Two Weeks in Ireland:Ireland EncompassedCustom Itinerary Created by Hannah Logan

EatSleepBreatheTravel.com & IrelandStoleMyHeart.com

Days 1 & 2: Dublin CityDublin 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 Dublin (3 nights)Hostel: Abbey Court HostelMid-range: Temple Bar Inn

Luxury: The Westbury

Chances are, if you are coming from North America especially,you arrived really early in the morning and will be a bit jetlagged.

So stick with some of the shorter attractions and sites today.  

My suggestions include:The Little Museum of Dublin (book inadvance), St. Stephen’s Green, Grafton Street, Trinity College for

the Book of Kells and the Long Hall. Also, check out some of Dublin’s sites including the Molly Malone

Statue and the Ha’Penny bridge. Then do a Jameson WhiskeyDistillery tour (book in advance).

In the evening, I recommend checking out the Temple Bar area.It’s close to the hotels I recommend and has lots of great food

and pub options. 

 Insider Tip: The Temple Bar is a must see itself, but don’t spendyour night in this pub. It’s pricey! If you feel up for a walk (or take

a cab) head to O’Donoghue’s Pub. It’s one of the best pubs inDublin and has great live music.

What to See & Do in Dublin(Day 1)

Explore more of the city today and see a few more of thehighlights including: Dublin Castle, Guinness Storehouse

(book in advance and expect to spend a few hours here), St.Patrick’s Cathedral, Christ Church Cathedral, and

Kilmainham Goal (book in advance) 

Alternatively, if you are not a big city fan, head to the fishingvillage of Howth for a day and hike around there. You cantake the DART (public transit method in Dublin) there and

back. It’s about 30 minutes each way.

 Insider Tip: Dublin is incredibly expensive. If you arelooking to save a little money look for restaurants that have‘early bird’ deals. It’s an easy way to save money if you don’t

mind eating dinner a little early.

What to See & Do in Dublin(Day 2)

Day 3: NorthernIreland Day Trip

Despite being on the same island, Northern Ireland is actually aseparate country from the Republic of Ireland. You can easily cross

back and forth between the two, however Northern Ireland usesGBP for their currency while the Republic of Ireland uses the euro.While credit cards will be accepted at most places, I do recommend

taking out a bit of GBP cash to use as needed for your day trip

What to See & Do in Northern Ireland

Start your day early because it’s going to be a long one. Isuggest hitting the road by 6:30am if you can to beat other day

trips leaving from Dublin and avoid the crowds.

Drive out of Dublin and head towards the Giant’s Causeway.There are a couple of different routes that you can take. Makesure to take the Antrim Coastal route which is the scenic route.

The drive will take about 3-3.5 hours but it is beautiful andthere are a couple small towns you can stop along the way forbreaks if needed. If you are a Game of Thrones Fan, you can

also include a stop at the Dark Hedges along the way.  

Before you reach the Giant’s Causeway, you will come to theCarrick-a-Rede rope bridge which is definitely worth a stop and

a walk across.

 Ideally, you will arrive at the Giants Causeway around11:30am. You can get lunch here and spend a couple of hours

exploring the area.

There are a few different trails you can take around the areaplus a shuttle that you can take up and down the steep hill (for

a fee).

  ...continued on next page

If you are an Irish Whiskey fan, from the Giant’s Causewayhead to Bushmills Distillery (5-minute drive). Or just continue

on towards Dunluce Castle (another 5-minute drive pastBushmills) which you will recognize if you watched Game of

Thrones.

 From there it’s a little over an hour to Belfast City, thecapital of Northern Ireland. How long you spent at the other

stops will determine how much time you have here, but ifnothing else you should have time for a little bit of a walk

around.

If you have a good part of the day left, consider visiting theBelfast Titanic Museum. If not, find a place to park and

wander around a bit before grabbing dinner. 

 After dinner, drive back to Dublin (about 2 hours) for thenight.  

Insider Tip: Make sure to stop at the Crown Liquor Saloonin Belfast. It’s the city’s most famous pub and its stunning

inside.

...Day 3 continued

Day 4: GalwayGalway is known for its culture and its pub life. It has a reputationfor being safe and also for having some of the best craic in all ofIreland. It’s also a fast emerging foodie destination and home to

lots of great festivals year-round. I’m a firm believer that no trip toIreland is complete without a visit to Galway.

