7 Days in Ireland
Trip Overview
Seven days. Dublin's Georgian squares to the Atlantic-battered west and straight back. The pace stays moderate, big-hit icons (Trinity College's Book of Kells, the Cliffs of Moher, Ring of Kerry) balanced by slow hours in bright fishing villages and old pubs where live music is a nightly ritual. No left-side driving stress, train, coach, small-group tour give you freedom without the wheel. Along the route you'll taste fresh Atlantic seafood, sip whiskey in a centuries-old distillery and watch the sun drop into the ocean from the edge of Europe.
Pace
Moderate
Daily Budget
$120-180 per day
Best Seasons
May through September for the warmest weather and longest days; September edges ahead with fewer crowds
Ideal For
First-time visitors, Culture lovers, Couples, Solo travellers
Day-by-Day Itinerary
A complete plan for every day of your trip
1
Dublin Unlocked: Books, Brews & Bites
Dublin hands you literary legends, a working whiskey distillery, and the city's best pint of Guinness, no contest.
Morning
Trinity College & Book of Kells
Arrive at 9:30 am sharp, before the tour buses. You'll walk straight to the 9th-century illuminated manuscript, then crane your neck in the soaring Long Room Library. Eighteenth-century shelves rise six stories, packed tight with 200,000 books.
Book the early-entry slot online to skip the queue
Lunch
Brother Hubbard North
Afternoon
Teeling Whiskey Distillery tour
Dublin's first new distillery in 125 years opens its doors, you'll nose three single-grain whiskeys straight from the cask, then blend your own miniature to take home.
Reserve the 2 pm slot. It includes a seasonal cocktail
Evening
Sunset pint and live trad session
The Palace Bar on Fleet Street, Victorian snug, nightly fiddles from 7 pm
Where to Stay Tonight
Temple Bar (The Clarence Hotel (B&B feel, river views))
Walkable to all Day 1 sights and the lively pub district
See all Ireland accommodation options →Touch down, grab a Leap Visitor Card at the airport, €20 for 3 days. Boom: unlimited city buses and Luas trams.
Day 1 Budget: 160
2
Giants & Game of Thrones Coast
Northern Ireland day trip from Dublin
Cross the border. Walk the hexagonal stones of Giant's Causeway. See Dark Hedges.
Morning
Train to Belfast + coach tour
07:35. The Enterprise train to Belfast departs, two hours, door to door. From there you'll board a small-group coach, heading north along the Antrim Coast Road. One of the world's great drives.
Snag train tickets early, €20, and you'll still have time to book the Viator tour at 11 p.m.
Lunch
The Nook, Bushmills village
Afternoon
Giant's Causeway & Dunluce Castle
40,000 interlocking basalt columns, walk them at your pace with a self-guided audio tour. Then scramble the clifftop ruins of Dunluce Castle. Sunset views guaranteed.
Evening
Return to Dublin
Dinner at The Brazen Head, Ireland's oldest pub, pouring pints since 1198 AD, comes with live ballads starting sharp at 8 pm.
Where to Stay Tonight
Temple Bar (Stay at The Clarence again)
No packing/unpacking after the long day
See all Ireland accommodation options →Bring a windproof jacket. The causeway is exposed and gusty even in summer
Day 2 Budget: 170
3
Galway Bay & Claddagh Stories
Hop the train west, bohemian Galway waits with rainbow-bright streets, briny oysters, and Atlantic sunsets that burn the sky.
Morning
Irish Rail to Galway
08:05 from Dublin Heuston punches out on time, 2 hrs 30 mins of green hills sliding past the window and the Shannon River flashing silver below. Coffee and a scone on board, still warm.
Book a window seat on the right side for lake vistas
Lunch
Oscar's Seafood Bar on Dominick St
Afternoon
Walking tour + Galway City Museum
Show up at 2 pm sharp. The free walking tour spills tales of the Claddagh ring, Spanish Arch, and medieval lanes, then duck into the museum to eye a traditional currach boat.
Tip your guide €10
Evening
Trad music crawl
Start at Tig Coili, end at Taaffes, both within 200 m
Where to Stay Tonight
Latin Quarter (The House Hotel, boutique with exposed stone walls)
Steps from Quay Street's buskers and bars
See all Ireland accommodation options →Order the seafood platter at McDonagh's for dinner, freshest haddock in town
Day 3 Budget: 140
4
Cliffs of Moher & Doolin Music Capital
County Clare
Stand on Europe's edge. Then bolt to Doolin. The village pumps out excellent trad sessions nightly.
Morning
Bus to Cliffs of Moher
Grab the 10 am Citylink coach, €12, 1 hr 15 min, crawling along the coast to the 214-m-high cliffs. Follow the cliff-edge trail to Hags Head. Puffins everywhere.
Pay the visitor-centre fee online to skip the queue
Lunch
Fitzpatrick's Bar at Hotel Doolin
Afternoon
Ferry to Inis Oírr (Aran Islands)
Ten minutes. That is all it takes to cross the mouth of Galway Bay. Rent a bike. Circle the smallest Aran island. You'll pass stone forts. White-sand beaches appear around every bend.
Book the 2 pm return to catch an evening session
Evening
McDermott's Pub live session
Starts 9:30 pm, no cover, order a Dooliner red ale
Where to Stay Tonight
Doolin village (Doolin Inn, family-run, peat fires)
Walking distance to three legendary pubs
See all Ireland accommodation options →Bring cash. Many pubs in Doolin don't take cards under €20
Day 4 Budget: 135
5
Ring of Kerry Loop
County Kerry
Jaw-dropping Atlantic vistas, sheep-dotted hills and the charming town of Kenmare.
