Sharing our Itinerary that I created for our 2023 trip to Ireland. I hope this helps you plan your vacation!
Day 1 & 2 September 15th 2023
Fly from Dulles International Airport to Keflavik via Play Airlines IAD-KEF 6 hours and 5mins
Departs 18:50 (6:30pm)
September 16th 2023
Hotel: Fleet Hotel Temple Bar (This hotel places you in walking distance of everything! Rooms are small but are worth it for one night) 4 star hotel 180$ per night
Land in Keflavik at 4:55AM
Fly at 06:00AM KEF-DUB (Dublin) 2 hours and 35 mins
Land in Dublin at 9:35 AM
Pick up Avis Car Rental (Book well in advance)
Drive 20mins to Fleet Hotel Temple Bar
Fleet Hotel does not have their own car park however the Fleet Street Car Park, Is located opposite the hotel with a special reduced rate for guests 19 euros for 24 hours or 3 euro per hour. Have the front desk validate your ticket
Our flight ended up being delayed so we just went and parked at the Guinness Brewery instead. There is a free public car park lot beside the brewery.
Book your tickets for the Guinness Brewery tour in advance! for the 11AM-12pm time slot. If your flight gets delayed no worries! you can enter at anytime just go see customer service. Tour the Brewery. It is huge and one of the busiest spots in Dublin. I love the live music and Irish Dancers. You will get a drink ticket upon entry there are multiple bars located inside but I like to use it at the very top sky lounge. (It is the best bar in my opinion). The Irish dancers perform shows every 30mins-1hour in the restaurant. Eat lunch at the Brewery or along your walk to the distillery.
Walk 20mins or drive to the Jameson Distillery Book your tickets for 2:45pm-3:30pm.
After your tasting walk to Dublin Castle and enjoy Gardens or check out the Book of Kells at Trinity College or stop by EPIC the Irish Immigration Museum. See Ha’penny bridge or shop on Grafton Street
6:30pm We went to Celtic Nights at the Arlington. An Irish dancing show with dinner included. (4min walk from the fleet hotel.) I was a little disappointed in the show. It was ok but not amazing. I have not included the ticket link below since I did not think it was worth the money.
8:30pm head over to Temple Bar. Be warned the crowds are big! You may just want to grab that photo outside under the sign and head to bed. your walk back to the hotel from temple bar is very easy and you will pass by lots of bars with live music.
Tickets
(Depending on what you are interested in there are some great deals where they pair attractions together. Let me know if you need help finding them)
Guinness Store House
https://www.guinness-storehouse.com/en/booking 33 Euros per person
Jameson Distillery
https://www.jamesonwhiskey.com/en-us/visit-our-distilleries/jameson-bow-street-distillery-tour/ 33 euros per person
EPIC Irish Immigration Museum
https://epicchq.com/visit/tickets-and-tours/ 21 Euros per person
Trinity College Book of Kells
https://bookofkellsexperience.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/1173651480/events/428633225 25 Euros per person
Dublin Castle (Walking around the castle and in the gardens is free)
https://www.dublincastle.ie/tickets-and-times/ 8.65 euros per person
Fleet Hotel Temple Bar
https://www.fleethoteltemplebar.com/
I personally like to get out of Dublin as quickly as possible and prefer the peaceful scenic countryside but if it is your first time I would recommend at least 2 days in Dublin.
Day 3
Hotel: Castlemartyr Resort 5 star Hotel 265$ per night (Beautiful Hotel!)
September 17th 2023
8:00AM Leave Dublin Drive to the Wicklow Mountains National Park (No entry fee)
Scenic Drives: Sally Gap (Wicklow Mounatins)
From Dublin drive via Glencullen, kilternan and the scalp into Enniskerry. From here you can visit Powerscourt Estate and Gardens, which includes one of the highest waterfalls in Ireland. Continue to Sally Gap, a notable crossroads situated between Kippure Mountain and the Djouce Mountain where the road leads to Glendalough, by Glenmacnass and Laragh. This drive is beautiful!
9:30AM arrive at Powerscourt estate. (Link below for entry tickets but you will need to pay an additional 14$ per car at the gate for the waterfall.) 45 min drive from Dublin. Powerscourt is home to the 3rd best garden in the world ranked by National Geographic.
Powers Court Waterfall- One of Irelands highest waterfalls opens at 10:30 set at the foot of the wicklow mountains 121m or 400ft high and is 5km from the estate and gardens. As you drive from the gate to the waterfall you are surronded by Beech, Oak, Larch and pine trees some of which are 200 years old. Look out for the Giant Redwoods!
