November honeymoon in Ireland - possible itinerary

Just a couple thoughts. You could see Kilkenny on your way to Kinsale. Ring of Kerry is not in Dingle, it is actually on the peninsula beside the Dingle peninsula, I don't know that you need to do both. Have you booked your flights, can you fly out of Shannon rather than Dublin?

I think it will start getting dark around 4pm in November. Just be aware driving in Ireland is a little different especially when you aren't used to it. I usually double whatever google says the driving time is.

Ashford Castle: Are you familiar with their Hawk Walk attraction? It was a highlight of our recent trip. Staying at the Castle wasn't in our budget, but the morning on the grounds with our knowledgeable guide and two hawks was terrific.

Info here: https://www.ashfordcastle.com/activities/falconry#HawkWalks

TripAdvisor reviews: https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g663560-d629128-r166434481-Ireland_s_School_of_Falconry-Cong_County_Mayo_Western_Ireland.html

Hi! We just got back from Ireland a week ago. Please check out Pax Guest House in Dingle. Hands down, this has to be the most fantastic place we stayed in Ireland (and maybe almost anywhere). The rooms, service, food, and view were utterly amazing.

Take a couple days for the Ring of Kerry. It is stunning.

Slea Head Drive on the Dingle Peninsula is also wonderful.

If I could go back, I would skip Dublin. I enjoyed the countryside much more and would have liked to have more days on the ROK or in Dingle! As far as capital cities go, I just didn't find it too exciting. It isn't Paris or Rome. Not trying to knock Dublin, but it's just... a city.

I know you will have a wonderful time! The people there were absolutely wonderful.
Enjoy your trip!

Echo the drop or minimize Dublin. Especially for many on a honeymoon. At least we would vastly prefer being together out on Dingle or on the ROK. They are seperate peninsulas.....you wouldn't want to do the ROK from Dingle. Some would say just do o e or the other as they are similar. They are but also if you spend a bit of time there wonderfully different as well and both FILLED with amazing, magical and yes romantic sights.

Dublin is a nice city.....but it's a city.....the wild west of Ireland is so unique and breathtaking......and a perfect honeymoon spot.....try to increase your time there.

Great ideas, especially Pax Guest House in Dingle.

I've revised itinerary based on your suggestions idolkristi & ewewoolknit. I concur with your opinions on Dublin, I've been several times, however it's first time in Ireland for my wife, and she is huge U2 fan - (staying at Bono's hotel in Dublin, and attending their concert at 3Arena on Friday). So I'll have to soldier along, and wait to break out my Carpenter's mix tape when we're in Dingle.

• Day 1 Flying
• Day 2 Dublin: Rural Pub Tour
• Day 3 Dublin: Trinity College
• Day 4 Dublin: U2 Concert
• Pick up Car
• Day 5 Waterford: Castle
• Day 6 Cobh: Jameson Distillery & Titanic Museum
• Day 7 Killarney or Kenmore: ROK
• Day 8 Killarney or Kenmore: Muckross, Gap of Dunloe, Inisfallen Island
• Day 9 Dingle: Pax House
• Day 10 Dingle: Pax House
• Day 11 Fly from Kerry Airport to Dublin Airport

Any romantic hotel suggestions in Killarney or Kenmore?

Cheers All!

We stayed at the Muckross Park Hotel which is across the street from the entry to Muckross Abbey. It is a lovely hotel and I think would be a romantic place for a honeymoon stay. This past trip I saw another side of Killarney which I really liked. It is a great place to see many interesting sites and my favorite of all was the Gap of Dunloe via a jaunty trap. Hiking the gap would be fun also. There are many other sites within driving distance of Killarney for you to explore, also. Just make sure you allow time to enjoy Dingle as it is a gem.

My husband and I just returned a few weeks ago from our 30th anniversary trip to Ireland. We were there two glorious weeks with the most amazing people and views! We flew into Shannon then spent usually two days in each place: Dingle (our favorite Pub night!), Portmagee (Ring of Kerry--which has the Kerry Cliffs), Cork/Cobh, Kilkenny and ended in Dublin. (flying home from Dublin) Looking back, Dingle and the Ring of Kerry were are favorite by far! I know U-2 is a highlight. We could have done Dublin in a day---or skipped it all together. Maybe consider flying out of Shannon so you can enjoy the area around Dingle and Cong a few hours longer! I do have to say that this forum really speaks truth and gives wonderful advise. I'm sure whatever you plans end up to be, it will be a marvelous trip. Congratulations on the upcoming wedding.

