Scotland or Ireland

Scotland is easy to add on if visiting England so go to Ireland.

Both places are great.

Which one calls out to you more?

They are both very different - scenically, historically and culturally. To be honest I couldn't really place one above the other. What I would say is DON'T TRY AND COMBINE BOTH in one holiday unless you have at least a month....

Plan to do one and then come back another year for the other. You won't regret it.

Ireland is a great first trip across the pond. Direct and short flight times from the East Coast in a competitive market, make Dublin an easy choice. There are seasonal direct flights that go directly into Edinburgh, but often you need to make a connection through London Heathrow. Culturally they are quite different. If you enjoy drinking, music, and entertainment, then go to Ireland. It is a fun time. The West Coast has some dramatic scenery and the Cliffs of Moher are one of those "Wow" moments in life.

However, after saying all this, I do prefer Scotland. I love Edinburgh (away from the crowds), the castles, and the spectacular scenery of the Highlands and West Coast up to the Isle of Skye. I would return to Scotland over Ireland, but that is just me.

Will you be driving or using public transportation? As a solo traveler using public transport, I have found Scotland easier to plan than Ireland.

If you will not be driving, look at Rabbies for some tours from both countries.

https://www.rabbies.com/en

I have been to both countries -- Ireland five times and Scotland once. Next year, I'll probably visit Scotland again and possibly England. Ireland and Scotland both beautiful and worth a visit.

Can you tap into something deeper regarding one of these countries? If you can, that's where you should go.

What drew me to Ireland initially and inspired my frequent returns was its cultural heritage, especially in writing. I loved Irish literature and have spent my working life as a writing journalist. When I made my first visit to Ireland in 1993, it was a pilgrimage to the land of Synge, Yeats, O'Casey, Joyce and others. I visited the Dublin Writers Museum -- it closed during the pandemic and still hasn't reopened -- saw plays at the Gate and Abbey theaters and took a literary tour of Dublin. Since those initial visits, I have read dozens of contemporary Irish writers -- Colm Toibin, Tana French, Niall Williams and others.

Then, my love of Irish culture deepened. I must have seen 25 Irish dance performances. I have read about Irish history.

Can you tap into something culturally about Ireland or Scotland? If so, go there.

A post-script: The scenery of both countries is beautiful and in some areas strangely bleak yet compelling. In Ireland, I hiked two 100-mile-long trails in Wicklow and Dingle, and there are other hiking trails. Scotland is gifted with dozens of hiking trails. Either way, you'll love the greens and blues of both countries.

Interesting you say that Carrie, as I have toured both countries on my own, and found Ireland much easier by train and bus, but in Scotland I ended up renting a car to see what I wanted to see. I think it will come down to what you want to see that will determine whether or not you need a car. I found the most dramatic scenery, and interesting places in Scotland were off the regular tourist routes (the drive to Applecross for example). But, in Ireland, it was easy to use a town as a home base and find a guided day trip to see what I wanted to see. In Ireland, one of the big draws for me was music as I am a fiddle player, but in Scotland, the scenery was king, and some genealogy research. I found I didn’t like Dublin as much as I liked Edinburgh. You won’t regret visiting either country. There are some similarities between them, historically and culturally, but also some differences. Maybe start by looking at some ‘best of’ lists for both countries to see what appeals to you more, and go from there.

Thank you everyone. I imagine that you can’t go wrong with either country. I most likely would go with a tour group. I do love the idea of Irish music, being a part of Irish community life. If I remember correctly, travel in Scotland is longer between areas. Is that correct?
I’ll have to give it more thought. I’m off to Portugal in September. Best wishes and safety in all of your travels.
Kathy

Having traveled extensively in both Ireland and Scotland, and loving them both, this is a hard call. That said, I'll recommend Ireland. The Irish people are so welcoming, warm, friendly and always accommodating. Whether it be in a pub, on the street, or getting an opinion on local activities and food, most everyone I have met in Ireland is willing to not only help but go above and beyond. We were there twice during World Cup and fit right in at the pubs cheering on their team(s).

I highly recommend renting a car and circling the Island, with particular attention and time spent in the amazing Dingle/Slea Head/Killarney peninsula area. The views, pubs and local attractions are amazing. Be sure to include Galway on your way to Northern Ireland in your tour. Frankly, Northern Ireland in many ways is more interesting than Ireland with it's Black Cab tours in Belfast, the Titanic Museum and it's knockout scenery (Giant's Causeway, Carrick-A-Rede, Portrush harbor and Dunluce Castle.

Dublin offers the best musical pub tours, literary tours and a lively and fun walkable experience. It's easy to wander off the main drag and find great attractions and welcoming restaurants. One of the respondents above mentioned the Writer's Museum which we visited in 2018; it was amazing and gave you a rich history of the fantastic Irish contributions to literature. I didn't realize it had been closed and not re-opened. If it is open, it's a must see.

We visited Scotland again last Fall and attended the Military Tattoo for the first time. It's hard to describe how awesome this experience was, and we will do it again. Edinburgh is a top 3 city in Europe with countless activities. I visited the bar frequented by one of my favorite authors, Ian Rankin (The Oxford Bar) in Edinburgh and made friends with a gentleman who was a fairly famous Irish poet. You just never know what will happen. The Hebrides islands are another must-see in Scotland. Even though my choice to your question was Ireland, you should follow that up with a trip to Scotland on your next adventure.