Where to Stay in Galway (3 nights)Hostel: Kinlay House Eyre Square

Midrange: Forster Court HotelLuxury: The Hardiman

What to See & Do in Galway

Galway is small and best enjoyed by foot. A lot of the charmof this west-coast city lies in the atmospheres. The

pedestrian only streets, the street performers, the musiccoming out of the pubs etc.

A few things worth noting:     

Galway does have a free museum    Galway Cathedral is also free of charge to visit      

There is a small farmers market on the weekends by St.Nicholas Church     

You can find the original makers of the Claddagh Ring (andthe Claddagh museum, which is free) at Thomas Dillon’s

Claddagh Gold     There is live music at many of Galway’s pubs on a daily basis.

Ask the locals which pub has live music on the night youvisit.  

Insider Tip: Galway is known for its pubs, however it’s ahuge foodie destination as well. If you are looking for

something a little more upscale try Ard Bia at Nimmo’s orKai. Both will require reservations.

Day 5: Connemara DayTrip

 Connemara is known to be one of the most romantic areasof Ireland. There’s a mountain range, plenty of lakes, and

windswept fields. The scenery here is truly stunning and theweather can change at a moment’s notice.

What to See/Do in Connemara

 Connemara is all about the scenery which include lakes, plentyof sheep, the the 12 Bens mountains, so today will be a drivingday. The main highlight for me is Kylemore Abbey. Your entry

ticket will include entry to the Abbey itself as well as it’sgrounds which include some walking trails and a Victorian

Garden.  You can add a couple of the small towns in along theway too. Roundstone is pretty cute, Clifden is also nearby and,

depending on how far you want to go, Cong is popular withtourists as well.

Insider Tip: Connemara is also home to some of Ireland’s bestcastle hotels. I haven’t included a stay in one in this itinerary,however, if you would like to splurge I highly recommend a

night at: Ballynahinch Castle or Lough Inagh Lodge. If you canREALLY afford to splurge and want a true fairytale experience,then look at Ashford Castle (or the Manor at Ashford Castle).  If

it’s not in the budget, head back to Galway for the night.

Day 6: Inis Mor Day TripInis Mor is the largest of the Aran Islands, located on the

west coast of Ireland out in Galway Bay. Life here is slow andhas an ‘old-world’ charm to it but because it’s so differentthan the mainland, it also feels very authentic. You’ll see

plenty of farmers, some incredibly historical sites, and hearthe Irish language spoken on a regular basis. Without adoubt, Inis Mor is one of my favourite places in Ireland.

What to See & Do on Inis Mor

Drive from Galway (or Connemara if you choose to stay) toRossaveal. This is where you will take the ferry across to InisMor. The ferries only run a couple times a day so be sure to

get there early to take the first morning ferry. 

 Once you arrive at Inis Mor you can choose to rent a bike,take a mini-bus tour, or hire a pony trap to explore the

island. The choice is up to you.

Highlights include: Dun Aonghasa which is an ancient clifftopfortress, The Worm Hole (be very careful of the tides), & TheSevern Churches. Also, keep an eye on the water. You’ll likelysee seals playing along the shore and if you are really lucky

you could spot some basking sharks. 

 Again, remember to keep note of the ferry schedule as you’llwant to head back to Galway for the night. 

 Insider Tip: If you want an Irish wool sweater, this is theplace to buy one. The famous Aran knit sweaters can be

purchased in a store called Aran Sweater Market which isclose to the pier. There are also stories in Galway and

Killarney, but it’s a bit more authentic coming from the islanditself.

Day 7: DoolinDoolin is a small village close to the Cliffs of Moher. It has areputation for its great traditional music and is also knownto be the gateway to the Aran Islands as well as the Burren.

Most people come for just a day trip but I think it’s worthspending a night. After all, the pubs here are a lot of fun.

Where to Stay in Doolin (1 night)Doolin is primarily B&Bs because it is a small village . Take a

look at my post of recommended places to stay here.

What to See & Do in Doolin

From Galway, drive about 1.5 hours to Doolin. Doolin is bestknown for the Cliffs of Moher which are a must see when in

Ireland.

