Jul-2018
Ireland Itinerary for Families
Ireland is a relatively small country, roughly the size of Indiana, but the size can be misleading. The harrowing windy roads, dueling tour buses, and lack of street signs can be maddening! However, traversing through Ireland by car gave our family the freedom and flexibility to explore the breathtaking views and ancient magical castles.
Back in June of 2017, we spent a little under 3 weeks (in four main areas: Dublin, Kinsale, Galway, Belfast) exploring both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Below is an itinerary to jumpstart your own Irish adventures!
DUBLIN (5-7 Days)
Dublin Castle
The country’s capital and cultural heart had just as many attractions for kids as it did adults. We purchased a 5-day Dublin Pass and packed our stay in Dublin with self-guided walking tours, museum outings, awe-inspiring history, several pints of Guinness, and daily jaunts searching for fairy doors. (Tip: Explore Dublin on foot or by public transportation; we saved money but holding off on the rental car until we left Dublin.)
What we saw:
• Dublin Castle
• Dublina Viking Museum
• St. Patrick’s Cathedral
• Christ Church Cathedral
• Natural History Museum of Ireland Archaeology
• Book of Kells/Old Library
• Jeanie Johnson Boat
• Kilmainham Jail
• EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum
• Guiness Storehouse
• The Little Museum of Dublin
• St. Steven’s Green
Day trips from Dublin:
• Malahide Castle & Harbour
• Brú na Bóinne
Wish we had time to see:
• Wicklow Mountains National Park
KINSALE (3-5 Days)
Beautiful Downtown Kinsale
An adorable seaside village south of Cork, Kinsale was dotted with brightly colored buildings, lovely art galleries, and gourmet restaurants. After nearly a week in Dublin, Kinsale’s was the perfect picturesque town to relax in and relish in the south-west coast of Ireland’s mild climate. (Read full post on Kinsale.)
What we saw:
• Downtown Kinsale
• Harbour
• Charles Fort
• Desmond Castle
Day trips from Kinsale:
• Old Head Signal Tour/Lusitania Museum
• Drombeg Stone Circle
• Rock of Cashel
• Dingle Peninsula
• Timoleague Abbey
Wish we had time to see:
• Cork
• Killarney National Park
GALWAY (3-5 Days)
Exploring the Latin Quarter in Galway
With the Wild Atlantic Way on the doorstep, admittedly we spent more time exploring outside of Gallway. However, this lively city was brimming with shops and unpretentious restaurants. One of our favorite memories of Galway was our leisurely strolls along the River Corrib.
What we saw:
• Galway’s Latin Quarter
• Galway Bay
Day trips from Galway:
• Cliffs of Moher
• Connemara National Park
• Poulnabrone Dolmen/Burren National Park
Wish we had time to see:
• Aran Islands
• Kylemore Abbey
• Ashford Castle
BELFAST (3-5 Days)
In front of the Titanic Museum in Belfast
Belfast has long been a city fighting a bad reputation but its pulled off a remarkable transformation. A visit today to this Modern-day Belfast is an eye-opening experience in the best possible way. It’s also only two hours north of Dublin, and you can use it as a base to discover the great coastal drives of Northern Ireland, such as the Causeway Coast. (Read full post on Belfast.)
What we saw:
• Titanic Museum
• Belfast Castle
• Peace walls
Day trips from Belfast:
• Giant’s Causeway
• Dunluce Castle
Wish we had time to see:
• Belfast Black Taxi Tours
• Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge
• The Dark Hedges
comment this post
Ireland has been on our bucket list for years! great list of ideas.
super helpful!
Great itinerary! Still haven’t made it to Belfast…one of these years. LOL.
Super helpful! going to use this itinerary as a start to plan a trip with my grandkids.
Incredible road trip. Thanks for helping us plan our trip to ireland. 🙂