Traditional Irish Pub exteriors in Temple Bar in Dublin Ireland (Von Torval Mork - Adobe Stock)
Whether you fancy a pint of Guinness, a bowl of hearty Irish stew, marveling at gorgeous landscapes, seeing historical architecture and artifacts, or all of the above, Ireland is for you.
I’ve put together a comprehensive 10-day itinerary for you, based on my own Ireland trip featuring things to do, where we ate and where we stayed. For more details about each part of the trip, including recommended visit times, menu items and drive times, click on the links provided in the descriptions on each day below. All hotels were pretty much chosen because of their central location that made walking around a breeze.
We traveled during the off-season in mid-January. This kept wait times down but also meant that a lot of shops and restaurants in the smaller towns were closed. Keep in mind that this trip was made with two adults, a lot of walking and renting a car to get the most out of our time.
Irish landscape with hills and blue water on a sunny day (Tamala Malerk)
Day One: Dublin
Arrive in Dublin and pick up rental car at airport.
Drop things off at hotel: Zanzibar Locke
National Museum of Ireland-Kildare Street
Trinity College guided tour and Book of Kells visit (Reservations recommended)
Lunch at: O’Shea’s of Temple Bar
Visit The Temple Bar Pub- Dublin’s Oldest Pub
Dinner at The Gallery Restaurant at The Church (Reservations recommended and dress code required)
Day Two: Dublin
Breakfast at Zanzibar Locke.
Guinness Storehouse (Reservations recommended)
Road sign in Dublin with places in English and Irish languages (Tamala Malerk)
Breakfast at Zanzibar Locke
Drive to Kilkenny and drop things off at hotel: Hibernian Hotel
Dinner at Caffe 500
Blarney Castle and Gardens (Reservations recommended)
Drive to Cork | Hotel: Moxy Cork
English Market in Cork
Drive to (and through) Gap of Dunloe area (photo stops)
Ross Castle (photo stop only from Nov-Feb)
Drive to Killarney and drop things off at hotel: International Hotel Killarney
Drinks at The Shire Bar & Cafe, a Lord of the Rings bar and restaurant (drinks only during off-season. Reservation needed during popular times)
Shopping at the Aran Sweater Market
Dinner at Murphy’s Bar
Ireland road with hill on the right side and water on the left side (Tamala Malerk)
Drive to Inch Beach (photo stop)
Drive to Eask Tower (photo stop, also a potential hiking spot but it was cold)
Drive to (and through) An Dún Mór area (photo stops)
Drive to Dingle and drop things off at hotel: Dingle Benners Hotel
Meander around the town and explore the quaint shops and stops
Dinner at Mrs. Benner’s Bar (on-site restaurant at hotel)
Day Seven: Limerick and the Cliffs of Moher
Breakfast at Pig and Leaf
King John’s Castle in Limerick
Drive to Galway: Check in at hotel: Eyre Square Hotel
Dinner at Murty Rabbitts Pub
Exploring the Latin Quarter
Dinner at The Quays
Light fixture made of Jameson whiskey bottles (Tamala Malerk (at the Jameson Distillery))
Tullamore D.E.W. Distillery (Shopping and Photo Stop) (You can take a tour | we didn’t have the spare 2.5 hours)
Drive to Dublin: Check in at Hotel: Zanzibar Locke
Jameson Distillery Bow St. (Reservations Required)
Dinner at Dinner at The Gallery Restaurant at The Church (Yes again. My spouse really liked the music and dance performances)
Travel Day: Any last minute sites in Dublin before you drive, fly, train or bus back home.
Sign at Blarney Castle (Tamala Malerk)
Things we wanted to do but didn’t get to: Irish Whiskey Museum, Rothe House and Garden, and Dunguaire Castle.
