Ireland travel guide: plan your trip
Travelling in Ireland means Atlantic scenery of sea cliffs, green fields and long peninsulas, linked by small towns with pubs and traditional music. Dublin brings history and culture, while the west coast, with Galway, Connemara, Clare and Kerry, holds the best-known landscapes. It is a welcoming country that is easy to explore by car.
When to go
May to September brings longer, milder days, and in June the light lasts until late evening; it is the best time for the west coast and the islands. Spring fills the countryside with green fields and lambs, and autumn is quiet, with warm colours. Winter is mild but wet and windy, with short days, though Dublin and pubs with open fires make it pleasant. Rain is possible in any season, while extreme heat or cold is rare.
Where to go
Dublin
A compact capital best explored on foot: Trinity College and its historic library, Georgian squares, Dublin Castle, Temple Bar and the quays along the Liffey. Nearby, the Howth peninsula offers cliff walks and fresh seafood by the harbour.
Galway and Connemara
Galway is a lively university city with pedestrian streets, buskers and pubs hosting music sessions. To the west, Connemara unfolds mountains, lakes, bogland and stone walls, as well as Kylemore Abbey reflected in its lake.
Cliffs of Moher and the Burren
In County Clare, the Cliffs of Moher drop sheer into the Atlantic. Close by, the Burren is an almost lunar limestone landscape with wild flowers in spring, dolmens such as Poulnabrone and music villages such as Doolin.
Ring of Kerry and Killarney
This circular route around the Iveragh Peninsula links beaches, mountains and colourful villages. Killarney National Park, with its lakes, Muckross House and Torc Waterfall, is the ideal base for exploring the area.
Glendalough and the Wicklow Mountains
Within easy reach of Dublin, the Glendalough valley shelters a medieval monastic site with a round tower between two lakes. The Wicklow Mountains offer trails, forests and viewpoints, making a perfect day trip.
What to do
The Wild Atlantic Way
This signposted coastal route follows the entire Atlantic seaboard, from Donegal to Cork. There is no need to drive it all: choose a stretch, such as Connemara or the Dingle Peninsula, and take your time at beaches, lighthouses and viewpoints.
A traditional music session
In many pubs, local musicians gather informally to play fiddle, flute, bodhrán and uilleann pipes. Galway, Doolin, Dingle and Dublin are good places to catch a session, ideally with a pint of stout in hand.
Irish food and seafood
Try Irish stew, soda bread, seafood chowder and Galway oysters, along with smoked salmon and farmhouse cheeses. A full Irish breakfast is a solid start to a day on the road, especially before a long coastal drive.
Cycling the Aran Islands
Off the coast of Galway, Inis Mór is easy to explore by bike among dry-stone walls, beaches and Irish-speaking villages. The highlight is Dún Aonghasa, a prehistoric stone fort perched on the edge of a cliff.
Newgrange and the Boyne Valley
North of Dublin, Newgrange is a Neolithic passage tomb older than the Egyptian pyramids, its entrance aligned with the winter solstice sunrise. The surrounding Boyne Valley holds several other prehistoric monuments worth visiting.
Practical tips
- Traffic drives on the left and many rural roads are narrow and winding, so allow more time than the map suggests.
- Always carry a rain jacket and dress in layers: the weather can change several times a day, especially on the west coast.
- Sockets are type G, with three rectangular pins, so visitors from mainland Europe and North America need an adapter.
- The Republic of Ireland uses the euro, while Northern Ireland, part of the United Kingdom, uses pound sterling.
As a couple, family or with friends
Ireland rewards a slow pace: instead of changing accommodation every night, pick two or three bases, such as Dublin, Galway and Killarney, and take day trips from each. For groups or families, a rented country house gives more space. In Gata you can save ideas and decide together where to stay on each leg.
Save ideas and stays and decide as a group with the Gata app.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a car to travel around Ireland?
Not for Dublin. For the west coast, Connemara, the Burren or the Ring of Kerry it is close to essential, because public transport reaches only some villages. An alternative is to take trains between cities and join organised day tours.
How many days do I need for a first trip to Ireland?
One week lets you see Dublin and a stretch of the west coast, such as Galway, Connemara and the Cliffs of Moher. With ten to fourteen days you can add Kerry, Dingle or the north. Rural roads are slow, so avoid packing in too many stops.
Can I combine Ireland with Northern Ireland?
Yes, and many travellers do. Belfast is well connected to Dublin by train and road, and the Giant's Causeway is close by. Keep in mind that Northern Ireland uses pound sterling rather than the euro.
What is the weather like in Ireland?
The climate is oceanic: mild all year, rarely very hot or very cold, but with frequent rain and strong wind on the west coast. Summers are cool with very long days. It is best to expect showers and enjoy the sunny spells in between.
