My husband and I will be traveling throughout Ireland for 7 days in late August. You guys are the experts - I would like advice on the itinerary - is it too much driving? Too little (and wasting time)? I haven't booked the hotels yet because I'm not sure of the actual feasibility of this plan.
Notes:
- I have to stay in at least 1 castle overnight but don't want to spend much money (no more than $200-300/night total)
- After reading the "RS Ireland" book, I know doing both Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland in 7 days is super packed, but it's all we have time for and I want to see both.
- My deceased mom always wanted to go to Waterford, Cork and Blarney (I know how cliche it is, but her dad was from Ireland), so we want to spend enough time in the southern points to spend time in those areas.
8/25 & 8/26 - Explore Dublin (no car in the city)
8/27 - Pick up car at Dublin airport (already reserved), see Kilkenny, (maybe Cashel?), Waterford, drive to Cobh and stay in hotel. (Or should we just stay in Waterford for the night, even though tomorrow might be a long day?)
8/28 - Explore Cobh, Cork, Blarney Castle, (should we do Kinsale and/or Kenmare?), drive to Killarney or Ballyseede castle and stay overnight. (Or should we assume more time in lines to kiss the Blarney Stone and assume and overnight in Kenmare?)
8/29 - Explore Dingle Peninsula (not enough time for Ring of Kerry) and Cliffs of Moher, stay in Galway overnight. (Considered staying in Doolin, but think farther north and east would better position us for long drive tomorrow)
8/30 - Drive to Northern Ireland, possibly visit Gaint's Causeway, and then Belfast (overnight in Belfast). (Since we have limited time, I assumed that we would cut through the middle of the country from Galway to Belfast, however is it worth the extra time to drive on the coast? Is the coastal drive from Galway to Belfast better than seeing Giant's Causeway, since it looks like we won't have time to do both??)
8/31 - Spend day in Belfast - Titanic museum, taxi or bus tour of Belfast, want to go on Game of Thrones tour, but can't find any tour less than all day (suggestions for half-day bus tours?). That night, drive to somewhere near Dublin airport (thought of staying in a Clontarf Castle, but not necessary) for our flight tomorrow.
9/1 - return car very early at Dublin Airport and board 9am flight to LHR.
Thank you all!