However, since most day trips come from Galway/Dublinlate morning/early afternoon I suggest you save the cliffs

themselves until the end of the day. By then, the maincrowds have gone plus since the Cliffs face west, the light

from the sun setting makes them look even better.  

Spend the earlier part of the day exploring the Burren whichis one of the most unique landscapes in Ireland. There’s acouple of spots worth stopping including Ailwee Caves andthe Burren Perfumery. The Burren also has lots of hiking

trails and archaeological finds so stretch your legs and go fora walk here too. 

For the evening, head to Gus O’Connor’s pub for dinner, apint of Guinness, and some of the best traditional music in

Ireland.

  Insider Tip: Don’t just stick to the part of the cliffs closestto the visitor’s centre. Walk along the cliffs for the full

experience. This is also a good way to get away from thecrowds if it is busy when you come.

Day 8 & 9: DingleDingle is a small seaside town in south-west Ireland. It’s

known for its rugged scenery and the friendly local dolphinnamed Fungie who lives in the Bay. Star Wars fans will alsorecognize this area as a filming location in the latest StarWars movies.  Dingle is more of a seasonal town, so keep

that in mind when trip planning if you are coming early/latein the year.

Where to Stay in Dingle (2 nights)Find the list of my recommended hotes in Dingle here.l

What to See & Do in Dingle(Day 8)

The drive from Dingle to Doolin is about three hours. If you want tostop along the way for lunch, you can take a break in Limerick.

Once you arrive in Dingle, spend the day exploring the town. It’ssmall so you can do so by foot. There’s lots of cute little shops andpubs. Make sure to try Murphy’s Ice cream if you haven’t yet as it

originated in Dingle. If you like boats, take one of the tours out intothe bay to see Fungie the Dolphin. He gets right up to the boat and

puts on quite a show when he seems the little fishing boat comeout.  

Insider Tip: Doyle’s Seafood is an amazing restaurant!

What to See & Do in Dingle(Day 9)

Today the plan is to drive down what I think is probably theprettiest road trip in Ireland; the Dingle Peninsula, also referredto as Slea Head Drive. Hopefully the weather is sunny and clear

because the views you will get along the way are beautiful.There’s an island off the coast that looks like a sleeping giant

and you can see Sybil Head which was a filming location for theStar Wars movies. Other points of interest include the Beehivehuts as well as Dunmore Head which is the most western point

in Europe.  The drive will probably take about 3-4 hours including stops.

Day 10 & 11: KillarneyKillarney is a small town located in southern Ireland. It is

best known for its nearby natural attractions which includeKillarney National park and the famous Ring of Kerry drive.

Where to Stay in Killarney (2 nights)Hostel: The Black Sheep

Midrange: Murphy’s of Killarney Luxury:  The Killarney Park

What to See & Do in Killarney (Day 10)

Killarney is about an hour from Dingle.

As you leave the coastline you’ll notice that this part ofIreland is much more heavily forested. This is part of

Killarney’s charm. Spend your first day exploring KillaneyTown and parts of the nearby National Park.

If you are interested in historic buildings, you can visitMuckross House which is a 19th century mansion that stillhas working farms. Be sure to also take a walk to the lower

Killarney Lake to explore Ross Castle which sits on theshoreline. Depending on the weather, you can take a boat

out to the lake islands as well.

During the evening, have dinner and drinks at one ofKillarney’s many pubs.  

Insider Tip: you like craft beer be sure to visit KillarneyBrewing Company. They offer (very entertaining) tours as

well.

What to See & Do in Killarney(Day 11)

Killarney is the gateway to one of Ireland’s best-knowndrives: The Ring of Kerry. So take the day to do that.

If you can, leave earlier in the morning so you can get aheadof all the tour buses.  

Driving around the Ring of Kerry will take at least threehours, probably more if you stop a lot (which you should).

There are a number of little towns worth exploring includingKenmare and Sneem, a couple of scenic beaches, and the

Skelligs Chocolate Co. is just a bit off the trail.

Don’t forget the Gap of Dunloe and, your way back toKillarney for the night, make sure to stop by Torc Waterfall

and take in the scenery at Ladies View.

