Two Weeks in : Ireland Encompassed

Custom Itinerary Created by Hannah Logan EatSleepBreatheTravel.com & IrelandStoleMyHeart.com Days 1 & 2: Dublin City

Dublin is Ireland’s capital. It’s full of museums, pubs, and has plenty of history and site seeing available. For the most part, Dublin is very pedestrian-friendly which makes it ideal for walking around. You will not need a car to get around Dublin but you will want comfortable shoes and probably a raincoat or umbrella just in case. After all, this is Ireland.

Where to Stay in Dublin (3 nights) Hostel: Abbey Court Hostel Mid-range: Temple Bar Inn Luxury: The Westbury What to See & Do in Dublin (Day 1)

Chances are, if you are coming from North America especially, you arrived really early in the morning and will be a bit jetlagged. So stick with some of the shorter attractions and sites today.

My suggestions include:The Little Museum of Dublin (book in advance), St. Stephen’s Green, Grafton Street, Trinity College for the Book of Kells and the Long Hall. Also, check out some of Dublin’s sites including the Molly Malone Statue and the Ha’Penny bridge. Then do a Jameson Whiskey Distillery tour (book in advance).

In the evening, I recommend checking out the Temple Bar area. It’s close to the hotels I recommend and has lots of great food and pub options.

Insider Tip: The Temple Bar is a must see itself, but don’t spend your night in this pub. It’s pricey! If you feel up for a walk (or take a cab) head to O’Donoghue’s Pub. It’s one of the best pubs in Dublin and has great live music. What to See & Do in Dublin (Day 2)

Explore more of the city today and see a few more of the highlights including: Dublin Castle, Guinness Storehouse (book in advance and expect to spend a few hours here), St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Christ Church Cathedral, and Kilmainham Goal (book in advance)

Alternatively, if you are not a big city fan, head to the fishing village of Howth for a day and hike around there. You can take the DART (public transit method in Dublin) there and back. It’s about 30 minutes each way.

Insider Tip: Dublin is incredibly expensive. If you are looking to save a little money look for restaurants that have ‘early bird’ deals. It’s an easy way to save money if you don’t mind eating dinner a little early. Day 3: Day Trip

Despite being on the same island, Northern Ireland is actually a separate country from the . You can easily cross back and forth between the two, however Northern Ireland uses GBP for their currency while the Republic of Ireland uses the euro. While credit cards will be accepted at most places, I do recommend taking out a bit of GBP cash to use as needed for your day trip What to See & Do in Northern Ireland

Start your day early because it’s going to be a long one. I suggest hitting the road by 6:30am if you can to beat other day trips leaving from Dublin and avoid the crowds.

Drive out of Dublin and head towards the Giant’s Causeway. There are a couple of different routes that you can take. Make sure to take the Antrim Coastal route which is the scenic route. The drive will take about 3-3.5 hours but it is beautiful and there are a couple small towns you can stop along the way for breaks if needed. If you are a Game of Thrones Fan, you can also include a stop at the Dark Hedges along the way.

Before you reach the Giant’s Causeway, you will come to the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge which is definitely worth a stop and a walk across.

Ideally, you will arrive at the Giants Causeway around 11:30am. You can get lunch here and spend a couple of hours exploring the area.

There are a few different trails you can take around the area plus a shuttle that you can take up and down the steep hill (for a fee).

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If you are an Irish Whiskey fan, from the Giant’s Causeway head to Bushmills Distillery (5-minute drive). Or just continue on towards (another 5-minute drive past Bushmills) which you will recognize if you watched Game of Thrones.

From there it’s a little over an hour to City, the capital of Northern Ireland. How long you spent at the other stops will determine how much time you have here, but if nothing else you should have time for a little bit of a walk around.

If you have a good part of the day left, consider visiting the Belfast Titanic Museum. If not, find a place to park and wander around a bit before grabbing dinner.

After dinner, drive back to Dublin (about 2 hours) for the night.

