Will arrive in Dublin 11 am 7/14 so looking for things to do. I understand the jet lag.
I am also looking for interesting things to do at each port city. We prefer the smaller groups of local tours.
We leave from Dublin on the 17th and dock in Dover England overnight from 7am 7/19 to 8pm on 7/20
Dock in Cork, Ireland on 22nd from 7am to 4 pm
Glasgow, Scotland on 23rd from 12pm-8pm
Liverpool, England 24th from 9am to 7 pm
Belfast, Ireland 25th from 7am to 5 pm
Inverness, Scotland on 27th 7am to 5 pm
Disembark in Amsterdam, Netherlands 6am on 7/29 and will be there until Aug 3.
I am 62 and my husband will be 74. We are both in reasonably good health.
This trip is to see the land of my ancestors-Ireland.
Any suggestions or tips will be greatly appreciated.
Pam
Posted by
Colorado Mountains, USA
7326 posts
We had time in Dublin at the end of our last Ireland trip, fall of 2018. We booked a free walking tour with a volunteer local Dublin Greeter ( https://dublin.greeters.info/ ), toured the Kilmanhaim Gaol (Jail), enjoyed Shakespeare’s Richard III at Dublin’s Abbey Theatre, and outstanding Trad music sessions at the Cobblestone Pub. Missed seeing the Book of Kells, because didn’t visit Trinity College.
Consider a tour to see the amazing Neolithic Boyne Valley burial tombs like Newgrange, older than the Pyramids, and aligned with the annual cycle of the sun.
Posted by
OP
23 posts
Thank you Cyn for your info!!
Pam
Posted by
1172 posts
Highly recommend the black cab tours in Belfast.
In Dublin, Kilmainham gaol is a must in my books. Buy your tickets ahead of time as they sell out. St Patrick's is all nice. Chester Beatty Librabry and the Book of Kells/Long library at Trinity College.
Posted by
1361 posts
Totally agree with the above. Would add 14 Henrietta Street, the Archaeology Museum and Dublin Castle (in that order).
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15576 posts
Dublinia is a serious museum while being very fun and hands-on. Buy the combo ticket and visit the cathedral as well. The archaeology museum is a wow. Both the Abbey and Gate theatres have London-quality performances, though maybe not with big names. The Dublin Literary Pub Crawl is excellent. The Book of Kells is less than a wow - you'll see one page in dim lighting and will probably have to stand in a long line to get in. The library is included in the visit and is exceptional, but it is a library.
Posted by
Pantego, NC, USA
1014 posts
Dublin has a wonderful arboretum. The Guinness Storehouse is a nice tour. Of course, tour the Temple Bar. Try to go anytime but Friday or Saturday. Those two days, it is very crowded. The Jameson Distillery on Bow St. is a good tour. We used the monorail a lot while touring Dublin. Saves walking time.
In Belfast, do the Titanic tour. The Victoria shopping mall is a good look at too. St. Georges market is interesting.
In Glasgow, Maritime Museum is great. So is a visit the the Willows Tea house for afternoon tea. No cheap, but nice once. There is a lot of shopping to do in downtown shopping area and in the indoor mall.
In Amsterdam, Netherlands, the Van Gogh Museum, the flower market in the middle of the town, Polynesian restaurants in the Rembrandt park, Argentine steak houses, all over, the NEMO Science Museum that looks like a big ship are all great visits. A one hour train trip to Rotterdam or a two hour train trip to Antwerp is a great way to spend a day. Also, outside of Amersterdam, Tulip season. Travel to Holland in mid April to see the tulips at their best. Tulip season runs from the end of March until mid May, but the flowers are usually at their best halfway through April. More than 7 million flower bulbs bloom in spring at the Keukenhof in Lisse. You are probably to late to see the fields this year, but if you ever go back . . . . . .
Posted by
Beaverton, Oregon, USA
740 posts
Kilmainham is a must. Get reservations.