Dublin Trip Overview
Think you know about Ireland? Our 8-day trip offers the full Irish travel experience. Visiting historical Galway, gazing out from the Cliffs of Moher, puckering up for the Blarney stone and taste-testing Guinness come as standard; but exploring the Jameson’s Distillery & seeing the UNESCO World Heritage site of the jaw-dropping Giant’s Causeway? Well, now we’re talking.
Additional Info
Duration: 8 days
Starts: Dublin, Ireland
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
Explore Dublin Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland
Think you know about Ireland? Our 8-day trip offers the full Irish travel experience. Visiting historical Galway, gazing out from the Cliffs of Moher, puckering up for the Blarney stone and taste-testing Guinness come as standard; but exploring the Jameson’s Distillery & seeing the UNESCO World Heritage site of the jaw-dropping Giant’s Causeway? Well, now we’re talking.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Dublin
Pass By: Dublin, Dublin, County Dublin
Céad míle fáilte, meaning one hundred, thousand, welcomes is what you get in this city packed with heritage, character, and more cute pubs than you could crawl in a week. Meet up with your Trip Manager and fellow travellers this afternoon.
Stop At: Parnell Square, Dublin Ireland
We start our evening with a walking tour from our trip manager. We’ll begin at Parnell Square, named after Charles Parnell, this Georgian Square houses the garden of remembrance dedicated to all those who gave their lives in the cause of Irish Freedom.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: The Spire, O’Connell Street Upper, North City, Dublin, Ireland
As we walk down O’Connell Street from Parnell Square we’ll stop at this large, stainless steel, pin-like monument 120 metres in high. Designed and built to help with the renovations of the street as it was in decline a number of years ago. At dusk, the base of the monument is lit and illuminated through 11,884 holes through which light-emitting diodes shine.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Temple Bar, Dublin 2 Ireland
After the walking tour we’ll end the day with a lively night of festivities at the cobbled lanes of Temple Bar. Guinness, anyone?
Duration: 2 hours
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Travelodge Dublin City Centre (or similar)
Day 2: Dublin to Cork via Kilkenny
Stop At: Kilkenny, Kilkenny, County Kilkenny
Break up your coach hangs with some time in a village sure to leave you wanting Irish in your blood.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Kilkenny Castle, The Parade, Kilkenny R95 YRK1 Ireland
It has a castle, a cathedral & mountains of medieval charm in this old Irish Town. Stroll the streets on the pastel coloured homes and businesses before we hit the road again for Cork.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Jameson Distillery Midleton, Distillery Walk, Midleton Ireland
Welcome to vibrant Cork! But not before the chance to sample some of Ireland’s famous whiskey at the Jameson’s Distillery in Middleton. Yum!
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Cork, Cork, County Cork
Even when the skies are grey, Cork is covered in colour and good vibes as we roll into town warmed up from the whiskey.
Duration: 3 hours
Stop At: River Lee, Co. Cork, Ireland
Stroll the River Lee or grab your first Guinness in the comfort of a pub, if you didn’t get your hands on one in Dublin.
Duration: 30 minutes
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner: Included at a Local Restaurant
Accommodation included: Oriel House Hotel Ballincollig (or similar)
Day 3: Cork to Galway via Blarney and Cliffs of Moher
Pass By: Cork, Cork, County Cork
Hopefully you exhausted all of your cork puns yesterday, as today we are moving on, sightseeing our way to 2-nights in Galway.
Stop At: Blarney Castle & Gardens, Monacnapa, Blarney, Cork T23 Y598 Ireland
Irish folklore tells us there’s a chunk of limestone built into a castle that grants its kissers the gift of the gab. Pucker up kids, we’re paying her a visit!
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Cliffs of Moher, Lislorkan North, Liscannor Ireland
If heights aren’t your cup of English Breakfast, you best sit this one out. Spine tingling, nail biting cliff faces are there to tremble at for those without fear.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Galway, Galway, County Galway, Western Ireland
From the moment we arrive in Galway, you’ll understand why 2-nights were needed here. Everything you’ve dreamed Ireland to be is tucked into this small, atmospheric city. Step into a local pub and down Irish stew over live music and chats with locals. Outside will be just as lively, with buskers & colourful buildings lining the streets.
Duration: 8 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Travelodge Galway City (or similar)
Day 4: Galway
Stop At: Galway, Galway, County Galway, Western Ireland
Wake up, breath in that Irish Air! Today is all yours to explore this costal city, winner of the 2020 European Capital of Culture.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Galway Cathedral, University and Gaol Rds. Cathedral Square, Galway Ireland
With the day in your hands, our trip manager will have plenty of suggestions on hand to keep you busy throughout the day. Why not head into the city and start off with a visit to this modern renaissance catholic church and take a look at the mosaic of John J Kennedy.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Galway City Museum Spanish Parade, Galway H91 CX5P Ireland
Head down to the docks and explore over 1000 objects most of which have been donated by locals over the last 40 years. You’ll get to learn about past and present Galway from the medieval times all the way up to the modern day sea-baring people they are today.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Galway’s Latin Quarter, 21 High Street, Galway Ireland
Explore Galway’s Latin quarter and get a taste of medieval life, along with a range of artist selling their crafts. Once your creative juices have ran out why not jump into one of the many pubs and try the local Smithwicks beer and if that goes down well maybe some whiskey tasting later and an Irish Stew
Duration: 6 hours
Stop At: Inishmore, Inishmore, Aran Islands, County Galway, Western Ireland
Or, if you hear the call of the wild, you can sign yourself up to a ferry ride to Aran Islands (summer departures only) where you can dance around with horses and take a bike ride around the picturesque farms, or head up to Dún Aonghasa (the ruins of a prehistoric fortress) – make sure you take photos, this area is not for the faint-hearted! Summer Only. (Optional Experience – Not Included)
Duration: 6 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner: Included at a Local Restaurant
Accommodation included: Travelodge Galway City (or similar)
Day 5: Galway to Londonderry
Pass By: Galway, Galway, County Galway, Western Ireland
Goodbye Galway, hello more Irish eye-candy. Today we continue on towards to Londonderry.
