DAY 1 – Dublin

Even though we only had one day in Dublin, due to our super tight itinerary and trying to fit as much as we could into one week, it was still nothing short of amazing. To be honest, out expectations weren’t too high before the trip, because we were all most excited about seeing the countryside, ruins and castles that typically come to mind when you think of Ireland. Thankfully, though, we couldn’t have been more wrong! Our first day and night in Dublin ended up being one of our most memorable of the entire trip! Unfortunately, our first day started a bit later than we would have liked (three girls planning a trip around life and work schedules gets tricky when booking flights). Due to some unaccounted for delays, we didn’t get to our hotel near Temple Bar until the late afternoon, and ended up missing our Book of Kells & Old Library Exhibition Tour! Y’all – I was SO bummed about this! There ended up being a ton of traffic driving from the airport to Temple Bar, plus, I was trying to drive cautiously, while getting the hang of driving on the opposite side of the road + opposite side of the car (not trying to die before I get to see Ireland). (FYI–if you miss a turn once you’re in the Temple Bar area, be prepared to make a huge loop around in crazy stop-and-go traffic, which will tack on about another 30 minutes!) Once we finally parked our car and checked into our room, there was no way we would make the tour on time (which was the last tour of the day)! We drowned our sorrows with a cold pint and some insanely delicious Fish N’ Chips at The Norseman, which was the restaurant attached to the hotel we were staying in for the night.

Where We Stayed: The Norseman (Formerly Farringtons of Temple Bar); 28 East Essex St, D2 Dublin, Ireland

If you want to stay somewhere that is the PERFECT location to Temple Bar (its literally right next door) and all that the area has to offer, then look no further than The Norseman! We had our own private room and attached bath with a huge window to people watch down below! It was such a great price for the location (Temple Bar area will be more expensive than other parts of Ireland), and although it definitely wasn’t a 5-star hotel, we were comfortable enough and satisfied and would stay there again! They even had live music in the restaurant below that was so great! (Note: Since we were traveling in November, we most likely got better rates than you would during peak travel season. Also, the room isn’t directly above the restaurant, so the only noise you really hear is from people on the street below–since it’s a popular area–but we were out with them most of the night anyway!)

Other options for staying in Dublin:
– The Temple Bar Hotel
–The Clarence Hotel
–The Merchant House (5-Star Suites)
Click here for more options for where to stay in Dublin!

Here’s a list from a local we met of the best pubs to visit in Dublin:

• Temple Bar – Best for live music (We had amazing Irish coffee here! They literally whipped the cream for it behind the bar!)
• Grogan’s Castle Lounge (South William Street) – The BEST Guinness in Dublin according to multiple locals we met (and they were right)! Cash only. Definitely a local spot and a MUST, in my opinion, when visiting Dublin! We still dream about the velvety smooth Guinness we had at Grogan’s, and we made friends with locals here that showed us around to all the best pubs!
• O’Donoghue’s (Merrion Row) – good live music
• Pygmallion – 2 for 1 cocktails/DJ music
• Whelon’s – Late bar
• Bad Bob’s – Late bar
• The Hairy Lemon Pub
• P.Mac’s
• Dame Tavern/Stags Head on Dame Lane

What To Do in Dublin:

• Visit the Guinness Factory – One of the main attractions in all of Ireland. Learn about how Guinness is made, try new flavors and enjoy the experience (although the locals said if you have limited time, skip the Guinness Factory and head straight to Grogan’s for the best pint of Guinness!)
• Have a drink and listen to live music at The Temple Bar – the famous colorful and lively pub that inspired a whole area of pubs (HINT: Order an Irish coffee! They HAND-WHIP the cream in front of you! Still dreaming about it…)
• Visit Brazen Head Pub – the oldest Pub in Ireland!
• Relax in St Stephen’s Green – a large park with a Victorian layout
• Visit the Jameson Whiskey factory

Where to Eat in Dublin:

• Pichet – a trendy Irish restaurant with French bistro influence

• The Bath Pub – trendy/upscale neighborhood pub in the heart of the popular Beggars Bush area. Excellent drink selection (huge range of craft beers, premium spirits, great cocktails, wine, etc…) and amazing brunch!

