Ireland Itinerary
 

Hi,

We are thinking of going to Ireland at the end of June. We only have about 6 days, we though about doing a Cosmo Tour or a Contiki but in the end thought it would be better if we rented a car and did it ourselves.

Day 1 - Arrive at 830 am in Dublin, Rest/Hop On Hop Off if we aren't too tired
Day 2 - Drive to Cork, see the Castle, Sleep in Cork
Day 3 - Drive to Killarney, Do the Ring of Kerry, Sleep in Killarney
Day 4 - Drive to Cliffs of Moher, Sleep in Galway
Day 5 - Still in Galway, Aryn Islands maybe?, Sleep in Galway
Day 6 - Drive to Dublin, sightsee, Sleep in Dublin
Day 7 - Flight Home

Or because I really want to see the Giant's Causeway:

Day 1 - Arrive at 830 am in Dublin, Rest/Hop On Hop Off if we aren't too tired
Day 2 - Drive to Cork, see the Castle, Sleep in Cork
Day 3 - Drive to Killarney, Do the Ring of Kerry, Sleep in Killarney
Day 4 - Drive to Cliffs of Moher, Sleep in Doonlin (of whatever is close to the Cliffs), I'd love to get sunrise pictures of the Cliffs
Day 5 - Drive to Dublin, sightsee, Sleep in Dublin
Day 6 - Giant's Causeway tour from Dubln, Sleep in Dublin
Day 7 - Flight Home

Any of these realistic? I looked at the driving times and it's not bad.

Thoughts?

Thanks for your help!

I loved, loved, loved the Giant's Causeway. We stayed overnight in Belfast and the Hilton arranged a private tour. It was AMAZING. I would also recommend stopping at Cashel on way to Cork. We stayed at a great B&B in Ardmore - it has a 5k cliff walk that isn't quite as dramatic as Moher, but beautiful, totally not crowded. Honestly, Blarney wasn't worth it in my opinion.

Do not believe any Drive times, work on an average 40 mph and any better is a bonus.

If the Causeway is a Must.
Land Dublin and Bus to Belfast, see Belfast sleep Belfast.
Day 2 Causeway tour sleep Belfast
Day 3 Bus/train to Dublin, day and night in Dublin
Day 4 Bus/train to Galway 1st thing. afternoon bus to Doolin
Day 5 Cliffs walk? Inis Oirr & cliffs cruise return to Dublin
Day 6 Dublin.

>>Any of these realistic? I looked at the driving times and it's not bad.<<

Nope -- not very realistic.

Tony has given you a good option if the Causeway is a must - and I would go even further and say if you <i>did</i> average 40mph you would be very very lucky. On the scenic west coast I generally think 30-35 MPH is pretty realistic.

But in any case 6 days (actually more like 5.5 plus your departure day) is not nearly long enough for Dublin to Cork to Northern Ireland to Dublin -- you'd want about 2 weeks minimum for all that.

I lost my whole dam post. Nothing is loading. Take bus from airport to Belfast, air coach or airlink, whichever is first. Black cab tour for two, Premiere Inn or Europa if your budget allows. It is very historical.
McCombs does great day tours, Game of Thrones is a bit more but smaller bus. Spend night and head back to Dublin airport. Take the
http://www.gobus.ie/ from Dublin airport to Galway. Two nights there. Use http://www.aranislandferries.com/
Dublin for last two nights.

http://www.niblacktaxitours.com/ They picked us up at our hotel for a 1:00pm tour. We had arranged with our hotel that was very close to the bus station to leave luggage and they picked us up. I said two because we were starving and this way you could eat. Love the Crown Saloon and Bittle's bar. The city hall is amazing.

O dear. Thank you everyone for your input! I had no idea that the driving would be that slow.

I've spent the day thinking about it and this is what I came up with.

Day 1 - Arrive at 830 am in Dublin, Take bus to Galway
Day 2 - Cliffs of Moher, sleep in Galway
Day 3 - I was thinking some day tour that shows castles or Aran Islands, sleep in Galway
Day 4 - Bus to Dublin, sleep in Dublin
Day 5 - Giant's Causeway tour from Dubln, Sleep in Dublin
Day 6 - See more of Dublin, sleep in Dublin
Day 7 - Flight Home

Do you think on Day 5 we should just bus or train to Belfast and see Belfast and Giant's Causeway and stay there overnight and return to Dublin on Day 6?

After some soul searching I want to see the Cliffs of Moher, Giant's Causeway and some pretty like Kylemore Abbey or Dunguaire Castle or Ashford Castle.

>>Do you think on Day 5 we should just bus or train to Belfast and see Belfast and Giant's Causeway and stay there overnight and return to Dublin on Day 6?<<

That would be my choice -- Even though the tour from Dublin would be less hassle/no packing/unpacking/checking in/out. I'd return to Dublin in the early evening.

OR - (my preference) You could take trains from Galway to Belfast on day 4 (about 6 hours total travel time) and stay in Belfast that night, visit the Causeway on day 5. Then either after dinner day 5 or early morning day 6 take the train to Dublin (3-ish hours). Explore a bit of Dublin, fly home day 7.

Like I said if the Causeway is a must go there first.