Insider Tip: Make sure to stop at the Crown Liquor Saloon in Belfast. It’s the city’s most famous pub and its stunning inside. Day 4: Galway Galway is known for its culture and its pub life. It has a reputation for being safe and also for having some of the best craic in all of Ireland. It’s also a fast emerging foodie destination and home to lots of great festivals year-round. I’m a firm believer that no trip to Ireland is complete without a visit to Galway.

Where to Stay in Galway (3 nights) Hostel: Kinlay House Eyre Square Midrange: Forster Court Hotel Luxury: The Hardiman What to See & Do in Galway

Galway is small and best enjoyed by foot. A lot of the charm of this west-coast city lies in the atmospheres. The pedestrian only streets, the street performers, the music coming out of the pubs etc.

A few things worth noting:

Galway does have a free museum Galway Cathedral is also free of charge to visit There is a small farmers market on the weekends by St. Nicholas Church You can find the original makers of the Claddagh Ring (and the Claddagh museum, which is free) at Thomas Dillon’s Claddagh Gold There is live music at many of Galway’s pubs on a daily basis.

Ask the locals which pub has live music on the night you visit.

Insider Tip: Galway is known for its pubs, however it’s a huge foodie destination as well. If you are looking for something a little more upscale try Ard Bia at Nimmo’s or Kai. Both will require reservations. Day 5: Connemara Day Trip

Connemara is known to be one of the most romantic areas of Ireland. There’s a mountain range, plenty of lakes, and windswept fields. The scenery here is truly stunning and the weather can change at a moment’s notice. What to See/Do in Connemara

Connemara is all about the scenery which include lakes, plenty of sheep, the the 12 Bens mountains, so today will be a driving day. The main highlight for me is Kylemore Abbey. Your entry ticket will include entry to the Abbey itself as well as it’s grounds which include some walking trails and a Victorian Garden. You can add a couple of the small towns in along the way too. Roundstone is pretty cute, Clifden is also nearby and, depending on how far you want to go, Cong is popular with tourists as well.

Insider Tip: Connemara is also home to some of Ireland’s best castle hotels. I haven’t included a stay in one in this itinerary, however, if you would like to splurge I highly recommend a night at: Ballynahinch Castle or Lough Inagh Lodge. If you can REALLY afford to splurge and want a true fairytale experience, then look at Ashford Castle (or the Manor at Ashford Castle). If it’s not in the budget, head back to Galway for the night. Day 6: Inis Mor Day Trip

Inis Mor is the largest of the Aran Islands, located on the west coast of Ireland out in Galway Bay. Life here is slow and has an ‘old-world’ charm to it but because it’s so different than the mainland, it also feels very authentic. You’ll see plenty of farmers, some incredibly historical sites, and hear the Irish language spoken on a regular basis. Without a doubt, Inis Mor is one of my favourite places in Ireland. What to See & Do on Inis Mor

Drive from Galway (or Connemara if you choose to stay) to Rossaveal. This is where you will take the ferry across to Inis Mor. The ferries only run a couple times a day so be sure to get there early to take the first morning ferry.

Once you arrive at Inis Mor you can choose to rent a bike, take a mini-bus tour, or hire a pony trap to explore the island. The choice is up to you.

Highlights include: Dun Aonghasa which is an ancient clifftop fortress, The Worm Hole (be very careful of the tides), & The Severn Churches. Also, keep an eye on the water. You’ll likely see seals playing along the shore and if you are really lucky you could spot some basking sharks.

Again, remember to keep note of the ferry schedule as you’ll want to head back to Galway for the night.

Insider Tip: If you want an Irish wool sweater, this is the place to buy one. The famous Aran knit sweaters can be purchased in a store called Aran Sweater Market which is close to the pier. There are also stories in Galway and Killarney, but it’s a bit more authentic coming from the island itself. Day 7: Doolin Doolin is a small village close to the Cliffs of Moher. It has a reputation for its great traditional music and is also known to be the gateway to the Aran Islands as well as the Burren. Most people come for just a day trip but I think it’s worth spending a night. After all, the pubs here are a lot of fun.

Where to Stay in Doolin (1 night) Doolin is primarily B&Bs because it is a small village . Take a look at my post of recommended places to stay here. What to See & Do in Doolin

From Galway, drive about 1.5 hours to Doolin. Doolin is best known for the Cliffs of Moher which are a must see when in Ireland.

