Pls help with puzzle for itinerary 8-9 days Ireland

Posted by ebean_nyc (Brooklyn, NY) on 11/28/24 11:25 PM

Would love any help. We are 2 couples (mid-60s) and will coming to Ireland for about 8 days in early June 2025 (on the ground, not including travel day) - could be extended to 9. We are all 4 musicians and I love food and we all love exploring and cities. We are all well-traveled. We don't want to go on group tours and, for Ireland, don't want to drive for this trip.

We will fly in from NYC. The other couple comes from Germany. We think we want Dublin and Belfast as our 2 cities. Problematically, we really want to visit the Cliffs of Moher - but that is a logistical problem. Should we fly in and train up immediately to Belfast? (can we fly into Belfast??) and then train down to Dublin? I would love a day trip to a small village also.

Always happy to listen to suggestions.

many thanks.

bean

Posted by isn31c

Lake District, England

11/29/24 12:09 AM

7923 posts

Neither of you can fly direct to Belfast, Neither Belfast International or Belfast City airport has any long haul routes, and neither has any short haul routes from Germany.

The train from Dublin to Belfast is hourly and there are 3 bus companies provide hourly service from DUB to Belfast.

I think I would fly in to DUB then immediately transfer to Galway by direct bus or train (from Dublin Heuston, direct buses go there from the Airport).
Then Day 2 Cliffs of Moher take the Bus #350 to Moher at 0800 or 1000 arriving around 2 hours later, returning at 1121, 1321 or 1521 from Moher then train or bus late afternoon to Dublin.
Then a few days in Dublin
Transfer day morning train to Belfast. Leave early enough and you can now be in Belfast by 0800.
After time in Belfast bus back direct to Dublin airport- at least the Translink bus runs 24/7. If the flight is early get a late pm bus down, and book an airport hotel for the night.

You will also need a UK ETA for your trip to Belfast- https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta
even though no one will check it, crossing the open border

Posted by travel4fun

Bend, Oregon

11/29/24 03:17 AM

2548 posts

I understand not wanting to do a group tour. But a day tour to the Cliffs might be the easy answer. There appear to be several options from Dublin. If money is no object, I’m sure a private tour would be possible.

Posted by Cyn

Colorado Mountains, USA

11/29/24 09:06 AM

7949 posts

If you’re open to possibly staying closer to the Cliffs of Moher at all, you’d get an opportunity to hear music (County Clare is arguably the best place in Ireland for that), have great food, and an opportunity for further exploring, including a small village.

Galway is my favorite city in Ireland, reachable by comfortable bus (coach) from the Dublin airport, or downtown. Even closer to the Cliffs is the charming village of Lisdoonvarna, just down the hill from them. We stayed at a small B&B just outside of the village 15 years ago, and actually rode bicycles steeply from there up to the Cliffs of Moher visitor center, but a cab from Lisdoonvarna would be easy to get. We ate dinners twice at the Wild Honey Inn in the village, which was known for its outstanding food then, and is more renowned now, having earned a Michelin Star, plus being a place to stay. There’s a Burren Smokehouse in town with superior smoked fish to sample or purchase. The Burren National Park to the east has unique terrain and plant life, and could be explored with a naturalist guide, who might provide transportation to get there.

Down the road from Lisdoonvarna is tiny Doolin, long known for its music pubs, but Galway city wouldn’t disappoint, either.