Short answer: with 7 days, spend two nights in Dublin, take the train to Galway for two nights, then drive past the Cliffs of Moher to Killarney for two nights and the Ring of Kerry. With 10 days, add the Aran Islands, Connemara, a night on the Dingle Peninsula and Cork. With 14 days, make a full loop of the south and west, from Dublin through Kilkenny, Cork, Kerry, Dingle and Clare to Galway, or swap the south for the north and the Giant’s Causeway. Explore Dublin on foot and pick up a car when you leave it.
This guide turns the sample trips on our Ireland travel guide into day-by-day plans, with real travel times between the stops and the best area to sleep in each night. To choose your dates, read our best time to visit Ireland guide; for the highlights in a few minutes, see our top places to visit in Ireland. For a plan built around your dates and interests, use our AI trip planner. Everything here was checked as of October 2026.
The three routes at a glance
| Route | Days | Stops (nights) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dublin and the west | 7 | Dublin (2), Galway (2), Killarney (2) | First trip, the Cliffs of Moher, the Ring of Kerry |
| Islands and peninsulas | 10 | Dublin (2), Galway (3), Dingle (1), Killarney (2), Cork (1) | The Aran Islands, Connemara, Dingle’s music pubs |
| South and west loop | 14 | Dublin (3), Kilkenny (1), Cork or Kinsale (2), Killarney (2), Dingle (2), Clare (1), Galway (2) | A slower road trip, castles, food, coastal walks |
Most flights from the US land in Dublin or Shannon, and both have US preclearance for the flight home. Flying into Dublin and out of Shannon saves a long drive back on the last day. If you rent a car one way, expect a drop-off fee.
Travel times between the main stops
These are the legs used in the plans below. Train times come from Irish Rail’s timetables valid from 14 December 2025 (Monday to Saturday; Sundays have fewer trains); coach and ferry times from the operators. Drive times are approximate: away from the highways, plan on an average of 50 to 60 km an hour on narrow, winding roads.
| Leg | Fastest public transport | Time | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dublin Heuston – Galway Ceannt | Intercity train | about 2 h 20–2 h 40 | Irish Rail |
| Dublin – Galway | Citylink coach | fastest about 2 h 30 | Citylink |
| Dublin Heuston – Cork Kent | Intercity train, hourly | about 2 h 30–2 h 40 | Irish Rail |
| Dublin Heuston – Killarney | Train, change at Mallow | about 3 h 20 | Irish Rail |
| Cork – Killarney | Train, change at Mallow | about 1 h 20 | Irish Rail |
| Cork Kent – Cobh | Commuter train | 26 min | Irish Rail |
| Dublin Heuston – Kilkenny | Intercity train | about 1 h 30–1 h 45 | Irish Rail |
| Dublin Connolly – Belfast Grand Central | Enterprise train, about hourly | about 2 h 10 | Irish Rail |
| Dublin – Glendalough | St Kevin’s Bus, twice daily | about 1 h 20 | St Kevin’s Bus |
| Galway – Clifden (Connemara) | Citylink coach | about 2 h | Citylink |
| Rossaveel – Inis Mór (Aran Islands) | Aran Island Ferries, all year | about 40 min | Aran Island Ferries |
| Killimer (Clare) – Tarbert (Kerry) | Shannon Ferry (car ferry) | about 20 min | Shannon Ferries |
| Galway – Cliffs of Moher | Car | about 1 h 30 (approximate) | Approximate |
| Killarney – Dingle | Car | about 1 h 15 (approximate) | Approximate |
| Ring of Kerry loop from Killarney | Car | 3–4 h without stops (approximate) | Approximate |
An example from the Galway line: the 11:30 from Heuston reaches Galway at 13:51. If you change between Heuston and Connolly stations in Dublin, Irish Rail advises allowing an hour on the Luas tram or bus.
7 days: Dublin, Galway, the Cliffs of Moher and Kerry
The classic first trip: Dublin without a car, the train west, then a car for the coast. Fly into Dublin and out of Shannon, or take the train from Killarney back to Dublin.
- Day 1, Dublin: Express coach from the airport (about 25 to 40 minutes). Trinity College and the Book of Kells on a timed ticket, Grafton Street and St Stephen’s Green, then an evening of traditional music in a pub. Sleep: around St Stephen’s Green or the south Georgian quarter.
