Planning a trip can be very challenging, especially when you want to see as much as possible. That’s why we are here to share our 7 Days in Ireland. Emerald Isle is small enough to see nearly all the highlights without burning out. We will be doing a road trip for half the trip and the rest of the time in Dublin. We had such a great time in Ireland and highly recommend visiting.
This 7 day in Ireland itinerary will take you from kissing the Blarney Stone to exploring Galway over to wandering the streets of Dublin. This is the ultimate itinerary in Ireland.
7 Days in Ireland Itinerary
Day 1- Getting to Ireland and Overcoming Jet Lag
Welcome to Dublin! Getting through the airport is fairly quick, and once you’ve got your bag, it’s time to head into the city. If you are going to be driving for your road trip like we did, it’s time to get your rental car!
With our rental car, we headed to the hotel. We stayed in city centre- Dublin. We wanted to be close to the action, allowing us to walk around to help stave off the jet lag. Dublin is 4 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time. While it wasn’t a lot, we didn’t want to arrive mid-morning and then ruin our sleep by taking a nap. Our recommendation is to have pre-planned activities with the tickets already purchased so you won’t miss it!
Things to know before arriving in Ireland.
Airport to City Centre
So the first thing is to arrive at the hotel and see if you can get an early check-in. If that is not possible, front desk check your luggage. Many hotels in Dublin will allow you to keep your luggage at the front desk. From there, it’s off to a brunch/lunch (depending on how long everything takes).
The first thing we did after we hotel-checked our luggage was to get some brunch! We didn’t pre-plan the place we visited, but I would recommend having Google Maps on your phone with pre-selected restaurants you’d like to visit while there. We had a long list of local Irish food we wanted to eat.
First Activity
After lunch, walk around Dublin for a little while, then have your planned activity! We’d like to suggest the Vintage Tea Tour. In a double-decker bus remodeled to have a tea table, you’ll get a tour of Dublin while enjoying pastries and warm tea. It is a perfect way to get the first sense of Dublin.
Get your tickets for the Vintage Tea Tour HERE!
We absolutely loved the Vintage Tea Tour! The tour guides are phenomenal. Afterward, we went for a little walk through Temple Bar, where the tour takes off from. After some moseying around, dinner and bed are in the books. Since Day 2 is going to be a very early morning in order to get all the activities in as well as all the travel.
Day 2- Road Trip to Cork
Early morning wake-up is needed here! The plan is to be in the car and heading out of Dublin by 8am. So we got up at 7am to have breakfast at the hotel, check out, get our luggage in the car, and hit the road.
Kilkenny
The first stop south will be Kilkenny. This town is known for its beautiful medieval castles and churches. This beautiful city on the water has plenty to explore. I would recommend getting an early lunch here. The only other easy option today would be at the Hook Lighthouse Cafe.
There is a reason why this town is known as “Marble City,” although the locals call it “Cats.” One of the fun ways to explore this city is by doing a guided Knight Tour. This tour will take you through 7 of the most popular spots in Kilkenny as well as show you some spots you might miss otherwise. Additionally, you’ll get a great narration of the history of the area. If you choose to get lunch, go from the tour to lunch, then off to Hook Lighthouse.
Get your Knight Tour Tickets Here!
Hook Lighthouse
We chose to have lunch at Hook Lighthouse. Hook Lighthouse is one of the oldest lighthouses in the world and the second oldest continuing to operate lighthouse. Built 800 years ago, this lighthouse offers a tour for all visitors. There is also a gift shop and a visitor’s cafe (with fresh fish and chips). If you choose not to do the tour, you can still explore the grounds and enjoy the ocean views.
Ballysaggartmore Towers
Ballysaggartmorre Towers are imposing gothic-style buildings near Lismore. It is a pleasant walk from the parking lot to enjoy the magical towers. They provide a fairy tale setting in the forest. It is found along the drive from Hook Lighthouse to Cork and is a great place for a picnic snack break.
Cork
The final destination for the day! Cork is on the southern coast of Ireland and the second largest city. Found on the water, it is very walkable. Once you arrive and check into your hotel, it is time to explore the city! We recommend exploring downtown Cork. For dinner, we recommend going to Gallagher’s Pub. This will give you some really good traditional Irish food.
We stayed at The Dean in Cork which has a gym, a restaurant, and a bar lounge. We really enjoyed our stay, check out our review!
Day 3- Off to Galway & Our Night in a Castle
We chose to have breakfast at Sophie’s Rooftop restaurant. It was incredibly delicious, and the views are worth it. After breakfast, another walk around Cork is worthwhile! This allows you to see the city in the day, not just at night.
