Custom itinerary created by Hannah LoganEatSleepBreatheTravel.com & Irelandstolemyheart.com

7 Day Itinerary forWestern Ireland

Day 1:DublinDublin is Ireland’s capital. It’s full of museums, pubs, and hasplenty of history and site seeing available. For the most part,

Dublin is very pedestrian-friendly which makes it ideal forwalking around. You will not need a car to get around Dublinbut you will want comfortable shoes and probably a raincoat

or umbrella just in case. After all, this is Ireland.  

Where to Stay in DublinHostel: Abbey Court HostellMid-range: Temple Bar Inn

Luxury: The Westbury

Today is your first day in Dublin. If you are arriving fromNorth America, you will likely land very early in the morning

which is perfect because it gives you an entire day toexplore.

 Drop off your bags at your accommodation and headtowards St. Stephen’s Green via Grafton Street. You’ll get achance to stretch your legs and see a bit of Dublin beforethe stores and businesses start to open up.   If you need apick-me-up, stop at Bewleys Café and try some of their teaand scones. If you aren’t ready to stop yet but still want a

treat, head to Butler’s Café and get their hot chocolate to go. I honestly think it’s the best hot chocolate in the world. 

 St. Stephen’s Green is Dublin’s best known park. This greenspace in the heart of the city is a favourite for locals andtourists alike who come to spend the sunny days here. It

opens at 8am, much earlier than the museums andattractions, so it’s the perfect place to explore for those who

arrive in the morning.   

Beside St. Stephen’s Green is the Little Museum of Dublin.This is my favourite museum in the city. It’s a quick tour that

will give you a lot of history and insight into the history ofDublin- but in a fun an entertaining way. Tours do sell out so

your best bet is to book your ticket online in advance (thefirst tour is 9:30am).

Morning

AfternoonHead back up Grafton Street (which you will notice is much

busier now) towards your next stop, Trinity College.

If you are hungry, stop for lunch along the way. Bewley’sCafé, which I mentioned earlier, does lunch and there areplenty of quick eats along the way. If you want something

more traditional, head to Davy Byrnes Pub which just off ofGrafton Street. 

 The grounds of Trinity college are free to walk around andenjoy but the main attraction here is the Book of Kells andthe Long Hall which is the famous library. You do need a

ticket to enter and, depending on the time of year you visit,there may be a wait. So get your ticket first and explore

after. 

 After Trinity, take a bus (use the Moovit app, there areplenty of bus stops right outside Trinity College) to either:

The Guinness Storehouse OR Jameson Distillery. You won’thave time for both.

Guinness is not guided but very large and you can easilyspend a few hours here. Jameson is guided and doesn’t takeas long. Both are great experiences though so it depends on

your interest. Again, I recommend booking your tickets inadvance to avoid wait times.

Make your way back to the Temple Bar area fordinner.

You’ll have no shortages of foodie finds here frompub fare to seafood and more. I personally

recommend Boxty House for a modern spin on atraditional Irish dish. 

Hopefully, at this point, you are still standing becauseyou can’t finish your first day in Dublin without at

least one pint in a pub. If you don’t want to stray toofar, The Temple Bar itself is always a classic (thoughtouristy and expensive). The Palace Bar is anothergood pick, especially if you prefer whiskey to beer.

If you don’t mind going a bit out of the way, I highlyrecommend O’Donogues Bar which is down by St.

Stephen’s Green. It’s known for its live music.

Evening

Day 2: DoolinDoolin is a small village close to the Cliffs of Moher. It’s known forits traditional music and is also known to be the gateway to theAran Islands as well as the Burren. Most people come for just aday trip but I think it’s worth spending a night. After all, the pubs

here are a lot of fun.  

Where to Stay in DoolinDoolin is primarily B&Bs because it is a small village . Take a

look at my accommodation recommendations here.

AfternoonUse your afternoon to explore one of the most unique

landscapes in Ireland, the Burren. You can drive around thearea by car. Places of interest include: Ailwee Caves and Birdsof Prey and The Burren Perfumery. The Burren has plenty of

walking trails as well if you enjoy hiking.  

Towards the end of the afternoon, head to the Cliffs of Moher.They are at their best in the afternoon when the sun is settingand the light hits them. Plus, at this point in the day the day-

trippers from Galway and Dublin have gone. Watch the sunsetfrom the cliffs.

Morning

Evening

Check out from your Dublin hotel and pick up your carrental to begin your drive across the country. It will take

about 3 hours, traffic depending.

