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- Here's How to Do a Weeklong Vacation around Ireland
🏴☠️ Here's How to Do a Weeklong Vacation around Ireland for Under $900
A 7-day sample itinerary. From $873 per person, enjoy a weeklong vacation in Ireland, stopping in Dublin, Cork, and Galway with transport by bus, stays in luxe and top-rated hotels, day trips to the Cliffs of Moher and Blarney Castle, and round-trip airfare from the US.
*Disclaimer: This price reflected only includes flights, transport fees, and hotels. Baggage, activities, and meals are an added expense to take into consideration.
Fly to Dublin
Weeklong Ireland Itinerary
Day One: Arrival to Dublin
Fly into Dublin Airport in the morning and grab an Aircoach bus to Dún Laoghaire (Marine Road). I recommend buying the round-trip option as it costs 16 euros (~$17) as opposed to 11 euros (~$12) one way. The Aircoach bus will drop you off a two-minute walk from the Royal Marine hotel—where you'll be staying and offers a cozy, relaxing ride into the city, without the stress of navigating the public bus system.
Dún Laoghaire is a beautiful coastal suburb of south Dublin which offers easy connections by bus or DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transport) to Dublin city center. Get a 72-hour visitor leap card for 16 euros (~$17) to take advantage of unlimited public transport during that period.
Spend the day exploring Dublin. Walk along Dún Laoghaire pier and then head into the city center to explore. Stop at the Guinness Storehouse, visit the Book of Kells at Trinity Library, and/or take a vintage tea bus tour. There's so much to do.
I recommend grabbing a bite to eat and a pint of Guinness in the evening at the Lighthouse Pub in Dún Laoghaire.
Accommodation: Royal Marine Hotel (4/5 on Tripadvisor and Winner of the 2022 Travelers' Choice Award)
Day Two: Dublin
Spend the following day in Dublin. Grab a delicious breakfast or brunch at Bewley's on Grafton Street in Dublin city center and then shop along this popular shopping district.
Next, visit a museum—all of the public/federally-operated museums are free to the public. Or make a trip to Phoenix Park which is nearly triple the size of Central Park. Here, you'll find deer roaming freely and lots of greenery to enjoy.
In the evening, you can enjoy a night out at many great pubs/cocktail bars. You'll find some pubs that play traditional Irish music, a personal favorite is The Harbour Bar that's actually in a small coastal city called Bray just south of Dublin, and a 20-minute DART ride from Dún Laoghaire.
Other bars/pubs in Dublin to check out are Ferrier & Draper, No Name Bar, Mary's Bar and Hardware Shop, the Ivy, Cafe en Seine, Sophie’s Rooftop Bar, Vintage Cocktail Club, The Chelsea Drugstore, Sam’s, and Peruke & Periwig.
Accommodation: Royal Marine Hotel (4/5 on Tripadvisor and Winner of the 2022 Travelers' Choice Award)
Day Three: Cork
Leave early morning from Dublin city center and grab a three-hour bus to Cork with Aircoach for around 15 euros one way (~$16). Alternatively, there are affordable train options.
Once in Cork, check into your hotel or leave your bags. The city has so much to offer. Grab lunch at the English Market, walk around Fitzgerald's Park, and grab a pint of Murphy's (a dark stout like Guinness, but creamier).
In the afternoon, grab a bus from Parnell Place in Cork city center to Blarney Church and then walk 7 minutes to the Castle where the famous Blarney Stone is. There are hourly 215 buses that run that will cost you around 10 euros round trip and get you to the castle in about 30 mins.
Accommodation: Maldron Shandon Hotel Cork City (4/5 on Tripadvisor and Winner of the 2022 Travelers' Choice Award)
Day Four: Galway
In the morning, pack up your things and grab the bus from Cork city center to Galway with Citylink buses. The journey is roughly 3 hours long and costs 13 euros (~$14).
Arrive in Galway and explore the beautiful city. Ireland's youngest city has many pubs, shops, and museums to explore. Walk around Eyre Square and grab some fish and chips at McDonagh's.
Accommodation: Maldron Hotel Sandy Road (4/5 on Tripadvisor and Winner of the 2022 Travelers' Choice Award)
Day Five: Galway
Grab a 10 am bus from Galway to the famous Cliffs of Moher. The bus costs around 20 euros (~$21.50) round trip and takes a little over 2 hours one way. You can purchase your tickets on Bus Eirrean's website.
Grab the bus back at around 3:30 pm and get back to Galway around 5:30 pm. Spend the remainder of the evening exploring the city.
Accommodation: Maldron Hotel Sandy Road (4/5 on Tripadvisor and Winner of the 2022 Travelers' Choice Award)
Day Six: Back to Dublin
Grab the bus from Galway to Dublin which is a 2-and-a-half-hour bus and costs 13 euros (~$14) with Citylink.
Accommodation: The Croke Park Hotel (4.5/5 on Tripadvisor and Winner of the 2022 Travelers' Choice Award)
Day Seven: Back Home
Grab the return ticket for the Aircoach bus to Dublin Airport. Say goodbye to the stunning Emerald Isle and head home.
Additional Information
*All of our deals are available at the time of publishing, but prices are subject to fluctuate and change at any time.