Blarney Castle
From Cork, we are off to Blarney Castle! Since Blarney Castle doesn’t open until 9am it gives you time to explore Cork before heading over to Blarney Castle. We HIGHLY recommend arriving as early as possible at the castle. Not only will this allow you to explore the grounds with a lot fewer people, but it will also allow you time later on to do more activities in the day.
Blarney Castle is really a fun place to visit, not only for its popular Blarney Stone but also for its beautiful grounds. We enjoyed walking through the poison garden the most. It was cool to see all the plants. We didn’t kiss the blarney stone, but many people did. You can also purchase a picture of you kissing it. From here, we drive through the Caha Pass to a sheep herding demonstration.
Get your tickets for Blarney Castle and Grounds here!
Caha Pass
Found along the N71 between County Cork and County Kerry, this pass crosses the Beara Peninsula. It offers incredible panoramic views. Here, you can truly see wild nature and countless mountains. The Caha range, lakes, and many coastal views are showcased in this pass.
Sheep Herding Demonstration
One of the things we KNEW we had to add to the itinerary was a sheep herding demonstration. The working dogs are absolutely incredible. They are trained impeccably, not at all like our dog. Additionally, if you go during lambing season, you’ll get to feed and cuddle with baby sheep.
Limerick
From the sheep herding demonstration, it’s time to head north toward Limerick before going to the hotel. Limerick’s claim to fame is their beautiful and intricate lace. Now, it is another treasure trove of Viking and medieval castles. It is a prince and princess dream! Here, you have a choice to head to the castle hotel for dinner or enjoy a dinner in Limerick.
Get your tickets to the Viking and Medieval Castles here!
Arrive to Castle Hotel – Dromoland Castle
Our recommendation for your Castle hotel stay in these parts of Dublin is Dromoland Castle. You can see our entire review here.
This castle is truly the height of luxury. You will need dressy clothes for dinner here. They also have afternoon tea, falconry, golf, and archery. They truly have something for everyone. You do have to reserve the activities ahead of time. We picked falconry for the itinerary for tomorrow morning.
Book your stay at Dromoland Castle here!
Day 4- Cliff of Moher and Driving Back to Dublin
Activities at the Castle Hotel
Start the day with breakfast in Dromoland Castle. Then, meet with the falconer to take your morning falconry lesson. The falconry walk is by far one of the most unique activities that Ireland has to offer. You’ll get to meet all the different birds as well as put on a glove to allow a falcon to land on your hand as you walk around.
Cliffs of Moher
After the falconry lesson, it’s time to check out of Dromoland, head out onto the Scenic Atlantic Byway, and go see the Cliffs of Moher. We are going to key you into a little tip here to get to the cliffs while avoiding the most crowded area (but make sure to have coins for parking)!
So you don’t want to go to the visitor center, but instead take a turn about a kilometer (half a mile) before. This is just south of the visitor center. There is a little sign that says, “parking here for the Cliff.” It will take you down a winding road that feels like you’re lost. Keep going! It is further than you think it might be, but don’t worry, there will be a parking lot at the end.
You will need to pay 3 Euros to park. Then, there is a little trek up to the cliffs. It was nearly completely empty when we went, and it was totally worth it. We got incredible views and to explore without dealing with any crowds. It did feel like we may have been trespassing, but there were a couple of people walking back to the cars as we walked to the cliffs, so clearly, it is utilized enough. Spend as much time as you’d like here. We recommend about an hour.
Galway
From the Cliffs of Moher, we head north toward Galway. It’s a great continuation of the Atlantic Byway. There are so many incredible views along this drive. Galway will be our lunch stop for today. We recommend finding a parking garage in order to leave the car and walk around downtown.
There are plenty of things to do in Galway, most famously the Salthill Promenade. It is a beautiful walk along the Atlantic Ocean. In the summer, it is a great place to get an ice cream and go for a walk. Once you’ve found a pub you like, it’s time to head out to the oldest pub in the world before getting to Dublin.
Sean’s Bar
This 1,000-year-old bar is the oldest in the world. It is found in Westmeath, just about halfway between Dublin and Galway. We were shocked by how normal the bar is when you visit. The whole town is cute and right on the water. We decided to stretch our legs and walk around the town, and we recommend doing this if you have the time.
Back to Dublin
As we are halfway through our seven days in Ireland, we are coming to the end of our road trip. From Sean’s Bar it’s time to head back to Dublin. We recommend checking back into your hotel in Dublin before returning the car. There is a bus that takes you from the airport to the city center. We also recommend getting a tourist LEAP card while you’re at the airport for easy tram access while in Dublin on day 5. This is especially important since the Big Bus Dublin stops running at 6pm.