- Day 2, Dublin: Kilmainham Gaol on a guided tour (book ahead), the Guinness Storehouse or the free National Museum, and a walk along the Liffey. Dublin Castle is closed to the public until January 2027. Sleep: same.
- Day 3, to Galway: Train from Heuston (about 2 h 20 to 2 h 40) or a Citylink coach. Afternoon in the Latin Quarter, a sunset walk on the Salthill promenade, music on Quay Street. Sleep: Latin Quarter or around Eyre Square.
- Day 4, Connemara: Pick up a rental car and drive the N59 west: Kylemore Abbey and its Victorian walled garden, a walk up Diamond Hill in Connemara National Park (free), and the Sky Road above Clifden. No car? Join a day tour, or take the Citylink coach to Clifden (about 2 hours). Sleep: same.
- Day 5, the Burren and the Cliffs of Moher: South through the Burren’s limestone and the Poulnabrone dolmen to the Cliffs of Moher (about 1 h 30 from Galway; arrive before 11:00 or after 16:00 to beat the crowds, and book online for the lower price). Continue to the Shannon Ferry at Killimer for the 20-minute crossing to Tarbert, then on to Killarney. Sleep: Killarney town.
- Day 6, the Ring of Kerry: The 180 km loop through Killorglin, Cahersiveen, Waterville, Sneem and Kenmare, with a detour on the Skellig Ring at Portmagee and Ladies View on the way back. Tour coaches go anticlockwise, so many drivers go clockwise. Sleep: same.
- Day 7, Killarney National Park and home: A morning bike ride to Ross Castle, Muckross House and Torc Waterfall, then return the car and take the train to Dublin (about 3 h 20 with a change at Mallow), or drive to Shannon Airport for your flight.
Swap it: would you rather not drive? Stay in Galway for three nights with tours to Connemara and the Cliffs, then take the train back to Dublin and spend the last day in the Wicklow Mountains at Glendalough (St Kevin’s Bus, about 1 h 20). More on each stop: Dublin, Galway, Connemara and Killarney.
10 days: the Aran Islands, Connemara, Dingle and Cork
The 7-day route with more time in the west: a day on the Aran Islands, a night in Dingle and a last night in Cork before the train back to Dublin.
- Days 1–2, Dublin: as in the 7-day plan, or swap the museums on day 2 for a half-day at Brú na Bóinne, the 5,000-year-old passage tombs of Newgrange and Knowth (all visits start at the visitor center; book in summer). Sleep: around St Stephen’s Green (2 nights).
- Day 3, to Galway: Train or coach west; an evening in the Latin Quarter. Sleep: Latin Quarter or Eyre Square (3 nights).
- Day 4, Inis Mór: Shuttle bus from Galway to Rossaveel and the ferry to Inis Mór (about 40 minutes). Rent a bike at the pier and ride to Dún Aonghasa, the stone fort on an unfenced cliff edge. Check sailings on the morning of travel.
- Day 5, Connemara: Pick up the rental car: Kylemore Abbey, Diamond Hill and the Sky Road.
- Day 6, Clare to Dingle: The Burren and the Cliffs of Moher, the Shannon Ferry to Tarbert, and on to Dingle town for dinner and a music session. Sleep: Dingle town (1 night).
- Day 7, Slea Head to Killarney: The Slea Head Drive clockwise, as the road signs ask: Ventry beach, Dunbeg Fort, the Blasket Centre and Gallarus Oratory. Then over to Killarney (about 1 h 15). Sleep: Killarney town (2 nights).
- Day 8, the Ring of Kerry: The full loop, with the Skellig Ring detour.
- Day 9, the Gap of Dunloe and on to Cork: Cross the Gap by jaunting car, bike or on foot, with the boat back across the lakes to Ross Castle (allow most of the day, and carry cash). Drive or take the train to Cork. Sleep: Cork city center (1 night).
- Day 10, Cobh and home: The English Market for breakfast, the 26-minute train to Cobh for the Titanic Experience, then the train to Dublin (about 2 h 30) for an evening flight.
Swap it: in July and August, Kerry’s roads fill with coaches; the Dingle Peninsula is quieter, so give it two nights and the Ring one day. Details for each stop: Dingle Peninsula and Cork.
14 days: the south and west loop
Two weeks lets you drive the whole south and west at an easy pace, with time for walks, islands and long lunches. Fly into and out of Dublin, collecting the car on day 4 and returning it in Galway (or keeping it to drive back).