• The Lord Edward
• The Dame Tavern (mentioned above)
• The Long Hall,
• The Thomas House
• The Dawson Lounge

Highlights:
Live music and Irish coffee at Temple Bar
The best Guinness I’ve ever had at Grogan’s Castle Lounge
Making friends and singing along to live music at The Old Storehouse Temple Bar

 

DAY 2 – Kilkenny {Irish Road Trip Begins!}

When driving to Kilkenny, try and plan for enough time to detour through Glendalough in the Wicklow Mountains. The route from Dublin straight to Kilkenny is approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes, so you should be able to squeeze this stop in, if you plan accordingly! “The Valley of the Two Lakes” harbor one of Ireland’s most breathtaking monastic settlements that was sacked several times by Vikings, yet still flourished for over 600 years. If you have time, you can also stop to see the tallest waterfall in Ireland, the Powerscourt Waterfall. 

When we got to Kilkenny, we checked in to our AirBnb (Rose Inn Self Catering 2 Bedroom Apartment), which is in the PERFECT location, and we had the entire apartment to ourselves! It was so roomy and spacious, and such a great price with 5-star reviews–I highly recommended it for the best location! We then headed out to our Guided Cycling Tour with Kilkenny Cycling Tours! I highly recommend doing a cycling tour of the city! Even though we were unlucky enough to have to cycle through the rain (that started right when our tour began, HA) in 40 degree weather, we still had a blast! Our tour guide was so knowledgable and friendly, and since it was off season, we even had the tour all to ourselves! It’s such a great way to see the best attractions and all that Kilkenny has to offer, while getting to know the history and legends along the way.

Browse other hotels here

Below are a few of my favorite photos from our Cycling Tour:

WHAT TO DO IN KILKENNY:

• Kilkenny Castle – Stunning castle in the heart of the city built in the 12th century
  • Kilkenny Design Shop –  Located opposite the castle. The perfect shop to grab some souvenirs to take home. Has beautiful Irish arts/crafts, jewelry and clothing
  • Left Bank Bar – Next to Kilkenny Castle; Great place to grab a drink/socialize in the evening
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• Hole In The Wall Pub – Housed in the oldest surviving townhouse in Ireland (1582)! It seriously lives up to the idiom, but it was so cool and cozy! (Great Guinness, of course!)
• Medieval Mile – Medieval street to walk down (bike route takes you through here as well) with shops/pubs and attractions
  • Medieval Mile Museum
• Smithwick’s Experience – Ireland’s second most famous export; Irish ale over 300 years in existence
• Rothe House & Gardens – Restored 1594 house, garden and museum
• St. Canice’s Cathedral & Round Tower – 1 of 2 medieval round towers in Ireland (that can still be climbed!) dating back to the 13th century

WHERE TO EAT IN KILKENNY:

• Zuni Restaurant, Bar and Boutique Hotel – Award winning restaurant (breakfast/lunch/dinner)
• Ristorante Rinuccini – Multi award-winning fine dining Italian restaurant next to Kilkenny Design Shop (we ate here!)
• Hibernian Bar – Great Guinness/Experience an Irish pub
• Left Bank Bar – Beside Kilkenny Castle

Highlights:
Kilkenny Cycling Tour
Hole In The Wall Pub
Left Bank Bar

DAY 3 – Traveling to Cork

The route from Kilkenny to Cork is only about a 2 hour and 20 minute drive without stopping. However, you should try to allow at LEAST 6 hours total (or more if you’re like us and take way too many pictures) to stop at a few must-see historical landmarks, as well as some hidden gems you will surely find along the way!

Below are some of my favorite pictures from a castle in ruins that we found on the side of the road on our route to Rock of Cashel. Incredible ruins like this are all along Ireland’s country roads and, if you’re like me, you will want to have plenty of time to stop and explore!

1ST STOP: ROCK OF CASHEL

I HIGHLY recommend you stop and explore the Rock of Cashel, or “St. Patrick’s Rock.” The Rock of Cashel was built in 1275 and, according to local mythology, it was built with the rubble that landed here when St. Patrick banished and threw Satan from a cave in Devil’s Bit (a mountain 20 miles north of Cashel). Inside, you can see St. Paticks Cross from the 12th century, which I thought was pretty cool.

2ND STOP: HORE ABBEY

Hore Abbey can be seen from the Rock of Cashel and is only a short, stunning walk away! Here are some photos of Hore Abbey and the walk down to it:

3RD STOP: BLARNEY CASTLE

Blarney castle is absolutely stunning (as you probably saw in the beginning of this post) and is one of the top tourist attractions in Ireland, making it a world landmark as millions flock in each year to explore the castle and kiss the Blarney Stone! According to legend, all who kiss the stone are endowed with the gift of gab (eloquence or skill at flattery) and should never be at a loss for words again! Kissing the Blarney Stone is a must, in my opinion, but that is only part of the attraction and experience you get when visiting. Make sure to check out all the beautiful gardens around the property (the Poison Garden was super cool)!

