ireland itinerary 7 days

The Best Ireland Itinerary: 7 Days

ByKristin

Looking for a mindblowing 7 day Ireland Itinerary? You’re in the right place.

Ireland is a beautiful, magical place and well worth visiting for longer than a few days. I’m glad you’re spending a whole week, because too many people spend most of their time in Dublin, which doesn’t come close to covering the extent of Ireland’s natural beauty.

Ireland

While one week isn’t enough to see everything in Ireland, it gives you a good opportunity to experience some of the most breathtaking places that the country has to offer.

Having planned two trips to Ireland (one for 3 weeks, and another for 2 weeks) I’m very familiar with the country, and what you need to know as a tourist.

While I spent longer than a week each time I was in Ireland, I know how to condense the trip so that you see all the ‘musts’ within that time frame.

What you Need to Know About This Ireland Itinerary

These are the things I want you to know in advance before we jump into the itinerary

✅ It’s suitable for all ages. I’ve been to Ireland with kids, and will make specific notes or recommendations in case you’re with young travellers; as well as things to do for people who are looking for a little extra adventure

✅  It’s designed with renting a car in mind

✅  It can be done year-round, but I will make special mention if anything would be impacted if you were visiting in winter

If after reading this itinerary, you think its not what you’re looking for – I might be able to plan a custom Ireland itinerary for you. Details to come soon.

7 Day Ireland Itinerary

Here is a snapshot of how the itinerary will work:

  • Arrival Day, check into Galway accommodation for 2 nights
  • Day 1 – Galway City
  • Day 2 – Choice between Inis Mór island, or exploring countryside of Galway county
  • Day 3 – Check out of Galway, visit Dunguaire Castle, Cliffs of Moher, and check into Killarney for 2 nights
  • Day 4 -Explore town of Killarney, castles and medieval abbey
  • Day 5 -Dingle Peninsula drive, and head to Limerick for 1 night
  • Day 6 – Explore Limerick, and head to Dublin, check into Dublin accommodation for 2 nights
  • Day 7 – Explore Dublin
  • Departure Date

Continue reading below to see how to execute it step by step, and what not to miss!

Limerick Ireland

Arrival day in Ireland

After you arrive in Dublin, I recommend getting a connecting flight to the Shannon Airport, in west Ireland.

If you don’t get a connecting flight to Shannon, you can also simply pick up a rental car in Dublin and start driving west towards Galway.

Budget about 2 hours to make your way out of the Dublin airport, and pick up your rental car. After that, it takes another 2.5 hours to drive from Dublin to Galway.

Places to Stay in the Galway area (2 nights)

To avoid confusion, Galway can refer to the main city, or to the country. (co. Galway is the county.)

I don’t recommend staying right in the Galway City, because there’s so much to see outside of it – incredible scenery, small towns, and abandoned castles.

I recommend choosing a place somewhere within an hour north of Galway, which puts you in an easy position to visit Galway, and other things in the area.

Here are some recommendations of great places to stay in the Galway area for 2 nights:

Day 1: Galway City

galway city in ireland

Of the four main cities in Ireland, Galway is the smallest and the most quaint. It’s the festival capital of Ireland, and there a number of festivals held throughout the year, but mostly in summer.

Spend the day walking around the historic old town of Galway.

  • Walk up Quay street, and check out the Latin Quarter
  • See the Spanish arch, which was built in the 1200s
  • Check out the Galway Museum (admission is by donation, and you only need around an hour there)
  • If you’re a foodie, you should book a Galway Food Tour (2.5 hours long)
  • Go inside the Galway cathedral! I made the mistake of missing it my first visit to Ireland, and was sure to visit the second time.
The Spanish Arch
Inside the Galway cathedral

Galway is very small and walkable, so you can easily walk from each of these places to the other.

Day 2: Galway Co

During your 2nd day in Ireland, explore some of the incredible scenery and history sights outside of the Galway City.

There is so much to do outside of Galway, that I find it hard to choose for you. Instead, I’m going to give you two different options and you can choose the one that interests you the most.

You can either day a ferry to the Aran Islands, which are known for being one of the last few places where Irish is still spoken. They are beautiful islands with culture, heritage and archeological sites.

The other option is to spend the day on land, discovering more of Galway.

Option # 1: Take ferry to Inis Mor from Rossaveel

Rossaveel is 38 km (23 miles) from Galway City, and the ferries from Rossaveel to Inis Mor (the main Aran Island) take about 45 minutes, there and back.

Ins Mór is amazing, but it is a full day affair. And not everybody is wild about getting on a boat. So this is why it is an option.

The ferries leave Rossaveel for Inis Mor at 10:30 every morning, and return times vary throughout the year. See timetables here.

Read more about how to get to the Aran Islands, and things to do on Inis Mór here.

Option # 2: Explore Kylemore Abbey, Clifden and Cong

If you prefer to stay on-land, then there is a wealth of things to do in the area outside Galway.

I recommend visiting Kylemore Abbey, and the villages of Clifden and Cong

The total driving between these three things is over an hour, plus however long it takes you get there from your accommodation.

