My Perfect 10 Day Ireland Itinerary
There is so much to do and so much to see that even my bucket list is still more than overloaded with ideas and plans.
I have done my best to squeeze an exciting and beautiful adventure into this itinerary. It is NOT a final plan, it is not the perfect plan for everyone (it is for us though) and it is not necessarily a plan you should follow. You are special and unique and so is your road trip. Feel free to be inspired by our perfect Ireland itinerary! Use it, customise it, do it different, whatever suits you best. If you have any questions, feel free to send us an email or a DM on instagram.
Be sure to check out our itinerary for 14 days and 7 days, too!
But for now, let’s get started:
Day 1+2 Dublin
Let’s assume you’re flying into Dublin (customise it if you are flying into Shannon, Cork or Kerry Airport or send us an email) and are arriving late in the afternoon.
If you are like me, you’ll want to get used to the vibes of a new country, new city and new people around you. That’s why I personally love spending the first afternoon and evening exploring the area, going out for dinner and enjoying some live music in a pub - without any schedule or to-do-list.
Dublin is a great city with so much to see and do but it is a city after all. I think it is great for one or two days, but trust me - you’re going to love driving out into the countryside after that and finally getting to know the “real“ Ireland.
Back to Dublin for day 2 now though. If you’re a fan of seeing as much as you can, the Hop on Hop off buses are probably great for you to do a sightseeing tour of Dublin (you’ll see the bright green busses everywhere, book online to save some money). In case you love city trips and cities in general, extend your stay in Dublin to have more time to see everything. Or, if you’re only here for a few days, check out our blog post Our Perfect 3 Day Ireland Itinerary (coming soon!).
Start your morning right with a breakfast in one of Dublin’s amazing vegan places like Cornucopia Dublin. Then split your morning between the magnificent National Museum of Ireland and Trinity College. Make sure to book tickets in advance for the Book of Kells Exhibition, it’s really worth it. You’ll recognise the Long Room of the Old Library of Trinity College from instagram and I highly recommend to visit it. The main chamber of the Old Library is filled with 200,000 of the Library’s oldest books and is one of the most impressive libraries in the world. Being a book nerd, this is probably my favourite place in Dublin.
If there’s still time before lunch, do a tour of Dublin Castle and visit the Chester Beatty Library right next to it - a winner of the European Museum of the Year. Both Trinity College and Dublin Castle lie in the heard of the city, so there are many and lovely lunch options around. If you’re just getting a snack somewhere, maybe enjoy it in the beautiful St Stephen’s Green park. It’s right next to one the city’s main shopping streets, Grafton Street - it’s filled with gorgeous shops and places in case you’re more into that than history and exploring.
St Patrick’s Cathedral, around the corner from the Chester Beatty Library, is the largest church (not cathedral) in Ireland. For me, it isn’t a must see, but if you’re around and have some time on your hands, or if you’re a huge fan of churches - go!
No trip to Dublin would be complete without a visit to the Guinness Storehouse, so be sure to spend some hours here learning about Guinness, pull your own pints and enjoy the spectacular 360 panoramic views of the city from the Gravity Bar in the 7th floor. In case you don’t like Guinness (although I highly recommend it, especially because of the views from the 7th floor), maybe do a tour at the Jameson Distillery instead.
After that, say hi to the Molly Malone statue, explore the Temple Bar District and finish your night with a pint in one of the pubs. Grogans in William St is a great choice and one of Dublin’s most loved pubs.
Day 3 Galway - Galway City
Spend the morning driving to Galway City and exploring the city. It’s a colourful, modern and beautiful city and I bet you’ll enjoy it here. I can highly recommend spending the afternoon exploring a part of the beautiful Connemara National Park (featuring Clifden and the impressive Kylemore Abbey). Spend the night in Galway.
Day 4 Aran Islands
Spending the complete day on (one of) the Aran Islands will give you the chance to really take the peacefulness and nature in. Travel there from Rossaveal (Aran Island Ferries) or from Doolin (Doolin Ferries). Cars cannot be taken to the islands but you can hire a bike or take a tour around the islands in a horse cart. The Aran Islands are a cluster of the three islands Inishmore (Inis Mór), Inishmaan (Inis Meáin) and Inishdeer (Inis Oírr) with the largest being Inishmore. The coastal views are spectacular and you’ll get a scene of traditional Irish culture here. The islands are also famous for their knitwear, so bring some cash in case you’d like to buy an original Aran sweater on the islands.
Day 5 Cliffs of Moher - The Burren National Park
Explore the spectacular Cliffs of Moher and then head for Doolin, home to some excellent traditional music and great places for lunch. Spend the afternoon exploring The Burren with its unique and beautiful landscape.
Follow the coastal roads through Lahinch, Spanish Point and Kilkee. As I love boat trips, we usually take the car ferry operating between Tarbert and Killimer to cross the Shannon (it comes we a chance to see the Shannon dolphins). Book your tickets online to save some money. If you’re not a fan of ferry boats, choose a different road to reach Killarney. Spend the night in Killarney.
Day 6 Killarney - Killarney National Park or Ring of Kerry
Spend the morning exploring Killarney National Park with Torc Waterfall, Muckross House and Gardens and Ross Castle and spend the afternoon strolling around Killarney town. It’s another one of Ireland’s charming and lively cities. Find out more about Killarney National Park and Killarney town in our Killarney blog post.
If you’re not a fan of cities and prefer road trips, drive along the Ring of Kerry instead. The scenery along the peninsula is spectacular. Maybe stop at two or three villages whenever you feel like it. If you’re a fan of Star Wars or a fan of puffins or love exploring islands - take a boat trip to see Skellig Michael. Spend the night in Killarney.
Day 7 back to Dublin - Howth Cliff Walk
For me, Howth is probably the best choice for a day trip near Dublin. The beautiful cliff walk and the blue sea are really worth a visit and I think it’s a great place to spend your last day in Ireland without the pressure of having to drive through the whole county to get back to Dublin in time. Explore the Howth Cliff Walk and enjoy the views, visit Howth Harbour and stop at Howth Market (usually open only on the weekend, please check before going there).
You made it! This is it. I can’t believe how short 10 days can be, especially in Ireland. There is SO much more I’d love to show you. So be sure to come back and extend your stay and add more time to explore it all!