IDEAS FOR TOURS OF IRELAND FROM THE UK
Are you looking for an exciting holiday close to home? The Republic of Ireland is a fantastic option. Here you can immerse yourself in the landscapes and local traditions of this Celtic nation. Explore lively Irish cities and charming countryside as you take in the culture, history and beauty of the Emerald Isle.
Ireland is so easy to reach from Scotland, Wales or England, whether you jump on a quick 1-hour flight or drive and take the ferry across the Irish Sea. Once you arrive you could get to know the buzzing Irish capital, Dublin, before setting off around the country.
Choose from road trips to guided tours around the island. Imagine yourself wandering through ancient Celtic monuments, going for a walk on the emerald hills, and learning about Gaelic culture. You could sit in a traditional Irish pub tasting the local brew and listening to live music. It’s all on your doorstep.
Want to go on an Ireland road trip?
We recommend at least 6 to 8 days to make the most of a road trip around Ireland.
All our tours set off from Dublin and include top attractions such as the Cliffs of Moher, the Ring of Kerry, and Blarney Castle. As the itineraries are flexible, you’ll have the freedom to pull the car over at any attractions or breathtaking views.
Here’s an example of a one-week Ireland road trip itinerary:
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Day 1 – Arrive in Dublin.
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Day 2 – Pick up your rental car and drive to the west coast. Spend the night in Galway.
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Day 3 – Explore Connemara or the Aran Islands. Overnight in Galway.
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Day 4 – See the world-famous Cliffs of Moher. Overnight in Killarney.
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Day 5 – Tour the Ring of Kerry. Overnight in Killarney.
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Day 6 – Visit historic sites and drop off your rental car. Spend your last night in Dublin.
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Day 7 – Depart from Dublin.
You can always take a Nordic Visitor tour without the rental car if you’d prefer to drive to Ireland from the UK. Use your own car and we will gladly offer you a reduced rate on one of our Ireland self-drive tours. Get in touch to find out more.
The best part? You won’t have to worry about where you’re going or sleeping, because your Nordic Visitor travel consultant will plan the trip for you and sort all the details before you arrive.
We reserve your accommodation, rent a car for your trip (if required), and can book activities to fill your days with more adventures. We cater to all tastes, whether you want to visit a whiskey distillery, explore the national parks, or discover the cities with river cruises.
You’ll also have access to our 24/7 helpline should you need to call us at any point.
Good to know: All of Nordic Visitor’s Ireland self-drive tour packages can be customised by our regional experts. They can add extra nights at select locations or modify the driving routes if you have any particular attractions in mind. Just ask!
Would you prefer to skip the driving?
Opt for a guided tour instead!
See the Emerald Isle from a local’s point of view and make some new friends along the way with our guided small group tours. These tours offer an enriching and personal way to travel as a group. You’ll take advantage of an expert guide’s knowledge while travelling with a maximum of 15 guests.
Please note: While these packages can be customised with some optional activities, you can only add extra nights in Dublin before or after the guided portion of the tour.
Or if you prefer to travel with your own group, look no further than private tours of Ireland. You’ll have your very own driver-guide to take you around the island and tell you all about its history and culture. This is an intimate way to see the country with dedicated attention to your own needs and interests.
Want to stay for a longer period of time?
If you want to slow down the pace and take in more Irish attractions, we highly recommend extending your tour to at least 10 days.
With our flexible itineraries, it’s easy to start planning your tour. Pick the amount of time you want to stay in Dublin and then decide how many days you want to spend journeying around the island.
With 10 days or longer, the possibilities are endless when you visit Ireland, including following the Wild Atlantic Way route or popping into Northern Ireland for a complete tour of the island. Don’t miss the Giant’s Causeway, the capital Belfast, and the Antrim Coast.
On private and self-drive tours, you can also decide if you'd prefer to spend more time in one city than another. Or add another town to your trip or specific day tours? Just ask your Nordic Visitor travel consultant for advice.
When is the best time to visit Ireland?
Ireland is a beautiful country all year long. This means you can’t go wrong when you book your Irish getaway from the United Kingdom. That said, we recommend the summertime or its shoulder months for the best experience.
Like in the UK, the summer months of June, July and August make up the high season. It is marked by long daylight hours and the best (and most stable) weather of the year. Attractions also operate under longer hours and more availability than in winter.
All of this means you can discover Ireland to your heart’s content.
That said, you may find that top attractions are very popular at this time. Indeed, Ireland attracts visitors from around the world especially in summer.
If you would rather have a quieter holiday, visit in spring or autumn. During this time, you’ll find the best of both worlds: quieter attractions but plenty of good weather and daylight to explore. Mark March in your calendar if you want to experience St Patrick’s Day in Ireland!
Are you interested in exploring Scotland too?
You could add a trip around Scotland to your tour of Ireland for an extra epic Celtic itinerary. We recommend at least 10 days for this, which would give you enough time to dive into both regions.
Spend the first 4 to 10 days around the rugged Highlands and islands of Scotland. Then follow that up with another trip around Ireland to take in all the jaw-dropping coastal landscapes and historic landmarks.
What's more? You can choose from a range of trips for your combo tour, including road trips, private itineraries and guided small group tours. It all depends on how you prefer to travel.
With a combination tour of Scotland and Ireland, you get your accommodation, local transportation, daily breakfast and flight between the 2 countries included.
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