📍 Ireland

GRAND TOUR OF IRELAND: LAKES, CLIFFS AND ATLANTIC SHORES

Mountain silence answering ocean thunder, emerald valleys sheltering ancient stones, coastal roads hugging cliffs. Ireland calls.

≈ 23
Days
1346
Km
20
Stops
📖 12 min read 🔄 Last updated: 2026-01-17

Explore literary Dublin, cross Wicklow's green landscapes, follow the Wild Atlantic Way and walk the windswept heights of Connemara. Admire Donegal's cliffs before approaching the Giant's Causeway, where Ireland shifts from mineral silence to the crash of waves and legends.

Your day-by-day itinerary

1
Day

Dublin

capital gateway cobblestone history

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6 photos
Day 1
🔍

Discover

1
Guinness Storehouse.
2
Temple Bar.
3
St Patrick's Cathedral.
4
Glendalough monastic site.
🎯

Activities

→
Phoenix Park walk.
→
Literary pub tour.
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 31.7 km
Travel time: 27min
2
Day

Wicklow

green vale mountain sanctuary

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10 photos
Day 2
🔍

Discover

1
Powerscourt Estate.
2
Wicklow Mountains.
3
Johnstown Castle.
🎯

Activities

→
Sally Gap scenic tour.
→
Bird watching Irish National Heritage Park.
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 75.5 km
Travel time: 1h05
3
Day

Wexford

coastal town maritime heritage

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6 photos
Day 3
🔍

Discover

1
Hook Head lighthouse.
2
Rosslare beaches.
3
Waterford Crystal factory.
🎯

Activities

→
Wexford harbor walk.
→
Waterford Greenway by bike.
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 68.4 km
Travel time: 59min
4
Day

Waterford

viking river fortress tradition

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6 photos
Day 4
🔍

Discover

1
Reginald's Tower.
2
Medieval Museum.
3
English Market.
4
Blarney Castle and stone.
🎯

Activities

→
Tasting at the local market.
→
Crawford Art Gallery.
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 126.7 km
Travel time: 1h49
5
Day

Cork

river city rebel spirit

Cork - Photo 1Cork - Photo 2Cork - Photo 3Cork - Photo 4Cork - Photo 5
5 photos
Day 5
🔍

Discover

1
Shandon Bells.
2
Muckross House and gardens.
3
Ladies View panorama.
4
Ring of Kerry beginning.
🎯

Activities

→
River Lee cruise.
→
Jaunting car tour.
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 86.3 km
Travel time: 1h14
6
Day

Killarney

lakeside resort mountain gateway

Killarney - Photo 1Killarney - Photo 2Killarney - Photo 3Killarney - Photo 4Killarney - Photo 5Killarney - Photo 6
6 photos
Day 6
🔍

Discover

1
Beara Peninsula.
2
Slea Head Drive.
3
Gallarus Oratory.
4
Inch Beach.
🎯

Activities

→
Boat on the lakes.
→
Kerry Way hike.
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 32.2 km
Travel time: 28min
7
Day

Kenmare

coastal village romantic shelter

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6 photos
Day 7
🔍

Discover

1
Bunratty Castle.
2
Folk Park reconstructed village.
3
Medieval center of Ennis.
🎯

Activities

→
Artisanal cheese dairy visit.
→
Visit Dingle distillery.
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 72.1 km
Travel time: 1h02
8
Day

Dingle

peninsula endpoint artistic energy

Dingle - Photo 1Dingle - Photo 2Dingle - Photo 3Dingle - Photo 4Dingle - Photo 5Dingle - Photo 6
6 photos
Day 8
🔍

Discover

1
Cliffs of Moher UNESCO.
2
Burren lunar landscape.
3
Latin Quarter of Galway.
4
Spanish Arch.
🎯

Activities

→
Medieval banquet.
→
Traditional music session.
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 100.9 km
Travel time: 1h27
9
Day

Ennis

village center traditional music

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7 photos
Day 9
🔍

Discover

1
Galway Cathedral.
2
City museum.
3
Kylemore Abbey.
🎯

Activities

→
Coastal hike.
→
Irish music session.
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 32.5 km
Travel time: 28min
10
Day

Doolin

cliffside village musician refuge

Doolin - Photo 1Doolin - Photo 2Doolin - Photo 3Doolin - Photo 4Doolin - Photo 5Doolin - Photo 6
6 photos
Day 10
🔍

Discover

1
Alcock and Brown memorial.
2
Westport House.
3
Carrowmore megalithic tombs.
4
Benbulben mountain.
🎯

Activities

→
Great Western Greenway by bike.
→
Local farm visit.
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 62.4 km
Travel time: 54min
11
Day

Galway

bohemian harbor artistic soul

Galway - Photo 1Galway - Photo 2Galway - Photo 3Galway - Photo 4Galway - Photo 5Galway - Photo 6Galway - Photo 7
7 photos
Day 11
🔍

Discover

1
Slieve League cliffs.
2
Glencolmcille village.
3
Derry ramparts.
4
Bogside Murals.
🎯

Activities

→
Surfing at Strandhill.
→
Yeats literary trail.
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 78.5 km
Travel time: 1h08
12
Day

Clifden

connemara capital wilderness gateway

Clifden - Photo 1Clifden - Photo 2Clifden - Photo 3Clifden - Photo 4Clifden - Photo 5Clifden - Photo 6
6 photos
Day 12
🔍

Discover

1
Guildhall.
2
St Columb's Cathedral.
3
Bushmills Distillery.
4
Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge.
🎯

Activities

→
Wild Atlantic Way hiking.
→
Donegal Tweed weaving.
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 84.2 km
Travel time: 1h12
13
Day