However, since most day trips come from Galway/Dublin late morning/early afternoon I suggest you save the cliffs themselves until the end of the day. By then, the main crowds have gone plus since the Cliffs face west, the light from the sun setting makes them look even better.

Spend the earlier part of the day exploring the Burren which is one of the most unique landscapes in Ireland. There’s a couple of spots worth stopping including Ailwee Caves and the Burren Perfumery. The Burren also has lots of hiking trails and archaeological finds so stretch your legs and go for a walk here too.

For the evening, head to Gus O’Connor’s pub for dinner, a pint of Guinness, and some of the best traditional music in Ireland.

Insider Tip: Don’t just stick to the part of the cliffs closest to the visitor’s centre. Walk along the cliffs for the full experience. This is also a good way to get away from the crowds if it is busy when you come. Day 8 & 9: Dingle is a small seaside town in south-west Ireland. It’s known for its rugged scenery and the friendly local dolphin named Fungie who lives in the Bay. Star Wars fans will also recognize this area as a filming location in the latest Star Wars movies. Dingle is more of a seasonal town, so keep that in mind when trip planning if you are coming early/late in the year.

Where to Stay in Dingle (2 nights)

Find the list of my recommended hotes in Dingle here.l What to See & Do in Dingle (Day 8) The drive from Dingle to Doolin is about three hours. If you want to stop along the way for lunch, you can take a break in Limerick.

Once you arrive in Dingle, spend the day exploring the town. It’s small so you can do so by foot. There’s lots of cute little shops and pubs. Make sure to try Murphy’s Ice cream if you haven’t yet as it originated in Dingle. If you like boats, take one of the tours out into the bay to see Fungie the Dolphin. He gets right up to the boat and puts on quite a show when he seems the little fishing boat come out.

Insider Tip: Doyle’s Seafood is an amazing restaurant!

What to See & Do in Dingle (Day 9) Today the plan is to drive down what I think is probably the prettiest road trip in Ireland; the , also referred to as Slea Head Drive. Hopefully the weather is sunny and clear because the views you will get along the way are beautiful. There’s an island off the coast that looks like a sleeping giant and you can see Sybil Head which was a filming location for the Star Wars movies. Other points of interest include the Beehive huts as well as Dunmore Head which is the most western point in Europe. The drive will probably take about 3-4 hours including stops. Day 10 & 11: Killarney

Killarney is a small town located in southern Ireland. It is best known for its nearby natural attractions which include Killarney National park and the famous Ring of Kerry drive.

Where to Stay in Killarney (2 nights)

Hostel: The Black Sheep Midrange: Murphy’s of Killarney Luxury: The Killarney Park What to See & Do in Killarney (Day 10)

Killarney is about an hour from Dingle.

As you leave the coastline you’ll notice that this part of Ireland is much more heavily forested. This is part of Killarney’s charm. Spend your first day exploring Killaney Town and parts of the nearby National Park.

If you are interested in historic buildings, you can visit Muckross House which is a 19th century mansion that still has working farms. Be sure to also take a walk to the lower Killarney Lake to explore Ross Castle which sits on the shoreline. Depending on the weather, you can take a boat out to the lake islands as well.

During the evening, have dinner and drinks at one of Killarney’s many pubs.

Insider Tip: you like craft beer be sure to visit Killarney Brewing Company. They offer (very entertaining) tours as well. What to See & Do in Killarney (Day 11)

Killarney is the gateway to one of Ireland’s best-known drives: The Ring of Kerry. So take the day to do that.

If you can, leave earlier in the morning so you can get ahead of all the tour buses.

Driving around the Ring of Kerry will take at least three hours, probably more if you stop a lot (which you should).

There are a number of little towns worth exploring including Kenmare and Sneem, a couple of scenic beaches, and the Skelligs Chocolate Co. is just a bit off the trail.

