point (there’s a little roadside shop called Avoca Shop & Café) to grab a bite and snacks if you don’t have any and are feeling peckish. This also gives you the luxury to stop in Killarney National Park and enjoy the scenery during your 10 days in Ireland.

Some of the famous viewpoints along N71 in Killarney National Park include Ladies View , Torc Waterfall , and Muckrock House . As you approach Killarney, you can also drive out on Ross Island to view Innisfallen Abbey on its island in Lough Leane. In short, it’s easy to spend most of the day making your way through the national park!

From Killarney, it’s one more hour north and west to the town of Dingle on the peninsula of the same name. Dingle is yet another seaside fishing town, well known to locals and recommended by my friend. This is your base for the night, and you’ll love exploring all the things to do in Dingle .

Resources for Day 6:

• You’re halfway! If you want to splurge, consider Castlewood House , a luxurious manor with reasonable rates. From $114 in the off-season or $176 in the summer months.
• Dingle Benners House is a more budget-conscious option. From $96 per night.
• Harbour Haven is right on the waterfront, includes street parking, and sleeps up to seven guests. From $233 per night.
• You can also look at the six best areas to stay in Dingle for more options.

Day 7: Dingle to Liscannor & the Cliffs of Moher

Details for Day 7:

• Start: Dingle
• Stops: Conor Pass, Castlegregory, Tarbert
• End: Liscannor
• Distance: 107mi (172km), including a ferry ride

Castlegregory

Set out after breakfast in Dingle over Conor Pass to the town of Castlegregory. This beautiful drive takes you to an elevation of 1,500 feet above sea level and offers stunning views to both the north and south as you cross the top of the pass.

Though it’s a short drive over the pass to the town (just 30 minutes), stop and wander along the beach for a while. The water isn’t generally warm enough to swim, but the beaches in this area are popular with surfers and scuba during certain months.

Tarbert Ferry

Back in the car, it’s an hour’s drive to the town of Tarbert and a ferry ride that helps cut an hour of driving off the day. The ferry is officially called the “Tarbert-Shannon Ferry,” and cars are €19 for a one-way transfer.

If you choose to skip the ferry, you’ll pass through Limerick and Shannon, both well-known spots to explore (and you’ll love the kid activities in Limerick if with your family). Otherwise, you can continue north another two hours to the town of Liscannor, and this is your base for the night.

Depending on the timing of your arrival and sunset, you have two choices: dinner first or sunset at the Cliffs of Moher first. The drive to the Cliffs from Liscannor is less than 10 minutes. There are plenty of hiking trails you can walk along if the weather is nice, and the views are unforgettable.

If you want a second opinion on what makes the Cliffs of Moher so incredible, this guide to visiting the Cliffs of Moher will help.

When sunset begins, all you have to do is enjoy the show:

For dinner, there’s only one place to go: Vaughan’s Anchor Inn . This award-winning Inn and restaurant had the freshest seafood I’ve ever eaten; it’s well worth indulging in starters and dessert too. You can book a room at the Inn as well or consider the other options below.

If you only have 7 days in Ireland , you may end your trip here and return to Dublin (and maybe check out some Dublin hiking trails while you’re at it). Otherwise, continue on for the rest of your itinerary.

Resources for Day 7:

• The Cliffs of Moher Hotel , in the heart of Liscannor. Rooms from $90 per night.
• If you’re all in for a vacation rental on this trip, this  charming cottage starts from $9 per night and has three bedrooms.

Day 8: The Cliffs of Moher to Bushmills

Details for Day 8:

• Start: Liscannor
• Stops: The Cliffs of Moher, Sligo, Londonderry
• End: Bushmills
• Distance: 260mi (417km)
• Estimated time: 6.0 hours, not including stops

This, the eighth of 10 days in Ireland, is a long day of driving – the longest by far. It’s an unfortunate reality that, at this point, you’ve got to make some choices about what to see.

You could take these last three days and go to Galway, book yourself a room at a charming Galway bed and breakfast , and check out some pubs in Galway. However, I have an itinerary for you if you only have one day in Galway .

Instead, I recommend making the long haul up to the northern coast for a Northern Ireland road trip . You can spend a few hours in the morning at the Cliffs of Moher (Doolin2Aran Cruises leaves the town of Doolin north of the Cliffs of Moher. Their Cliffs cruise is only one hour and gives you a different perspective on the cliffs), then set out for the long drive north.

As today’s route takes you past most of the remaining parts of the Wild Atlantic Way , you can make stops in Sligo and/or Londonderry for a meal en route to the small town of Bushmills.

Resources for Day 8:

• You’ll need to book two nights in Bushmills.
• Portcaman House is close to the city center and Giant’s Causeway. From $118 per night.
• Carnside Guest House is another great option, with beautiful views and an excellent location. From $153 per night.
• Ready for one last VRBO? This three-bedroom cottage is one of the closest places you can stay to Giant’s Causeway and has beautiful views. From $153 per night.
• You can also check out beautiful Irish country house hotels for a unique place to stay or the best places to stay in Galway .

Day 9: The Giant’s Causeway & Carrick-a-Rede

After a long day of driving, Day 9 of my suggested Ireland road trip is almost no driving – instead, you’ll be exploring two of the most famous sights in Northern Ireland during your 10 days in Ireland.

Located just outside Bushmills, you can spend a few hours exploring the terrain and admiring the weirdly shaped volcanic rock formations at the Giant’s Causeway. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the area is protected and may be closed in certain portions, so respect any signage.

There’s also a stunning visitor center that I highly recommend if you have the time. It teaches you about the formation of the ’causeway’ and the region’s fascinating geology.

Want someone else to take care of the details? Consider booking a tour to the Giant’s Causeway instead.

After the Giant’s Causeway, head east along the coastline to see the ruins of Dunseverick Castle and the Carrick-a-Rede. This famous rope bridge takes you to a small island with limited walking trails. It’s still worth taking the time to check off this activity for your Irish bucket list if you’re in the area.

There are numerous Game of Thrones filming spots in this area, so make sure to check them out to reenact your favorite scene.

Resources for Day 9:

• Stay another night in your Bushmills accommodation.

Day 10: Belfast & Dublin

Details for Day 10:

• Start: Bushmills
• Stops: Belfast
• End: Dublin
• Distance: 163mi (262km)
• Estimated time: 3.0 hours, not including stops

Depending on your departure, your last day of this 10-day Ireland road trip can be as quick or leisurely as you like. If you flew into Dublin, you’ll need to get back there: the best way is by passing through Belfast en route south.

However, if you have time, you might consider making a stop in Belfast, too, as there are plenty of fun things to do in Belfast (including plenty of kid-friendly Belfast activities if you’re with the family).

The Titanic Belfast Museum (£18.50 for adults, £15 for students/seniors, £8 for kids) is the most popular site, and there are plenty of restaurants and bars where you could have lunch on your way back to Dublin.

If you decide to stay in the area, check out my post on where to stay in Belfast .

There can be some traffic from Belfast to Dublin, so I’d allow at least a few hours to get back, time to drop off your rental car, and then a few hours to check in for your flight. You’ll likely be pretty exhausted at this point, so you can cozy up at one of the pubs in the airport for some last-minute Irish food and drink.

If you want to stay in the area longer, there are plenty of day trips from Belfast you can go on.

Resources for Day 10:

• None, you’re done! Great work!

Have other questions about your own 10 days in Ireland itinerary? Let me know in the comments.

Marissa became obsessed with Ireland when she first visited in 2015, and has been back numerous times since to explore more of the Emerald Isle. She started this site to help others plan their trip to Ireland based off her experiences.

28 thoughts on “ 10 Days in Ireland: The Ultimate Ireland Road Trip Itinerary ”

Great choice! Traveling around Ireland by car is awesome. A car is the only way to see all of Italy’s nooks and crannies. Don’t wait until you’re over there to rent a vehicle. It is invariably cheaper to rent a car from home.

Great tip! I highly recommend booking a car hire in advance 🙂

Ireland is on my bucket list but I didn’t know what I wanted to see. How handy is this post?! Pinning!

I’m glad you found it helpful!! Thanks for pinning 🙂

I have to do this!!!!! 😀 I was thinking of either visiting New Zealand, Australia or Ireland next summer! 🙂 This trip looked beautiful!

I’ve never been to NZ or Aus, but I can vouch that Ireland is awesome 😉

I’ve always, always wanted to do an Ireland road trip. I have family history there and my mom did one when she was about my age, and I think it’d be so cool to follow in her footsteps! Bookmarking

Thanks so much for bookmarking – I hope this comes in handy when you finally start planning your trip. Let me know if you have any other questions when the time comes!

Ireland is by far my favorite country in the world! You captured it beautifully. I haven’t been to Kinsale yet, so I’ll have to check it out next time I’m there.

That’s a great compliment, thanks! You should definitely visit Kinsale – it’s the one place I most want to go back and visit again at length.

Ireland is still on my list of places to go and a road trip would be awesome! This trip sounds like a lot of fun.

Thanks so much! I hope you can make it soon.

I want to visit Ireland so much! This looks gorgeous!

Make it happen! It really is this beautiful – if not more so!

Ireland is on my list of places I want to visit. It looks so nice there.

It’s lovely there! I hope you can make it soon 🙂

These photos are incredible! I have always wanted to go to Ireland SO badly and this post made it even worse! haha. Loved reading this!

Thanks so much! I hope you can make it soon 😀

views are really incredible! I love mountains so much

Ireland *is* pretty freakin’ beautiful! Thanks for your comment!

Absolutely perfect timing! I will be following this itinerary in Jan 2020. It hits all of the POI I was looking at but several I hadn’t discovered. Will add a visit to my family’s place of origin outside of Limerick. Great, informative article. Thank you!

Glad to help, Matthew! Have an amazing trip!!

Wonderful tips, thanks so much! We can’t wait for our trip this summer 🙂

Glad to help! Have an amazing trip, Monika!!

Amazing! I know nothing about traveling all over the country, what a wonderful looking place to explore.

It’s a beautiful country and I hope you get the chance to explore it!

Which castle would be a good alternative to Blarney castle? I’ve heard it’s very crowded there and touristy.

There are quite a bit to choose from luckily – what area are you looking at?

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Ireland Road Trip: 7, 10 and 14 day Itinerary

The Republic of Ireland is a beautiful country with a fascinating history, super-friendly people, and SO much to see and do. I had 2 weeks in Ireland to explore by car and was determined to make the most of the time.

If you’re planning your own Ireland road trip, hopefully, the highlights of my epic journey will inspire you. From bumpy boat trips to islands inhabited only by seals, birds and the brutal Irish weather to the exploration of UNESCO Geoparks and dramatic coast paths high above the Atlantic Ocean, there’s something to delight everyone.

I travelled by car, boat, bicycle, and my own two feet. I ate homemade cake in museum tea shops, supped Guinness on seaside piers, and sampled traditional stew in pubs filled with the sounds of Irish music.

This ultimate Ireland road trip planner for 7, 10 and 14 day itineraries will help you create the best route in southern Ireland. 

Ireland Road Trip Planning Tips

How long to spend in ireland.

Honestly? As long as possible! Ireland is a beautiful country with a fascinating history, super-friendly people, and SO much to see and do. I spent a glorious 14 days in Ireland, and it felt like the perfect time to see everything without rushing.

Touring Ireland by car is ideal if you don’t like sticking to a rigid plan dictated by train and bus times. If somewhere captures your imagination, and you want to explore more, travelling under your own steam allows you to change your itinerary.

When is the Best Time To Visit Ireland?

The best time to visit Ireland depends on the individual. For some, spending St Patrick’s Day in a chaotic and vibrant Dublin would be an amazing experience; for others, it would be a total nightmare! Various regional festivals celebrate Irish culture , The Gathering in Kilkenny, County Kerry is one of the best and would be worth timing your visit to attend. 

Irish weather is unpredictable throughout the year, and sunshine is never guaranteed, even during the height of summer. My tip? Be prepared for anything, take waterproofs and warm layers as well as sunglasses and you’ll have fun, even in the rain. 

For the ultimate Ireland road trip, travel in late April and May for long days of light and mild weather or early autumn when the crowds have left and the winter chill hasn’t yet arrived. During these off-peak times, you will also get better deals on ferry prices, flights, and hotels. 

How To Get To Ireland

I travelled from the UK to Ireland on Irish Ferries, a company that has won the ‘Best Ferry Company’ award more times than any other in Ireland. It was a simple and quick booking process, and the journey was seamless.

Cars are allowed on the boat, and there is no limit on your luggage meaning you can pack all the  road trip essentials . So, for an enjoyable crossing that sets you up for a relaxing and fun holiday of touring Ireland by car, I heartily recommend Irish Ferries; read about  my experience on the Ulysses .

Irish Ferries offer fast and cruise travel options from Holyhead to Dublin and between Pembroke in South Wales and Rosslare. Prices start from £119, and you can book either single or return tickets at   IrishFerries.com

If you’re not arriving from the UK or travelling by ferry isn’t for you, Dublin has an international airport served by 44 airlines, and upon arrival in Dublin, the public transport links for onward travel are excellent, or you may want to hire a car. 

Hiring A Car In Ireland

Don’t leave car hire as an afterthought.

If you do, you’re likely to book in a panic without thinking about what you need and what represents a good deal.

Look Carefully At The Car Insurance

Car rental insurance feels deliberately confusing, so it is worth thinking carefully about what you do and don’t need and what might already be covered by your credit card.

Age Requirements

You need to be at least 25 to hire a car in Ireland and will need a valid driving licence and ID.

Is Public Transport An Option?

Renting a car can be expensive and Ireland has good transport links and plenty of fantastic tours that will take you off the beaten path.

Compare Prices And Choose A Reliable Company

Discover Cars   is an award-winning car rental company with great Trustpilot reviews. I have used them on some previous trips and would happily recommend them.

Methods Of Payment

Some car rental companies will only accept payment via credit card or allow you to u

Travel Insurance For Ireland

Even though you have taken out car insurance, you still need travel insurance to cover other eventualities. Here are some tried-and-tested travel insurance options to check out;

Get 5% off your travel insurance with HeyMondo . Benefit from 24-hour medical assistance, 365 days a year with single, multi-trip, and long-stay insurance, cover for Covid-19 and non-refundable expenses. The handy app makes this a simple process! They give a little back too by contributing to ‘Doctors Without Borders’.

SafetyWing for Digital Nomads . Benefit from 24/7 assistance, comprehensive and medical cover including Covid-19. Buy insurance whilst you are travelling, with the option of global health insurance.

Prefer A Group Tour Of Ireland?

If a self-drive tour of Ireland is not your preferred way, there are plenty of incredible multi-day group tours with knowledgeable guides. So if you decide you’d like to skip the hassle of driving, check out these options;

• 4 Day Southern + Western Ireland Tour
• 6 Day Southern Ireland Tour from Dublin
• 9 Day National Geographic Iconic Ireland Tour 

14 Day Ireland Road Trip

Day 1-3 | dublin.

Dublin is the capital of the Republic of Ireland and it’s a city where you will find delicious food, interesting museums, and the legendary Irish craic. Visit around St Patrick’s Day, and experience parades, street theatre, and a fabulous festival atmosphere. 

The best way to discover the rich history of Dublin is on a free walking tour with a knowledgeable and hilarious guide. The National Gallery of Ireland and the National Museum of Ireland are both feasts for the eyes, and a trip to Trinity College to see the Book of Kels is a must. 

After a few hours of learning about Ireland’s history, you’ll be hungry, so head to The Oval Bar and enjoy a bowl of their famous Irish stew. After lunch, take a walk along the river Liffey to see the iconic bridges of Dublin, the Famine Memorial, and the Custom House. 

Read my  Dublin itinerary  – a great way to start my Ireland road trip 

Day 4-5 | Dublin Bay – Dalkey & Howth

These beautiful towns are the two highlights of Dublin Bay and they are both within easy reach of Dublin City by car, train, or bus. You’ll need at least a day to appreciate the delights each. 

Day Trip To Dalkey 

The interactive tours of Dalkey Castle are fun and informative thanks to the guides who dress in full costume and become historical characters such as a cook and archer. Brilliant! 

A hike along the coast to see the stunning views is an excellent way to blow away the cobwebs before a well-earned lunch of Dublin Bay prawns at The Queen’s Bar. 

Taking the kayaks around the rugged coastline of Dalkey Island, learning the ancient history, and watching seals was a special moment.  My Dalkey experience  was a wonderful day trip from Dublin. 

Day Trip To Howth 

Howth is a lovely village where you can escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. The way-marked clifftop walks provide breathtaking views of  Ireland’s Eye , an island that is home to grey seals, rare birds, and ancient relics. It can be reached by boat from Howth harbour.

After locally caught fish and chips and ice cream on Howth Pier, head to the beautifully decorated local church and then go for a windswept stroll at Bailey’s Lighthouse.  Visiting Howth  is the perfect escape from Dublin’s busy streets. 

Day 6 | Enniscorthy

On a 14-day self-drive tour of Ireland, it’s essential to make a plan so you see all the amazing sights the country has to offer. So, on my way to Tramor, I stopped at Enniscorthy in County Wexford. 

Enniscorthy is a picturesque and friendly town with lots of history. It is the home of the National 1798 Rebellion Centre, the Battle of Vinegar Hill, and a well-preserved 13th-century castle, and some beautiful beaches. 

Day 7 | Copper Coast + Mahon Falls

The Copper Coast route is named after the massive mines of the 19th century. The area is now a  UNESCO Geopark , a name given to places with international geological significance, and has some of the most spectacular scenery in Waterford County. 

This awesome route can be driven or cycled. It is 25 km long and runs between Tramore, with its fine beach, and the quaint waterfront town of Dungarvan. On your way back to Tramore, stop at the magnificent Mahon Falls. 

Highlights of the Copper Coast  include Newton Cove, where you can wild swim from the stony shore, and the Metalman statue of a sailor who warns seagoers of tricky waters. Kilfarrasay Strand is a lovely stretch of sand on which to stretch your legs before heading to the mining heritage site at Tankardstown. 

Day 8 | Waterford City

Waterford City is the home of the Waterford Viking Triangle, a hub of three museums that tell the story of the Vikings in Ireland and more recent history in compelling ways. New additions to this fascinating learning centre include the Museum of Time and the Museum of Silver. There’s a free walking tour taking them all in. 

In the afternoon, explore the vibrant murals added to the town walls during the annual Street Art Festival. If you have time, the Waterford Crystal Factory is a beautiful and interesting place to visit. The exquisite crystal art it produces will make great souvenirs for your two-week Ireland tour. 

Rain or shine, there is plenty of things to do for a fun-filled day  exploring Waterford City .

Day 9 | Drive To Killarney Via Blarney Castle

Before you leave Tramore, start the day with a little zen at the  Lafcadio Hearn Japanese Gardens  which commemorates the Greek-Irish literary figure, Patrick Lafcadio Hearn. The garden displays represent his biographical journey through the different stages of his life from his Victorian childhood to living in the US, travelling extensively, and finally settling in Japan and marrying into a Samurai family. This is just one of the many  beautiful gardens of Ireland .

Blarney Castle  is a two-hour drive away from Tramore and a 90-minute drive from Killarney, my next overnight stop. The castle was built six hundred years ago by an Irish chieftain, Cormac MacCarthy, a charismatic man who managed to stop Queen Elizabeth I from taking his castle with his gift of the gab. The frustrated Queen called his stalling ‘blarney.’

The Blarney Stone, or The Stone of Eloquence, is the source of myth and legend. Was it a stone soaked in the blood of the ill-fated lover of the Queen of the Faeries? Or was it a thank-you gift from Robert Bruce for helping him defeat Edward II and is part of the legendary Stone of Scone on which the Scottish Kings were crowned?

Of course, I couldn’t come all this way without kissing the Blarney Stone. It’s not as easy as you may think as it is built into the castle wall. I had to need to lie down, hold onto metal bars, and tilt my head backward.

Did you know the Blarney Stone is 85 feet off the ground? Just one of the many  interesting facts about the Blarney Stone  you should know before you visit.

Day 10 | Ring Of Kerry Drive

The Ring of Kerry is a magical drive of 179 km. It’s a jaw-dropping route around the coastline of the Iveragh Peninsula that reveals panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean, pretty villages where you can have tea and cake, dramatic mountain scenes, and swooping seabirds. I drove round clockwise, the opposite way to tour groups, so I had some of these gorgeous places to myself. 

I loved the lake and rolling green hill vista at Ladies Views, the colourful houses at Port Magee, and eating a delicious lunch at the seafront village of Waterville and beautiful St Finian’s Bay. The Stague Stone Fort, an atmospheric 2,500-year-old ruin and the 19th-century Derryanne House that sits proudly in the heart of the National Park are both well worth a visit. 

Journeying through this incredible landscape was the first time I felt rushed on this trip as there was so much to see! If I’d had an extra day in my itinerary, I would have included the Dingle Peninsula too.

Day 10 | Limerick

Limerick, a Viking town founded in 922AD, is a 1-hour 40-minute drive from Killarney. This pretty place has been at the centre of bloody battles and political intrigue from its inception, and there are many historic places to visit on a day trip here. King John’s Castle and St Mary’s Cathedral are two highlights.

Limerick is on the River Shannon, and that waterside location has made it an important place for trade and commerce in Ireland for generations. It is famous for exquisite handmade lace. The story of Limerick’s more recent history is told in the People’s Museum. Art galleries, the Hunt Museum, and the Limerick Gallery are fantastic too. 

The town was named the Irish City of Culture in 2014 and received lots of investment; new shops, bars, and restaurants appeared, and it is now a great night out. 

Enjoy a friendly welcome from the locals as you discover the charms and  attractions of Limerick .

Day 12 | Cliffs Of Moher

The Cliffs of Moher are awe-inspiring vertical edifices that tower over the swirling Atlantic Ocean below. They formed 320 million years ago and run eight miles along the coast of County Clare. The panoramic views from the cliffs toward the Isles of Arran will stay in your memory forever and it is especially beautiful at sunset. 

The paths around the cliffs are well-maintained and perfect for a walk, just stay away from the edge! You can wander south towards Hag’s Head, about 5.6km away. The path north to Doolin is currently closed. 

There’s a visitor’s centre with craft shops, an excellent café and lots of information about the seabirds who call the cliffs home. O’Brien’s Tower is a folly built by a local landlord and MP in 1835 to impress the women he was stepping out with. Climb it in good weather to see extended views of Connemara across Galway Bay. 

The Cliffs of Moher are part of a unique landscape called the Burren and both have UNESCO Geopark status. The archaeological, geological, and botanical significance of this karst limestone-rich area and the seven dedicated geo sites make it an enthralling and eerily beautiful place to visit.

The Burren scenic drive is 41 miles long and starts at Kilfenora, a historic cathedral town. Before you set off, take the time to visit the Burren Visitor Centre to understand the weird terrain you’re about to drive through.

Day 13 | Ferry To Inishmore From Galway

Inishmore is the largest of the Isles of Aran, and you can reach it by ferry from Galway Bay or Doolin. On the island, you’ll find Ireland at its most authentic. It is the home of traditional music and one of the few places left where Irish is the dominant language. 

I left the car in Galway Bay as only local cars are permitted on Inishmore. Hiring a bike was the best option for me as I wanted the freedom to explore at my leisure. The seal colony was disappointing as I didn’t see any. The huge views were worth the stop, however. 

The Worm Hole cave was a natural marvel, and I loved Dun Aengus Fort, an imposing ancient stone fort with massive walls and a defensive pattern of spikes. My favourite part of my visit to Inishmore was cycling gleefully along the quiet lanes of the old cottage road with the wind in my hair. It felt remote, rugged, and like I was seeing the real Ireland. 

The Aran Islands are a treasure worth experiencing, any traveller will be transfixed with the bucolic  magic of Inishmore .

Day 14 | Drive To Dublin Via Kilkenny

I didn’t want to waste the last day of my Ireland road trip. So, instead of driving straight back to Dublin for the late-night ferry to Holyhead, I stopped in Kilkenny. The main attraction is  Kilkenny Castle  and Parkland, a Victorian remodelling of a 13th-century castle. It has an absorbing history, informative tour guides, and outstanding homemade cakes in the café. 

Kilkenny  is a medieval town, and it was a joy to wander down the cobbled streets and feel the history underneath my feet. The ancient architecture is remarkably well-preserved, and the Medieval Mile Trail brings old stories to life. 

The Smithwick’s Experience is one of Kilkenny’s newest tourist attractions and is the story of the town’s love affair with their 300-year-old beer. The tour is very hands-on, you’ll be milling the malt and stirring the mash, so it’s good fun.

Dublin is 90 minutes away from Kilkenny, so before I left, I had a bite at Kyteler’s Inn, a pub built in 1324. The food was tasty, and the old building had lots of gorgeous little nooks and crannies to explore. The stained-glass windows are works of art in themselves. 

More Ireland Road Trip Itineraries

Ireland road trip 10 days.

• Howth + Ireland’s Eye
• Copper Coast
• Blarney Castle + Killarney
• Ring of Kerry
• Cliffs of Moher

Ireland Road Trip 7 Days

Handy links for your ireland road trip.

Here are some useful links for your Ireland road trip, find tours, and where to stay. These are companies I have used and can recommend with confidence.

Accommodation In Ireland

• Best accommodation deals with  Booking.com
• Top hostel deals with  Hostelworld
• Experience Irish hospitality, stay with locals via  Homestay

Tours In Ireland

• Multi-day tours in Ireland with  G Adventures
• Book attractions and multi-day tours with  Viator
• Discover tours and things to do in Ireland on  Tripadvisor

Transport For Ireland

• Hire your  own wheels with Discover Cars
• Check train times with  Irish Rail
• Travel from the UK to Dublin or Rosslare with  Irish Ferries .

PIN FOR YOUR 2 WEEK IRELAND ROAD TRIP

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I'm a content creator for She Wanders Miles ♡ Digital marketer, photographer, hiker, and nature lover ♡ Passion for slow, sustainable and responsible travel ♡ Join me in discovering our beautiful world across 7 continents.

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The Ultimate 7 and 8 day driving tour of Ireland

Last summer we took a road trip around Ireland with the aim to see as much of the country as possible with the limited time we had. Overall we wanted to spend around 7 or 8 days in Ireland, and we wanted to use that time to drive around and see the sights. Ireland is the perfect place to do a road trip, even if some of the roads are narrow and, you have to wait a good 10 minutes to let a farmer and his cattle cross to the other side on occasion (true story). But the things you will see are unforgettable.

Starting in Dublin and ending in Sligo we have put together this 7 and 8 day Ireland itinerary. We list all the key spots that we think you should visit, as well as where to stay and how much money you might need.

Here is our ultimate driving tour of Ireland to help you plan your own trip in the future. We have included a, 7 days in Ireland itinerary as well as an 8 day Ireland itinerary if you do have a little extra time. 

Disclaimer : This post contains affiliate links, so if you use these links to buy something we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. Thank you for your support.

Ireland Itinerary Factsheet

7 days in ireland or 8 days how long do you really need, 8 day driving tour of ireland, less time what about a 7 day ireland itinerary, ireland 7 & 8 day self drive itinerary and tips on renting a car, tips for planning your ireland 7 & 8 day self drive itinerary, day 1, wicklow mountains & glendalough, day 2, kilkenny , day 3, rock of cashel & cork, day 4, blarney castle, bantry, & killarney , day 5, killarney national park, ring of kerry & tralee, day 6, cliffs of moher & galway, day 7, aran islands & galway, day 8, sligo  , how much money do i need for my 8 days in ireland, what currency do i need for my 8 days in ireland, ireland itinerary 7 & 8 days- a recap.

Capital: Dublin

Currency: Euros

Famous for: Guinness, Whisky, Greenery, Pubs

Visit if you like: Quaint places, enjoying nature, folk stories,

  Also known as: The Emerald Isle

Ireland is known as the Emerald because of its rolling green fields, and if you love nature, and the great outdoors then you really should start planning your 7/8 days in Ireland immediately.

Ireland might not be big especially compared to say the likes of the USA, but there are hundreds of different accents in the country. Also, there are two official languages in Ireland, Gaelic and English. Don’t worry though English is spoken pretty much everywhere, but you will notice road signs in both languages.

And if you are wondering if Ireland is worth visiting this is a handy post.

If you are wondering how long you need in Ireland well the honest answer is the longer the better. 7 days in Ireland seems to be the more common timeframe among people we speak to. It allows for a full week of exploring the country, and tasting the delicious food and drink on offer, before heading home. We did a full 8 days before flying back to the UK but seriously we could have spent way longer here. 

