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Highlights of a Romantic Ireland Tour
Maureen and I made our first visit to Ireland recently, and it certainly won’t be our last! Ireland offers so much in such a small country that every few miles down the road there’s another must-see! The Emerald Isle is an enchanted land for romantic vacations.
In place after place, Ireland is just the way you’ve seen it in travel brochures and National Geographic: gorgeous landscapes, picturesque small villages with a colorful pub on the corner, and ruggedly beautiful coastlines. And so many different shades of green in one country!
Getting To Your Ireland TourMany travelers begin their Ireland tour in Dublin. You can fly to Dublin direct now from many American cities, including New York, Boston, Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, San Francisco and Los Angeles. In Canada, Air Canada has seasonal service from Toronto.
Airlines that don’t fly into Dublin direct offer 2 other choices: flying into London and connecting, or flying into Shannon, Ireland, or Belfast in Northern Ireland.
There is service to Dublin, Belfast, Shannon and Cork from many European airports as well. You can also take the ferry or catamaran from England and France. Getting Around on an Ireland Tour
Several different choices here. Many travelers choose an Ireland tour vacation package which includes accommodation, transportation (usually by bus), some sightseeing and perhaps even return airfare to Ireland. With this arrangement, once you get to Ireland, most everything is looked after, and you can just relax and let the show begin!
On the other hand, more independent travelers will want to branch out on their own. A rental car is a great way to see the country at your own pace. Bring along a good road map, a guidebook and your sense of wander and you’re all set. You drive on the left, but most drivers from North America and Europe adjust quite quickly.
One word about the roads: they can be narrow at times! Slow down around curves, and don’t assume you’ll be doing 110 km/h (65 mph) everywhere. Actually, you wouldn’t want to anyway, as there’s many places of interest to see and explore.
Ireland also has train and bus service. The Eurail train pass is good for travel, but only in the Republic of Ireland (south). Dublin
Dublin has undergone a transformation of sorts in recent years. Old buildings have been restored, pubs and restaurants full of character abound, and there is a wide range of accommodation in Hotels, Inns and B&Bs for just about every budget.
It’s a very easy city to like, and while the layout may seem a bit confusing at first, you’ll soon get used to it. The River Liffey is a good reference point, with some attractive riverbank parts to it.
Temple Bar is a nice area for a stroll, especially in the early evening as the pubs are coming alive. We found some great traditional Irish music at one of the venues here. Just walk in, ask for a Guiness at the bar and try find a small table near the front! A really unforgettable experience that will make your Ireland vacation extra special. (some of the pubs can get a bit smokey from the cigarettes however).
Grafton Street is also worth checking out, with loads of shops and cafes. It’s probably the biggest shopping street in all of Ireland. You’ll see all types of street performers and buskers here too. Dingle PeninsulaJust incredibly beautiful. An absolute must if you get anywhere near the southwest coast of the country. The history, the land, the ocean, the small towns and the people all make for an unforgettable journey.
Since our time was limited, we decided to see the Dingle Peninsula instead of the ring of Kerry. We heard that Kerry is very pretty, but also quite heavily overrun with tourist buses and traffic. Looking for a quieter and less rushed option, we made our way to Dingle.
We did exactly what is described in Rick Steve’s Ireland Vacation Guide Book. It was easy - we just followed his easy point-to-point instructions, set our auto trip odometer where he tells you to, and we got an interesting, historical and very informative tour guide “in print” for this gorgeous part of the Irish coast. I drove, and Maureen read. It worked out great!
You see small villages, ring forts, dramatic wind swept landscapes cut off by jagged cliffs, and remnants of ancient villages, rural huts and churches, some over 1,000 years old. We stopped near Slea Head and had a great picnic lunch watching the waves crash below and the sheep high up on the green grass behind us. Unforgettable! KillarneyA real hub of activity in south-western Ireland. Lots of shops and accommodation choices here (Killarney is a hub for lots of Ireland tour buses and travellers). Some good restaurants to pick from, and a pub or two on every street!
Killarney National Park is a place where you can easily spend a couple days, appreciating the history and beauty of the area. The scenery is splendid, and the often changing weather creates different moods to the lake and shades of green on the surrounding hills.
We had a good look at Ross Castle, an old 14th century fortress perched on the edge of Lough Leane.(Ask the tour guide to describe how the toilet system worked!) It’s an extremely picturesque castle, with some nice walks nearby.
Muckross House is a wonderfully restored 19th century estate situated amongst beautiful gardens and the lake shore. The house makes for an interesting tour, but make sure to go for a quiet walk through the gardens and out along the lakeshore for some awesome looks at the nearby mountains! And there are jaunting cars (horse and buggy) for hire if you feel like a romantic ride through the park.
You’ll see the Gap of Dunloe everywhere as it’s on many postcards, but you’ll want to experience the real thing. A dramatic mountain pass with a small walkable roadway around small lakes, medieval bridges and rugged hillsides. We drove as far as Kate Kearney’s Cottage, parked and walked about 2 km in. Tip: either try to get here early, or arrive later in the afternoon to avoid the crowds. There’s some pretty high pressure to accept a horse and carriage ride, but the prices were quite high. KilkennyKilkenny Castle is the main attraction here. Overlooking the River Nore, many parts of it have been marvelously restored, including one wing with vivid Celtic paintings on the ceiling. It’s located on an attractive park next to the river.
Cliffs of Moher
Another well-known spectacular sight! Over 200 metres of sheer cliffs falling into the sea. Sunset is a great time to be here, and take one of the walks along the edge for some very romantic and inspiring views out over the Atlantic. Once again, lot’s of tourists between 10 and 3 PM.
Also, the pubs of nearby Doolin are one of the best places to see traditional music in Ireland.
Accommodation on Your Ireland TourFinding a small romantic bed and breakfast in Ireland is always easy near towns and villages, and it's the most economical means of accommodation on your Ireland tour. Costs are reasonable for Europe (40-60 Euros per room per night). They're full of charm and character, and the owners are most helpful with advice about local attractions, sights, places to eat, etc.
Just pull up and walk in, or ring if the door is locked. And don’t be afraid to ask to see the room first; it’s the norm here. Don’t forget that many B&B’s are joined or part of the owners own home, so respect for their privacy is the kind thing to do in obvious areas.
And every morning you'll wake up to a full Irish breakfast of eggs, bacon, beans and toast! (alternative breakfasts of the healthier variety with fruit and cereal are also available).
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Let’s take a look at how to make your Ireland tour an unforgettable romantic getaway. You can have fun on a budget, or spend a bit more on luxury holidays in Ireland. Remember, these are just a few highlights from a great vacation there!
After overnighting in the great little town of Dingle (by the way, check out the pubs there for the Irish music nights) we picked up some picnic supplies at a local grocer, and then headed out on a “drive-yourself-around-the-Dingle-Peninsula” tour!