We'll be finishing up oiur 16 day Ireland travels with three nights in Dublin and are trying to decide between these day trips. We're too old to rent a car so will be traveling by train and bus and taking day trips from Cork, Killarney, and Dublin. We'll also be spending 2 nights in Kilkenny after we arrive in Dublin.
1) Day Tour to Wicklow, Glendalough, & Powerscourt from Dublin with Hilltoptreks - 8 hours; small group (16 max); 1.5 hours at Powerscourt Gardens (we could do a guided walk in the area instead); lunch in Enniskerry; drive through the Wicklow Mountains National Park, the Sally Gap, Lough Tay, the Guinness Lake; tour of St Kevin monastic site and time to explore Glendalough valley.
There is also a half day tour with Paddywagon from Dublin to Glendalough for 1.5 hours to explore the park.
2) Boyne Valley, Newgrange Celts and Castles Tour with Hilltoptreks - Drive through Boyne Valley; 3 hrs at Newgrange and Bru Na Boinne; lunch in Slane and photos of Slane Castle; tour of Trim Castle
3) Giant's Causeway, Antrim Coast, Belfast with Paddywagon - 13.5 hrs; drive through Glens of Antrim and along Causeway Coast; Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge photo stop; Giant's Causeway (90 minutes); stop at Dark Hedges; Ballintoy; Dunluce Castle photo stop; Belfast City Center (1 hour); return to Dublin.
If anyone has taken this daytrip, we would appreciate feedback about whether the day was just too long and hurried. This may be our only chance to see a bit of Northern Ireland.
Thanks in advance for sharing your knowledge and experience.