On this 2-week journey around the Emerald Isle, you’ll get to see the highlights and hidden gems of both Ireland and Northern Ireland. Let your private driver-guide sweep you between the cities of Dublin, Belfast, Galway and Cork, passing by natural wonders along the way. This is the ideal way to enjoy the sights while taking advantage of a private guide’s insider knowledge and personal attention.
Just a few of the majestic sights you’ll take in during your trip.
A day-by-day plan to guide your journey.
Upon your arrival in Dublin, you will be greeted by a private driver who will take you directly to your accommodation. Then it’s time to immerse yourself in the eclectic mixture of heritage sites, museums and historic pubs.
Take a stroll along the cobbled streets of the Temple Bar district and grab a pint at the Guinness Storehouse for a taste of the world-famous beer. Or visit the historic Trinity College to see the ancient Book of Kells. You could enjoy an afternoon tea sightseeing tour of the city on a vintage bus or walk along the characterful O’Connell Street filled with interesting shops and landmark buildings.
Spend the night in Dublin.
Today, your private guide picks you up to start your adventure around Ireland. On your way to Belfast, you can decide where to stop with your guide. You could pass by the charming 12th-century Malahide Castle near Dublin. Or visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Newgrange, where you can see megalithic passage tombs which are believed to be older than the Great Pyramids of Egypt. This is one of Ireland’s most popular and fascinating attractions. Further, you could even admire the high crosses of Monasterboice, the historic ruins of a Christian settlement.
You will then cross into Northern Ireland to reach the capital city.
Spend the night in Belfast.
Driving distance: 191 km / 121 miles
Average travel & exploring duration: estimated 7-8 hours
Today you have a full day to explore Belfast, an exciting city with a mix of Victorian grandeur, industrial grit and living history. Don’t miss out on the city’s leading attraction, the Titanic Belfast. Experience the story of the world’s largest and most luxurious ship, which was constructed in Belfast in 1909.
You can also see the Peace Walls and their famous murals and admire the architecture of the City Hall. Or opt to visit the Ulster Folk Museum, a complete recreation of an early 1900s traditional Northern Irish town.
Spend another night in Belfast.
Your private road trip continues along the beautiful Antrim Coast. First, your guide will pass by the atmospheric Dark Hedges, a Game of Thrones filming location. Then, you can decide if you’d like to enjoy a scenic coastal walk at Carrick-a-Rede. Here you can cross its rope bridge swaying 30 metres (98 feet) above the sea and providing stunning views of the cliffs below.
Then your guide will take you to the highlight of the day, the jewel of Northern Ireland and World Heritage Site, the Giant’s Causeway. Nearby, you could pop into Bushmills Distillery, the world’s oldest whiskey distillery.
Spend the night in the Donegal area.
Driving distance: 257 km / 160 miles
Average travel & exploring duration: estimated 8-9 hours
Today you can take in the beauty of the Wild Atlantic Way or enjoy a leisurely day in Donegal. The Wild Atlantic Way is a route along Ireland’s west coast that is dotted with soaring cliffs, buzzing towns, epic bays and hidden beaches.
Your first stop is Glenveagh National Park where you’ll explore towering mountains, lakes, valleys and woodlands. Your guide will drive past the imposing Mount Errigal and over the winding Glengesh Pass to Glencolumbkille, one of Ireland’s best living-history museums. Then experience breathtaking views at the imposing Slieve League cliffs, which are some of the highest marine cliffs in Europe.
Spend another night in the Donegal area.
Driving distance: 223 km / 138 miles
Average travel & exploring duration: estimated 7-8 hours
Today you head south to County Sligo, your guide driving past the stunning Ben Bulben, one of Ireland’s most recognisable mountains. Along the way you’ll have the choice of visiting the small fishing village of Mullaghmore with its lovely sandy beach. Here, you’ll find Mullaghmore Head, one of the signature discovery points along the Wild Atlantic Way.
You could also ask your guide to stop by the atmospheric Carrowmore, Ireland’s largest Stone Age cemetery where you can roam around megalithic tombs and stone circles. You’ll then continue to Downpatrick Head where you could enjoy a walk along the majestic sea cliffs and take in the vast views of the rugged coastline.
Spend the night in the Westport area.
Driving distance: 241 km / 150 miles
Average travel & exploring duration: estimated 7-8 hours
Enjoy the sights of the striking Connemara region today. Its rugged landscape is famous for its mountains, white sand beaches, picturesque lakes and heathlands. You’ll first stop by Killary harbour, Ireland’s only true fjord with a length of 16 kilometres (9.9 miles). Further along, your guide will also make a stop at Kylemore Abbey. Here you can admire the spectacular Gothic architecture and take a stroll in the Victorian Walled Garden.
