Ireland: what to visit in the country of the shamrock
Have you always wanted to visit the Emerald Isle? Ireland has a lot to discover and explore, from green fields to breathtaking cliffs. Start planning your visit to the country of shamrocks, Guinness beer and Oscar Wilde now.
We give you suggestions for a week-long trip to explore Ireland and what to visit on this small but spectacular island.
Ireland: what to visit in a 7-day itinerary
The Emerald Isle integrates, geographically, the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland (part of the United Kingdom). We suggest that you organize your trip as follows.
Days 1 and 2 - Dublin
Starting in the capital of the Republic of Ireland is the best way to enjoy the first few days of your trip. Dublin is also the largest city, with about 500.000 inhabitants. If you can travel around March 17th, you can take the opportunity to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, the patron saint of the country. Count on a lot of whiskey, take a piece of green colored clothing and try your luck looking for the pot of gold.
But Dublin is a city rich in history: visit Trinity College (where the writer Samuel Beckett studied), St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin Castle (with the Chester Beatty library) and the Guinness brewery factory. These are the main points of the city, where you can also enjoy the various existing pubs, such as the famous The Temple Bar.
Day 3 - Wicklow Mountains
The Wicklow Mountains are an hour away from Dublin by car. They form the largest continuous mountainous area in the Republic of Ireland and hide a lot of history behind their natural beauty. For example, you can find here the Glendalough monastery, built in the 6th century.
Day 4 - Kilkenny
In this small town, there are several monuments worth visiting, as well as small gardens. Explore Kilkenny Castle and St. Mary's Cathedral. If you have the opportunity, also visit the Rock of Cashel, 50 minutes from Kilkenny, where, legend has it, Saint Patrick banned Satan.
Day 5 - Cork and Kinsale
Cork is considered Dublin's “rival city”. Here you can visit the English Market, the cathedral of St. Fin Barre and the Cork City Gaol (a famous 19th century prison). A 30-minute drive from Cork is the fishing village of Kinsale, famous for its colorful houses.
Day 6 - Ring of Kerry
You must book a day of the tour to travel through the Ring of Kerry. This is a scenic drive across the Iveragh Peninsula in County Kerry. The route is 179 km long and includes lush coastal landscapes and seaside rural villages.
Day 7 - Cliffs of Moher and Galway
The famous Cliffs of Moher rise up to 214 meters above sea level. Travel along the sea, carefully admiring the unique beauty of the violence of the Atlantic Ocean against the rocks.
About 1h30 from the cliffs is the city of Galway, a university city, considered as the cultural center of the country, where you can find iconic castles to visit. If you still have time and want to end your trip in contact with nature, visit the Connemara national park.
How to travel in Ireland
The best way to travel the roads that go through the green hills and grasslands of Ireland, is by car rental (Enterprise Rent A Car). You will find Enterprise stations at Dublin Airport and other strategic locations, such as Cork, so that you can make your car rental simple and practical.
If you are staying in Dublin or Cork, it is easy to visit the entire island, with the help of your Enterprise car hire.