The Best 7 Days in Ireland
Written by Haley
With its scenic beauty and rich heritage, the Emerald Isle has been on my travel list for many years. When I first started creating our itinerary for 7 days in Ireland, it quickly became clear that time would be an issue.
It’s easy to spend weeks or months in this beautiful country! If you only have 7 days in Ireland, you’ll need to be strategic to fit in all the best sights and activities. Our trip was a whirlwind, but we had the best 7 days in Ireland!
Tips for Spending 7 Days in Ireland
Before I share the best 7-day Ireland itinerary, here are a couple of general travel tips for Ireland:
Rent a car, but stay on the main roads.
If you want to see Ireland in a week, I think renting a car is necessary to more easily get around. However, the main concern I had from my research was the narrowness of the roads. What I wish I had known is that roads in Ireland vary, and you can tell a lot about a road by its name.
Roads that start with M or N (e.g., M55) are motorways or national roads and tend to be much wider and more traveled.
Roads that start with R or L (e.g., L3999) are regional or local roads and are much narrower.
Because of road closures, Google Maps kept trying to route us the fastest way through the narrow back roads. Some are barely wide enough for one car, let alone two, and we had a couple of very near misses. If you can, try to stay on the main roads, for a much better experience!
Bring rain gear.
Autumn in Ireland is spectacular, but there can be a lot of rain (more on that later). Regardless of the time of year, be prepared with rain gear! I was thankful to have my favorite Target Chelsea rain boots, as well as a travel umbrella.
Make restaurant reservations.
I didn’t think restaurant reservations would be competitive, but in the larger cities, we had a hard time getting in at the last minute. Do your research and book in advance when possible!
With those travel tips in mind, here’s an overview of how we spent our 7 days in Ireland!
7 Days in Ireland Itinerary
Despite only spending 7 days in Ireland, we managed to visit five different cities throughout the country! While it was tiring, with days full of driving and sightseeing, I still recommend following this exact itinerary.
This 7-day Ireland itinerary takes you to some of the main attractions that the Emerald Isle has to offer, as well as more off-the-beaten-path areas (like a hotel in a castle!).
Day 1: Killarney
We flew straight to Dublin from London, which allowed us to get an early start on our first day! If you’re coming from somewhere farther away, like the U.S., you will want to add extra time to your Ireland itinerary for travel days.
Originally, we had planned to spend a night in the beautiful coastal town of Cork. However, the first named storm of the season, Agnes, rolled in right before we arrived, and there were power outages and flooding. If you visit Ireland in autumn or winter, be prepared with a backup plan or two in case of inclement weather.
Not wanting to get stuck, we drove to Killarney and booked a last-minute deal on a room at Dromhall Hotel. While we were the youngest hotel guests (by about 30 years), it was charming as well as luxurious. We enjoyed dinner at the on-site restaurant and had some of the best gnocchi I’ve ever eaten!
While we wouldn’t have paid full price since our splurge stay was booked elsewhere (more to come on that next!), Dromhall is worth a visit if you have a large budget and you don’t mind a quieter vibe.
Missing Cork, as well as Blarney Castle, was my biggest regret. I would recommend including it on your itinerary if the weather (and time) allows! However, with only 7 days in Ireland, we still had a packed itinerary despite missing a portion of it.
Having some extra time to appreciate Killarney ended up being really special. It may be tempting to squeeze everything into your 7-day Dublin itinerary, but one of my favorite parts about Ireland is the slower pace of life. Trying to experience this beautiful country in just 7 days can be tricky, but the forced change to our itinerary helped us slow down in a good way.
Day 2: Tralee
After spending the night in Killarney, we made the brief journey to Tralee. The weather was quite inclement, and Google Maps routed us on a very treacherous and narrow back road due to construction.
We didn’t realize at the time that we could have chosen to take a main road for the majority of the trip, it would have just been a little longer — reminder to avoid those R and L roads whenever you can! Even though it was only a 40-minute drive, this was probably the scariest part of our trip. But the journey was well worth it!
Ballyseede Castle Hotel
Staying at the luxurious Ballyseede Castle Hotel was one of the highlights of our trip. Nestled away in County Kerry, the castle makes you feel as if you’ve stepped back in time.
