Hi all! My family (8 people, all adults) and I are planning a 7 day trip at the beginning of August. I’m tasked with planning everything, and am hoping for some feedback regarding this general itinerary as well as some answers to some questions along the way.
Flying into Shannon Airport, staying in an AirBnB in Galway or about 30 min away from Galway
Day 1 - explore Galway
Day 2 - day trip to Dublin
Day 3 - explore Galway
Day 4 - private tour from Galway to Dingle, hitting the Cliffs of Moher along the way
(staying in an AirBnB around Dingle or Killarney days 4-6)
Day 5 - explore Dingle (i’m hearing many great things about the sea safari?)
Day 6 - explore Killarney
Day 7 - explore Cork (staying in Cork for one night and then head back to Shannon airport the next day)
Questions are:
- Is that realistic/exciting enough?
- Anything you’re shocked we’re not including that we should be?
- Two adults are in their 50’s/60’s, i’m a bit worried about their mobility, especially for the Cliffs of Moher. Any advice for this?
- I’m concerned about transport from Cork to Shannon Airport, it seems like there is a direct bus but my flight is at 9:30am and I’m not sure there is a bus that leaves early enough to get us there in time
- We won’t be renting a car, is it fair to assume ubers or public transport would be able to get us from 1. Galway to our Airbnb if it’s 30 min away 2. Dingle to Killarney and vice versa 3. Dingle or Killarney (depending where we end up staying) to Cork
Thank you in advance for your insight!!
Drop Dublin, unless it's on someone's bucket list, drop it entirely
E: And Cork. They're too far away from where you will be to have to back track and it's too little time in both
Does everyone in Ireland hate Dublin?
No one ever recommends staying there or barely visiting there.
Not Dubs hate it, I'm a Dub and don't hate it. It could be better though.
I think most people (Americans anyway) think of Ireland countryside, coastlines, and small quaint towns. Dublin is a city. And while there might be specific things that people want to do in Dublin, I don't think it offers something so unique and special that I'd go out of my way to spend precious time there.
If you've got a list of "must see this" in Dublin or need to be there for a specific thing (work, concert, etc), your time is better spent elsewhere. If the OP was flying into DUB, then maybe a night there makes sense.
normally i would disagree and say Dublin is a must but definitely stick west with this itinerary.
It's just too little time for the two of the biggest urban centres on the island
thank you!
Not a bad itenary at all.
Personally I wouldn't bother with Dublin on day 2. You will be on a bus for about 5 hours total and that's without accounting for dublin traffic which could add another 2 hours. Skip it altogether and make it a reason to come back.
The limited mobility at the cliffs of Moher is no issue, Just yoir guide to arrange with the cliffs visitor centre the "Lifts of Moher" service. Its basically a golf cart that can wizz them around the site and bring them to all the view points. This operates year round, but wont operate in high wind.
If you are worried about the Cork Shannon bus, travel the night before and stay in one of the hotels in Shannon town. All are really nice and can arrange an airport transfer
In relation to Uber and public transport. Your Air BnB maybe serviced by public transport, ask your host, they will have the best knowledge. Galway is a huge county so we wouldn't be able to answer that. Dingle to killarney is linked by a bus currently running once or twice a day, I think during tourist season its more frequent, but there is a bus link.
Killareny is the larger of the 2 towns so has a fairly frequent bus to Cork city, daily.
very helpful, thank you!
You’ll need 2 taxis to get anywhere. I feel like that would be tough in Dingle without advance booking?
And it seems like an Airbnb so far outside Galway is a bad idea. You’d need a taxi to go literally anywhere. Why not stay in town allowing people to walk to shopping or coffee or a pub in the evening ( while also allowing for others to opt out or retire earlier?).
How are you exploring Dingle beyond town w/o a car? Private tour of Slea Head?
I agree with skipping Dublin and Cork.
My advice, stay in Galway town. Book tours for Connemara and/or Aran Island. Doable w/o cars, and let group explore Galway on foot from lodging.
Pick Dingle or Killarney and again book tours. My preference is Dingle but maybe w/o a car Killarney is better?
We’ve done the Sea Safari and would do it again. Don’t advise if someone has back issues. Sea was a bit rough our day and it can be jarring. I believe there are other boat options.
Thank you! It seems like the consensus is to just stay in Galway city.
Wasn’t positive about the how re: exploring Dingle part, sounds like a booking tours with transport will be the way to go. I think if we cut out Cork we’d split time between Dingle and Killarney and stay in those towns rather than in between the two or 30 min out of each
If you are without cars and with that many people, I agree.
As far as night before your fly home, you could consider Ennis. Lovely little town and not far from SNN.
Uber isn’t a big thing here, particularly outside Dublin. Taxis are quite expensive but a 30 minute one to your Airbnb won’t break the bank. A taxi between Dingle and Killarney would cost hundreds of euro, if you even find a driver willing to do the drive, which you probably won’t. There are a few bus options between Dingle and Killarney, it’ll probably take 2.5 to 3 hours.