Here is a quick plan of our 8 day Ireland itinerary which we will go into more detail about below:

Day 1- Wicklow Mountains & Glendalough

Day 2- Kilkenny

Day 3 – Rock of Cashel & Cork

Day 4- Blarney Castle, Bantry & Killarney

Day 5 – Killarney National Park, Ring of Kerry & Tralee

Day 6 – Cliffs of Moher & Galway

Day 7 – Aran Islands and Galway

Day 8 – Sligo

For more Irish inspiration you can also check out our Ireland bucket list .

A lot of people tend to spend 7 days in Ireland rounding their time off to a solid week. If this is the case then you will need to cut out a couple of the stops we have listed above. We will go into more detail below on each stop and provide suggestions on where to save time, but we would recommend cutting out a day in Kilkenny if you want to plan a 7 day Ireland itinerary. 

7 Days in Ireland Day 1- Wicklow Mountains & Glendalough (Great for a break if you are driving from Dublin)

7 Days in Ireland Day 2 – Rock of Cashel & Cork (Cork is an absolute must when visiting Ireland so you don’t want to miss out if you can help it)

7 Days in Ireland Day 3- Blarney Castle, Bantry & Killarney (The Blarney Castle should be high on your list, especially if you are after the ‘gift of the gab’. If you are short on time though you can skip Bantry as it is a little further out.)

7 Days in Ireland Day 4 – Killarney National Park, Ring of Kerry & Tralee (Killarney National Park, and Ring of Kerry are great for hikes and gorgeous scenery, and Tralee is a good place to rest your head for the evening before heading towards Galway). 

7 Days in Ireland Day 5 – Cliffs of Moher & Galway (The Cliffs of Moher are absolutely stunning, and even though they are super touristy a trip to Ireland would not be complete without a visit).

7 Days in Ireland Day 6 – Aran Islands and Galway (For a real Irish experience you should see the Aran Islands, although this does mean another night spent in Galway, so again if you are short for time this might be worth skipping).

7 Days in Ireland Day 7 – Sligo (Sligo might be a small town but the county itself is full of natural beauty and it really is Ireland’s best kept secret. If you are looking for an Irish experience with few tourists Sligo is a must). 

Before you start to plan your Ireland 7 & 8 day self drive itinerary here are a few tips that you should bear in mind when renting a car.

☘ The majority of cars in Ireland are manual (use a gear stick) so if you want an automatic car arrange this in advance.

☘ If you are planning to drive in Northern Ireland be aware that it is kilometres in the Republic and miles in the North.

☘ Bigger is not always better in terms of car size in Ireland. The roads can be quite narrow at times so keep this in mind.

☘ If you rent a car and return it at a different location as mentioned in this post then you will be charged a fee for dropping the car off in a different location. It was not a big deal during our 8 days in Ireland but with shorter trips you will notice the cost.

☘ We recommend booking your accommodation in advance. We then knew where we were staying each night and didn’t have to worry about places being full. You can book your accommodation through hotels.com for some great deals.

☘It is better to plan your 8 day Ireland itinerary in advance so that you have a clear idea of where you want to go and how to get there.

☘Allow time to make unscheduled stops too.

What to see in Ireland in 7 & 8 days

Here is our guide on what to see in Ireland in 8 days and a sample itinerary for you to use. If you are looking for a 7 day Ireland itinerary you will need to cut one of the days out.

After an incredibly delayed flight we landed in Dublin Airport and collected our rental car. If you do rent a car remember that bigger isn’t always better. Some of the roads in Ireland are rather narrow so our advice is pick something economical and small.

On this trip we decided to give Dublin a miss mostly because we were short on time, and had been there several times in the past. In fact you can read about that  right here .

After navigating the motorways we left Dublin with haste and began our drive through the Wicklow Mountains. We stopped a lot to take pictures and soak up the views of this rugged hilly land. The drive really is beautiful and what made it even more special was that we passed so few cars on the journey. Although that is probably a good thing considering the width of the road in some parts.

Things to do in the Wicklow Mountains

Some of the top things to do in the Wicklow Mountains/ County Wicklow that you can add to your 7/8 Day Ireland itinerary are:

• Climb Sugarloaf Mountain
• Drive to the Blessington Lakes for some quiet time
• Head to Ballinastoe for some incredible views. There are a number of scenic walks you can do around here.
• Explore Powerscourt House and Gardens and visit the Powerscourt waterfall

Eventually we arrived at Glendalough which literally means Valley of the two lakes. The site is probably best know for its monastic heritage. It’s a great place to walk around especially by the lough and it is one of those places that gives you a sense of inferiority that can only be felt by standing next to something so beautiful. Glendalough also makes for a great day trip from Dublin too .

Things to do in Glendalough

Here are some of the top things to do when visiting Glendalough:

• Glendalough monastic site
• Hike the upper and lower lakes
• Visit the Whiskey Distillery

Where to stay

We spent the evening in Avoca, a very small town in County Wicklow. Avoca was great because it was very quiet and not massively touristy. It kind of had that whole Irish countryside vibe. Alternatively you can stay closer to Glendalough though but do make sure you book well in advance as accommodation can fill up quite fast.

We decided the spend the second day in Kilkenny and spent the morning driving to the town. It was a great opportunity to explore the city and participate in a well earned pub crawl. One of the most prominent sights in Kilkenny is the Castle, which also has an incredible rose garden you can walk around in. If you are looking for a drink, we stumbled upon Kyteler’s Inn (and stumbled back out of after a few drinks) which was recommended to us by the locals. Kilkenny is a great place to explore and has a fantastic cafe culture. So don’t forget to walk around those back streets for a true taste of the town. Read more on Kilkenny here.

Things to do in Kilkenny

Here is a rundown on some of the best things to do in Kilkenny that you can add to your 8 days in Ireland.

• Visit Kilkenny Castle and wander around the gorgeous rose garden
• Do a boat tour and admire the views
• Do a historical walking tour to learn more about this medieval city
• Do a hysterical historical walking tour!
• Visit the National Design and Craft Gallery
• St Mary’s Cathedral
• Medieval Mile Museum
• Explore the Rothe House and Gardens a historical museum
• St. Canice’s Cathedral

Where to stay in Kilkenny

Kilkenny is only small so if you stay in the centre you won’t be far from the main tourist spots. There are a range of accommodation options from high end hotels to budget B&Bs.

Another early start as we drove towards the Rock of Cashel, a historic site located in County Tipperary. But of course not before stopping for a traditional Irish Breakfast close to the site.

We clambered up to the entrance alongside the dozens of passengers who were emptying out of the tourbuses. It was a beautiful site and we were lucky enough to be standing in the ruins of the cathedral when a choir broke out into full song.

If you love history then you will love visiting the Rock of Cashel. Just make sure you try and arrive early because it does get swarmed with tourists. It really is a beautiful place to explore and take in some of the history that makes Ireland what it is. There are a few walks you can go on around the Rock of Cashel as well, so don’t forget your camera and some walking shoes. Oh and it is Ireland after all so maybe an umbrella too!

Moving on we headed to Cork, a very colourful and contemporary city located in the Southwest of Ireland. It’s also a vibrant city full of quirky bars and restaurants. Our highlights included a visit to the English Market where they sell locally produced foods. If you have time we recommend doing a historical walking tour in the city to learn absolutely everything you can.

We also visited St Anne’s Church where you can ring the bells, and make your way to the top of the church for a 360 degree view of the city. Just a word of warning this is not ideal if you are claustrophobic or afraid of heights (or both). It can get pretty tight climbing up and I’m pretty sure at some point we had to negotiate our way around a giant church bell. You do get giant noise cancelling headphones to wear as the bell is still in use so make sure you use them. One of our favourite things though was ringing those church bells. There is a book and it tells you which rope to pull to play certain songs. I tried my hand at Walzting Matilda and failed miserably.

Things to do in Cork

Here are the highlights of things to do in Cork:

• Stroll through the English Market
• Visit the Crawford Municipal Art Gallery
• Visit Cork City Gaol
• Do a food tasting tour
• Explore St Fin Barre’s Cathedral
• Enjoy a harbour cruise
• Ring the Bells at St Anne’s Church
• Do a Cork Harbour cruise
• Do a historical guided tour

If you are tossing up between Dublin and Cork , here is a handy guide.

For more Cork tips make sure you read our post here .

Where to stay in Cork

This 7/8 day Ireland itinerary only really covers a day in Cork. Because of that we recommend staying in the city centre. You are smack bang in the middle of all the hustle and bustle as well as several bars and restaurants. Make sure you book accommodation in advance for the cheapest rates.

On to day 4 where I have to stress no trip to Ireland is complete without a trip to Blarney Castle. The weather wasn’t great when we arrived but this did not deter us. The must do thing at Blarney Castle is of course kissing the Blarney Stone. To get to the stone you must first walk up to the top of the castle via a very narrow and winding staircase. Once at the peak you join a line of fellow kissers and wait. You lay on your back and reach out to kiss the stone which is suspended over a severe drop. Unfortunately my fear of heights got the better of me, although Dave did manage to do it. His reward was ‘the gift of the gab’ or so it is foretold (which he hasn’t shut up about).

It is also worth exploring the Castle grounds. There are some beautiful gardens to get lost in, and being Ireland a lot of green places to take pictures.

Armed with this new gift of the gab though we left Blarney castle and we drove to the seaside town of Bantry. We parked up and got to spend a little bit of time walking around breathing in the sea air and feasting on some very fresh fish and chips. We were then mobbed by seagulls and had to eat the rest of the food in the car.

Bantry is a really beautiful place to visit. There are so many seaside walks to go on, and if you get the chance make sure you explore some of the quaint back streets.

Things to do in Bantry

• Bantry House and Gardens
• Get a ferry to Garnish Island
• Whale watching

Traumatised by our seagull attack (and yes I know it was my fault)  but still going strong we drove to Killarney, a very touristy and quaint town. The town was filled with pubs and restaurants and you could even travel by horse drawn carriage around the town if you really wanted to. It was the perfect place to have a nice traditional Irish meal and sip a few pints before going to bed. If you are looking for more ideas for things to do in Killarney we have this post .

Where to stay in Killarney

Killarney might be small but it certainly has a fantastic atmosphere. We wanted to stay in the centre for this reason, but unfortunately because we had a car we had to stay about a 10 minute walk away from the centre. Just something to think about when planning your own 7/ 8 days in Ireland.

Killarney is the perfect place to base yourself if you plan to drive the Ring of Kerry. We woke up early had a full Irish breakfast and set off to do the Ring of Kerry. You can read about it in more detail here.

But first when you leave Killarney you will find yourself driving through Killarney National Park. Driving through you are surrounded by giant trees and moss covered rocks. There are so many walks you can do around the park and our highlight was walking around Torc Waterfall which is at the base of Torc Mountain.

Also not to be missed is Ladies View, where you can stop off and enjoy some sweeping views of the mountains and lakes that make up Killarney National Park. There is a conveniently located cafe here too in case you need some sustenance on your journey.

Things to do in Killarney National Park

• Muckross House and Gardens
• Torc Waterfall
• Ross Castle
• Ladies View
• Do a Lakes of Killarney boat cruise
• Gap of Dunloe tour

The national park also forms part of the Ring of Kerry route. The Ring of Kerry is a scenic drive around the Iveragh Penninsula in County Kerry. You pass through incredible mountainous terrain, as well as crystal clear ocean water. This was one part of the drive where we stopped a lot and had to switch up the driving frequently.

We trailed off before completing the full ring and spent the evening in Tralee which gave us a good start for the following days journey.

Another must see in Ireland are of course the Cliffs of Moher. At a maximum height the cliffs are 214 meters high. The day we visited was quite overcast and they do allow you to use your ticket on another day if this is the case. As we were pushed for time we couldn’t take advantage of this, but luckily the rain cleared up for a short time while we visited.

You can read all about our adventures at the Cliffs of Moher here .

Leaving the cliffs and the rain behind we then headed to Galway. A stunning harbour city, Galway is an excellent place to experience some Irish culture. From its fine dining and seafood restaurants to it’s quirky Irish bars, Galway is a popular tourist destination. The Latin Quarter is one of the more lively places to go out and experience some of these bars and restaurants. It is also full of buskers and jovial tourists enjoying this fine city.

Things to do in Galway

• EAT! Galway is a foodies paradise – here is a great food tour you can do
• Enjoy the pub culture – particularly in the Latin Quarter
• Listen to the buskers along Quay Street
• Galway City Museum
• Do a hidden gems bike tour
• Enjoy a Lake Cruise
• Visit Salthill
• Do a Hop On Hop Off bus tour
• Do a walking tour
• Go to a trad music session

Where to stay in Galway

You definitely want to stay somewhere in the centre of Galway especially around the Latin Quarter. There is a lot of entertainment here and it makes for a great night out.

Galway is also the perfect gateway to the Aran Islands . We left our car at the hotel and took a bus out to Rossaveal where ferries depart frequently to the Aran Islands.

We visited Inishmore which is the island accessible from Galway. Once you are on the ferry it usually takes about 45 minutes to reach Inishmore. Do be prepared for choppy waters, as the Atlantic Ocean can be a little fierce at times.

The best way to see the islands in our opinion is to do a bus tour. The guides really know their stuff and will let you in on some insights to what life is really like living on the islands.

After spending the day we arrived back in Galway in the evening, just in time for a few pints and some fantastic seafood. Because of its close proximity to the sea Galway is one of the best places in Ireland for seafood so if you are a fish fan do take advantage.

Our final destination was Sligo, a town along the Wild Atlantic Way coastal route that exudes natural beauty. Sligo is also Yeats Country and this is where the poet was inspired to create some of his best work. Sligo is one of our favourite places in Ireland and really is a hidden gem.

One of the best things about Sligo is that it is not over run by tourists. So you can explore its natural beauty without having to share it with a bus load of tourists.

From serene lakeside walks to forests that are worthy of a thousand picnics for us Sligo is the perfect place to spend your last few days in Ireland.

Sligo is also pretty famous for its surf school, located at Strandhill one of the many beaches Sligo boasts .

It’s about a 40 minute drive to Knock Airport which has regular flights to the UK as well as other European destinations so if you are travelling from the UK its an easy base to fly home from.

Things to do in Sligo

Visit the Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery

• Admire Benbulben
• Climb Knocknarea
• Explore Lough Gill
• Visit Sligo Abbey
• Walk around Rosses Point
• Enjoy the surf at Strandhill
• Visit W B Yeats grave at Drumcliffe Parish Church
• Admire the Gleniff Horseshoe

Where to stay in Sligo

We would recommend staying either around Strandhill or Rosses Point, particularly if you want to be close to the beach. Otherwise base yourself in the city centre – just make sure you check if your hotel has parking.

You might be wondering how much money you will need for your 8 days in Ireland. A lot of that is going to depend on what you want to see and do. Ireland can be expensive particularly in places like Dublin.

Keep in mind you will have to budget the following:

Hotels : Average at €90 – €120 per night

Rental Car – €600 average for a week but consider what insurance you are getting and any additional costs

Petrol : Petrol prices are pretty high these days, and it’s hard to gauge the exact cost. This will depend on where you go to fill up (smaller towns are often cheaper) but also how economical your car is.

Other : For things like tourist activities, food, shopping etc, we would probably budget about €100 – €150 between 2 people per day. Again this will depend on where you go to eat, how many activities you want to do, etc.

Ireland is part of the EU and therefore the currency is Euro. One Euro is equivalent to 100 Cents. Euros are made up of a mixture of coins and notes. The coins tend to be Cents so you get 1,2,5,10,20 and 50 Cent coins, as well as a 1 and 2 Euro coin. Notes are made up of 5,10,20,50,100,200, and 500 Euros. With the notes we don’t recommend carrying around the higher denominations as some places won’t take anything over a 50 for security purposes. And honestly, I don’t think we have ever seen a 200 or 500 Euro note! So if you do find one let us know.

You can pay on card for most things in Ireland, but we do recommend carrying some cash on you especially in the smaller towns as some places may only accept cash.

Whether you are looking to spend a full 7 days in Ireland or 8 days in Ireland we hope this itinerary is useful for you. And so our Irish road trip came to an end. We saw and learnt so much, and of course Dave now has the gift of the gab so expect plenty more blog posts on Ireland in the future.

If you have found this guide to 7/ 8 days in Ireland useful please make sure that you pin it for later.

Wanderlust and Life is a blog for those that love to travel.

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6 self drive tours in ireland with reviews.

The Best Of Ireland

The tour was great and our tour / bus driver is one of the best. He's extremely knowledgeable about all aspects of Ireland and went out of his way to do extra things that were not on the itinerary. We had plenty of time at all of our stops and loads of free time as well. Thanks Indus for a great time.

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Wild Atlantic Way | Ireland

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• Sightseeing

Ireland's Green Magic: Rugged cliffs & Fabulous castles

• Flights included
• €50 deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

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Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way

EPIC Landscapes, Cities & Castles

Regions in ireland.

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• Ireland Travel Guide | All You Need to Know
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International Versions

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Ireland Self-Drive Tour – Your 7-Day to 14-Day Itinerary

Enjoy this self-driving road trip of Ireland.  Whether travelling for one week or two weeks, our itinerary provides all the major highlights of the beautiful Emerald Isle. On this scenic drive, see ancient historic sites and monastic ruins set in the beautiful Irish countryside. The stunning sheer cliffs of the coast hide secluded bays and sheltered beaches ready to explore.

Best of all, meet the locals in their friendly towns, small and large, that define the island.

Table of Contents

Ireland Road Trip Map

Use our map to plan your road self-drive tour of Ireland.

7-Day Ireland Itinerary

A 1-week Ireland road trip is a good introduction to the Republic of Ireland.  This road trip itinerary concentrates on the highlights of the southern half of the island, beginning and ending in Dublin.

• Day 1.  Dublin
• Day 2.  Glendalough and Ireland’s Ancient East
• Day 3.  Cork
• Day 4.  Killarney
• Day 5.  Ring of Kerry Drive
• Day 6.  Dingle Peninsula Drive
• Day 7.  Cliffs of Moher and return to Dublin

14-Day Ireland Itinerary

A 2-week Ireland road trip explores the whole island. Drive the 7-day route, then continue north on the Wild Atlantic Way into Northern Ireland before returning to Dublin.

• Day 8.  Limerick and County Clare
• Day 9.  Galway
• Day 10.  Ceide Fields and Sligo
• Day 11.  Donegal
• Day 12.  Northern Ireland’s Causeway Coastal Route
• Day 13.  Belfast
• Day 14.   Brú na Bóinne and return to Dublin

Spend at least a day in Dublin enjoying this city full of history, museums and traditional Irish pubs.

Walk the green squares of the historic Trinity College campus.  The most impressive part is the Long Room inside the Old Library which holds over 200,000 of the library’s oldest books.  At 65 metres long with an amazing barrel-vaulted ceiling, this room is an excellent photo stop.  Get in line to admire the famous 9 th century gospel manuscript Book of Kells .

Walk along the River Liffey admiring the many bridges spanning the river, such as the beautiful Ha’penny Bridge .

Ireland is the home of Guinness so a visit to the Guinness Storehouse is a must.  It’s an impressive multimedia experience. Learn how Guinness has been brewed and enjoyed for centuries.  Attend the Guinness Academy to master the art of the perfect pour then enjoy your pint.  The tour ends at the Gravity Bar , on the top floor. Enjoy another pint and admire the panoramic views of the city of Dublin.

On a second day in Dublin , check out several of the world-class national museums. 

The National Museum – Archaeology and History houses Ireland’s treasures including prehistoric and Viking artifacts.  Next door at the Natural History Museum , explore the endless displays of preserved specimens. Its creaky floors give it an old-world charm.  Enjoy the art at the National Gallery of Ireland with 4 wings and 54 galleries of works.

Nearby Merrion Square and St. Stephen’s Green are perfect city parks for a peaceful break.

End the day in the Temple Bar area.  This trendy area has many interesting shops and restaurants.  After dinner, enjoy a walk through the lovely cobblestone streets, stopping at pubs along the way for some traditional Irish music.

Glendalough

Visit the Glendalough Monastery in the beautiful Glendalough Valley. This 6 th -century monastic settlement has seven church ruins, graveyard and an intact round tower.  After walking the ruins, explore the surrounding trails and lakes of the stunning valley, part of Wicklow Mountains National Park.

We provide more details in our article about Glendalough Monastery and the Best Glendalough Walks .

Ireland’s Ancient East

Explore Kilkenny , dubbed “Ireland’s Medieval Capital”.  Walk the colourful streets where there are over 60 traditional pubs.  Tour the 12 th -century, fortress Kilkenny Castle , perched over the River Nore.  See the many architectural additions that have been made over hundreds of years.  Enjoy a lovely stroll on the paths and grassy lawns of adjacent Kilkenny Castle Park.

The Rock of Cashel is an ancient fortress.  Built high atop an outcrop of limestone, this was the home of the High Kings of Ireland.  Walk through several spectacular medieval buildings.  The immense, thick walls and the roofless shell of the 13 th -century St. Patrick’s Cathedral are incredible.  Admire the wonderful entry archway of Cormac’s Chapel built in 1127.  Walk through the old cemetery and view the oldest building on the Rock, the Round Tower.

Wild Atlantic Way

The Wild Atlantic Way stretches 2,600 kilometres through nine counties on Ireland’s west coast.  It is described as the longest coastal driving route in the world.

Get ready for dazzling coastal viewpoints, stunning jagged cliffs and the friendly towns along the way.

Cork City is a gastronomic delight, defined by its great food markets and restaurants.  The heart of a food tour is the famous English Market in the city centre.  In a Victorian building, with beautiful columns and vaulted ceilings, over 140 vendors create colourful picture-worthy displays of their wares, typically local produce.

Wander town exploring historic sites, like the medieval city wall in Bishop Lucy Park .  At St Anne’s Church to climb the 120-foot tower and ring the famous Shandon Bells .

Visit Fota House Arboretum and Gardens , outside of the city.  Take a tour of the impressive home and walk the massive arboretum and gardens.

With extra time and no hatred for throngs of tourists, drive to Blarney Castle to kiss the famous Blarney Stone .

A great end to your foodie tour is dinner at Ballymaloe House.   Known for new Irish cuisine, their menu is crafted from local produce including food produced at the onsite farm.

The town of Killarney has been welcoming visitors to the Killarney Lakes for 250 years. It is a busy town with lots of restaurants, bars and accommodation options.

Be sure to spend some time in town. Admire the beautiful, Gothic revival St. Mary’s Catholic Cathedral . The interior is equally impressive. The Franciscan Friary’s ornate Flemish-style altar piece and stained glass windows are well worth a look.

Killarney National Park includes the three Killarney Lakes and the surrounding mountains and woodlands. The lakes cover about a quarter of the park’s 10,200+ hectares. The park is a UNESCO biosphere reserve and a special protection area for birds, with many birds staying year-round.  Wildlife is abundant. Ireland’s only remaining herd of Red Deer roam the park. The lakes contain a number of fish species.

The heart of the park, the Bourn-Vincent Memorial Park (originally called the Muckross Estate), is a great starting point for visitors. The ivy-covered Muckross House , built in 1843, is open for tours.

Muckross Gardens are extensive and renowned for their rhododendrons and azaleas. Plant species not usually found this far north flourish due to the area’s milder climate. The ruins of Muckross Abbey , a 15 th century Franciscan friary, are nearby.

The fully-restored, 15th-century Ross Castle sits on the shore of Lough Leane. It is a typical tower house surrounded by a defensive wall, with towers at each corner.

Walking, cycling and boating are great ways to explore the national park. For a relaxing tour, take a jaunting car ride . These traditional horse-drawn carts are driven by locals who are happy to share their stories about the region with visitors.

About 3 kilometres south of Muckross House, visit Torc Waterfall . A wooded pathway leads to the 18-metre waterfall. Nine kilometres further south, Ladies View is a great stop for a stunning view of Upper Lake.

Ring of Kerry Drive

This 150-kilometre drive around the Iveragh Peninsula is one of Ireland’s most popular tourist destinations.  It make a perfect day trip and provides a taste of the Wild Atlantic Way. Get ready to see spectacular mountains, rugged coastline, pristine beaches, medieval ruins and friendly, picturesque villages.

Stop at the Kenmare Stone Circle . Built in the Bronze Age between 2,000 and 4,000 years ago, the circle is more ovoid measuring 15.5 metres by 17.5 metres.  This is the largest stone circle in southwest Ireland. A large boulder-dolmen tomb is at its centre. If staying in Kenmare , check out Sheen Falls and Holy Cross Church .

At Kenneigh, leave N70 and take the Skellig Ring, a wild, scenic drive itself. Pull over and enjoy the view anywhere along the route. There are countless options. Kerry Cliffs is the closest point on the mainland to the Skellig Islands.

Portmagee , a pretty, little town, is famous for the colourful houses along its main street.  Cross the bridge to Valentia Island . The Skellig Experience Visitor Centre highlights the Skellig Michael Monastery and the Skellig Islands .  With more time in County Kerry, consider a day trip to visit the islands. Get tickets ahead of time as the number of visitors allowed on Skellig Michael is quite limited and weather often cancels trips. Trips run daily from March through October weather permitting.

Skellig Michael , a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of Europe’s most magnificent monastic sites. Sixth-century monks built a compact settlement on the cliffs, 200 metres above the Atlantic Ocean. Climb the 600+ steps, chiselled by the monks into the sandstone, to the ruins of beehive huts, the Church of St. Michael and more. The island is an internationally renowned site for breeding seabirds and was a filming location for Star Wars: Episode VII and Star Wars: Episode VIII.

From Portmagee, travel north to Cahersiveen . There are two stone forts on the peninsula, 3 kilometres west of town. Cahergall , over 1,000 years old, has massive drystone walls with flights of steps and terraces in the inner face of the wall. The circular wall of Leacanabuaile , built in the 9th or 10th century AD, is over 3 metres thick.

The Ring of Kerry drive ends in the town of Killorglin . The town comes alive for 3 days every August for the Puck Fair, one of Ireland’s oldest fairs.

Dingle Peninsula Drive

The most westerly peninsula in Europe, Dingle Peninsula has rugged mountains, valley lakes, seaside cliffs and long, sandy beaches. The charming town of Dingle is the peninsula’s hub. Beautiful stone buildings house the town’s many art galleries, shops, diners and pubs. It’s a great place to stretch your legs and grab a bite to eat. We timed our arrival to catch the Dingle Food Festival , which is held annually on the first weekend of October. It’s a popular event with lots of food stalls and cooking demonstrations along with wine and beer tasting.

Boat tours of Dingle Bay take visitors out for a different view of the stunning coast. The bay’s star attraction for over 35 years was a bottlenose dolphin named Fungie. He disappeared in 2020 and is missed. He delighted in playing close to the tour boats becoming a favourite with locals and tourists alike.

Slea Head Drive heads west from Dingle hugging the ocean coastline.  This drive travels through a dramatic landscape of prehistoric ring forts, early Christian churches and picturesque villages.

Dún Beag Fort , built atop the steep sea cliffs, has guarded the land for over 2500 years. A series of banks and ditches show its defensive structure. While there are several examples of beehive huts along the drive, the huts at Fahan are a popular stop. It is a great example of how the plentiful, flat stones were piled into beehive-shaped, waterproof buildings without using any mortar. Unfortunately, a visit into the fort is no longer allowed, due to cliff erosion. Safe viewpoints have been established. Be sure to see the short audio-visual presentation in the Visitor Centre to learn more.

At Dunquin, the Blasket Centre explains the rich cultural heritage and rugged life of subsistence fishing and farming on the Blasket Islands. Evidence exists of island habitation for 2500 years up to their abandonment in 1953. If time permits, take a day trip to Great Blasket , the largest island.

Continue to the stone-walled Riask Monastic Settlement, thought to be from the 5 th or 6 th century. See outlines of beehive-shaped huts and slabs with carved crosses. The drystone-walled Gallarus Oratory is a Christian church over 1000 years old. Nearby see Gallarus Castle , a 15 th -century fortified house. The 12 th -century Kilmalkedar Church shows classic Romanesque architecture with its round-arched doorway. The church sits on the site of a 6 th or 7 th -century monastery.

Return to Dingle. Drive north through Conor Pass , the highest-driveable mountain pass in Ireland. It’s a perfect stop for one last panoramic view of the peninsula.

Cliffs of Moher

The shear, limestone Cliffs of Moher , on Ireland’s west coast, stand 214 metres at their highest point. The eco-friendly visitor centre, built in 2007, has world-class exhibits. O’Brien’s Tower, at the edge of the cliffs, was built in the early 1800s as a tourist attraction. It still provides visitors a great bird’s eye view to the base of the cliffs.

