YOUR IRISH ADVENTURE
Ireland Itineraries
Day-by-day routes for every length of trip, each mapped stop by stop. Pick your days, follow the route, and build the Irish road trip you came for.
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Find your Ireland route
Every great Irish trip is really a route. These are the itineraries worth building a trip around, from a three-day city escape to the full two-week loop of the island.
A good itinerary does the hard part of planning for you. It sets the order of stops, the length of each drive, and where to sleep so you are not backtracking across the country. Each box below gives you the route, the day-by-day stops, and where to stay and eat.
We have full day-by-day guides for the most popular trips, with more on the way. Where a guide is still being written, the route and every stop are already here so you can start planning today.
BEFORE YOU GO
First, the trip basics
Four quick decisions shape every Ireland itinerary. Sort these before you pick a route.
BY LENGTH OF TRIP
Multi-Day Ireland Itineraries
How many days do you have? These are the classic Dublin-based loops, scaled from a long weekend to a full two weeks.
3 DAYS · DUBLIN BASE
3 Days in Ireland
Dublin, Wicklow & a day west
3
Days
~400
Km
3
Counties
A Dublin-based long weekend. A day for the capital, a day in the Wicklow Mountains and Kilkenny, then a big day out west to the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren.
The route, day by day
1
Day 1Dublin
Trinity College and the Book of Kells, then Kilmainham Gaol.
2
Day 2Glendalough
The monastic round tower and lakes in the Wicklow Mountains.
3
Day 2Kilkenny
Kilkenny Castle and the Medieval Mile.
4
Day 3Cliffs of Moher
A day out west to Ireland’s most famous cliffs.
5
Day 3The Burren
The lunar limestone landscape beside the coast.
Best season
Apr–Oct
Route
Dublin → Dublin
Driving
~2.5 hrs/day
Don't miss
Glendalough
5 DAYS · FIRST-TIMER LOOP
5 Days in Ireland
Dublin to the southwest
5
Days
~750
Km
3
Regions
Five days covers the greatest hits without rushing. Start in Dublin, drop south to Kilkenny and Cork, give Kerry a full day, then turn north for the Cliffs of Moher and Galway.
The route, day by day
1
Day 1Dublin
Land, settle in, and walk the city before heading south.
2
Day 2Kilkenny
Castle, cathedral, and the Medieval Mile.
3
Day 3Cork & Kinsale
The English Market, then harbour seafood in Kinsale.
4
Day 4Killarney
Killarney National Park and the Ring of Kerry.
5
Day 5Cliffs of Moher
The cliffs on the drive north.
6
Day 5Galway
Finish in Galway, the best base out west.
Best season
May–Sep
Route
Dublin → Galway
Driving
~2.5 hrs/day
Don't miss
A full day in Kerry
Full Guide Coming Soon
We are writing this guide now. The full route and day-by-day stops are above so you can start planning.
7 DAYS · THE PERFECT WEEK
7 Days in Ireland
The classic southern loop
~7
Days
~950
Km
1
Slack day
One week is the sweet spot. A tight half-island loop: Dublin south to Cork via Kilkenny, then west through Kerry, up the Wild Atlantic Way to Galway.
The route, day by day
1
Day 1Dublin
Trinity College and a first night in the city.
2
Day 2Kilkenny
The castle and the Medieval Mile heading south.
3
Day 3Cork
The English Market, then Kinsale or Cobh on the harbour.
4
Day 4Killarney
The national park and the Ring of Kerry loop.
5
Day 5Dingle
The Slea Head Drive and a harbour-town night.
6
Day 6Cliffs of Moher
The cliffs, Doolin, and the Burren.
7
Day 7Galway
A last night in the Latin Quarter.
Best season
May–Sep
Route
Dublin → Galway
Driving
~3 hrs/day
Don't miss
Slea Head Drive
Full Guide Coming Soon
We are writing this guide now. The full route and day-by-day stops are above so you can start planning.
10 DAYS · SOUTH & WEST LOOP
10 Days in Ireland
South & west, no rush
10
Days
~1,000
Km
6
Counties
A clockwise loop of the south and west, about 1,000 km, returning to Dublin. Kilkenny, Cork and Kerry, then the Cliffs of Moher and Galway, with no long northern detour.
The route, day by day
1
Day 1Dublin
Two days for Trinity, Kilmainham, and the pubs.
2
Day 3Kilkenny
Kilkenny Castle and the Medieval Mile.
3
Day 4Cork
The Rock of Cashel en route, then the English Market.
