Ireland was one of our first countries to visit together and continues to hold a special place between us. We have visited twice and each time we leave, we want to go right back. In this guide, we explain our adventures and how you can make the most out of your limited time in this beautiful country!
How to Get There?
Getting to Ireland requires you to fly into Dublin. A small amount of east coast flights to Shannon exist on the west side of the isle but for all practical purposes, expect to fly into Dublin.
Many airlines and cities within the US fly directly into Dublin. For those that do not, you most likely will fly either to New York or Boston and then onwards to Dublin or fly into London Heathrow (LHR) and then connect to Dublin. Most international flights arrive into Dublin sometime in the morning or early afternoon.
Once in Dublin, getting into the country is quite easy. Wait in the long line full of chatty border agents, smile (or not) and collect your passport stamp. You are now ready to begin your Irish adventure!
Transportation Options
By Car
Getting around Ireland is an adventure in itself. They drive on the left side, the roads are narrow, and sometimes there are sheep in the roads (yes, you have to wait for them to cross). Still, we definitely recommend driving around Ireland. Renting a car at the Dublin airport is relatively straight forward, albeit a time consuming process. After leaving the airport, you must take a bus to the car rental center. We have waited 5 minutes for a bus to appear and also waited 30 minutes – it is hit or miss on when they show up.
By Train
While we prefer trains in virtually every other country we have visited, the train system in Ireland leaves a bit to be desired in terms of destinations. It is a modern, efficient, and reliable system like nearly all European countries, it just offers fewer stops. The train will get you from Dublin to Galway to Cork with ease, but some smaller towns are not nearly as accessible. If you do want to take the train and not brave driving on the left, be prepared to take bus tours when you get to your stop.
By Bus
The third option is staying in one or two cities and coordinating bus tours from those cities. While absolutely doable, you spend a lot of your day on a bus and have limited time to take in certain sights.
One week in Ireland: hitting all of the basics
One week barely scratches the surface of this great country, but is a great place to start. You can absolutely see many of the sights, and accomplish your goals all in one week. In our guide on how to tour Ireland, we assume you will be renting a car.
Day 1 – Galway
Congratulations! You have survived your international flight and are ready to explore Ireland! While you may be exhausted and not at all in the mood to drive, we highly recommend getting in that car and driving to our first stop: Galway.
Galway is approximately a 3 hour drive from Dublin and while that may seem daunting, there are plenty of places you can stop. One of those places is Sean’s Bar – Ireland’s oldest pub! This bar is located in the small town of Athlone which is slightly more than halfway to Galway. Here you can enjoy your first pint of Guinness and start to truly take in Irish pub culture.
After Sean’s, it’s time to head to Galway! We recommend spending your first day relaxing and leisurely wandering around. The key areas in Galway are the Latin Quarter and the Harbor area. In both places, you can find amazing restaurants and shops. Make sure to stop and get any food or other provisions that you can enjoy for the entire week!
Day 2 – Cliffs of Moher and Galway
This is going to be a busy day, starting with seeing the Cliffs of Moher, but will offer some of the most amazing views on your adventure!
Getting to the cliffs is quite an adventure in itself. Be prepared for narrow roads, tour buses, and corkscrew hills that wind their way through the Irish countryside.
After arriving at the Cliffs of Moher, you will be directed to a parking lot where you pay for entry. After parking the car, walk across the road into the Cliffs of Moher park. The park itself contains a gift shop, a restaurant, and restrooms that can be accessed prior to seeing the Cliffs.
Now it’s time to take in the Cliffs of Moher! There really isn’t a bad view of this beautiful landscape (unless it is foggy). You can follow the trail in either direction and be rewarded with breathtaking views and ample photo opportunities. Plan to spend some extensive time finding that perfect picture and then head back to Galway, with a few stops along the way!
Burren Smokehouse and Hazel Mountain Chocolate
If you like smoked salmon, we highly recommend stopping at the Burren Smokehouse. This business is located roughly 15 minutes from the Cliffs of Moher and offers a brief 30 minute tour. The tour includes tastings of their products, and gives intriguing insight on how smoked salmon is a key part of Irish culture, as well as how it’s prepared. After sampling the fresh salmon, you will be hooked and want to buy a few packets to take back to your accommodation. We bought several and all were consumed by the next day. They even ship internationally!
The second little stop is Hazel Mountain Chocolate. Ireland is not the first country you would think of for chocolate, but Hazel Mountain makes you think otherwise. Once you have loaded up on smoked salmon and chocolate (an unlikely but delicious duo), it’s time to finish your drive back to Galway for the evening. Continue exploring Galway’s shops and restaurants before preparing for your drive down south tomorrow.
Day 3 – Killarney
While researching what to do in Ireland, inevitably the Ring of Kerry will be listed. That’s where we’re headed next! After a three hour drive, you will arrive in the small town of Killarney. There is plenty to do here, but plan on spending some time in Killarney National Park. Located near the town, the park contains waterfalls, forests, and lakes that are accessible by trails. While it is absolutely possible to drive around the entire ring and national park, we suggest keeping close to Killarney. Staying nearby allows you to explore both the national park and the small town it is named after. Before heading back into Killarney, stop by Ross Castle to explore the grounds. The castle is scenically situated right on Lough Leane and offers tours detailing its history.
