I think I’ve mentioned before that when we travel we like to see EVERYTHING, or at least as much as possible in the time we have there. It’s never a trip for the faint of heart. To celebrate my dad’s 50th birthday we decided to take on Ireland along with my mom, dad, and sister. I was tasked with making an itinerary that had us visit the Cliffs of Moher, the Dingle Peninsula, Dublin, and Belfast. Somehow we managed to see everything on our list!
Here is an overview of our 10 day trip or skip to the bottom for a shorter daily itinerary.
Flights: We opted to fly into Dublin then drive over to Galway our first day. If you’re able to fly into Shannon it’s much closer.
How we got around: We knew we wanted to see some places off the beaten path so we didn’t want to be restricted by trains or tour buses. We thought about driving, but it was the opposite side of the road, on tiny roads, and only one of us (my dad) was willing to drive. Since the trip was for his birthday we decided that wasn’t fair. That left us with the option of hiring a driver. We found Gene from Glengariff Tours. He was so amazing! The best part was that he not only maneuvered the tiny roads but he was able to provide details about the areas and he knew so many local pubs for pit stops along the way.
Day 1: Galway
If you are like us and fly into Dublin, hit the ground running and drive straight to Galway. As soon as we landed we were picked up by Gene at the airport, we were off for Galway. The drive was about 3 hours but we took some of the back roads to see more scenery then just the highway. The peat bogs, sheep farming, and castle ruins made for a pretty scenic highway route, but for a true feel for the area I highly recommend taking the scenic route to see the sights! It may add time to your trip, but is well worth it.
Be sure to stop along the way in the tiny town of Shannonbridge for a pint at Killeen’s. The people at the pub are lovely! As is common in Ireland, the pubs are connected to little shops so you can grab a pint and any household goods you need.
Once you arrive in Galway, check into your hotel then head out to go explore the city. Walk up and down Quay Street and through the Latin Quarter. There’s a great market of street vendors just off the main road. Of course you have to stop into the Aran Sweater Market to get a few wool items. We ended up with a few scarves and hats. The shops close early so be sure to get any souvenirs before you start touring the pubs. Galway is also great place to go pub hopping. Try to see as many pubs as you can; they are all so different. Our favorite was The Kings Head pub followed closely by the Quays Bar. If you are looking for a quieter spot, try out Garvey’s. I highly recommend their Irish Coffee! It was the best I had on the trip.
Where we stayed: Park House Hotel
Day 2: Cliffs of Moher and Dromoland Castle
Start your morning out with a full Irish breakfast, might as well try it once while you’re in Ireland! After breakfast head off to the Cliffs of Moher. If you want to stop for a pint or lunch (though if you had a full Irish breakfast then I doubt you’re hungry) stop in at McGann’s in Doolin for some of the best Guinness stew in the country! When you get to the cliffs be warned, it can get very windy. It was so windy while we were there that we saw a couple people blown off their feet. The cliffs themselves were spectacular and are totally worth a visit!
Our next stop was to Dromoland Castle. Two things we knew we wanted to do on our trip were stay one night at an Irish castle and play a round of golf. This castle offered both! If you are also looking for a castle getaway, I would definitely suggest Dromoland. You can spend your evening with cocktails in the lounge, dinner in the gallery, or even time in the sauna.
Where we stayed: Dromoland Castle
Day 3: Dromoland Castle
This castle has so many things to offer! You can spend the day golfing, shooting archery or skeet, riding horses, or relaxing at the spa. On our visit, some of us started with a round of golf followed by brunch while the others had a spa day. In the afternoon the ladies had a lovely afternoon tea while the guys went to the lounge for a pint. Once we got our fill of relaxation we headed off to our next stop, Dingle.
For such a small little town, Dingle has so many pubs. They are all so different so you have a pretty good chance of finding one that fits your requirements! Our favorite stops were Foxy Johns, Dingle Pub, Dick Mack’s, and our absolute favorite, Neligan’s. Be sure to catch live music one night at Neligan’s or The Dingle Pub.
Activities at: Dromoland Castle
Where we stayed in Dingle: Dingle Benners Hotel
Day 4: The Dingle Peninsula
Dingle is a great starting point for a day drive around the Slea Head Peninsula. Be sure to stop and see the beehive huts. If you peer off into the distance you can catch a glimpse of the Skelligs. Skellig Michael was used in the filming of Star Wars Episode VIII. Other great sights to see include the sheep farms lining the cliffs, views of Connor pass, and Brandon Creek where St. Brendan set sail for America.
