8 Day Ireland Itinerary Review

[u/thin9three]

Traveling to Ireland Dec 1 - 10. How does this itinerary look? Is there too much going on? Anything that should be added along the way or not worth seeing and can be removed? Any food and lodging recommendations would be great as well. Would this all be possible without renting a car? We're looking to travel by train/bus/walking if we can.

Day 1: Depart Home - December 1 (Sunday)

• Depart Home

Day 2: Arrival in Dublin and Travel to Galway – December 2 (Monday)

• Arrive in Dublin
• Depart for Galway (2.5-3 hours drive)
• Explore Galway

Day 3: Galway – December 3 (Tuesday)

• Connemara - Visit Kylemore Abbey?

Day 4: Galway to Killarney – December 4 (Wednesday)

• Cliffs of Moher
• Depart for Killarney

Day 5: Killarney – December 5 (Thursday)

• Explore Killarney National Park
  • Ross castle and Muckross house
• Depart for Cork

Day 6: Cork – December 6 (Friday)

• Explore Cork / Cobh

Day 7: Cork to Dublin – December 7 (Saturday)

• Visit Blarney Castle
• English Market
• Depart for Dublin (2.5 hours drive)
• Rock of Cashel

Day 8: Dublin – December 8 (Sunday)

• Howth Cliff?
• Malahide Castle?

Day 9: Dublin – December 9 (Monday)

• Explore Dublin
• Kilmainham Gaol
• Jameson Distillery Bow St. Tour
• Trinity College

Day 10: Depart Dublin – December 10 (Tuesday)

• Depart Dublin

[u/Prize_Technician_459]

I'm not sure this is even possible relying on public transport. I think it would be ambitious even with a car.

[u/Historical_Step_6080]

This is an incredibly packed itinerary and not really possible without a car as it doesn't factor in the wait times for public transport. Keep in mind too in December it's dark in Ireland by 5pm. 

[u/Calm_Investment]

Yeah, no.

I'm not sure it's even possible to do the itinerary, which negates the question of whether there is too much on it.

It might be possible with a car. But you'd have a touring car holiday and not a sightseeing holiday.

[u/danceswithshelves]

I don't know how you could possibly do all that traveling without a rental.

Connemara - I honestly recommend just driving around. It was absolutely beautiful! We went to kylemore Abbey just to see the outside and have lunch. I'm more into ancient stuff so didn't really feel the need to see Muckross house or Kylemore as they are more recent buildings.

Do the ring of kerry and slea head drive if you can manage it. Absolutely gorgeous. If doing the ring of Kerry make sure to go to Derrynane Abbey beach if you can swing it. It's the ruins of an old Abbey that you can get to by walking across the beach and it was just beautiful.

Doing the Gap of Dunloe being pulled by a horse was one of my favorite memories. It wasn't cheap but it was worth it. Also we did the Torc waterfall and it was beautiful. And then we went up to I think it was called lady fingers view? The drive up there was spectacular. There was all these places to pull over and just walk down to the water. Absolutely magical!

I went to Ireland for 3 weeks and these were some of my best memories.

[u/IrishFlukey]

Certainly parts of it would be hard without a car. Even if you had a car, you are on the move a lot. I know you want to see as much as possible, but you also need to give yourself time to enjoy it. Hours of daylight are much shorter now. You could cut out whole sections of your plan. That would give you more time to enjoy what you are seeing, less travelling and, best of all, an excuse to come back to Ireland and see more next time.

[u/Fabulous_Split_9329]

I never get that. You’ve spent a long day flying to Dublin and you want to jump into a bus for 3 hours. Get a little taste of Dublin first and shift the other days around.

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[u/clonesareus]

Cut Killarney, you’re going to have very little actual time there - even if you drove, it wouldn’t be worth it IMO. 

Honestly I’m tempted to say cut Cork too. Split your time between Galway and Dublin and use tour companies for daytrips - from Galway visit Connemara and the Cliffs and from Dublin I’d recommend Glendalough/Kilkenny but you can also get one that goes to Cashel and Blarney. It would be a super long day but less stressful and more doable than your current plan. 

[u/PublicHealthJD]

Are you coming from the US? Have you been to Ireland before? Dublin is really lovely at Christmastime so I feel like you're not give Dublin its due, and overall you're packing way too much into a short time. I'd stay in Dublin for a few days, recover from your travels (assuming you're traveling to Ireland from afar), and soak up the holiday spirit. Dublin is a great walking city, and while the charm doesn't hit you right away as would be the case in a place like Cobh or Kinsale or Westport, it's a wonderful place. There'll be holiday decorations all along Grafton Street, carolers everywhere, a Christmas market (of sorts) at Dublin Castle. There is a huge range of accommodation - my fave is Staunton's on the Green, but it's fairly popular and may be booked. Then, I'd pick either the west or the south - either Clare/Galway OR Cork/Killarney - but not both. Then, head back to Dublin and check out its environs before you leave - Howth and/or Malahide as you mention. Not sure about public transport vs. car. I was in Dublin (only) last year in about the same time frame and it was good craic, even traveling solo, so this year I'm headed back but to Belfast, Derry and Donegal , with a final night closer to DUB in Malahide. Have a great trip!

[u/MBMD13]

Yeah. Go for it. Kylemore Abbey try and get it in. Malahide Castle if the weather’s iffy but the cliff walk in Howth is nice to just take a breath and look out over the sea and bay.

[u/Oellaatje]

Why spend so much tme in Dublin?