Best time to visit
The best time to avoid the nasty weather and crowds is in May, September and October. Peak season is during the summer months of June, July and August. December, January and February are the wet months.
Planning 1 week in Ireland
When I set out to plan this vacation I had 2 things in mind. See as much as I can and visit the area my family came from. Ireland is stunning and has so much to offer. 1 week was truly no enough time to explore everything. However, if you are pressed for vacation time as I was, here is a great way to get a bit of what Ireland is truly about.
Video on your 1 week guide to Ireland
Visiting the North, South, East and West
I wanted to get a feel for all parts of Ireland, since just a 2 hour drive the scenery changes so much. We started in the East as we arrived in Dublin
Dublin
This is most likely where you will fly into as Dublin is the capital and heart of Ireland. We spent our first 2 nights here. Dublin is great for getting around, no need to rent a car. Here are some of the places that are a must visit. If you are short on time I would highly suggest getting on a hop on hop off bus.
- Famine memorial
- Jeanie Johnston
- Book of Kells at Trinity College
- Molly Malone statue
- Dublin Castle
- Christchurch Cathedral
- St Patrick’s Cathedral
- Guinness Storehouse
- Dublin Zoo
- Temple Bar
- City Hall
- Jameson Distillery
You can see all these on the Hop on Hop off tour, although you won’t get to see all in one day, I suggest getting a 2 day pass and take your time at each.
You will need to book these before hand as it is possible they will sell out, especially during high season. Guinness Storehouse, Book of Kells, and Jameson Distillery.
Head South to Cork
Next up was a great scenic train ride down to Cork. This is where some of my family came from back in the day so I was pretty excited to see it. Video on Cork
Now, before we start with anything here are some tips you should know before get here. Those who drink, Guinness is Dublin but Beamish is Cork! I will be honest, I enjoyed Beamish over Guinness, sorry my Irish friends. Cork has a hop on and off bus but you really don’t need it, unless you are not a fan of walking. You don’t need to do a tour to Blarney Castle, there is a bus that leaves the city and only cost less than 3 Euro.
Top things not to miss in Cork
- English Market
- Elizabeth Fort
- Saint Fin Barres Cathedral
- Cork City Gaol
- National Monument
- Blarney Castle
We spent 2 nights in Cork. The first day you will want to check out the English Market, and go to the Cork City Gaol. The second way will be spent at Blarney Castle. The grounds here are so big and you won’t get to explore all of it in one day but you will get to see a lot of it and don’t forget to climb the tower and kiss the Blarney Stone. The last morning you can visit Elizabeth Fort, the National monument and Saint Fin Barres Cathedral.
Head back to Dublin
Time to get back on the train and head back to Dublin. From here you will do 2, full day tours.
Cliffs of Moher and Galway
We went with Wild Rover tours for our first day tour. This tour took us out to Cliffs of Moher and Galway. The reason I went with the tour group was they guarantee 2 full hours at both the cliffs and Galway.
Tips for this tour. Raincoat/Windbreaker, you will thank me later. At the cliffs it is windy and might even rain, shocking I know. Leave some time to do the Cliffs of Moher Experience. This is a 3D look above and below the cliffs. The views from the Tower are gorgeous and worth a 5 or minute wait in the line. Check out my video on here
In Galway you can do the walking tour with Wild Rover or do your own walk. We opted for our own because I was on a mission to get a sweater. If you don’t already know this is where the famous Aran sweaters are made. I suggest if you are planning to get it is here at the Sweater Shop on Abbeygate Street. If you are doing your own walk, here are some spots to check out. Shop Street is filled with shops and restaurants. The street is closed to cars and is a great stroll. Then make your way to the Spanish Arch, Saint Nicholas Church and finish with a coffee at the port.
Head to Northern Ireland
The next and last of this trip is a tour to Northern Ireland. However, once again let’s go over some tips before you head to the north.
- They use the English Pound not Euros.
- They use miles not kilometers
- There is no border crossing. Really, if you blink you will miss the sign.
- Some still believe in the old ways, so leave politics at home. Mind your manners
So lets get to the good part. Northern Ireland landscape is very similar to that of the south. However it has its own charm. We decided to once again take a tour. My main goal was to see as mush as possible in a day. We booked the Giants Causeway and Belfast with Paddywagon Tours. The reason was they had one stop that I really wanted to see, we will get to that shortly.
First stop was the amazing Dunluce Castle. If you are a Game of Thrones fan this will be a great tour for you. I haven’t seen the show aside from a few episodes in season 1, but after visiting here I may just need to watch it.
Next stop was the Giants Causeway. This was a very interesting spot. The tales behind how it was made is one for a good story time tea. Before heading there check out my video.
Next up was a pit stop for lunch in a quaint little village Ballintoy. Here you can get some grub or grab a coffee and go for a stroll.
After a much needed caffeine break it was off to my favourite stop, The Dark Hedges. Another spot for those who love the Game of Thrones. This is a fast stop, so my advice, speed walk to get there.
Lastly we end in Belfast. Here you will send a couple of hours wondering this amazing city. You can also catch a black cab tour and learn about the very turbulent history of Northern Ireland.
Final Thoughts
I loved Ireland, and Northern Ireland. The people are amazing and honest. The scenery around Ireland is stunning, so it’s best not to stick to just one area. Irelands transportation is incredible, trains, buses and taxi’s. This is a place I will one day come back to as a Euro Tour as there is so much more I want to see.
Traveling as a family or group of friends? I would suggest renting a home. The hotel rooms are on the smaller size and can feel crowded. Solo traveling? There are great hostels around the cities and the staff are lovely. At no point did we feel unsafe walking around at night, although there are some areas to avoid and would suggest sticking to the main streets in Dublin. Like every big city, you will have your crime.
Tours are reasonable priced for those who like me don’t want to rent a car. Make sure you read your reviews. And I highly suggest both companies that we used.
Final tip; make the most of the time you have there and don’t forget to meat some locals.