Road Trip in Ireland ; Ten-Day Itinerary

Here is a ten-day road trip in Ireland itinerary. A drive starting from Dublin, through regions such as Donegal and Galway.

Ten Days of Road Trip in Ireland

Days 1 to 3 ; Dublin

First Steps in the Irish Capital

The trip begins at Dublin Airport, where a rental car is waiting. Next stop is the Wren Urban Nest, a hotel chosen on Booking thanks to travellers’ reviews, for two nights. Once the bags are dropped off, the discovery begins in Temple Bar, a lively district with many bars and restaurants. Clothing shops and craftspeople complete the atmosphere. Despite fickle weather, the streets are a pleasure to explore, all the way to St Patrick’s Cathedral, admired from the outside. A Guinness and a good meal round off this first Irish evening.

The first full day starts with a good coffee at Kaph, just the kind of address we love. Next comes the Guinness Storehouse, an interactive museum entirely devoted to the Irish people’s favourite drink. For two hours, the history of this legendary beer unfolds along a very well-designed route. The walk continues along the docks, to the Samuel Beckett Bridge. Designed by Santiago Calatrava and opened in 2009, it evokes a harp, Ireland’s national symbol. The evening is shared between a drink at the hotel bar, dinner in town and a wander through the lanes. The next morning, it is off to Belfast.

Days 3 and 4 ; Road Trip in Northern Ireland, from Belfast to Ballygally

Titanic Belfast

In the morning, Titanic Belfast opens its doors. Opened in March 2012 for the centenary of the sinking, this museum offers a unique and well-documented experience. The liner was in fact built in Belfast, in the Harland & Wolff shipyards, before sailing from Southampton to New York. Several galleries trace its history, from its design to its sinking and its legacy. Life-size replicas of cabins, historical objects and passenger accounts punctuate the visit. One section also covers the rescue operations and the inquiries that followed. Interactive technologies and audiovisual projections make the whole particularly educational.

Outside, a large outline on the ground shows the exact footprint of the liner. Under a grey sky, a quick stroll passes the city’s main monuments, before getting back on the road.

Ballygally

It is somewhat by chance that the night is spent in Ballygally, at the charming bed and breakfast Ballycairn House. The host is simply exceptional. The afternoon passes by the sea, under a few rays of sunshine. After a good night and a delicious breakfast, the road first leads to Glenarm Castle, admired from the outside. Then comes the pretty Ess-na-Crub waterfall, in the Glenariff valley.

Carrick-a-Rede and the Giant’s Causeway

The day continues with a stop at the tea room of the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge. As the suspension bridge does not tempt everyone, the view of the cliffs from the car park is more than enough. Next stop is the Giant’s Causeway, a volcanic formation on the Northern Irish coast. Some 40,000 basalt columns, mostly hexagonal, form a pavement that descends from the cliff to the sea. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986, the site belongs to the National Trust, which looks after it. The road then continues to Londonderry.

Days 4 and 5 ; Londonderry

The Peace Bridge

In Londonderry, also called Derry, the Peace Bridge spans the Foyle and links the two banks of the city. With the day already well advanced, a Guinness and a simple stroll through the streets are enough for happiness. The night is then spent in Belmullet.

Days 5 and 6 ; Donegal and Mullaghmore

Donegal Castle

The next day, Donegal Castle reveals itself in the centre of the town of the same name. Built in the 15th century, it was the stronghold of the O’Donnell clan, lords of Tír Conaill. This clan was among the most powerful Gaelic families in Ireland. The walk continues in Mullaghmore, between the seaside and green expanses. Nature as far as the eye can see, mountains and stone monuments make up a striking landscape. The road then leads to Galway.

Days 6 to 8 ; Galway

Kylemore Abbey

Galway welcomes travellers for two nights. On the way, Kylemore Abbey is worth a detour. This Benedictine monastery in Connemara was founded in 1920 by nuns who had fled Belgium during the First World War. They settled in a 19th-century neo-Gothic castle on the shore of a lake. Managed by The Kylemore Trust, the site preserves its spiritual mission as well as its natural and architectural heritage. The abbey is among the country’s main tourist attractions.

Galway Atlantaquaria

Once in Galway, a walk by the sea opens the stay. The next day, the Galway Atlantaquaria, Ireland’s national aquarium, can be visited in about an hour. Interactive, the visit is particularly well suited to children. The place could do with a good lick of paint, but the aquatic wildlife is as fascinating as ever. Outside, the city’s festive spirit, its shops and its street artists are charming. A lovely atmosphere for this small student city, very touristy in summer.

Claddagh

The walk continues in Claddagh, a stone’s throw from the centre, where the River Corrib meets Galway Bay. This former fishing village, outside the old town walls, gave its name to the famous Claddagh ring. A second night in Galway precedes the visit to the Cliffs of Moher.

Days 8 and 9 ; Road Trip in Ireland towards Cork

The Cliffs of Moher

On the road to Cork, a stop is a must in County Clare, in the province of Munster. Near the village of Liscannor, the Cliffs of Moher border the south-west of the Burren. They rise 214 metres above the Atlantic Ocean and stretch for eight kilometres. In the middle of the cliffs, O’Brien’s Tower was built in 1835 by Sir Cornelius O’Brien for the many visitors. On a clear day, the view extends to the Aran Islands, Galway Bay and the Connemara mountains. A three-hour walk lets you admire these incredible natural walls, under a kind sky.

Cork City Gaol

In Cork, the first visit leads to the city’s former prison. Now a museum, Cork City Gaol offers a moving testimony to the detention conditions of the past. The visit plunges into its corridors and cells. A striking experience, revealing a troubling history in which prisoners suffered cruelty and violence.

Waterford Distillery

Before leaving Cork, the English Market, the city’s famous covered market, is the place for a bite. Next stop is Waterford to discover one of Ireland’s flagship spirits, whiskey. For a first approach, nothing beats an introduction at Waterford Distillery. For two hours, the visit enriches your general knowledge of this particular drink. Whiskey probably takes a few tastings before being fully embraced. In the streets, a few murals, true works of craftsmanship, also catch the eye.

Days 9 and 10 ; Kilkenny

Kilkenny Castle

This last full day begins with Kilkenny Castle. Two hours are enough to discover the building and its gardens. One of the largest castles in Ireland, it controlled a crossing on the River Nore and the surrounding roads. With its four round towers and massive moat, it symbolised the Norman occupation and helped defend the town. The Butler family owned it for nearly six centuries. In 1967, they handed it over to the town for 50 Irish pounds. The State then restored it and opened it to the public.

Howth Lighthouse

The final stop was meant to be the Baily Lighthouse, but major works mean carrying on to Howth harbour. Howth Lighthouse, on the Howth Head peninsula, marks the entrance to the harbour, north of Dublin. The Commissioners of Irish Lights ran the first lighthouse, now inactive, while Dublin Port Authority oversees the second. The journey ends in the Irish rain, before a last night near the airport.

Ireland wins the heart, just like Scotland (in French) before it. A country to visit between mystery and magic. A first road trip in Ireland, but probably not the last. Back in Switzerland, the Irish atmosphere can be found at McCarthy’s (in French), in Lausanne.

Ten Days of Road Trip in Ireland