Simesse

My friend and I (both 20) are planning to visit Ireland, leaving March 11 here, arriving March 12, then leaving March 18 or 19 (still deciding). I know it will be St. Patricks day also, so we would want to enjoy some of that. We really dont have any itenerary set, we just want to have fun and see as much beauty as possible, without being too hurried. We also would love to see some beaches and go surfing, though I know it will be cold! She would love to see castles also. I am looking for some suggestions please, in where to go and stay. I've looked at a bunch of different websites but would love some personal recommendations. Thanks in advance =] Also, do you think in a week we would be able to enjoy Ireland and some of England??

JOHNOD

I think that most folks will want to know where you are flying into and out of. It will make a big difference.

Simesse

Sorry, i completely forgot to put that. We will be flying in Dublin

Simesse

in and out of* =]

irishface

It would not be my choice to do Dublin and England on a short trip like this, but you are young and I am old. Just remember that the travel day between the two will take a day out of your six or seven. Even as a New Englander used to cool temps and cold water, the idea of surfing in March gives me the shivers (as I sit huddled near a blazing fire), but I am old. As 20 year olds, it will be hardor even impossible to find a car rental so that will limit you to public transpotation. Now enough of the negatives.

There is so much to see and do in Dublin, you could spend a week there.

Castles:

Trim Castle is within easy reach of Dublin for a day trip. Medieval ruins with nooks and crannies to climb around and explore.

Kilkenny--trainride, doable day trip from Dublin--has a castle. Built in 1400's, interior is 19th century. Lots to see in town: St. Canice's cathedral and round Tower, old city hall, medieval merchant's house, Kilkenny design center where you can buy handmade crafts, etc. Dame Kytler's Inn.

Rock of Cashel can be done in a day from Dublin, involves train and bus connection, maybe a bus these days.

Other stuff:

Howth (a 20 min DART ride away from central Dublin) has beaches and hiking trails.

Take the DART to one of the seaside towns south of Dublin for beaches--Killiney, Bray, Greystones.

Malahide has a castle and some beach. There is also a toy railroad museum at the castle. the castle is by guided tour only and covers several different eras of interior decoration.

Newgrange burial tomb can be visited by a tour from Dublin. It is older than the pyramids and you can go inside. Sunlight only makes it inside on the dawn of the winter solstice.

You could take a tour to Glendalough, a 8th century monastic ruin. Lots of hiking trails and a lake (for another water view).

In Dublin, recommend the hop on/hop off bus tours. You buy a ticket good for 24 hours and you can ride around the city, get off at any stop and then take the next bus along. They leave from O'Connel street.

Off O'Connell St. take Henry st a block to the Moore St. market. Pedestrian area. Open air market.

Visit the Guiness Brewery for a free sample which comes with your ticket and a good view of the city.

Visit the Viking Museum (near Christ Church Cathedral) where you see artifacts from archeological digs when doing urban renewal in Dublin and take a simulated ride on a viking ship.

Visit Trinity College and see the Book of Kells.

I have not done one, but the Pub Crawl Tours are often recommended in this forum.

Others will have other ideas that might suit your tastes better. Have fun!

irishface

Just a thought--if you really want to see England (i.e. London) I would advise flying right to London from Dublin on the day you arrive at Dublin. You would still have some of the day to explore. You could just see a drop in the bucket of what London has to offer in those few days, but you could get a taste.

Then fly back to Dublin for the rest of the time. Either get an early flight or late afternoon,early evening so that it doesn't kill the whole day.

I know you'll have lots of fun so just enjoy and I hope that some of my suggestions might help.

TimS

So it looks like you'll be flying both in and out of Dublin on. Yes, you could fly to London, spend two night there, and fly back to Dublin the evening before you fly home. You can get very cheap fares on Ryanair if you book ASAP. But should you? I would recommend not doing that. You will only have a partial day in Dublin on the 12th. It takes time to get from the airport to your hotel, check in, and get orientated to the city. If you leave on the 18th, you'll have only five full days (13-17) in Ireland.

Dublin will be jam-packed with visitors for St. Patrick's Day so I hope you succeed in finding a place to stay. Book your accommodations NOW!

Simesse

Thank you so much for you're suggestions! We will definitely take them into consideration =]

TimS

If you were thinking about staying in a hostel, I highly recommend the Globetrotters Hostel. Because it shares a registration desk with the B&B next door, hostel guests get the same fabulous full Irish breakfast as the B&B guests. See here: http://www.globetrottersdublin.com.

rickmav

I would check re: the car rental, because if you can rent a car there's no way I would go all the way to Ireland and spend it in Dublin. I confess I am not a fan of Dublin under most conditions. If you can rent a car, I'd make my way to somewhere along the south coast, or to the west coast and either rent a cottage and do day-trips (my recommendation) or make my way every couple of days using B&Bs. (If you do a search here you'll find lots of accommodation/sight-seeing/eating recommendations.) If you can't rent the car, irishface's itinerary using Dublin as a base is good. If you can't rent the car, I'd be tempted to split my time between Dublin and London, but if you can, save London for another trip.