Short Trip to Ireland Help!

The itinerary you've sketched out looks OK to me. You've included some of the best-loved places people on these forums say good things about. For the end of your trip, I'd say give yourself some time to see a bit of Dublin as there's plenty to enjoy there. Pick up your car on the morning of Day 2 and turn it in on the night of Day 5.

You're right, of course, that there are lots of choices. I think you've made nice ones, though.

Some thoughts from our 2018 trip: A short drive from Killarney National Park is Kissane Sheep Farm with daily exhibits (less than an hour) of the amazing dogs herding a flock of sheep. http://www.kissanesheepfarm.com/ If interested, check their website for schedules which, as we recall, varied from day-to-day.

We particularly enjoyed Doolin, Dingle, driving the Beara Peninsula (no bus traffic; beautiful views; accessible from Kenmare on the Ring/Kerry loop.) You'll enjoy the Slea Head drive as well.

We used the ferry (from Tarbert to Killimer) to cross the Shannon Estuary and minimize drive time between Doolin and Dingle.

I'd put the Burren near the bottom of the list. We drove it en route to an interior village for my wife to see where some of her ancestors once lived. But for that personal element, we probably would have skipped it. That said, the little Burren Center museum in Kilfenora was very interesting (good details in Rick's book).

We enjoyed the boat ride for the Cliffs/Moher. You'll see much more of the cliffs than you'd see from on top, particularly before sundown when they're nicely illuminated.

We picked up our rental car at the airport the night before we departed Dublin. Driving in/out of Dublin wasn't easy for us. If doing it again, we'd grab our bags and take a bus or cab to the airport and leave from there for the next destination.

We know it's hard to chose; so much to see and do in Ireland. Good luck!

Can you change your tickets so you can fly into one airport and out another i.e., Dublin and Shannon?

After you land start your driving tour and then end your trip with a couple of nights in Dublin and use those days to enjoy the city. The Rock of Cashel will take 1-1.5 hours and the Cliffs about the same. You can see The Burren driving between Doolin and Dublin. I'd try to eliminate some of your one-night stands - maybe stay 3 nights in Killarney-Dingle area and 1 in Doolin (visit the Cliffs on your way to Doolin). Don't let driving and changing lodging take up too much of your time.

Thanks everyone this is all super helpful! I feel so much better alreayd. Unfortunately we can't change our flights without it costing a lot of money so we are going to stick to arriving in Dublin and leaving from Dublin this time. I know driving into Northern Ireland would cost us more so we were thinking about doing a Paddy Wagon tour on a day we don't have a car. I'd love to see those spots but we are so short on time we might just skip it and allow ourselves more time in the other spots. I think I will look into a base hotel for the days we are in the Killarney/Dingle area like mentioned above. Where do you think would be a good place to stay those nights? Maybe in Killarney or Tralee?

Hi. With only 5.5 days available I think you may want to reduce that itinerary a bit. We have done self-driving on our 3 trips to Ireland so I feel confident in saying that unless you or your boyfriend are experienced risk-takers on the road you will find that anywhere from 33-50% can be added to the driving times that Google maps shows you as you're planning. First, because all but the "M" roads are narrow, relative to the US, and you will be driving on the "wrong" side; second, because unless you stay on the N roads you will inevitably get behind buses, tractors, other tourists etc who will be driving slowly; and third, because you will see so many beautiful places that you'll want to get out and at least take a picture of...that said, there is no better way to go than setting your own schedule and itinerary. Next, do you think this is likely to be your only trip to Ireland, or do you imagine coming back if you love it [You will]. If the latter, you might want to consider a day and a half in Dublin, then getting your car and basing a few nights in someplace like Trim or Drogheda, which have their own attractions and would also give you easy access to day trips to sites like New Grange, as wells a reasonably short drive north to the Dunluce/GiantsCauseway/Carrick-a-Rede area, where you could also spend a couple of nights. Drop your car at the airport the night before departure, stay over in a nearby locale like Shields. Your visit will feel a lot less frantic, you'll spend less time driving, and you'll get to come home and have fun planning which other part of Ireland to visit on your next trip! [The itinerary you posted would be much easier on your NEXT visit, using Shannon airport, BTW] Good Luck!