Northern Ireland and Ireland Iterinary - Please Help

Posted by bet_zeba2006 on 04/28/19 03:22 PM

Hi, it'll be my first time in Ireland and I'm wondering if the below itinerary is doable, please advise.

Day 1: Fly into Belfast midday
Day 2: Pick up the rental car and head out to the Antrim Coast - spend the night in Causeway
Day 3: Causeway to Belfast (Can I visit Londerry before heading back to Belfast? Please let me know)
Day 4: Fly to Amsterdam in the afternoon
Day 5: Amsterdam
Day 6; Amsterdam
Day 7: Amsterdam
Day 8: Fly into Dublin in the morning
Day 9: Dublin
Day 10: Dublin
Day 11: Rent a car and go to Powerscourt - Sleep nearby
Day 12: Galway City
Day 13: Cliffs of Moher, boat tour, and the Burren - sleep in Galway
Day 14: Newgrange and Cabra Castle for the night
Day 15; Caslte Ward and back to Belfast to return rental
Day 16: Belfast
Day 17: Fly back home

Posted by Carol now retired

Lynnwood, Washington

04/28/19 05:21 PM

8880 posts

Lots of detail missing from this request. You will get better answers if you let us know what types of transportation you are planning and where you are planning them.

The Antrim Coast (I think you were the victim of auto spell check) is a lovely and worthwhile spot to visit. You can reach it easily be either public transport or by car. One of my favorite hotels is the Bayview Hotel in Port Ballintrae. A lovely setting that is close to all the nearby sights and yet doesn't feel overwhelmed with tourists, at least American tourists. Plenty of Irish visit here.
It is a beautiful walk up over the headlands to the Giants Causeway Visitor Center from the hotel or you can also drive or take the bus. Dunluce Castle and Bushmills are very close by and are walkable as well.

How will you be traveling between Belfast/Amsterdam/Dublin?

I would do one less day in Dublin and one more day somewhere else. You are having a lot of one night stays on your return from Amsterdam.

Posted by Badger

Uppsala, Sweden

04/28/19 07:00 PM

6970 posts

Of course you can visit Derry/Londonderry on day 3, why shouldn't you?

It's a bit odd to go to Amsterdam in the middle for a few days. If you need to visit Amsterdam, why not start or end your trip there?

Posted by bet_zeba2006 OP

04/28/19 08:12 PM

4 posts

Carol: Thanks I updated. I will be renting a car to drive around in Ireland and Northern Ireland. Originally I thought of spending 2 nights in Galway but I really want to see Castle Ward (Winterfell).

Badger: I bought the Amsterdam flights before I realized/opted to drive in both Irish countries. If I'm able to save money even with the change of flights (ending the trip in Amsterdam) I would move things around, lodging I pricey.

Please advise how I should rearrange the iterinary. I'm from East Texas so I'm used to Google Maps being usually right about driving time to places but I feel like Ireland may have variables (including the beautiful scenery and must stops to take pictures from what I've seen online). Thank you.

Posted by Carol now retired

Lynnwood, Washington

04/28/19 08:54 PM

8880 posts

Everything you wanted to do in Northern Ireland is certainly doable, especially with a car. Do you have a hotel reservation in Belfast yet? We stayed at the Premier Inn Titanic Quarter. It has parking and it is located right on the river just a very short (2 block) walk to the Titanic Belfast Museum. The Premier Inn provides good value .

I have never really been a big "Titanic" fan, but I found this museum was so well done that I enjoyed it immensely. I would strongly suggest visiting it.