(We actually spent too much time at all the previous stops during the day on our road trip (we take a lot of pictures…) and ended up rescheduling our visit to Blarney Castle for first thing the next morning, right when it opened. This ended up working out perfectly because we almost had the entire castle to ourselves! It was such a cool experience! If you visit Ireland during the off-season (or especially during peak seasons) I would definitely try to get there first thing in the morning!

Arrive in Cork:

After a long day of adventure, we finally arrived in Cork and checked into The Metropole Hotel [click the link to book this hotel, or click here to browse other hotel options] where we stayed for the night. Depending on what time you arrive, you may still have time to do some shopping and explore the town before dinner.

What To Do In Cork:

• Oliver Plunkett Street and surrounding areas are very popular and have great pubs and live music venues for the night. Address: Princes Street, Cork (off St. Patrick’s Street & Grand Parade)
• The English Market – Traders sell organic and locally produced food in an 18th-century covered market in the center of Cork. Open 8am-6pm daily, but closed on Sundays.
• St. Patrick’s Street – Cork’s main shopping hub
• St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral (reminds me of Notre-Dame in Paris)
• Blackrock Castle Observatory

Where To Eat In Cork:

• Market Lane (On Oliver Plunkett Street)- We ate here for dinner and loved the vibe and atmosphere, as well as the delicious food! Award-winning restaurant and bar that is popular with the locals on the weekends. Main courses range from traditional fish and chips to seasonal game (pie of pheasant, venison, ox cheek, and wild boar). They don’t take reservations for parties under 6, so try and get there early to avoid disappointment (it was very crowded when we went, but it was a Saturday night)! 
  

• KC & Sons & Sons – A local cult favorite “chipper” (what the Irish call their fish and chips shops) that serves gourmet pitas and burgers. There’s usually a line out the door, but it moves quickly. Once you cross the threshold, be ready to call out your order!

• Mutton Lane Inn – Nestled in an alley around the corner from the famous English Market. This lane was used to run sheep into the market hundreds of years ago.  Enjoy a pint of Murphy’s (lighter and less bitter than Guinness and the beer of choice in Cork) in one of the city’s oldest pubs.
• Les Gourmandises – Fine dining French restaurant; Has won several awards for Best Restaurant
• Idaho Cafe

Favorite Pub:

• Sin É– Classic 1889 pub with stained-glass windows, best known for its traditional music gigs. We loved the music and the atmosphere here!

Highlights:
Stumbling upon amazing castle ruins on the side of the road
Rock of Cashel, Hore Abbey & Blarney Castle
Market Lane & Sin É pub in Cork

DAY 4: Day Trip to Cobh & Kinsale

Cobh (pronounced like “Cove” – Gaelic is so confusing!) is the cutest little seaside town that is only a 30 minute drive from Cork, making it the perfect day trip to stop in and explore while staying in Cork or on the way to your next destination. Not only is it one of the most picturesque little seaside towns I’ve seen, but it has some fascinating history since it was the final departure port for The Titanic before it sank in the Atlantic. It was also the departure point for the very first person, Annie Moore, to go through Ellis Island Immigration Center.

Things to do in Cobh:

The Titanic Experience – Take a tour through the White Star Line Office where passengers of the Titanic checked in and departed from the pier behind the building. Follow an actual Irish passenger on their Titanic journey, see what models of different cabin classes looked like, visit the Titanic Museum, and find out at the end whether you passenger was one of the lucky few who survived. A chilling, but very cool experience. 

Have lunch after at The Titanic Bar & Grill, which is situated in the world’s 2nd largest natural harbor, and enjoy your meal on the riverside deck!

• Visit Cobh Cathedral
• Lusitania Memorial
• Take a stroll and enjoy the beautiful, colorful houses and shop around in the shops & boutiques
• Cobh Heritage Center

Visit Kinsale if you have time:

Kinsale (about a 45 min drive from Cobh) is another charming, colorful seaside town, perfect for exploring, with endless shops, restaurants and lively pubs.