4
Day 6Killarney
Kinsale and Blarney, then the Ring of Kerry.
5
Day 7Dingle
Killarney National Park and the Slea Head Drive.
6
Day 8Cliffs of Moher
The Shannon ferry, then the cliffs and the Burren.
7
Day 9Galway
The Latin Quarter and a trad session before the drive back.
Best season
May–Sep
Route
Dublin → Dublin
Driving
~3 hrs/day
Don't miss
Slea Head Drive
14 DAYS · ALL FOUR PROVINCES
14 Days in Ireland
The whole island, slowly
14
Days
~1,900
Km
4
Provinces
Two full weeks covering all four provinces. The southern loop plus Connemara, then north to the Giant’s Causeway and the walled city of Derry. Build in days where you do not drive at all.
The route, day by day
1
Day 1Dublin
Two days for the capital and the Guinness Storehouse.
2
Day 3Kilkenny
Glendalough and the Rock of Cashel en route south.
3
Day 5Cork
Blarney Castle and the harbour town of Kinsale.
4
Day 6Killarney
Killarney National Park and the Ring of Kerry.
5
Day 8Dingle
Inch Beach, the Slea Head Drive, and the stone huts.
6
Day 9Cliffs of Moher
Doolin, the cliffs, and Loop Head.
7
Day 10Galway
The Aran Islands and Galway’s Latin Quarter.
8
Day 12Clifden
Connemara National Park and Kylemore Abbey.
9
Day 13Giant’s Causeway
The drive north to the basalt columns.
10
Day 14Derry
The city walls and the Bogside murals, then back to Dublin.
Best season
Apr–Oct
Route
Dublin → Derry
Driving
~2.5 hrs/day
Don't miss
Connemara & the Causeway
BY ICONIC ROUTE
Scenic Routes & Coastal Drives
The named drives Ireland is famous for. Tackle one as a day trip or string several together into a longer road trip.
ICONIC ROUTE · 2,500 KM OF COAST
The Wild Atlantic Way
Ireland’s epic coast road
7–14
Days
2,500
Km
9
Counties
The longest defined coastal route in the world, from Kinsale in the south to Donegal in the north. It links the Ring of Kerry, the Cliffs of Moher, and Connemara. Drive it south to north so the sea is always on your left.
The route, day by day
1
Kinsale
Charles Fort and the colourful harbour town.
2
Killarney
The Gap of Dunloe and the national park.
3
Cliffs of Moher
The cliffs via the Tarbert ferry.
4
Galway
The west coast’s liveliest city.
5
Clifden
The Sky Road and Clifden Castle.
6
Westport
Croagh Patrick and Clew Bay.
7
Donegal
The Slieve League cliffs, higher than Moher.
Best season
Jun–Sep
Route
Kinsale → Donegal
Driving
~4 hrs/day
Don't miss
Slieve League cliffs
ICONIC LOOP · COUNTY KERRY
The Ring of Kerry
The Iveragh Peninsula loop
1–2
Days
180
Km
6
Stops
Ireland’s most famous drive, a 180 km loop from Killarney around the Iveragh Peninsula. Go anti-clockwise to stay ahead of the tour buses, and add the Skellig Ring if you have a second day.
The route, day by day
1
Killarney
Torc Waterfall and the national park.
2
Killorglin
The home of Puck Fair, Ireland’s oldest festival.
3
Waterville
Charlie Chaplin’s seaside village and Skellig views.
4
Sneem
A pastel village on the southern stretch.
5
Kenmare
A stone circle and the best food on the loop.
6
Moll’s Gap
Ladies View and the mountain pass back.
Best season
May–Sep
Route
Killarney loop
Driving
~4 hrs total
Don't miss
Ladies View
ICONIC ROUTE · NORTHERN IRELAND
The Causeway Coastal Route
Belfast to the basalt coast
1–3
Days
190
Km
5
Stops
Northern Ireland’s coast road from Belfast to Derry, past the Glens of Antrim, the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, and the Giant’s Causeway. It packs more landmarks into 190 km than any drive on the island.
The route, day by day
1
Belfast
The Titanic Quarter and a black-cab mural tour.
2
Carrick-a-Rede
The rope bridge strung across the Atlantic.
3
Giant’s Causeway
The 40,000 basalt columns of the UNESCO site.
4
Portrush
Dunluce Castle and the Antrim beaches.
5
Derry
The 17th-century walls and the Bogside murals.
Best season
Apr–Oct
Route
Belfast → Derry
Driving
~2 hrs total
Don't miss
Giant’s Causeway
Full Guide Coming Soon
We are writing this guide now. The full route and day-by-day stops are above so you can start planning.
