Ireland guide for cities, coast and practical road trips

Start with the essentials

Plan Ireland at a glance

First trip: 8–12 days
Best months: May–Sep
Main transport: Rail, coaches and car
Car: Useful for rural coasts
Currency: Euro

About Ireland

Why visit Ireland

Ireland works best when the route leaves room for weather, slower roads and evenings in the chosen bases.

The west coast is not one continuous day trip. Connemara, the Burren, the Aran Islands and the southern peninsulas need different plans.

Plan Ireland by region

Dublin, Galway and Cork provide useful public-transport bases, while Connemara, Donegal, Kerry and the peninsulas need more selective coach, tour or driving plans. Ireland’s rural roads make distance a poor guide to journey time.

A first route should choose either the west and southwest or a northern section after Dublin. Trying to cover every coast creates long driving days and little time for towns, walks or weather changes.

Choose a part of the country

Choose a region

Connemara

Choose a Connemara base for bog, mountain and Atlantic landscapes, with routes shaped by weather and limited local transport.

View region

County Donegal

Choose a County Donegal base for Atlantic headlands, beaches, uplands and communities spread across long rural journeys.

View region

Ring of Kerry

Plan the Ring of Kerry as a full scenic route with a suitable base, fewer useful stops and realistic driving time.

View region

West Cork

Choose a West Cork base for harbour towns, peninsulas, islands, food and a coastal route that avoids daily long backtracking.

View region

Good places to start

Cities for a first trip

See all 10 cities and towns

City

Dublin

Plan Dublin around major museums, Georgian streets, literary history, coastal rail outings and a realistic city-centre budget.

Best for: Culture, Heritage, Food Suggested time: 3 to 4 days

City

Galway

Use Galway for a lively small-city stay, bay walks, food and music, with planned access to Connemara and the Aran Islands.

Best for: Culture, Food, Coast Suggested time: 2 to 3 days

City

Cork

Plan Cork for markets, food, waterside streets and rail-based harbour outings, with onward access to Kinsale and West Cork.

Best for: Food, Culture, Rail Suggested time: 2 to 3 days

Town

Killarney

Use Killarney as a practical base for national park routes, lakes, historic estates and selected Ring of Kerry travel.

Best for: Nature, Hiking, Family Suggested time: 2 to 4 days

City

Kilkenny

Plan Kilkenny for a compact medieval core, castle, craft, food and a manageable stop between Dublin and the south.

Best for: Heritage, Culture, Food Suggested time: 1 to 2 days

City

Waterford

Plan Waterford for Viking and medieval heritage, museums, a compact waterfront and access to the county’s coast and greenway.

Best for: Heritage, Culture, Cycling Suggested time: 1 to 2 days

Choose an island

Island guides

County Mayo

Achill Island

Achill Island combines long Atlantic beaches, high sea cliffs, mountain scenery and scattered villages connected to the Mayo mainland by bridge.

Open island guide

Parks and natural areas

Nature destinations

Killarney National Park

Killarney National Park protects lakes, woodland and mountain landscapes immediately beside Killarney, with Muckross as the most practical first area.

Find places by area

Browse places by region

Burren and Cliffs of Moher Doolin

Doolin

County Mayo Achill Island, Westport

Achill Island Westport

Ring of Kerry Killarney National Park

Killarney National Park

Plan a day out

Day trips and experiences

Day trip, 10 to 12 hours

Wicklow and Glendalough from Dublin

Plan a full day from Dublin to Glendalough and the Wicklow Mountains with transport, weather and walking ability settled before departure.

Day trip, 11 to 14 hours

Aran Islands day trip from Galway

Choose one Aran Island and one complete ferry plan from Galway, with enough margin for weather, local transport and the return sailing.

See activities in Ireland

Match the route to your time

Choose a trip length

5–7 days

Dublin and one western base

Give Dublin two or three days, then take rail or coach to Galway, Cork or Killarney. Use the second base for one focused regional outing. Do not attempt a complete Wild Atlantic route within a week.

8–12 days

Cities and one coastal region

Link Dublin with Galway and Killarney or Cork, then explore Connemara, the Ring of Kerry or West Cork. Two regional bases work better than moving accommodation along every section of coast. Leave room for poor weather.

14–18 days

A focused road and rail route

Combine public-transport city stays with a car for one western or northern circuit. Keep daily road distances modest and leave a flexible day for rain, strong wind or a slower scenic stop. Return the car before Dublin.

Ready-made routes

Suggested itineraries

9 days, 8 nights

Dublin, Galway and Cork without a car

Spend nine days in Dublin, Galway and Cork using intercity rail and bus, with one carefully selected western day trip.

Main stops: Dublin, Galway, Cork
Transport: Train, Bus, Local Transport, Walking
Best suited to: Independent travellers who prefer city bases and do not want to drive
Main trade-off: Rural and coastal choices are narrower because every excursion must fit a current public transport or tour schedule

12 days, 11 nights

Ireland west and south road route

Drive Ireland’s west and south over twelve days using Galway, Connemara, Dingle, Killarney and West Cork as measured bases.

Main stops: Galway, Connemara, Dingle Peninsula, Killarney, West Cork
Transport: Car, Walking, Ferry
Best suited to: Drivers who value coastal landscapes, local walks and slower regional bases
Main trade-off: The focused route leaves much of the east and north for another trip

Build your own route

Transport choices

Getting around Ireland

Intercity rail connects Dublin with Galway, Cork, Limerick, Kilkenny and other centres, while national and regional coaches reach additional towns. Guided day trips solve some rural routes without a car. Driving provides the most freedom on peninsulas and remote coasts, but narrow roads, livestock, weather and left-side driving make short map distances slower than expected. Ferries and remote buses require date-specific checks.

Intercity rail

Use rail for the main Dublin connections and check the dated Irish Rail journey before booking. A station may still require a local bus or taxi to reach the chosen rural accommodation.

Coaches and local buses

Coaches connect cities, airports and some regional gateways. Local services can be infrequent, so confirm the outward and return journey before planning a walk or attraction around one bus.

Guided outings

A small-group tour can provide practical access to the Cliffs of Moher, Connemara, Wicklow or a peninsula without a car. Compare the actual stops and time outside the vehicle before booking.

Driving

A car is useful for Donegal, Kerry, West Cork and dispersed Atlantic stops. Drive on the left, keep daily distances conservative and avoid collecting it before a central Dublin stay.

Month-by-month planning

When to visit

Choose dates for Irish cities, Atlantic roads, islands and walking by balancing daylight, weather, demand and seasonal transport.

Open the seasonal guide

Current planning ranges