Ireland travel update | New Guided small group tour for 2023!

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The Rock of Cashel ©Tourism Ireland

Express Ireland

(6 days / 5 nights)

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Get a taste of Ireland

Marvel at the famous sights you’ll see during this fast-paced version of our tours around Ireland. Designed to include as many of the top sights as possible in only six days, you’ll immerse yourself in the local atmosphere and explore the stunning landscapes. From the capital Dublin, you’ll head west to Galway before experiencing the Irish coast with iconic locations such as the Cliffs of Moher and the Ring of Kerry. Make the most of your Irish adventure!

Would it suit you better to enjoy this trip as a private tour?

6 days / 5 nights

Price p.p. from

The amount will be charged in EUR

Approx 1333 EUR

See Book With Confidence terms

— Why book with Nordic Visitor

  • Hassle-free & seamless travel experience
  • Flexible & customisable tour options
  • Quality & value for your money
  • Specialists in Ireland self-drive holidays
  • Great customer reviews

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— Book With Confidence

  • Optional cancellation insurance
  • Affordable deposits from 10%

Terms and conditions apply

Tour Highlights

  • Explore the historic and vibrant Irish capital Dublin
  • See the gems of Ireland’s most iconic driving route, the Ring of Kerry
  • Walk along gigantic sea cliffs to take in the beauty of the renowned Cliffs of Moher
  • Immerse yourself in traditional Irish culture and music in Galway
  • Visit the oldest Irish university, Trinity College Dublin and see the Book of Kells
  • Explore the magic of the lunar-like area of The Burren
  • Discover ancient castles and medieval sites such as The Rock of Cashel
  • Kiss the Blarney Stone at Blarney Castle and receive the Gift of Gab
  • Enjoy a road trip with peace of mind with your personal itinerary from a local travel expert

Travel style

Self-Drive i

Interest

Best Seller i, Castles and Royalty i, Classic i, Countryside and natural scenery i, Culture and History i

Season

Apr - Oct

Departure

Daily

Interest

Best Seller i, Castles and Royalty i, Classic i, Countryside and natural scenery i, Culture and History i

Driving distance

1045/648 km/mi

Itinerary

A day-by-day plan to guide your journey.

  • Day 1: ARRIVAL DAY IN DUBLIN

    Upon your arrival in Dublin, make your way to your accommodation in the city centre. You may choose to take a taxi or use public transport, but for a more direct and comfortable ride, we will be happy to organise a private airport transfer for you.

    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, 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 stroll along the characterful O’Connell Street filled with interesting shops and landmark buildings.

    Spend the night in Dublin.

    Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions See Activities for this day
  • Day 2: TOWARDS THE IRISH WEST COAST

    Today, start your road trip towards the west coast, passing through the beautiful midlands. Your first stop is Trim Castle where you can learn about Irish history at the largest Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland. You could also make a pit stop at Kilbeggan Distillery to see how the local whiskey is made. Later, we recommend roaming around the atmospheric ruins of Clonmacnoise. Finally, arrive in Galway, a lively city by the Atlantic Ocean. The colourful city is the perfect place to taste some Irish delicacies with its famous food scene and numerous pubs.

    Spend the night in Galway.                                      

    Driving distance: 229 km / 142 miles

    Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions
  • Day 3: CLIFFS OF MOHER & LIMESTONE LANDSCAPES

    Start the day by visiting Dunguaire Castle. Sitting on a rocky outcrop overlooking Galway Bay, it is one of the most photographed castles in Ireland. Further ahead, explore the unique, lunar-like landscape of The Burren before arriving at the breathtaking Cliffs of Moher, Ireland’s top tourist attraction, showcasing some of the country’s most iconic coastal scenery. If time allows, you can then visit the 15th-century Bunratty Castle. Here you’ll also find the Bunratty Folk Park, where you can experience what Irish rural life used to be like a century ago.

    Spend the night in the Killarney/Tralee area.

    Driving distance: 269 km / 167 miles

    Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions
  • Day 4: RING OF KERRY

    Take in the magic of the Ring of Kerry, a classic “must do” scenic drive of the Irish countryside. Stop at Kells Bay House, to see its primeval forest of planted giant ferns. Other highlights include the ancient stone forts of Caherdaniel and Staigue, and Derrynane Bay with its beautiful white sand. Complete the circle with a visit to the picturesque Torc Waterfall. Today, you could also take an optional boat tour from the coast to see the Skellig Islands from up close. These otherworldly islands were recently featured in the Star Wars movies.

    Spend another night in the Killarney/Tralee area.

    Driving distance: 198 km / 123 miles

    Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions See Activities for this day
  • Day 5: STEP INTO IRELAND’S FAMOUS HISTORY

    Today’s journey will take you back to Dublin. We recommend stopping at a few worthwhile sights along the way. Don’t miss Blarney Castle, a legendary medieval stronghold that houses the Blarney Stone, surrounded by many myths and tales. Later, explore the spectacular Rock of Cashel, a historic site containing a fantastic collection of medieval buildings that span over 1000 years of history. Back in Dublin, enjoy the rest of the evening at your leisure, perhaps with a fine Irish dinner to top off your amazing journey.

    Spend the night in Dublin.