To end the day, stop by a pub to get Fish and Chips or any other classic Irish dish. Regardless of which pub you choose, you will leave full and satisfied. Rest up because tomorrow involves driving even further south and exploring Cork and Kinsale.
Day 4 – Cork
Ireland’s second largest city is only about an hour away from Killarney! Cork is filled with plenty of activities, restaurants, pubs, and shops. If you have some time to spare, try a nice Irish Breakfast. An Irish Breakfast is very similar to an English Breakfast containing rashers (a form of bacon), sausages, baked beans, black pudding, tomatoes and mushrooms.
Cork is more industrial than other Irish cities. It is a bit more business oriented and modern, but don’t let that deter your experience here. The English Market located in the city center is a wonderful place for food and tastings. The market was actually the first place that we tried black pudding and it was certainly unique and delicious!
After walking around Cork, you might find yourself with some spare time. For the rest of the day, there are several options to choose from and our list of recommendations is below.
- Midleton – the home of Jameson Distillery! If you go, check out their tours and tastings.
- Blarney – home of Blarney Castle and the Blarney Stone. The fabled stone is said to give those who kiss it “the gift of the gab.”
- Cobh (pronounced Cove) – A small seaside town which was the final stop of the Titanic. The town has several hills and an impressive cathedral.
Day 5 – Kinsale
The small and charming town of Kinsale is located only a half-hour drive south of Cork. The town bills itself as the food capital of Ireland. It’s one of our favorite places we visited in the country, and we absolutely recommend visiting. Plan on spending an entire day in and around this incredible town.
Kinsale is easily walkable and has plenty of businesses that are centered around food. While visiting, make sure to get the fresh seafood offered at plenty of restaurants and smaller shops. Food tours are found on numerous sites and if you want more structure to your day, then we recommend booking one in advance. Since the tour guides typically know the shop owners, expect to receive the highest quality ingredients and unrivaled hospitality.
While Ireland isn’t necessarily known for its mead, Kinsale Mead Co. is a must visit location to sample this delicious beverage. The tours are very informative and the tasting shows how diverse and tasty mead can be. Additionally, the meadery is located at the top of the hill and has a fantastic view of the town.
If you are finished exploring Kinsale, drive to Old Head. This peninsula is spectacular, showing off colorful views of the ocean and cliffs. It can get very windy on Old Head so be prepared and pack a jacket!
After exploring the town and surrounding area, head back to Cork for the evening. Tomorrow is your final stop – Dublin.
Day 6 – Dublin
Can you believe that you’re already at the final stop on your itinerary?! The capital city has many attractions and plenty to do. The city center is quite compact, and any accommodations will be well located.
The drive from Cork to Dublin is roughly three hours. You will want to drop your car off after arriving in Dublin as the city is very walkable and parking is quite limited. Once you have dropped off the rental car and checked in to your accommodations, venture out and begin exploring Dublin.
Start your time in Dublin by walking along the River Liffey. The river runs right through the center of the city and is very scenic. After walking along the river, head to Trinity college. The Trinity College grounds are pristine and the library offers tours filled with history of the college. Afterwards, spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing at St. Stephen’s Green. This park is similar to St. James’s Park or Hyde Park in London. It offers ample greenery and plenty of benches to sit and relax, and enjoy the (hopefully!) sunny Irish weather.
Read more: visiting St. James Park in our three day guide to London
Nightlife in Dublin
Head over to the Brazen Head for a drink and some pub food. This pub was founded in 1198, and is a notable stop for any pub enthusiasts.
No trip to Dublin would be complete without visiting the Temple Bar. The Temple Bar confusingly is not just one bar (although there is an actual Temple Bar), but refers to the whole district. It’s comparable to the French Quarter in New Orleans or any other major bar area. This is a great place to people watch, listen to live music, or continue to have drinks. Enjoy reveling at Temple Bar for the evening, and then head back to get ready for your final day in Ireland.
Day 7 – Dublin
Sadly, your last day in Ireland is here, but today offers one of our personal favorite experiences – the Guinness Storehouse. If you haven’t fallen in love with Guinness at this point, hopefully you will on this tour.
The Guinness storehouse is similar to Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, but with beer. While the tour is informative and fascinating, the main draws are the pint pouring academy and the Gravity Bar. Each ticket includes two free pints of Guinness, so be sure to utilize this perk!
After having your two free pints, head to the 1837 Bar and Brasserie for a meal. The restaurant is located within the Storehouse, and has traditional Irish classics on the menu. It is the perfect way to end the tour and the food is excellent. After eating, head over to the gift shop for some Guinness branded merchandise. Be prepared to spend more money than you were expecting because there are many unique items. A few pints of Guinness mixed with shopping is basically asking for a lighter wallet!
At this point, you might be tired of having Guinness. Even if you aren’t, we suggest taking a walk over to Jameson Distillery on Bow Street. This experience is completely different than the one in Midleton, as it’s more of a bar rather than a distillery tour. It’s a wonderful place to have a delicious Jameson inspired cocktail and to buy any Jameson branded gear. After Jameson, spend the rest of the evening strolling around Dublin and preparing for the long journey home.
Conclusion
Ireland will always remain one of our favorite countries that we have visited. While you can spend significantly more time here, you can accomplish quite a bit in one week. Ireland is a beautiful place filled with great people and will leave you thinking of your next visit to the Emerald Isle.