One of the main reasons travelers make it out to Kinsale is for the cuisine! This little seaside-village is said to be the gourmet capital of Ireland, and has a wide variety of amazing gourmet restaurants to choose from for such a small village. If you love seafood, you can’t miss it! (We had some of the best Fish N’ Chips here!)

Restaurants in Kinsale:

• The Bulman Bar & Toddies Restaurant – buzzy bar with live music and modern art
• Bastion – nicer, more formal dinner
• Jim Edwards
• Dino’s Restaurant for excellent Fish and Chips
• Fishy Fishy
• The Supper Club

After dinner, we drove to Kenmare to our favorite stay of the trip…

Highlights:
Exploring Cobh
The Titanic Experience
Exploring Kinsale

Lissyclearig Thatched Cottage (Kenmare, Ireland)

Book Lissyclearig Thatched Cottage in Kenmare HERE.
Browse other accommodation options HERE.

Lissyclearig Thatched Cottage was by FAR our favorite stay in Ireland! It is the most charming Bed & Breakfast and a real thatched cottage, meaning the roof is carefully constructed from bamboo. The husband+wife owners, Carmel and Davey Breen, were so personable and accommodating! They went above and beyond for us in several ways, including helping us map out the best route for our drive around the Ring of Kerry, staying up late until we arrived to help us get settled, and waking up early at whatever time we requested to make us a homemade breakfast before we started our day–which was the BEST breakfast we had the entire trip! The rooms were cozy and quaint, plus we had our own private bathroom. There is a common living area downstairs where you can hang out, as long as you want, so you aren’t confined to your bedroom at night. We were so sad when we had to leave! Also, the rate per night is unbeatable for what you get when you stay here! Our rate may have been slightly better than average since we were traveling in the off-season, however, it was 35 euro a person, per night–which included breakfast every morning! You won’t be disappointed with your stay in this quintessential Irish cottage.

DAY 5 – The Ring of Kerry

The Ring of Kerry is one of the most beautiful routes I have ever driven in my life! I highly recommend you allow for a full day to drive the Ring of Kerry, as you will want to stop at several lookouts and explore the cute villages along the way. The picture above is from one of the lookouts we saw, while driving through Caherdaniel, that we just had to stop at so we could take in the view! We also made some friends at this lookout, who we kept running into throughout the day at our various stops along the way (and ended up meeting up with them in Kenmare for some Guinness later that night)!

From Kenmare, some great stopping points along the N70 (which is the Ring of Kerry route) are Sneem, Caherdaniel, Ladies View and Molls Gap. Since we started the route heading west from Kenmare, Sneem and Caherdaniel were some of the first towns we drove through, making Molls Gap and Ladies View the last leg of the trip near Killarney National Park. However, one of our favorite parts of the entire drive was the detour you can take along the Wild Atlantic Way! The views along this coastal road were absolutely breathtaking, and stopping to see the Kerry Cliffs in Portmagee was one of the highlights of our day (and another absolute must, in my opinion)!

I mapped our route around the Ring of Kerry and the Wild Atlantic Way here on google maps, marking all the stops I recommend seeing along the way!

1st stop: Sneem

2nd stop: Caherdaniel

A great place to have lunch in the village of Caherdaniel is The Blind Piper Pub. Locals and visitors have been drinking here since 1865. The blind piper who the pub is named after is Mici Cumba O’Sullivan, who was born nearby in 1835 and became one of Irelands most famous pipers.

3rd Stop: Waterville

Make sure to stop at LQ Art Gallery in Waterville to bring back some hand-painted local art from Irish artist, Leo Quinlan. Leo paints gorgeous Irish landscapes and seascapes around County Kerry on canvas and Valentia Slate (non-porous with no impurities), which make the perfect souvenir! I bought a small coastal scene on slate that always takes me back to his charming seaside shop and great conversation!

Detouring along the Wild Atlantic Way

Take the route along the Wild Atlantic Way, making sure to stop at the following villages and viewpoints:

• Emlaghmore

• Ballinskelligs

Another great place to stop in Ballinskelligs is Skelligs Chocolate. This is a gourmet chocolatier right off the Wild Atlantic Way that has tons of delicious chocolate to sample and, of course, take home! They were super generous with their tastings, and we all got quite a lot of chocolate to bring home for ourselves and as gifts!

NOTE:
If you are traveling when tours are running, definitely try and take a boat tour to the Skellig Islands–Especially Skellig Michael! You can take an Eco Tour around the islands, or a Landing Tour and actually explore the island and the wildlife (PUFFINS!!!). Unfortunately, the tours were closed in November due to it being off-season, or this would have been a MUST for our trip!

