Hello, I've been researching but wondering if I have our 8 days too full. We plan to go late Aug 2025 for our 30th anniversary. We love seeing as much as we can but also enjoy chilling with a pint at the pub.
Day 1 Arrive in Dublin - Trinity College, Ha'penny bridge, Dublin Castle
Day 2 drive - Rock of Cashel, Blarney Castle, stay in Skibbereen to night kayak
Day 3 - drive - Mizen Head, Glengarriff, Healy Pass, coastal drive to Allihies, Killarney for the night
Day 4 - drive the Ring of Kerry - Ballyseede Castle for the night
Day 5 drive The Dingle Peninsula - Inch beach, Conor Pass, Dingle town, Slea Head Drive and stay in Adare
Day 6 drive Cliffs of Moher, lunch in Doolin, Aillwee Cave, and stay in Athlone
Day 7 - drive back to Dublin, Christ Church Cathedral, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Kilmainham Gaol, Guiness Storehouse, Jameson
Day 8 - fly home
any suggestions - we want to see the best highlights
Posted by
269 posts
From what I glean from your plans you will be spending much of your 8 days driving from here to there. Country roads can be slow and clogged with sheep on occasion! Changing lodging on a nightly basis especially in regard to your Dublin plans does not seem logical to me. To get a full picture of your driving routes, I suggest an up-to-date road map of Ireland.
For starters, I would change Day 7 to Day 2, get rental car the morning of Day 3 and return it to Dublin the morning you fly home assuming you have an afternoon departure back to the states.
Posted by
Lincolnshire, UK
2550 posts
I'd agree with beejaybeeohio's comments - this does involve a lot of driving with little time to stop, relax and enjoy. Not only that, you are missing out on some wonderful sites too. I actually prefer Sheep's Head Peninsula to Mizen head...
Don't underestimate driving times - it will take a lot longer to cover the ground than you might expect. There is a danger everything will end up as a bit of a blur. Less is more when it comes to Ireland...
Posted by
Bellingham, WA
764 posts
Day 2 looks like a nightmare. I'd be worried you'd be way too tired for kayaking. I agree you should stay in Dublin once, whether at the beginning or the end. Or not at all. I mean, you seem to enjoy driving and want to see the coast (and only have 7 days on the ground). Maybe fly into and out of Shannon and stick to the Southwest?
Instead of Killarney, try something on the ROK. I never recommend Kenmare because I find it overrun with Americans, but for your itinerary, it makes a lot more sense than Killarney.
Adare seems even more out of your way than Killarney. How about Ennistymon or Lahinch instead?