    Driving distance: 343 km / 213 miles

    Attractions Attractions Attractions
  • Day 6: DEPARTURE

    To get to Dublin Airport, you can take a taxi, or we can arrange a convenient private transfer directly from your hotel. If your flight is in the afternoon, you can use the morning to enjoy some last-minute shopping, visit one of the many attractions or simply relax and take in the atmosphere of the city one last time.

    See Activities for this day

Optional extras

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.

Map

Here’s a map of your travel route, to help put things in perspective.

Accommodation

Sleep soundly, in the accommodation type of your choice, and wake up ready to enjoy another day of exploration.

Comfort Plus

Standard rooms in good quality and comfortable three-star hotels in combination with well-appointed guesthouses or country hotels.

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Superior

Standard rooms in four-star hotels or boutique guesthouses in combination with Superior rooms in premium three-star hotels.

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Rental car

Enjoy your journey with free GPS and Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) to reduce liability.

Opel Astra (Manual)
or similar

  • x5
  • x4
  • x2
  • M

Opel Astra (Manual)
or similar

  • Description: Compact
  • Passengers: 5
  • Luggage: 2
  • Doors: 4
  • Transmission: Manual

Kia Picanto (Automatic)
or similar

  • x4
  • x5
  • x2
  • A

Kia Picanto (Automatic)
or similar

  • Description: Economy
  • Passengers: 4
  • Luggage: 2
  • Doors: 5
  • Transmission: Automatic

Toyota Corolla (Automatic)
or similar

  • x5
  • x4
  • x3
  • A

Toyota Corolla (Automatic)
or similar

  • Description: Compact
  • Passengers: 5
  • Luggage: 3
  • Doors: 5
  • Transmission: Automatic

Skoda Octavia (Automatic)
or similar

  • x5
  • x5
  • x4
  • A

Skoda Octavia (Automatic)
or similar

  • Description: Standard
  • Passengers: 5
  • Luggage: 4
  • Doors: 5
  • Transmission: Automatic

Volvo S90 (Automatic)
or similar

  • x5
  • x5
  • x3
  • A

Volvo S90 (Automatic)
or similar

  • Description: Premium
  • Passengers: 5
  • Luggage: 4
  • Doors: 5
  • Transmission: Automatic

Nissan Qashqai (Automatic)
or similar

  • x5
  • x4
  • x3
  • A

Nissan Qashqai (Automatic)
or similar

  • Description: Intermediate SUV
  • Passengers: 5
  • Luggage: 3
  • Doors: 4
  • Transmission: Automatic

Ford Transit (Automatic)
or similar

  • x8
  • x4
  • x6
  • A

Ford Transit (Automatic)
or similar

  • Description: Luxury Passenger Van
  • Passengers: 8
  • Luggage: 6
  • Doors: 4
  • Transmission: Automatic

Price per person from

The amount will be charged in EUR

Approx 1333 EUR

Book with confidence

Monthly price comparison

Our best price per person when booking for two.

2023
2024

Tour Information

We recommend that all our travellers read through the following information about driving in Ireland, what the tour includes, the accommodation, and other useful information for your travels.

ABOUT OUR SELF-DRIVE TOURS
This is a self-drive tour, which means you will follow a detailed and personalised itinerary during your road trip in Ireland. No dedicated driver or tour guide is included. All accommodation, rental vehicle, and other planned activities or added services will be pre-booked by Nordic Visitor (as specified in the itinerary). As this is a self-drive tour, you are welcome to stop when and where you wish on your drive. Except for accommodation and booked activities, other highlights we’ve listed in the itinerary are suggestions based on Nordic Visitor favourites.

ACCOMMODATION AND ROOM TYPE
Our team of local travel experts carefully selects hotels, B&Bs, and guesthouses around the country based on excellent ratings, personal experience and comfort. Generally, in Ireland, whilst room sizes may vary, our room types are based on European standard sizes. Please note that twin rooms, triple and family rooms are not commonly available in Ireland, so please contact us for booking assistance if that is something you would like. Please also be aware that, due to the historic nature of some of the properties we select, sometimes rooms are only accessible by going up stairs, with no lifts available. Please contact us if you are not able to walk up stairs.

SAFE DRIVING IN IRELAND
The roads in Ireland are usually in good conditions all year long and are renowned for their road trip worthiness. Please be aware that motorists drive on the left side of the road (and on the right side of the car). If you are not used to driving on the left, we highly recommend choosing a vehicle with automatic transmission for your self-drive tour. If you want a manual transmission vehicle, keep in mind that you will need to shift gears with your left hand (floor pedals are the same). Drivers will also have to get used to the narrower roads of Ireland as well as the rural single-track roads with passing places and be careful of animals on the road.

SAFETY & WEATHER CONDITIONS
Please note that sightseeing and transport is dependent on weather and road conditions and might need to be altered if conditions are not favourable. This includes ferries and drives. If something unexpected occurs, you can call our 24-hour helpline to speak directly with a Nordic Visitor staff member.

CURRENCY RATE
All bookings are charged in Euros (EUR). Prices displayed in other currencies are indicative only and based on the daily exchange rate. Therefore, conversions from EUR to other currencies will fluctuate from day to day.

AFTER BOOKING WITH NORDIC VISITOR
After booking your package with Nordic Visitor, you will be contacted within two business days by one of our travel consultants who will serve as your dedicated contact person for all your travel needs before, during and even after your holiday. Your travel consultant will provide you with details about your booking and your remaining payment (if not paid in full). You will also receive more information about what to expect during your holiday.

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