The cliffs are a protected area for seabirds, with over 20 species under protection. The cliffs stretch for 8 kilometres. Explore their wild beauty with an easy hike along the well-worn trail. Make sure to bring a camera to capture incredible views of the iconic cliffs and surf beaches.

These impressive cliffs form a protective barrier around the rich, fertile land at the southern end of the Burren region . The region is the northwestern portion of County Clare. The Cliffs of Moher and the Burren were awarded UNESCO Global Geopark status in 2011.

Stop at any of the small towns and villages of the Burren and enjoy the local pubs and restaurants. Find many hidden churches, abbey ruins and medieval forts. Just north of the cliffs is Doolin , internationally known as a centre for live Irish music played at many popular pubs.

This is the end of the 7-Day Road Trip.  We know that those on the 7-day tour want to stay longer. Sorry. Its time to drive back to Dublin which is about 3 hours from the Cliffs of Moher.

Limerick and County Clare

A stroll along the River Shannon is the perfect way to start a visit to the city of Limerick.  On the river bank, see the restored King John’s Castle , Limerick’s most iconic landmark.  Its high-tech 3D projections show what it was like to live in a castle 800 years ago.

Just outside the city, in County Clare, enjoy Bunratty Castle & Folk Park . It recreates a 19 th -century, Irish village with actors playing Victorian era residents.

County Clare’s most famous landmark is the Cliffs of Moher . Be sure it’s on the “Must-See” list.

With more time in the area, check out the remains of the ancient 10 th century stone fort, Cathair Chonaill . Visit Poulnabrone Dolmen nearby, a megalithic tomb which archaeologists have shown was in use between 5,200 and 5,800 years ago.

County Clare is the unofficial capital of Irish music. Spending the night in Doolin is a great idea.  Visit a lively, local pub to enjoy this fine music tradition.

This is another vibrant, Irish city worth spending time in.  It’s an easy walk around the town’s compact Latin Quarter . These colourful, pedestrian-only streets are filled with stores and pubs. St. Nicholas Collegiate Church , Ireland’s largest medieval parish church, has operated continuously as a church for over 700 years.

At Connemara National Park , the7-kilometre Diamond Hill Loop is a great, short hike.  Its wonderful, blue lakes and peat bogs are a sample of the entire park.

Another popular activity in County Galway is cycling the 12-kilometre Sky Road loop starting from the town of Clifden.

With more time in the county, visit Inishmore in the Aran Islands .  Meet the friendly locals and discover stone structures that were built 3,000 years ago.

Ceide Fields and Sligo

The beaches of Westport , in County Mayo, are some of the best on the west coast.  Enjoy a walk or a swim to get the day started. For the rest of the day explore several prehistoric sites.

Almost 6 centuries ago, Ceide Fields was a Neolithic farming village high on the ocean cliffs.  The visitor centre provides a huge amount of information about these early villages, their agricultural methods, and the ancient walls preserved beneath the blanket bog.  Guided tours of the grounds show visitors sections of the excavated walls and demonstrate how the walls are found under the bog. The site is open daily June through November and by appointment the rest of the year.

Carrowkeel Passage Tombs is a megalithic cemetery on a quiet hilltop. A less developed site than the larger Carrowmore, this National Monument complex has 14 visible, passage tombs.

Ireland’s largest megalithic cemetery is Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery, with over 60 tombs.  The oldest tomb, labelled tomb 52A, is thought to be 7400 years old.  It is the earliest known piece of free standing stone architecture in the world.

Before continuing the drive north, duck into the partial ruins of Sligo Abbey to see its 15 th century high altar. The abbey is open to wander from April through October.

The impressive Donegal coastline is the finale on this drive along of the Wild Atlantic Way.  Find secluded coves and dramatic cliffs. 

The cliffs of Slieve League are some of the most magnificent.  The 600-metre cliffs are much higher than the Cliffs of Moher, but not as well known.  The views from the upper car park are stunning.  Hike further up the footpath for 500 metres to be rewarded with an even more spectacular view of these sheer cliffs.

Glenveagh National Park is 16,000 hectares of wilderness.  Enjoy a guided tour of its fairy-tale 19 th -century, Glenveagh Castle overlooking Lough Veagh.  Walk the castle’s impressive gardens and see many exotic plants.

With more time in Donegal, drive the Inishowen Peninsula .  Find pretty villages and reach Malin Head , Ireland’s most northern point.

Northern Ireland

Derry City (also called Londonderry) is one of Europe’s finest examples of a walled city.  It is the only city in Ireland whose city walls are still completely intact. These 9-metre thick walls even survived the 1688 ‘Siege of Derry’.  Spend at least an hour walking along the top of the walls soaking in history and viewing the old medieval town within them.

A drive along Northern Ireland’s Causeway Coastal Route showcases many great sites.

See the ruins of a bishop’s mansion at Downhill Demesne .  Walk over to the nearby Mussenden Temple perched on the cliff edge to get panoramic views of the coastal beaches below.

Make a brief stop to see the ruins of Dunluce Castle .  The 17 th century castle was abandoned when part of it collapsed into the ocean below.

The highlight of the drive is the over 40,000 interlocking rock columns of Giant’s Causeway.  This beautiful landscape was created 60 million years ago. The columns formed when lava flows cooled, shrinking and cracking like mud puddles do.  Scramble among the long interlocking basalt columns.  This UNESCO World Heritage Site has a great visitor centre that explains the unique geology of the area.

Brave enough to walk across the swaying Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge ?  The bridge, 30 metres above the sea, is the same bridge local salmon fishermen have used for centuries to reach Carrick-a-Rede Island (with repairs of course).

Game of Thrones fans enjoy the many recognizable locations along the coast including: Ballintoy Harbour, Larrybane and Cushendun .  The Dark Hedges are just a short trip inland. With more time, drive the entire Antrim Coast for even more spectacular cliffs on the way toward Belfast.

Titanic Belfast , an amazing multi-media experience, is the city’s most popular attraction.  Its four floors and nine interactive galleries tell the story of the world’s most famous ocean liner, from construction to its sinking in the middle of the Atlantic. Learn everything, from the detailed construction of the ship and its outfitting, to the atmosphere of the thriving city and shipyards of Belfast during the early 20 th century. A multimillion pound refreshment of the museum opens in 2023.

Large windows in Titanic Belfast look north to the Titanic Slipway where the Titanic was actually built. Walk this plaza and see the outline of the ship on the ground. It provides a better appreciation for the ships truly titanic size.

The SS Nomadic floating museum is moored just to the south. It was the Titanic’s original tender ship, ferrying passengers from shore to ship for their ill-fated voyage.

The Ulster Museum displays artifacts of Irish history from prehistoric treasures to modern times.

Belfast Castle overlooks the city from the slopes of Cave Hill.  Built first by the Normans in the 12 th century, Belfast Castle has burned down and been rebuilt several times throughout its history. The latest reconstruction was completed in 1870.  Take a tour of the interior of this elegant home.  See the stunning Italian-style serpentine exterior staircase.  In the adjoining yard, have some fun searching for the nine cat references and sculptures in the gardens.

“The Troubles” were an unsettling and violent era in Northern Ireland’s history.  On a Black Taxi Tour visit landmarks important in these conflicts between Catholic and Protestant neighbourhoods. The local guides provide their perspective on the events and impact of the Troubles.  Additionally, self-tour these neighbourhoods to see the various political murals located at the Peace Wall and the Solidarity Wall .

Brú na Bóinne

Driving back to Dublin, a noteworthy stop is Brú na Bóinne (the Boyne Palace).  In the Boyne Valley, there are a number of ancient cemetery tombs dating back to the Neolithic time period.  Two of the main necropolis sites are Newgrange and Knowth   Newgrange, with its large stone walls topped by a grass dome, is immense at 80 metres in diameter.  Walking into the long tomb, it seems incredible that this structure is well over 5000 years old, older than the Egyptian pyramids.

The 14-day Ireland road trip ends back in Dublin. Visit the attractions missed on Day 1.

Know Before You Go

When is the best time to go to ireland.

The best weather is June through August making it peak tourist season. We went in late September-early October and found touring to be enjoyable. Yes, of course, it rained but the temperatures were still reasonable.

Is it easy to self-drive Ireland?

Although many people join organized bus tours, we feel that you’ll experience greater satisfaction touring Ireland by car. The itinerary in this article provides a great way to plan your Ireland road trip with lots of flexibility.

How do I rent a car in Ireland?

Rental cars can easily be picked up when you arrive at Dublin Airport. North American visitors are reminded that most rental cars have manual transmission. Automatic transmission vehicles are available, but usually at a surcharge.

What currency is used in Ireland?

The island of Ireland consists of two nations, each with their own currency. – The Republic of Ireland uses the Euro (€). – Northern Ireland uses the pound sterling (£).

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Andy is the co-founder of Avrex Travel, where he shares his many travel experiences. Andy enjoys videography and creating great Road Trips for his readers.

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• 12 nights / 13 days
• 1,460 miles
• Independent
• 2 Weeks or less

This fabulous tour of Ireland includes the most scenic and interesting parts of this truly beautiful island. Stay in some of Ireland’s most charming hotels and enjoy delicious meals and the warm and friendly hospitality that is country-wide. Visit the Rock of Cashel, Youghal, Cork, Blarney Castle, the Beara Peninsula, the famed Ring of Kerry, the Dingle Peninsula, the Cliffs of Moher & the Burren, the captivating west coast region of Connemara, and, of course, the wonderful city of Dublin. Finish the tour via the Wicklow Mountains, Co Kildare and Co Wexford. The trip will be at a leisurely pace giving you plenty of time to explore and relax.

Ireland is a place to explore slowly, roaming through agricultural landscapes scattered with farmhouses, or enjoying a spirited drive across the mountain roads, or along the endlessly indented coastline. Discover traces of culture established long before Christianity, alongside the cosmopolitan energy of the towns and cities.

Tour Highlights

• Visit some of Ireland’s famous landmarks, such as the Rock of Cashel
• Drive some of the country’s best scenic drives, such as the Ring of Kerry, Beara & Dingle Peninsulas, & Wicklow Mountains
• Kiss the Blarney Stone at Blarney Castle
• Explore charming cities, such as Cork and Dublin
• See the magnificent Cliffs of Moher
• Marvel at the ‘moonscape’ of the Burren
• Visit the Irish National Stud, where some of the world’s best racehorses are bred

Take the Stena Line ferry from Fishguard to Rosslare, departing at 14.30 (check timings). The crossing takes just 3 1/2 hours. A short drive of about 75 minutes to our first hotel and stay overnight in a stunning Georgian manor. This country house hotel is also home to one of Ireland’s best chefs, so dinner is a real treat in the Michelin-starred restaurant.

Drive to Kilkenny, Ireland’s only inland city, and also one of its finest, brimming with medieval treasures. Head to the Rock of Cashel – Ireland’s most fascinating ecclesiastical site, a lofty citadel that soars above the surrounding vale. Then it’s south to Cahir with its eponymous castle and the Swiss Cottage. Drive over The Vee, a fabulous road over the hills to Lismore. From there drive alongside the River Blackwater to Youghal, on the south coast. There is an optional lunch stop at the famed hotel and cookery school at Ballymaloe. Continue to Cork and visit the renowned Blarney Castle. Stay overnight in a beautiful hotel in Cork.

A wonderful drive down to Kinsale and then along the coast to Timoleague and Clonakilty. Visit the Drombeg Stone Circle and continue to Skibbereen, Ireland’s most southerly town, and see the Heritage Centre with its exhibition commemorating the tragic Great Famine. Continue to Ballydehob and Bantry and tour the magnificent Bantry House and Museum. Drive around Bantry Bay to Glengarrif and then drive the spectacular Healy Pass and on to Kenmare. Then it’s over Moll’s Gap and Ladies View to Killarney. Stay in a beautiful five-star hotel for two nights.

Drive the stunning and famed Ring of Kerry. This is an very scenic route around the Iveragh peninsula with wonderful coastal and mountain scenery, as well as a warm Gulf Stream climate. Visit the lovely town of Kenmare, a colourful, friendly place and perfect place to while away some time. There is an optional circle to drive to Glengarriff and then over the Healy Pass and back to Kenmare. Continue down to Cahersiveen, and return over the mountains of Macgilycuddy’s Reeks. Take a tour of the splendid Muckross House. Return to the hotel in Killarney.

Head down to the Dingle Peninsula. Dingle is a lovely town to spend a while. Explore the Dingle Peninsula and the exceptionally scenic route to Slea Head. Head back over the Connor Pass and then travel north to Tralee. Drive over the mountains to Co Limerick and stay in a beautiful old coaching inn/hotel in one of Ireland’s prettiest villages, Adare.

Leave Adare and head onto Limerick, an attractive and lively city, also renowned as a cultural centre. Visit Bunratty Castle, and then drive to the sea at Miltown Malbay and then north, hugging the coastline to see the Cliffs of Moher, rising 213 metres from the sea below and stretching for five miles along the Clare coast. Further north is the Burren National Park, a vast plateau of limestone, which supports the vast majority of Ireland native flora and fauna. Stay in a beautiful manor house hotel for the next three nights, located on the coast near Letterfrack in Connemara.

Enjoy a circular drive of Connemara and Co Galway with its beautiful coastal roads. It’s a land of panoramic views, rivers, lakes, endless stone walls, myths and legends. Sparsely populated, Connemara has been by-passed by mass tourism, yet it is much-loved by poets, artists and writers. There is an optional lunch stop at the lovely Ballnahinch Castle, and a chance to stroll around the lovely small town of Clifden.

Another day to explore the north of Co Galway. The route takes you past Doo Lough, with its memorial to those who perished in the Famine, and on to Louisburgh. Then skirt along the coast to the beautiful town of Westport, with its octagonal central area and lime tree-lined central canal. Visit the wonderful Westport House, just to the west of the town. Then head back to the manor hotel.

Leave Connemara and Galway and head across the centre of Ireland. Visit the Lodge Park House, Garden & Steam Museum at Straffan on the way to Dublin. Spend the next two nights in Dublin’s finest hotel in the centre of the city on the beautiful St Stephen’s Green. Stroll along the banks of the Liffey and indulge in a pint or two of the black stuff (Guinness). Dinner is not included on either evening as there are so many wonderful places to eat in Dublin and enjoy the vibrant nightlife.

Spend the day exploring the delights of Dublin – magnificent architecture, excellent shopping, lively entertainment and cultural events, superb museums and galleries and a strong sense of history. There’s much to see, including the castle, National Gallery, Temple Bar and Trinity College. But no visit to Dublin would be complete with a visit to the Guinness Hop Store, birthplace of Dublin’s (and Ireland’s) most famous product.

Leave Dublin and drive south to Powerscourt House and Gardens, one of the most superb gardens in Europe. Drive through the secluded Wicklow Mountains to the Sally Gap and visit Glendalough, a monastic settlement founded in the 6th century. There is also a visit to the Irish National Stud and Japanese Gardens near Kildare. Stay overnight at a beautiful country house hotel on the edge of the Wicklow Mountains.

Enjoy a lovely day meandering over the Wicklow Mountains again to Avoca and Arklow. Head south to Wexford and visit the Irish National Heritage Park. Spend the final night at a delightful hotel on the water near Wexford.

It’s an early start to drive the 20 minutes to Rosslare to catch the ferry back to Wales at 09.00. Arrive in Fishguard at 12.30 and depart for home.

Where we'll stay

All the accommodation is in individual, unique hotels that are of a very high standard, and often five-star. Due to the nature and age of these hotels the rooms vary from charmingly comfortable to utter luxury. We have hand-picked the accommodation for their unique atmosphere and style. Suitable parking is available each night. “Thank you for all the hard work that went into planning the trip – and the lovely hotels.” C.C., East Sussex

What's included

• An extensively researched and carefully designed itinerary to optimise your trip
• Tour book – includes a brief history of Ireland, emergency details, maps and directions, accommodation information, and a very detailed account of sights and visits for each day. The book eliminates the need for any guide books

Requirements

Travel to Ireland: Return ferry crossing from Fishguard, Wales to Rosslare, Ireland can be booked with Stena Line .

• Each person must have a passport (and any necessary visas for non-EU passport holders) valid for Ireland. All passports must be valid for six months after the end of the tour.
• You will also need your vehicle registration documents, driving licence (a photo-card licence or international permit is best), and an international insurance green card.
• Please check with your travel and motor insurers that you are covered for travel in Ireland.
• You are also required to carry a warning triangle, first-aid kit, two fluorescent jackets, set of replacement bulbs and a national identification sticker.
• The most important requirement is that you take pleasure in motoring through fabulous scenery, and relish individual, character hotels.

Recommended Road Atlas

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Price from Tour Book: £200 (incl UK P&P)

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Since 2003 Classic Travelling has  specialised in driving tours and motoring holidays for classic, vintage, and sports cars of all ages in the UK, Europe, USA and South Africa.

© Copyright 2024 | Site by Roundbear Ltd.

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The Perfect Ireland Road Trip Itinerary You Should Steal

January 16, 2020 //  by  Follow Me Away //   98 Comments

Planning the perfect Ireland road trip itinerary does not have to be stressful or overwhelming.

No matter where you choose to visit in Ireland, whether it is the whole Emerald Isle or only a piece of it such as Northern Ireland , you are in for a real treat.

Planning your trip to Ireland last minute?

Make sure to book your hotels and tours in Ireland in advance to ensure availability! Here are our top picks for your trip!

Top experiences and tours in Ireland:

• Cliffs Of Moher + Galway From Dublin (Top pick!)
• Guinness Storehouse Ticket (Often sells out)
• Northern Ireland tour from Dublin (Highly recommend NI!)
• Wicklow Mountains tour from Dublin (Multiple stops!)

Top Hotels In Ireland:

• The Dean Cork (Modern with indoor pool)
• Jurys Inn Dublin Parnell Street (Over 11,000 reviews + epic location)
• The Lodge At Ashford Castle (Pretty and historical)
• Slieve Donard (Luxury castle hotel in Northern Ireland!)

We have explored Ireland from top to bottom and have yet to be disappointed by a single place!

Ireland is a diverse country that offers something for everyone and this ultimate Ireland itinerary hits it all.

Our Ireland road trip itinerary is written in a clockwise manner around the island, but feel free to modify in any way or go completely against the grain and go counter-clockwise if you are a true rebel!

For this Ireland road trip itinerary, we are not specifying an amount of time so that you can make the drive as time allows for your schedule.

If you are planning a trip to Ireland and only have 5 days for your itinerary, then modify this Ireland road trip route to fit that length of time.

If you have two weeks, consider spending a few days in each location to really take in what Ireland has to offer such as gorgeous beaches and beautiful waterfalls! No matter what amount of time you choose to explore the country, your Ireland road trip will not disappoint.

Read more: What To Pack For Ireland

Begin Your Ireland Road Trip By Flying Into Dublin Airport

You will begin almost any trip to Ireland by flying into Dublin Airport. Dublin Airport is a major international airport and flights into Ireland are often relatively affordable. In fact, the reason we went to Ireland on our very first trip was that it was so cheap to fly into! We had no clue how amazing the country really was and are very glad we went on a whim!

Since you will be renting a car in Ireland as this is indeed a road trip, picking up your rental from the Dublin airport is a really great and affordable way to go about securing your vehicle.

Alternatively, you could fly into Belfast Airport in Northern Ireland and being this Ireland itinerary from there. Otherwise, flying into Dublin airport is the perfect place to begin your Ireland road trip as it is affordable and there are tons of car rental options on airport property so you can easily pick up your rental and get going. This is one of the BEST ROAD TRIPS IN EUROPE so you are in for a real treat and a memorable experience!

We recommend checking out Skyscanner to find the best and most affordable flights into Ireland. We use this tool to discover the best flights for our trip because you can easily compare rates.

We also suggest booking your Ireland road trip on a travel credit card so you can earn points towards future travel! These are the travel credit cards we personally use! 

Search Flights To Ireland

Stop 1: Spend Time Exploring Dublin To Begin Your Ireland Road Trip

Dublin is the largest city in the Republic Of Ireland and has a lot to offer. We will be honest, we recommend a quick stop in Dublin and then getting out to visit the rest of what Ireland has to offer. No Ireland itinerary would be complete without a stop in Dublin, but the rest of Ireland is much less expensive and way cooler as you will see! Spend as long or as little as you like in Dublin but we recommend 1-2 nights.

Don’t forget to check out our Detailed Road Trip Packing List so you don’t forget any essentials for your trip!

Noteworthy Things To Do In Dublin:

Have a Guinness in the Temple Bar area.  Temple Bar is one of the most popular neighborhoods in Dublin. It is bustling and lively and the perfect place to experience your first Irish pub! Temple Bar is a great place for dinner and a pint and even though it is “touristy” it is still a cool thing to visit in Dublin.

Book Here: Pub Crawl of Dublin 

Walkthrough St. Stephens Green. We love nature and St. Stephen’s Green is sort of like the Central Park for Dublin! It is so relaxing and pretty with lots of nature and flowers and walking paths.

Visit Dublin Castle. Dublin Castle is a real castle located in the heart of Dublin and the perfect introduction to castles in Ireland!

Visit Trinity College and the Book Of Kells. You  must pay Trinity College and the famous library a visit when you are in Dublin! It is stunning and unlike anywhere else in the world!

Get Fast Access To Dublin Castle

Experience The Guinness Storehouse. If you love beer, then visiting the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin will be the best possible way to start off your Ireland itinerary. You get beer included and will learn about the history!

Skip The Line With This Guinness Storehouse Ticket 

Where To Stay In Dublin On Your Ireland Road Trip

Dublin is experiencing a shortage of hotel rooms and as a result, prices are sky-high! As a result, we recommend spending a shorter amount of time in Dublin to leave time for the rest of your Ireland road trip itinerary. We have an entire post about Where To Stay In Dublin if you are looking for more information. This post breaks down our favorite areas in Dublin and helps you plan and choose which area is best for you!

Best VRBO’s in Dublin: 

• Budget: In The Heart of Dublin. Check Availability on VRBO.com
• Mid-Range: Dublin Apartment Check Availability on VRBO.com

Best Hotels in Dublin: 

• Luxury hotel option: Clontarf Castle Hotel.  Stay in a real castle hotel in the heart of Dublin! Check prices here!
• Budget hotel option : The Charles Stewart Guesthouse . Affordable option in the heart of the city. Check prices here!
• Dublin Airbnb option: Private double bedroom city center. If you are new to Airbnb, use our code to get $40 off your first trip. Download free coupon here!

Stop 2: Enjoy Rock Of Cashel And Hore Abbey

We did Rock Of Cashel as a day stop on our way from Dublin to Cork, but you can totally spend the night in the area if you want even more time to explore during your Ireland road trip. Rock Of Cashel is hugely touristy, but for a good reason! It is an epic ruin set on the top of a hill surrounded by sheep, does it even any more Irish than that?

There is an entrance fee to visit Rock Of Cashel and in all honesty, the inside wasn’t all that! The outside is the best part and a dream for photographers. If you are looking to get off the beaten path, visit the nearby Hore Abbey instead.

You can see Hore Abbey from Rock Of Cashel and while Rock Of Cashel has tour buses and hundreds of people visiting at the same time, Hore Abbey had maybe 4 people there at the same time when we were visiting during our Ireland road trip.

Explore Rock of Cashel on this Castle Tour

Hore is Gaelic for grey, which is the color the nuns wore back in the day. The abbey ruins are magnificent and you will have the whole place to yourself! The view of Rock Of Cashel from Hore Abbey and the field beside it is totally worth making this a stop on your Ireland road trip itinerary.

Best VRBO’s Near Rock of Cashel: 

• Budget: Luxurious Country Farmhouse Check Availability on VRBO.com
• Mid-Range: The Farmhouse. Check Availability on VRBO.com

Best Hotels Near Rock of Cashe l:

• Local and Affordable: Cashel Town BnB | Check Prices On Booking.com
• Central In Town: Baileys Hotel Cashel | Check Prices On Booking.com

Stop 3: Visit Cork, Cobh, And Blarney Estate In Irelands Ancient East

Cork is located just a few hours away from Dublin and is totally worth a stop on your Ireland road trip itinerary. It is centrally located to a lot of stops in Ireland’s Ancient East and you will not be disappointed.

Seeing Cobh During Your Ireland Road Trip

When visiting Cork, you must mak30-minute drive to visit the colorful nearby town of Cobh! Cobh is home to a Titanic Museum experience and is actually the last stop the Titanic made before crossing the Atlantic. Cobh is also the top of our prettiest towns in Ireland and it a must-see during your trip!

While in Cobh, you will want to visit the church which is high on the hill and may want to explore the colorful local neighborhoods that are perched on a steep hill. The town is the perfect way to spend your morning and grab an ice cream if you want! While the town is small, there are actually quite a lot of things to do which makes for a fun stop or day trip on your itinerary! Check out some Fun Things To Do In Cobh! 

If you want to stop in Cobh, stay at the Commodore Hotel . It is centrally located and offers a wonderful location for exploring Cobh and the surrounding areas. We wish we could have spent longer in Cobh because it is so beautiful!

Check Rates On Booking.com

Kissing The Blarney Stone Is A Must On Your Ireland Itinerary

When we made the decision to visit Blarney Estate and kiss the famous Blarney Stone during our Ireland road trip, we thought you basically walked up to the castle, kissed the stone, and left.

This could not be further from the truth! Blarney Castle is located on Blarney Estate which is a huge property right outside of Cork!

The Estate is massive and you could spend an entire day there. We recommend budgeting at least 3 hours to kiss the Blarney Stone in Blarney Castle, to explore the Blarney Manor where the family lived, and the explore the fabulously landscaped grounds.

You could spend three days there but you have to keep your Ireland road trip itinerary moving along so stick to a few hours!

Kiss The Blarney Stone on This Castle Tour

If you don’t want to drive and want to stay right in the thick of things, we recommend staying at Blarney Castle Hotel if you want to explore Blarney Castle before all of the crowds! It is mid-range and centrally located so you can easily walk around the town and even to Blarney Castle grounds should you desire!

Best VRBO’s near Blarney Castle: 

• Budget: Country Retreat . Check Availability on VRBO.com
• Mid-Range: Victorian Townhouse. Check Availability on VRBO.com

Best Hotels near Blarney Castle: 

Blarney Castle Hotel: Check Rates On Booking.com

If you are looking for a more local and affordable experience, the Maranatha Country House is just the place to stay for you. It is a little outside of Blarney but it isn’t that far at all! It is cute and affordable and traditionally Irish.

Maranatha Country House: Check Rates On Booking.com

Where To Stay In Cork: Hayfield Manor

If you are looking to treat yourself during your Ireland road trip, Cork is the perfect place to do it! Hayfield Manor, an Ireland’s Blue Book property, is an old manor house converted into a hotel in the heart of Cork. The hotel is centrally located and it is easy to jump on the highway to visit Blarney and Cobh if they are a part of your Ireland itinerary.

We loved the fact that Hayfield Manor transports you to a bygone era with its luxurious accommodations and perfect service. We stayed in a suite it was perfect for a romantic getaway. We were greeted with truffles and drinks upon our arrival and enjoyed a turndown service at night. It is the perfect place to stay if you are celebrating your honeymoon in Ireland too!

Hayfield Manor has multiple on-site restaurants and we ate in the bistro which was located in a stunning all-glass room. The food was delicious and there were different pricing options. If you wanted to get all fancy, you could choose to eat at Hayfield Manor’s fine dining restaurant as well.

Hayfield Manor boasts a lovely garden area and outdoor hot tub as well as a luxurious spa and warm indoor pool. Of course, we had to check out the pool and spa and enjoyed that Hayfield Manor had classical music playing in the pool and spa area which added to the experience.

Finally, the rooms at Hayfield Manor were decorated in such a romantic and classical way that we actually did a full-blown photo shoot of the property.

You really get a feeling of how the family who once owned Hayfield Manor used to live and we think that a night or two at Hayfield Manor is the perfect luxury getaway experience for your Ireland road trip. We especially recommend it for couples on their honeymoon or anniversary trip to Ireland too!

Best Airbnb’s in Cork: 

• Budget:  Luxury Apartment. Check Availability on VRBO.com
• Mid-Range: Luxury Hideaway Cottage. Check Availability on VRBO.com

Stop 4: Drive The Ring Of Kerry

No Ireland road trip itinerary is complete without a drive on the famed Ring Of Kerry. Please note that the Ring Of Kerry is quite a harrowing drive as roads are extremely narrow and thin and there are large tour buses that go by quickly so you must be very careful.