Like your edited itinerary version much better. I concur with those that say fly in to Dublin & out of Shannon Airport, saves a whole lot of driving & at least 1 to 1 1/2 days that can be better spent elsewhere. Driving distances are 2-3X as much in time (i.e., 30 miles could take you an hour). You could castle OD in Ireland--ruins, historic tours, overnight stays. I would gaff Waterford on my first tour of Ireland. You can get the crystal everywhere. " Woolen Mills" stores have all goods Irish under one roof & in several locations. Go west & make the most of your time. Suggest if you can work it out on your routing, honeymoon splurge at Adare Manor or perhaps Dromoland Castle. You can hike the Gap of Dunloe to/from Ross Castle, just not sure of the weather conditions in November. Ring of Kerry should be broken up into 2 days & Dingle Penninsula is a full day's drive. First time in Ireland, never made if further north than the Cliffs of Moher, so hope you don't rush to do the Connemara National Park explore, as that is a 2 dayer as well. Kylemore Abby is in the Connemara about 1 1/2 drive from Cong & a romantic story about the original manor house if you get to the Connemaras. It will be a memorable honeymoon whatever you see/do & the rest save for an anniversary celebration.

Would definitely vote Kenmare over Killarney ! Killarney is on Rick Steves top ten tourist traps in all of Europe. It's very over developed in a sad leprechaun-y plastic shamrock kind of way and is overrun with tourists and tour buses. It's not a horror or anything but there are a zillion better places to stay. Kenmare has plenty of pubs, restaurants, shops and trad music while providing a great location/base for so much and a real west of Ireland feel....along with access to all the great stuff near Killarney without the city itself. Also Castlemaine is a great, beautiful quiet area that is a wonderful base for both the ROK and Dingle areas. You all will have a great magical time there ..... Just pass on Killarney town itself...even in much calmer November I'd skip it. Congratulations and happy honeymoon !!!

Ireland is wonderful in November. It is cool but we have really enjoyed it. Dingle for example has temps in early November comparable to early April. Daytime highs in the low 50's. It's fine dressed appropriately. We love going then.....the weather is generally fine, there are less crowds and you can experience Ireland more fully and interact more with the amazing Irish people. It's really a great time to visit there. You'll have an amazing honeymoon there !!!!

Been there three times in November and it's never been like that at all. Please don't be dissuaded, enjoy your honeymoon. It's a romantic, quiet, hauntingly beautiful place filled with a wonderful magic and a people that in our experience are unique in the world.......welcoming, fun, funny, self deprecating and judge you on what kind of person you are....not on a title or position and have no use for pretentiousness...which we found in abundance in our travels in other places like the south of France for example. Ireland is a gem....and if some folks either don't know any better or don't like it themselves and choose not to visit then......all the better......Ireland is far more enjoyable that way.

It's a romantic, quiet, hauntingly beautiful place filled with a wonderful magic and a people that in our experience are unique in the world.......welcoming, fun, funny, self deprecating and judge you on what kind of person you are

I appreciate all the recommendations and beautiful prose describing the Emerald Isle & their wonderful inhabitants. It will be a magical journey indeed!

I'd take the Ring of Kerry over Dingle Peninsula anytime - it's much more scenic. But be advised to spend the night halfway; if you try to do it in one day, you'll do nothing but drive. Killarney makes more sense as home base for the ROK; Dingle is too far away.

Keep in mind that while Ireland is a small country, so are its roads. You can't drive fast in the West. Connemara is wildly beautiful, but you need to get to Galway first. Happy travels!

One word of caution regarding renting a car in Ireland. The insurance that comes with many credit cards excludes Ireland so you will have to purchase insurance through the rental company. The car rental rates are "reasonable", where they get you is on the insurance - it is REALLY expensive and there's no way to avoid it so be prepared. We tried to avoid the insurance by purchasing what we thought was insurance along with the car rental from Auto Europe on our last trip to Ireland. It was a disaster, it wasn't accepted, promises that were made when we picked up the car were not honored when we returned it, and we still had to purchase the insurance on top of what we had purchased from Auto Europe. Just accept it's going to be expensive and enjoy your trip.

In the U2 theme of the trip, note that there is a room of U2 memorabilia at the Little Museum of Dublin, which is a nice 1-hour stop for history of modern Dublin. Admission to the museum is included with the DoDublin Hop-on Hop-off bus if you have a need for a HO-HO ticket.

You will love Ireland. You might want to look at Cobh on the way down from Dublin, as it is North east of Kinsale. There is a ferry (called Passage West) just to the northwest of Cobh town that crosses the estuary, (saves going back thru Cork Town traffic) From end of Ferry, follow the signs to Carrigaline, then signs to Kinsale. Leaving Kinsale, drive northwest thru Bandon and Crookstown and on to Macroom. Then just follow N22 thru Killarney, to Farranfore. There turn left (west) on rte 561 to Castlemaine and on to Dingle. While in Dingle, if the weather is nice, take a quick (10 minute) side trip north out of town, up to Conor Pass. The view back over the Dingle Peninsula, the Bay, and the Iveragh (Ring of Kerry) is BEAUTIFUL. Do it in early morning or late afternoon for most impact. (the view north is also very pretty from there)
You will be free from other tourist's, but bring warm clothing you will need it in Kerry.