11:00Am depart the waterfall and drive 30mins to Sallys Gap (quick photo stop)
11:05AM Drive 5mins to the famous PS I Love You Bridge (quick photo stop)
11:10AM drive 5Mins to the Ballinastoe woods (The woods have a very photographic boardwalk. its a 5-7 min hike to the boardwalk from the large parking lot.) (Type in Boardwalk entry see parking information)
11:40AM Drive 3mins to Lough Tay (Type in Lough Tay viewing spot) It is so beautiful! quick 5min photo stop
drive 17 mins to Glendalough for lunch eat at heather Wicklow
12:00pm Lunch at Heather Wicklow Restaurant. (very pretty lights inside and great chowder!) Make reservations
1:00pm Explore Glendalough This place was amazing! One of the oldest Monastic sites in Ireland, It has a very spooky graveyard. Cathedral ruins, round tower, Lower lake is very pretty for photos. There is a good free car park.
2:00pm Drive 1 hour and 30mins to Kilkenny (one of Irelands best Medival towns! and hosts the Medival Mile)
3:30pm Park at Market cross parking garage (right downtown) and walk 7 mins to St Canince Cathedral. (see ticket link below) Here you will climb St Canince Tower, it is one of the only places in Ireland you are able to do this! the ladders up the tower were a little nerve wracking but the view was spectacular! (little old ladies were climbing ahead of us so you’ll be fine)
4:15pm 5min walk to Smithwicks Brewery Grab a beer and relax. They do a great tour book in advance! If you were to ask shawn this is where we should have stayed for the night Kilkenny exceeded our expectations! I would highly recommend a night here.
If you stay check out Kilkenny castle, The Medieval Mile or Paris Texas for a drink.
We left Kilkenny and drove 1 hour and 42mins to Castlematry Resort. Amazing hotel!! Horse Paddocks surround the grounds, pool, great breakfast and dinner. Ask the resort to setup a picnic on the grounds for you.
Day 3 was my favourite day on our trip. Everything was so beautiful!
Tickets:
Powerscourt Estate and Gardens
https://powerscourt.com/ticket-prices/ 14.50 euros per person Powerscourt Hotel is also a beautiul place to stay!
St Caninces Tower climb
https://www.stcanicescathedral.ie/the-round-tower 11$ euros Tower climb and Cathedral
Smithwicks Brewery Tour
https://www.smithwicksexperience.com/tickets 18$ euros per person includes beer
Castlemartyr Resort
Day 4
Hotel: Muckross Park Hotel 5 stars 175- 260$
September 18th 2023
Between 8-8:15AM Drive 35mins to Blarney Castle. You will arrive early but get in line! By 9AM when it opens there are already multiple tour buses there. You absolutely want to be one of the first people inside! To kiss the Blarney stone you have to get to the top of the castle and some of the historic stairs are quite narrow you do not want to be standing in line on them. There are workers at the top of the castle to help you kiss the stone and take your photo. The grounds of Blarney castle are beautiful don’t forget to check out the poison garden or caves. Buy tickets in advance!
At 10AM we drove 15mins to Cork to Hedermans smoke house (tradional smoked fish shop) inside the English Market but Cork was underwhelming. I would suggest syaing an extra hour and enjoying the Castle. Skip Cork.
11:00AM drive 30mins (from cork 45mins from blarney) to Kinsale. Kinsale is the first top on the wild Atlantic Way. It is a beautiful fishing town with colourful houses, fort charles, kinsale meadery, Blacks Brewery, shops and restaurants. There is a big parking lot right downtown 5$ cash. This is your lunch spot there are many good restaurants in walking distance of downtown. I loved this town!
1:00pm Drive one and half hours to Muckross Park Hotel located in Killarney National Forest
2:30PM After checking into the hotel or before drive 5mins to Torc Waterfall, Gap of Dunloe. Torc Waterfall was beautiful but the Powerscourt one was much grander. There is free parking at the Torc Waterfall and it is a quick 5min walk to the falls.
After a busy couples days this was our relax day. We headed to the spa at Muckross where they have both indoor and outdoor hot tubs. We did a horse carriage ride in Killarney National Forest. Past the estate and up to the ruins at sunset. We loved Killarney! Tired we ate dinner at the hotel but I highly recommend heading into Killarney city. Killarney has some of the best live music in Ireland! Head to Murphey’s Bar. The Hotel offers a free shuttle back and forth.
We were on a tight timeline since I used up all of Shawn’s leave in South Africa. so unfortunately we could only stay one night but I highly recommend doing 2-3nights in Killarney. One of those days you could continue on the wild Atlantic way and do the ring of Kerry making a stop in Dingle. A beautiful driving route!
Tickets:
Blarney Castle 21.60 euros per person
Carriage Ride in Killarney National Park 42 euros per person. Bring cash there are always rides available.
Muckross Park Hotel
Day 5
Hotel: Cabra Castle 175-250$ 4 star hotel
September 19th 2023
Breakfast at the hotel I should have mentioned that earlier all of the hotels on this list have complimentary hot breakfasts.
9-10AM Killarney Falconry experience. Ours unfortunately got rained out.
10AM-1PM drive 3 hours to Cliffs of Moher. rest and photo stope in Adare. Adare is one of Irelands prettiest towns! It is a great place to pick up some wool sweaters. They are famous for their thatched roofs.