If you see a car coming down the road, it is best to pull over if you are able and wait for them to pass you before proceeding. The narrow roads make this quite an interesting part of your Ireland road trip itinerary.

Visit Kerry Cliffs During Your Ireland Road Trip

Kerry Cliffs are basically a miniature version of the Cliffs Of Moher and they are located on the very middle of the Ring Of Kerry along the Skellig Ring.

The Skellig Ring is a short circle drive that is at the end of the Ring Of Kerry and easy to see as there are many signs. You can even see the Skellig Islands, where Star Wars was filmed, from the Kerry Cliffs!

It costs 2 euros per person to visit but it is a pretty cool stop to make during the Ring Of Kerry drive on your Ireland road trip. The Kerry Cliffs are home to many seabirds and make for a wonderful walk to explore the cliffs during your Ireland itinerary.

Take In All of The Amazing Sights Along The Ring of Kerry on This Scenic Tour

Ride The Car Ferry To Valentia Island

Valentia Island is an island on the Ring Of Kerry road trip located right near the Kerry Cliffs. If you drive the Skellig Ring during your Ireland road trip, then Valentia Island is literally less than 2km away!

The island is home to a stunning lighthouse that you can visit and explore as well as quaint seaside towns that are perfect to stop for ice cream. Valentia Island can be accessed near Kerry Cliffs by a bridge and by a ferry on the other end of the island.

We recommend getting onto the island by the bridge and exciting the island by the 8 euro car ferry. It is a fun and unique thing to do during your Ireland road trip!

Where To Stay On The Ring Of Kerry: Parknasilla Resort And Spa

We really can’t say enough about Parknasilla Resort and Spa located right on the Ring Of Kerry. We visited during high season during a holiday weekend and the resort was full of guests and we don’t blame them!

The property and hotel are stunning! Parknasilla Resort is located in the northeast corner of the Ring Of Kerry, right by the town of Sneem.

It is the perfect place to spend a night or two and right on the Ring Of Kerry so you can easily drive and explore the nearby beaches and cliffs and come home to a restful night sleep.

Parknasilla Resort’s best feature is its location and view, not to mention the fact that it looks like a literal castle! The view from Parknasilla Resort offers unobstructed vistas out over the Kerry mountains and the ocean.

There are on-site walking trails as well as a golf course and kayak tours. Parknasilla Resort boasts multiple restaurants and even an in-house coffee shop so you can get your java fix.

Our room was located on the top floor of the “castle” portion of the resort and had multiple windows overlooking two different views of the ocean and mountains. The room was decorated in a classical fashion with pastel-colored walls, carpet, and bedding.

The bathroom came complete with a rain shower and pedestal sinks. The atmosphere of the resort was relaxed luxury without feeling stuffy. The resort was very family friendly and couple friendly as well.

If you visit Parknasilla Resort, make sure to spend time in their pool and spa. The pool and spa both offer panorama views of the mountains and water outdoors with floor-to-ceiling windows.

You can even use the thermal circuit for free in the spa area if you are a hotel guest and the pool is heated to a nice temperature. To top it all off, Parknasilla Resort also has an outdoor hot tub overlooking the stunning scenery nearby.

Check rates for Parknasilla Resort On Booking.com

Best VRBO’s on The Ring of Kerry: 

• Budget: Traditional Cottage. Check Availability on VRBO.com
• Mid-Range: Ocean View Cottage. Check Availability on VRBO.com

Stop 5: Explore Killarney For Some Of The Best Drives Of Your Ireland Road Trip

Killarney is one of our absolute favorite places to visit in Ireland! The city of Killarney is so vibrant and welcoming and the nearby scenery is just breathtaking. Killarney is a wonderful place to stop on your Ireland road trip because the area is so diverse and truly has so much to offer!

Noteworthy Things To Do In Killarney:

Visit Muckross House And Killarney House . Killarney House and Muckross House are located in the Killarney area and are both fascinating places to visit during your Ireland road trip. Muckross House is located a bit out of the city and can be quite busy.

The grounds are stunningly beautiful! Killarney House is located in the heart of Downtown Killarney and you are free to walk in and out of the grounds as you please!

Torc Waterfall. Torc Waterfall is a unique stop on your Ireland road trip because you would not really think about waterfalls being in Ireland!

The waterfall is located right off the main road and is just a quick and easy walk to visit. It is a must-see on your Ireland itinerary because of how unique it is! Torc Waterfall tops our list of the best easy hikes in Ireland and it is so unique and pretty to see!

Ross Castle. Ross Castle is the perfect stop on your Ireland road trip itinerary because it is beautiful and easy to get to. It is located in the heart of Killarney on a lake and it is completely free to visit the castle and view it from the outside. There is a fee if you want to go inside, but we think you get the best views from the outside near the lake!

Killarney National Park. The town of Killarney is located right on Killarney National Park and there is so much to see and do. We recommend driving through the Gap Of Dunloe and seeing Ladies View during your Ireland road trip stop in Killarney.

Book Here: Ross Castle & Killarney National Park Tour

Where To Stay In Killarney On Your Ireland Road Trip:

Killarney is one of those places with plenty of lodging options! It is quite a popular town and for a good reason! We love Killarney and here are some of our recommendations of where to stay in Killarney during your Ireland road trip itinerary!

Best VRBO’s in Killarney: 

• Budget: Country Cottage. Check Availability on VRBO.com
• Mid-Range: Spacious Holiday Home. Check Availability on VRBO.com

Best Hotels in Killarney: 

• The Brehon. The Brehon is a popular hotel located in the heart of Killarney right near Ross Castle. It is moderately priced and located perfectly for visiting Killarney National Park. We stayed in a lovely suite at the Brehon with wonderful views of the surrounding mountains! Check Prices: Hotels.com | Booking.com
• Aghadoe Heights. Aghadoe Heights is one of our favorite hotels in the entire world and we spent four days there when speaking at a conference in Killarney. The hotel offers stunning views of Killarney Lakes and the national park and offers a world-class spa. We highly recommend this for your luxury stay in Killarney! Check Prices: Hotels.com | Booking.com
• Airbnb In Downtown Killarney. This Airbnb location is perfect for exploring downtown Killarney and all the cute bars and ice cream shops! It is a private room and perfect for a couple or solo traveler. Check availability here!   Don’t forget that you can get $40 off here!

Stop 5: Visit The Breathtaking Dingle Peninsula, One Of The Best Ireland Road Trip Drives

As we said above, we have done multiple Ireland road trips around the entire country on multiple different trips and the Dingle Peninsula is one of the most spectacular places to visit. It will meet and beat all of your prior expectations and the views go for miles!

We only spent 24 hours on the Dingle Peninsula but plan to come back and spend at least 2 nights. This is one area that you will want time to enjoy everything so you should listen to us because we didn’t listen to those who told us to extend our Ireland road trip for longer in Dingle!

While you are on the Dingle Peninsula during your Ireland itinerary, there are so many things to see and do! Here are our recommendations!

Must-See Stops On The Dingle Peninsula:

Slea Head Drive . This is the most epic thing you will do during your Ireland road trip [okay, one of them!] Slea head drive is a loop that starts and ends in the town of Dingle. It offers stunning cliff views, Star Wars movie locations, mountains, quaint towns, and breathtaking views as far as the eye can see. Discover the 12 Best Stops On Slea Head Drive!

Dunquin Pier. Dunquin Pier is an iconic ‘postcard” destination on the Dingle Peninsula. It is located in the town of Dunquin on the Slea Head Drive loop and is actually a ferry pier. It is quite a good photo location for catching the sunset and you will have lots of fun walking down to the water.

Connor’s Pass . Connor’s Pass is the highest pass in Ireland and a wonderful addition to your Ireland itinerary. If you make this drive part of your Ireland road trip, be prepared for slow driving and very narrow roads. Conner’s Pass is beautiful but the roads are quite thin so be sure to pull over well in advance for any oncoming traffic.

Dingle Town. The town of Dingle is a must-see on your Ireland road trip because it is so cute and centrally located. It is right at the start and end of Slea Head drive and has so much to see and do! Make sure to walk around the shops and grab an ice cream while you enjoy the waterfront.

Explore The Scenic Views of The Dingle Penninsula on This Tour

Where To Stay In Dingle On Your Ireland Road Trip:

Luxury option: dingle benners hotel.

If you are planning a luxury Ireland itinerary, the Dingle Benners Hotel is the perfect place for you to stay on the Dingle Peninsula. Dingle Benners Hotel couples traditional Irish hospitality with modern-day amenities. The 52 rooms are luxurious and beautiful and the hotel is small enough so that you still get the boutique luxury experience.

Dingle Benners Hotel is located in the heart of downtown Dingle and is just steps away from all the shops and local attractions you will want to experience during your Ireland road trip.

The luxury hotel offers multiple dining options as well as a spa for when you want to wind down at the end of a busy day in Dingle! Make sure to check out their Afternoon Tea for a fun and totally Irish experience!

Check Prices: Booking.com |  Hotels.com  

  Moderate Option: Dingle Skellig Hotel

The Dingle Skellig Hotel is located right on the waterfront and within walking distance of Downtown Dingle. This option is more affordable than Dingle Benners Hotel but doesn’t sacrifice service, style, or location. In fact, it is one of the only waterfront properties in such close proximity to Dingle Town! You can walk to the heart of Dingle Town in less than 10 minutes.

Dingle Skellig Hotel offers a relaxing pool and spa as well as outdoor hot tubs overlooking the bay. There is a pub and two on-site restaurants.

When we arrived back later than we thought, the staff at Dingle Skellig Hotel graciously cooked us a delicious meal, even though the kitchen had just closed. The rooms at Dingle Skellig are relaxing and many have views of the bay or Downtown Dingle.

Check Prices: Booking.com | Hotels.com

Best VRBO’s Near Dingle: 

• Budget: Quiet Country Home. Check Availability on VRBO.com
• Mid-Range: Dingle Bay View. Check Availability on VRBO.com

Stop 6: Check The Cliffs Of Moher Off Your Ireland Itinerary Bucket List

Is there anything more iconically Irish than the Cliffs Of Moher? Even if you don’t generally like to do “the touristy” things, the Cliffs Of Moher are a must-see on your Ireland road trip itinerary.

We recommend budgeting at least 2 hours to see the Cliffs Of Moher, although we have spent even more there ourselves! Seeing the Cliffs Of Moher in person will blow your mind and exceed all of your expectations!

Book Your Cliffs of Moher Excursion Here

During your time at the Cliffs Of Moher, you can visit the Visitor Center for some education and also grab a bite to eat before heading out to the views! You can stay on the Cliffs Of Moher visitor center property, or you can go outside of the property and walk on top of the Cliffs themselves.

This is one of the more dangerous things you will do on your Ireland road trip, so make sure that you practice extreme caution!

There are a lot of fabulous Irish Castle Hotels near the Cliffs Of Moher so if you are looking to add one to your bucket list, this is a great place to do it!

Check Prices For Cliffs Of Moher Hotels: Booking.com | Hotels.com  

Stop 7: Drop By Doolin For Picture Perfect Irish Charm

Doolin is an adorable town located just 10 minutes north of the Cliffs Of Moher. If you are already visiting the Cliffs Of Moher on your Ireland road trip, we recommend a quick stop in Doolin too. Doolin is such a cute little town, with iconic pink houses, an adorable downtown, a castle turret, and a cute harbor.

While you are in Doolin, you can also take a day trip to the nearby Aran Islands. We have never done the Aran Islands before but they are high on your Ireland road trip bucket list for next time! You can catch an affordable ferry from Doolin and it is a short boat ride to the islands!

Check Rates For Doolin Lodge: Booking.com | Hotels.com

Best VRBO’s in Doolin: 

• Budget: Relaxing Doolin Private Home. Check Availability on VRBO.com
• Mid-Range: Atop The Cliffs of Moher.   Check Availability on VRBO.com

Stop 8: Experience Westport And Achill Island On Your Ireland Road Trip Itinerary 

We love getting off the beaten path and there is no better place to do that than Westport and the nearby Achill Island. Westport is an adorable town located in Co. Mayo has so much to offer.

You can choose to visit Westport House and see their falcon demonstration or take a bike ride on electric bikes through neighboring towns. Westport House is where famed pirate Grace O’Malley lived and you can even go into a real dungeon too!

Book Here: Westport House Tour

We highly recommend taking a day trip to the nearby Achill Island or even adding extra time to your Ireland road trip to stay on Achill Island. Achill Island is pristine Irish beauty at its best, with white sand beaches, mountain lakes, and cute towns.

You can even go surfing, paddle boarding, or snorkeling on Achill Island if you want a more adventurous Ireland itinerary!

Read more: The Ultimate Guide Of Things To Do In Co. Mayo

Best VRBO’s in Westport Ireland: 

• Budget: Town Centre Home. Check Availability on VRBO.com
• Mid-Range: Quiet Peaceful Home. Check Availability on VRBO.com

Best Accommodations And Hotels In Westport Ireland

• The Wyatt Hotel  (From $65 per night)
• Kockranny House Hotel  (From $120 per night)
• Clew Bay Hotel  (From $102 per night)
• Elephant Guest House  (From $84 per night)

Suggested Achill Island Hotels:

• Teach Cruachan Bed And Breakfast  (From $107 per night)
• West Coast House Bed And Breakfast  (From $76 per night)

Stop 9: Explore The Slieve League Cliffs And Bad Eddie’s Boat In Co. Donegal 

Co. Donegal, Ireland’s Northernmost county is known as it’s most “wild.” This isn’t a place most people visit on their Ireland road trip, but we have gone and we highly recommend it. This is “real” and unspoiled Ireland, far away from any tourists. This is where you will find sheep wandering in the road and no fences to keep the animals in.

Things To Do In Co. Donegal On Your Ireland Road Trip:

Slieve League Cliffs . You have to put the Slieve League Cliffs on your Ireland road trip itinerary because they are one of the highest sea cliffs in Europe [second only to the cliffs on Achill Island]. The cliffs are located in the southern end of Donegal and you can drive to them and walk the rest of the way.

The views are incredible and you will hardly see another tourist in sight. After the busy Cliffs Of Moher, this is a more relaxed portion of your Ireland itinerary to enjoy.  Check Rates Slieve League Bnb: Booking.com | Hotels.com

Bad Eddie’s Shipwreck. Once you leave Slieve League, make your way up to the town of Bunbeg, where you will find a shipwreck right on the beach. This isn’t any old boring shipwreck, this is an old wooden shipwreck located on a beach that you can drive on! This is such a cool part of your Ireland road trip itinerary because you can get up close and personal with an actual shipwreck on a beach!  Check Rates For Bunbeg Lodge: Booking.com | Hotels.com

Glenveagh National Park. Glenveagh National Park is the epitome of wild Irish landscapes and if you love mountains, this is the place for you! Make sure to leave time to either drive through the national park or take a walk up one of the mountains! This is another one of the lesser-known things to do on your Ireland itinerary that you will just love!

Malin Head. Malin Head is the northernmost point in all of Ireland. If offers stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean and there are many sea cliffs and beaches to explore. Malin Head is also a Star Wars filming location so if you love the movies, this will be a must-see stop on your Ireland road trip itinerary and you won’t regret visiting! Check Rates For Malin Head View Bnb: Booking.com  

Best VRBO’s in Donegal: 

• Budget: Summerhill Cottage. Check Availability on VRBO.com
• Mid-Range: Lough Eske House.   Check Availability on VRBO.com

Stop 10: Finish Your Ireland Road Trip By Exploring Belfast And The Causeway Coast

Northern Ireland is much less visited than the Republic Of Ireland but the country is so beautiful you must make it a stop on your Ireland road trip itinerary. Belfast is located less than 2 hours away from Dublin, so if you are flying out of Dublin after your Ireland road trip, you can spend a night or two in Belfast or Northern Ireland’s Causeway Coast.

Exploring The Causeway Coast On Your Ireland Road Trip

Northern Ireland’s Causeway Coast is a stunning coastal drive that offers everything from pristine white sand beaches to castles perched high on the edge of cliffs! The stops listed below are all very close to one another so all of these locations can easily be seen in one day. There is so much to see and do on the Causeway Coast, but here are a few things you must make sure to see during your Ireland road trip:

Dunluce Castle. Dunluce Castle is an age-old castle ruin perched on the side of a cliff overlooking the ocean. Could it get any more stunning than that? The castle is steeped in history and bloodshed, and it makes for fantastic photos!

Giant’s Causeway. Giant’s Causeway is a spectacular ode to nature with basalt rocks pushing up from the ocean in the shape of hexagons. If you are making this part of your Ireland itinerary, make sure to go early in the morning so you beat the tour buses.

Dark Hedges. The Dark Hedges is simply a hedgerow leading up to an old manor house, but they became popular from being featured in Game Of Thrones. Like Giant’s Causeway, if you aim to stop here on your Ireland road trip, make sure to go early or late to beat the tourists.

Mussenden Temple. Mussenden Temple is a temple perched on a cliff in Northern Ireland overlooking a perfect stretch of white sand beach! It is a fantastic place to catch the sunset and a wonderful stop on your Ireland road trip itinerary.

Game Of Thrones Doors. If you are into Game Of Thrones, you are going to want to pop into a pub or local hotel and see some of the Game Of Thrones Doors! There are many located along the Causeway Coast. You can read more about the Game Of Thrones Doors here! 

Book Here From Belfast: The Causeway Coast Tour 

Book Here From Dublin: The Causeway Coast Tour

What To See And Do In Belfast To Conclude Your Ireland Road Trip

Belfast is the capital of Northern Ireland and is located under 2 hours away from all the best nature that Northern Ireland has to offer. If you visit Belfast during your Ireland road trip itinerary, and we think you should make sure to check out the Titanic Museum Experience and walk around the Titanic Quarter.

Did you know that Belfast is actually where the Titanic was built and originally set sail from? Now you do!

Belfast is also home to the buzzing Cathedral Quarter, which is the perfect place for a bite to eat and a visit to one of the many pubs. If you have time, you can even take a pub tour or walking tour around Belfast.

Check Hotel Prices In Belfast: Booking.com | Hotels.com

Best VRBO’s in Belfast: 

• Budget: Belfast Victorian House. Check Availability on VRBO.com
• Mid-Range: Titanic Luxury Apartment. Check Availability on VRBO.com

End Your Ireland Road Trip By Flying Out Of Dublin Or Belfast

Sadly, at one point or another, your Ireland road trip must come to an end. You will either be flying back out of Dublin or Belfast. If you fly out of Dublin, we highly recommend staying outside of Dublin City and then driving in on the day your flight leaves. This will save you from having to go back to Dublin and will save you money on a hotel as well.

Packing Tips For Your Trip To Ireland:

Here are some of our favorite items that you should consider packing for your trip to Ireland! These are essential travel items that we use and love and you should make sure to consider for your travels.

A  concealed travel pouch  may be one of the most important items you bring with you! This  unisex RFID blocking concealed travel pouch is  lightweight and comes in several colors. It has lots of organization to give you peace of mind. You can keep your most valuable documents safe and secure next to your body.

If you have a pouch already you may not want to or need to invest in a new one. If it does not come with the  RFID protection , these  RFID  sleeves  would be handy to prevent identity theft. This configuration comes with enough passport and credit card sleeves that the entire family would be protected. They are slim too, so they will easily fit into your current pouch or wallet. These are the kind our family uses not only when traveling but at home as well.

If you have a camera on your packing list, you need to add additional  memory cards  on your list as well. Unless you are packing a computer for your trip, you will not be able to upload photos and clear your existing memory card. Purchasing additional memory cards   cost under $20  and take up no space in your luggage. Having a backup can have the potential to save you a lot of heartaches if something goes awry! There is nothing worse than coming across that perfect moment and then finding out you don’t have enough space to capture it on your camera!

Similarly, If you are planning to capture your trip on a smartphone, we beg you to bring some way to back up your memories. The best way to do this is with a  portable smartphone flash drive . A flash drive is a small storage device that you can connect up to your smartphone and then safely and easily download the photos onto this device.

If you are planning on taking a lot of pictures with your phone you will definitely want to consider an  external charging battery . This  Anker high-speed phone charging battery  is the exact one we carry with us on all of my trips . It can be used on a variety of phones, not just an iPhone like we have. And wow is it fast! We like that it holds its charging capabilities for several uses so we do not have to worry about it while out and about. And if we forget to recharge it at night, it will still be good to go the next day.

My mom was never a fan of  packing cubes  until she tried them out! Now she is sold .  These Bagail packing cubes   are  the exact ones she uses whenever she travels and she travels a lot. She cannot believe how much more organized she is now! And she will never leave without them anymore.

We never leave home on a trip without our  Bobble filtration bottle.  The 18.5-ounce size is perfect for travel and it will fit nicely in the pocket of a backpack or your purse. Also when filled with water, it is not too heavy to carry. And the Bobble carbon  filter  ensures fresh clean water whenever and wherever you fill the Bobble. You can find  filter replacements here. 

Perhaps you are traveling a long distance and packing space is a premium. Then this  set of collapsible silicone foldable water bottles  would work well for you. Would not take up much space in your suitcase at all. And you will be receiving a set of two.

You will want to bring a  backpack or daypack  with you to store snacks, your water bottle, phone, extra clothes, etc.. This   foldable water-resistant backpack  would be great. It is very affordable and is available in many color options for you to choose from. The fact that it folds down into a zippered pouch will make it easy to pack.

Perhaps you need a more substantial  backpack  for your international travel. This  antitheft backpack   has a charging port, is water-resistant and can comfortably carry up to a 15.6″ laptop. It comes in a range of colors to choose from and it is inexpensive as well.

We all need to  protect our eyes  from the sun’s harmful UVA/UVB rays. These  unisex polarized sunglasses   come in a lot of lens colors and frame designs and are extremely affordable too.

If you are fond of the  aviator-style of sunglasses  these polarized aviators may interest you. We like polarized sunglasses because they remove the glare off the water and help you to see things more clearly.

Don’t forget to bring along a  universal power adapter  if you are traveling abroad. This  worldwide   power plug  is a great example and will charge your phone at the end of your busy days. And this  world traveler adapter kit   can charge several devices at the same time. This is what you will need when there are several people traveling in your group, or if you bring several electronic devices on your trip that require charging at the same time.

Ireland Road Trip Map

In case you want to see what it all looks like on paper, here is your Ireland road trip map! Unfortunately, Google Maps only lets us put 10 destinations, so we weren’t able to capture all the small stops like Cobh or Slieve League Cliffs. This is the general idea of where our route will take you and the driving time for the total Ireland road trip. Feel free do an Ireland road trip in a circle from the bottom of Dublin and Cliffs Of Moher or from the top to modify and save time!

This Ireland road trip itinerary showcases the best of what Ireland has to offer, from the touristy things to the lesser-known things to do! There is something for everyone and we purposefully didn’t put times or days so that you don’t have to limit yourselves! If you have two weeks, then modify this Ireland itinerary to fit your schedule and if you only have a few days, pick which stops are most important to you and go from there! Either way, Ireland is waiting for you to come visit!

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Reader Interactions

June 14, 2018 at 7:11 pm

I’ve followed you away for several years now and I think this is the best one yet. Be safe while traveling.

June 18, 2018 at 3:06 pm

Thank you so much! This means so much to us!

February 15, 2019 at 5:41 pm

What timeframe was this completed in, My wife and I are coming to Ireland for 10 days.

February 15, 2019 at 8:12 pm

You can do it in 10 days if you spend one day in each. I would recommend skipping Ring Of Kerry and Donegal if you want this itinerary in a more relaxed time frame!

February 15, 2019 at 8:18 pm

We will be there for 10 days and will need to return to Dublin

Any specific landmark/ site that are a “must” is appreciated.

Also want to see a few of the Great Lighthouses

August 5, 2019 at 5:07 am

Please add Inishowen Peninsula (Malin Head) to your map then take the Greencastle ferry to the causeway coast. We are always forgotten by the tourist and is winning the loto but forgot to claim the prize.

April 14, 2019 at 7:04 am

Nice itinerary, and the watercolour is beautiful but there are so many inaccuracies and spelling errors

April 14, 2019 at 1:38 pm

Hello! What was inaccurate? We would love to correct it! Thanks!

June 3, 2019 at 10:02 pm

We have 6-7 days what do you recommend.

June 19, 2018 at 11:04 pm

Victoria, this is the most comprehensive list I’ve ever seen. Will refer to it if I ever have the opportunity to travel to Ireland. Thank you for this.

June 21, 2018 at 1:45 am

Great trip , but you should visit Bunratty Castle for a medieval banquet and folk park a great nights entertainment

June 21, 2018 at 5:07 am

Have always wanted to tour Ireland. Your list is great, I know it will come in handy once i get the chance to visit. Amazing photos too.

June 22, 2018 at 9:29 pm

Awesome! I wish I knew more about Ireland to know for sure where to go, but I thought this definitely helped for my future road trip! ?

May 15, 2019 at 11:34 pm

I am landing in Dublin on 26 Dec and leaving on 11jan. My gf wants to stay in a city until 1jan so I was wondering if the itinerary can be completed in 10 days? Especially with daylight hours being so short. And is it advisable to stay in Dublin for 5 days? Thank you!

June 23, 2018 at 2:45 am

Your photos are incredible! I’ve only been to Dublin but this has me itching to go back! Great post!

June 23, 2018 at 2:53 am

Great blog. We loved Kerry and Dingle although didn’t know about Cobh. A definite visit next time. Thanks for sharing your itinerary.

June 23, 2018 at 12:06 pm

I did an Ireland road trip in 2003 with my mom and have been wanting to return ever since! Dingle was my favorite!

June 23, 2018 at 4:49 pm

This is a great itinerary! And very similar to the road trip I just did in Ireland last week with my mom and sister! Our favorites were the Rock of Cashel and Cobh, I think, along with having tea at Ashford Castle!

June 25, 2018 at 12:56 pm

We LOVED Cobh and Rock Of Cashel too! And Dingle! We really wanted to do Ashford Castle but didn’t get around to it!

June 23, 2018 at 10:55 pm

What a brilliant resource! I can’t believe I’ve still never been to Ireland, but I’d love to do a road trip like this!

Thank you so much! Ireland is an amazing place to road trip!

July 15, 2018 at 12:07 pm

I’ve always wanted to do a trip to Ireland. I will surely have this one on my bucket list. Thanks for sharing your itinerary! Definitely one to steal 🙂

July 16, 2018 at 1:23 pm

Thank you!! Have fun in Ireland when you go!

August 4, 2018 at 11:14 pm

Fabulous itinerary!!! This is pretty much what we will follow for our second trip to Ireland. Two things you could include that are not to be missed: Kylemore Abbey which is just stunning and staying at Ballynahinch Castle which was also incredible and surprisingly inexpensive. Thank you for all of the tips!

November 24, 2018 at 1:30 pm

Hi! I thoroughly enjoyed reading your post about your trip. I will be traveling to Ireland this summer. I was wondering, is it necessary to rent a car to do a trip like this? I’ve heard mixed reviews about car rentals in Ireland and am unsure what to do! There will be 4 of us going. Any advice is appreciated 🙂

November 24, 2018 at 3:12 pm

Hello! Thank you! Sadly yes, to do this trip you must rent a car. That being said, there are some day tours from Dublin that go to many of the areas in this list except Donegal. They are pretty affordable and we recommend some here: https://www.followmeaway.com/day-tours-from-dublin/ Renting a car allows freedom BUT if you do we recommend taking pictures and a walk around video when you get the car so you aren’t taken advantage of by the rental companies. The driving on the “wrong” side of the road really isn’t that difficult and you will get the hang with slow and cautious driving!

January 1, 2019 at 6:12 pm

Hi! This trip looks amazing,do you have a link you re able to provide to the google maps screen shot you posted? My family and I are looking to do an 8 day road trip in August.

January 12, 2019 at 12:25 pm

My friends and I will be visiting Ireland in March and would like to do a road trip. Can you provide me with a link to the google maps screen shot you posted? If not, maybe a list of places you stopped?

January 12, 2019 at 10:24 pm

Hello! Yes I have to recreate a better one! Can you email me [email protected]

January 23, 2019 at 2:32 pm

I sent you my email, but have not received the link to the google maps screen shot you posted.

February 7, 2019 at 11:22 am

This was super interesting and informative- thank you! My partner and I are considering this trip in the Springtime, does anyone have insight as to what we can expect budget-wise?

