Itinerary Suggestions - 10 Days in Northern Ireland & Ireland

I don't want to be a Debbie Downer, but with this itinerary you will spend most of your time driving. Have you driven in Ireland before? It takes almost twice as long to get from A to B as Google Maps says (except for Highway/toll road driving...that's pretty accurate.) We took a full day to drive one half of the Ring of Kerry, then the second day to drive the rest. That gave us time to navigate the small roads as well as the opportunity to stop and enjoy whatever beauty we came across. With 10-12 nights, I would cut some stuff out to save for another trip. Also, put the Guiness Storehouse at the top of your list. So much more fun than I had anticipated! And, put less time on the Dublin Castle. That was a big let down. Even if you only visit half of the areas on your list, you will have a fantastic time.

Welcome to the forum, Can we talk? So, you’re arriving in Dublin after a transatlantic flight and think you can cover the city on the first day and then drive to Belfast the very next day and see it all in one day? The plan has you moving to a new city every single day. If you plan to rent AirB&B’s or apartments, the time required to check in, shop for groceries & prepare meals is all you are going to have time for in each town you stop at. No time for anything spontaneous.
And, as mentioned above, driving in Ireland can be a real time sink as you have to adjust to driving on the left side of the road, often on narrow roads enclosed by stone walls. Americans have so many accidents hitting the stone walls that credit cards often exclude Ireland from supplemental car rental coverage. There was even a post recently from an American who picked up his rental car in Dublin and wrecked it two blocks away on a one-way stone bridge! I’m not saying you shouldn’t rent a car— just that there are aspects of driving in Ireland that are challenging and will require vigilance and slowing down.
Dublin has a fantastic ( and free) National Archaeological Museum on Kildare Street that has Viking and Celtic artifacts, gold jewelery and even a preserved body called “Old Coghan Man” recovered from a bog after being there a couple thousand years. The National Gallery, near Trinity College has great artwork and also is free. Kilmainham Gaol, where the 1916 Easter Rising freedom fighters were executed by the British is another museum that brings Irish history alive. The General Post Office on O’Connell Street is another site that played a key role in Irish history.
I would cut the number of destinations and give every stop a minimum of two days. You’ll be glad you did.

https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/ireland/itinerary

Ireland! What fun! Above is the link to Rick Steves recommended itinerary of Ireland. Pacing is always a personal choice -- and younger folks tend to go faster those most of us older, seasoned travelers. Ah to be young! You've missed a couple of my favorites (cashel for instance) and added some that I'd skip on a trip of your length.

After you digest rick's take and read some of the comments, I look forward to hearing your revisions. (And even if you don't revise, guess what? You're have a grand time. Why? It's Ireland! Wow!)

Happy travels!

Couple of observations:
1) Restaurants in Ireland are VERY catering to odd diets. We often travel with a Lupis sufferer with a very quirky diet, and she's always found easily understood menus with very cooperative waiters/chefs. She'll order "green salad with zero dairy dressing, non-gluten burger with non-dairy cheese, no night shades". There is always an allergen special menu.

2) We usually do single night stays, but both Dublin and Belfast deserve two (or three) nights. One night stays leaves zero time for actual town visiting. Two night stays are really one day, etc.

3) Few AirB&Bs allow one-night stays.

4) You are signing up for a lot of driving, but we find Google's driving times to be only a little off. I add 25% for backroads since you're sometimes behind a tractor, squeezing past sheep, or waiting in a passing place for opposing traffic. But I drive at the speed limit after years of wrong side experience, and it's usually in May. In July/August, you might be behind slow drivers for miles.

5) I'd suggest you focus on either the north (Dublin/Belfast/Derry/Connemara/Galway) or "not the north" (Dublin/Galway/Dingle/Cork).

6) The boat tour of Moher is much less aggravating than the busloads of tourists at the top of the cliffs.

7) Jul/Aug is the absolutely "high season" and your choices may already be closing in due to things booking up.

Just my two cents....recent trip to the North/Dublin

We found Guinness a let down (traveling with four young adults - late teens, early 20)s. They were underwhelmed. View is great, but otherwise it was "checking the box." Little Museum Dublin tour was worthwhile and Kilmahain Goal super interesting.

We did 3 single nights because we needed to cover ground. Yes, not ideal but not a huge problem. However, I do wish we had two nights in Belfast. We skipped Titanic (regret) but DID dark hedges (also regret - its a drive by - literally). Should've skipped and used time for something else - Dunseverick Castle? the rope bridge? Mussenden temple?

Derry walls were a highlight as was Dunluce castle (only need 45 minutes here) and Slieve League. Black cab is a must. Coleraine was a great place to run errands groceries etc....easy access, easy parking lots etc.

Driving times matched Apple Maps within about 10 minutes....we made better time than this board led me to believe.

Otherwise...years ago I visited Galway, Ring of Kerry, Cliff of Moher, Dingle, Connemara, Cork......loved Dingle. loved the Cliff and loved Connemara. Ring of Kerry a HUGE bust on a rainy weekend. I don't remember anything about Cork (not sure if that's good or bad).

P.s. Secondary roads are narrow, but stone walls less an issue on the Antrim coast. More an issue in Kerry and Clare. I agree it might be easier to do either on northern route or a south west route but maybe not both....with Dublin

Thank you for all of your valuable feedback! Upon further reflection (and lots of reading!), we have decided to cut the island in half. We will be focusing on the top half - starting in Dublin, going across to Galway, and working our way back up through Northern Ireland, finishing in Dublin for our final night. A bit more time allotted in the same place. Thank you!