Doolin is known for its traditional Irish music pubs and youcannot leave this village without spending an evening at GusO’Connor’s pub. So go in for dinner (traditional pub fare) andplan to stay for a couple of pints and listen to the live music.

Day 3: GalwayGalway is known for its culture and its pub life. It has a

reputation for being safe and also for having some of the bestcraic 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 believerthat no trip to Ireland is complete without a visit to Galway.

Where to Stay in GalwayHostel: Kinlay House Eyre Square

Midrange: Forster Court HotelLuxury: The Hardiman

Depart Doolin and make your way to Galway (about 1.5 hourdrive). Along the way, you can stop at Dunguaire Castle. Itwill just be a quick stop as the castle is not a typical touristattraction (it does banquet dinner) but you can stop at the

side of the road for 10-15 minutes to check it out.

Arrive into Galway City, check into your accommodation.

By now you are probably pretty hungry, so grab a bite. Galway hassome great spots for fish and chips: McDonagh’s is a firm favourite

though Hooked is quickly making a name for itself as well. If youcan find space, the Pie Maker is another delicious pick. Or, if you

feel like pizza, the Dough Bros is incredible.

 After lunch, you’ll have the afternoon to explore Galway city. Theheart of this city is quite small so you can explore by foot and don’t

have to worry about getting lost.

The main tourist areas are around Shop Street and the LatinQuarter, but feel free to explore the side streets and surrounding

area.

Morning

Afternoon

Start your evening off with dinner. The lunch suggestions I gavealso work for dinner time. If you want to eat in one of Galway’spubs go to The Kings Head which is historic, fun, and offers a

menu with lots of locally sourced ingredients.

If you feeling like trying something more upscale, Ard Bia atNimmos is considered one of the best restaurants in the city.

I’m also a big fan of Kai.

Please make reservations for the last two if that’s what youchoose.

 Of course, a pub crawl is an obligatory part of a night inGalway. You will have no shortages of choices so my best

recommendation is to just walk around and see what catchesyour eye.

Plenty of Galway’s pubs have traditional music on throughoutthe week, some even have Irish dancing on certain nights.  

Try: Tigh Coili, Taaffes, and Monroes if you are looking formusic.

Evening

Day 4: Inis MorInis Mor is the largest of the Aran Islands, located on the westcoast 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 themainland, it also feels very authentic. You’ll see plenty of farmers,

some incredibly historical sites, and hear the Irish language spokenon a regular basis. Without a doubt, Inis Mor is one of my favourite

places in Ireland.

Where to Stay on Inis MorLike Doolin, Inis Mor has mostly B&B type properties. Take a

look at my accommodations recommendations here.

MorningCheck out of your hotel in Galway and drive to Rossaveal

where you will take the ferry across to Inis Mor. No vehiclescan be taken on the ferry, but you can leave your car at a

parking lot at Rossaveal overnight (this considered to be verysafe). The ferry takes about 40 minutes to cross and drops youoff at the main village, Kilronan.  Note: The ferry between InisMor and Rossaveal is not frequent, you will need to check theschedule ahead and make sure you arrive to the port early.

Afternoon

There are three main ways to explore Inis Mor:by bike

by pony trap rideor by a mini-bus tour.

It’s up to you what you choose; all three options will bewaiting for your business at the pier when you arrive.

The pony trap and mini-bus options will obviously let yousee more of the island given that they are faster and guided.

The bikes are the cheapest option and will give you themost freedom. Just make sure to plan in advance and keep

and eye on the time because it's also the slowest option.

Highlights of Inis Mor include:     

-Dun Aonghasa Fort: (there’s a small village nearby to theFort, Kilmurvey, where you can grab lunch)    

 -The Worm Hole: be VERY cautious of tides. Ask a local andkeep a watch on them yourself.      

-The Seven Churches     -Aran Sweater Market (if you want an authentic Irish wool

sweater)

 Be sure to keep your eyes out for the seals playing alongthe shoreline and, if you get really lucky, you may even see

basking sharks.

EveningMost tourists only visit Inis Mor as a day trip, which is part of

why I recommend staying overnight. It means you get amore authentic experience. Plus, being a tourist that chooseto stay a night gives you a bit of extra credit with the locals. 

Head to Joe Watty’s Bar for dinner, some drinks, and somelive music. The seafood served here is phenomenal (bestscallops I’ve had) and they have a good selection of craft

beer and Irish whiskey as well.

