Epic Road Trip Itinerary in Ireland
Top of the morning to ya! Planning a trip to Ireland?! The Celtic island country offers so much to explore, including cliffside vistas, quaint medieval towns, and all the Guinness you could drink. I was lucky enough to road trip around the southern region with my travel bestie in 2018 and I have some of the most unique suggestions on where to explore. Let’s find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow on this Epic Road Trip Itinerary in Ireland.
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After arriving to Dublin, check into your hotel (either the Pembroke Townhouse or this Airbnb) and strap on your walking shoes. I would recommend staying in Bachelors Walk right on River Liffey if you like to party, Portobello on Southside if you are a foodie, or The Liberties for the best of both worlds, in walking distance to many major attractions. Where did we head first?! Keep reading.
Dublin is home to some of the oldest pubs in Europe and we found some of the most genuine humans. Here are the best spots to grab a pint:
Guinness Brewery & Museum
Temple Bar
Palace Bar
Urban Brewery
The Brazen Head- oldest pub in Ireland established in 1198
After a couple pints, you’re gonna need a bite to eat. The foodie scene is incredible due to the diversity of the city. Here are some of the top rated restaurants to try.
The Rolling Donut
The Park Cafe
Mamó- contemporary Irish fare near the water
Chapter One
Volpe Nera
Fish Shop
Dublin may be a eatin’ drinkin’ town. But there is so much more than that, including medieval history and cheeky, European charm. Here are the best things to do on your first stop on the road trip:
Kilmainham Gaol
Trinity College
Joker’s Chair in Merrion Square- homes around the square all have a different color door. The story goes that they painted them this way so when you stumbled home drunk, you’d know which house was yours.
St. Patrick’s Cathedral
National Leprechaun Museum
Statue of Oscar Wilde
Glasnevin Cemetery
Rory Gallagher Corner
Molly Malone Statue
Ha’penny Bridge
Dublin Castle
Dark Walking Tour with Unearthed Tours
Galway
Ever seen the music video for Ed Sheeran’s “Galway Girl”?! After he released that song, this small Irish city has been a hot spot on loads of fan’s Irish bucket list. And personally, I see why he wrote a song about this town. We had a blast exploring the weekend market, pub scene, and the giant rainbow you see below. I could have spent a few days in this city alone but during the one day stop on our road trip, here’s what we did (photos from my friend Parker & booking.com, thanks boo):
Stay at The Dean Galway
Galway Cathedral
Dún Aonghasa- ruins of an Iron Age fort perched on a seaside cliff
Kilmacduagh Round Tower
Pigeon Hole Cave
Galway Cathedral
Franciscan Well Brewery
Salthill Galway Beach
Fat Freddy’s Italian
The Quays Bar- fun AF bar in an old church
Cliffs of Moher
After a night of dancing in Galway, jump in the car and head for the Cliffs of Moher. It is about a one and a half hour drive South along a skinny, two lane, scenic country road. Once you arrive to the parking lot, you’ll get this view…
The cliffs sit right on the Atlantic and offer a multitude of hiking trails along the 700ft drop that was created over 320 million years ago. Climb to the top of O’Brien’s Tower, built in the 1800’s for tourism, or dangle your legs over the ledge if you are super adventurous.
The site is not only a UNESCO Global Geopark but also a special protection area for the seabirds that come here to breed and nest. So bring your binoculars if you love birds. Book your visit ahead of time and get there early (opens at 8 am) before the tourist buses.
Cork
Once you have had your fill of the thrill, drive 2.5 hours south to Cork Ireland. We spent a longer time in the car this day but it gives you an opportunity to stop in Limerick and other small villages along the way. Cork is a cultural center in the South coast of the Island. Here are the most unique things to do in “the Rebel City”:
Photo Cred: Unsplash Mark de Jong
Blarney Castle- kiss the Blarney Stone, 20 min drive from Cork, 20 Euros each
Cork Heritage Pub Trail- especially the Lee Sessions at Sin É pub
Cork Testing Trail- three and a half hour tour of how to eat like a local, definitely check out English Market if you would rather explore at your own pace.
Live Music at Crane Lane Theater- opened in the 1920’s
Blackrock Castle Observatory - best place to stargaze
Stay at The Dean Cork (photo credit below to Booking.com)
Wine Tasting at Hayfield Manor- pair it with a 5 course dinner at this luxury hotel, especially during Christmastime
Charlie Byrne’s Bookstore
Mutton Island Causeway
Others stops to check out if you have a few more days on your road trip, courtesy of my travel bestie’s itinerary:
Dingle Peninsula- where my family is from
Killarney- National Park hike Torc Waterfall
Cobh- Deck of Cards houses, 30 min from Cork
Cashel- tour the Rock of Cashel
Doolin
Ring of Skellig- scenic drive
Giant’s Causway- Take the red trail for most insane views, then take the A2 along coast to Belfast
Pro Tips for Traveling Ireland
Wanna know some of the pro tips when it comes down to traveling in Ireland?! You probably won’t need cash as they take tap credit cards everywhere. When you do use your card, they give you the option to pay USD vs Euros. Chose the Euros option because the exchange rate will lower through your credit card. They don’t tip extra, and most places to even offer the option.
Photo Cred: Unsplash
And at the pubs, you will pay per round vs opening a tab. So keep that in mind when ordering your half and half pints (Guinness + Smithwick’s Red Ale). Ask your bartenders where you can listen to Trad music, their traditional Celtic pub concerts. They’ll help you find the pubs where the locals drink instead of getting sucked into the tourist traps. But you gotta try a traditional Irish breakfast at least once.
If you are ready to eat your body weight in soda bread and Guinness stew, save this Epic Road Trip Itinerary in Ireland to help you chose the best places to stop along the way. Rental cars are essential and learning to drive on the other side of the road is super fun! Thanks for reading!
