zxcvbnm

We are going to Ireland in a few days and are trying to figure out how to get around. We prefer not to take tour bus companies. some of the places we would like to include are:
1- cliffs of moher
2- connemara national park
3- aran islands
4- dingle peninsula
5- Killarney National park and ring of kerry (are they close?)
6- wicklow national park

we enjoy nature and seeing beautiful places. when traveling we enjoy having full days- and don't mind starting at 6 in the morning and getting back at 10, for example.
1) - From the list above can you rank which ones are your favorites?
2) - also, we are staying in dublin and taking day trips to all these places.
i looked on buseireann.ie website and noticed they go from dublin to cliffs of moher and they also go to letterfrack which is near connemara national park.
a- i was wondering if the cliffs are a drive or just one spot?
b- will public bus transportation take me right there?
c- regarding letterfrack and connemara- i read that letterfrack bus stop is 200 meters from the connemara park entrance. is this true?
d- once we get into connemara, is there a shuttle that can take us around in the park, or is our only option walking?
e- have also heard that irish ferries operate from galway to aran islands and i can take a bus to galway from dublin. can this be done in one day?
f- as far as dingle, killarney national park, and ring of kerry, and wicklow- how do i get there? can i take public bus-( i don't mind transferring)? are there shuttles in these national parks as well?
g- are killarney and ring of kerry in the same spot?

if anyone has any tips on seeing ireland by bus or train or any other tips, I'd like to hear.
thanks!

zxcvbnm

forgot to add that we're not renting a car. so public transportation is our only option

GeoffHamer

Trying to visit all these places on day trips from Dublin would be extremely difficult, even with a car. If you want to visit the Cliffs of Moher, Aran islands and Connemara, then it would be better to stay in Galway.
Schedules are on Bus Eireann's website, but buses to some tourist sights such as the Cliffs of Moher only run in the peak summer season.
Boats to the Aran islands go from Rossaveal (Ros a'Mhil), with connecting buses from Galway (www.aranislandferries.com) or from Doolin.

zxcvbnm

thanks, but our hotel in dublin is already booked and we prefer staying there.
i looked up cliffs of moher and it seems buses are going there next week.
plesae keep suggestions coming

cambe

Sorry but IMO you are on the wrong coast of Ireland to do 1-5 as a day trip from Dublin.

If you want to stay in Dublin forget 1-5 and concentrate on the East Coast. Newgrange, Wicklow, Vico Road in Dalkey and Killiney Bay, Greystones, Glendalough are all accessible and easy from Dublin.

GeoffHamer

There are buses to the Cliffs of Moher, twice a day but only one a day connects with a bus from Dublin. You leave Dublin at 0700, get to the Cliffs at 1220, leave there at 1330 and get back to Dublin at 1830. So, you have ten hours travelling on buses for just over an hour at the Cliffs of Moher.

janisj

You have pre-paid for a hotel in Dublin -- but want to tour all these places all the way across the country on the west coast.

Sorry, but that makes <u><red>absolutely NO sense at all</red></u>

Even driving your own car, it would be impossible, and buses take longer. If you are stuck staying in Dublin -- then stick to the east coast and maybe some of the central bits. You cannot tour Dingle, the Aran's,or your other 'musts' as day trips from Dublin.

It appears you have seriously miscalculated how long these trips take - and have booked yourselves into a corner. Just make the best of it and stick to the east coast -- OR -- get a refund of your hotel and stay out west.

flpab

You need to do a trip to Newgrange, easy on a tour bus. Go to the tourist office on Suffolk St and they can hook you up with day tours. The trains can take you to Howth and south to one of my favorite places, Greystone. There is so much to see and do in Dublin that will fill your days and nights. Check out tours to Glendalough also. You really will just have to come back and do the west coast another trip.

zxcvbnm

thanks for the suggestions.
has anyone ever done what we're attempting?

if it were possible to change hotels, which location would be a good base and close to the places i want to go to?

zxcvbnm

would galway be close to most of them?

Cowboy1968

Dublin is a good base only for the Wicklow Mtns, obviously, and all the other "East cost sights" that got already mentioned.

For the Cliffs of Moher, Aran Islands, and Connemara, Galway is the "hub". Though I find it difficult to explore Connemara without a car or without a lot of time to play around with.

Dingle and Killarney need another hub, like Killarney proper.

The only halfway technically possible day trip with public transport from Dublin would be the Cliffs plus 1-2 hours in Galway. But as Geoff said, you'd spend more time on the buses than actually seeing the sights.

The rest from your list you can simply forget when you stay in Dublin.
But, as others have said, there is lots to see and do in and around Dublin during real day trips (i.e. where you spend the day seeing things and not sitting in buses or trains).
Another easy day trip from Dublin would be Kilkenny.

zxcvbnm

is there any way to do the trips the same day by flying? are there airports near any of the places we want to see that would enable us to get there in a shorter amount of time?
if yes, which of the above places and which airports?
thanks

zxcvbnm

or would trains be faster than bus?

zxcvbnm

also out of the 6 above-which 4 or 5 are the most beautiful to visit?-which do you recommend?

janisj

"<i>is there any way to do the trips the same day by flying?</i>"

No -- when you add in getting out to DUB, security, check in, etc., you'd be half way across the country on a coach. Plus most of those sites are not near any airports.

"<i>or would trains be faster than bus?</i>"

Trains don't go anywhere near some of those places.

Just resign yourselves to seeing things near Dublin and on the east coast -- or -- changing to two bases (at least two different towns) somewhere in the west of Ireland.

zxcvbnm

thanks everyone for all the help.
Can you please rank the 6 areas- in terms of what you recommend. (we enjoy beauty in nature- which are most beautiful?)

cambe

I give up!

Read a guide book!

zxcvbnm

im asking in case we only get to do 4 or 5 out of 6 i want to know what i should leave out

janisj

You can't do almost <u>ANY</u> of them unless you move your base from Dublin to the west coast.

It doesn't sound like we've been able to convince you.

njsusan

OK -I'll play the game.I would choose Dingle.But.... it is 214 miles each way if driving 4 hours and 20 min. each way.(no stops ,driver used to the roads).

Think of it as a day trip from New York city to Washington DC (227 miles ,4 hours 17 min each way )
Can it be done ?Sure would you do it 5 days in a row?
There are so many areas in the Dublin area to keep you busy!Relax and enjoy your trip,next time stay in the west.