Twelve destination guides covering the whole island, each with its own tours, sights, transport, travel guide and seasons pages.
Ireland divides naturally into four travelling regions. Most first trips combine Dublin with one or two of the others; a fortnight is enough to sample them all.
Ten of the twelve destinations are in the Republic of Ireland (euro, km/h). Two — Belfast and the Causeway Coast — are in Northern Ireland, part of the UK (pound sterling, mph), and are labelled as such throughout the site.
The capital and the monastic, medieval and prehistoric sites within a couple of hours of it. The driest corner of the island and the easiest to do without a car.
Republic of Ireland 
Republic of Ireland A medieval city of castle, cathedral and craft, at the centre of a region of monasteries, high kings and 5,000-year-old tombs.
Kerry’s mountains and peninsulas and Cork’s harbour towns: the Ireland of the postcards, best with three or more nights.
Republic of Ireland Lakes, oakwoods and Ireland’s highest mountains in Killarney National Park, and the 179 km Ring of Kerry coast road.
Republic of Ireland A harbour town full of music, and the Slea Head Drive past beehive huts, beaches and the Blasket Islands at Europe’s western edge.
Republic of Ireland Ireland’s second city and its food capital, with the harbour towns of Cobh and Kinsale and Blarney Castle close by.
Galway’s music, Clare’s cliffs, the Shannon gateway and the quiet coast of Mayo and Sligo, strung along the Wild Atlantic Way.
Republic of Ireland Ireland’s most musical small city, with the mountains, bogs and beaches of Connemara and the Aran Islands on its doorstep.
Republic of Ireland Ireland’s most famous sea cliffs, the moonscape limestone of the Burren and the music village of Doolin, in County Clare.
Republic of Ireland Yeats country under Benbulben, the Georgian town of Westport, the pilgrim mountain Croagh Patrick and Achill Island’s cliffs and beaches.
Republic of Ireland A Viking and Georgian city on Ireland’s longest river, with Bunratty Castle, thatched Adare and Shannon Airport — the easy gateway to the west.
Belfast and the Antrim coast in Northern Ireland, and across the border the wild north-west county of Donegal in the Republic.
Northern Ireland (UK) 
Northern Ireland (UK) The Giant’s Causeway, Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, Dunluce Castle and the Dark Hedges on Northern Ireland’s north coast — plus the walled city of Derry~Londonderry.
Republic of Ireland Short on time? Dublin plus Galway and the Cliffs of Moher is the classic five-day combination, and works by train and day tour. For scenery above all, head for Killarney and Dingle. For fewer visitors, go north-west to Sligo and Mayo or Donegal. Our itineraries show how the destinations join up.
Day tours take the narrow roads, the parking and the timed tickets off your hands. Compare tours and tickets across Ireland and Northern Ireland and book in a couple of taps.
