Itinerary Suggestions
 

Three of us will be traveling to Ireland for 3 or 4 days, not counting travel time. Which city would you recommend flying into, Shannon or Dublin? And what would you see if you had only three days? Thanks!

Where are you traveling from? Will you be jetlagged upon arrival? That will have to be taken into consideration when recommending how far to drive and what to see the first day. ((b))

We are traveling from the Washington/Baltimore area, so the flight time and jet lag won't be that bad.

I would without doubt fly into Shannon. With three or four days, you could either go a bit north and west to the Connemara area, which is very beautiful and easily spend three or four days there. Or you could go just south to Dingle, Kerry, etc. and spend your time there. To me both these areas are equally picturesque, charming and have lots to see and do.

p.s. I arrived around 11 a.m. after an overnight flight with little or no sleep. I drove four hours that day, which I would consider the maximum possible. Somewhat shorter than that would have been better.

From the BWI area, it will still be an overnight flight and you should get into Shannon (I recommend Shannon) 7-8 am.

Head to Ballyvaughn, have lunch at Monks Pub, drive around the Burren en route to Doolin, stopping to see the Cliffs of Moher, then head to Lahinch for shopping, further explore the Loop Head Peninsula (Kilkee), spending the night in Kilrush. Here's a nice place: http://www.hillcrestview.com/

Get up the next morning and take the Killmer Ferry and head towards Dingle via the Connor Pass. Spend 2 days exploring Dingle and the Dingle Peninsula.

Head back toward Bunratty, do the castle, folks park, Mac's Pub, shopping, and the Medieval Banquet, spending the night at the Bunratty Lodge.

Fly home the following morning.

There are so many other itineraries, but that would be my recommendation for a 3-4 day stay. ((b))

Thanks to all for your advice. Your suggestions sound right on the money!

We took AerLingus BWI-SNN 26 Feb: sked arrival 06:50 (we landed about 10-min early). We went to the airport's upper level to wash up and hit the cafeteria (didn't want to arrive at our B&B too early). We don't drive in Ireland: rental car companies have varying high-end age limits - I am 73.

We decided in advance to base ourselves in Ennis and do a couple of day trips.

We caught an 08:20 bus to Ennis and the B&B Operator (Carmel Daniels at Rose Cottage) had a suitable room available and allowed us to check-in at 09:30. So we took a nap and got up in time for lunch. That was Friday. Saturday we took a 9:20 BusEireann up to Galway for some shopping & sightseeing. Eyre Sq. (aka John F. Kennedy Sq.) was all torn up and fenced in. The tour bus didn't appear to be running (28 Feb) so we just walked over to the Spanish Arch and the Claddagh port, then back to the pedestrian mall area. In summer months there are matinee Trad Irish music sessions at Taaffes and Tig Coeli but we couldn't find any this early in the year.

Sunday, after Mass & lunch, we caught an impromptu Traditional Irish music session at Cruise's Pub: it continued for 2-hours while we were there.

Monday we took the 10:25 Doolin bus: we got off at Lahinch at 11:25 and caught the same bus on its way back to Ennis at 13:25. We did some serious shopping in Lahinch: the Tourist Board store had everything reduced by 30%.

My advice is that you fly to Shannon; base yourselves in Ennis or Galway (the latter if you plan to visit Connemara or Cong) and do a couple of daytrips.

It's the same flight (AerLingus 00118) that continues on to Dublin after a stop in Shannon.