IRELAND & NORTHERN IRELAND

  IRELAND BY CAR

Day 1 Arrive Dublin Airport. Meet up with the driver for your private transfer to the Dublin hotel. 3 Overnights in a hotel in Dublin.

Day 2 Morning to enjoy a walking tour of the city with Trinity College (or join a hop-on-hop-off bus tour). Afternoon to explore Jameson Distillery.

Day 3 Join a tour of the Guinness Storehouse, with the afternoon to explore on your own (or an afternoon food walking tour in Dublin). An evening Merry Ploughboy Show to end the day. If you prefer a day outside of Dublin, perhaps going to Howth with a cliffs and lighthouse cruise (or a historical day trip to the northern sites, such as Hill of Tara and Newgrange).

Day 4 Pickup the rental car in Dublin. Drive to the hotel in Galway, perhaps stopping along the way to see the Clonmacnoise ruins, visit a distillery with whiskey tasting, or stop for a tour and cooking class at a local farm. Arrive in Galway, with the evening to explore the city. 3 Overnights in a hotel in Galway.

Day 5 Explore Connemara, Cong, and Kylemore Abbey from Galway.

There is also much to do in Galway itself: St. Nicholas’ and St. Mary’s Catholic churches, walk the trails, visit Galway City Museum, explore the Latin Quarter, etc.

Day 6 Day trip to the Cliffs of Moher, and perhaps also The Burren. Possibility to include a sheepdog demonstration.

Day 7 Depart Galway and head to Killarney, with a stop along the way in Adare. 3 Overnights in a hotel in Killarney.

Day 8 Drive around the Ring of Kerry, a beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stopping in the local towns and shops.

Day 9 Explore the Dingle Peninsula, seeing Inch Beach and the coastal town of Dingle (previously known for its Dingle Dolphins). Possibility to include a food tour while in Dingle.

Day 10 Check-out of the hotel and drive to your next destination. Afternoon to visit the area, perhaps Cobh.

2 Overnights in a hotel in Kinsale or Cork.

Day 11 Day to visit Blarney Castle and Gardens, the town, and to kiss the legendary stone. Or sightseeing along the coast with the rental car, perhaps including a kayaking or another coastal experience.

Day 12 Drive to Dublin, stopping in Kilkenny to explore the town (option to add a night or so in Kilkenny), or to see Wicklow mountains and national park. Note: The rental car can be returned on this day, or at the airport when departing.

1 Overnight in a hotel in Dublin, or at the airport.

Day 13 Drop-off the rental car in Dublin, or have a private transfer to the airport. Depart Dublin Airport.

 NORTHERN IRELAND & DONEGAL BY CAR

14 nights / 15 dayS  

Day 01  Arrive into Dublin Airport, and collect the rental car. Drive to Armagh (approx. drive time: 2 hours). Either travel along the coast or inland to see historical sites such as Hill of Tara, Brú na Bóinne, and Newgrange.

3 Overnights in a hotel in the Armagh area of Northern Ireland (part of the UK).

Day 02+03 Two full days in the Armagh area. Sightseeing possibilities: Explore Armagh – visit the cathedral, stroll through town, see the observatory and planetarium. Cider Farm Experience with orchard walk and cider tasting. Oxford Island National Nature Reserve; Lough Neagh Discovery Centre and Loughside Café, Kinnego Marina, trails and nature. The Argory, an Irish gentry house surrounded by a 320-acre wooded riverside estate with trails and shops.

Day 04  Drive to the Giant’s Causeway area (approx. 2 hours). Stop at Crumlin Glen, walk through the woodlands to see the waterfalls and viaduct.

3 Overnights in a hotel in the Giant’s Causeway area of Northern Ireland (part of the UK).

Day 05+06 Two full days at the Giant’s Causeway; a network of four walking trails across the UNESCO World Heritage site and home to native seabirds; visit the Visitor Centre exhibition and interpretation area, shop, and café. Optional Old Bushmills Distillery visit.

Day 07  Drive to Marble Hill (approx. 2 hours). Stop in Londonderry (Derry) and Doe Castle (an official Wild Atlantic Way site).

3 Overnights in a hotel in the Northern County Donegal area of Ireland.

Day 08+09 Two full days in Northern Co. Donegal. Sightseeing possibilities: Explore the Wild Atlantic Way sites, traveling further up north. Glenveagh National Park; 6 walking/hiking trails, Glenveagh Castle and Gardens (perhaps stop for tea), fauna (i.e. golden eagles and peregrine falcons). Ards Forest Park; hike in the woodlands, visit the golden beaches, sand dunes, and saltwater lakes. Board a ferry from Magheroarty to Toraigh (Tory Island); a remote inhabited island with local traditions, unique historical sites, rare bird life.

Day 10  Drive along the Wild Atlantic Way to Lough Eske Castle (approx. 3.5 hours). Stop at Fintragh Bay, Muckross Head, Slieve League, Malin Beg, Glengesh Pass, Carrickfin Beach.

3 Overnights in a hotel in the town of Donegal (possibly at Lough Eske Castle) in Ireland.

Day 11+12 Two full days at Lough Eske Castle; time to rest and relax, exploring the grounds, arrange activities at the castle (i.e. history tour, bike rides, whiskey cellar visit/tasting, horse drawn carriage ride, fishing) explore the area.

Day 13  Drive to Clontarf Castle (approx. drive time: 3.5 hours). Stop at the Loughcrew Cairns (megalithic cemetery and historic estate).

2 Overnights near Dublin Airport (possibly at another castle hotel) to end the trip. 

Day 14  Day trip to Howth; cruise along the cliffs, Howth Cliffs Walk, stop in at local shops for some coastal foods.

Day 15 Drive to Dublin Airport (approx. drive time: 10-minutes), and drop off the rental car. Depart from Dublin Airport to fly home. Bon Voyage!