country
IrelandÉire
First trip: 2–3 nights in Dublin, then pick the west (Galway and Connemara) or the south-west (Killarney and Kerry) for 3–4 nights; rent a car for the west, and do not try to loop the whole island in a week.
Ireland looks small, but rural roads are narrow and slow, and the best landscapes are far from the rail network. Pick one side of the country beyond Dublin. The weather changes several times a day in every season; plan layers, not sunshine. Driving is on the left.
All regions, cities and parks in Ireland (Atlas) →
Regions
Capital; Wicklow Mountains and Glendalough day trips
2–4 nights
Galway, Connemara, the Burren, Cliffs of Moher, Aran Islands
3–5 nights
Killarney, Ring of Kerry, Dingle, Cork city
3–5 nights
Arrive
DUB
Dublin Airport
Buses and taxis to the city; no rail link
SNN
Shannon Airport
West coast; convenient for Clare and Galway
ORK
Cork Airport
South; convenient for Kerry and Cork
Time math
- 4 days
- Dublin 2 + Galway 2 (Cliffs of Moher or Connemara tour)
- 7 days
- Dublin 3 + Galway 2 + Clare or Connemara 2
- 10 days
- Dublin 3 + Galway 2 + Clare 1 + Kerry 3 + Cork 1
Country rules
- Ireland is in the EU but not in the Schengen area; it sets its own entry rules and a Schengen visa is not valid for Ireland. Check Irish immigration for your passport.
- Ireland and the UK form the Common Travel Area, with no routine checks on the land border. Visitors who are not Irish or British must still meet UK rules (including the UK ETA where it applies) to enter Northern Ireland.
- Driving is on the left; rural roads are narrow with hedges and few passing places.
Etiquette
- Pub rounds are common: if you join one, buy yours.
- Queue patiently for buses and at bars.
- Irish and British are different identities; do not describe Ireland as part of Britain.
- March 17 (St Patrick's Day)
- Parades and crowds; Dublin hotels book out and prices peak.
- Christmas (December 24–26)
- Very limited public transport; most businesses closed.
- June–August
- Peak season on the west coast; book cars and rooms early.
Money & passes
Cash necessity: 1/5
- Currency is the euro (EUR). Cards and contactless work almost everywhere, including pubs and taxis.
- Northern Ireland uses the pound sterling (GBP); euros are not generally accepted there.
Before you fly: eSIM before you fly · Visas and entry
Safety
- Driving is the main risk: narrow roads, tour coaches on the Ring of Kerry and left-side driving.
- Cliff edges (Moher, Aran Islands) have no barriers in places; stay on paths, especially in wind.
- Pickpockets in Dublin's busy streets and on public transport; keep bags closed.
- Emergency: 112 or 999.
Ireland links to Great Britain by ferry and air, and to Northern Ireland by train and bus from Dublin.
Sources
- UK FCDO travel advice — Ireland (official)
- Irish Immigration Service (official)
- Wikivoyage — Ireland (secondary)