Day 5: Connemara Connemara National Park is known to be one of the most romantic

areas of Ireland. There’s a mountain range, plenty of lakes, andwindswept fields. The scenery here is truly stunning and the weather

can change at a moment’s notice. Connemara is also home to some ofIreland’s best hotels including castle hotels. So, if you can afford it, I

highly suggest you budget to stay in one of these types of propertiesfor at least one night so you can have a magical experience.

Where to StayBallynahinch Castle Hotel OR Lough Inagh Lodge I have stayed atboth of these properties and absolutely think they are worth the

splurge, however, if it’s not in your budget. You can stay somewherein the nearby village of Clifden.

MorningDepart Inis Mor and take the morning ferry back to the mainland.Again, be sure to check the schedule and be there on time sincethe ferries do not run regularly. Drive to Kylemore Abbey. Enjoythe scenery along the way and be sure to stop for photos. You’ll

pass the 12 Bens mountains which (fingers crossed) won’t becovered in clouds because they are gorgeous. Oh, and as you

drive in this part of Ireland, mind the sheep!

AfternoonSpend your afternoon exploring the grounds of Kylemore Abbey.

This is one of the most beautiful sites in Ireland. It looks like itcame from the pages of a fairytale storybook. Your entrance ticketincludes access to the abbey itself as well as the grounds and the

walled gardens. It’s easy to spend a couple of hours hereexploring plus the cafeteria here has delicious food for lunch.

EveningHead to your hotel to enjoy a nice dinner and evening drinks

on the property (or in Clifden)

Day 6: Ashford CastleIf you are looking for the most magical castle experience in

Ireland....this is it.

Where to Stay

Add a little bit of body tet

Midrange: The Lodge at Ashford CastleLuxury: Ashford Castle Hotel 

*If both of these exceed your budget, then you can find aplace to stay in Cong village which is just down the road.

MorningEnjoy a lazy morning at whatever hotel you chose. Sleep in,have a later breakfast, walk around the property. After you

checkout, drive about an hour to Cong which is also locatedin Connemara.

AfternoonWhen it comes to Irish Castles, there is no place like Ashford

Castle. Even if you choose not to stay here, you can stillenter the estate for a fee. It’s worth it if you are interested in

seeing another (incredible) storybook castle and walkingthrough forest trails. Other activities include horseback

riding, golfing, fishing, or learning falconry (these need to bearranged in advance).  You can also grab lunch or afternoon

tea at the castle as a non-guest, just make reservationsahead of time. If you do decide to stay at the castle or monr

hotel, you do not need to pay to enter the grounds.

EveningChoose to have dinner at the castle, the manor (you should

arrange this ahead of time, even if you are staying). Or, in thevillage, if that’s where you choose to stay.

Day 7: Dublin via theCountryside

Where to StayIf you want to stay in town, choose one of the options I

suggested at the beginning of this guide.If you have an early morning flight, head to the Clayton Hotel

Dublin Airport (they have a free airport shuttle!)

Time to head back to where your Irish adventure began.

It will take about 3 hours or so to get back to Dublin fromCong. If you want, you can drive straight back and enjoy a

few more attractions in Dublin.

Or, you can take it slow and stop along the way. Some spotsof interest may include:

Kilbeggen DistilleryTullamore Dew Distillery

Athlone CastleClonmacnoise Monastery

MorningEnjoy your morning at your leisure then checkout. Today you

will head back to Dublin.

Afternoon

EveningHave one last meal in the city and, if your flight isn’t too early

the next morning, you can partake in a final Dublin pubcrawl.

Not Renting a Car?This itinerary is geared towards travellers who plan on rentinga vehicle while in Ireland. However, if you would prefer to usepublic transit you can still follow a similar route using buses

and day trips. 

From Dublin, you can bus directly to Galway which you willthen use as your base to explore Doolin and Connemara

since both of those places are very tricky to get to and seewithout a car. However, there are some great day trips thatleave from Galway city and allow you to see the highlights.

While you may feel like you are missing out on the nightlife inDoolin and a more remote stay in Connemara, trust me when

I say that nights out in Galway will not disappoint!  

For tips on day trips from Galway with my top picks, clickhere. 

You do not need a car to get to the ferry for Inis Mor. Tourcompanies run buses from Galway City Centre right to the

ferry dock (and return). It’s really easy.  

Unfortunately, it’s incredibly difficult to get to Cong by publictransit so you will miss out on the Ashford Castle experience.However, The Hardiman Hotel offers an elegant afternoon tea

if you are looking for a special, more upscale experience.

Enjoy!