Ireland Itinerary by Car

Two nights was right for us in Dingle but YMMV. We loved Kenmare/Killarney area as well. Kilkenny is a good middle stop over point and a good night's stay.

When you say you "have a wedding," does that mean you're getting married? (If so, best wishes!) Or does it mean you're attending someone else's wedding?

Could you clarify, how many days/nights do you have in total, and at what point in time do your in-laws fly home? Also, are all of your flights in & out of Dublin, or is Shannon in the mix?

2 nights in Dingle was the right amount for us as well.

I would add the night to Dublin and stop in Kilkenny on the way from Dingle to Dublin

There is so much to see that you really can't go wrong with whatever you choose, but three nights in Dingle does seem excessive. You really should start by looking at guidebooks to see what interests you. Then we can better help you with an itinerary. Otherwise, all you get is an assortment of opinions - and you can't do everything. On my first trip to Ireland, we landed in Shannon, took a swing through the south, and spent only a few hours in Dublin on our last day before flying out. On a subsequent trip, I started in Dublin, and saw what I wanted to see there. Dublin is a city. While there are things to see there, the charm of Ireland is really in the scenic rural areas and the historic spots.

I'm surprised anyone would think 3 nights in Dingle is excessive. We stayed 3 nights on our first trip to Ireland and wished we could have stayed longer. We stayed 5 nights the next trip. If you want to go to Great Blasket Island, which I highly recommend, you really need 2 full days. But you will love Dingle no matter how long you stay.

Dingle has much to offer for a small town and the Slea Head Drive is amazing. I spent 3 nights there out of 20 days total, and would have enjoyed more time there. However, I also spent 5 nights in Dublin and would have enjoyed more time there as well. It’s a fascinating city.

Kilkenny is a good place to stay to break up the drive from Dingle to Dublin. It’s about a 4 1/2 hour drive from Dingle. You could visit the Rock of Cashel along the way. I enjoyed my time in Kilkenny greatly, and it has a scenic castle and river walk as well as good restaurants and pubs.

Whether you spend 3 nights in Dingle and 2 in Dublin or vice-versa depends on your preference for small towns and rural scenery versus city and museums, exhibits, etc.

I really appreciate everyone's feedback! We are attending the wedding (it's my sister-in-law's wedding). Our flights are already booked in and out of Dublin. (Hindsight- we probably could have looked more into flying into Shannon, but I found a good deal in and out of Dublin and had to act on it). Right now we have 6 nights to plan out, as the rest of our time will be spent on wedding festivities.

We are leaning toward three nights in Dingle, since I know traveling with a toddler will slow us down. If it was my husband and I, we would probably spend two nights. We are interested in the Dingle Peninsula Loop trip, taking a walking tour of town, and visiting Oceanworld and the brewery. I also am looking into the Great Blasket Island boat trip, though I get terribly seasick so may need to stay on land while the others go. That all seems like too much for one full day and two nights.

After reading more of our RS Ireland book and going off of your recommendations, I believe Kilkenny will be our other stop for a night our our way to Dublin. Thanks again!

I would agree with what the above writer stated about the length of your stays depending on your preference for a city or a village setting. We loved Dingle, and the intimate bed and breakfast we stayed in. Our hosts were so welcoming and full of insider tips. There were great pubs and restaurants and local music performances. The drive around the penninsula was breathtaking. We were there in October and there were no crowds. I hear it is a different scene in the summer months. Connor's pass was also quite scenic. We had to get out and hike up one of the hills. Allow yourself time to explore. We broke up the drive across in Kilkenny. The castle was a highlight, as was the church and tower. The local pubs were fun even on a weeknight. Dublin has some great points, but a lot of it felt like any other major metropolitan city. The Irish character there seemed a little less authentic and more for the tourists. Our daughter studied there for a semester, and was a great "local" tour guide. Like every place we have traveled in Europe, we fell in love with Ireland and felt like we could not get enough. We will have to go back, but will likely enjoy the pace and the people in the smaller villages.

Meg,

Given the plans you mentioned and that you will have a toddler, you're right that only 2 nights in Dingle would be rushed. I actually spent part of 2 different days driving the Slea Head Drive route, partly because of the weather. The first day, I spent a great deal of time looking at the many historical places along the drive; it was a cloudy day. The next day, there was more sun and I drove it again to admire the views and hike out to some of the viewpoints.

Also, if it's windy, the boats to the Blasket Islands may not run every day.

I hope you and your family enjoy your stay.

Thanks so much, everyone! For the remainder of our trip we have decided upon:

Dingle- 3 nights
Kilkenny- 1 night
Dublin- 2 nights

I'll be sure to report back on how the trip goes and our thoughts on Ireland (as well as traveling with a toddler, if there are other parents out there).

Meg, if you haven't booked your accommodation in/near Kilkenny, let me suggest you consider Lawcus Farm Guesthouse on the outskirts of Kilkenny near the village of Stoneyford. I think your little one would love it. It is run by two of the nicest people in Ireland (and that is saying something), and has a lovely mix of farm animals, including sheep, pigs, chickens, a horse, etc. You can visit/feed them all. It is out in the country, and is a beautiful spot on the banks of the Kings River.

Thank you, Sherrie! The Lawcus Farm guesthouse looks wonderful, and it appears they have some rooms which work well for a family. I'm going to look into it more!