March 8, 2019 at 3:41 pm

I’ve been trying to plan a trip of a lifetime my husband & I will be taking in October…right after he retires on the 1st. We have purchased our plane tickets & plan to stay for 3 weeks. How do we plan reservations for lodging, without staying at 21 places & keeping a strict schedule? Is there a way we can plan to do it in segments, staying in one place & making day trips for several days & then moving on to the next section of the trip? Is there someone you can recommend that could help us do This? I don’t want to blow this special trip because of poor planning…I want no regrets! Your blog is the most concise & so enjoyable-any help would be so appreciated!

July 17, 2019 at 4:39 pm

I can help you out.

I ran into your comment here and think your post is so nice and am really happy your going to spend some time in Ireland. Its really beautiful here. I am a Canadian living in Belfast currently and have been doing a lot of research on travel around Ireland and have covered most of the island already. I can make you an itinerary tailored to things you might like no problem let me know.

Maybe leave your email here that way i can get in touch with you if you would like the help.

Best, Hannah

October 27, 2019 at 9:33 pm

I could really use some help! Me, my 2 sons and one of their girlfriends will be visiting my daughter in Ireland in a couple weeks? I have never done this and am trying to read blogs like this and create an itinerary. If you have any advice on maps to download or rental car advice I would so appreciate it! I am confusing myself on how many nights to stay at one place!! We have 7nights. Flying in and out of Dublin. My daughter is studying abroad in Gallway. She plans to meet us in Dublin and we will road trip to Gallway for the week. I appreciate any help! Thank you! Maureen

October 27, 2019 at 11:04 pm

I would recommend Dublin, Galway, and one other place such as Dingle/Killarney!!! Car rental you can get something affordable just make sure to take photos of the car to ensure you aren’t being scammed!!

March 9, 2019 at 7:06 am

Hi, Super post. We are planning a trip this June and would highly appreciate the link to the Google maps itinerary. Many thanks.

March 17, 2019 at 12:06 am

We are planning to spend about 3 weeks (August 20-September 6) and this itinerary is incredibly helpful. Thanks so much! My husband’s great-great grandfather is from Newry, County Down in Northern Ireland, so we will add that to the trip, and maybe find more information…Americans hunting for their Irish roots.

March 18, 2019 at 2:55 pm

Have so much fun!!

April 7, 2019 at 1:22 am

thanks for the wonderful information and it will be most helpful in September when I travel with my Mom for a 2 week Ireand/Scotland trip. I am starting to get excited now. flights are booked and have booked a B & B for our first couple of nights in Dublin,

Your map and itinerary is so spot on and has helped immensely with my plans for Ireland. I will most definatley be visiting Norther Ireland after reading your information.

Do you have any suggetions for a similar trip to Scotland? 5-6 days?

April 8, 2019 at 3:09 pm

Lori… just saw your post… my husband and 2 adult daughters are looking to travel to Scotland/Ireland in September… are you traveling to Scotland first? I’m just in the beginning stages of planning our trip… wondered what you have found? Places to stay?

May 14, 2019 at 11:33 pm

Shelly. I am sorry it took so long to reply! We are traveling to Ireland first. Round trip to Dublin was cheaper from Canada. We will take a quick cheap flight to Edinburgh for the remainder of the trip.

I have been booking B&B through Booking.com and finding an average of $120 Canadian per stay. What have you planned so far for Scotland?

April 16, 2019 at 7:47 pm

Could you post a map or directions leaving Dublin working up to Derry and back down to Dublin? I have enjoyed your blog and will be reading for new helpful hints. Thanks for sharing.

April 18, 2019 at 4:41 pm

Hello Donna!

We have never been to Derry in Ireland just yet so we can’t share a post featuring that location. Hopefully we will visit soon!

April 21, 2019 at 10:32 am

Hi this itinerary is wonderful and very detailed. My husband and I are traveling to Dublin in late November for 7 days. I read that during winter a lot of attractions are closed. Any recommendations for us of places not to missed and how can we do a shorter itinerary since be have to flight back home from Dublin.

April 29, 2019 at 9:35 pm

Hello!! Sounds like an amazing trip! I would recommend doing a loop of the southern Irish coast and western. So essentially when you get to the “cliffs of moher’ section of this itinerary that is when you are done and you head back to Dublin. So for 7 days in winter we recommend to stop on this itinerary at Cliffs Of Moher. That should be plenty to see and do and still have things that are open!

April 30, 2019 at 8:09 am

What a great itinerary! Our family is having a debate about our December Christmas holiday and it’s between Ireland (my choice) and Estonia (my husband’s). Armed with this wonderful road trip, I have a much better idea of where to go, stay and what sights to see. I even have to prepare a PowerPoint presentation to win the debate, so this helps me soooo much! We have two teenage daughters so we will be looking for family type accommodation. Any recommendations on what type of vehicle to hire that will be suitable for 4 people, luggage and the roads in Ireland?

April 30, 2019 at 1:14 pm

We recommend renting a hybrid SUV. Just toggle that “on” when searching for a car. Tell your girls this is an EPIC place to visit, especially for teens! The sights are totally amazing and you guys should 100% go to Ireland! There is something for everyone

May 3, 2019 at 11:59 pm

Hey! I am hoping to visit Ireland next year. I will have graduated from college but will only be 18. I understand that I can’t rent a car until I’m older. Are there any bus lines I can take? Hoping to spend 2 weeks there.

May 4, 2019 at 12:37 pm

Sometimes you are able to rent a car under 25 and just pay a higher fee than anyone else. Have you checked into that option? There are a variety of tours and also trains that go around Ireland! So you do have options. It isn’t the most public transport friendly place in the world but there are options

May 8, 2019 at 1:13 pm

Hello there,

thoroughly enjoyed reading your itinerary. Can you please let us know which all cities/places you have opted to stay in the nights and what was the duration of each stays? if you can provide some tip on recommended hotels that would be great.

we are having a trip coming up in next 10 days, with two toddlers

your help is really appreciated.

May 13, 2019 at 6:33 pm

Hey ! enticing write up 🙂 I just booked a 5 day trip for July. Wonder if you could help with a crash course here to plan my route. We will self drive, and I have Belfast on my mind followed by the expansive ocean drives. So mostly chasing vistas and landscapes (don’t mind the occasional historic sites en route) Many thanks in advance.

May 14, 2019 at 10:18 pm

This looks amazing. Unfortunately, we arrive in Dublin on Monday and fly home via Dublin the following Tuesday early morning. Would you recommend an abbreviated itinerary? My husband was thinking we should spend Monday night and Tuesday night in Dublin, heading out for our drive early Wednesday morning, returning to Dublin on Monday night (late is ok).

May 14, 2019 at 11:04 pm

Hello!! YES! A good shorter itinerary is to simply cut off at the Cliffs Of Moher! so do the entire itinerary from the beginning and after COM you just return back to Dublin. So you leave Dublin, head down to Cork and Cobh, then over to Killarney, then Dingle, then Cliffs Of Moher. If you have to shorten this even more I recommend leaving off Killarney and heading straight to Dingle. It is TRUE Ireland and you will love it!

May 20, 2019 at 1:27 pm

Hello, thank you for this itinerary. I am thinking of a surprise trip for my husband to Ireland. Question – when is the best time to plan a road trip like this for weather and can this be done in two weeks and not feel too rushed . plan is for year 2020. Thank you again for posting this

May 20, 2019 at 2:50 pm

We personally LOVED fall in Ireland! September and October were wonderful. Spring is also a great time, Late March and April. We recommend avoiding the end of May and early June as there are multiple bank holidays in Ireland and the UK and it makes things crazy busy! Just look up the bank holiday schedule for 2020 and avoid that time. Ireland is amazing all year!

May 23, 2019 at 8:04 am

Hi. Your itinerary is a great help. We are traveling in July and are flying into Dublin and driving straight to Kilkenny..1 night, Blarney..1 night, Killarney..2 nights, Galway..3 nights and back to Dublin..3 nights. Are those good places to stay for the nights?

May 28, 2019 at 5:40 am

Ireland is on top of my bucket list. Even though I couldn’t make it yet, I’m pretty sure to visit it in the nearest future. Looks stunning in pictures, so I can only imagine how much more beautiful it is in reality. Thank you for sharing your amazing experience. I’ve just lived through your travels.

June 9, 2019 at 6:43 am

Thank you SO MUCH for this itinerary! My traveling partner and I were spending hours searching for things to see as we began mapping out a plan when I decided to Google “Ireland mapped trip”. What a find! By the way, do you know you have two Stop 5s?

June 9, 2019 at 2:48 pm

UGH!!! no i didn’t know that! I will go fix straight away! And this is amazing to hear I’m glad we can help! We totally LOVE Ireland so much!

June 9, 2019 at 10:38 pm

Was parking an issue anywhere or was it easy to find places to park?

June 9, 2019 at 11:19 pm

It was very easy to find pretty much everywhere! It is wonderful!

June 22, 2019 at 8:14 am

I’m an American driver. How difficult is it to acclimate to driving this suggested itinerary ?

June 22, 2019 at 12:36 pm

It isn’t too difficult at all! You begin on the interstate which is actually easier than on the 2 lane roads so you can get a gist of it. JUST GO SLOWWWWW. If you are traveling with someone else task them to remind you when it comes to turning and such. Otherwise just be careful and think. You just have to get back in the mindset of when you were learning to drive. You had to think about each step. That is how it is here for a day or two! But it is easy you got this!

June 27, 2019 at 10:53 am

Hi – This itinerary is really helpful, appreciate your efforts. I plan to visit Ireland this August. My cousin lives in Cork and we plan to stay there towards the end of our trip.Do you see any issues taking the reverse route…Dublin, Belfast, Cork back to Dublin. Please let me know. Thank you.

June 27, 2019 at 10:07 pm

Nope!! Belfast is real close to Dublin so its only around 1.5 hour drive!! Really nice!

July 3, 2019 at 2:00 pm

Thank you, One more query – if I have 3 nights to cover from Dublin to Dingle via Belfast/cliffs of Moher etc, which are the best places/towns to stay to be able to cover the best along this route ? Please suggest, thank you again.

July 3, 2019 at 5:15 pm

If you have three nights we recommend possibly skipping Belfast and going straight to Cliffs Of Moher and staying nearby Cliffs of Moher then possibly staying in Limerick which is a really cute area!!

July 2, 2019 at 7:09 am

This looks amazing we are crossing by ferry from Liverpool on 10th of July and returning 23rd July 2019. Looking forward to doing most of these places.

July 13, 2019 at 8:02 am

It will be our very first trip to Ireland. I checked out quite a few ideas for Ireland but yours was the best I have come across. But we have only 8 days from Dublin to Dublin. I am a bit confused as to what we should drop and what is a must do. I do want to visit Doolin, Dingle and even Westport but how do i plan it. Can you suggest some tweaks. I am really looking forward to a great time.

July 13, 2019 at 2:45 pm

That is a great itinerary! I would recommend going:

Dublin> Cork

Cork>Dingle

Dingle> cliffs of moher and doolin

Cliffs of Moher to Westport

Westport back to Dublin

That is how I would space it out and you will see A LOT! So on the way down SKIP ring of Kerry and Killarney!

July 17, 2019 at 10:43 pm

My husband and I will be going to Ireland in August and have given ourselves 3 weeks approximately. Staying in Meath for 4 days for a christening. Twhile there were going to visit Donegal area etc. we have booked Kilkenny for a couple of nights before heading off, where would you suggest next? We leave the 13th Aug so I need to book ASAP

July 20, 2019 at 2:45 pm

Very interesting subject and posts. I am going next week, for 4 days only, and it will only be the Republic of Ireland. Would you mind to to help me with a route for 4 days?

Much appreciated,

July 20, 2019 at 3:38 pm

Would highly recommend Dublin, Cork/Cobh, and Cliffs of Moher. It will be a lot of driving! Alternatively you can do Dublin with day trips to Howth and Bray and perhaps a tour to Cliffs Of Moher!

July 23, 2019 at 2:26 pm

Thank you for this itinerary. We’re traveling next year and I’m putting together a 14 day trip. I believe you have chosen well and I’m going to use this for a model. Love your beautiful photos too.

July 23, 2019 at 2:38 pm

Thank you so much!!! Have so much fun in Ireland!

April 9, 2022 at 11:52 am

just curious … how much you are estimating for the trip… money wise>>>>

August 10, 2019 at 8:44 pm

You forgot Dingle. Amazing people and awesome nightlife of traditional music. Go to Dick Mack’s, it’s across the street from the church.❤️

August 12, 2019 at 7:16 am

Dingle is totally included on this itinerary!!!! Thanks!

September 18, 2019 at 4:09 pm

Beautiful pictures. Thank you for a great plan! We have 9 days before a cruise so have to get to Southampton at the end of the road trip. Flying into London and can take a flight to Ireland. Where would you suggest starting? On our cruise we have one day in Dublin and one day in Belfast….surely not enough so want to see more of the country. Have you bookmarked for ideas!

September 19, 2019 at 11:48 am

Thank you!!! So you will be there for 9 days? You can easily do Killarney, Dingle and Cliffs Of Moher with TONS of time to spare!

September 24, 2019 at 2:24 pm

Great information! We are planning an Ireland trip in 2021 We are thinking of around 14 days Flying into and out of Dublin. Thinking about spending more time in each city but after Westport driving back to Dublin and skipping the northern part of your itinerary.Your thoughts? Also we plan on using your suggested hotels What time of year is best? Least rain Thank you

September 25, 2019 at 8:55 am

Yep!!!! 10000% think that is a GREAT itinerary and will give you great time to enjoy each area. Don’t miss Westport area as it is a lesser known part of the country so you will get the best of both worlds! We REALLY enjoyed being there in late april/early May as well as the fall in October/September. Avoid summer as all of the UK is on bank holiday and then Ireland has bank holiday and it is a crazy mess!!

September 25, 2019 at 12:55 pm

Hello. I just returned from Ireland yesterday after a 5-day trip. I used Victoria and Terrence’s post to plan my itinerary. This was an awesome road trip. We went to most places recommended by you + more! In our 5-day trip, we drove 1400 kilometers (870 miles!). It was great! Thank you for the post (and for recommending the ice cream).

September 29, 2019 at 1:26 pm

Thanks Rhonda! We are SO GLAD you had an amazing time! The ice cream in Ireland is just so good right?!

November 18, 2019 at 7:29 am

I was so inspired by your Blog, that I booked tickets for my husband and I to visit Ireland in the Spring. I wanted to ask if you could provide a link to the google maps screenshot? Also, I know you mentioned that you did not want to give specific days/times to spend for each stop and leave it to our discretion, but I would love to get your opinion on where we should stop and stay overnight versus where to just pit stop on the road trip. Any feedback would be appreciated, I’m currently in the process of looking up places to stay.

November 19, 2019 at 9:03 pm

Hey!!!! YES I can but I couldn’t put all the stops sadly so it would be better to do it yourself! As far as spending the night I recommend Dublin, Cork/Blarney/Cobh area [all within 30-ish min so anywhere there can be fine!] then you can do Dingle AND Killarney or just one. If you can just do one I recommend Dingle. Then stay near Cliffs Of Moher. Then stay near Westport or Achill Island. Then stay somewhere in Donegal. Then stay near the Antrim Coast or in Belfast for day trips! I hope this helps! This is if you want to do the FULL itinerary!

November 19, 2019 at 10:20 pm

I would loveee to do it all! Do you think it is doable in 7 days?

November 20, 2019 at 2:43 pm

I think it is doable but I don’t think you would enjoy yourself! I would choose either the top half of the bottom half. Meaning you either END with Cliffs of Moher [Dingle, Cobh, Cork etc] or your start where this itinerary starts with cliffs of moher and do Westpoert/Donegal/Northern Ireland. Just take half the itinerary for 7 days if you don’t want to rush about!

December 5, 2019 at 1:54 pm

Hi, many thanks for publishing your fabulous trip. Four of us are arriving in Belfast, staying 2 nights and then hiring a car to tour the west coast and over to Dublin. We will have 7 days before returning to Belfast for one night and then flying home. We will take in your recommendations for places of interest, the only thing I have not yet been able to establish is whether crossing the border is allowed by the car hire company, any ideas? Thanks

December 7, 2019 at 7:52 pm

Yep!!! It is usually always allowed with no issues!! If you are very worried, simply email or call to be sure for peace of mind! But never had any issues! Have fun!

January 5, 2020 at 11:38 pm

Omg this was so helpful! Now I’m thinking of changing the itinerary we had planned for 7 nights in June. We have hotels booked for : 1. Dublin 2. Cork 3. Killarney 4. Galway 5. Bunratty Castle for my 2 year olds birthday + an Irish night 6. Kilkea Castle for a wedding 7. Dublin Galway wasn’t even on your list! Maybe Dingle instead?? So hard to choose!

February 21, 2020 at 12:12 am

Hi… we will be in Ireland for 5 days in late Aug… we’re renting a car and starting in Dublin. I know we can’t do it all, but what route would you suggest? Thanks. David

December 9, 2020 at 1:05 pm

Amazing pics and list! Do you recommend booking all lodging beforehand or could we just do it as we travel around? Was just thinking that would give us freedom to stay where and when we wanted rather than sticking to a hard schedule.

December 9, 2020 at 2:04 pm

You can do it as you travel around and that is what we have done MANY times! Just book 2-3 days in advance you don’t have to do the whole thing! Enjoy!

October 18, 2021 at 8:49 pm

This post is AMAZING!!! We are planning a 7 day trip April 2023! Did you rent your vehicle directly from the rental car agency at Dublin airport?

October 18, 2021 at 11:32 pm

Yes we did! You have to take a shuttle to the rental car center but yes it is on the airport!! Super easy! Enjoy!

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Albom Adventures

Capturing the essence of travel through photography

Travel anecdotes, inspiration, and photography

Driving Around Ireland – Our Irish Road Trip Loop from Dublin

Dramatic cliffs cascade until they merge with wild ocean waves on one side while vibrant wildflowers dot lush green rolling hills on the other. Driving around Ireland is a treat for the senses.

Our Irish road trip itinerary loops from coast to coast, starting from Dublin and for us ending as we ferry to Wales. We also provide an alternative route returning to Dublin.

Somehow, each day seemed more spectacular than the one before. By the time we completed driving around Ireland, we no longer wondered why so many places claim to be the most picturesque in the country.

And there’s more. Fascinating history, from tetrapod tracks to prehistoric tombs, there is no shortage of interesting things to do in Ireland.

As so much of it is outside the cities, the best way to enjoy it all is on an Irish road trip.

Our key stops when driving around Ireland

Cliffs of moher.

• Dingle peninsula
• Killarney and the Ring of Kerry
• Rosslare Harbour to Wales or return to Dublin

Interactive Irish road trip map

The interactive map provides route options that can be individually selected by clicking the expand / collapse icon in the upper left corner of the map. All are initially active.

Also, note all suggested stops in this article are featured on the map either in red (on the main road) or orange (requires extra driving).

A few days in Dublin before driving around Ireland

Lively, vibrant, colourful, and loaded with history, Dublin is always fun. We spent a few days here before venturing out on our Irish road trip.

To help us with our discovery of the capital, we started with a free city walking tour with Sandemans . Then we knocked things off our bucket list.

Suggested activities in Dublin :

• Dublin Castle : This 13th-century castle is the former seat of British rule in Ireland with stunning gardens and grounds spanning over 11 acres.
• Dublin University : One of the world’s top international universities, Trinity College boasts Europe’s largest vaulted library, and it’s home to the ancient Book of Kells , an illuminated manuscript of the 4 Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

Reserve a Book of Kells and Dublin Castle tour with fast-track access here .

• St. Patricks Cathedral : Founded in 1191, it was built where St Patrick himself baptized Christian converts. As Ireland’s largest cathedral, the queues can be long. Reserve your skip-the-line admission ticket here .
• Guinness Storehouse : Following the production process, our self-guided tour ended with a pint in the rooftop bar overlooking the city. We even saw the original license allowing Guinness to use the building for 9000 years at £45 per year. Reserve your entrance ticket here .
• Temple Bar : Dublin’s most famous nightlife area is a maze of narrow cobblestone streets filled with pubs, bars, and live music.
• National Leprechaun Museum : It’s quirky fun that makes this place so amusing. Where else but Dublin can we be shrunk to leprechaun size . . . and then set loose in a full-sized house. Be sure to bring a camera if you visit the Leprechaun Museum .
• Get a Go City Pass to save up to 50% on activities. Check out the list before you purchase, as you can get a pass that covers 3, 4, 5 or 7 different activities. Reserve your Go City Dublin Pass here .

Dublin day trip: Newgrange Tomb

Newgrange, a huge prehistoric passage tomb enriched with astronomical elements, sits just 40 minutes north of Dublin. It is one of the most fascinating places I have seen.

Re-discovered in the 17th century, Newgrange, along with Knowth and Dowth, make up the Brú na Bóinne complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site  older than the Pyramids of Giza.

Once we got close, we could see that many of the 97 stones on the exterior have repetitive carvings. 

There is one entrance to the mound leading down a long passage to a cross-shaped chamber and a single tomb. Aligned with the winter solstice, the roof box above the main passage entrance lets in a beam of sunlight for only 17 minutes on the five shortest days of the year. (Sorry, no photos allowed in the tomb)

There is a limited number of people allowed to visit each day. Advance booking is advised .

Still want more? Check out: Newgrange: Archaeology, Art and Legend

Irish road trip loop segment 1: Dublin to Cliffs of Moher

Over and over, while driving around Ireland, we experienced déjà vu, as despite being its antipodes, the Irish countryside reminded us of our New Zealand home.

Stops on the way to Cliffs of Moher

We opted not to make any stops in this segment, but if you have loads of time, or want to break up the drive, here are some ideas along the way:

• Kilbeggan Distillery Visitor Centre : A former distillery, now a whiskey history museum.
• Athlone Castle : This 13th-century castle now has 8 chronologically themed exhibit rooms.
• Clonmacnoise : Ruins of a monastery with 7 churches, 3 huge crosses, 2 towers, and several gravel slabs.
• Galway : A great choice for an overnight stop, Galway is a delightful port city. It’s also a good option to grab a tour from here to the Cliffs of Moher to avoid the hassle of going on your own.
• Dunguaire Castle : This beautifully restored 16th-century castle just may be the most photographed castle in Ireland.
• Doolin Cave : Home to the northern hemisphere’s longest stalactite at 7.3 metres, this cave is worth a stop if you have time.

One of the most picturesque sites in Ireland, the Cliffs of Moher rise 214 meters (702 feet) out of the sea and run along the wild Atlantic Coast for about 14 kilometres. Some consider them to be the 8th wonder of the world.

They are unmistakably beautiful beyond what words or photos can portray.

While entry is free, parking isn’t. From the visitor centre, one can walk in either direction, but timed entry tickets are needed. The northern walk is about 20km (4.5 hours on average), while the southern walk is 5.6km (1.5 – 2 hours on average). See Cliffs of Moher entry details here .

On a clear day, you will also enjoy views of Aran Island and may even see dolphins or whales.

Many people prefer to take a tour from Galway to avoid the hassle of parking and timed entry. Here are some options:

Driving around Ireland Segment 2: Cliffs of Moher to Killarney

Next, we cut inland a bit and entered the county of Limerick. For many, the next stop is the city with the same name.

The highlight here is the 13th-century King John’s Castle (Limerick Castle), located on an island in the river. There is also the nearby Grange stone circle.

Adare – our unplanned stop while driving around Ireland

Adare’s thatched roofs ( a tradition dating back to the 1830s) and the allure of the Adare manor caught us by surprise. Instantly, we suspected it was more than just another quaint village. And we were right. It’s  Ireland’s prettiest village .

The three highlights for us were strolling through the Adare Manor gardens, exploring St. Nicholas’ Church of Ireland, and seeing a framed autographed New Zealand All Blacks jersey hanging on the wall (a taste of home) in the pub while we were enjoying live music.

Popular for weddings, Adare Manor House is an expensive luxury hotel and golf club on the banks of the River Maigue. Rather than blowing the budget, we opted to stay at the charming, affordable Adare Country House , with a great location and delicious hot breakfast.

In town, we explored the former Adare Friary. Once monikered the “Black Abbey”, it was founded in 1316. Today it is the St. Nicholas’ Church of Ireland, a parish church with lovely grounds to explore.

Dingle Peninsula

If it’s a nice day, Dingle is a feast for the eyes. Nearly the entire peninsula drive is one stunning scene followed by the next.

From sweeping sea views at the base of colourful cliffs to rolling green hills, driving around Ireland on the Dingle peninsula is more about the journey than any of its destinations.

If you are stopping in colourful Dingle, don’t miss St James Church.

Or, if it’s a major surf beach you are looking for, you don’t need to go too far to find the town of Inch Beach and its famous 5km Blue Flag beach jutting out into Dingle Bay.

Driving around Ireland segment 3: Killarney to Wales (via ferry) or back to Dublin

It won’t take you long to understand why Killarney and the famous Ring of Kerry drive are also often considered Ireland’s most picturesque spot.

Centrally located, Killarney is the perfect base to enjoy the town itself, plus the Ring of Kerry and the Dingle Peninsula.

Killarney’s gold star is the National Park. Its two highlights are featured above: the Ross Castle and the Torc waterfall cascading 18 metres through the wooded Friar’s Glenn.

Ring of Kerry

Many consider driving around Ireland’s Ring of Kerry the highlight of any Irish road trip. Despite our high expectations and misty weather, the 179 km drive did not disappoint.

A largely coastal drive around the Iveragh Peninsula, it’s also home to Carrauntoohil, Ireland’s highest mountain.

There are endless impressive views, coastal walks, and things to see. Our recommended stops:

• Gap of Dunloe : Enjoy dramatic scenery along a narrow pass in the MacGillycuddy’s Reeks mountain range. One of the best ways to see it is with a 5-hour combination of walking and boat tour from Killarney. Reserve your boat tour here .
• The Kerry Bog Village Museum : A chance to discover rural Ireland during the 18th century.
• Ballycarbery East : From a distance, see the ruins of Ballycarberry Castle (it’s on private land) and explore the Cahergall Stone Fort. We did not stop here.

Next, we crossed to Valentia Island

• Tetrapod Walkway : Here, find footprints from one of the first animals to walk on earth (tetrapod), estimated to be 385 million years old.
• The Grotto, Slate Quarry : The Valentia Island Slate Quarry was operated for 100 years until it was closed by a huge rock slip in 1911. There is a beautiful grotto built into the quarry’s face.

Back on the Iveragh Peninsula

• Kerry Cliffs : We were boldly told, “These are the most beautiful cliffs in Kerry County.” From here we had fabulous views of the Skelligs Islands and got a chance to get inside some of the beehive huts that are scattered around the county.
• Waterville : An enchanting village with a seafront walk overlooking Ballinskelligs Bay and the Skellig Rocks.
• Staigue Fort : Scenic ruins of a 2500-year-old historic stone fort.
• Killarney National Park (see section above)

Driving around Ireland, we stopped to kiss the Blarney Stone

Like so many who drive around Ireland, we stopped to kiss the Blarney Stone. I’ll admit, in today’s world, I probably wouldn’t do this, as kissing the Blarney stone tops CNN’s list of the world’s ‘germiest’ tourist attractions .

Blarney Castle was constructed in 1446. While we can tour the castle and the grounds, it’s the legend of the famous Blarney Stone of Eloquence that is the draw card.

To kiss the stone, we first climb the spiral stairs to the top of the 27-metre-tall tower. Next, we each lie on our backs, hold on, and lean out. There is a staff member there to both support you and disinfect the stone between each participant.

If you are not driving around Ireland, you can take a full-day tour from Dublin. In addition to Blarney Castle, the top-rated tour we recommend stops at Cahir Castle and Rock of Cashel and drives through the beautiful Irish countryside. Reserve your Blarney Castle Full-Day Tour from Dublin here .

More stops from Blarney to Dublin along the coast

For us, Blarney was the final major stop, as we added too much time upfront and needed to get back to England to board a cruise ship to the Norwegian Fjords . Some of the key stops along the way include:

• Cobh – this was the Titanic’s last port of call in 1912.
• Ardmore Cliff Walk – As the name implies, this 4km walk features stunning seascapes.
• Waterford – Founded by the Vikings in 914, it is the country’s oldest city, as well as being home to Waterford Crystal.
• Hook Head Lighthouse – First constructed in 1172, their website claims it to be the oldest working lighthouse in the world. However, the oldest is actually the Tower of Hercules in La Coruña, Spain .
• Wexford – An open-air museum gives you a window into the past, taking visitors from the first settlers to the 12th-century Norman Invasion.
• Coolnagloose – If it’s May to August, check out the Wexford Lavender Farm (60km north of the town of Wexford)
• Kilkenny – With its huge castle built in 1196 and its imposing St Canice’s Cathedral and the Black Abbey Dominican priory, there is plenty to see here.

