I have the choice of either 8 or 14 days in Ireland. (Want to use free ticket from airline miles, and those are the possibilities.)
Figured on a week in Dublin. But we will have to rely on public transporation to see the rest of the country, and many sources I have looked at say it is difficult to get around that way.
Will we be able to get to the DIngle Peninsula and western Ireland via public transport for a few days visit>
Many thanks.
Laura
Anchorage
Check out www.vagabond-ireland.com They offer great adventure tours of varying lengths in refurbished Land Rovers. Have fun!
The Vagabond tours look great.......but we are looking for something a little less active.
But 30 years ago....................
Go for 14 days. You can easily get to Dingle with Public transportation, albeit slightly time consuming. You can take a bus from most cities to Limerick where you will change for a bus to Tralee, and change again for a bus to Tralee. Look up Bus Eireann schedules online, their website has a journey planner. You can also take a train as far as Tralee from Dublin and bus the final 90 minutes to Dingle.
Buses generally go everywhere. Busing up and down the western coast is possible, and services are far more frequent in the summer months - you can get to the Cliffs of Moher, Dingle, Lisdoonvarna, Ennis, and many other small villages between Galway and Limerick, as well as heading north of Galway into the Connemara region. You just need to know where you wish to go. The ticket window staff are extremely helpful in planning, and handing out printed schedules for various routes.
Car rental in Ireland is very affordable and the most efficient way to see the countryside. The bus/rail systems in Ireland are not up to par with the rest of Europe. Try www.budget.ie Also try www.europebycar.com and www.autoeurope.com
I believe most people would say a week is too long in Dublin. :) There are soooo many other wonderful places to see in Ireland! For sure don't miss Dingle! I would suggest getting a hold of one of Rick Steves' Ireland guidebooks. It would be an inexpensive investment & you will put it to much use! His books cover everything you need to know for travel, including hotel and b&b accomodations, restaurants, and transportation tips as well as information about the region. His guidebooks include various "self guided walking tours" (explicit directions and discussion about the sites along the way) He also suggests numerous day trips and gives comprehensive information regarding how to get there, what to do and what things cost. Have a wonderful trip!
Hi Laura, I just saw your post. Go for the 14 days. As much as I like Dublin a week there is a long time unless you will be on business. You can get from Dublin to Dingle with no problem as I have done this myself. Take the train to Tralee and then the bus on to Dingle.To see the west of Ireland take the bus back to Tralee from Dingle and then on to Limerick where you can get a bus to basically anywhere you want to go. I will be leaving next next and will spend three weeks using public transportation as in the past and it has not been a major problem. When in Dublin be sure and visit Kilmainham jail. If I can be of additional help please contact me. Pat
A week is too long in Dublin, but I would highly recommend the 14 day trip. I especially enjoy the west... Connemara, Co. Clare. Car rental is the way to go, though. You can stay where you want as long as you want.
Laura, you only need one day in Dublin and then two days to bus tour to the north and to the south. Dorsey
If you can stay 14 days, it's worth it.
A full week in Dublin is too long. Four days max is quite enough. Day 1: recover from jet lag and visit low-key sites near your hotel. Day 2: See a few of the big sites in Dublin City. Day 3: Take a full day coach tour of an attraction you'd like to see in the countryside near Dublin (the Visitor's Center can arrange something for you). Day 4: Partial day to sightsee/shop in Dublin and then get your transportation. With the other 3 days, I'd head to Northern Ireland (Belfast, Derry, Giant's Causeway/Antrim Coast).
While the train system is not extensive, it gets you to the major cities and the bus service fills in the gaps. In some areas, bus service is more frequent during peak tourist months. At any time of year, you can base in a lot of major cities and do private day tours via coach from there (i.e., Galway for Connemara, Aran Islands, The Burren, Cliffs of Mohrer).