This 4-star castle-turned-hotel has an intriguing history, but has been renovated with all the comforts of modern day. (I just can’t go without electricity and hot water, sorry!!) The castle has 45 different rooms/suites, and the architecture and grounds are stunning.
We opted for a junior castle suite (because why not?!) and chose a 2-night package that included breakfast both mornings and a full dinner on one evening. We also enjoyed a fantastic afternoon tea. All of the food we enjoyed at Ballyseede Castle was the best we had in Ireland, and the staff were unbelievable.
This was definitely our splurge stay of the trip, but it was so worth it. Its location also makes it a great base to explore Kerry.
As a tangent, the castle is home to a beautiful Irish Wolfhound –– easily the biggest dog I have ever seen! He was a sweetheart and it was fun running into him while we explored the castle grounds.
Day 3: Killarney National Park
Our day to explore Killarney National Park was the rainiest, so we mostly stayed in our car. It would be easy to spend days exploring this beautiful place in dryer weather! But if you only have 7 days in Ireland, I would recommend just a drive-through with stops.
We wanted to drive the full Ring of Kerry and the Dingle Peninsula, but since it was so rainy we opted for a cozy afternoon at the castle. In better weather, I would recommend making both drives, although it’s certainly ambitious!
Day 4: Cliffs of Moher & Galway
Day 4 was our biggest travel day. The drive from Tralee to Galway is quite the trek, and we also stopped at the famous Cliffs of Moher.
Cliffs of Moher
This was my favorite part of the trip! After dealing with so much rain, we had nearly a full day of sun and blue skies. The cliffs are always breathtaking, but when it’s clear they are truly spectacular because you can see all of their beauty.
How to Get to the Cliffs of Moher from Tralee
From Tralee, it took about 2.5 hours to reach the Cliffs of Moher. For the most part, the drive was peaceful and scenic. Some of the roads were a bit tight, but the rock walls were lower, which provided more visibility.
Once there, you will turn right into the entrance and show your pre-purchased tickets or buy them there. The staff will instruct you where to park in the large parking lot. After you park, cross the street to the main area with the Visitor Centre and most popular lookout points: O’Brien’s Tower and the Main, North, and South Platforms. You can also choose to hike to a few different locations that are a bit further out, which we opted to do.
Some tips for visiting the cliffs:
Book tickets online ahead of time for better rates.
Get there as early as you can. Even in the off-season, it’s crowded.
Be prepared to hike a decent distance to get the photo you want. We walked to Moher Tower at Hag’s Head, which is supposed to take about an hour each way, but was closer to 75 minutes thanks to mud/other tourists. It was tiring, but worth it. We just wish we’d worn better walking shoes and brought snacks!
Galway
The drive from the Cliffs of Moher to Galway took about an hour and a half. One thing to note is many of the tour buses take that route, so you may get stuck behind one especially if you leave in the afternoon!
Since we arrived in Galway close to dinner, we couldn’t do much exploring. But it’s an amazing city! If you arrive early enough to fit in some activities, check out the Galway City Museum or some of the local pubs!
We were tired after the drive and found a great Asian restaurant two minutes from our Airbnb — the main restaurant was full, but the bar was able to squeeze us in without a reservation! They had some of the best Asian food I’ve ever had, as well as fun cocktails.
After dinner, we did a quick stop at Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop, a local gem with an amazing book collection.
Day 5: Dublin
We left Galway late morning to make the journey back to Dublin. This leg of the trip is mostly on the main roads, so it’s an easy drive, especially in good weather conditions. The trip takes about three hours, so I recommend leaving around 9am to reach Dublin in time for lunch.
Dublin is an ideal last stop for your 7-day Ireland itinerary since this is where you will fly out!
Once we arrived, we dropped off the rental car — you don’t really need one in Dublin (phew, no more roundabouts)! The city is walkable and there is great public transport. Having a rental car in Dublin would be more of a hassle than a convenience.
After checking in to our Airbnb, we got delicious drinks and apps at the Little Pyg at Dublin City Centre. They also have a full menu if you want dinner! We then walked the 10 minutes over to the Temple Bar district. The walk is easy and very picturesque!