Rosslare Harbour

As we passed Waterford, we had the option of continuing up to Dublin or heading east to Rosslare Harbour to take the ferry across to Wales. As our loop was actually a six-week adventure that also included all of the UK , we headed to the harbour, and this is where we left Ireland.

From here, we explored southern England . Our adventure had begun in London and then did a road trip through the English countryside . Next, we crossed into Scotland, continuing with a Scottish road trip that ended with a ferry to Northern Ireland, where we headed straight to the Giants Causeway before dropping into Ireland.

Car hire (rental) for driving around Ireland

Unless you are using your own vehicle, you will need to hire a car. We always rent from RentalCars. They offer a comprehensive list of multinational and local rental car agents, ratings on specific car types, and agency ratings. Importantly, they often have lower prices than going direct.

Whether you rent from them or not, it’s still the perfect place to begin your search.  Click here to compare options and check availability at RentalCars.com

Save on your trip with these resources

These are our go-to companies when we travel. We believe this list to be the best in each category. You can’t go wrong using them on your trip too.

• Flights : we use Expedia for the best and cheapest flight options.
• Accommodations: we use Booking.com (hotels), VRBO (self-contained), or Hostelworld (budget).
• Cars (gas or electric): we use RentalCars to search for deals and dealer ratings.
• Motorcycles : we have heard good things about BikesBooking .
• Campervans or Motorhomes : we use Campstar where Albom Adventures readers get a 3% discount.
• Private guides : we love the private guides at Tours by Locals .
• Travel Insurance: while not required, we always opt for travel insurance and start at InsureMyTrip to compare coverage plans.

Check out our travel resources page for more companies that we use when you travel.

Save for later

If you enjoyed this article, please share it on social media and save it for later on Pinterest.

Where will you stop on your Irish road trip?

More from the UK you might like … First-timers start here: Travel Tips for the UK: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland

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The Picturesque Ruins of Rievaulx Abbey in England’s Countryside

17 Images of Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal

Photo Credits:

All photos on this page are either shot by our team and watermarked as such or stock images from Depositphotos .

About Rhonda Albom

Capturing the essence of travel through photography, Rhonda Albom is the primary author and photographer at Albom Adventures. She is an American expat based in New Zealand. She travels the world with her husband.

Reader Interactions

September 18, 2022 at 9:51 am

I love this driving route! We only had 2 nights in Dublin so couldn’t explore other parts of Ireland, but we’re planning a road trip in the near future so we’ll add some of these stops to our list.

September 6, 2022 at 5:27 am

What a freakin’ amazing trip! I would love to go and do that along with hiring a driver. (I am too used to driving on the other side of the road.). I noticed in your pictures how much the weather varies there – some days were overcast and others were bright and sunny.

September 5, 2022 at 8:44 am

You had created a great itinerary, lovely post! It brought back many memories since we visited many of the same places. I especially enjoyed your photos!

September 5, 2022 at 2:23 am

Such a great itinerary – Ireland is an incredible destination and you got to see many of the highlights! Great post!

Lisa | Waves and Cobblestones

September 4, 2022 at 11:56 pm

Seeing the Book of Kells is a must! On our first visit we missed it, so it was top of my list for my second trip. The artistry is simply incredible. We were also blown away by Newgrange — how they built the site without use of modern tools and technology, to make it align for the sun on the solstice.

Travelling Tam

September 4, 2022 at 10:31 pm

My insight into Ireland has been so limited. I’ve been to Cork and Killarney and drove the Ring of Beara with my family years ago, but I would absolutely love to do a road trip by myself or with friends! This is such a great itinerary. I’d love to see the famous Cliff of Moher and quaint Adare.

September 4, 2022 at 9:26 pm

Ireland has been on my wish list for so long and this route seems amazing… I would love to discover this beautiful country this way 😍 Nature looks amazing! I always put it off, because I am afraid of the bad weather…

September 4, 2022 at 12:51 pm

This is such a great route (and a fun way to explore Ireland!) It is a bit of a shame you couldn’t go further into connemara, but you did get to see some stunning sights! Aren’t the cliffs of Moher spectacular! (I have to admit, I didn’t know they were famous outside of Ireland, so it was a shock when we visited to see how busy the parking area can be!

Linda (LD Holland)

September 4, 2022 at 12:17 pm

We have a long road trip in Ireland on our travel wish list. I love the stops on the route you planned. And good to know that the Ring of Kerry was a good idea even if the weather is not perfect. But I might pass on kissing the Blarney Stone.

September 4, 2022 at 11:07 am

What a fantastic trip! When I’m back in Ireland I’ll be sure to follow some of your journey. Thanks for sharing!

August 31, 2022 at 1:07 am

Ireland is on my bucket list. What a great way to see it.

June 14, 2012 at 1:37 am

LOVE the silly IRISH fun!!

June 12, 2012 at 3:06 am

That just looks like a load of fun.

stevebethere

June 11, 2012 at 9:16 pm

I can’t keep up with you your getting around so fast heheh!

June 10, 2012 at 2:54 pm

Yes! At the Lord of the Rings exhibition we were able to become hobbit sized for a split photo while the other person was wizard sized just like Frodo and Gandalf in the wagon seat at the start of Fellowship of the Ring.

June 10, 2012 at 1:52 pm

Looks like fun days.

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My Ideal Ireland Itinerary 7 Days Road Trip (+ Map)

By: Author Kim Tate

Posted on Published: March 11, 2024

Are you itching to visit the Emerald Isle but only have a week to explore? It’s a relatively small country, so it’s doable. This Ireland itinerary for 7 days will show you how to enjoy the natural beauty of the countryside and lively Irish culture in a one-week Ireland road trip.

For most travelers, starting and ending your Irish road trip at Dublin Airport makes logical (and financial) sense. But for those who can start their trip in Dublin and end it at Shannon Airport, there are other destinations in this beautiful country you can squeeze into your 7-day Ireland itinerary.

My detailed guide below suggests two different routes for both options. Either way, you’ll have an epic and memorable time in Ireland! It’s one of my favorite countries! Keep in mind, this itinerary does not take into account travel time, most flights from the US will depart in the evening and arrive the next morning.

Ireland Itinerary 7 Days: Option 1 (Dublin to Dublin)

This 7-day Ireland itinerary is based on my actual road trip around Ireland and Northern Ireland with my teen daughter. We had a wonderful time, so I’m sharing many of our lessons and stops to help you make the most of your visit.

Day 1: Dublin to Belfast Day 2: Belfast to Derry Day 3: Derry to Westport (or Galway) Day 4: Westport to Galway Day 5: Galway to Dublin Day 6: Dublin Day 7: Leave Dublin

Alternative Route Thoughts:

If you’re willing to drive and tour at a faster pace, you could try to combine parts of the Northern Ireland itinerary in order to allow you to visit the Ring of Kerry or Dingle Peninsula in the southwest of Ireland if you’re set on flying in and out of Dublin.

The Dingle Peninsula Slea Head Drive is considered one of the highlights of the area and the star of the Wild Atlantic Way region. But it is on the opposite end of the island from Northern Ireland, so with only 7 days, adjustments are needed. My route includes some of the Wild Atlantic Way between Westport and Galway, and is more accessible. However, some feel strongly about visiting the Dingle Peninsula.

Look at my list of things to do and see and decide which are your priorities if the Dingle Peninsula (pretty drive that will take about 3 hours) is a priority, AND you have to fly in and out of Dublin. If you want to prioritize Northern Ireland and the southwest area of Republic of Ireland, you might look at a route like this: Dublin – Derry – Galway – Dingle/Killarney (2 nights) – Dublin (2 nights)

I wouldn’t choose this fast pace, but it is an option if you’re trying to make the most of a limited week. The better option in my opinion would be to try to add on a day or two. Ideally, you’d plan a 10 day Ireland itinerary if you want to see most of the highlights. Or just plan to come back again!

My recommendation if you only have 7 days and want to see most of the popular regions is to fly into Dublin and out of Shannon Airport, which I list that alternate itinerary farther down in my post.

Day 1: Arrive in Dublin Airport and Explore Belfast

Waste no time at Dublin Airport by renting a car and driving north to Northern Ireland. Many flights from North America are red eye so you can start your 7 day Ireland itinerary in the morning. Don’t worry, you’ll end your trip in Dublin.

Renting a Car in Ireland

Take note that, unless you specify, your rental car will have a manual transmission. Request an automatic if you don’t want to tackle switching gears and driving on the left side of the road! Trust me, this isn’t the time to learn to drive standard or to try and remember that time in your childhood when you borrowed your buddy’s stick shift car.

You will need to have full coverage auto insurance for accidents or damage. Many times I rely on my credit card for car rental insurance, the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Reserve both have primary rental car coverage. But, confirm that Ireland and Northern Ireland aren’t excluded from your coverage.

Also, be prepared to show proof of the coverage at the rental counter. This can typically be printed from your benefits page but consider calling or chatting with customer care to ask for written proof of rental coverage. Otherwise, you’ll need to add collision coverage to your rental.

You can use Google Maps to navigate Ireland’s narrow roads, but it will often take you the fastest way which isn’t always the best way for tourists. We had a GPS device added to our rental and found it would sometimes route us differently than Google Maps.

Most of the time Google Maps was great but twice we should have listened to the GPS, one of which was driving back to Dublin from Cliffs of Moher when Google Maps took us back roads that were very tight and slow going and the GPS would have gotten us onto a highway much faster.

On your first day, head to Northern Ireland. The total drive time from Dublin to Belfast is just under two hours covering 162 km/100 miles, so you should have plenty of time to explore Killeavy before traveling to Belfast and staying there one night.

Note: The Republic of Ireland measures speed in kilometers/hr while Northern Ireland measures in miles/hr. Money is also different as Northern Ireland uses the British Pound Sterling (￡) and Ireland uses the Euro (€).

Malahide or Killeavy

You’ll hop in your car and start heading to Northern Ireland but I recommend at least one stop along the way to help get outdoors and help your body adjust to the time change. There are two stops I’d recommend as you make your way to Belfast, either Malahide or Killeavy. Both will help you get outdoors and have a castle.

Malahide is what I’d consider a Dublin suburb. It’s home to the popular Malahide Castle and Gardens, which is a more touristy operated castle with decor and extensive gardens. Malahide is also on the coast and there is a popular 4 km Malahide to Portmarnock Coastal Walk to get an outdoor fix on your first day. The town itself has a large number of cute restaurants and shops for a great afternoon break on your first day.

If you’re looking to get out of the city on your first day, plan for a stop in Killeavy instead. Located just over the Northern Irish border, Killeavy is a small town and a great place to stop for a break in an official area of natural beauty.

Check out Killeavy Castle Estate (there’s a hotel there now but you can still check out the castle grounds) or the Slieve Gullion Forest Park. This area of woodland has links to Celtic mythology! If you’re in Killeavy around lunchtime, stop at Johnny Murphy’s Bar and Restaurant for a bite to eat.

And if you’re not in a rush and have an extra night beyond this 7-day itinerary, consider booking a stay at the Killeavy Castle Estate. It’s absolutely beautiful and a great way to unwind after a busy travel day. We overnighted in Killeavy and even visited their spa to help us relax after traveling. The extra day helps you relax and start to acclimate to the time change.

If you’re not staying overnight in Killeavy and following my 7 day itinerary, hop back in your car and head to Belfast next.

Political Mural Black Cab Tour

When you arrive in Belfast, park your rental car and let a tour guide drive you around for a change! From the 1970s to the 1990s, Belfast was at the center of a pivotal moment in Irish history called ‘the Troubles’. 

A great way to learn more about it is to book a Black Cab Tour around all the neighborhoods and dozens of political murals that document the era. Driving is much faster than a walking tour which is ideal because there are lots of things to do in Belfast!

Shopping in Belfast

Need souvenirs or just have lots of room in your suitcase to fill? St. George’s Market is a 19th-century covered weekend market selling everything from street food to antiques. Born in Belfast is a great place to shop for local, artisanal gifts. Note that it’s only open on the weekend.

Note: Ireland’s currency is the Euro but Northern Ireland uses Great British Pounds. Bring a good travel credit card with no foreign exchange fees so you can pay in both currencies with no problems. We didn’t need cash at all during our trip as everywhere we visited accepted credit cards.

Ride Hydrobikes on the River Lagan

Dublin has the River Liffey, but Belfast has the River Lagan. Take a fun, self-guided tour down this river on hydro bikes and see landmarks like the Prince Albert Clock, the yellow Harland & Wolf cranes, and the Big Fish. Check out Lagan Adventures to learn more about booking this fun water activity!

This is a fun activity that is unique, but can be skipped if you’re running low on time or would rather have more time at the Titanic museum.

Titanic Belfast Experience

While riding the hydro bikes you’ll sail past the Titanic Quarter, home of Belfast’s docks and where the infamous ship was built in the early 1910s. Titanic Belfast is a state-of-the-art experience that opened in 2012, the 100th anniversary of the tragic sinking of the Titanic on its first voyage.

You can learn more about the ship’s design, the people who built it, and everything else there is to know about the Titanic. You can even find violins and deckchairs found on the Titanic’s wreckage among the exhibits. It can be an emotional experience for some, but is a must-do for anyone who is fascinated by the Titanic story.

Evening in Belfast

Belfast has tons of fantastic restaurants in its Cathedral Quarter. Check out The Dirty Onion and Yardbird for a more relaxed meal or The Muddlers Club for fine dining. Don’t forget to check out the cool neon signs down Commercial Court which look best on a dark, rainy evening.

Overnight in Belfast

You’ll spend your first night in Belfast and I have two great hotel recommendations for you. Ten Square Hotel was where I stayed most recently and is in a central location with a view of the beautiful City Hall building.

And the Maldron Hotel Belfast City is also centrally located, upscale, and has amazing reviews. I also love that both these hotels have restaurants in case you’re too tired to go out after arriving and just want to grab dinner, or breakfast, at your hotel.

Day 2: Drive the Scenic Causeway Coast

On the first full day of your Ireland itinerary for 7 days, you could drive straight to Derry from Belfast along the motorway (the name for highways in Ireland). But then you’d miss the scenic drive along the Causeway Coast. This drive was possibly our favorite part of the entire trip!

This coastline stretches across the top of Northern Ireland and features otherworldly landforms, medieval castles, rope bridges, and more. You can even see out to Scotland on this scenic route (on a clear day).

Driving from Belfast to Derry via the coast is approximately 114 miles in distance and will take three hours without stops. Set off early so you have as much time to make stops as possible, trust me, the views are amazing and you’ll want plenty of time to enjoy the trip.

Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge

With a history dating back 250 years, fishermen used to cross this rope bridge (an older version of the one installed in 2008!) to catch salmon on a small island. Carrick-A-Rede is a 66 ft-long rope bridge suspended 100 ft above the Antrim coast and offers an exciting experience as well as incredible sea and coastal views. The water around the coast here is so blue, you’ll think you’re in the Caribbean.

The hike is about 1.8 miles and will take you about an hour to an hour and a half to explore. I would consider it a simple walk for people used to physical activity, but does require effort and stamina. I highly recommend pre-booking your visit as they do limit access and you don’t want to show up and have access sold out for that time frame.

If you’re craving a snack or drink, stop by Carrick-A-Rede Bar & Restaurant before or after your bridge walk. It’s located past the rope bridge if you’re driving from Belfast, so works well as a stop after your walk on your way to the next stop, Giant’s Causeway.

Giant’s Causeway

Your next stop is one of the best things to do on the entire island of Ireland, hands down. The Giant’s Causeway is Northern Ireland’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s a four-mile-long stretch of coastline comprising thousands of basalt columns that interlock in an otherworldly form.

You can walk over these columns as much as you want for as long as you want, it’s completely free to visit! You just need to pay for the parking lot and visitor center.

I’ve walked town below on the rocks on a trip and most recently we did the cliff hike above the coastline and it offers a completely different view of the landscape. A great activity for active visitors, although there is a shuttle you can pay for to help drive you from the visitors center down to the main rock formations if you have mobility issues.

Afterwards, head into the nearby town of Bushmills for lunch where you can eat at Lorna’s Kitchen or Flash in the Pan fish and chip shop.

Dunluce Castle

Just a few minutes along the coast from the Giant’s Causeway is a beautiful ruined castle overlooking the coastline, Dunluce Castle. This 16th-century castle was once the main stronghold of Clan MacDonnell. Of all the castles to visit in Northern Ireland, this one is convenient and offers some amazing coastal lookout views!

Overnight in Derry

Derry (aka Londonderry) is Northern Ireland’s second-largest city, so you’ll have no trouble finding places to eat for dinner or things to do. If you arrive in Derry early, make sure you see the Peace Bridge over the River Foyle, Free Derry Corner, and The Derry Walls. These are 17th-century defensive walls that circle the city and offer the best views.

One of my daughter’s absolute favorite stops on our trip was our overnight in Derry. While many itineraries will have you skip this city so that you can immediately get to the west coast of Ireland, I’m chiming in to say it’s worth stopping here.

We arrived in Derry in the evening and walked the entire circle of the walls. The walls encircle the central part of the city and it’s about a mile walk. There are multiple access points on and off the walls, so it’s a convenient and fun way to get around the city.

For dinner, Castle Street Social is a cool, laidback bistro and The Bentley Bar is better for live Irish music and grills. We loved our upscale pub dinner at the Wig Champagne Bar in Bishops Gate Hotel . I’ve stayed at this hotel twice and have loved it every time. It is a luxury property, but the price is not as crazy as you might expect.

Day 3: Explore Derry and Drive to Westport (or Galway)

Derry is Northern Ireland’s second city, so spend enough time visiting the main sites. But don’t linger too long, because on the third day of your Ireland itinerary for 7 days, you’ll be driving back into the Republic of Ireland and along the west coast.

Driving from Derry to Westport in County Mayo will take approximately three hours to cover 149 miles/240 km. It will take a little longer to make a stop well worth visiting en route ! Spend one night in Westport or the surrounding area. If you don’t spend too long in Derry, you could overnight in Galway instead of Westport.

If you like visiting eclectic museums, you’ll spoiled for choice in Derry. Museum of Free Derry covers the region’s local civil rights history, The Siege Museum specifically covers a specific historical moment in 1689, and the Foyle Valley Railway Museum with lots of old-timey trains.

If you haven’t already, watch the hilarious Netflix sitcom Derry Girls which is set in this city. There’s a mural of the main characters on Orchard Street, as well as lots of other murals you’ll see as you walk around.

Make the first stop on this part of your road trip to the city of Sligo, a place known for its literary heritage (W.B. Yeats was born here). Make a stop for lunch at the traditional Walker 1781 pub which serves a mix of light, European fare.

Ashford Castle

Continue driving towards Westport but make a slight detour south to Ashford Castle. This 13th-century estate is now a hotel, but you’re free to wander its lavish interiors and well-manicured gardens.

If you have the bank balance, you could always stay overnight here instead of Westport. Keep in mind that this five-star hotel could set you back around $1,000 a night!

Overnight in Westport (or Galway)

Since Westport is a large town on Ireland’s west coast, you have plenty of dinner options. Cobbler’s Bar & Courtyard is a relaxed grill or check out Friends Bistro which is a good all-rounder for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. For overnighting, consider staying at The Wyatt Hotel in the heart of town or the Westport Coast Hotel on the water.

If you have time, take a stroll along the Carrowbeg River. There are lots of cute medieval bridges like the Doris Brothers Bridge.

Alternative option: if you’re willing to leave Derry early and drive farther, you can try to combine parts of days 3 and 4 and overnight in Galway. This will allow you to use day 5 to drive the Dingle Peninsula and possibly see Cork on your way back to Dublin.

This will not be a relaxed road trip and will require early starts, but it will give you the chance to see one of the other most popular tourist regions of Ireland during your 7 days. If you choose to overnight in Galway, consider staying in the main central city area at the well-rated Park House Hotel or The Huntsman Inn .

We stayed at the g Hotel and Spa and found the location out of the way and not ideal for strolling the streets of Galway. But the property does have nice rooms and restaurants, plus a spa. It reminded me of a US casino hotel experience.

Day 4: Explore Connemara National Park and Galway

Ireland has six national parks, and you’ll be able to visit at least one by following this Ireland itinerary for 7 days. Visiting during the summer months is a great time to visit Ireland as you can take advantage of the long days and good weather (well, better weather) for outdoor activities.

Westport is only 78.5 km/49 miles north of Galway City (which will take just over one hour to drive without stopping) but there are some great things to do on your journey along the west coast.

Ireland’s entire stretch of coast along the Atlantic Ocean is called the Wild Atlantic Way. It stretches 2,600 km/1600 miles from Malin Head in County Donegal to Kinsale in County Cork. You won’t have time to drive the entire scenic route during your week in Ireland, but you will see some of it on Days 4 and 5. Stay in overnight in Galway.

Kylemore Abbey & Gardens

While there are tons of beautiful stately homes across the country, none are as special as Kylemore Abbey. This 19th-century mansion has been occupied by Benedictine nuns since the 1920s and they’re still there today. You can tour the house and walk around the gardens as well as visit the nearby Kylemore Church.

One of the best things about this abbey is its stunning location. It’s surrounded by woodland and sits on the banks of the Pollacapall Lough on the edge of Connemara National Park.

Connemara National Park

Speaking of the national park, it’s also worth a stop on your drive. Poke your head into the Visitor Center and if you have the time, tackle the nearby Lower Diamond Hill Trail. It’s only a 1.8-mile loop walk and you can continue onto the Upper Diamond Hill Trail if that trail is too easy. 

Just a stone’s throw further than Connemara National Park is Clifden, a cute, small town on the coast. Off The Square Restaurant is the perfect stone-walled café to stop for lunch, and there are some interesting memorials dotted around the hills outside the town.

Walk along the coast to the John D’Arcy Monument, dedicated to the founder of Clifden, or drive to the Alcock and Brown Memorial. These British pilots completed the first nonstop transatlantic flight in 1919 which landed right outside of Clifden.

As the home of traditional Irish music and other Celtic legends, Galway is an essential stop on any Ireland itinerary for 7 days. Head to the colorful Latin Quarter where there are dozens of colorful pubs. Many licensed pubs allow accompanied children to enter until 9 pm, so check for notices around the door before entering.

Galway’s main street, Quay Street, stretches through the Latin Quarter and this is where you can find stores selling the famous Claddaugh jewelry. These Celtic pieces have a unique symbol with two hands to represent friendship, a heart to represent love and a crown for loyalty. They are the perfect souvenir!

Head under the Spanish Arch to the harbor and check out the Galway City Museum if you want to learn more about the city’s local and maritime history. Check out the Róisín Dubh for the best live music performances in the city. 

For dinner, The Dough Bros is budget and kid-friendly. Tigh Neachtain Pub & Restaurant has the best of both local Irish cuisine and traditional folk performances.

Day 5: Witness the Cliffs of Moher and Drive to Dublin

It’s time to get back to Dublin so you can explore Ireland’s capital city before hopping on your flight back home. Not before swinging by one of the most beautiful places in Ireland, of course.

Driving from Galway to Dublin via the famous Cliffs of Moher in County Clare and Limerick will take approximately five hours as you’ll need to cover 356 km/226 miles. Stay overnight in Dublin for the last two nights of your 7-day itinerary in Ireland.

Cliffs of Moher Coastal Walk and Visitor Center

Drive from Galway to the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Center and learn more about the formation of these incredible sea cliffs. They climb 702 feet tall at their highest point and stretch 14km/nine miles along the coast.

Then, walk out to the coastal path and explore different vantage points. On a clear day, you should be able to see out to the Aran Islands. Many companies run day tours to the Aran Islands from Galway, but you might not have time on your 7-day Ireland itinerary.

Lunch in Limerick

Stop for lunch in Limerick, the fourth-largest city on the island. You have lots of options but Story Café is perfect if you want to eat something light while The Locke Bar Gastro Pub is perfect for a filling sit-down meal.

Hang around before continuing to Dublin as there are lots of things to do in Limerick. Visit the 19th-century Milk Market where you can pick up souvenirs or snacks for your ride. King John’s Castle is an imposing medieval fortress that sits right on the River Shannon that you can visit too. 

Evening in Dublin

Since you have a pretty long drive, you probably won’t reach Dublin until the evening. Walk to the historic Temple Bar neighborhood for dinner. It’s named after an actual 19th-century, bright red pub in the area that you can’t miss.

If you’re traveling with kids and you’ve struggled to find pubs that will admit those under 18 (the drinking age in Ireland) then head to Temple Bar before 9 pm to listen to music. If you’re not visiting with kids, walk a few minutes west along the River Liffey to Brazen Head, Dublin’s oldest pub. 

Old Storehouse Bar or Cobblestone Pub are perfect places to enjoy dinner in Temple Bar. They both boast life music too.

Overnight in Dublin

You’ll have plenty of places to choose from if you want to stay in Dublin. My experiences have been with The Davenport and Trinity City Hotel , both are gorgeous upscale properties in convenient locations to walk to many of the popular sights. If you don’t want to deal with city driving and parking and can stay a bit outside of the city center; I’ve stayed at Clontarf Castle , which is a unique property and near a bus route with easy access into Dublin.

Day 6: Explore Dublin

Dublin is the perfect place to spend the last day of your trip. If it’s your first time in Ireland, you can’t miss it! But it’s a big city and there are many options for spending your final full day. Book two nights’ accommodation in the city.

One great option is to find a parking lot for your rental car and check out the top tourist attractions in Dublin’s city center. Or, if you’re not keen on visiting a city or checking out day tours, you can drive out to County Dublin’s picturesque coastal towns like Skerries, Malahide, and Howe. 

If you want to stay in the capital, this itinerary will show you the best way to enjoy the city. I have a two day Dublin itinerary that might be useful, but find some of the highlights below.

Trinity College Library & Book of Kells

Start in the southeast part of the city at Trinity College Dublin. This is the most prestigious university in Ireland, and where you’ll find Trinity College Library. It’s famous for its 16th-century Long Room which features two stories of stacked bookshelves (it looks like something out of Harry Potter !).

It’s also famous for the Book of Kells . This is one of the oldest books in the world which was handpainted in the 9th century. They just launched a brand new experience that has made seeing the book a little more exciting than the previous old plaque style exhibit.

Something important to note is that almost all of the books have been removed from the Long Room as part of a redevelopment project. However, the new tour experience uses projections to help you still appreciate the history of the space.

St. Stephen’s Green

Dublin has lots of adorable parks so you have to see at least one during your trip. Merrion Square is a great choice, but St. Stephen’s Green is more central. It’s small but has a small pond, statues dedicated to some of Ireland’s literary greats, and is surrounded by rows of Georgian townhouses with colored doors.

Grafton Street

Walk underneath the Fusiliers’ Arch in the northwest corner of St. Stephen’s Green and you’ll be standing at the top of Grafton Street. This is a pedestrianized shopping street that is always lined with musicians playing for money (aka buskers). If you’re not a fan of pubs then this is the best spot to listen to local music.

Grafton Street also has a number of great shops for souvenir shopping. A couple of my favorites are the Aran Sweater Market for authentic wool sweaters and clothing, Claddagh Jewellers for Irish jewelry, and Seasons of Ireland for cheesy tourist gifts.

Dublin Castle

Continue walking west to Dublin Castle. This is a well-preserved castle dating back to the 13th century with museums, libraries, and state apartments. There’s also a small garden that you can explore and an onsite café which is perfect for lunch. 

Christ Church Cathedral

Just across the road from Dublin Castle is Christ Church Cathedral. St. Patrick’s Cathedral (named after the country’s famous patron saint) is arguably a more important building as it’s Ireland’s national cathedral, but it’s a little further away.

Christ Church Cathedral started as a Viking church almost 1,000 years ago although the current building dates back to the 13th century. Inside, you’ll find a mummified rat and cat (they both got stuck in the organ) and a ‘homeless Jesus’ statue on the bench outside.

Guinness Storehouse

One of the most popular attractions in Ireland, you have to check out the Guinness Storehouse during your first visit. In 1749, Arthur Guinness signed a legendary 9,000-year lease on a disused brewery at St. James’s Gate. Today, the famous dark ale is brewed elsewhere but the original location is now a visitor center.

The Guinness Storehouse covers the brewing process, the history of the company, and fun advertising displays. It’s surprisingly family-friendly and everyone either gets a pint of Guinness or a soft drink in the Gravity Bar at the end of the tour. It offers 360-degree views across the whole city of Dublin!

You can make reservations for one of the restaurants at Guinness Storehouse, or head back towards your hotel and check out the Temple Bar area for food and drinks.

