In October 2019, I met up with my friends Sara and Liz for an epic girls’ trip that would take us all over Ireland in just under a week. While there were some things we planned in advance, like our trip to the Cliffs of Moher, we planned a lot of our activities the night before, so we could determine the next day based on how we were feeling. We crammed A LOT of traveling around the country into less than a week, but it gave us a great view of different parts of the country. I know that I can’t wait to go back!
Day 1: Arrive in Dublin
We all met up in London because it was cheaper for us to fly there and then on to Dublin, as we determined from Google Flights’ Explore tool. We spent a little time exploring London, followed by dinner in the airport lounge, thanks to Liz’s Priority Pass Select – if your credit card offers this as a benefit, it’s definitely worth getting! We arrived in Dublin that evening, where we purchased Airlink bus tickets and headed to our room at Staycity Aparthotels. We did our best to settle in for the night because we knew we had a long day ahead of us!
Day 2: Bus to Galway and the Cliffs of Moher
We had booked our Paddywagon tour in advance (I had used them on a prior trip to Ireland, and I would highly recommend reviewing their tour options), so we got up bright and early. We made a quick stop for coffee and popped down Love Lane – definitely a hidden gem, so take a moment to find it – before boarding the bus and starting our day.
We arrived in Galway later in the morning, and we were due for a snack! Dungeons and Donuts was just what we needed; per their website, they are “Galway’s only hobby-store and board game cafe.” We also had the chance to explore some local shops and check out the Spanish Arch before continuing our tour.
We continued down the wild Atlantic way, stopping at Keogh’s of Kinvara for food before seeing the cliffs. We first took a Doolin Ferry to see the bottom of the Cliffs of Moher by sea, then headed to the top of the cliffs and explored them. I had been before, but there is truly nothing like them; if I could recommend one Ireland activity, it would be to see the Cliffs of Moher.
We headed back to Dublin from there and called it a night. We were ready to sleep in!
Day 3: Explore Dublin
My husband and I spent a week predominantly in Dublin in 2016, which was our first trip abroad together, so Dublin has a special place in my heart. It was so fun to share the city with my friends for their first time there! The three of us spent the day bopping all over the place, though highlights included:
- Trinity College and the Book of Kells. You’ll feel like you’ve been transported to Hogwarts when you step into the Long Room, which, per the website, is “one of the world’s most beautiful libraries.” To access the Long Room and the Book of Kells, you will need a paid ticket.
- Sophie’s Restaurant, Bar & Terrace. While the food is delicious, you’ll want to come here for the views of the city! I’d recommend coming for lunch, rather than dinner, so you can really see Dublin all around you.
- National Leprechaun Museum of Ireland. We stumbled upon this museum and knew we needed to see it. There is a lot of fun history regarding Irish folklore and myth, as well as some great photo opps!
- Guinness Storehouse and Gravity Bar. Learn the history of Guinness while enjoying several samples throughout your tour. They’ll even teach you how to pour correctly! Make sure you spend some time in their rooftop bar, the Gravity Bar, for more great views of Dublin.
We spent our evening in Temple Bar. This is a lively neighborhood right off the river with a ton of restaurants and bars, so you have the opportunity to sample a lot of the local fare. Of course, we had to visit the Temple Bar, as well as enjoy some drinks at Vintage Cocktail Club, a cool speakeasy, and 777, a trendy Mexican restaurant.
We spent the evening booking train tickets to Cork and tickets for Blarney Castle to take care of our next day, so we knew we had another long day ahead of us coming up!
Day 4: Train to Cork and Blarney Castle
We kicked off our morning with a quick breakfast before departing from Heuston Station. Once we arrived, we did a bit of wandering around Merchants Quay. After tracking down an ATM, we grabbed the bus to Woolen Mills, which was our closest stop to Blarney Castle.
Blarney Castle is beautiful, and it should also top your list of must-dos in Ireland. The day we went was quite rainy, but it helped limit the crowds and get us quickly through the line to kiss the Blarney Stone! As if any of us needed the gift of gab. 😉
Aside from the stone, the castle grounds have a ton to see. We really enjoyed the Poison Garden, as well as the waterfalls and wishing steps at the Rock Close. Be sure to give yourself the time to wander around the area, as well as pick up some things at the gift shop, if you choose.
We bussed back to Cork, exploring the English Market and grabbing fish and chips at The Fish Wife before taking the train back to Dublin. We also decided on our stops for the next day: Glendalough and Kilkenny.
Day 5: Bus to Glendalough and Kilkenny
We had another Paddywagon tour bus, so we started our day early with breakfast at Bewley’s Grafton Street Café before settling in for our trip to Glendalough.
Glendalough is gorgeous, filled with the greenery you expect in Ireland. There are several great trail options to explore the area, but you have to see the Poulanass waterfall (a bit of a climb) and St. Kevin’s Monastery. We didn’t spend much time here before hitting the road, but it still felt magical.
In Kilkenny, we first explored a bit of Kilkenny Castle – we definitely got our castle fix in on this trip – and the castle’s rose garden. We also got to check out the farmers market and the “butter slip” before grabbing a snack at Kytelers Inn, a cool medieval pub with a rather witchy history.
We later bussed back to Dublin, where we did some souvenir shopping and ended our night at The Brazen Head, which, per their website, is Ireland’s oldest pub. The food and drink are tasty, but hearty, so make sure you bring your appetite!
We spent the rest of our evening packing up.
Day 6: Depart for London
We were heading to London in the early afternoon, so we packed up and said our goodbyes to the city of Dublin. A quick stop by the post office meant we all had postcards heading home – thanks to Sara – and breakfast at Queen of Tarts was a delightful send-off of tea and pastries before we headed to the airport.
While I have been to Ireland on a few different occasions now, it never loses its magic. If you have the chance to go, I would definitely put it on your must-see list.