Explore all of the beauty that Ireland has to offer with this extensive 10-day road trip itinerary. You will tour 8+ major cities, visit historical churches and castles, drink with the locals, and see for yourself just how green the Irish countryside truly is!
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Trip Description
When to Visit
Know Before You Go
Itinerary Overview
The Details
Trip Description
Type: Small Group
Style: Adventure/Sightseeing & Road Trip
Pace: Fast
Flexibility: High
Scope: Best of the Best
For more information on our descriptors, visit our FAQ page!
When to Visit
I visited Ireland in September and we were super lucky with the weather, which can typically be a bit unpredictable with rain. However, the shoulder seasons in March-May and September are great times to visit because of good weather and fewer crowds.
Know Before You Go
Ireland is split into the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The Republic of Ireland is an independent nation while Northern Ireland is a part of the United Kingdom. If you need a visa to visit, make sure to check the requirements for both countries! The national currency of Ireland is the Euro, but if you plan to cross the border into Northern Ireland make sure to have some pounds! English is the main language spoken across the country, which makes it easy to get around and connect with locals!
Itinerary Overview
| *Day | Date | Location | Night |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Thu | Fly to Dublin | |
| 1 | Fri | Dublin | Dublin |
| 2 | Sat | Dublin | Dublin |
| 3 | Sun | Wicklow, Kilkenny, Waterford | Waterford |
| 4 | Mon | Waterford, Cork | Cork |
| 5 | Tue | Blarney, Killarney | Killarney |
| 6 | Wed | Killarney | Killarney |
| 7 | Thu | Limerick, Doolin | Doolin |
| 8 | Fri | Aran Islands, Galway | Galway |
| 9 | Sat | Galway, Dublin | Dublin |
| 10 | Sun | Dublin | Fly Home |
The Details
Day 0 – Depart
Grab your bags and head to the airport! I took an overnight Thursday flight and arrived in Dublin in the morning. Make sure to get some shut-eye on the plane so that you can fully enjoy your first day in the City!
Day 1 – Dublin
Upon your arrival to Dublin, pick up your rental car and head over to your hotel. We stayed in a boutique hotel near Grafton Street and enjoyed its wonderful, central location. After you have checked in and taken some time to relax, you can head out to begin to explore.
We grabbed a quick breakfast and walked around Grafton Street and the surrounding neighborhood. There are plenty of spots for shopping and dining in this area, so you will have lots of options!
Next, you can take a stroll over to Saint Stephen’s Green and have a relaxing afternoon in the park. There are tons of restaurants if you wanted to grab some lunch at this point or even have a little picnic in the park!
As you continue exploring, you can walk over the Ha’penny Bridge, which crosses the Liffey River. It is a charming little footbridge that was built in 1815.
To close out your first day, you can make your way to the infamous Temple Bar, home to the largest whiskey collection in Ireland. You can spend the night listening to live traditional Irish music, drinking beer or whiskey, and enjoying your time!
Day 2 – Dublin
Rise and shine! Grab an early breakfast and head over to Trinity College to see the Book of Kells, a manuscript of the four gospels of the New Testament. While there, you can also check out The Long Room which is the largest library in Ireland dating back to 1592. I would recommend heading over early to avoid larger crowds.
After your morning exploring the college, head over to Saint Patrick’s Cathedral. This Cathedral is the largest in Ireland and has been around for more than 800 years– so it is full of history and culture!
Next, grab some lunch and then make your way over to Phoenix Park. You can drive, bike, or even walk to the park if you are up for it! While there, check out the Papal Cross, Phoenix Monument, and the Victorian Walled Kitchen Garden. Check out their website for a list of things to see and do in the Park.
A great way to close out your day of activities is to head over to the Guinness Storehouse for a brewery tour! You can spend the evening learning about Ireland’s famous Guinness stout, pouring the perfect pint, and most importantly, drinking some delicious beer! While here, you can also grab some dinner!
If you are feeling adventurous, you can head into the city and check out Ireland’s exhilarating nightlife. Be sure to check out The Church – a former 17th century Church that was restored into a bar. Otherwise, head back to your hotel and get some shut-eye to prepare for your next day!
Day 3 – Wicklow, Kilkenny, Waterford
Grab some breakfast, hop in the car, and begin your road-trip through the countryside! Start your drive from Dublin down to Wicklow. If you are feeling adventurous, be sure to drive down road R759, known as the Sally Gap, for incredible views of the Wicklow Mountains. Movies like Braveheart and P.S. I Love You filmed scenes in this area.
As you continue along your drive, make your way over to Glendalough, known for its early medieval monastic settlement. It’s a beautiful area for you to walk around, sit by the lake, and have a picnic!
After spending your morning and early afternoon in Wicklow, you can drive down to Kilkenny. Stop here for some lunch, walk around the narrow, stone roads, and take a tour of the Kilkenny Castle.
Finish up your day by driving down to Waterford, where you will spend the night. I would recommend dinner at The Reg. There is live music, super friendly staff, and delicious food.
Day 4 – Waterford, Cork
Start your morning off with a House of Waterford Crystal tour. This guided tour allows you to see all of the aspects of crystal production and ends in the store where you can purchase one of their handmade pieces. Allow about 2 hours for the full experience.