Temple Bar Neighborhood

Return to Temple Bar for your last night in Ireland. There are lots of restaurants serving a range of cuisines if you’ve had more than enough savory pies, potatoes, and root vegetables during your seven-day trip!

Day 7: Depart from Dublin Airport

It’s time to head back to Dublin Airport and finish up your seven days in Ireland. Depending on the time of your flight back, you may have a little time to see parts of Dublin you missed the day before.

Leave plenty of time to travel to Dublin Airport as you will have to return your rental car too.

Ireland Itinerary 7 Days: Option 2 (Dublin to Shannon)

Day 1: arrive in dublin and explore.

The first day of this alternative 7-day Ireland itinerary starts in Dublin. Instead of traveling to Northern Ireland immediately, explore Ireland’s capital city first. You’ll spend one night in Dublin. This part is almost identical to Day 6 of the first itinerary.

You can either travel into Dublin by bus or taxi and pick up a rental car in the city center the next day, or pick up a car at the airport and find a parking lot near your hotel. You won’t need a car to get around Dublin! It’s super walkable and traffic is a nightmare.

Note: It may be more expensive to pick up a rental car at Dublin Airport and drop it off at Shannon Airport. Since traveling around Ireland using public transport is difficult to impossible, factor this extra cost into your budget.

Day 2: Travel from Dublin to Belfast

The next stop on this alternative Ireland itinerary for 7 days is Belfast. It’s similar to day 1 of the first itinerary, except you might not have time to stop in Malahide or Killeavy. You may also have to visit a Dublin attraction or two in the morning before you set off, like Dublin Castle and Christ Church Cathedral.

Spend a couple of hours in Dublin wrapping up the top attractions before driving north and exploring the Northern Irish capital. Driving this 105-mile/166 km journey will take around one hour and 45 minutes. Spend one night in Belfast.

Day 3: Drive the Scenic Causeway Coast 

This day of this alternate itinerary is pretty much exactly the same as Day 2 on the first itinerary. Drive from Belfast to Derry via the coast which is approximately 114 miles in distance and will take three hours without stops. 

But you will absolutely want to stop as many times as possible on this stunning scenic drive! Check out all the best places to stop under Day 2 before staying overnight in Derry.

Day 4: Explore Derry and Drive to Galway

In this itinerary, you’re essentially combining Days 3 and 4 of the first itinerary and driving from Derry to Galway, returning to the Republic of Ireland. This will be your longest driving day at over three and a half hours, covering 172 miles/277 km. 

You will most likely have to compromise on road trip stops. This will probably include skipping Westport and Clifden. 

If you want to see Connemara National Park, you’ll have to head in a different direction to Ashford Castle. And if you want to see more of Galway, spend less time in Derry.

Day 5: View the Cliffs of Moher and Drive to Killarney

The biggest change from the first itinerary to this one is that you get to visit Killarney National Park and the Ring of Kerry or Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry. Many people who visit Ireland say that County Kerry is one of the best places in the country, so it’s well worth visiting!

Driving south from Galway to Killarney takes around two and a half hours, but you will want to extend that drive for another 90 minutes to make a special road trip stop. Follow the Wild Atlantic Way from Galway so you can check out the Cliffs of Moher. This will make your whole drive take around four hours, covering 263 km/163 miles.

If you have any time left at the end of the day, take that time to explore Killarney National Park. Spend the next two nights in Killarney, using it as your home base.

Killarney National Park

Although Connemara National Park is beautiful, everyone who visits Ireland gushes about Killarney. It boasts such natural diversity including huge lakes, rolling green hills, waterfalls, and historic sites.

If you have time, hire a kayak or canoe and sail on Lough Leane. You can visit the ruined structures of Ross Castle and Innisfallen Abbey.

Head to Muckross House, a 19th-century mansion in the park where Queen Victoria once stayed. Torc Waterfall is nearby which is an impressive site only a short walk into the woods from the parking lot.

Evening in Killarney

Killarney has lots of pub restaurants serving traditional Irish food and some even have live music playing every night. Murphys Bar & Restaurant and John M. Reidy are both great options.

Day 6: Drive the Scenic Ring of Kerry or the Dingle Peninsula

The Ring of Kerry is a 179 km/111-mile coastal loop drive around the Iveragh Peninsula. If you were to drive without stopping, it would take around three and a half hours. Along with the Dingle Peninsula drive, they are two of the most beautiful coastal drives in the country.

Unfortunately, you won’t have time to drive around both routes. But no matter which one you pick, you’re guaranteed to have the best time exploring the Kerry countryside and you can head back to Killarney for dinner.

Option 1: Ring of Kerry

Due to the narrow roads, drive in a counter-clockwise direction so you can lessen the chance of having to reverse for local traffic.

Some of the highlights of the Ring of Kerry drive are Rossbeigh Beach and Kells for views across the sea to the Dingle Peninsula. Cahergal Stone Fort in Cahersiveen dates back to the 7th century and there are lots of other cool ruined castles and forts in the area.

Stop in Portmagee for a fish and chips lunch from Fisherman’s Bar. It’s a cute little colorful port town with ferries to the Skellig Islands, a UNESCO World Heritage Site off the Kerry coast.

Kenmare is another essential stop on the Ring of Kerry Route. You can check out Kenmare Stone Circle (over 4,000 years old!) and Ladies View at the end of Killarney National Park. It’s one of the best vantage points in the park.

Option 2: Dingle Peninsula

If you choose to drive around the Dingle Peninsula instead, drive clockwise to follow the most popular direction of traffic. Head first to Inch Beach, a 5 km-long sandy beach that juts out into the sea and is widely regarded as one of the best beaches in Ireland.

Continue along the coast to Dingle Town, the start and finish of the 30-mile-long scenic Slea Head Drive around the tip of the peninsula. You can stop for lunch before or after completing this part of the drive where you can have your pick of fish and chip shops like The Fish Box. 

After Dingle, stop by the Beehive Huts which are the well-preserved former homes of early Christian monks. They’re over 1,400 years old! Stop at Dunmore Head for the best views of the Blasket Islands before continuing to the unique Dunquin Pier.

Back at Dingle, take the N86/N70 road back to Killarney which is much wider and more pleasant to drive on.

Day 7: Depart from Shannon Airport

On the last day of your Ireland itinerary for 7 days, drive back up north from Killarney to Shannon Airport. This will take just under two hours covering a distance of around 175 km/84 miles. 

If you have a late flight, you can check out parts of the Ring of Kerry or Killarney National Park that you might have missed over the previous two days. Leave in plenty of time in case you have any unforeseen delays! You’ll need to return your rental car as well as go through security. 

Use This Ireland Itinerary for 7 Days as Your Guide

No matter your flight plans, you can use one of my Ireland itinerary for 7 days to navigate your entire trip! Both include all the major cities like Dublin and Belfast and beautiful scenery like the Giant’s Causeway and Cliffs of Moher. You can’t go wrong!

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7 Day Ireland Itinerary – Ultimate Road Trip Guide For The South

Last Updated March 26, 2024 William Tang

You are here: Home » Travel Itineraries » 7 Day Ireland Itinerary – Ultimate Road Trip Guide For The South

This 7-day Ireland itinerary guide is broken into three main parts – trip planning decision points, the comprehensive breakdown of each day, and my personal planning tips.  This is meant to be super comprehensive and is everything I would have wanted to know when I planned this South Ireland road trip, along with what to see in 7 days.

Ireland is a place where legends, epics, and science fiction become reality.  Ireland is a breathtaking ancient landscape, rolling green hills and craggy sharp rock. Ireland is céad míle fáilte (a hundred thousand welcomes).

Read more about Ireland

• Things you have to see and do on your Ireland road trip
• 6 of the Best Things to do in Galway
• Must-read Ireland travel guide

TOP TIPS FOR TRAVELING IRELAND

• Our favorite spot – You’ll discover this as you go through the itinerary but if I had to pick, I’d say it was our day at Skellig Michael , not only as a Star Wars nerd, but our timing in being able to see the puffins in droves.  Truly a special day.
• Where to stay – We used Booking.com for all of our stays and is great for finding those charming B&Bs. Alternatively, you can always see if hotel corporate codes might work for you.
• Renting a car – An important part to a road trip is obviously a car. Save the most money through car rental coupon codes and always start your search with Discover Cars and RentalCars so you know what the best deals are.
• Flights – International flights are never cheap, but with the Skyscanner “Everywhere” feature you can find the best deals. Check how much it would be for you to get to Ireland!
• Insurance – This is a must for a road trip! Check out the best travel insurance .
• Hottest deals – Bookmark our frequently updated travel deals page .

Ireland Road Trip Planning

Planning a South Ireland road trip isn’t hard.  There’s a few things to consider as you put everything together before you start planning.

For more details make sure to read everything you need to know when you plan a trip to Ireland .

Recommended travel time

There’s three scenarios here: 1) You have limited vacation days, 2) you found a flight deal with specific dates, or 3) there’s flexibility.

If it’s #1 or #2, you already know your answer but if it’s #3, things become intriguing.  It’s in part dictated by your decision on how much you’d like to see and the pace at which you travel.

Our week in Ireland wasn’t enough to see everything we wanted in the south but was the perfect amount to see the highlights.  I’d say Ireland in 7 days is a bare minimum and your itinerary will be decently packed.  Any less, you’ll have to focus on less regions or drive aggressively which isn’t recommended.

Two weeks is the perfect amount whether you decide to deep dive in a specific area or see the whole island.  For the sake of keeping this guide focused, let’s say you only have 7 days to work with.

Areas to focus

A week in the Emerald Isle is certainly not enough but if you’ve got limited time like we did, you’ll have to make a pretty critical decision.  Do you focus on the North, South, or the whole island?  Do you want to take it slow or hit up as much as you can? 

The island of Ireland is divided into two parts.  The majority of the land is covered by the Republic of Ireland (officially named Ireland) and the other sixth is Northern Ireland which is part of the United Kingdom to the northeast.

One of the most recognizable places of Ireland is Giant’s Causeway and it’s the reason you’ll want to come to this part of the island.  The unusual basalt pillars are incredibly unique and will boggle your mind.  In the north, it’s cities like Belfast and Derry which present the most compelling and fascinating political history if you’re interested in learning about that and the complicated past around Ireland’s independence.  There is plenty to see here and it’s just as beautiful as the southern part of the island.

Other highlights include:

• Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge
• Dark Hedges
• Donegal – There’s a reason why this region was picked as ‘Coolest Place on the Planet for 2017’ by  National Geographic Traveler

There is no official “southern Ireland” borderline but we’re labeling that as everywhere below the line connecting Galway to Dublin.

Southern Ireland is dramatically different in terrain and sights than the north.  The south is where you’ll find a majority of the larger cities of Ireland including Dublin, Cork, Galway city, and Limerick.

Our main reason for doing a South Ireland road trip is to experience the Ring of Kerry, Skellig Michael, Dingle, Connemara National Park and explore castles and ancient ruins.

The full loop

The island itself isn’t that large (area wise, it is in fact smaller than Iceland) and doing a loop is certainly possible in 7 days.  It’s an ambitious schedule but definitely possible.

Ultimately we chose to do the south because we had done Northern Ireland on a separate short stopover trip and wanted to see a different side to Ireland.

Best time to go

The summer months are short and in the winter most things in the country are shut down.  As a result, it kind of makes it simple in terms of when to plan your trip.

July and August are the peak of high season; school is out and you contend with the large hoards of tourists, both domestic and international.  On average these months have a high of 20C.

Spring and fall are going to be a bit temperamental but, if you’re okay with rain, you’ll find awesome flight deals and cheaper hotels.  Expect the temperatures to be colder though with highs of 15C.

The sweet spot, however, has to be June .  It’s during the summer solstice with the longest days of the year and it’s the start of high season.  You get the best of amazing weather and smaller crowd sizes.  It was incredible that there was enough light to sightsee until 10PM.

Packing essentials

Packing for a South Ireland road trip shouldn’t be too hard as you’ll be staying at B&B’s and hotels all the way through.

Since you’ll have access to a car you don’t have to pack ultra-light.  You will want to rent the smallest car possible though, which means minimal trunk space.

Waterproof – You’re not going to skip every spot you have on your itinerary because of rain.  This means that you’ll have to brave the elements.  Have rain gear with you in case you need it.

GPS – If you have a data plan, using your smartphone for GPS will be your first choice so you can leverage any traffic information to take the most optimal route.  If not, a stand-alone unit will work just as well. Don’t assume your car will have GPS built in.  Before your trip, make sure you save areas offline on Google Maps and Save/Star all your destinations.  Google Maps will work offline (minus traffic adjustments).

Money – Ireland is part of the EU and as such, Euro is the currency.  Cash or credit is widely accepted.  If you’re from Canada, make sure you have the right credit card to either minimize on foreign exchange fees or maximize points.

Always cool – In the summer, it tops out in the low 20Cs.  Evenings drop down to the 10Cs or lower so pack accordingly.  I had a light Quiksilver hoodie always ready to go in the car in case things got chilly.

Other gear that I recommend for a trip to visit Ireland .

Where to stay

After deciding the focus area of your trip and having a rough idea of the spots you want to see, the next step is figuring out where to stay.

The best part about Ireland is the hospitality and it’s a big reason we had such a great time.  The scenery blew our minds, but those conversations with the owners of the B&Bs and hotel staff made for a lasting impression.

B&B’s:   You’ll only find hotels in the big cities. In the country-side you’re going to rely on family owned B&B accommodations.  Each one is unique and the best part is the delicious breakfast included.

Hotels:   In the bigger cities you’ll have the option to stay at a hotel.  We quite enjoyed our big rooms, luxurious beds, and room cleaning when we had the opportunity.  Not to say we didn’t have that at the B&Bs, but it was nice to go into a hotel knowing the level of service and quality that you’d expect.

Glamping:   When I found out about Galway Glamping with Mongolian yurts, I knew we had to try it.  You get an experience that gets you into the charming countryside setting while not sacrificing the comforts of a hot shower, kitchen, and lounge rooms.  Similar to B&Bs, the hosts are just as accommodating, friendly, and helpful.

Places we stayed across Ireland in 7 days:

• Kilkenny – Newlands Lodge
• Portmagee – Skellig View White Room Airbnb
• Killarney – The Lake Hotel
• Dingle – An Portán
• Lisdoonvarna (near Doolin) – Slieve Elva B&B
• Galway – Galway Glamping
• Dublin – The Croke Park Hotel

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Tips and Advice:

• Be careful about check-in times.  Typically there are very specific time slots where they expect you to come in.  If you aren’t able to, make sure you reach out to them beforehand, give the owners an estimate of when you’ll arrive, and get approval.
• When glamping, make sure to ask what facilities are available so you come prepared.  In Galway Glamping’s case, they did not provide towels so we had to bring our own travel towel .

Flying into Ireland

The main international airport is Dublin (DUB) but there are also airports in Shannon (SNN), Belfast (BFS), Cork (ORK), and Knock in West Ireland (NOC).

Coming from Canada, Dublin airport will be your primary access point into Ireland.  Our choice of airline is Air Transat .  We flew economy and were greeted with great leg room, a solid entertainment system, excellent service and amazing food.

If you’re coming from another part of Europe, you have even more airports open to you.

• Kerry Airport : Served by flights from Dublin, Manchester, London-Luton, London-Stansted and Frankfurt.
• Waterford Airport:  Served by flights from London-Luton, Manchester, Birmingham, Bordeaux, Lorient.
• Galway Airport:  Served by flights from Dublin, Belfast, Cork, Edinburgh, Leeds Bradfort, London Luton, Manchester, Newcastle, Southampton.
• Donegal Airport
• Sligo Airport
• George Best Belfast City Airport
• City of Derry Airport

These options allow you to get creative with your itinerary.  For instance, instead of doing a round trip journey in and out of Dublin, you could start in Dublin on the East side of the island to Shannon on the West.

Table of Contents

The 7 Day Ireland Itinerary

With the basics covered, the next step is to plan your day by day Ireland itinerary.

Interactive Map

This high level outline shows everything we did across the 7 day road trip including sights, restaurants we tried, where we stayed, and invaluable insight we learned through adventure and misadventure.

This is meant to be a guideline because everyone’s situation will be different.  That said, if you’re looking for a baseline to start from, this guide is probably the best out there.  Sign up to become an insider and get access to the downloadable spreadsheet .

Itinerary Day 1 – A peek inside the ancient east

If you’re coming from North America, you’ll most likely be taking a red-eye flight, flying out in the evening and arriving the next morning.  This means you may be too tired to hit the ground running.  For us, we tried to sleep through the flight so that we’d have enough energy to last the first day.

Upon landing in Dublin and out of the airport by 1PM, we made an explicit decision to hit the road right away.  There’s more details in the driving section of our road trip guide but since I knew driving in Dublin was going to be a headache, it seemed more logical to finish there, return the car in the city and then rely on local transportation.

After picking up our rental car from Europcar we found our way to Glendalough in the gorgeous Wicklow Mountains region.  Glendalough Monastic City ruins were very impressive and almost fairytale-like with the Round Tower, Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul, the high crosses in the graveyard, and the priest’s house.  Make sure not to miss the walk up to the Upper Lake which has a postcard worthy view.  It’s roughly a 30 minute walk each way.

We then drove to the city of Kilkenny, our final destination of the day.  We arrived too late to do the Kilkenny Castle tour but there was plenty to see walking around the grounds, including the massive green park on one side and the rose garden on the other.

After dinner, we treated ourselves to Murphy’s Ice Cream.   Our favorite flavor has to be their Dingle Sea Salt, try it!

If we had more time:

Smithwick’s Experience – Smithwick’s ended up being our beloved beer for the trip and would have loved to have done this tour.  They also had an evening experience that sounded fun.

PETRONELLA RESTAURANT & CAFE

Quaint restaurant down a small alleyway in Kilkenny that serves excellent European dishes that span Irish to Italian.  Ordered the Baked Goatsbridge trout and Pappardelle pasta and both were very good.  Loved the decor here as well.  Best part was when the manager, Frank, came out to greet all the customers to see how everything was.

TripAdvisor

NEWLANDS LODGE

Just outside of Kilkenny, this B&B is a lovely property that will exceed all expectations whether it comes to the spacious rooms that are impeccably clean, friendly service from owners Mairead and Jimmy, and delicious all-inclusive breakfast.

Booking.com

Tips and Tricks:

• Car rental and driving tips – See everything you need to know to plan a trip to Ireland . We found our car rental via Discover Cars .
• Parking at Glendalough – We parked at the first parking lot we saw which turned out to be the Glendalough Hotel.  The parking was “free” and we weren’t ticketed although I’d say in high season it may not be as easy as it was for us.
• Glendalough Monastic City – No admission required.
• Relieve and hydrate – The walk to the Upper Lake is long and there isn’t much cover at the main site so either use the visitor center or Glendalough Hotel for the bathroom facilities.
• Kells Priory – This is an off-the-beaten-path spot that would be worth considering in your itinerary.  Read more about it here .

Itinerary Day 2 – From Castles to a Ring Called Kerry

With a full stomach from our Irish breakfast, we hopped into our car and made our way to the Rock of Cashel .  

On a green hill with banded limestone, ancient fortifications create a ring around the Gothic cathedral, round tower, and chapel.  We were able to walk through the open, yet remarkably intact, ruins while also enjoying the rolling countryside of Tipperary.

Next stop was the famed Blarney Castle just outside of Cork.  The grounds of Blarney Castle and Gardens are huge and require a half day to fully explore everything.  We walked straight to the castle tower to line up to kiss a stone famed for giving the gift of eloquence.  

Wrapping up at Blarney Castle, we rushed through Killarney and connected to the Ring of Kerry to start our counter-clockwise rotation.  

The scenery at this point dramatically changed from tree lined country roads to coastal cliffs and crashing waves.  This is where you’ll appreciate having your own car .

After a few impromptu stops along the way, we made our final stop of the night at Kells Bay House & Gardens .  Here, we had a lovely and surprisingly authentic Thai meal at their in-house Sala Thai Restaurant.

We had the Summer Solstice on our side and there was still a ton of light out after dinner.  This made navigating the road to Portmagee and over to our Airbnb much easier.  Sadly, we had to skip pretty much everything along the way along this part of the Ring of Kerry except a quick stop at a gas station to pick up breakfast and snack items for the next day.

• Cork – It would’ve been nice to explore Cork and their English Market and visit the Cobh Heritage Centre.
• Blarney Gardens – I would have loved to have spent more time doing the various walks around the Poison Garden, Fern Garden, Arboretum, and the endless other garden walks that explore the mystical and magical landscapes.
• Killorglin – This is the first town we passed by along the Ring of Kerry.  We zipped right through but I would have loved to have stopped here even for a few minutes to get a feel for a small town like this one.
• Cahirciveen – This is home to the Ballycarbery Castle and the Old Barracks which is built in the Schloss style.  Legend says they mixed up plans for this and a building designed for somewhere in Punjab, India.

SALA THAI RESTAURANT

This is the in-house restaurant as part of the Kells Bay House property.  As someone that’s had a lot of Thai food, I have to say that the curries, noodles, and skewers we had were all very good and very authentic.  The only knock I’d have on this place is the service.  Our order took way too long to get to the table and only after following up did they realize that they missed our order completely and had to make it from scratch at that point.

SKELLIG VIEW WHITE ROOM AIRBNB

A no frills kind of Airbnb that I booked pretty early on because I was worried that the town of Portmagee would sell out.  Our host, Marie, was very accommodating of our late check-in request and I appreciated the free passes to Kerry Cliffs.  The room was just the right size and in relatively clean condition.  Wifi included as well.

Check rates

Tips and Tricks :

• Rock of Cashel – Parking is right up the narrow road right at the base of the hill.  It’s an automated parking system where you pay the machine when you’re leaving.  This parking costs 4.50 EUR.  To save money you could park in town and walk up.  Entrance is 8 EUR per person.
• Blarney Castle  – Be ready for lines to kiss the Blarney Stone.  If you’re not in a rush, I recommend doing the other parts of the garden, waiting for the line to subside and then doing the castle itself.
• Blarney Gardens –   Entrance is 14 EUR per person booked online.

Itinerary Day 3 – Magic on Skellig Michael

Thinking about what to see in Ireland in 7 days, this is my #1 must-do.  The entire pilgrimage experience of zipping across the North Atlantic to discover that the white tipped Little Skellig was in fact covered by white gannets and adorable puffins that made Skellig Michael their home.  Then following in the ancient footsteps of Luke Skywalker and Rey up to the monastery itself was pure magic.

The 2.5 hours we had on the island seemed like a lot initially but once we started climbing the steps and exploring the beehive huts of the monastery, time passed quickly.

Back on the mainland and after lunch, we explored the lesser-known Valentia Island.  We wouldn’t have known about this part of the Ring of Kerry if it wasn’t for incredible photos I had seen from this area.  With the higher vantage points of Geokaun Mountain (5 EUR per car) and the slate quarry behind Valentia Lighthouse (5 EUR per person), the scenery was as close to postcard perfect as it gets.

We then continued along our ring road journey by joining up with the Skellig Ring where we stopped by Kerry Cliffs (4 EUR per person) which is an impressive view of the jagged edged rocky coast.  It’s at the edge of the peninsula where the land rises and then sharply drops into the ocean.

The driving adventure continued along until rejoining the main Ring of Kerry.  Due to time, we couldn’t stop in the towns along the way.  From Waterville and onwards, it was straight driving.  Since we weren’t close to the coast there wasn’t much to stop and see.

At Molls Gap , we took a quick break before descending into Killarney National Park with sunlight starting to wane.  We were able to make quick stops at Ladies View where you can see where the glaciers carved through the valley before the opening into Killarney itself.

It was late by the time we checked into The Lake Hotel so no restaurants were open.  We hopped downstairs to the Devil’s Punchbowl Bar , grabbed a pint, and ordered a sandwich.

• Waterville, Sneem, Caherdaniel, and Kenmare – It would’ve been nice to take our time through these idyllic coastal towns but I feel the trade off of spending more time on Valentia Island and the Skellig Ring was worth it.

THE BRIDGE BAR

With barely any time to snack on Skellig Michael, we were famished by the time we arrived back in Portmagee.  Right along the main street is this nice little local restaurant which gets all the Skellig tourists.  Their fish and chips definitely hit the spot.

THE LAKE HOTEL

A historic hotel that is full of character but doesn’t show its age.  The rooms here are incredibly spacious and comfortable.  Breakfast as part of the B&B package was of the highest quality and the perfect charge-up for the day.  Location wise, it can’t be beat either being practically on Killarney National Park Grounds with that amazing view of the old castle ruins at the footsteps of Lough Leane.

• Booking:  You must book at least 4-5 months in advance in order to guarantee a spot for a specific date.  If you haven’t, don’t fret because cancellations happen all the time.
• Casey’s Tours to Skellig Island
• Skellig Michael Cruises
• The Skelligs – Force Awakens Boat Trip – Leaves from Ballinskelligs which is a totally different pier from Portmagee
• Skellig Boat
• Skellig Walker Cruises
• Skellig Michael Voyage
• The Skelligs Tour – Departs from Caherdaniel
• Skellig Experience Visitor Centre also has a page for boat tours here .
• Weather:  If the weather is poor for the boats, they’ll cancel the trip.  That’s why Skelligs Rocks ensured we called the morning of to confirm whether the trip would be a go or not.  There’s not much you can do here other than perhaps planning 2 days in the Ring of Kerry area so that if one day doesn’t work, you can reorganize things so you can have a second day to attempt a trip out.
• Boat ride:   With the speed of the boat, you’re not going to get that rocky, nausea inducing feeling that folks sensitive to being on the water get.  That being said, the water does get choppy especially on the way out which is why you have to wear the waterproof gear provided by the boat.  For those that get sea sick easily, they do offer medicine on board prior to leaving the pier if you need it but nobody on our boat ride had issues.  Make sure you tuck your camera away once the boat is out in open water because you will get very wet especially if you sit near the back.  The captain was also nice enough to provide big zip-loc bags in case.
• Difficulty:   There are two main sets of steps to the Monastery but I would say it’s relatively easy.  The first set slowly winds up with some natural spots for breaks.  The steps are wide enough to allow people to pass.  The second set of steps are more steep but if you take your time, you’ll make it up with no issues.  Compared to the Inca Trail where altitude was in effect , this felt very easy since it only required short spurts of energy.
• Tour:  Make sure you stick around for the educational talk given by one of the rangers when you get to the Monastery.  I don’t think there’s a fixed schedule but I could be wrong.  It felt like it was every hour.
• Valentia Lighthouse  – Admission to here was 5 EUR per person but didn’t think it was worth it.  The lighthouse and the small museum weren’t too interesting and the views weren’t anything special.  What was a nice view was in fact from the slate quarry which is visible when you look back inland from the lighthouse.  From here you get sweeping views of the lighthouse and the sprawling peninsula fingers that meet here.
• Skellig Ring – The Skelligs are in view for most of the drive around here and was honestly more of a joy to drive through compared to the Ring of Kerry because the large coaches don’t come here.  There weren’t designated stops per say but it was a joy to find pullovers to see the villages below.
• Ring of Kerry –  I would recommend driving counter-clockwise which is the official designated route for all the coach buses.   I’d much rather be stuck behind one and feel comfortable that opposing traffic will have to yield and when the opportunity arises to pass.  The driving section will cover this in more detail but I’ll say two things. 1) The speed limit is way too high so don’t feel pressured to drive that fast and 2) As scary as everyone made driving the ring sound, it wasn’t that bad because you’re never at a cliff’s edge and there are usually tiny pull offs for oncoming cars.

Itinerary Day 4 – A Day In Killarney

After a hearty breakfast at The Lake Hotel , we ventured about the hotel grounds.  The hotel backs right into the largest lake of the national park and as part of that, there’s also the ruins of The McCarthy Mór Castle.

You’ll need a full day exploring Killarney National Park because it’s huge.  For us, we wanted to hit up the main sights.  We were able to see Muckross Abbey, Muckross House, Torc Waterfall, and Ross Castle.  I was probably most impressed with the Abbey and its courtyard that must’ve inspired Tolkien.

Wanting to spend time in the town of Dingle, we hit the road right after we finished at the castle.  The drive through the southern coast of the peninsula was amazing with views of the water as you winded through.  The Ring of Kerry side was always visible across the water and we made quite a few stops along the way.

We quite enjoyed our time in Dingle as we were able to take a relaxing stroll along the main streets of town, popping into the small shops that were painted in a variety of colors.   After dinner, we also made sure we tried a few more flavors at Murphy’s Ice Cream.