Later, you can decide with your guide which of the following you would prefer. You could stop by the Connemara National Park Visitor Centre to follow scenic walking trails. Or let your guide sweep you along the circular Sky Road near Clifden for broad views of the Atlantic. You’ll then arrive in Galway, a lively and colourful city.
Spend the night in the Galway area.
Driving distance: 182 km / 113 miles
Average travel & exploring duration: estimated 7-8 hours
You can start the day with a visit to Dunguaire Castle. Sitting on a rocky outcrop overlooking Galway Bay, it is one of the most photographed castles in Ireland. Further ahead, your guide will take you to a beautiful spot to experience the surreal landscape of The Burren. You’ll be able to walk around one of Ireland’s oldest megalithic monuments, the portal tomb Poulnabrone Dolmen.
Then you will arrive at the jewel of Ireland, the breathtaking Cliffs of Moher. This is the top tourist attraction in the country, showcasing some of the most iconic coastal scenery of the island. On a sunny day the views are expansive, but even a stormy day can be exhilarating with the powerful Atlantic below.
Spend the night in the Doolin/Lisdoonvarna area.
Driving distance: 111 km / 69 miles
Average travel & exploring duration: estimated 6-7 hours
Today, you will start the day visiting the 15th-century Bunratty Castle. You could also decide to visit the nearby Bunratty Folk Park, where you can experience Irish rural life from the 1800s. Your guide will then take you to Adare, one of Ireland’s prettiest villages with its thatched cottages housing craft shops and restaurants.
In the afternoon, explore Killarney National Park sitting below Ireland’s highest mountains. Here, you can select your own adventure, whether you want to visit the 19th-century mansion of Muckross House, take an optional Jaunting Car tour of the park or a boat trip on the peaceful Lough Leane.
Spend the night in the Killarney/Tralee area.
Driving distance: 206 km / 128 miles
Average travel & exploring duration: estimated 7-8 hours
The Ring of Kerry is a highlight in Ireland and today your private guide takes you around this must-do scenic drive. Your first stop will be at Kells Bay House, to see its primeval forest of planted giant ferns. You’ll also pass by the ancient stone forts of Caherdaniel and Staigue, and Derrynane Bay with its beautiful white sand.
When you complete the circle, you’ll have a chance to see the picturesque Torc Waterfall. If you prefer, today you could also take an optional boat tour from the coast to see the Skellig Islands from up close.
Spend another night in the Killarney/Tralee area.
Driving distance: 198 km / 123 miles
Average travel & exploring duration: estimated 7-8 hours
Today, your guide will drive you over the scenic, winding Caha Pass to the colourful village of Glengarriff. From here, you can decide if you’d like to take the short boat trip to Garnish Island. It is renowned for its gardens, and you might spot a seal colony on the way. Or you might prefer to visit the 18th-century Bantry House.
Later, travel to the lively city of Cork via Kinsale, a popular resort town with its picturesque yachting harbour and historic forts.
Spend the night in the Cork area.
Driving distance: 191 km / 119 miles
Average travel & exploring duration: estimated 8-9 hours
You have a full day of historic visits ahead of you. The first stop on your journey will be Blarney Castle, a legendary medieval stronghold that houses the Blarney Stone, surrounded by many myths and tales. Then you might decide with your guide to spend some time in the photogenic harbour town of Cobh. It is known as the last port of call of the Titanic in 1912.
You’ll then continue on to explore the spectacular Rock of Cashel, a historic site containing a collection of medieval buildings that span over 1000 years of history. Later, you’ll arrive in Kilkenny, a medieval town nestled around a majestic 12th-century castle.
Spend the night in the Kilkenny area.
Driving distance: 208 km / 129 miles
Average travel & exploring duration: estimated 8-9 hours
Today you can decide with your guide what you prefer. You could head straight back to Dublin to spend more time exploring the capital. Or you could check out a few more sights along the way by taking the scenic route. This way you’ll pass through the scenic Wicklow Mountains to visit Glendalough, a 6th-century monastic settlement, and the Powerscourt Estate, featuring the restored mansion Powerscourt House.
Then your guide will drop you off at your accommodation in Dublin. You’ll have the rest of the evening to spend at your leisure, perhaps with a fine Irish dinner to top off your amazing journey.
Spend the night in Dublin.