Westport

bay town mountain shadow

Westport - Photo 1Westport - Photo 2Westport - Photo 3Westport - Photo 4Westport - Photo 5Westport - Photo 6Westport - Photo 7Westport - Photo 8Westport - Photo 9Westport - Photo 10
10 photos
Day 13
🔍

Discover

1
Newgrange UNESCO tumulus.
2
Knowth archaeological site.
3
Boyne Valley.
🎯

Activities

→
Guided historical tour.
→
Peace Bridge.
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 67.3 km
Travel time: 58min
14
Day

Sligo

literary homeland yeats country

Sligo - Photo 1Sligo - Photo 2Sligo - Photo 3Sligo - Photo 4Sligo - Photo 5Sligo - Photo 6Sligo - Photo 7
7 photos
Day 14
🔍

Discover

1
Howth Peninsula.
2
Malahide Castle.
3
Howth fishing port.
4
National Gallery of Ireland.
🎯

Activities

→
Causeway coastal hike.
→
Coastal cave visit.
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 63.8 km
Travel time: 55min
15
Day

Donegal

northwest drama coastal crown

Donegal - Photo 1Donegal - Photo 2Donegal - Photo 3Donegal - Photo 4Donegal - Photo 5Donegal - Photo 6
6 photos
Day 15
🔍

Discover

1
Merrion Square.
2
Jameson Distillery.
3
Grafton Street shopping.
4
Glencolmcille village.
🎯

Activities

→
St George's Market.
→
Black taxi tour.
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 102.4 km
Travel time: 1h28
16
Day

Derry

walled city historic rampart

Derry - Photo 1Derry - Photo 2Derry - Photo 3Derry - Photo 4Derry - Photo 5Derry - Photo 6Derry - Photo 7Derry - Photo 8
8 photos
Day 16
🔍

Discover

1
Derry ramparts.
2
Bogside Murals.
3
Guildhall.
4
St Columb's Cathedral.
🎯

Activities

→
Guided tour of Neolithic tombs.
→
Countryside walk.
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 59.7 km
Travel time: 51min
17
Day

Bushmills

distillery tradition whiskey heritage

Bushmills - Photo 1Bushmills - Photo 2Bushmills - Photo 3Bushmills - Photo 4
4 photos
Day 17
🔍

Discover

1
Giant's Causeway UNESCO.
2
Bushmills Distillery.
3
Dunluce Castle.
4
Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge.
🎯

Activities

→
Cliff Walk hike.
→
Seal watching.
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 100.1 km
Travel time: 1h26
18
Day

Belfast

industrial city urban awakening

Belfast - Photo 1Belfast - Photo 2Belfast - Photo 3Belfast - Photo 4
4 photos
Day 18
🔍

Discover

1
Titanic Belfast.
2
Political murals.
3
Belfast Cathedral.
4
Ulster Museum.
🎯

Activities

→
National Botanic Gardens.
→
Last evening at Temple Bar.
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 67.9 km
Travel time: 58min
19
Day

Newgrange

ancient mound spiral stone

Newgrange - Photo 1Newgrange - Photo 2Newgrange - Photo 3Newgrange - Photo 4Newgrange - Photo 5Newgrange - Photo 6Newgrange - Photo 7Newgrange - Photo 8Newgrange - Photo 9Newgrange - Photo 10
10 photos
Day 19
🔍

Discover

1
Newgrange UNESCO tumulus.
2
Knowth archaeological site.
3
Boyne Valley.
🎯

Activities

→
Guided tour of Neolithic tombs.
→
Countryside walk.
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 20.3 km
Travel time: 17min
20
Day

Howth

clifftop village dublin escape

Howth - Photo 1Howth - Photo 2Howth - Photo 3Howth - Photo 4Howth - Photo 5Howth - Photo 6
6 photos
Day 20
🔍

Discover

1
Howth Peninsula.
2
Malahide Castle.
3
Howth fishing port.
🎯

Activities

→
Cliff Walk hike.
→
Seal watching.
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 12.9 km
Travel time: 11min
21
Day

Dublin

capital gateway cobblestone history

Dublin - Photo 1Dublin - Photo 2Dublin - Photo 3Dublin - Photo 4Dublin - Photo 5Dublin - Photo 6
6 photos
Day 21
🔍

Discover

1
National Gallery of Ireland.
2
Merrion Square.
3
Jameson Distillery.
4
Grafton Street shopping.
🎯

Activities

→
National Botanic Gardens.
→
Last evening at Temple Bar.

🗺️ Itinerary map

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🛡️ Travel advice - Ireland

Check official recommendations

UK Foreign Travel Advice →

❓ Frequently asked questions

What weather should you expect?

Summer (June-August): Warmest weather, longest days, peak tourist season, highest prices, crowded attractions, festival season, vibrant atmosphere, advance booking essential.

Shoulder Season (April-May & September-October): Mild weather, fewer crowds, good value, comfortable temperatures, pleasant conditions, excellent photography, ideal balance.

Spring (March-May): Mild temperatures, blooming landscapes, fewer tourists, reasonable prices, longer days, fresh atmosphere, excellent touring.

Fall (September-November): Comfortable weather, harvest season, beautiful colors, fewer crowds, good value, cozy atmosphere, cultural events.

Winter (December-February): Cool wet weather, shortest days, lowest prices, minimal crowds, cozy pubs, indoor attractions, festive atmosphere.

How many days should I plan?

We believe you will enjoy this itinerary best by dedicating between 18 and 28 days. The next step will allow you to adjust the duration of your stay.

What to discover in Ireland?

Emerald Isle with stunning landscapes, rich literary heritage, and warm hospitality. Experience traditional music, beautiful countryside, and authentic Irish culture. The country offers cultural depth with natural beauty and excellent storytelling traditions. Ireland provides cultural richness with natural wonders and warm hospitality.