I will be in Dublin on the first week of September, I will not be driving a car, just using public transportation (with occasional tour group for hard to reach places).
What would be a smart itinerary. I was figuring splitting my time in Dublin, I would start with something like 2 nights in Dublin, then in Kinsale for 2 nights and I return to Dublin using my last full day to do just day tours like Cliff of Moher or anything nearby Dublin for example. Anyone have a better suggestion?
Wondering why Kinsale? It's @4 hours from Dublin each way, and while a charming town, you might choose a location requiring less travel time from Dublin, e.g. Kilkenny or Galway. Cliffs of Moher are nearer to Galway and can be visited via a half-day tour from there. For a day trip from Dublin, consider Glendalough or Newgrange.
Well it's based on what Rick suggests in his book for a 1 week trip, to pick Dublin, a coastal town (a pick from Dingle or Kinsale)...but then again, that might be his suggestion for someone who has a car.
What would be your choice?
I would split the time between Dublin and somewhere the train goes like Galway or Kilarney. Lots of day trips available from both.
Galway seems like to have a direct bus from Dublin airport to Galway. So maybe I can stay 3 nights in Galway (2 full days there) and finish off the rest in Dublin?
Before you do anything else, go back and count (or re-count) your days and nights. Do you really have 7 FULL days in Ireland - not including your arrival day or your departure day? Remember, if your flight home departs from Dublin, you should spend your last night IN Dublin (rather than taking a chance you might miss your flight if you sleep the last night somewhere else and are counting on getting back to Dublin the day of your flight). Also, if you are arriving in Ireland from a long flight (from North America) you will probably arrive exhausted and sleep-deprived from the overnight flight and pre-travel business, so don't count your arrival day as really usable. Be honest with yourself about how much time you really have (if you are flying in from somewhere close, in western Europe, and your flight arrives in the morning, then your arrival day is more usable). But even 7 full days is a bit short for Ireland if you want to roam around to the west.
To your question: Yes, there's a bus from Dublin airport that goes straight to Galway. The bus is cheap, comfy (even has wifi), efficient, and is a great way to go. You can gain some efficiency if you simply get off your arrival flight, walk outside the terminal (short walk even with bags, easy to find). So yes, get on the bus to Galway at the airport, ride the bus, get off in Galway, check in to your accommodations, walk around for a bit to try and stay awake until dinner, then sleep deeply - your Ireland trip actually begins the next morning. You need to be in Dublin anyway for your flight home, so you'll just skip Dublin initially and you'll be there after your quick trip out to the west. This is an efficient way to begin your trip.
Ireland is great. Have fun.
Actually it's 6 full days if we exclude airport days. I did a mistake, so I would do 3 nights in Galways (2 full day there) and 3.5 full days in Dublin (I say 0.5, because some of it will be by transfer from Galway to Dublin, but I still have time to do some activities that day.
Galway and Dublin make a good combination for your 6 nights, as does heading straight to Galway from the airport. There are several good options for bus day trips that leave from Galway and let you see a little more of the countryside from there. .
I also think Galway and Dublin are best for the short amount of time you have. Lots of options for day trips from Galway, and it’s quick and easy to get to.
Take the bus to Galway from the airport but the train back to Dublin. If you book in advance, the train is very inexpensive. Even if you don't, honestly.
Ireland is not as well connected with public transit as other parts of Europe. We stayed in Dublin for several days then took a train to Cork, then a bus to the Cork Airport where we had rented a car to then drive to our stay in Kinsale. I agree with others it might be best given your time in Ireland to stay in Dublin then take a train to Galway where you can do day trips to Cliffs of Moher and other places with transportation provided.
I totally agree with the "Step off the plane, get your luggage, get thee to Galway" plan. We never drive, and we go to Ireland often. We always make sure to spend days in Galway, no matter how many times we've been. Lots of daytrips from so many services from Galway; however we really just spend our time walking around there, soaking it all in.
Word of warning: if you are going back to the States, you will have to spend HOURS in Dublin airport. The so-called "luxury" of pre-immigration services is US Customs is a disorganized, tedious mess. So make sure you allow plenty of time for the day you go back.
