Ireland was the first country I had ever visited outside the United States! It is a perfect country to go solo, on a family trip, or for first-time world travelers. This itinerary will help you on your first trip to Ireland with four days worth of activities. You can do and see much of this beautiful country over these 4 days exploring Ireland!
When to visit
When I went to Ireland, it was in March 2018. The weather was perfect and the crowds were minimal. However, we did visit a few days after St. Patrick’s Day.
The best months to visit would be March, April, May, September, & November.
Where to stay
For the four days we were in Ireland, we rented an Airbnb in Dublin that was fairly close to the city center, I’ll link it below as well as other suggested stays!
How to get to Ireland
The most common way to get to Ireland is to take an airplane!
Ireland has 4 major airports: Dublin Airport (DUB), Shannon Airport (SNN), Ireland West Airport (NOC), and Cork Airport (ORK).
You do NOT need to rent a car (unless that is what you prefer). For this itinerary, you won’t need one.
What to eat
Tradition Irish food is a must-try when visiting! To name a few, give these a try:
– Full Irish Breakfast
– Irish Stew
– Fish & Chips
4 Days Exploring Ireland
Day 1: Dublin
You made it, welcome to Ireland! Now after a long travel day, take it easy and enjoy the Irish atmosphere of Dublin (assuming that is where you are flying into).
After you’ve checked into your hotel or home rental, take a little stroll over to St. Stephen’s Green. A wonderful place to people watch, St. Stephen’s Green is a public park located in the center of Dublin! Getting some fresh air and exercise after your flight is a must.
Next, keep the stroll going for about 13 more minutes towards Trinity College! You can either enjoy a walk around campus or get tickets to participate in the Book of Kells Experience. The Book of Kells is a historical library dating back to 800 A.D.
Ready to see a castle? The Dublin Castle is a 10-minute walk from Trinity College. The Dublin Castle is not free to tour, but tickets are available for purchase at the entry. If you’d like to buy tickets online, make sure to do so 15 days in advance!
Now you’ve most likely worked up an appetite and need an Irish meal! A 5-minute walk from Dublin Castle will bring you to a bar you may have heard of before. Temple Bar is an Irish pub that serves a wide range of food and drinks plus live music!
Of course, these are just suggestions! With only 4 days exploring Ireland, I do highly encourage you to embrace the culture and go with the flow. You never know who you’ll meet or where you’ll end up!
Day 2: Southern Ireland
It’s the next day and you’re ready to venture out of Dublin for the day. I highly recommend booking a bus tour with Wild Rover Tours, they were incredible! They have a variety of tours, the one I booked was the one linked here. Bus tours are a great way to see more of the country, especially when you do not rent a car and only have 4 days exploring Ireland!
Adult: €40.00 ($43 USD)
Child / Student (with valid ID): €35.00 ($38 USD)
Kilkenny City
Our bus driver was also a personal guide for the group of about 20 people. He quickly showed us around Kilkenny before he let us wander on our own. From there you can visit the grounds of Kilkenny Castle, climb stairs up to the top of an old guard tower, or do some local shopping!
Wicklow Mountains
Next, we drove through the Wicklow Mountains, stopping at a beautiful viewpoint of the National Park. The films P.S. I Love You & Braveheart were filmed here! We also were lucky enough to catch them filming Vikings in a filed along the road.
Glendalough
Continuing through the Wicklow Mountains, you’ll end up in Glendalough. You can join in on a guided tour of the Monastic City that dates back to 600 A.D. You will have lots of time to explore the area on your own!
Sheep Farm
I don’t want to say that this was my favorite part of the tour because it was all amazing BUT I must say…. this was my favorite part! You end the tour on a sheep farm where the farmer does a demonstration with his cattle dog. Since we took the tour in mid-March, we were able to hold and feed baby lambs! How awesome is it to be able to say you held a lamb on a farm in the Irish countryside!?
Day 3: Western Ireland
Hopefully, you’re well rested from yesterday because we’re going on another bus tour! Again, I highly recommend these tours and booking them in advance (preferably before your trip).
Today’s tour is with Paddy Wagon Tours, specifically the “Cliffs of Moher Tour from Dublin”. The buses are very comfortable and the drivers/tour guides are funny and informative, which makes for a wonderful experience!
Adult: €75.00 ($81 USD)
Child €54.00 ($58 USD)
Student (with valid ID): €69.00 ($75 USD)
Kinvara
The first stop is in the small village of Kinvara. This is a quick stop on your way to the Cliffs of Moher. You’ll be able to take a walk around Dunguaire Castle! According to our bus driver, if you walk around the castle counterclockwise then you’ll “undo your virginity”…. so walk it at your own risk!
Wild Atlantic Coast & The Burren
You’ll see the most gorgeous views of the Atlantic coast on this portion of the ride! Stopping at The Burren, you’ll see the limestone rocks that form mini cliffs.
Doolin
In Doolin, you’ll stop for lunch! Lunch is not included in your ticket price, this is a separate cost but, you can bring your food if you don’t want to eat at the traditional Irish restaurant (I recommend eating there, it’s delicious).
Cliffs of Moher
The moment you’ve been waiting for, the world-famous Cliffs of Moher! One of the most popular attractions in all of Ireland, the Cliffs of Moher are 700 ft tall at its highest point. It is absolutely breathtaking!
Bunratty Castle
Now you’ll start heading back east towards Dublin. On your way back you’ll stop at Bunratty Castle where you can view the castle as well as do a little shopping in the center near the castle. This is a quick stop before heading back home for the day!
Day 4: Dublin
By this point, you’ve experienced quite a bit in just a few days! Take this day to see more of Dublin. This is the perfect time to explore more local spots and follow your heart around the city. Here are a few more suggestions:
The Guinness Storehouse is a brewery experience that tells the tale of Ireland’s most famous beer, Guinness!
Cost: €20.00 ($22 USD)
A holy site where St. Patrick baptized many Christians over 1500 years ago!
Cost: €10.00 ($11 USD)
Kilmainham Gaol used to be a jail in the early 1900s, and is now a museum! Tickets sell out very fast.
Cost: €8.00 ($9 USD)
We hope you have a wonderful time spending 4 days exploring Ireland!
Please leave a comment below if you have any questions!