Driving distance via Wicklow Mountains: 165km / 102 miles
Average travel & exploring duration: estimated 7-8 hours
On your day of departure, a private driver will pick you up from your hotel to take you directly to Dublin Airport. If your flight is in the afternoon, you can use the morning to enjoy some last-minute shopping or sightseeing.
Customise your adventure with these Optional Extras.
We recommend adding your extra activities to the tour now for the best booking experience and to secure your spot, as activities are likely to sell out.
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Here’s a map of your travel route, to help put things in perspective.
Don’t worry, we’ve got this covered.
We recommend that you read carefully through the following information before booking this private tour in Ireland. We’ve answered the most frequently asked questions here so you know what to expect. You’ll also find more practical advice and attraction recommendations in our online Ireland Travel Guide.
On a private tour with Nordic Visitor, you can sit back and enjoy a curated itinerary, led by your personal driver-guide.
Your guide will be an expert in Irish history and culture. They’ll share their local knowledge and stories with you and take you to hidden gems across the country. They will also be happy to tailor your journey to your unique needs and interests along the way.
Your experience will also begin and end with private airport transfers.
Depending on availability and on the size of your travelling party, we can offer a range of vehicles, such as premium executive cars, 4-wheel drives and touring vans.
Your Irish experience begins the moment you land at Dublin Airport. Make your way to the arrivals hall, where a driver will be waiting to greet you. From there, you’ll enjoy a comfortable ride in a private vehicle to your accommodation in the city.
On the day of your departure from Ireland, a private car will pick you up from your accommodation in Dublin. Your driver will then take you straight to the airport in time to catch your flight home.
During your Ireland tour, you’ll stay in accommodation hand-picked by our travel experts. We’ve partnered with local businesses and selected hotels, B&Bs and guesthouses based on excellent ratings, comfort and our personal experience.
In Ireland, you can choose from single or double rooms. Twin, triple and family rooms are not commonly available. Please also note that in Ireland room types are based on European standard sizes, which means they are smaller than in North America.
For example, a double room often consists of 2 single beds pushed together. And single rooms are often smaller than the standard double.
Due to the historic nature of the properties we usually select, most of the rooms are only accessible by stairs. Lifts are not common in Irish hotels. Please let us know as soon as possible if you are not able to walk up stairs.
This tour includes a few guided walks along the itinerary. This means you must be prepared and able to walk between 1-3 kilometres (0.6–2 miles) daily. You also need to be able to carry your own luggage when boarding the vehicle and at each accommodation.
During your tour, you’ll spend some time in Northern Ireland. This is a separate region from Ireland, and in fact is one of the 4 nations that make up the United Kingdom. This means that UK law applies here, and their currency is the British Pound.
Just like their Celtic neighbours, the official language of Northern Ireland is English, though you may hear Irish Gaelic or other dialects spoken here. The capital of Northern Ireland is Belfast, a port city with plenty of its own history and culture.
Travelling with your kids? No problem! Just let your travel consultant know during the booking process. We’ll arrange any cots needed at your accommodation.
If you need multiple rooms, please note that we can't guarantee family rooms or interconnecting rooms at all accommodation. You may even have rooms on different floors.
If you'd like us to arrange for a car seat to be provided for your trip, please let us know ahead of time. This will incur a small extra cost.
While Ireland isn’t known for its heat, summers on the Emerald Isle usually feature plenty of warm days. It’s also the driest time of year to visit.
Between May and September, you can expect temperatures of around 13°C–18°C (55°F–65°F). Due to humidity, this can feel a lot warmer, especially in cities like Dublin.
That said, the weather is also very changeable, so you’ll want to come prepared for anything. Rain is always a possibility, and when the sun sets you might need a warm jumper or jacket. We’ve prepared a useful packing guide to help you decide what to bring with you.
Please note that sightseeing is dependent on weather and road conditions. This means that your itinerary might need to be altered if these conditions are not favourable during your visit. If something unexpected occurs, you can call our 24/7 helpline to speak directly with a Nordic Visitor staff member.
Whatever time of year you’re in Ireland, you’re likely to see lots of different types of weather. As you’ll be spending a lot of time outdoors it’s a good idea to come prepared for a combination of weather conditions.
Here is a recommended packing list for a summer trip:
For more information, check this packing list suggestion.
There are limited laundry facilities in Ireland’s countryside, but you will find some laundrettes in Dublin. Some hotels do offer dry cleaning for an additional cost.
Your breakfast is included at all your accommodation in Ireland. For the rest of your food, your spending money will depend on the standard of restaurants you decide to go to.
Budget between €15–€20 per person for each day’s lunch. Dinners at casual restaurants might cost between €20–€25. Meanwhile at upscale restaurants, you can expect to pay €40–€50 or more. This does not include the cost of alcoholic beverages.