ICONIC LOOP · DINGLE PENINSULA
The Slea Head Drive
Dingle’s western tip
1
Days
47
Km
3
Hours
The best short loop in Ireland, a 47 km circuit of the Dingle Peninsula’s western tip. It passes beehive huts, the Blasket Islands viewpoint, and Coumeenoole Beach. Drive it in three hours or give it a full day with stops.
The route, day by day
1
Dingle Town
Start in the harbour town and head west.
2
Ventry
A sheltered curve of beach on the bay.
3
Slea Head
The cliff-edge viewpoint over the Blasket Islands.
4
Coumeenoole
The beach from the film Ryan’s Daughter.
5
Gallarus Oratory
A 1,200-year-old dry-stone church.
Best season
Apr–Oct
Route
Dingle loop
Driving
~3 hrs total
Don't miss
Coumeenoole Beach
Full Guide Coming Soon
We are writing this guide now. The full route and day-by-day stops are above so you can start planning.
ICONIC LOOP · COUNTY GALWAY
The Connemara Loop
Bog, mountains & coast
1–2
Days
200
Km
5
Stops
Connemara is the west at its wildest, a loop of bog, mountain, and coastline northwest of Galway. The drive links Kylemore Abbey, the Sky Road at Clifden, and the village of Roundstone. Two days lets you add Killary Fjord and Inishbofin.
The route, day by day
1
Galway
The city gateway to the region.
2
Cong
The Quiet Man village beside Ashford Castle.
3
Kylemore Abbey
The lakeside abbey and Victorian walled garden.
4
Clifden
The Sky Road and the capital of Connemara.
5
Roundstone
A harbour village under the Twelve Bens.
Best season
May–Sep
Route
Galway loop
Driving
~4 hrs total
Don't miss
Kylemore Abbey
Full Guide Coming Soon
We are writing this guide now. The full route and day-by-day stops are above so you can start planning.
CHOOSE YOUR STYLE
Four ways to travel Ireland
The same stops, four different trips. Pick the style that fits how you like to travel.
Self-drive road trip
The classic. Rent a car and follow a loop at your own pace. Best for the Wild Atlantic Way, Kerry, and anywhere rural. Most of the maps on this page are built for it.
City base + day trips
Stay put in Dublin or Galway and day-trip out. No daily packing, no rural driving. Best for 3–4 day trips and first-timers nervous about driving on the left.
Guided small-group tour
Someone else drives and plans. Best if you would rather not rent a car, want the history narrated, or are travelling solo. Covers the same headline stops.
Rail & bus explorer
Ireland links its cities by train and coach. Slower between rural stops, but cheap and stress-free city to city. Pair it with day tours for the coast.
SHORT ON TIME
Weekend & City Break Itineraries
Two perfect days in Ireland’s best cities. Great on their own or bolted onto a longer route.
GOOD TO KNOW
Ireland itinerary FAQs
The questions every Ireland trip-planner asks before they book.
How many days do you need in Ireland?
Seven to ten days is the sweet spot for a first trip. Five days covers the southwest, and fourteen reaches all four provinces. Fewer than three days is best spent basing yourself in one city.
Is it better to base in one place or move around?
For three to four days, base yourself in Dublin or Galway and day-trip out. For five days or more, a touring loop sees far more of the country without much backtracking.
Do you need a car for an Ireland road trip?
For the Wild Atlantic Way, the Ring of Kerry, and most rural routes, yes. The cities are walkable and linked by rail, so a common approach is to train between cities and rent a car only for the coast. See our getting around Ireland guide.
When is the best time to drive Ireland?
May, June, and September: long daylight hours, lighter crowds, and lower prices than July and August. Full breakdown in our best time to visit guide.
Which itinerary is best for first-timers?
The seven-day southern loop: Dublin, Kerry, Dingle, the Cliffs of Moher, and Galway. It hits the icons without long driving days and bookends neatly at Dublin Airport.
Plan the Rest
Everything You Need to Plan.
Six guides that cover the questions every Ireland trip starts with.
Best Time to VisitMonth-by-month weather, crowds, festivals, and what the days actually feel like.Things to DoHub of every guide on the site, sorted by region and type.Where to StayCastle hotels, country house stays, and city hotels we'd return to.Entry RequirementsVisa, passport, ETIAS, and customs. What you actually need.Getting AroundTrains, buses, car rental, ferries, and the best airport transfers.Travel CostsDaily budgets and real prices for hotels, food, transport, and tours.
