Hi all,
first trip to Ireland for late April / early May and wanted a quick sense check before booking anything. The outline below is very rough (all activities are placeholders) and mainly looking to make sure the route and pacing make sense from people who know Ireland well. Also looking to sneak a round of golf in (doesn’t have to be at a fancy course!)
Here’s what I am thinking so far:
Day 1 – Dublin
Arrive early morning. Planning to keep it light after the flight — wandering around the Christchurch area, maybe Dublin Castle grounds or Chester Beatty, then an early night.
Day 2 – Dublin
Walking tour, Trinity / Book of Kells, and maybe one museum.
Day 3 – Dublin to Kilkenny to Cork (train)
Stop in Kilkenny for a few hours to walk around and see the castle, then continue on to Cork. Overnight is mainly to break up the travel.
Day 4 – Cork to Blarney to Killarney
Pick up a car in Cork, visit Blarney Castle, then drive to Killarney. Only planning one night here.
Day 5 – Killarney to Dingle
Spend the morning in the park (Gap of Dunloe or Muckross/Torc), then drive to Dingle with a scenic stop like Inch Beach if time allows.
Day 6 – Dingle Peninsula
Full day taking the Slea Head loop slowly — beaches, viewpoints, Gallarus, etc. Second night in Dingle.
Day 7 – Dingle to Cliffs of Moher to Galway
Early start, possibly using the Tarbert–Killimer ferry. Planning a couple of hours at the Cliffs, then on to Galway for the night.
Day 8 – Galway to Dublin
Drive back to Dublin, return the car, final night before flying home.
A few things I’d especially appreciate local input on:
– Does this feel realistic without being rushed?
– Is two nights in Dingle a good call for this time of year?
– Is Dingle → Cliffs → Galway reasonable in one day if on the road early?
– Does skipping Cork city make sense given the rest of the route?
Any thoughts or suggestions welcome, especially if there’s anything here that looks fine on paper but doesn’t really work in practice.
Thanks in advance.
Excited Canadian
Skip Blarney (the most boring place in Cork/Ireland), and head to Kinsale or something instead.
I have lived in Cork my whole life, and find it very confusing that anyone visits Blarney. Unreal marketing in fairness to them though.
It’s a great call but Kinsale would add 60/90 minutes to the travel time.
If they're getting the rental car from Cork Airport, Kinsale is 25 minutes away and well worth the trip.
I agree to forget the train: you are adding unnecessary hassle and expense when you could just collect a car in Dublin.
With your current plan you won’t have any time to see Galway. Either go straight from Doolin to Dublin or stay in Galway an extra night to make the extra driving worthwhile.
If they leave Dingle early, see the cliffs, they'll be in Galway in the afternoon. Plenty of time to have a look around and have dinner.
Planning to do Dublin to Kilkenny to Cork all by train in one day doesn’t make sense because there’s no direct Kilkenny-Cork train. You’d have to double back on yourself and change trains multiple times which could take hours as they’re not super frequent. So either skip Kilkenny or do it by car.
You’re renting a car, why not rent it in Dublin? Otherwise the trains have changes so you’re just wasting time.
You also waste so much time checking in and out of hotels.
Definitely skip Cork or Kilkenny (I love both) but you don’t have time for both. Don’t do Blarney, it’s not worth it but if you go to Cork do Kinsale instead. If you rent a car you can stay in Kinsale instead of Cork city.
Spend 2 nights in Killarney instead of 1.
Makes alot more sense, thanks! Not sure what I was thinking with the whole trains lol
The train from Dublin to Cork (very few stops) does not have changes, and is much easier than driving, especially if you are not accustomed to driving here. €44 for first class outside of rush hour. I do it frequently. You can pick up a car at Cork Airport. Check the difference in rental rates.
Have you checked the train connections? I don't think there's a direct train from Kilkenny to Cork.
If you don't want to feel rushed, throw this out and start again, and maybe cut out half of it.
As others are saying, skip Kilkenny or Cork, or both. From Dublin, get a train to either, Kilkenny, Cork or Killarney. Then rent a car. From Dingle to Galway via the Cliffs of Moher, use the Tarbert to Killimer ferry to save you going around by Limerick.
For a trip this length, I’d leave Dublin by car on day 2. You only have 8 nights and this plan has 3 in Dublin.
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Train makes no sense, there isn’t even a direct one from Kilkenny to cork as far as I know. For the slea head, drive it in a clockwise direction so you’re going with the tour buses and not against them on the narrow road, (if you think you’ve seen narrow roads you haven’t until you’ve come here). I love muckross in Killarney, definitely recommend. You don’t need a few hours at the cliffs of moher unless you’re doing the walking / hiking trails. They genuinely are just cliffs. The drive from dingle to cliffs of moher is over 3 hours, the general advice to tourists is to add 30 mins on to googles estimated driving time so you’re looking at 3 and a half hours, then an hour and 45 on to Galway, it is do able but make sure you’re leaving dingle early. Skipping cork is fine, you’re seeing Galway and Dublin City anyway
For an early draft, I would go with a lager or a cider. Switch to the black stuff for lunch.
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This is very similar to what I was thinking as well, so I would also love to hear people’s thoughts.
I like the plan except for one part. Hire the car in Dublin and skip the train. Everything else sounds good.
Thanks! Appreciate everyone’s feedback