- Days 1–3, Dublin: Trinity and the Book of Kells, Kilmainham Gaol, the museums, and a day trip to Glendalough or Brú na Bóinne. On a fine afternoon, take the DART to Howth for the cliff path. Sleep: around St Stephen’s Green (3 nights).
- Day 4, Kilkenny: Train (about 1 h 30 to 1 h 45) or drive. Kilkenny Castle, St Canice’s Cathedral and its round tower, and the medieval lanes. Sleep: Kilkenny center (1 night).
- Day 5, the Rock of Cashel to Cork: Drive via the Rock of Cashel to Cork; the English Market and the Shandon bells. Sleep: Cork city center or Kinsale (2 nights).
- Day 6, Cobh and Kinsale: Cobh’s emigration and Titanic stories, Spike Island by ferry (book ahead), or Kinsale’s harbor and Charles Fort. Blarney Castle if you want the stone: go at opening time.
- Day 7, to Killarney: Through West Cork or straight to Killarney; afternoon at Muckross House and Torc Waterfall. Sleep: Killarney town (2 nights).
- Day 8, the Ring of Kerry: The full loop, or in season a boat to Skellig Michael from Portmagee (landings normally run from mid-May to September and sell out months ahead).
- Day 9, the Gap of Dunloe to Dingle: Morning in the Gap, then on to Dingle town. Sleep: Dingle town (2 nights).
- Day 10, Slea Head and the Blaskets: The Slea Head Drive, or a boat to the Great Blasket from Dunquin (sailings are planned from 6 May to 8 September 2027, weather permitting).
- Day 11, to Clare: Tarbert to Killimer by the Shannon Ferry, Loop Head or the coast road north, and an evening of music in Doolin. Sleep: Doolin or Ennistymon (1 night).
- Day 12, the Cliffs and the Burren to Galway: The Cliffs of Moher at 8 a.m. opening or in the evening light, the Burren, then Galway. Sleep: Latin Quarter or Eyre Square (2 nights).
- Day 13, Connemara or the Aran Islands: Kylemore and the Sky Road by car, or a day on Inis Mór.
- Day 14, home: Return the car in Galway and take the train to Dublin (about 2 h 20 to 2 h 40), or drive to Shannon Airport (about 90 km) for your flight.
Swap it for the north: after Galway and Connemara, head north via Westport and Donegal to the Causeway Coast and Belfast, then take the Enterprise train back to Dublin (about 2 h 10). Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom: most visitors who are not British or Irish citizens need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA, £20) before crossing, even by road and even on a day trip, although there are no checks at the land border. Check that your rental company allows the car in the north.
Where to sleep, by stop
| Stop | Best area for a short stay | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Dublin | Around St Stephen’s Green and the south Georgian quarter; Smithfield for Heuston | Walk to Trinity, the museums and pubs, quieter at night than Temple Bar |
| Kilkenny | The center, near the castle | Everything on foot; the station is a short walk |
| Cork | City center, near the English Market, or Kinsale | Trains to Cobh; Kinsale for harbor dining |
| Killarney | Town center | Walk or bike into the national park; train station in town |
| Dingle | Dingle town | Music pubs, seafood and the harbor on foot |
| Clare | Doolin or Ennistymon | Close to the Cliffs of Moher and the Aran ferries from Doolin |
| Galway | Latin Quarter or around Eyre Square | Pedestrian center; the train and coach stations are by Eyre Square |
Ireland has no tourist tax. Rooms in Galway in July, Cork during the jazz festival in late October and Dublin around St Patrick’s Festival (13 to 17 March 2027) fill months ahead, as do coastal towns on bank holiday weekends (3 May, 7 June and 2 August 2027).
Alternatives by interest
Hikers
Base yourself in Killarney for three or four nights for the national park’s trails and the Gap of Dunloe, and in Dingle for Mount Brandon and sections of the Dingle Way. In Connemara, walk Diamond Hill and the Killary Harbour coast; near Dublin, Glendalough’s lakes and the Howth cliff path make easy days. April to June and September are the best months: drier ground, long light and mild days.
Travelers without a car
Use the rail spokes from Dublin: Galway (three nights, with tours to the Cliffs, Connemara and the Aran Islands, which you reach by shuttle and ferry), then back through Dublin or via Limerick to Killarney (three nights, with Ring of Kerry and Dingle tours), and Cork for Cobh by commuter train. You will spend a little longer on trains, but you will not have to drive on the left on narrow lanes.