Stop At: Walled city Londonderry, Londonderry, Derry Northern Ireland
Here in Londonderry, 17th century walls stand at 8 metres high speaking of times gone by when this area was in battle. Times may have changed, but we’re still keen to soak up the history and learn a thing or two.
Duration: 8 hours
Stop At: Guildhall Shipquay Place, Derry BT48 6DQ Northern Ireland
A visit to Londonderry wouldn’t be without a visit to the Guildhall. After a walking tour you finish up at this focal building standing tall since the 17th Century. It houses an exhibition to take you on a journey through the Plantation of Ulster. Learn of the colonisation of Ulster during the reign of King James I in the 17th Century, with this fascinating interactive experience, including invaluable artefacts such as the Great Parchment Book and local 17th century maps.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Free Derry Corner, Rossville Street/Fahan Street, Derry BT48 6AQ Northern Ireland
You have been filled with history and stories from your trip manger today explaining the divide between the city and the reason it has 2 names. With all this history coursing through your veins, take a walk this evening to the historic murals painted depicting history with the use of images to run along side the narrative.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner: Included at accommodation
Accommodation included: Holiday Inn Express Derry (or similar)
Day 6: Londonderry to Belfast via Giant’s Causeway
Pass By: Walled city Londonderry, Londonderry, Derry Northern Ireland
Laters Londonderry, we’ve got a one way ticket to Belfast and a whole lot more exploration to do.
Stop At: Giant’s Causeway, Causeway Road, Bushmills BT57 8SU Northern Ireland
UNESCO World Heritage site of the Giant’s Causeway – also known as those giant rock columns you’ve probably drooled over on Pinterest needs to be seen to be believed. Get those hashtags ready, a snap with the group is essential on the mind-blowing natural formation.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland
Next up – we’ll arrive in Belfast.
Duration: 6 hours
Stop At: Titanic Belfast, Queen’s Road 1 Olympic Way, Titanic Quarter, Belfast BT3 9EP Northern Ireland
On the way into the city why not visit the epic Titanic Museum and learn all about the doomed ship at its original home, Belfast
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Belfast City Hall, Donegall Square N, Belfast BT1 5GS, UK
Concluding the day will be a driving tour with a local guide.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Crumlin Road Gaol, Crumlin Road, Belfast BT14 6ST Northern Ireland
The local guide has experienced first hand, the difficult and interesting past that has encompassed Belfast’s history. And we’ll even get a chance to stop at the Peace Wall and have the chance to leave our mark of peace and hope for the future of this city.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Holiday Inn Express Belfast City (or similar)
Day 7: Belfast to Dublin
Pass By: Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland
With one night left in Ireland and on tour, we’re on the fast track to Dublin where our Irish fairy tale first began.
Stop At: Guinness Storehouse, Market Street St James Gate, Dublin 8 Ireland
A promise is a promise. Here we are back in the city that started our Ireland infatuations. Use this second stint to do your missed critical activities such as visiting the Guinness Storehouse where you can learn how to pull a pint the Irish way.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Trinity College Dublin, Grafton St. College Green, Dublin 2 Ireland
Once you’ve learned to pull the perfect pint, get out and visit your missed critical activities such as seeing the the famous Trinity College. A university modelled on the likes of Oxford and Cambridge in the UK and Ireland’s oldest surviving University.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Ha’penny Bridge, 14 Bachelors Walk Wellington Quay, Dublin Ireland
If libraries aren’t to your taste, take a walk over the Ha’penny Bridge, connecting either side of Dublin. This bridge, now part of everyday life, historically has replaced the ferries that use to take locals from one of the city to the other across the River Liffey
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: St Stephens Green, at the top end of Grafton St, Dublin 2 Ireland
If you’re feeling like some green, open space and history, after your shopping, head down to this grassy area. Its been open to the public since 1880 and it’s tree lined walkways allows for some respite from the busy city it’s located. Or venture to the north-west corner and check out one of the more unusual aspects of the park; a garden for the blind with scented plants, which can withstand handling, and are labelled in Braille.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Temple Bar, Dublin 2 Ireland
A last visit to Dublin wouldn’t be complete with another visit to Temple bar. Walk through and take in ithe crafts and the artists that work out of this riverside neighbourhood. When your feet need a rest sit down and enjoy the live music, plentiful amount of pubs and the largest whiskey collection in Ireland. And of maybe a last pint of Guinness?
Duration: 3 hours
Stop At: Merry Ploughboys Irish Night, Edmondstown Road Rockbrook, Dublin D16 HK02 Ireland
Experience some good old ‘Irish Craic’ with an evening of delicious food, drinks, music, traditional dancing, and some good laughs together on our final night!
Duration: 3 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Travelodge Dublin City Centre (or similar)
Day 8: Depart Dublin
Pass By: Dublin, Dublin, County Dublin
We leave Ireland today with leprechauns in our hearts and memories in our souls. Say goodbye at breakfast as it will be the last bite our crew has together.
Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.