Day 12: Blarney & CorkCork is the second largest city in Ireland. It doesn’t have a

ton of tourist attractions itself, however it is best known forthe nearby Blarney Castle which holds the famous Blarney

stone.

Where to Stay in Cork (1 night)Find my list of accommodation suggestions for Cork City

here.

What to See & Do in Blarney and Cork

Cork town itself isn’t (in my opinion) very exciting, howevernearby is the world-famous Blarney Castle and grounds

which I think is definitely worth a visit.  

Depending on the time of year you visit, you may also be ableto go inside Blarney Manor (it's seasonal, but the castle and

grounds are not).

You do not have to kiss the Blarney Stone if you don't wantto. But, if you do, be aware that you'll need to climb severalflights of stairs to the top of the castle. There are two menthere a well to help support and hold you as you need to

bend over backwards and hang upside down to actually kissthe stone.

Killarney town to Blarney will take a little over an hour todrive.

You can spend a couple of hours at Blarney before headinginto Cork for the afternoon and evening. Cork doesn't have aton of toursitic things to do, but like every Irish city you are

bound to find a fun pub for the evening.

Day 13: KilkennyKilkenny is a medieval city located in the southeast ofIreland. It’s best known for its historic buildings which

include a castle and several churches and monasteries.Kilkenny is also famous for its local artisans.

Where to Stay in Kilkenny (1 night)Find my list of recommended accommodation options for

Kilkenny here.

What to See and Do in Kilkenny

Cork to Kilkenny is about a two-hour drive so don’t leave toolate because Kilkenny is a lot of fun and has quite a bit to

see and do in a day. 

Kilkenny Castle is the main attraction. It’s very large and inreally good condition so definitely worth taking the tour. Youcan walk the Medieval Mile, check out the artisan shops, andpop into some of the churches and cathedrals. If you enjoy

beer, be sure to take the Smithwick’s tour.

 Kilkenny is a popular Stag/Doe (aka bachelor/Bachlorette)party destination in Ireland so if you happen to be visiting on

the weekend, you can expect the pubs to be very lively. Besure to stop by Kyteler’s Inn/Pub. Not only is it one of theoldest Inn’s in Ireland but it’s also rumored to be haunted

and was once owned by a woman who was accused of beinga witch. 

 Insider Tip: If you are looking for a more local experience,skip the hotels and check Airbnb for a pub stay. There are acouple of pubs have rooms available for rent above which isa fun experience. I stayed in a small but clean room above a

family-run pub called O’Gorman’s and loved it.

Day 14: Dublin Via WicklowToday is your last full day in Ireland so begin the trip back to

Dublin. I suggest taking a longer route and stopping byWicklow along the way (about 1 hour 45 minutes from

Kilkenny).

Wicklow is Ireland’s largest national park and is full ofmountains, waterfalls, and glacial lakes. It’s also home to

Glendalough which was a monastic settlement.  FromWicklow, head to Dublin City (about 1-hour drive) for your

last night in Ireland.

*You can stay in one of my previously recommended Dublinhotels for the night. Or, if you have an early flight try the

Clayton Hotel Dublin Airport. Its close and has a free shuttle

Not Renting a Car?

If you don’t want to rent a car while in Ireland, you can stillvisit the places I have l listed in this itinerary though a

combination of public transit and day trips with local tourcompanies.

You’ll just use the bigger cities as bases for your day tripsrather than staying overnight in some of the smaller ones.    

From Dublin, you can take a day trip up to Northern Ireland.

Bus to Galway. There is the express CityLink bus which willpick you up in Dublin city centre and take you directly across

country to Galway city.  

From Galway you can take day trips to:

The Burren and the Cliffs of MoherKylemore Abbey and Connemara

Inis Mor (there is a bus from Galway City that will take you tothe ferry, just visit a tour office and they will set you up with

the tickets).  

...continued on the next page

From Galway you can take a bus (use Bus Eireann to find theroute and schedule) to Killarney.

From Killarney you can take a day trip to:

Dingle & Slea Head Drive     The Ring of Kerry 

Head back to Dublin from Killarney (via train, this route ismuch faster via train than by bus).

From Dublin you can see the other spots via day trips:

     Blarney & Cork· Kilkenny & Wicklow

....not renting a car continued

Enjoy!