If you are feeling up for more of an adventure when you return to Dingle, stop by Dingle Distillery for a tour and tasting. It’s a great way to get to see the distilling process since unlike most of the larger distilleries in Ireland, Dingle actually shows your their stills and bottling line.
Another great way to experience Dingle is wandering the streets shopping, eating ice cream, and visiting the local pubs. For the best ice cream you will have on your trip, try out Murphy’s Ice Cream. They use a special type of cow to create extra creamy ice cream.
The one thing you can’t miss in Dingle is some fresh seafood for dinner. Our favorite spot was The Fish Box. It’s not as well known as Out of the Blue, but is cheaper and we thought the food was much better!
Where we stayed: Dingle Benners Hotel
Day 5: Kinsale
The next destination on this journey is Kinsale. On your way stop for lunch in Killarney. It is a beautiful town with lots of shopping and restaurants or if you want to try something new you can take a horse and buggy ride through the national park.
After lunch continue on to County Cork. We opted to take a detour and visit the Jameson Middleton Distillery. This ended up being one of our favorite stops on our trip. We took a tour of the old distillery and the guys did a specialty reserve tasting at the end. As most tours do, this one ended in the Jameson gift shop. Our family is a huge fan of Jameson so we stocked up on as many bottles as we could carry, mostly of bottles that we couldn’t get back in the US.
When you make your way to Kinsale, we highly recommend splurging for dinner at Fishy Fishy, however if you are looking for something more low key try Dinos for a great selection of fish and chips.
Where we stayed: Actons Hotel Kinsale
Day 6: The Road to Dublin
Kinsale is the best little town for a lazy morning. Be sure to take time to explore the adorable little city; you’ll find something cute around every corner. My favorite spots were the bright colored buildings and the wonderful little shops.
When you get your fill of Kinsale, begin your journey towards Dublin. If time allows, make a stop at The Rock of Cashel along the way. You will not be disappointed. If you have more extra time, visit Hore Abbey down the street too. Both places are gorgeous ruins from the time of Irish Kings. If, like us, you are trying to decide between Blarney Castle and the Rock of Cashel, choose the Rock. It’s is a little less crowded and even more beautiful. My dad didn’t want us to miss our opportunity to kiss the Blarney Stone, but after we left the Rock, he admitted it was the better of the two places since he has visited both.
Dublin is where our tour with Gene ended. We are so thankful we found him. He really made our trip great!
Once you get to Dublin, if your wanting to relax and stay in, grab a pizza from Dublin Pizza Company. The DPC pizza was as good as it sounds!
Where we stayed: Aloft Dublin City
Day 7: Northern Ireland
A day trip from Dublin to Belfast will definitely test your limits on how much you can see in one day. We pretty much maxed out everything you can do in a 10 hour period. To make the most of your day, hop on the earliest train from Dublin to Northern Ireland. The train is a great way to see the landscape and get to Belfast quick! It’s about a 3 hour trip, so bring a book and grab a coffee and breakfast. Once you make it to Belfast, if you’re feeling brave, rent a car from a nearby car rental shop. Having a car gives you so much freedom to do what you want to throughout the day. If you aren’t feeling up for it, there are so many good tour companies that can take you around for the day. Either way, be sure to prioritize the things you want to see.
If you opt to rent a car, leave Belfast and head for Carrick-a-Rede Bridge. Hopefully you’ll get lucky and the weather will allow the bridge to be open to cross. If you get there and the bridge is closed, it’s still a nice walk down to the bridge. You can also get a good view of the bridge if you exit the park and drive to the overlook just up the road.
After the bridge, head for Giants Causeway. It’s quite a walk down to the formation so wear your walking shoes! We opted to listen to some of the audio guide provided by the visitors center during our visit. It was great, but very long. If you aren’t into audio guides, just looking at the formations is a wonderful experience!
If you were a Game of Thrones fan, then on your way back to Belfast be sure to take the route that brings you by the by the Dark Hedges. These were featured in Game of Thrones as the King’s Road. They are even more majestic in person!