• Killarney National Park – I would’ve loved to have done a few hikes in the park.  I was also sad that we weren’t able to take the boat across from Ross Castle to the Meeting of the Waters and Old Weird Bridge.
• Gap of Dunloe – This was part of the plans but had to be cut.  There’s an awesome hike there that takes around 2 hours with breathtaking views of the lake, a heritage cottage, and the surrounding mountains.
• Killarney City – If there’s one city we completely skipped because of time, it was Killarney.  It’s supposed to be a charming city with great food options like Quinlan’s Seafood Bar and Lane Cafe Bar.

OUT OF THE BLUE

If you love seafood, this is your spot.  The seafood chowder is out of this world.  The fish is all locally caught and fresh and it comes through in the two dishes we had – sea bass and pollock were probably the best of the entire trip.

This is one of the few B&Bs located on the western part of Dingle Peninsula which is the perfect spot to launch into the main sights along Slea Head Drive and the ferry out to the Blasket Islands.  The owners, Rónán and Geraldine are warm and friendly hosts that also serve up delicious breakfast.  The rooms are spacious, clean, and even come furnished with a rocking chair.

Itinerary Day 5 – Coastal Adventures on Dingle Peninsula

Starting in Dunquin, which is where our B&B was located, was a bit of a blessing and a curse because it allowed us to jump right into Dunquin Harbour and The Blasket Centre but since driving counter to traffic is highly inadvisable as we were told, we had to cut across the mountain in order to drive on Slea Head Drive in the clockwise direction.

When it comes to Slea Head Drive , there really wasn’t a specific sight that you’re looking for.  It’s very much a look out into the ocean as you’re driving around.

We were told that the Famine Cottages are a tourist trap so we skipped that.  There are also beehive huts along the way but because as we had done Skellig Michael, we passed as well.  Cross at Slea Head is a good spot for a quick stop where you’ll see great views of the Blasket Islands.  From there, you can see Coumeenoole Beach .  The beach is a good spot for a picnic and there’s a nice hike to the peninsula’s edge.

We continued around the peninsula with stops at Clogher Head, which is more or less another beach, and the Louis Mulcahy Pottery studio (good for a bathroom break and quick peek).

We drove back into town for another quick stop before detouring north to cross Conor Pass.  At the peak, there’s a carpark where we stopped briefly to check out the magnificent sights here.  You can see the coast in the distance, farms at the valley floor, along with lakes and cliffs.

This is when the heavy driving started as we had to wind up Northeast towards Limerick before turning Northwest.  Along the way, we stopped in the city of Ennis where it started pouring but we ducked into Cruises Pub for dinner.

• Gallarus Oratory – This was on our itinerary for the drive around Dingle but because we didn’t have enough time, I quickly flew the drone and continued along our way.
• Quaint small towns of Dingle – Our B&B hosts recommended that we stop by Ballydavid but short on time, we had to skip them.
• Blasket Islands – This is a full day kind of event but if you had a couple of days in the area, we recommend getting a ferry over to the Great Blasket Island to create your own eco adventure.

CRUISES PUB

This spot was a bit of a happy accident for us.  Originally we wanted to eat at The Cloister Restaurant & Bar but they weren’t taken anyone without reservations.  This pub was full of energy when we stepped in with a Gaelic football match televised with live Irish music.  There was a good selection of local beer here on top of comfort Irish bar food.  The Guinness meat pie and bangers and mash were perfect.

SLIEVE ELVA B&B

Just outside the town of Lisdoonvarna is this amazing B&B which features cosy guest rooms which are both spacious, clean, and modernly renovated.  What makes any stay special is the hospitality of the owners Kris and Ireen who will go out way to make you feel at home.  Their breakfast is marvelous and you will love their personal touch of home made bread and jams.  On top of that, each room gets Ireen’s homemade biscuits.  This would be my B&B of choice for anyone want to visit Cliffs of Moher or The Burren in County Clare.

• Driving in Dingle – Having done the drive myself, I can confidently say that you do not want to drive counter-clockwise.  Slea Head Drive is designated as a two way road but some parts along the coast are only wide enough for one car.
• Tarbert to Killimer Ferry – Instead of driving through Limerick as we ended up doing, there’s an alternative route that involves a ferry from Tarbert and goes across to Killimer.  We were originally going to do this but it didn’t save us any time so we just kept on driving.  However, if you plan it well or just have a more flexible schedule, check the schedule beforehand and this’ll be a great way to cut down driving time.  It costs 19 EUR per car or 17.10 if you book online .

Itinerary Day 6 – Mighty Cliffs and The Burren

We started off by crossing through the countryside before dropping to the coast.  Where there were rolling valleys before, large forested areas popped up and the ground burst with streams of sharp jagged limestone.

The Cliffs of Moher were staggeringly impressive with its continuous sheer drop of 214 meters that winds out as far as the eye can see.  Where the vistas truly opened up was beyond the fences of the maintained park.  There, I only dared to walk to the death-defying edges a few times before following the ridge line down to the most northern point.   We ended up spending quite a bit of time here.

Our next stop was Burren Smokehouse .  What we learned was that the Smokehouse itself is just a store and next to it on the same street is the Storehouse.  We grabbed a sample platter to eat one of our few lunches on the trip.  It was so good that after lunch we picked up a few for home.  The tricky part was figuring out how to keep it refrigerated the remainder of the trip.

The rest of the afternoon was spent in Burren National Park , followed by a quick walk around the portal tomb, Poulnabrone .  The Burren region is out of this world.  Even though we didn’t get to do a full hike in this geopark, it shows the power of glaciers that carved through and left behind limestone pavement with fissures created by rainwater dissolution.  The end result is something that is so dramatically different from anywhere else in Ireland.

We closed out the day in Galway , my favorite city in Ireland.  We didn’t get to stay there long but it was somewhere that was full of energy with all the street performers.  Pedestrian streets ruled the downtown core, making it easy to walk and so approachable with its many shops and restaurants.

At the end of the night, we drove outside of the city to get to Galway Glamping where we had a chance to meet the owners and get a full tour of the grounds.  This night was hands down the most memorable of stays with an eclectic assembly of furniture in the Mongolian yurt which was surprisingly very cozy and warm thanks to the electrical heater.

We closed out the day in Galway which has got to be my favorite city in Ireland.  It’s not like we even got to stay there that long but it was somewhere that was full of energy with all the street performers.  Pedestrian streets ruled the downtown core which made it easy to walk and so approachable with its many shops and restaurants.

At the end of the night, we drove outside of the city to get to Galway Glamping where we had a chance to meet the owners where they gave us the full tour of the grounds.  This night was hands down the most memorable of stays with eclectic assembly of furniture in the Mongolian yurt which was surprisingly very cosy and warm thanks to the electrical heater.

• I put together an article about top things to do in Galway .  Head over there for more ideas.
• Ballyvaughan Fairy Fort – A hidden spot in The Burren, this ring fort is said to be on the road up to Poulnabrone, just opposite the left hand turn into the Ailwee Caves. Access is restricted but it’s supposedly easy to walk in.
• Ballyvaughan – Pretty thatched cottages, nice crafts shops, and restaurants.
• Aran Islands – The easiest way to get there is by catching a ferry from Doolin.  I’d recommend staying overnight at a minimum.  There are 3 islands in the chain but the most interesting is Inis Mór which features the cliff tops prehistoric ring forts.  A ton to see and explore here.
• Burren National Park – I’m still a bit disappointed in the hike we attempted here.  With a little better planning, I would’ve picked a better marked hike.
• Aillwee Cave/Pollnagollum  – Pollnagollum is a secret spot but if you know where to look, you can find the cave that inspired Lord of the Rings’ character, Gollum.  Entrance to the longest cave in Ireland, the more accessible way is through Aillwee Cave which is open to the public.  The best way to see it is to join up with a local caving tour ( Back West Adventures ).

THE BURREN STOREHOUSE

Everyone raved about The Burren Smokehouse and their restaurant (Storehouse next door) and it sure didn’t disappoint.  After our morning at the Cliffs of Moher, we made our way over here for a quick bite.  While they have a ton of other great menu items such as their pizza, what we really wanted to try was a sampling of their smoked fish. Luckily they have the Smokehouse Platter which has 6 of their products.  Two of us shared one plate and it was just right for a half lunch.  There’s often live music playing here as well.

GALWAY GLAMPING

The most unique accommodations of our Ireland itinerary.  Who would’ve thought we’d be able to stay in a Mongolian yurt in the middle of the Irish countryside.  What used to be an estate in ruins, the grounds have now been converted to this eclectic mix of yurts, axe-throwing, group games, party rooms, and other funky rooms.  What makes it glamping is that all rooms are furnished and powered while also including super clean bathroom, kitchen, and lounging facilities next door.

Book Directly

• What the entry ticket is actually for – The entry ticket is only to get into the mass lot across the street.  Once you’re parked, all you do is cross the street and that’s it.  This kind of makes sense because there’s no way to police the cliffs to the north and the south.  Anyone can walk in.  They just bank on everyone driving.  You do have to get in the same line as everyone regardless if you purchase your ticket online ahead of time.
• How to get in for free – There’s a farmer that has land right next to the most northerly edge of the cliffs who is apparently super cool with people parking along the road as long as his car can still drive through.  The photo below is the spot that you should be looking for.  If you’re coming from the north, you’ll see this before the mass parking lot.  You can use either side as you can see.
• Best time to go – If I were to do it again, I’d definitely plan to go after 4PM.  During the middle of the day, there are way too many tourist buses and the sun is right above you which creates incredibly harsh shadows.  I’ve seen the photos and sunsets are epic here.
• Best spots for photos – To get that postcard perfect shot, you need to leave the official bounds of the tourist site (there are signs that let you know).  We couldn’t do both ends but chose to hike to the northern edge which gives a full view of the pinnacle and a long depth of cliffs front to back.

• Burren National Park – This park is unique because there aren’t any specific boundaries and isn’t run like a national park that we’re used to.  That’s why the visitor center is in the nearby town of Corofin.  We didn’t go there and just plotted a route to the park via Google Maps.  In retrospect it wasn’t a good idea because I had no clue where the hike trails were.  At the Gortlecka Crossroads, we saw a bunch of cars parked here so we did as well.  Thing is, there’s only one board here that indicated there was a trail here.  We tried to follow it but eventually got side tracked by a gate opening that we thought was the right way.  Long story short, we gave up and turned back.  Either we are terrible at hiking or the trails are just poorly marked.  Lesson learned:  Get a trail map from the visitor center first.
• Tunnel toll – When driving up to Galway, we hit an unexpected toll since there’s a tunnel you have to go through.  This is an unattended machine so you have to make sure you have enough coins for this.  The toll is 1.90 EUR.
• Galway parking – You’re probably not going to find free parking here.  We circled around for a bit to see if we could get free parking to no avail.  In the end, we found a paid lot.

Itinerary Day 7 – Clash of Gaelic Sport and Dublin Delight

On our last full day in Ireland we started early.  We had an exciting morning planned with Clash Gaelic Games and we needed to travel East to get there.  While that sounds daunting, it was mostly on the motorway (highway) and took about 2 hours.

One thing you need to understand about Ireland is that while European football is popular, it pales in comparison to the Gaelic sports.  Gaelic Football and Hurley are the top two sports in the country and what better way to end off the trip than to get to learn how to play these two sports.  I had found out about Clash Gaelic Games through my research and I thought it was such a fun way to learn about culture while burning a few calories and making a fool of ourselves.  

After our mini workout, we had to get into the city, check into our hotel, cab over to Kilmainham Gaol prison, then make it late to Trinity College’s Old Library to see the Book of Kells .  We were able to stroll the streets and get some retail therapy at the hyper cheap Penny’s following.

With one night to make it count, we had dinner at L. Mulligan Grocer and spent the rest of the night drinking Guinness and listening to live Irish music at The Temple Bar .

• Dublin  – I would have liked to have seen St. Patrick’s Cathedral, St. Stephen’s Green, done more shopping, tried more restaurants, and drank a little harder.
• Pubs – The Temple Bar is the most popular one in the city but there are so many other good ones including The Dame Tavern and The Brazen Head.
• Guinness – While we weren’t big fans at the beginning, this famous stout grew on us throughout the trip.  The Guinness Storehouse is in Dublin and would be a fun place to visit for any lover of this beer. You can get advance tickets here .
• Newgrange – While technically not in Dublin, north of the city is a large and ancient burial site built of stone and architectured to only let light into the ritual chamber at sunrise on Winter Solstice.
• Howth – This is a village north of Dublin and near Portmarnock.  Located on a bulbous peninsula and featuring sweeping coastal views, it includes a superb food and crafts market.  It’s a place that gives you a flavor of everything we saw on the west coast without driving too far from Dublin.
• Malahide Castle & Gardens – While I’m sure this would’ve been impressive, we couldn’t fit this in with how long Clash went.  I wasn’t too sad in this case though since we had seen Blarney Castle & Gardens and I imagine it would be somewhat similar.

L. MULLIGAN GROCER

It’s a peculiar name for sure and it’s a bit far from the city centre but well worth it for the wide range of craft beers on tap and menu items.  We tried a most interesting watermelon wheat beer which tasted like…you guessed it…watermelon!  Our Moules Frites and Free Range Chicken Kiev were most excellent.

THE CROKE PARK HOTEL

This Doyle Collection hotel is located right next door to the famed Croke Park stadium where all the biggest Gaelic sport matches are held.  This signature hotel in the Dublin is a contemporary hotel that is big on comforts.  Their mattresses are heavenly with velvety duvets, there’s good table space to work, comfy furniture to relax, and the marbled bathrooms.  If you get the packing that includes breakfast, you’ll be treated to a wide buffet selection including honey straight from the honeycomb and my favourite, the croissants, which were delightful.  The staff was incredibly friendly and lastly, parking is included for free.  It’s the perfect hotel to launch your Dublin adventures from.

• Clash Gaelic Games  – While it was a bit of a specialized session with just the two of us, if you’re traveling with a big group of friends or if you’re a family, this is a great way to stay active and honestly try something you’d never be able to do anywhere else.
• Driving in Dublin – Everyone said “don’t do it” and they were right.  The core is a mess especially with the construction going on.  You do not want to drive in the city.  Taking a cab or local transit is the way to go so make sure you either return the car rental, wait to rent the car later, or your hotel has free parking.
• Uber – I experienced the most peculiar thing with Uber in Dublin.  There were numerous times when I’d order a cab and while it was on its way, they could cancel the ride.  I couldn’t understand why this kept happening until I realized that all the Uber drivers were regular cabbies essentially.  Every cab had Uber and another local app running on their phones and so they had to allegiance to any one of them and if they found a more convenient ride along the way, they’d take it.  On top of that, Uber also doesn’t display prices because it’s all standard meters.  At the end of the day, just understand that hailing a cab or ordering an Uber is no different.  In Dublin, I’d say hailing is just easier if you’re in a busy area because you won’t get canceled on.
• Kilmainham Goal is 8 EUR per person (plus booking fees online) and Book of Kells is 10 to 13 EUR depending on peak or off-peak hours per person.

Itinerary Flexibility and Changes

Trips never go as planned.  This one was no different.  For the most part though, nothing dramatically changed where we had to restructure things around.  This trip was one where I simply packed too much in and had to make the call to fast forward if time was running low.

Here’s a little insight into why I feel that our plans deviated to help in your own planning:

• Not starting the day early enough – We could’ve fit more in if we hit the road after breakfast by 8AM instead of 9 or 10AM on most days.
• Taking too long in each spot – Between photos, videos, drone, and eyes, we spent more time than we had planned for.
• Driving time according to GPS is inaccurate – If you drove by Ireland’s ridiculously high speed limit and didn’t stop, sure, but the reality is that you’ll be making stops to take photos of the views and you’ll be slowing down around all corners and when there’s opposing traffic.
• Skipping meals – This is more of what happened as a result of a packed schedule.  Since we always had breakfast included by our B&Bs or hotels, lunch was the first thing to go out the window.
• Unexpected stops – You can’t plan for these but we stopped along the Ring of Kerry to help a couple with their flat tire which put us behind.  Alternatively, I didn’t have much planned for Dingle but we got a long list of suggestions from the B&B, so we ended up spending more time there before driving out of the peninsula.
• Losing track of time – As much as it was a massive advantage to have incredibly long days (usable light up until 10PM), it was also easy to just keep going.  As a result, there were a few times where we got to our dinner spot too late and had to make alternate plans.

So there you have it, the itinerary guide for a south Ireland road trip.  It was an ambitious trip for sure, but we only covered a small portion of everything Ireland has to offer.

Hopefully you’ll be able to use this as a starting point for your trip planning and if you have any questions don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!

Make Trip Planning To Ireland A Breeze Make sure to read this companion travel guide to planning the best road trip in Ireland.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, as long as you have a valid driver’s license you do not need an international one. A valid driver’s license allows you to rent a car as well. Note that there are different age requirements in Ireland when it comes to renting a car, be sure to look into that if concerned.

The amount of days really depends on what parts of Ireland you’d like to see and if you’d like to take your time seeing them all or not. You’ll need to decide if you want to do the north part, the south or the full loop. In our case, 7 days was barely enough to tour southern Ireland, but to do the full loop we would recommend more.

The best month to travel Ireland is June. There’s not as much rainfall during this month and the days are longer due to summer solstice, therefore you get more time to do and see more.

What you should read next

• A Week in Ireland – Enchanting Castles, Wild Coastline, and Star Wars
• 10 Must-See and Do Things For Any Road Trip in Ireland
• Ireland Road Trip Travel Guide – Everything You Need To Know
• Why You Absolutely Must Do A Road Trip Around Ireland In Photos

Travel Resources For Your Next Trip

If you’re in the process of planning your trip and putting together your itinerary, these are genuinely the best resources that the Going Awesome Places team stands by 100% .

Credit cards: Don’t get burned by hidden fees on top of terrible exchange rates. When we travel now, we use the Wise Card . Simply load it with the currency you need before you go and use it as a regular VISA or their digital wallet card. Use their free app to track how much you have and top up when you need to.

Flights: Of all the booking search engines, Skyscanner is the most helpful and easy to use thanks to their Everywhere feature . Kayak is also another that’s we will often check as well.

Car Rental: If you’re looking to save money, these car rental coupon codes will be a true game-changer. Otherwise, DiscoverCars and RentalCars are great places to start.

Airport Parking: You’ll need a spot to leave your car at the airport so why not book a spot at a discount. Use code AWESOME7 to get at least $5 off at Airport Parking Reservations or Park Sleep Fly packages.

Data: We’ve been a huge fan of wifi hotspot devices like PokeFi because their rates are so good and you can use it globally but recently, we’ve really loved using eSIMs. The best one is Airalo . Save money by getting region-specific eSIMs and use referral code WILLIA9500 to get $3 USD credit on your first purchase. Ubigi is another one that we’ve had success with where they uniquely offer 5G coverage. Use code AWESOME10 to save 10% on your first order.

Hotels: Our go-to is Booking.com because they have the best inventory of properties including hotels and B&Bs plus they have their Genius tier discounts . The exception is Asia where Agoda always has the best prices. TripAdvisor is also useful for reviews and bookings.

Vacation Rentals: Your first instinct will be to check Airbnb but we always recommend checking VRBO as well if you’re looking for a vacation rental.

Tours: When planning our trips, we always check both Viator and GetYourGuide to at least see what’s out there in the destination that we’re going to. They often have different offerings and prices so check both.

Travel Insurance: Learn how to buy the best travel insurance for you. This isn’t something you want to travel without.

• Insured Nomads – Popular insurance provider for frequent travelers and comes with great coverage and special perks.
• RATESDOTCA – Search engine Canadians looking for the cheapest insurance including multi-trip annual policies.
• SafetyWing – A perfect fit for long-term nomads.
• Medjet – Global air medical transportation.
• InsureMyTrip – Best for seniors, families, and those with pre-existing conditions.

If you need more help planning your trip, make sure to check out our Travel Toolbox where we highlight all of the gear, resources, and tools we use when traveling.

About William Tang

William Tang is the Chief of Awesome behind the award-winning Going Awesome Places which is focused on outdoor adventure, and experiential travel. His true passion lies in telling stories, inspiring photography and videos, and writing detailed itineraries and travel guides. He is a member of Travel Media Association of Canada (TMAC), Society of American Travel Writers (SATW), Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA), and Travel Massive. He has also been featured in publications such as Reader's Digest, Entrepreneur, Men's Journal, and Haute Living. Make sure to learn more about William Tang to find out his story and how Going Awesome Places started.

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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

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?

Exploring Ireland: Day trips worth taking from Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway

If you’re planning to go daytripping, where should you venture fionn davenport offers some suggestions.

Glendalough is one of the country’s most significant and beautifully located monastic sites. Photograph: Chris Hill

Whatever you think of the name, the concept of “daycations” is pretty straightforward: take a day to explore the region around where you live and then return to sleep in your own bed at night. It’s the chance to break up a regular routine, plus it’s a great way of engaging in a little tourism without spending a fortune on accommodation, usually the heftiest expense of any holiday.

And in Ireland, where tourist accommodation is squeezed by seasonality and availability – in the last couple of years, up to a third of all hotel beds have been tied up in public contracts – that can mean significant savings.

The idea is simple: be a tourist in your own area. Take a visit to a nearby attraction, or maybe explore some ruins. Go for a hike in the mountains, or kayak on a nearby lake. Everyone’s version of the ideal day out is different and can change depending on the season and the weather.

Here are some ideas on where to explore from the base of a number of Ireland’s largest populated areas – Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway.

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Have you ever visited Marsh’s Library in Dublin?

Of course, you could devote plenty of days to exploring without leaving the city centre: when was the last time you went to the Natural History Museum, for example? Have you ever visited Marsh’s Library or the Casino at Marino? And while we all know it’s there, have you ever actually been to the Guinness Storehouse? But there’s a lot to explore within a couple of hours’ drive of O’Connell Street – including some genuine surprises.

Brú na Bóinne, just west of Drogheda, is one of the most known neolithic sites in the world, a Unesco world Heritage attraction that draws hundreds of thousands of yearly visitors. If you have never been, you should go.

But if you like your neolithic sites without the crowds, there’s the cairns at Loughcrew , 50km to the west, near Oldcastle along the R154. Of the 32 tombs here, Cairn T is the most accessible, a 15-minute walk up the hill from the car park. Although it mightn’t seem as impressive as Newgrange, the passageway is illuminated during the spring and autumn equinoxes, and the passageway is visible when Heritage Ireland guides are present; otherwise, the key to the gate is available from the cafe at Loughcrew Gardens.

If you like your neolithic sites without the crowds, there’s the cairns at Loughcrew

Glendalough is one of the country’s most significant and beautifully located monastic sites, but it does get busy. A far less visited alternative is the Fore Valley in Co Westmeath, about 5km east of Castlepollard near the shores of Lough Lene. There’s nary a visitor here, but the setting for the ruins of St Féchín’s 7th century monastic village is stunning: a cluster of ruins huddled at the base of a beautiful valley, that is looped by a 3km walking trail. If you do visit, be sure to pick up a guide map at the Fore Abbey Coffee Shop, which will also explain the “seven wonders” of the valley – the monastery in the bog, the water that flows uphill, the tree that won’t burn, the water that won’t boil, the anchorite in a stone, the mill without a race, and the lintel raised by the prayers of St Fechin. And even if you don’t believe, it’s a beautiful place to linger.

The particularly arresting artwork in Spike Island by inmates is on display upstairs in the punishment block

Corkonians are spoilt for choice when it comes to things to do beyond the city limits. The train ride to Fota Island, for instance, is one of the most scenic in the country, as you chug past marshy Harper’s Island and over the bridges on Lough Mahon and the Slatty Water.

Fota has plenty to keep you entertained for the day with the wildlife park and, just by the tiger enclosure, Fota House , which can be visited by guided tour. Even if you don’t step inside, take time to walk around the gorgeous arboretum.

While it may lack the high-tech razzmatazz of its sister museum in Belfast, the visit to the old White Star Line building is a stirring one

Although most Corkonians are well familiar with Cobh, how many have set foot inside the excellent Titanic Experience ? While it may lack the high-tech razzmatazz of its sister museum in Belfast, the visit to the old White Star Line building (the last port of call before setting out into the North Atlantic) is a stirring one: when you enter you’re given a ticket with a real passenger’s name on it; you then go through the exhibits and find out at the end if they survived or not. Further along the seafront is the dock for Spike Island , whose 1300-year history is told in compelling detail; particularly arresting is the artwork by inmates upstairs in the punishment block.

Cork has no shortage of terrific hikes, including the wonderful cliff walk that starts at Knockadoon Pier, 45km east of the city on a headland looking out over Capel Island. The 7km-long looped cliff walk is stunning, taking you along the coastline past the old signal tower (which dates from 1803) and back to the pier, which is a popular spot for a swim. About 500 metres offshore, Capel Island is an uninhabited bird sanctuary; you’d need permission from Birdwatch Ireland to visit.

King John’s Castle has stood on the banks of the Shannon for 800 years, but when was the last time you went inside? Photograph: Eye Ubiquitous/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

There’s a lot to see in Limerick these days, from the relatively new to the very old. The wonderful International Rugby Experience opened in 2023 and tells the story of the sport as well as providing a chance to test your kicking skills. King John’s Castle has stood on the banks of the Shannon for 800 years, but when was the last time you went inside? If it’s been a while, you might enjoy the primer on Irish history (there’s a lot of gore) and the chance to try some medieval games in the courtyard, like a proper game of hopscotch.

What about experiencing Limerick from the water? Nev Sail has kayaking tours that start just behind the Hunt Museum and take you up and down the river, under the bridges and up close to the sturdy walls of the castle.

If you’re looking for more watery adventures outside the city, head north to Killaloe, where Aoife O’Mara’s My Next Adventure has a range of kayaking tours: the Brian Ború Experience is a two-hour trip through 1000 years of history (and 13 of Killaloe’s stone bridges) as far up as Lough Derg. The Full Moon Kayaking takes you right out into the middle of Lough Derg at sunset before returning to Killaloe.

For an even more active day out, the Ballyhoura Mountain Bike Trails are, at 98km, the largest of its kind in Ireland, weaving in and out of thick forest and gorgeous mountain views – and they’re only a 45km drive south of the city, just beyond Kilmallock. There are five loops of varying length and difficulty, from gentle, family-friendly slopes to rugged speed tracks designed to challenge the most intrepid riders (you might even catch world champion rider and local lad Oisin O’Callaghan going for a spin). If you don’t have a bike, you can rent everything – including helmets and protective pads – from the Ballyhoura Mountain Bike Centre at the base of the mountain. If you prefer to do your wandering on two feet, the waymarked Ballyhoura Way wends its way through 90km of forest trail, field paths, moorland and tarmac road.

Outside of Galway city, a journey around Lough Corrib is a fantastic day trip option

With Connemara, the Aran Islands and the Burren on its doorstep, Galwegians have no shortage of day trip options from the City of the Tribes. But even within the city there are some interesting ways to discover, not least with a tour that takes full advantage of Galway’s reputation as a capital of fine food.

Galway Food Tours is a local outfit that operates a range of food tours where you get to sample lots of different local produce, from sushi to chocolate. Day tours start outside McCambridge’s on Shop Street include six food and drink stops and you finish in the Soul Garden at the back of Massimo’s in the West End (where you bid farewell with a goody bag). They also offer whiskey and craft beer tours as well as a food and cycling tour that uses e-bikes.

Outside of the city, a journey around Lough Corrib is a fantastic day trip option. Just before you get to Oughterard, Aughnanure Castle was once home to the “fighting O’Flaherty’s”; these days the six-storey tower house on a rocky outcrop overlooking the lake is open to visitors. If you fancy getting out on to the lake, Corrib Cruises has twice-weekly summer sailings from Oughterard that take you out to explore the monastic ruins of Inchagoill, the largest island on the lake.

The bridge at Maam, Connemara, Co Galway, used in the 1952 film The Quiet Man. Photograph: iStock

Just beyond Oughterard is the Quiet Man bridge, the idea of which has raised collective eyebrows since the 1950s film starring John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara became part of the Irish-American cultural lexicon, but there’s no denying that it’s an absolutely gorgeous spot. In Cong, there’s the Quiet Man Museum (strictly for the hard-core fans) but far more interesting is the 3km forest loop walk that brings you to Leonard’s Tower, aka the Guinness Tower, on the grounds of Ashford Castle. Climb the 85 steps to the top for views and a decent leg workout. One final stop, on the eastern side of the lake, are at the ruins of Ross Errilly Friary, just beyond Glencorrib, the most complete Franciscan monastic ruins in the country. From here, it’s 27km back to Galway City along the N84.

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