Week in Ireland w/o car itinerary suggestions

Can you give us at least a little idea of what you are interested in or have already seen? You can't go wrong almost anywhere in Ireland that you go, but we could give endless suggestions that are only where you have already been.

Thanks for the suggestion! I took day trips to Newgrange and the monastery (Glendalough I think?). Also went to Howth. All day trips from Dublin. Would love to see lovely scenery and experience some of the rural beauty. Love smaller towns. My husband and I are musicians, so it would be nice to hear some trad music (I did this in Dublin but he wasn't with me). Love history as well. Would prefer making a location a home base so we could stay two or three nights not moving on every day. We are in good shape for walking etc. but not particularly interested in hiking etc. Hope this helps!

The problem I see for you is the "w/o car" part. The easiest place to get to would be Galway. You could easily do a trip to the Aran Islands for a night or two and day trips to the Connemara area (northwest ROI). You might also get a tour to the Cliffs of Moher. There are commercial tours for these areas. Doolin, Killarney and Kilkenny would be great to visit but trying to connect them with public transportation would be more difficult. Feel free to try to string the bus and train schedules together. IMHO, Ireland demands a car or a very, very open schedule.

Love Galway! Easy to get to from Dublin and lots of day trips (Aran islands, ashford castle) then maybe go to Killarney. Good day trips from there too. Don't go to rural in October. No one around and not great atmosphere but always fun in those 2 cities!

Galway and Killarney would be considered small compared to Cork and Dublin so still have smallish town feel!

Some very helpful suggestions so far, thanks! It has also crossed my mind that seeing the suggestions of Galway and Killarney as possible stops, maybe it would make sense to investigate flying home from Shannon rather than backtracking to Dublin. Does anyone have any experience with a hotel near Shannon airport? The flight back home from Shannon we could take leaves at 9 am.

There are a number of B&Bs on the Bunratty road, just six miles from the airport. There is also a hotel across the road from Bunratty castle, and I believe they have an airport shuttle.

Very easy to fly out of Shannon. Bunratty is fun to visit too and if you like, they do a really fun banquet. There's a few hotels and b and b's right there and taxi was only around 20 euro.

Again, thanks so much to all of you! Love this helpline. I'm going to look at the Rick Steves' Ireland guide to help with itineraries as well. But please feel free to continue suggestions. My husband is intrigued by Aran islands so that be part of this plan as well.

Laura, The Park Inn is really on the grounds of the Shannon airport. You can follow the path marked on the pavement right to the international terminal. I don't think I heard any airplanes so it must be soundproofed very well.

Thanks for the Park Inn suggestion. I noticed that one too although reviews are decidedly mixed. But seems like it would be easy to take bus from Galway to Shannon airport and staying at that hotel obviously a very easy way to exit Ireland. That is if we get flight from Shannon and not Dublin. One more query for all of you helpful folks in the USA and Cork -- suggestions on hotels or B&Bs in Galway much appreciated!

Since you are traveling in October and have limited time, you might want to skip the Aran Islands. Ferries to the islands are often canceled by bad weather or rough water (even if the weather looks good). That could happen on the day you plan to go there - or once you get there. You wouldn't want to get out there and not be able to get back for a day or more.

Hi Laura, just a suggestion but if you do get flight from Shannon would still stay in Bunratty. There's a few pubs and a bit of atmosphere rather than an airport hotel. Can't remember where we stayed in Galway so sorry, no help. It was right off Eyre square so very convenient. Enjoy!!!

Thanks for the tip re: Aran. Maybe a day trip better option than staying over. That way easier to do on sour of moment. Ditto Bunratty suggestion.

If you do plan a day trip to the Aran Islands you still need to have a Plan B in case the ferries are cancelled that day. As I said, it can happen without much notice.

If you are coming home from Shannon, we stayed at Airport Manor B&B, you can look them up on internet, I think 5minutes from airport with free shuttle and was great.

Did you already purchase airfare between London and Dublin for October? If you spent 10 days in Dublin a couple of years ago and did a lot of day trips from Dublin, you may consider skipping Dublin completely and save those 2 nights for somewhere else. If you didn't make it to Northern Ireland on the last visit, 2 nights in Belfast (or Derry) could be an interesting substitute before you bus it over to Galway and do some day trips in Western Ireland and then fly home from Shannon. Nancy is correct about the ferries for the Aran Islands. Some ports are more reliable to get in/out of because even when the weather seems ok, the seas can be too choppy. The Aran Islands are a great overnight trip if you have the time.