Ireland

Where to Go

Dublin

Trinity College, the Georgian squares, museums and a good food scene. Two nights is usually right.

Kerry

Killarney National Park, the Ring of Kerry and the Dingle Peninsula, plus boat trips out to the Skellig Islands.

Clare and the Burren

The Cliffs of Moher and the limestone landscape of the Burren, famous for its spring wildflowers.

Connemara and Mayo

Lakes, bogs, mountains and quiet islands, with Ashford Castle at Cong as a natural base.

What to Do

• Land on Skellig Michael, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with an early medieval monastery on its summit (summer only, weather permitting)
• Walk or cycle in Killarney National Park, home to Ireland's native red deer
• Walk the Burren and the Cliffs of Moher
• Play golf, fish or ride at the castle estates
• Spend an evening of traditional music in a pub in Dingle or Doolin

Best Time to Go

May to September has the longest days and the mildest weather, and it is seabird season on the Atlantic islands. Boat landings on Skellig Michael run only in summer and are often cancelled when the sea is rough, so we plan a backup day. Rain is part of Irish weather in any month. Spring and early autumn are quieter on the roads.

Getting Around and How Long to Stay

Ireland drives on the left, and many country roads are narrow, so we usually arrange a private driver. Dublin and Shannon are the main airports for transatlantic flights, and Shannon is the closer gateway for the west. A week covers Dublin, Kerry and one more region at an easy pace. Ten days lets you add Connemara and Mayo.

Where to Stay

We do not yet feature Irish hotels on our site, but we can recommend the leading castle and country house hotels. Three we'd look at first are Adare Manor in County Limerick, Ashford Castle at Cong in County Mayo, and Ballyfin in County Laois. Each has a large estate and plenty to do on site. Ask us and we can advise on the right mix for your route.

Pairing Ireland

Ireland is a short flight from London, so it pairs easily with the United Kingdom. For timing across Europe, see our guide to Europe in the shoulder season.