If you enjoy your experience with your guide, it’s a nice idea to give them a tip.
By booking with Nordic Visitor, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that there’s always someone there for you throughout your trip.
For support and advice during the day, you can ask your guide or call our office. And if anything unexpected happens outside working hours, you can reach us on our 24/7 helpline.
The Edinburgh-based travel expert on call will handle any unforeseen situations for you, such as unusual weather or events.
If you’re arriving from the UK, Canada, the United States, Australia or the European Union, you won’t need a visa to visit Ireland.
Visiting from another country? You can find the complete list of countries whose nationals require a visa to enter Ireland on the website of Ireland’s Citizens Information Board.
If you are not an EU citizen, your passport will need to be valid for at least 6 months after the date of your departure from Ireland. It’s a good idea to check your passport expiry date early in case you need to renew it.
Please be aware that from 2025 the UK requires citizens from a majority of countries to hold an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to enter the country. Northern Ireland is part of the UK, so if your tour includes a stay there, you'll need to apply in advance. This ETA also applies for transfers via UK airports.
This tour includes the service of a personal guide who will be happy to help you customise your experience along the way. They will get to know your interests, and you can tell them about any places where you would like to stop on the drive.
You can also customise this tour online during the booking process. You’ll be able to add extra nights to your itinerary as well as optional day trips, excursions and upgrades.
It’s best to book as soon as you can to secure your preferred travel dates. Once you have picked your tour, check the availability calendar to see which months are open for booking. Then, select the date you want and complete your booking.
Nordic Visitor offers 10–20% deposits so you can reserve your trip as early as it’s convenient for you. The remaining balance is due 30 days before you travel.
Many tours are also open for the following year if you like to plan well ahead. And if you have any questions or need advice, you can always contact us.
After booking your tour package online, you will be contacted within 2 business days by your own dedicated travel consultant. They will be your point of contact for all your travel needs before, during and even after your trip.
At that time, they’ll confirm the availability of your tour. Then the booking process starts, which may take a few weeks. Once this is done, your travel consultant will provide you with all the details of your trip. You will also receive more information about what to expect during your trip.
No need! Nordic Visitor is already working on offsetting the estimated carbon footprint of your package. We’ve partnered with an environmental fund in Iceland to carbon offset all our tours.
Carbon offsetting your international flights is not included, but we highly recommend you look into possibilities with your airline or directly through a local environment fund.
You can get in touch with our Ireland travel experts ahead of your trip if you have any questions. The live chat option is useful for getting a quick reply as someone answers live every day during office opening hours.
Once you’ve booked, we’ll provide you with a travel guide packed full of local tips and top attractions for your visit. You can also check out our online Ireland Travel Guide where we’ve compiled useful information about topics, including:
After you have booked your tour, it will only take a few days to confirm its availability. But it may take a few weeks to create your itinerary and book everything. Once your trip details are finalised, we’ll send you e-copies of your travel documents.
Upon your arrival in Ireland, you’ll receive a welcome bag with hard copies of your itinerary, attraction and tour vouchers, the Nordic Visitor Ireland Travel Guide and more.
So when do you check in? And what can you expect upon landing in Dublin?
After picking up your luggage, make your way to the arrivals hall, where the driver of your private transfer will be waiting for you. They’ll welcome you to the country and take you straight to your accommodation in the city centre.
Check-in times vary between hotels and guesthouses, but it normally starts between 2–4 PM.
You are welcome to request an early check-in for an additional fee. Although this isn’t always available, you’ll be able to store your luggage at the hotel if you have to wait. Please contact your travel consultant well in advance of your arrival if you’d like an early check-in.
When you depart may depend on the time of your return flight. Check out early if you’re heading to the airport for a morning flight. On the other hand, if you’re flying home later in the day, you might like to enjoy a leisurely day or visit one more attraction.
You will need to check out from your room, but will be able to store your luggage at the hotel reception. Simply return later to collect your bags before catching public transport or a taxi to the airport.
All bookings are billed in Euros (EUR), the local currency in Ireland.
Prices displayed in other currencies are indicative only and based on the daily exchange rate. This means conversions from EUR to other currencies will fluctuate from day to day.
These should tide you over until you’re in Ireland to take your own pictures.
We don’t like to brag, so we’ll let our happy customers do it for us.
our driver was excellent. Knowledgeable and willing to answer questions.
Sleep soundly, in the accommodation type of your choice, and wake up ready to enjoy another day of exploration.
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Whether you have a single question or a special request, we're here for you.