1pm-1:45pm Cliffs of Moher park at the vistors center
Stop for Lunch at the Roadside Tavern in Lisdoonvarna. Shawn will tell you this was his favourite meal on the trip! Classic Irish pub with good music and gourmet food. We were ahead of schedule since we left at 8AM when the falcons got cancelled. Park near the Burren smokehouse & visitors center. The Roadside Tavern hosts Storytelling nights and competitions An Irish storyteller is called a seanchaí. The Pub owner was actually born in the pub and is a third generation owner. He is an amazing seanchai and hopefully you’ll be lucky enough to meet him. Lisdoonvarna is also famous for matchmaking. The town is especially known for its matchmaking festival, which takes place every September and is Europe's largest singles matchmaking festival.
1:45pm drive 30mins to the sheep dog demo. I loved this experience!
2:15-3pm sheepdog demonstration at Catherconnell Stone fort and Sheepdog
3pm drive 1 hour and 30mins to Seans Bar in Anthlone (oldest pub in Ireland it is about 45mins away from Dublin)
4:30-5:30 we enjoyed the bar Anhlone seemed like an interesting town we wished we had longer here.
5:30pm-710pm Drive one hour and 40mins to Cabra Castle
7:30pm dinner at hotel & relax.
I typically would not include this much driving on a trip but since it was Shawn’s first time I wanted to show him as much as possible.
Tickets
Killarney Falconry 140 euros for two people
http://www.killarneyfalconry.com/
Cliffs of Moher 7 euros per person
Caherconnell Stone Fort & Sheep Dog 10 euros per person
Burren Smokehouse Tour, Tasting and demo 12 euros per person
https://www.burrensmokehouse.com/visit-the-burren-smokehouse/
Cabra Castle
Day 6
Hotel: The Merchant, Belfast Northern Ireland 5 stars 450-650$
September 20th 2023
7:30-10AM Drive 2 hours and 20 mins to the Dark hedges (free)
It was intended as a compelling landscape feature to impress visitors as they approached the entrance to their Georgian Mansion Grace Hill. Two centuries later, the trees remain a magnificent sight and have become one of the most famous photographed natural phenomena in Northern Ireland. In fact the iconic trees have been used as a filming location in HBO Game of Thrones. representing the kings road season 2 episode 1. There are two entrances to the trees on either end of the road. depending on what end you are in it will look more like the photos.
10:30AM-10:50AM Drive to Dunluce Castle one of the more notable stops on the Causeway Coastal Route, This castle was first built around the 1500
10:50-11:00 quick photo stop
11:00-11:20 Drive to Carrick-a-reede Rope Bridge
11:30-12:30 Carrick-a-reede Rope Bridge. (If the weather conditions suggest for high winds go here first. They will shut the bridge down if bad weather and its my favourite stop!)
12:30-12:40 Drive 7mins to Ballintoy Harbour
12:40-1:20 Explore the harbour. Walk past the cave round to the right it gets very pretty down the path.
1:20-1:40pm Drive 20mins to Giants Causeway
1:40-2:40 explore the Causeway. (Cautious can be slippery) I highly suggest taking the bus back up the hill from the causeway. I never have and always end up regretting it. storms roll in quick and I have been soaked every time I have ever been. Across from the visitors center is a little restaurant it’s a great lunch spot! Get a hot toddy and some seafood chowder.
2:40-2:50 Drive 10mins to Bushmills Distillery
3:50-3:30 Have a drink at the bar and explore the Distillery.
3:30pm-4:30pm Drive 1 hour to the Merchant Hotel. Relax in the rooftop hot tub and dine in their restaurant its beautiful! I highly recommend doing the chefs menu. The Merchant will always be special to me it was the first 5 star hotel I ever took myself too 12 years ago.
If you have more time in Belfast the titanic museum is excellent! Northern Irelands Coast Causeway is one of the most scenic drives on the trip! Reminder Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom and uses the pound. Most places will take the euro as well but good to have some pounds on you as well.
Tickets:
Dunluce Castle 6 euros per person. There is a free section as well.
https://discovernorthernireland.com/things-to-do/dunluce-castle-p675011
Carrick-a-rede Rope Bridge 13.50 euros per person
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/northern-ireland/carrick-a-rede
Giants Causeway 15.50 euros per person
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/northern-ireland/giants-causeway
Bushmills Distillery 35 euros per person
https://www.bushmills.eu/distillery/
Titanic Museum 24.95 euros per person
https://www.titanicbelfast.com/
Merchant Hotel
Day 7
September 21st 2023
Leave between 5:30-6:00AM 1 hour and 40min drive to Dublin Airport
Arrive at Airport between 7:30-8:00AM return rental car
Dublin-Iceland at 11:35AM-Arrives 1:15pm
Iceland-Dulles Departs at 3:00pm-Arrives at 5:40pm