History lovers
Add Brú na Bóinne north of Dublin (from 1 March to 1 November tours cover both Newgrange and Knowth; in winter only Newgrange), Kilmainham Gaol, Kilkenny and the Rock of Cashel, and Cobh, the last port of call of the Titanic and the departure point for about 2.5 million emigrants. In season, Skellig Michael’s monastery is unforgettable, but children under 12 may not land.
Music and pub lovers
Spend more nights in Galway, Doolin and Dingle, where sessions happen most nights, and fewer in the car. Time your trip for a festival: the Galway International Arts Festival in July, or the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival in late October.
Families
Keep to two or three bases: Dublin, Galway and Killarney. Children under 12 go free at the Cliffs of Moher with a paying adult, and the bike paths and jaunting carts of Killarney National Park are easy wins. Short drives keep everyone happier on Ireland’s winding roads.
Tips for planning your route
- Pick the season to match the trip. May, June and September are best for all three routes: long days, some of the driest weather and fewer coaches. July and August are warmest but busiest. From October to March, days are short, island and Skellig boats stop, and some west-coast guesthouses close. Details are in our best time to visit Ireland guide.
- Book the timed tickets. The Book of Kells, Kilmainham Gaol and the Guinness Storehouse sell date-and-time slots. The Cliffs of Moher are cheaper booked online, and are open daily from 8:00.
- Rent the car only when you leave Dublin. Driving is on the left, many rental companies require drivers to be 25 or older, and the default limit on rural local roads is 60 km/h. If you use the M50 around Dublin, its barrier-free toll must be paid online by 8 p.m. the next day unless your rental car has a tag.
- Build in a weather day. Atlantic wind can cancel ferries to the Aran and Blasket Islands and to Skellig Michael, mostly from October to March but sometimes in summer.
- Book trains online. Irish Rail’s web fares are usually cheaper than buying at the station, and Dublin–Cork trains run hourly Monday to Saturday.
Ireland itinerary FAQ
Is 7 days enough for Ireland?
Yes for Dublin, Galway, the Cliffs of Moher and Kerry, with a car for the west. It is not enough for the whole island; to add Dingle, Cork and the islands, plan 10 days, and two weeks for the full loop or the north.
Should I fly into Dublin or Shannon?
Dublin if you want to start with the city, Shannon if you want to go straight to the west coast; Shannon is about 90 km from Galway. The best plan for most first trips is into Dublin and home from Shannon. Both airports have US preclearance.
Do I need a car in Ireland?
Not in Dublin, and not to reach Galway, Cork or Killarney, which all have trains. A car makes the Cliffs of Moher, Connemara, the Ring of Kerry and Dingle far easier, although day tours from Galway and Killarney cover them too.
How long is the train from Dublin to Galway?
About 2 hours 20 minutes to 2 hours 40 minutes from Dublin Heuston to Galway Ceannt (Irish Rail timetable valid from 14 December 2025). Citylink coaches take about 2 hours 30 minutes at best.
Which way should I drive the Ring of Kerry?
Tour coaches drive anticlockwise from Killorglin, so many drivers go clockwise via Kenmare and pull in to let coaches pass on the narrow sections. Allow a full day, as the loop takes 3 to 4 hours without stops.
Can I add the Giant’s Causeway?
Yes, on a two-week trip: use the northern version of the 14-day route and finish in Belfast, two hours by train from Dublin. Most non-British, non-Irish visitors need a UK ETA to enter Northern Ireland, even for a day.
What is the best month for an Ireland road trip?
May, June and September: long days, often the driest and sunniest weeks, wildflowers in the Burren, and fewer coaches than in July and August.
Sources
Researched and last reviewed by TravelerCenter on 8 October 2026. Train times come from Irish Rail’s route timetables valid from 14 December 2025 (Dublin–Galway, Dublin–Cork, Dublin & Cork–Tralee, Dublin–Waterford, Cork–Cobh and Dublin–Belfast); coach times from Citylink and St Kevin’s Bus; ferry times from Aran Island Ferries, Shannon Ferries and Blasket Island Ferries. Opening rules come from the Cliffs of Moher, Trinity College, the OPW (Heritage Ireland) and Dublin Castle; the UK ETA from GOV.UK and Tourism Northern Ireland; road rules from Citizens Information and Transport Infrastructure Ireland. Drive times are approximate. Timetables, fares and rules change, so check with the operator before you travel.
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