The Temple Bar area is crowded and a little touristy, but has a fun vibe – lots of people and energy! Due to the wait, we didn’t attempt to eat at the famous Temple Bar Pub, so we can’t vouch for it. But if you don’t mind fighting the crowds I’m sure it would be a memorable experience!
Use the map below to find places to stay in Dublin. If you can’t see it, try disabling your ad blocker and refreshing the page.
Day 6: Dublin (continued)
To explore Dublin at your own pace, I recommend purchasing the Go City Dublin All-Inclusive Pass, which includes complimentary tickets to the Hop-on Hop-off Dublin Big Bus tour.
Although the Go City pass isn’t cheap, in addition to the bus tour it does include the price of admission to many different attractions such as the Guinness Storehouse. Depending on what you want to see, it can pay off, especially given the convenience of getting around Dublin easily and quickly without a car.
The Go City pass enabled us to catch a ride around the city and choose which stops to explore (and which ones to skip). If you do purchase the pass, note that for some attractions (like Guinness) you need to make reservations in advance. The Go City Dublin Guidebook provides more info on which ones you need to book ahead, as well as when to book.
Dublin Castle
I have a thing for castles and cathedrals, and Dublin did not disappoint! We started our day with a guided tour of Dublin Castle, and it was fascinating to hear about its history.
Our Go City pass included access to the castle, so when we arrived we just had to show our pass and reserve a time slot at the ticket desk. Even though we arrived at 10am right after they opened, the first tour was already full when we got there.
We were able to explore the Castle Gardens while we waited for the next one, but I would recommend arriving even earlier (a few minutes before they open) if you don’t want to wait.
You can only book tickets for guided tours on-site, but you can purchase tickets for a self-guided tour online 15 days in advance. However, I would recommend taking the guided tour if you can, as you can’t visit the Viking Excavation and Chapel Royal on a self-guided tour.
Our tour was highly informative and took about one hour. What I found most interesting was learning about the role Dublin Castle has played throughout history as Ireland’s seat of government, its significance to the British monarchy, and Ireland’s journey to independence. Now, Dublin Castle hosts Ireland’s presidential inaugurations and state functions.
Christ Church Cathedral & St. Patrick’s Cathedral
Our Go City pass included access to both of these cathedrals, and the tours were self-guided. These cathedrals are stunning and have a rich history behind them. We didn’t spend as much time there as I would have liked, but I loved getting to visit.
Fun fact: Christ Church Cathedral’s crypt is Ireland’s oldest working structure, as well as the country’s largest crypt. It’s a little creepy and if you’re claustrophobic (like me), maybe consider skipping it, but I’m glad I rallied to explore it! I was a little stressed, so I only took one picture of one of the displays.
Guinness Storehouse
Our last stop was a tour of the Guinness Storehouse! This was also included in our Go City pass, but we did have to book in advance. While they recommend booking at least 72 hours ahead of time, you have the option to book a maximum of 7 days out.
Since it’s popular, we opted to reserve as early as possible. While there were plenty of slots available, if you really need a specific time slot to work with your itinerary, it could be a bit stressful so keep that in mind.
Founded in 1759 by Arthur Guinness, Guinness now sells 1.8 billion pints per year! While I am definitely not a beer drinker, the beer-making process was interesting to learn about (and taste). The experience includes a self-guided tour, as well as a pint (or soft drink) at the Gravity Bar on the top floor.
One of my favorite parts of the visit was stopping at the Guinness Storehouse Retail Store on the way out. In addition to branded merchandise, they have a variety of consumable goods such as mixes, sauces, and fudge! It’s a great place to buy souvenirs, especially for beer drinkers.
Sophie’s Rooftop Restaurant
We concluded our busy day with dinner at Sophie’s Rooftop Restaurant. With great views and food, this was a spectacular closing night for our trip! We were able to make a reservation on OpenTable a couple days in advance, but I would recommend booking further ahead if possible.
Day 7: Fly Home
We used our last day to travel home. If we’d had more time, I would have explored some more coffee places around Dublin! Since we had an earlier flight, we opted to Uber straight to the airport. It was a packed 7 days in Ireland, but we loved it!
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