Don’t forget the Gap of Dunloe and, your way back to Killarney for the night, make sure to stop by Torc Waterfall and take in the scenery at Ladies View. Day 12: Blarney & Cork Cork is the second largest city in Ireland. It doesn’t have a ton of tourist attractions itself, however it is best known for the nearby Blarney Castle which holds the famous Blarney stone. Where to Stay in Cork (1 night) Find my list of accommodation suggestions for Cork City here. What to See & Do in Blarney and Cork

Cork town itself isn’t (in my opinion) very exciting, however nearby is the world-famous Blarney Castle and grounds which I think is definitely worth a visit.

Depending on the time of year you visit, you may also be able to go inside Blarney Manor (it's seasonal, but the castle and grounds are not).

You do not have to kiss the Blarney Stone if you don't want to. But, if you do, be aware that you'll need to climb several flights of stairs to the top of the castle. There are two men there a well to help support and hold you as you need to bend over backwards and hang upside down to actually kiss the stone.

Killarney town to Blarney will take a little over an hour to drive.

You can spend a couple of hours at Blarney before heading into Cork for the afternoon and evening. Cork doesn't have a ton of toursitic things to do, but like every Irish city you are bound to find a fun pub for the evening. Day 13: Kilkenny Kilkenny is a medieval city located in the southeast of Ireland. It’s best known for its historic buildings which include a castle and several churches and monasteries. Kilkenny is also famous for its local artisans.

Where to Stay in Kilkenny (1 night) Find my list of recommended accommodation options for Kilkenny here. What to See and Do in Kilkenny

Cork to Kilkenny is about a two-hour drive so don’t leave too late because Kilkenny is a lot of fun and has quite a bit to see and do in a day.

Kilkenny Castle is the main attraction. It’s very large and in really good condition so definitely worth taking the tour. You can walk the Medieval Mile, check out the artisan shops, and pop into some of the churches and cathedrals. If you enjoy beer, be sure to take the Smithwick’s tour.

Kilkenny is a popular Stag/Doe (aka bachelor/Bachlorette) party destination in Ireland so if you happen to be visiting on the weekend, you can expect the pubs to be very lively. Be sure to stop by Kyteler’s Inn/Pub. Not only is it one of the oldest Inn’s in Ireland but it’s also rumored to be haunted and was once owned by a woman who was accused of being a witch.

Insider Tip: If you are looking for a more local experience, skip the hotels and check Airbnb for a pub stay. There are a couple of pubs have rooms available for rent above which is a fun experience. I stayed in a small but clean room above a family-run pub called O’Gorman’s and loved it. Day 14: Dublin Via Wicklow

Today is your last full day in Ireland so begin the trip back to Dublin. I suggest taking a longer route and stopping by Wicklow along the way (about 1 hour 45 minutes from Kilkenny).

Wicklow is Ireland’s largest national park and is full of mountains, waterfalls, and glacial lakes. It’s also home to Glendalough which was a monastic settlement. From Wicklow, head to Dublin City (about 1-hour drive) for your last night in Ireland.

*You can stay in one of my previously recommended Dublin hotels for the night. Or, if you have an early flight try the Clayton Hotel Dublin Airport. Its close and has a free shuttle Not Renting a Car?

If you don’t want to rent a car while in Ireland, you can still visit the places I have l listed in this itinerary though a combination of public transit and day trips with local tour companies.

You’ll just use the bigger cities as bases for your day trips rather than staying overnight in some of the smaller ones.

From Dublin, you can take a day trip up to Northern Ireland.

Bus to Galway. There is the express CityLink bus which will pick you up in Dublin city centre and take you directly across country to Galway city.

From Galway you can take day trips to:

The Burren and the Cliffs of Moher Kylemore Abbey and Connemara Inis Mor (there is a bus from Galway City that will take you to the ferry, just visit a tour office and they will set you up with the tickets).

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From Galway you can take a bus (use Bus Eireann to find the route and schedule) to Killarney.

From Killarney you can take a day trip to:

Dingle & Slea Head Drive The Ring of Kerry

Head back to Dublin from Killarney (via train, this route is much faster via train than by bus).

From Dublin you can see the other spots via day trips:

Blarney & Cork· Kilkenny & Wicklow

Enjoy!