• Kerry Cliffs, Portmagee

An absolute MUST stop along the Wild Atlantic Way! Unbelievable scenic views!

Ballycarberry Castle / Cahersiveen

We made a pit stop to check out Ballycarberry Castle on the way to Cahersiveen.

Killarney / Killarney National Park

End the route by heading towards Killarney National Park.

Notable stops along the way: Ladies View, Molls Gap, Gap of Dunloe, Muckross House & Gardens, Muckross Abbey and Ross Castle

Unfortunately, we spent too much time exploring the previous stops, so by the time we arrived in Killarney National Park the sun had already set (hence, the main downside of traveling during November). We were pretty bummed, because I’ve heard these spots are not-to-be-missed! If you are traveling during the summer when days are longer, you shouldn’t have to worry about running out of time to do all the above. However, plan accordingly if you are traveling anytime towards the end of October to the middle of February since the sun will set around 5pm.

We ended the day by grabbing a Guinness with our new friends, Nicky and Alicia, at P.F. McCarthys pub in Kenmare before heading back to our lovely B&B–Lissyclearig Thatched Cottage.

DAY 6: Cliffs of Moher

From Kenmare, it is about a 3.5 hour drive to the Cliffs of Moher, with plenty to stop and see along the way.

Our first pit stop we made was in the cute village of Ennistimon. Ennistimon is full of shops and pubs throughout the main street of town. and it is also surrounded by some pretty cool ruins.

If you stop in this town, I highly recommended taking a little hike up to the the ruins of the Graveyard and Old Church of Ireland, built in 1778, on the hill above the town. (Here’s a few of my favorite pictures of the site, below!)

Arrive to the Cliffs of Moher

The Cliffs of Moher are spectacular and like nothing I’ve ever seen before. At the tallest point, the cliffs are 702 feet high. The name “Moher” comes from the ancient Gaelic word meaning “ruined fort,” since there used to be a fort on the cliffs dating from the first century B.C. Pictures do not do them justice, so you must go see for yourselves (no wonder around one million tourists visit the cliffs every year)! The Cliffs of Moher were by far one of the main highlights of the trip and what we were looking forward to seeing the most. It was actually storming throughout the day on our drive to the cliffs but, fortunately for us, it had stopped raining and the sun was shining through the clouds by the time we reached them! However, due to the rain, the pathways along the cliffs were extremely muddy, making it pretty dangerous to stand in certain areas along the edge of the cliffs to get that “perfect shot.”

TIPS:

There is a tourist center near the cliffs which provides shelter from the elements (if necessary) along with little shops and the history of the cliffs and surrounding area.
TIP #1: You do have to buy a ticket to view the cliffs, and the parking lot is across the street from the visitors’ center near the cliffs!
TIP #2: Be prepared for extreme winds! (Heavy winds+muddy grounds+awesome cliffs=a potentially fatal “oopsie,” so be careful!)
TIP #3: There is food in the visitors center if you’ve been driving all day, and never stopped to eat! We didn’t actually eat here, but it is available!

If you have time (we didn’t), there are various other attractions around the cliffs that are worth checking out. The first is The Burren, Gaelic for “rocky land,” which is a karst landscape of bedrock with a vast pavement of glacial-era limestone. The Burden has archaeological sites, cliffs, caves, fossils and rock formations to explore. The other area nearby that I would have liked to see are the Aran Islands, which are 3 rocky islands in Galway Bay that are known for their ancient sites and ruins.

We said our goodbyes to the majestic Cliffs of Moher, and hopped back in the car for our 1.5hr drive to Galway.

Another castle we briefly stopped by on the way to Galway was Dunguaire Castle. (Too many castles, not enough time.)

DAY 7 – Galway

Oh, Galway! Even though we were only there for a short period of time, it will always hold a special place in my heart! Every time I think back to that vivacious, musical city, I’m flooded with feelings of happiness and fond memories. I never wanted the music to stop, or the Guinness to run out! I can’t wait to return and spend more time there again, one day.

Our favorite pub, and the one we stayed in pretty much all night, was the The Quays (pronounced like “keys”) located on (you guessed it) Quay Street in Galway’s vibrant Latin Quarter. The Quays Bar is about 400 years old and is one of Galway’s most famous and historic pubs! (Quay Street is known for being the heart of Galway and has several great pubs, restaurants and live music.) History exudes from all over the pub in the architecture, beautiful stained glass windows, ambiance, and much more. The live music entertainment is suspended above the bar on the second floor balcony, which I absolutely loved!

