My travel partner and I are looking to explore Ireland for six days at the end of July. We have crafted a tentative itinerary that would takes us to the Antrim Coast, Country Clare, Aran Islands, Cork, Killarney, and Dublin. We have gone back and forth about how to tackle this itinerary. As we move across the country, should we move our lodgings too? Or should we have a home base from which we travel to all these counties? This is our first trip to Ireland, and in researching, we've realized that from Dublin everything that we want to see is about 3-4 (give or take) hours away. If we take a home base approach, does Dublin make the most sense as a home base. If we take a "move our lodgings as we go" approach, what is the best mode of transportation in Ireland? Train? Bus? Or should we consider renting a car? Any advice would be much appreciated! Thanks!
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16893 posts
Dublin doesn't make a good home base and buses can be frustratingly slow as you try to connect 6 destinations in 6 days. I would rent a car and keep moving on. If you can't trim down the list now, then at least allow yourselves to be flexible on the road. See estimated drive times at www.viamichelin.com, plus allow time for some herds of sheep in the road. For a shorthand view of timing, see https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/ireland/itinerary.
P.S. I don't know if your plan is traversing the island so much as circumnavigating most of it.
Posted by
Land of La
8683 posts
Rental Car and move your belongings. 6 days is a short period of time. Are You flying into Dublin or Shannon? If you haven't book your airfare, fly open jaw, into one city out of the other so you won't have to back track. Are Dublin and Cork MUST see cities or are you wanting to see smaller towns and iconic tourist destinations ( rock of Cashel, cliffs of mohr, Ring of Kerry, etc) or both? Also given what you've listed you will be visiting N Ireland as well. Won't have trouble entering or exiting merely making certain you understand NI is a seperate country. In Ireland currency will be Euros. British pounds in NI. I'd brush up on the history of The Troubles. Belfast is great. Titanic Museum. St George's Market, Crumlin Road Gaol as well as a black cab tour of The Troubles all highly recommended. Giants causeway a must. Lastly I prefer the Slead Drive along the Dingle Penninsula to the Ring of Kerry but that's just me. Have fun.
Posted by
St Louis, MO, USA
28 posts
I agree with above posters that renting a car is the best. That is an adventure in itself. I recommend that you get a straight transmission as they are less expensive and you will catch on to it quickly. And do NOT get a GPS. You want to have the adventure of getting lost and asking directions from the locals. When I travel in Ireland I always intend to see more than I actually do but I have a more enjoyable experience when I slow down, get to know the people, and am not just running from one site to another to check them off of my list. After all, you need to stop at a farm stand to buy strawberries, sit in a pub in the evening, or turn down a lane to see where it goes. You will eventually see it all because the magic of Ireland will draw you back again and again. Have a wonderful trip.
Posted by
Bloomington, IL, USA
9363 posts
Renting a car is best, and keep moving. If what you want to see is 3-4 hours away from Dublin, keep in mind that it would be another 3-4 back at the end of the day, and there is your day shot without seeing anything at all. Ireland doesn't really have a good "home base" city from which to see everything. I believe Claudia means the Slea Head Drive, but you won't have time for either that or the Ring of Kerry on your itinerary.