Wild Atlantic coast, castles, pubs and music
Ireland is a green island of dramatic sea cliffs, quiet lakes, ancient sites and lively towns. Dublin offers literary history, museums and pubs, while the west coast's Wild Atlantic Way leads to the Cliffs of Moher, Connemara and the Ring of Kerry. Traditional music sessions and friendly conversation are part of the experience. It suits road trippers, walkers, history fans and anyone who likes a good pub.
Tap a card or a pin. Add a place to a day of your trip, or look for tours.
Sea cliffs rising about 200 metres above the Atlantic, with paths along the edge. On clear days you can see the Aran Islands.
A scenic loop around the Iveragh Peninsula with mountains, beaches and villages. It is one of the most famous drives in Ireland.
Lakes, mountains and old woodland just outside Killarney, with Muckross House and Ross Castle. Jaunting cars offer horse drawn rides.
A seven storey visitor experience in the historic brewery, ending with a pint in the rooftop bar. It is Ireland's most visited attraction.
Ireland's oldest university, home to the illuminated Book of Kells and the Long Room library. The campus is right in the city centre.
Neolithic passage tombs older than Stonehenge, reached only through the visitor centre. Newgrange's chamber lights up at the winter solstice.
A rocky island off Kerry with an early Christian monastery of stone beehive huts. Boat landings are limited and weather dependent.
A wild region of bogs, mountains and lakes in the west. Kylemore Abbey and Connemara National Park are highlights.
A lakeside abbey and Victorian walled garden in Connemara. It is one of Ireland's most photographed buildings.
A cluster of medieval church buildings on a limestone hill, once the seat of the kings of Munster. It is a striking stop between Dublin and Cork.
A peninsula with the Slea Head Drive, beaches and ancient stone sites. Dingle town has colourful pubs and music.
A lively harbour city with street music, pubs and a strong arts scene. It is the base for Connemara and the Aran Islands.
Three limestone islands with stone walls and Irish speaking communities. Inis Mór has the clifftop fort Dún Aonghasa.
A glacial valley with a monastic site and two lakes in the Wicklow Mountains. Walking trails loop around the valley.
A medieval city with a castle, cathedral and lively pubs. It is easy to reach from Dublin.
Everything above is open to read. A Hodolog account lets you build the trip around it: pick cities, add places to days, see the weather for your dates.
Each city with a guide opens its own page: map, where to stay, what to eat.
Capital with museums, pubs and history.
culture, nightlife, gateway · Open the city guideArts city and western base.
music, culture · Open the city guideBase for the Ring of Kerry and lakes.
nature, hiking · Guide comingPeninsula town with pubs.
coast, music · Guide comingFood city in the south.
food, culture · Guide comingMedieval town.
history · Guide comingCapital of Northern Ireland with Titanic history, and a gateway to the Causeway Coast (UK).
history, museums · Guide comingSmall village known for traditional music and close to the cliffs.
music, scenery · Guide comingRiverside city with a medieval castle, near the Shannon Airport.
history, gateway · Guide comingCapital and ancient sites.
Dublin, Newgrange, Glendalough
Mountains, peninsulas and islands.
Ring of Kerry, Dingle, Skellig Michael
Cliffs, Connemara and Galway.
Cliffs of Moher, Connemara, Aran Islands
Castles and medieval towns.
Rock of Cashel, Kilkenny, Cork
Remote coast and Donegal.
Slieve League, Glenveagh National Park
Galway, Clare and Connemara with big Atlantic scenery.
Cliffs of Moher, Connemara, Aran Islands
Choose how long you have, then add the whole route to a trip as places and nights.
Best: May to September. Longer days and milder weather suit driving and hiking.
Rain is possible all year, and the west is wetter and windier than the east.
January. Quiet season. Lower prices, fewer crowds.
46°F daily high, 42°F average, 3.4 in
Average of past years from NASA POWER, worked out at each city's position. A place far from these cities can be quite different.
The US State Department rates Ireland Level 1 (exercise normal precautions), with petty theft in Dublin and narrow roads the main concerns.
Trains and buses link the main towns, but a car is the best way to explore the west coast.
Ireland is expensive, especially Dublin hotels.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Members see the rules for their own passport here.
Passport and visa rules change often and without notice. Always check the official pages before you book and again before you travel.
| Entry | Check visa and entry rules on the Irish Immigration Service website (https://www.irishimmigration.ie/) and on your own government's travel advice before you go, as rules can change. |
| Plugs | Type G; 230 V |
| Tap water | safe |
| Tipping | Around 10 to 15 percent in restaurants is normal, but not needed for drinks at the bar. |
| Payments | Cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere. |
| Emergency | 112 or 999 |
| Etiquette | Pub rounds are common, so if someone buys you a drink, buy one back. Conversation and humour are valued. Ask before joining a music session. |
| Driving | On the left |
| Between cities | Irish Rail and Bus Éireann connect Dublin with Cork, Galway, Killarney and other towns. Renting a car is best for the west coast, but roads are narrow. Day tours from Dublin and Galway cover major sights. |
| Main airports | DUB, SNN, ORK, KIR |
| Ride apps | FreeNow, Uber |
Ireland has Neolithic tombs older than the pyramids, such as Newgrange, and later became a centre of Celtic and early Christian culture. English and then British control grew from the 1100s, and the Great Famine of the 1840s killed or forced out millions. The Irish Free State was created in 1922 after a war of independence, while Northern Ireland stayed in the UK. Ireland joined the EU in 1973 and uses the euro.
Researched 2026-10-13. Check official sources and recent changes before you go.