If you’re visiting Ireland from a nearby country, like the UK, you can enjoy short breaks of up to 7 days. It’s a quick and easy journey so you can always return for more. But if you’re coming from further afield, you may want to spend 2 weeks to 3 weeks in Ireland to explore as much as possible in one trip.

Deciding which is prettier – Ireland or Scotland – is all a matter of perspective. Both these Celtic countries are blessed with beautiful lakes, dramatic mountains, and rugged coastline. However, there are more castles in Ireland, while Scotland arguably has more diverse scenery, such as charming islands.

You could take a classic Scotland holiday, or enjoy the best of both worlds by visiting Ireland and Scotland on a combination tour. This way you wouldn’t miss out on either of them!

There are so many lively cities and stunning landscapes to discover when you visit Ireland. From the buzzing capital, Dublin, to the windswept Atlantic coast, there’s plenty of fun experiences and breathtaking sights awaiting you in the Emerald Isle.

We highly recommend that you drive the Wild Atlantic Way to take in the gems of Ireland’s west coast. You’d get to see some of the country’s top attractions, like the Cliffs of Moher, Ring of Kerry and Slieve League cliffs along this beautiful route.

Of course, you can drive sections of the Wild Atlantic Way rather than the full 2,600-kilometre (1,616-mile) journey!

Here are the top places to visit on holiday in Ireland:

• Dublin
• Cliffs of Moher
• Ring of Kerry
• Killarney National Park
• Galway
• Aran Islands
• Connemara National Park
• The Burren
• Slieve League cliffs
• County Donegal

Read more about the best places to visit in Ireland on our experts’ blog.

Like the idea of exploring castles, sea cliffs and lakes on your Irish holiday? Or how about some filming locations from Game of Thrones? You can find all of this, and more, in Northern Ireland.

Add these top sights in Northern Ireland to your itinerary:

• Belfast
• The Giant’s Causeway
• Dark Hedges
• Carrick-a-Rede
• Bushmills Whiskey Distillery
• Dunluce Castle
• Murlough National Nature Reserve
• Crom Estate & Lough Erne

Wherever you’d like to go in Northern Ireland and Ireland, you can ask one of our regional travel experts for advice.

You’ll be pleased to know that Ireland is a year-round destination, with many attractions open throughout the seasons. No matter the weather, you’ll fall for the country’s rugged scenery, even in winter.

However, if you’re looking to enjoy outdoor activities like hiking, you may prefer to visit Ireland in summer. This time of year offers the best conditions for exploring, as you get more hours of daylight and milder weather compared to the winter.

Like in the UK, June, July and August are summer months in Ireland. These tend to be the best for weather, although do bear in mind that it is the most popular time of year for holidaymakers to Ireland.

You might consider visiting in the spring (April and May) or the early autumn (September and October) to avoid the peak travel period. You’d still be able to make the most of fairly long days and mild weather.

Keen to experience St Patrick’s Day in Ireland? This celebration of Irish culture takes place in March. However, you don’t need to visit in March to soak up the famous Irish nightlife. You’ll be able to enjoy this all year round!

Find out more about the best time to visit Ireland on our blog.

In some respects, Ireland can be more expensive than the UK. For example, the average price of food and drink is slightly higher than that of the UK. But when you’re on holiday in Ireland, the costs won’t be too dissimilar from what you would pay in parts of London.

Our Ireland holidays provide excellent value as many of your costs are covered in the tour price. This includes handpicked accommodation, daily breakfast, car rental and insurance, a private transfer from the airport upon arrival, and 24/7 support. You’ll also get a discount pass to Ireland’s top visitor attractions.

Plus, we’ll deliver a hand-marked map of your driving route to you after you arrive in Ireland. This will show all your stops as well as points of interest along the way that we think you’ll love.

With all these services and benefits, you can enjoy virtually all-inclusive holidays to Ireland with Nordic Visitor.

Read more about money and currency in Ireland on our travel guide.

The best trip to Ireland for you all depends on your personal tastes. You might wish to spend more time in nature than in the cities, or vice versa. But should you want the classic Ireland holiday experience, your best bet is to take a road trip from Dublin and head to the west coast.

All the Ireland holiday packages that you see on this page have been designed by Nordic Visitor’s regional travel experts. They’ve incorporated all the must-see sights into these itineraries, which feature the best driving routes so that you can make the most of every day in Ireland.

In terms of how best to explore the Emerald Isle, taking a self-drive tour of Ireland is highly recommended. Driving allows you to travel at your own pace. You get to choose where and when to stop for photos. You have the freedom to be spontaneous and discover Ireland exactly how you want to.

The ultimate driving route in Ireland is the Wild Atlantic Way. But this epic journey has different sections, so you could drive the parts of it that suit you best. Take a look at these top road trips in Ireland to find which ones are ideal for your holiday:

• Dingle Peninsula, southwest Ireland
• Slea Head Drive, southwest Ireland
• Ring of Kerry, southwest Ireland
• Causeway Coastal Route, Northern Ireland

When you choose an Ireland tour with Nordic Visitor, you’ll have a dedicated travel consultant who will gladly tailor your itinerary for you. They’ll plan a trip that matches your interests, such as whiskey or photography. You might have Irish heritage and you’d like to explore your ancestry in Ireland.

It’s good to know that with our Ireland self-drive tour packages, you can add extra nights and optional activities to your itinerary online. You can also select the accommodation level and vehicle type that suit you best. Simply pick the itinerary you prefer and follow the booking steps.

If you’d prefer to speak directly with an Ireland travel expert, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.

You can certainly pick the arrival date in Ireland that suits you. Our Ireland tour packages are available to purchase on our website so you can select your dates online.

If you’ve already got a tour but now need to change your dates, contact your travel consultant as soon as possible to rearrange your trip.

Ideally you should book your flights to Ireland only after your Nordic Visitor tour has been confirmed. You can always search for flights in the meantime, so you know what’s available. But wait to purchase them once your travel consultant has secured your tour booking.

This way your dedicated travel consultant will be able to introduce themselves to you and send you all of your package details. Therefore, you can make a more informed choice when reserving flights in and out of Ireland. If you have any questions you can always contact us for advice.

The key thing to bear in mind when packing for a holiday in Ireland is that you must be prepared for all seasons. Ireland’s weather tends to be variable, so it’s important to bring clothing appropriate for rain, wind and sunshine.

Here are the essential items you should pack for holidays in Ireland:

• Lightweight layers, including t-shirts and long sleeve shirts
• Warm jumper or fleece
• Jeans or long trousers
• Shorts for summer trips
• Waterproof jacket or shell layers
• Scarf, hat and gloves
• Good walking shoes or hiking boots with socks
• Sun hat or cap

Discover more tips on what to pack for Ireland on our travel guide.