Best time to visit?
In May, June and September, you get relatively good weather, decent daylight, and avoid the worst of the crowds. Average temperatures range from 10°C to 17°C (50°F to 63°F).
️ How to get there?
Dublin Airport (DUB) is the main international airport, 10 km north of the city. Cork Airport (ORK) is 8 km south and is mostly used by budget airlines.
Donegal Airport (CFN) is the regional airport for the northern part of Ireland, mostly used for domestic connections and budget airlines. The direct flight from Dublin (DUB) to Donegal (CFN) takes about 50 minutes to 1 hour. There are usually 1–2 daily connections (operated by Aer Lingus Regional / Emerald Airlines), making it a quick alternative to the 3.5–4.5 hour drive or bus journey.
Click here to find cheap airfare. Make sure to always reserve airport extras such as parking, transfers, lounge access, etc.
️ How to get around?
The bus and tram (Luas) network is the main form of public transport in Dublin. Walking is recommended in the centre, as many highlights are close together.
Ireland has an intercity train network run by Irish Rail, linking Dublin with cities like Cork, Galway, Limerick, Waterford, Sligo, and Belfast. The DART coastal train connects Dublin with seaside towns such as Howth and Bray. For rural areas, buses (Bus Éireann and Expressway) or reserving a rental car are usually more practical.
⏰ How many days to visit Ireland?
For Dublin, I would recommend planning at least 2 to 3 full days to discover the main highlights. Adding a day or two will allow for a slower travel pace and adding day trips to, for example, Howth, Glendalough, Wicklow, or Malahide Castle.
Are you planning an Ireland road trip? Then I would recommend at least 7 days for a short loop such as Dublin → Galway → Cliffs of Moher → Kerry → Dublin.
In 10–14 days, you can create a fuller trip and add locations such as Donegal, Connemara, the Ring of Kerry, Dingle, Cork, and maybe Northern Ireland.
If you’re a true adventurer and want to circle the island in depth, including the Wild Atlantic Way and lesser-visited counties, then at least 3 weeks is recommended.
⭐ Best Tourist Pass
We recommend the Go City Dublin Pass, which covers the main attractions and includes a 1-day ticket for the Dublin hop-on hop-off bus tour.
The “Heritage Card” is probably the best “all-Ireland” pass for historic sites. It gives you unlimited access for 12 months to many of the state-run heritage sites.
⬆️ Recommended Dublin Hotels
€ LATROUPE Jacobs Inn Dublin
€€ Point A Hotel Parnell Street
€€€ The Dean Dublin
€€€ citizenM Dublin St Patrick’s
€€€ The Leinster
€€€€ The Shelbourne
Click here for an overview of all central accommodations in Dublin.
️ Best Small Group Tours
Joining a group tour takes away the planning stress, saves money, and makes exploring easier. With expert local guides managing logistics and safety, you can focus on the experience and meet friends! We have personally tried and recommend group tours by Gadventures.
For Ireland, we also recommend this 8-day tour of Sligo and Leitrim County with Uncharted Tours. We travelled with them on parts of this route and had a fantastic time!
️ Best Insurance
Make sure to always have travel insurance to avoid nasty surprises while on the road. World Nomads provides 24/7 emergency assistance, medical coverage, trip cancellation, baggage/gear cover & more for all types of travel styles.
️ Best eSIM
Airalo is the world’s first eSIM store that solves the pain of high roaming bills by giving you access to 200+ eSIMs (digital SIM cards) globally at affordable prices.
⁉️ Best Ireland Guidebook
Have a look at these best-selling travel guides from Lonely Planet, Rough Guides, DK Eyewitness Travel, National Geographic Traveler, Rick Steves and Moon Travel Guides.
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