The last stop on your tour of Northern Ireland should be a Black Taxi Tour of Belfast. It’s such a great way to learn about all of the turmoil the city went through and the current struggles to move on and overcome adversity. Our tour company told the story from both the Catholic and Protestant points of view in hopes to not influence your thoughts about the issues.
At the end of this long day, take the latest train back to Dublin.
Where we stayed: Aloft Dublin City
Day 8: Dublin
Finally a day in Dublin! Take today to experience this wonderful city. Start off with a Free Walking Tour of the south side. They tell you so much about the history of the city. The best part of this is getting to see Temple Bar before it is crawling with people. This tour lasts about 3 hours so be sure to eat a big breakfast before!
Stop for lunch at a local pub then spend the afternoon walking around Grafton Street and St. Stephen’s Park. This is also a great afternoon to stop by Jameson if you didn’t get your fill in Middleton, or just to check out the original location. If you want to try something different, check out Teeling Distillery. It gorgeous! Head up to the 3rd floor for a less crowded place to lounge.
If you are looking for a break from pub food give Bunsen a try. It a great greasy American style burger. They have delicious fries and milkshakes too.
Where we stayed: Aloft Dublin City
Day 9: Dublin
Our last day in Dublin was March 17th, otherwise known as the best day of the year to be in Dublin or St. Patrick’s Day! Every year Dublin has a HUGE parade to celebrate the holiday. We opted to forgo the parade and spend our day at the Guinness Storehouse instead. Since everyone else was at the parade during this time it was pretty empty at the storehouse. We stocked up on tons of souvenirs then spent a few hours touring the different floors. The best part of the Storehouse is the free pint at the top in the Gravity Bar. People say that the Guinness here is better than anywhere else in the world and they aren’t lying.
Even if it isn’t St. Patrick’s Day, a tour of the Guinness Storehouse is a must for anyone visiting Dublin. This is also a great day to see more around the city. I’d recommend checking out Christ Church Cathedral, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Kilmainham Gaol, Dublin Castle, or the Book of Kells.
For your last night in the city, get dinner and a final Guinness at The Brazen Head Pub. They claim to be the oldest pub in Ireland.
Where we stayed: Aloft Dublin City
I hope this itinerary helps you create your own Ireland adventure!
Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome to Ireland
Morning – Arrive in Dublin, travel to Galway
Lunch – Killeen’s in Shannonbridge
Afternoon – Galway Quay Street and the Latin District
Post dinner – Kings Head Pub, The Crane Bar, Tig Coili, O’Connors
Day 2: Escape to a castle
Morning – Galway
Lunch – McGann’s in Doolin
Afternoon – Cliffs of Moher
Evening – Dromoland Castle
Day 3: Dromoland Castle
Morning – Golf, Spa, or other castle grounds activity
Lunch – Afternoon tea at the castle or lunch at the golf club
Evening – Dingle
Dinner – Dingle Pub
After Dinner – Neligan’s, Dick Mack’s, Foxy Johns
Day 4: Dingle
Morning – Dingle Peninsula (2-4 hours)
Afternoon – Dingle Distillery, Murphy’s Ice Cream, Shopping, Pub Hopping
Dinner – The Fish Box
After Dinner – Neligan’s, Dick Mack’s, Foxy John’s, Dingle Pub
Day 5: Kinsale
Lunch – Killarney
Afternoon – Jameson Middleton Distillery
Dinner – Fishy Fishy
After Dinner – Dalton’s Pub, Kitty Ó Sé’s
Day 6: Dublin
Morning – Kinsale
Afternoon – Rock of Cashel and Hore Abbey
Evening – Dublin
Dinner – Ned O’ Sheas
Day 7: Northern Ireland
Morning – Train to Belfast, drive to Carrick-a-Rede Bridge
Afternoon – Giants Causeway, Black Taxi Tour
Evening – Train to Dublin
Day 8: Dublin
Morning – Walking tour of the city
Afternoon – Explore Dublin (Grafton Street, St. Stephen’s Park, Jameson Bow Street, Teeling Distillery)
Dinner – Dublin Pizza Company or Bunsen
Day 9: Dublin
Morning – Guinness Storehouse Tour
Afternoon – Explore Dublin (Christ Church Cathedral, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Kilmainham Gaol, Dublin Castle, the Book of Kells)
Dinner – The Brazen Head Pub
Day 10: Home
All Day – Fly home