Morning
Bus to Killarney + Ring of Kerry day tour
Catch the 08:30 Bus Éireann to Killarney, 90 minutes, no transfers. From the station, hop on a small-coach Ring tour running clockwise; you'll dodge the big-bus parade. Ladies View and Moll's Gap? Mandatory photo stops.
Book Paddywagon's 10-seater the night before
Lunch
Jam Restaurant, Kenmare
Afternoon
Gap of Dunloe optional hike
Weather clear? Grab a jaunting cart to Kate Kearney's Cottage. Walk the 11 km Gap, purple heather mountains, glacial lakes.
Weather-dependent; ask the driver
Where to Stay Tonight
Killarney town centre (Arbutus Hotel, Georgian townhouse with cosy library bar)
Perfect base for coach pick-ups and park access
See all Ireland accommodation options →Bring layers. The Gap can be 10 °C cooler than town
Day 5 Budget: 155
6
Blarney Stone & Kilkenny Castles
Kiss the Blarney Stone for the gift of gab, then settle in medieval Kilkenny.
Morning
Train to Cork + Blarney Castle
08:20 from Killarney to Cork, 1 hr 20 min, then hop the local bus to Blarney, another 20 min. Climb 127 steps. Kiss the stone. Hang upside-down while the safety grip holds you. Afterward, wander the poison garden.
Arrive before 10 am to avoid tour-bus lines
Lunch
The Farmgate Café, English Market, Cork
Afternoon
Train to Kilkenny + castle visit
12:50 train to Kilkenny, 1 hr 40 min. Drop bags, then head straight to 12th-century Kilkenny Castle. Restored Victorian interiors, rose gardens. You'll need the full afternoon.
Free self-guided with Heritage Card
Evening
Smithwick's Experience + dinner
Book the 6 pm ale tale tour early, they sell out fast. Afterward, head straight to Ristorante Rinuccini for Italian-Kilkenny fusion that works.
Where to Stay Tonight
Kilkenny Medieval Mile (Kilkenny Hibernian Hotel, former bank turned boutique)
Central to all sights and nightlife
See all Ireland accommodation options →Kilkenny nightlife runs late, Matt the Miller's has trad sessions until 1 am
Day 6 Budget: 145
7
Wicklow Mountains & Farewell Pint
Return to Dublin
Glacial valleys, monastic ruins and one last creamy pint before departure.
Morning
St Kevin's Bus to Glendalough
09:30 direct bus from Kilkenny to the Wicklow Mountains (1 hr 30 min). The ride is quick, blink and you're climbing. Walk the 6 km Spinc trail for views over the two lakes and 6th-century round tower.
Bring a packed lunch. Cafés are limited
Lunch
Picnic by the Upper Lake
Afternoon
Powerscourt Gardens stop + train to Dublin
Catch the 14:00 bus to Powerscourt Estate. Wander the Italian and Japanese gardens, just an hour. Then grab the 16:30 train to Dublin. Forty-five minutes.
Buy the combined estate & bus ticket online
Evening
Farewell dinner and pint
Parnell Square, start with Chapter One's Michelin star. Nine courses of modern Irish, plated like art. Or pivot. Walk five minutes to The Stag's Head, pull up under Victorian plasterwork, order a pint. Both work.
Where to Stay Tonight
Dublin Docklands (The Spencer Hotel, near airport coach stop)
15 minutes to the airport for early flights
See all Ireland accommodation options →Grab an Aircoach from O'Connell St, €7, 24/7 service, no need to pre-book
Day 7 Budget: 160
Practical Information
Everything you need to know before you go
Getting Around
Book Ahead
Packing Essentials
Pack a waterproof jacket, Irish weather turns fast. Layered clothing keeps you warm on cliff walks, cool in crowded pubs. Comfortable hiking shoes save your ankles on the Wild Atlantic Way. Universal adapter? Essential. Small day-pack for cliff walks holds water, snacks, camera. Bring a bit of cash for rural pubs, card machines fail when you need them most.
Total Budget
You'll drop $1,050-1,260 for the week. Mid-range hotels, tours, meals, transport, it's all in.
Customize Your Trip
Adapt this itinerary to your travel style
Budget Version
Ditch hotels. Hostels run €30-40/night, clean, central, and loud. Couchsurfing in Galway won't cost a cent. Locals open spare rooms, not couches. Hit supermarkets for breakfast and lunch, bread, cheese, fruit, done. Free walking tours start daily at 11 a.m.; tip the guide €5 if you're flush. Pub grub keeps you full, stew, soda bread, pint. Total damage: ~€600.
Luxury Upgrade
Skip the chain hotels. Check into Merrion Hotel Dublin, Glenlo Abbey Galway and Killarney Park Hotel, three properties that earn their rates. You'll need wheels, so hire a private driver-guide Ring of Kerry tour. Traffic won't phase you. Add seaplane flight over Skellig Michael. Budget: €3,500+.
Family-Friendly
Grab the family rooms first, Dublin's hotels fill fast. Trim those cliff walks to 1-2 km; kids' legs won't last longer. Slot in Dublin Zoo and Tayto Park, they'll thank you. Skip the late-night pub sessions. But book the early trad at the Merry Ploughboy show. Daily budget stays similar, just tack on €20-30 for kid-friendly meals.
Book Activities for Your Trip
Tours, tickets, and experiences in Ireland
Didn't see anything interesting yet?
Browse Viator's full catalog of tours, day trips, food experiences, and private guides in Ireland.
See All Ireland Tours on Viator