For Dinner, we recommend heading to Temple Bar to try boxty at Gallaghers Boxty House. We loved trying boxty. Definitely a must-try.
Day 5- First Full Day in Dublin
Another early morning to hit the ground running! There’s plenty to explore in Dublin. One of the things we did was buy the two-day Big Bus Tour. Part of the package is the night tour, which we will ride at the end of day 5 of 7 in Ireland.
Big Bus Dublin
After breakfast, we walk over to the first stop in Big Bus Dublin (go to the one closest to your hotel). Initially we would say take the whole tour to get a sense of Dublin before hopping off, but the first stop we recommend you take is at Trinity College. In order to see the Book of Kells, you need a ticket with a specific time. Make sure to purchase them ahead of time.
Get your Big Bus Dublin Tickets here!
Book of Kells
Book of Kells is one of the oldest manuscripts of the Gospels. The entire exhibit shows the history of this book, how it is dated, and how the ink was made. It is a very popular attraction, which will take longer than you may expect. We loved going to the exhibit and walking around the college.
Whiskey Museum
Ireland is known for its Guinness Beer as well as Jameson Whiskey. So, while the Guinness Beer tour is going to happen tomorrow, today we will be going to the whiskey museum. In this museum, you will discover the history of whiskey, check out whiskey memorabilia, and even savor Irish whiskey samples.
Get your tickets for the Whiskey Museum Here!
Fish n’ Chip Lunch
Walking out of the whiskey museum, it is definitely time for lunch now. The most iconic place to visit is Leo Burdock. There are two different shops for fish and chips within the city centre area. The closest one to Trinity College is the one in Temple Bar. You can either walk from the Whiskey Museum to the restaurant or take the hop-on hop-off bus from there to Temple Bar.
Kilmainham Gaol – A Former Prison
For over 100 years, Kilmainham Gaol held thousands of men, women, and children for crimes. These crimes ranged from minor offenses to being involved in some of the more well-known events in Irish history. Here, you will discover the stories of people held here from the 1798 rebellion to the 1916 Easter Rising, even to the Irish Civil War (1922-23). All these important events and more have a chapter in the story of this prison.
We highly recommend reserving your tour ahead of time as they cap out the tours to 35 people. It is a very popular attraction. From the Hop on Hop off Big Bus Dublin, you get off at stop 15, then walk through the Irish Museum of Modern Art gardens to arrive at the jail.
City Exploring
After the tour and exploring the Irish Museum of Modern Art, get back on the Big Bus. This is the perfect time for a snack break. Either you can go all out for an afternoon tea at The Cake Cafe, The Winding Stair, or the Irish Potato Cafe. If you’re not interested in an afternoon tea, may we recommend getting a hot chocolate at The Sweetest Thing (our favorite place in Dublin).
After a snack, it is a great time to cross the Ha’Penny Bridge and see the Arch or head over to O’Connell Street to explore what they’ve got. There is so much to see in this area, and if you’re a shopper, there is also some shopping here. Especially if you’re bringing home a gift.
Night Tour Bus
On O’Connell Street is the start of the Big Bus Tour- Dublin. This is also where the night bus takes off from. It is about an hour-long tour that takes you through Ireland at night with some fun tales. The tour takes a different route than the daytime bus. It is also important to know that the bus leaves sharply at 7pm so you will want to arrive with plenty of time.
After the tour, we recommend dinner at The Church. You must have a reservation ahead of time if you want to be seated in a timely fashion. If this isn’t your speed, there is also The Brazen Head, or you can ask the tour bus driver for local favorites.
Day 6- Exploring Dublin
Last full day in Dublin before heading home tomorrow after 7 days in Ireland! Again, we will start with breakfast at the hotel. It is easiest and already included. If you’re not interested in the hotel breakfast, may we recommend Taste & See Cafe?
Dublin Castle
From breakfast, it’s off to the closest stop on the Big Bus to head over to Dublin Castle. For over 700 years, this castle was the center of everything in Dublin. It serves as the center for government to this day. There are tours to see the inside of the castle as well as gardens to explore on your own. There are also many walking tours that take you to Dublin Castle, like this one.
Get your tickets for the walking tour here!
Christ Church Cathedral
After Dublin Castle, head back to the Big Bus for the Christ Church Cathedral. In order to see the inside without going to the church service, you’ll have to pay an admissions fee. There is a self-guided tour that comes along with it. But if you make Day 6 of 7 days in Ireland fall on a Sunday, you can actually visit the church and participate in worship services. It is incredibly special to participate with a church that has been standing here for over 1,000 years.
