The commonest mistake in planning an Irish trip is trying to see too much. Distances look short, but away from the motorways you will average about 50–60 km/h, and the best moments are unplanned stops.
These routes keep most driving days to two or three hours of actual driving. All start and end in Dublin, where most visitors arrive; flying into Shannon or Belfast can save a day. If you would rather not drive, the five-day route works entirely by train and day tour, and the others can be adapted — see getting there and around.
Dublin, Galway & the Cliffs of Moher
The capital and the best of the west, with no car needed.
Best for: first-time visitors, short breaks, travellers who do not want to drive.
- Day 1
Dublin
Settle in and walk the centre: Trinity College and the Book of Kells, Grafton Street, St Stephen’s Green and an evening in a traditional pub. See the Dublin guide.
- Day 2
Dublin
Kilmainham Gaol in the morning (book ahead), the Guinness Storehouse in the afternoon, or swap one for the EPIC emigration museum in the Docklands.
- Day 3
Dublin to Galway
Train or coach west (about 2 h 30 min). Spend the afternoon in the Latin Quarter and the evening at a trad session. See Galway & Connemara.
- Day 4
Cliffs of Moher & the Burren
A day tour from Galway through the Burren to the Cliffs of Moher, or the longer version that adds a boat to the Aran Islands.
- Day 5
Connemara, then back to Dublin
A morning in Galway or a Connemara and Kylemore Abbey tour, then the evening train to Dublin. With an early flight, return the night before.
Tip: with only five days, resist adding Kerry or Belfast. If you want the north instead of the west, swap days 3–5 for Belfast and a Causeway Coast day tour — the train from Dublin takes a little over two hours.
The classic southern loop
Dublin, Kilkenny, Cork, Killarney and the Cliffs of Moher in one week.
Best for: a first road trip; also possible by train with day tours from Killarney and Galway.
- Day 1–2
Dublin
Two nights in the capital without a car. Collect a hire car on the morning you leave — you do not want one in the city.
- Day 3
Kilkenny via Glendalough
Through the Wicklow Mountains to Glendalough’s monastic valley, then on to medieval Kilkenny (about 3 hours’ driving in total).
- Day 4
Rock of Cashel to Cork or Kinsale
Stop at the Rock of Cashel, then continue to Cork for the English Market or to Kinsale for the harbour and seafood.
- Day 5
Killarney
West to Killarney (about 1 h 30 min). Afternoon in the national park: Muckross House, Torc Waterfall, Ross Castle.
- Day 6
Ring of Kerry or Dingle
Choose one: the full Ring of Kerry loop, or a day on the Dingle Peninsula and Slea Head. Do not try both in a day.
- Day 7
Cliffs of Moher & back to Dublin
North via the Shannon ferry or Limerick to the Cliffs of Moher, then the motorway back to Dublin (about 3 hours) — or fly home from Shannon and save the drive.
Tip: day 7 is long. If you can, add a night in Doolin or Galway, or end the trip at Shannon Airport.
South & west along the Wild Atlantic Way
The seven-day loop at a kinder pace, with Dingle, Galway and Connemara added.
Best for: scenery, walking and music; the most popular length for a driving holiday.
- Day 1–2
Dublin
Two nights in Dublin.
- Day 3
Kilkenny
Glendalough and the Wicklow Mountains on the way to Kilkenny.
- Day 4
Cork & Kinsale
Rock of Cashel, then Cork; evening in Kinsale. Cobh or Blarney if time allows.
- Day 5–6
Killarney & the Ring of Kerry
Two nights in Killarney: one day for the national park and Gap of Dunloe, one for the Ring of Kerry.
- Day 7
Dingle Peninsula
Over to Dingle for the Slea Head Drive and a night of music and seafood.
- Day 8
Cliffs of Moher & Doolin
Via the Tarbert–Killimer ferry across the Shannon to the Cliffs of Moher; overnight in Doolin.
- Day 9
The Burren to Galway
Across the Burren’s limestone to Galway. With an early start, loop through Connemara to Kylemore Abbey first.
- Day 10
Galway to Dublin
A last morning in Galway, then about 2 h 15 min on the motorway to Dublin.
Tip: hoping to land on Skellig Michael? Add a night in the Portmagee or Waterville area on days 5–6, book the boat months ahead and keep a spare day in case the sea cancels the trip.
The whole island
A full circuit: the south and west, then Sligo, Donegal, the Causeway Coast and Belfast.
Best for: travellers who want both jurisdictions and the quiet north-west as well as the famous south-west.
- Day 1–2
Dublin
Two nights in Dublin.
- Day 3
Kilkenny
Glendalough, then Kilkenny.
- Day 4
Cork & Kinsale
Rock of Cashel and Cork.
- Day 5–6
Killarney
Killarney National Park and the Ring of Kerry.
- Day 7
Dingle
The Dingle Peninsula and Slea Head.
- Day 8
Cliffs of Moher
Shannon ferry, the Cliffs of Moher and Doolin. Bunratty Castle near Limerick is an alternative stop if you go by road.
- Day 9
Galway
The Burren and Galway.
- Day 10
Connemara to Westport
Kylemore Abbey and Killary Harbour, then on to Westport under Croagh Patrick. See Sligo & Mayo.
- Day 11
Sligo to Donegal
Benbulben and Yeats country around Sligo, then north to Donegal town. If the weather is clear, continue to the Slieve League cliffs. See Donegal.
- Day 12
Donegal to the Causeway Coast
Cross into Northern Ireland via Derry~Londonderry — walk the city walls — and on to the Causeway Coast. You are now using pounds and miles.
- Day 13
Giant’s Causeway to Belfast
Giant’s Causeway, Carrick-a-Rede and the Antrim coast road to Belfast.
- Day 14
Belfast to Dublin
Titanic Belfast and a black-cab tour, then about two hours down the motorway to Dublin — or fly home from Belfast.
Tip: tell your car-hire company that you will drive into Northern Ireland; most allow it but some charge a cross-border fee. Check, too, that your own entry permission covers the UK — see the travel guide.
Adapting the routes
- Without a car: base yourself in Dublin, Galway, Killarney, Cork and Belfast, all linked by train or coach, and use day tours for the Cliffs of Moher, Ring of Kerry, Dingle, Connemara and the Giant’s Causeway.
- With children: cut the number of bases and stay three nights in each. Killarney, Westport and the Causeway Coast work especially well.
- In winter: daylight lasts only seven to eight hours in December and January. Halve the daily distances, and favour the cities and the east.
