ErinMontellione

Will be traveling to Ireland in the spring. Plan is to arrive in Cork on 5/29. Next hotel in Galway on 6/1; Dublin 6/4-7. Have a list of suggested places, but wondering if anyone would share their basic itineraries. We are trying to make the most out of the trip without being too tired to enjoy. Also, suggestions on renting a car. Thanks so much for any responses.

GreenDragon

Welcome, and best of luck! Ireland is my favorite. place. You seem to be staying in the big cities, in hotels. My personal preference is the smaller towns, in B&Bs. You get more in touch with the locals, and don't have to deal with city crowding and traffic. Where are you arriving from? Cork doesn't have US International flights that I'm aware of - flights go into Dublin, Shannon or Belfast.

What do you want to see and do on your trip? That will help with any suggestions.

I've had great experience renting cars with Dan Dooley. Their price quotes are all up front, no hidden charges.

ErinMontellione

Thank you for responding. We are staying in the cities because we get a big discount. Coming from the US to London for a few days to Cork. Suggested by friends: Baltimore and Blarney Stone, Kilkenny castle, Kenmare area, Ring of Kerry, Dunloe Gap, Wexford, Dingle Penninsula, Waterford, Rock of Cashel. Galway base: Cliffs of Mohr, Connemara, Burren Landscage, Galway City, Bunratty, National Stud. Dublin base: Trinity College, Guinness Hopstore, National Museum, Malahide Castle, Glasnevin Cemetary.
Too much? Not a good sampling? Thanks again.

GreenDragon

That's a lot, and all over the country!

Cork sites - you have two days in Cork. You have a week's worth of exploration there in Cork alone. Ring of Kerry, Dingle, and a trip out to Wexford and Waterford - each of those would take a full day of travel and sightseeing. I would stick closer in to your base. A day trip to explore Kenmare and Killarney National Park would be fine. Or one that explored one of the peninsulas - Beara, Kerry or Dingle. That's about it.

Galway - Cliffs could be seen on a LONG day's trip from Cork to Galway. Connemara is easily explored from there, the Burren is more on the way - you could drive through it. Bunratty, again, is on the way.

Dublin - you have more time here, so more time to explore. Kildare (National Stud) is on the route back. You could do all on your Dublin list plus more. Kilmainham Gaol, day trips up to Newgrange and Hill of Tara, or down to Powerscourt and Glendalough.

I HIGHLY suggest getting a map of Ireland, printing it out, and marking each of these sites. Then use a site like www.viamichelin.com, and figure out the distances between each. Use no MORE than 35mph as an average time - it may even be less. Roads are small, windy, and often have tractors and sheep on them. You will want to stop for photos, random castles, meal breaks, and bathroom breaks on any day trip. Trust me on this, I've been 4 times

Tony2phones

Change your arrival airport to Shannon and just concentrate on the Shannon to Dublin stretch, 5 days for your wish list won't work. If you have to go into Cork forget Galway and surrounds.

ErinMontellione

Thank you both for the responses. I am so confused. Want to make the most of the trip, so want to use time wisely. We chose to come into Cork so that we could do the sights in that location. Was doing some more checking and saw that there are day trips from London to the Cliffs of Mohr. Wondering if we should just stay in Cork and Dublin and do all trips from there. Your thoughts please. If we have 8 nights, suggestions for breakdown. Thanks again!

Tourism_Ireland

Hi ErinMontellione,
Arriving in Cork, take the hop on hop off bus tour. It is a great, efficient and informative way to learn and experience the history and modern culture of Cork City. This is really worthwhile, and highly recommended. Hop off at St Anne’s church and make the climb to ring the Shandon Bells! This is great fun, and a little adventure. There is a small fee, but worth it for the view at the top and hearing your musical attempts ring out across the city! At the Cork City Gaol (jail) local stories and wax figures of real prisoners will haunt you! Try some nice eats and treats from Cork’s English Market, and maybe bring your picnic the 15min drive to Blarney castle. Enjoy the gardens – beware of the Poisonous Garden! And kiss the Stone for sure!
A day and a half can be spent in Cork City/Blarney. Kinsale (Gourmet Capital) and Cobh (important emigration port) are other excellent spots if you decide to stay longer here.
If you have the third night reserved in a Cork hotel, and aren’t up for more driving you can take a day tour to Ring of Kerry, though this will lead you to back track on yourself.
Otherwise, from Cork, drive to Killarney and it would be nice to stay there two nights. Drive the Ring of Kerry, taste lovely seafood, relax by the lakes and National Park, enjoying the surrounding beauty and small towns at a slow pace.
From Killarney, move north, driving through Adare, Co Limerick, which is the most picturesque village full of little thatched cottages.
One night in a B&B in Clare might be essential! The Burren and Cliffs of Moher should be encountered on route to Galway.
Galway can be a busy, thriving city, with university students, yet the traditional music will be easily found spilling out from pubs on the cobbled streets. One, or two nights before a long drive would be sufficient here.
Along the route from Galway to Dublin, castles can be found at Athenry and Clonmacnoise, and ancient Celtic crosses at Durrow.
Wicklow is wonderful to tour (from Dublin). There are fantastic driving routes from Film scenes such as Braveheart and P.S I Love You. The National Park is beautiful, as is Powerscourt House and Gardens.
You certainly will have a full Itinerary.

Tourism_Ireland

Your other option of four nights in Cork and four nights in Dublin would be a pleasant holiday too.

You could get away with just using public transport too.

Around Cork, do the City tour, visit Blarney and Kinsale by bus, take the train to Cobh, and a day tour to the Ring of Kerry.

While based in Dublin, enjoy Dublin City, tour Wicklow, take local DART transport as far as Dún Laoghaire or Bray- seaside, suburban towns, and if you really must a day tour to the Cliffs of Moher!

Enjoy your Irish holiday!

ErinMontellione

Thank you so much for all the great information. Can't wait to start our trip.