Another pub to check out, that is recommended by locals, is Taaffe’s. Unfortunately, I didn’t find out about this until we were gone, but it is supposed to have “the best Guinness in Ireland,” according to locals! I’m still dreaming about the smooth, creamy Guinness from Grogan’s Castle Lounge in Dublin, so if this is any comparison, RUN there as fast as you can when you get to Galway (and then go to The Quays, after)!

(P.S. Sorry for all the poor quality iPhone pics from Galway! We were too busy having the time of our lives, and not focusing on better quality pictures! Oops!)

Other things to do in Galway:

• Quay Street/Latin Quarter (mention above)
• Taaffes Bar – (mentioned above) Located right in the center of town. Taaffes is a cozy place where you can’t help but rub shoulders with the locals and has live Irish music. (“Best Guinness.”)
• The Crane Bar – Traditional Irish music every night, starting at 9:30pm
• Róisín Dubh– See some live local and international music, silent discos or comedy depending on the night. Open late every night.
• Oslo – Home of Galway Bay Brewery and has a wide range of beers. Serves food until 10pm daily. Great atmosphere, great food, great drinks.
• O’Connor’s Famous Pub – Outdoor seating and live music, it’s a cozy pub established in 1942. Check out the whiskey wall or book a pub tour.
• Galway City Museum – Free to go in, and gives you an idea of what Galway life was like. Also gives you a beautiful view of Galway Bay from the top floor. Closed on Mondays.
• Possibly drive out to Spiddle/Spiddal and see beautiful beaches/countryside if time
• Connemara National Park– Take a journey through a piece of Ireland’s most beautiful country side. Book a day tour, and visit one of the prettiest areas around Galway.

Restaurants:

• Busker Brownes– Bar and restaurant in the Latin Quarter.
• Electric Garden & Theatre– Great food served late in Bite Club and laid-back atmosphere. Right next to it is Electric, a creative night club, open late.
• Sheridans Cheesemongers – Cheese/charcuterie and wine bar that sources the highest quality local and international artisan cheeses. A seemingly secret place, up a narrow flight of stairs.
• The Chili Shack– Serving delicious, and large portions of three different, yummy chilli mixes, served on rice, chips, nachos. Or try a delicious burger, poutine, or hot wings. It is one of our favourite places to eat
• Tom Sheridan local restaurant and pub

Where to Stay:

If you want to stay in the heart of Galway, these two apartments below are right off Quay Street, just seconds away from restaurants, pubs, shops and nightlife! You won’t have to venture off too far to see what Galway has to offer! We stayed here for the night, and the location cannot be beat! We didn’t do too much sleeping, but I should mention that it isn’t a luxury accommodation and, because it is so close to the nightlife, you can hear some noise from the streets if you are trying to go to bed early–but why would you go to bed early when you’re in a great city like Galway!? 🙂

These apartments are right across the street from The Quays Bar:
Kirwans Lane Apartment #1
Kirwins Lane Apartment #2

Other accommodation options:
Ardawn House
Claregalway Castle
Galway Luxury Sea View Apartments
Glenlo Abbey Hotel
The Two of Clubs
Browse more HERE

Truth be told, 7 days in Ireland wasn’t long enough to explore all the cities and castles we wanted to visit (I wasn’t the slightest bit ready to leave the beautiful Emerald Isle!). There just isn’t enough time (period) to explore all the wonders this magical place has to offer, from its 50 shades of green, thousands of medieval castles full of history (at least 30,000!), stunning scenic views and delicious cuisine. If you have more time for a 10 day Ireland road trip or a 14 day Ireland road trip, I would highly suggest soaking up as much of this country as you can. However, if you’re like me and only have 7 days to spend when planning a trip to Ireland, my Ireland blog post combines the top attractions and must-visit places (in my opinion) to make the most of your week around the Emerald Isle. I would also recommend spending the last day exploring Galway and the surrounding areas, or travel from Galway to Northern Ireland for the rest of the trip if you have longer than a week! [Here’s an article on the Game of Thrones filming locations in Northern Ireland that I’m dying to explore one day!] When it’s time to head back to the airport, the drive from Galway to Dublin will only take a little over 2 hours and is fairly easy since it is all highway.

I hope you found this itinerary useful in helping plan/motivating you to start planning your Irish road trip! Sláinte!