I’m not one for “relaxing” travel, per say. I typically like a sense of adventure in each day that I’m exploring a new place. Which is why when my husband and I decided to go to Ireland, we decided to see as much as we possibly could in the limited time we had there (just 5 days!). Translation: time for a road trip!
If you find yourself in a similar position, check out this itinerary that we created for our trip!
Day 1 & 2: Dublin
Fly into Dublin and begin your trip there. Plan to spend your first full two days exploring the city. That’s enough time to see all the sites and feel like you’ve experienced the city.
Fellow sippers will appreciate the drinking culture that Dublin (and really, all of Ireland) has to offer. Some must-sees are:
- The Guinness Storehouse! What’s more Irish than that? Consider purchasing “The Connoisseur Experience” if you want to avoid some of the crowds…you get a more in-depth look at the history of the Guinness empire, and get to taste some really unique beers! You’ll learn how to pour a proper Guinness, too. Be sure to book tickets in advance!
- If you prefer whiskey, check out the Jameson Distillery and take a tour there. No need to purchase in advance, as long as you get there fairly early in the day. You will enjoy a Jameson tasting as part of your tour, as well as a mixed drink at the end. There’s also a great bar at the distillery that offers tons of cocktails, and they’re really good! No need to have a tour ticket to have a drink at the bar.
- Temple Bar is the Bourbon Street of Ireland. Loud, busy, and a total blast. You will obviously want to stop by THE Temple Bar and grab a Guinness if you can find a seat…the Temple Bar is pretty touristy, though. If you want a more authentic Irish experience, visit Oliver St. John Gogarty’s (just down the road), and enjoy some traditional Irish music with good company and a good drink! Note: if you value your sleep, you will want to find a place to stay outside of the Temple Bar area…especially on the weekends. If partying is your thing, then you might love staying in that spot!
- The Brazen Head is the oldest pub in Ireland, and well worth a visit. You’ll see knick-knacks and memorabilia all over the walls that have been left there by guests. It’s a historic building serving good food and cold beers, and offering a great atmosphere for mingling with the locals.
There’s obviously more to Dublin than the sips, so here’s some other tips for places that you’ll want to make sure to see while you’re there:
- Patrick’s Cathedral is absolutely beautiful and central to Irish history. The cathedral does a great job of providing easy-to-digest Irish history as you wander around the premise. You can see the entire thing in an hour, but if you enjoy churches and cathedrals, you may want to set aside more time.
- Trinity College is in the heart of the city and is home to The Book of Kells Exhibition. Even if you don’t go to the museum, walking through the campus is a nice way to spend an afternoon.
- Dublin is rich with museums—you may want to spend A LOT more time in the city if you intend to visit each one. A few highlights are the National Museum of Ireland, Kilmainham Gaol (a former prison), and the Dublin Writers Museum. Literary figures are celebrated throughout Ireland, so you will likely see representations of them often!
If you’re looking for a good restaurant in Dublin, go to The Bank on College Green. It is a nice restaurant in a beautiful old bank, and the food is fantastic. It’s not all traditional Irish fare either, so if you’re sick of pies, bangers, and mash after a while, this is a good option.
Day 3: The Cliffs of Moher & Galway
Make an early morning of your third day and arrange to pick up a rental car to begin your road trip! Yes, you will likely be driving on the opposite side of the road which is a bit scary at first. However, the roads open up fairly quickly and soon you’ll find yourself driving amongst rolling green hills on the Irish highways. It’s spectacular!
It’s about a 3-hour drive from Dublin to The Cliffs of Moher: your first stop. The dramatic cliffs along the west coast of the island show the dramatic landscape of the country in all its glory. The Cliffs are a UNESCO designated site, and are Irelands most-visited tourist attraction. If you get nice weather, you could spend all day taking in the beauty of this place. There’s a small lighthouse that you can pay a couple euro to climb…I think it’s worth it! There is also a small museum that describes some of the geology behind the cliffs’ formation.
Once you’ve soaked in the views (and taken way too many pictures of the same thing because you just can’t help yourself), jump back in the car and drive another 1.5 hours to Galway, a beautiful little port-town that just screams “Ireland!”. An afternoon is enough time to see all of what Galway has to offer…it is a small, walkable town.
If there is one thing you do while in Galway, it is The Pie Maker. You MUST go to The Pie Maker. It is a tiny, hole-in-the-wall restaurant, run by a single (awesome) woman, that makes some of the best food I’ve ever had. They make savory and sweet pies, serve craft beer, and make you feel like you’re part of their family while you dine. While you’re there, make sure you visit the bathroom (if you can find it!)—you will not be disappointed. (Bet you’ve never read a travel blog that encourages you to visit a bathroom, huh?!)
Day 4: Giant’s Causeway
This will be another early morning, where you will jump in the car and head out on a 5(ish) hour drive up to Northern Ireland, ending up at Giant’s Causeway. In case you haven’t heard of it, Giant’s Causeway is another UNESCO site known for the thousands of hexagonal basalt columns that have arisen as a result of volcanic activity over thousands of years. What’s left is an absolute spectacle, and some of the most unique views of nature you will ever see.
Take a tour at Giant’s Causeway, and spend some time looking through the museum before your tour begins. You’ll be led down to the causeway, and will actually have a chance to climb along the pillars that line the coast (can you say, photo ops?!). Be careful though…there is black algae that grows on the columns that is VERY slippery. Wear cold-weather (ideally waterproof) gear and shoes with good tread on this trip!
Stay the night in nearby Portstewart or Portrush—both small little towns with good restaurants, scenery, friendly locals.
Day 5: Back to Dublin Bay
Believe it or not, you’re only about 3 hours from Dublin. Jump in the car and head back to that general area. There are plenty of places to check out along the way!
The Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge is not too far of a detour on your trip. If you live for a little adrenaline in your life, then make a stop here. You will have a chance to cross a bridge that links the Northern Ireland mainland to a tiny island by way of a couple ropes and some wooden planks. Good luck!
You will be driving right through Belfast on your way south. If you enjoy seeing cities along your trip, you can stop here for an afternoon of lunch and exploration. Check out the Black Cab Tours if you want a first-hand history lesson in Belfast!
If you prefer the small-town experience, skip Belfast and keep heading south. Rather than going back to Dublin, head a little east to Dublin Bay, starting on the north end in Malahide. The DART train runs along the bay, and is a great way to tour this little part of the country if you can!
Malahide is known for Malahide Castle. There a fairly short tour of the castle that you can take, and if you have some more time, wander through the botanical gardens at the castle. The castle grounds are beautiful!
Dun Leoghaire (pronounced Dun Leery…yay Gaelic!) is another coastal town that is picturesque to say the least. It has a great little maritime museum (next to the Royal Marine Hotel) that gives you another glimpse of Irish history.
Dalkey, which is at the south end of Dublin Bay opposite Malahide, is a little town right out of a storybook. Little bakeries, pubs, and boutique shops line the main road, and friendly locals greet you as you wander around town. There is no experience more authentic than visiting Biddy’s Cottage in Dalkey, where you can join a sweet woman named Biddy for an evening of storytelling, history, and Irish tradition. Biddy opens her cottage to guests, and they get to soak in her warm Irish welcome with some oatcakes and tea. It is truly a highlight, and a perfect way to end a trip to Ireland.
Another trip to Ireland is definitely in my future, and if you do have the opportunity to spend more time there, do it! There are plenty of other resources out there to help you plan a road trip around the southern part of the island if you would like to do a full loop.
Taking this trip? I’d love to know how it goes! Comment below and let me know!
Love reading your posts, you have a wonderful way of telling your stories.
Thank you, Lani!