8 adults plus luggage - they'll need a minibus.
Super helpful, thank you!
If your flight is at 9:30am and you're doing preclearance at Shannon etc you would need to leave Cork at 4:30 or earlier. If you've only got one night in Cork that is madness.
I would stay in Killarney the extra night instead of Cork, plenty to do there.
RE Galway, I would strongly advise staying as close to the city centre as possible if you don't have your own transport. I would also leave Dublin out of the itinerary and explore Connemara instead for the day.
Thank you!
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Unless Dublin has some "must see" places for you, I would just cut it out altogether. My main interest in Dublin was the historical stuff (Kilmainham, Glasnevin, etc.), but it's definitely not worth going to just for touristy stuff like Temple Bar and the Guinness Storehouse. It's also the most expensive place in the country.
I would also cut out Cork. I love Cork, but it's a bit too much for this trip when you don't have a car. I would try to book a Connemara tour while in Galway, and do an Aran Islands day trip. You really don't need more than a couple of hours at the Cliffs. If you get to the Cliffs of Moher early, you could catch a ferry to the islands from Doolin.
Make sure to do more than just Slea Head and Dingle town while there. There are a lot of great historical sites all over the Dingle Peninsula, and a day trip to the Great Blasket is also highly recommended.
Looks like most agree to drop Dublin, I’ll have to check with my cousins on if it’s a must see but it fees more like a hassle than it’d be worth.
Thanks for your input!
In Galway, you should stay near Eyre Square. Any money you save on lodging you’ll quickly lose on the cost of cabs.
Cliffs of Moher are not physically challenging to visit.
Sciuird Archaeological tours uses a minivan to tour Slea Head Peninsula out of Dingle, would be perfect for your group.
The real treasure of Ireland is the people and the pubs, not the scenery. You’re goal shouldn’t be to sightsee as much as possible, but to maximize your interactions with Irish people.
Strongly concur with suggestions to minimize the number of stops.
Great insights, thank you!
I'd have to say the scenery is part of what we loved about Ireland! We used our days to get out of the towns we stayed in and the evenings to enjoy dinner and pubs! Best of both.
Where is the Galway AirBnB? It will give us an idea of the chance of getting a large taxi/mini bus.
You could skip Dublin or Cork or both. Dublin is possible as a day trip from Galway but it’s a lot of time on a bus/train. I’ve done it a few times using Citylink bus. Leave Galway at 6.15am and get back to Galway at around 8.15pm. You can sleep on the bus.
We haven’t booked the AirBnB yet, but two options were in the city on The Long Walk, while the two farther away are in Oughterard and Carrickeeny. Sounds like general consensus is to stay in the city!
If you are near the shops in Oughterard there is a bus into Galway city. I had to look up Carrickeeny, it’s a tiny dot on the map, a remote area between Spiddal and Invern. Both are a long taxi ride. Galway city would be much easier without a car.
I’d recommend getting the train to Dublin. A more fun way to travel you can book seats together. I’d hire a van for the rest of your travels, could one of you drive it? You’d have much more fun and freedom?
The train is good insight, thank you! We’re weary about driving because of what we’ve heard regarding tight roads and opposite side driving, and we’re big drinkers so won’t be sober consistently lol
I did pretty much what you are planning, with 7 adults. If I were you I would think again about not driving - we rented a 9 seater minibus. OK one person has to not drink during the day, but it solved all the logistics issues and made it really easy to explore.
Sadly it’s true that with a car or van you’ll see so much more of the country. Little towns and villages cafes and castles public transport won’t bring you to. But as you wish!
I think your day 7 should be getting yourself back to Shannon, or at least Limerick or Ennis, to get your flight out early the next day.
I'm in my fifties and honestly am a bit insulted that you think getting up to the Cliffs of Moher is going to be hard. Maybe if you're in a wheelchair or use a walker .... It's paved, it's nice, it's pretty, it's visitor-friendly.
I agree with everyone who says drop Dublin. It's a 3-hour journey each way from the west, longer with public transport, not worth the hassle.
Sorry, should have clarified that it’s 50/60 year olds with chronic illnesses! I had seen that there were hikes at the Cliffs so wasn’t sure if you needed to hike to get the view
You do need to walk up to the viewing area, and you can climb some steps to get to O'Brien's tower.
Cut out Dublin and Cork
A day trip to Dublin from Galway is stupid. Also you need to be at Shannon Airport 3 hours prior to your flight if you are heading on a direct flight to the USA, so stay close to Shannon. Staying in Cork the night before is not a good plan. You really need 2 cars to stay outside the city in Galway.
I would rethink the places you are staying. Not having a car adds tons of time to your itinerary for travel time.