Village of Clifden (start here)

Clifden is a touristy seaside community right on the Wild Atlantic Way, about 77 km (47 miles) west of Galway City. It’s the capital of Connemara, and has a quaint mainstreet with colourful buildings, lots of cafés and restaurants, and views of the Atlantic Ocean.

You can walk, drive or bike along the famous Sky Road which has beautiful views of the coast, and then relax after in one of the cozy places to eat in town. There’s also a castle (Clifden Castle) to check out!

Kylemore Abbey

Kylemore Abbey is just 20 minutes from Clifden. It’s a 100 year old building (very young for Irish standards!) but has such a beautiful interior, and it is inhabited by the Benedictine nuns.

It has a beautiful interior and exterior, and there are activities for people of all ages – hiking on the 1,000 acre grounds, enjoying the gardens, and sometimes some special events.

Book tickets to visit the abbey on their website here.

Village of Cong

I absolutely adore Cong. It used to be famous for having a 1960s movie with John Wayne filmed there (The Quiet Man.) Now’s a nice place to visit.

It’s famous for the ruined Cong Abbey, which was built in the 1100s.

Cong Abbey
Cong Abbey

We enjoyed exploring the Cong Abbey, the park nearby, and grabbing lunch in town.

Pro Tip: Even just one or two of the above Galway destinations could take a full day, depending on how long you want to spend there. It’s possible to do all three in a day, but you may want to only choose one or two if you prefer a more ‘low key’ trip.

Day 3: Cliffs of Moher

I recommend getting up early today to grab breakfast, and set off on your journey early. Check out of your Galway area accommodation, and start driving south.

The drive from Galway area to Killarney would normally only be 3 hours, but the route we’re taking for you to hit the stops you need to stay puts it at a total driving time of 4 hours for today.

In addition, you should add another few hours for the time needed to spend at the Dunguaire Castle, Cliffs of Moher and the village of Doolin.

Grab breakfast, and check out of your Galway accommodation. When you’re ready, start driving south towards Killarney.

Stop # 1: Dunguaire Castle

Time needed: less than an hour

Dunguaire Castle is very small, so you only need around an hour -or less- to explore it. If you prefer, you can just see the castle from the road (I took this photo from the roadside when we pulled over.)

dunguaire

Inside the Dunguaire Castle, you can walk to the top of the tower and get views from above. There is also a nice gift shop on the lower floor. I found some nice, and more unique Irish souvenirs in there.

After visiting Dunguaire Castle, drive another hour until you reach Cliffs of Moher.

Stop # 2: Cliffs of Moher

Time needed: 2 hours

Cliffs of Moher are 702 ft cliffs towering over the ocean’s edge. They’ve been used in movies (Harry Potter and The Princess Bride) very popular attraction.

Admission to Cliffs of Moher is free, but you need to pay for parking. It can be very busy here in peak travel season, so do expect to see some crowds.

cliffs of moher

Most people spend around 2 hours at Cliffs of Moher. There are some paths along the cliffs where you can walk, getting views from several angles.

Be sure to go up O’Brian’s Tower for a view from the top. There are few gift shops on site as well.

If you’re hungry after visiting Cliffs of Moher, I recommend heading to the village of Doolin. (You’re backtracking just a bit- but I think it’s worth it.) Doolin is a colourful little fishing village, just 10 minute north of the cliffs.

Doolin Ireland

Most of the places to eat in Doolin are along Fisher street, which is the main street. Gus O’Connor’s Pub, McGann’s Pub, The Ivy Cottage, or McDermott’s Pub all serve traditional Irish comfort food and are great options.

There are many things to do in Doolin

After you’ve had a chance to eat lunch and admire Doolin, start making your way towards Killarney (just under 3 hours from Doolin.)

Check into your accommodation for 1 night. I recommend:

Day 4: Killarney

Today, spend the day exploring the town of Killarney.

It’s one of the most touristy towns in Ireland, and for a good reason – it has a very nice pedestrian-friendly downtown, and there’s so much to see in and just outside the village.

Since you only have a day here, I recommend the hop on hop off bus to see everything – Ross Castle, Muckross Abbey, Torc Waterfall, and more. Otherwise, continue reading below to see how I recommend spending a day in Killarney.

First, visit Ross Castle which was built in the 1400s. Ross Castle is just a 5 minute drive from the town of Killarney. From Ross Castle, you have the option of doing a 1-hour lake cruise on the largest lake in Killarney.

Give yourself 1-2 hours at Ross Castle (and the lake cruise if you decide to do it.)

Afterwards, head to Muckross Abbey, which is only another 5 minutes from the castle and 15 minutes from town. This abbey was founded in 1448. Unlike Kylemore, it isn’t a current abbey – it’s slightly ruined (no longer has a roof), is a graveyard and a site of interesting, but violent history.

Afterwards, head to the heart of Killarney for dinner and shopping. Killarney’s Main street is pedestrian only, and has many stores selling antiques, books, jewelry, Irish souvenirs and more – its also a great place to grab lunch, or dinner.