After your tour, grab some lunch and begin your drive down to Cork. One great option is to drive along the Copper Coast which is a UNESCO Global Geopark. The views of the ocean are amazing and there are plenty of places to stop and take in the scenery to capture some pictures.
After a few hours, you will arrive in Cork, where there is plenty to see and do. A couple of things I’d recommend, depending on your time and energy levels, are walking through the English Market, ringing the Shandon bells at St. Anne’s Church, and checking out St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral.
If you have any leftover energy, take a 30-minute drive down to the small fishing town of Kinsale. Walk around the Harbor, down Market Lane with its bright, colorful buildings, and have some dinner and wine at Fishy Fishy.
Drive back to Cork to get some sleep after a long day.
Day 5 – Blarney, Killarney
Wake up early today and begin your drive to Blarney Castle. Try to get there as early as possible because the lines could get super long – make sure to check the hours of operation before heading out. While touring the castle grounds, walk the various gardens and kiss the Blarney Stone, if you dare. Legend has it that kissing the stone is said to give you the gift of eloquence.
There are some cafes on the grounds where you can grab some lunch, coffee, or just sit down and relax before the next leg of your trip.
After your castle visit, get in the car and drive to Killarney. Check into your hotel and then head to the Killarney National Park. We took a jaunting car ride through the Park to see the Muckross House and Lake and the Torc Waterfall. You can also walk or rent bikes to get around the park.
Day 6 – Killarney
Today is more of an open day that you can fill with whatever you like! You can spend more time exploring the National Park, visit the Killarney Falconry, or spend time at the Gap of Dunloe.
We decided to spend our day exploring the Ring of Kerry. This 120-mile long drive is a top tourist attraction in Ireland. You can choose to drive the Ring on your own or join a guided tour that can be booked online or through your hotel. Pro Tip: if you choose to drive on your own be sure to take the route counterclockwise to avoid being stuck behind the tour busses.
Along the route, there are pull-offs where you can stop and take in the scenery. A few of our favorite stops were: Molls Gap, Skellig Ring Road, Caherdaniel, Valentia, Portmagee, and Kenmare.
The road signs were clear so that you could stay on the right route, and each stop had a unique charm to it. Driving around the Ring could take anywhere between 4-6 hours depending on how many stops you make, so plan accordingly!
After your trip, take some time to relax and then head over to Major Colgan’s for dinner and drinks. This pub is well known for hosting “Irish Night” where there are live Irish dancers and music!
Day 7 – Limerick, Doolin
Today you will take on the long drive to Doolin, so be sure to fuel up (yourself and your car) before heading out! The drive from Killarney to Doolin is around 2.5 – 3 hours so we decided to break it up in Limerick.
While in Limerick, we went for a walk throughout the city, visited King John’s Castle along River Shannon, and grabbed a bite to eat.
Once we left Limerick, we drove straight to the Cliffs of Moher. We arrived around 4:00 P.M. which was a great time to get there. We were able to see the cliffs during the shining sunlight and also as the sun began to set. Needless to say, it was a breathtaking sight to see.
It can be windy while you are walking the cliffs so bring a windbreaker or a light jacket, if possible. Once you have had your fill of the view, head to your hotel and grab a bite to eat before calling it a night!
Day 8 – Doolin/Aran Islands, Galway
After a restful night of sleep, wake up and head over to the Doolin Pier and buy tickets for a ferry to the Aran Islands. There are three islands to choose from, but we decided to visit Inis Oirr, the smallest of the three. We then did a tour of the Cliffs of Moher from the sea.
Upon arrival at Inis Oirr, you can rent some bikes and tour the island. There are many bucket list-worthy things to do and see while on the Island, such as seeing the Plassey Shipwreck, relaxing on the beach, or taking a horse ride. The entire experience was about 4 hours and well worth it!
Once back on land, hop in your car and head to the Doolin Chocolate Shop for mouthwatering fudge. As you indulge in some yummy fudge, make your way to Galway. Once you arrive, check into your hotel and take a breather after a busy morning of exploration.
After you re-energize, walk around the city. Some great areas to explore are the docks, Eyre Square, and Quay street. If it’s early enough, you can also watch some street performers or even do a little bit of shopping.
End your night with some dinner at one of the many restaurants on Quay Street. Most feature outdoor dining, which is a great way to enjoy a nice meal while also doing some people watching.
Day 9 – Galway, Dublin
Today is your last full day in Ireland! Spend your morning exploring the rest of Galway. Grab some breakfast or brunch at Ard Bia, walk under the Spanish Arc, and visit the Galway Cathedral.
After you got your full fix of Galway, hop in your car and begin your drive back to Dublin for the night. Keep your afternoon open so that you can check out any other sites in Dublin that you might have missed, or do some last-minute shopping.
If you haven’t gotten enough of Ireland’s nightlife yet, there are endless amounts of pubs to explore. Otherwise you can simply go back to your hotel and rest in preparation for your flight home the next day.
Day 10 – Dublin/Fly Home
Spend your last day relaxing and preparing for your flight back home!