St. Patrick’s Cathedral & Marsh Library
A walking distance from Christ Church Cathedral is St. Patrick’s Cathedral. This Irish Catholic Church has been here for over 1,000 years, a holy site of St. Patrick after his conversion and patronage of Ireland over 1,500 years ago. Important to remember that if you’d like a tour of the cathedral during your seven days in Ireland, it cannot be on a Sunday. They do not offer tours on Sundays. St. Patrick’s offers both self-guided and guided tours.
Next to the Cathedral is the St. Patrick’s park. A great little place to sit and admire the beauty of the church. Now if you exit the church grounds and walk down the street to the left of the church, there is a hidden gem called Marsh Library. When we went, it was completely empty. It is the world’s first public library, and it is still in use! For an admissions fee, you can see everything the library has to offer, including the cages people had to sit in while reading books to ensure they weren’t stolen.
Guinness Experience
From the Marsh Library, it is definitely time for lunch before heading over to the Guinness Experience. Lunch will be at the Brazen Head, followed up with some walking around the downtown area before catching the Big Bus to Guinness Storehouse.
Outside of the iconic Pubs and sheep, Dublin is known for Guinness Beer. So naturally, a trip to Ireland is not complete without a visit to the Guinness Storehouse. Tickets need to be reserved ahead of time here with a tour time. The tours are self-guided, and you can add items to your package, like additional beer tasting or getting your photo printed onto the beer foam. The best part is the 360 degree view at the end of the tour with your free sample. You can see all of Dublin for miles.
Get your Guinness Experience Tickets here!
River Dancing Show & Dinner
After getting some Guinness it’s time for another fun part of visiting Ireland in 7 days, a river dancing show with dinner. Now this may be the most touristy thing we put on the itinerary, but trust us it is SO worth it. We did a tango dance and dinner in Argentina, so we couldn’t miss one here. Plus, you get a traditional 3-course meal for dinner!
For this show, we recommend the incredibly popular Celtic Nights. There is a Big Bus Tour stop right down the street from here. Some important tips are that the time you reserve for dinner is just the time you eat; the show starts at 9pm regardless. So learn from our mistake and don’t go eat at 7pm because then you have hours to go before the show starts. It is a mix between the band playing songs and the dancers dancing. It is incredibly impressive.
Get your Celtic Night Tickets here!
Day 7- Final Activities Before Heading Home
As we come up to our last day of our seven days in Ireland, we have a few final places to visit before heading to the airport. If you do not have to head to the airport in the morning, then I’d recommend checking your luggage at your hotel’s front desk so you don’t have to lug it around all day.
After breakfast, its time to head out for some exploring of Stephen’s Green.
St. Stephen’s Green
This historic park is a beautiful place for a stroll. If you want, you can bring your breakfast or sit at one of the many cafes nearby to enjoy the nature. This Victorian Park has many statues and street performers. Additionally, there are plenty of native birds and plants that call St. Stephen’s Green home. Around St. Stephen’s Green is St. Stephen’s shopping centre for any last-minute shopping.
Colorful Front Doors
Right near St. Stephen’s Green and mall, there are all the historically colorful front doors. This is one thing that I loved when doing the Big Bus tour that I had to come back for more. So, if you want to see these doors up close and walk through this lovely neighborhood, meander over from St. Stephen’s Green. A huge concentration of the Georgian doors is found near the park. Head down to Haddington Road to get your fix.
Walking Food Tour for Lunch
For the last day of lunch, we figured it would be fun to try any last remaining traditional foods that haven’t been taste-tested yet. So a Walking Food Tour really hits all the marks. You get some more exploring, PLUS you get delicious food to try. The menu is really a complete sampler of all the best Irish foods in Ireland.
Head to Airport
We hope you enjoyed your seven days in Ireland with this itinerary! Hopefully, you got to see everything Ireland has to offer and it left you wanting more. I know we definitely wanted to come back again.
Don’t have 7 days for Ireland? Check out our 48-Hours in Dublin!
When to Visit Ireland?
Ireland is notoriously known for its rainy seasons. Especially in winter, it rains a lot in Ireland. We visited in March and got lucky with not too much rain. I would also say that in the summer many places don’t have air conditioning. The best times would be May, September, and October. There is less rain, nice weather, and far fewer crowds. However, we did enjoy it immensely in March!
How To Get Around Ireland?
Final Thoughts About Spending 7 Days in Ireland
Emerald Isle is a wonderful place to visit. It is such a fun country that is very friendly to tourists. Spending 7 days in Ireland is a great start for people who haven’t really traveled abroad before. My absolute favorite thing to do while we were there was to stay in a castle and drink all the hot chocolate. Ireland has so much history, incredible nature, and friendly people. 7 Days may sound like a long time in Ireland, but it really didn’t feel like enough.