Day 5: Dingle Peninsula

There is going to be a fair bit of driving today, as we’re going to do a scenic coastal drive, plus make our way to the next destination (Limerick.)

Check out of your accommodation, and head to the Dingle Peninsula.

The Dingle Peninsula is a breathtaking coastal drive with many things to see. The loop is only 47 km (30 miles) and would take just over an hour to drive without stopping.

However, be prepared to want to stop your car to get out and take photos quite often. The area is absolutely breathtaking and you’ll likely want to spend the better part of today doing this. Read about the route and the stops here.

Ring of Kerry

You could probably 2-3 days on the Dingle Peninsula seeing everything, but with only 7 days in Ireland you’ll want to condense it and keep the timeframe in mind.

After driving the Dingle Peninsula loop, you’re going to head to Limerick and check in to a Limerick accommodation for 1 night.

Here are some options for 1 night in Limerick:

  • Budget: George Limerick Hotel A budget luxury hotel located in the city centre, within walking distance of attractions
  • Mid Range: Absolute Hotel Limerick stylish hotel located old town, with an on-site restaurant and spa, plus free breakfast
  • Luxury: The Savoy Hotel Boutique hotel with swimming pool and hot breakfast

Day 6: Limerick

Limerick has a very nice downtown centre, but the main thing worth seeing is King John’s Castle. It is one of the coolest castles in Ireland, and you have a beautiful view from the top tower.

You can buy tickets there, or in advance on the King John website to save time.

King john's castle limerick
King John Castle
Limerick
View from King John Castle tower

You will need around 2 hours to fully explore the inside and the exterior of King John’s Castle, courtyards and tower views.

Limerick has a decent foodie scene, and there are some great places to grab lunch after seeing the castle.

If you walk about 12 minutes from King John’s Castle, you can find The Milk Market (open Thursday through Sunday only), which dates back to the 1850s. You can find something to eat there, or there are restaurants nearby.

irish soda bread
Irish soda bread at the Limerick Milk Market

After having some lunch and some time to enjoy the ambiance of the heart of Limerick, start the drive to Dublin. The drive will take about 2.5 hours.

Based on how long I believe today’s itinerary will take, it will likely be evening by the time you arrive in Dublin.

Here are some places to stay that are central to downtown Dublin. You will be in Dublin for 2 nights in total:

If you’re interested in really treating yourself and feeling like a king or queen during your last 2 nights in Ireland – there are a few castle hotels to stay in near Dublin – one being Clontarf Castle

Day 7: Dublin

Dublin city centre
Dublin City Centre

The downtown core of Dublin is a beautiful city to walk around. You could easily spend the day walking from these attractions, as all are within walking distance of each other.

However, the hop-on-hop-off bus tour is a good way to see everything quicker.

Here is what I’d recommend prioritizing during your day in Dublin.

  • See the famous Temple Bar
  • Visit Christchurch Cathedral, and go downstairs to the crypt
  • Walk up Grafton Street, enjoy the buskers (in the summer months) and then walk through St. Stephen’s Greens, a historic park which runs just adjacent to it. There’s also a playground there, if you’re visiting with kids
  • Visit a museum, such as the EPIC: Irish Immigration Museum, or Dublina
  • Sample some beers at the Guinness Distillery, if you like beer

After your day exploring Dublin, this mostly completes your 7 day Ireland itinerary!

Day of Departure

On the day of departure, check out of your accommodation and head to the Dublin International Airport for your flight home.

The airport in Dublin (DUB) is about 25 minute drive from the downtown core.

7 Days in Ireland FAQ

Here are the most commonly asked questions about spending a week in Ireland

Is 7 days enough to see Ireland?

There will never be “enough” time to see Ireland, as there is so much to explore – but 7 days in Ireland is enough time to show you several of the highlights and most beautiful spots.

Is it worth going to Ireland for a week?

If you can budget for more than just one week in Ireland, then I would recommend it. However, if this isn’t possible, then I do believe its still worth it to visit Ireland for just a week.

How many days are needed for Ireland?

You need a bare minimum of one week to see Ireland, ideally two. But realistically, not everyone has this kind of time. So, if you’re short on time, then I think at least 7 days are needed to see the best of Ireland.

Where to go in Ireland for the first time?

First time visitors to Ireland should visit Dublin, Galway, Cliffs of Moher, Doolin, Killarney, and then either Cork or Limerick (both would be too much.) In addition, you could fit either the Aran Islands, Dingle Peninsula or Ring of Kerry into a 7 day Ireland itinerary, but you would need to choose 1 of the three.

Ireland

Ireland 7 Day Itinerary Final Thoughts

I hope that this 7 day Ireland itinerary has walked you through the steps you need for a memorable, amazing trip to Ireland.

Ireland is my favourite country to visit. So much that, even after spending three weeks there – I decided to go back for another two weeks. And even after 5 weeks total travelling around Ireland, I still don’t feel like I’ve seen ‘everything.’

But, I believe that this Ireland 7 day itinerary will show you some of the best highlights for a first-time visit to this beautiful country.