Ireland 7-day itinerary

Ireland 7-day itinerary

Experience the best of the West Coast in just one week in Ireland 

Day 1 - Exploring Dublin

We only had a day in Dublin, and instead of trying to cram in every major sight, we spent most of it walking around with a coffee in hand. Looking back, that was the best way to experience the city.

Dublin is a very walkable city, which makes it ideal if you only have one day in Dublin. Most of the main sights are within easy walking distance, and simply wandering through the city centre is part of the experience.

We skipped some of the main Dublin attractions, such as the Guinness Storehouse and Kilmainham Gaol, since each can take several hours. Instead, we spent the day exploring Dublin on foot.

If you want to see a walkable itinerary, this page gives some ideas.

Day 2 - Hiking the Gap of Dunloe

On the second day, we picked up our rental car and drove to Killarney (read our tips on rental cars below). The drive takes a little over 3 hours.

We left our bags at our Airbnb and headed straight to the Gap of Dunloe. We decided to hike it on this day because the next day would be fully dedicated to the Ring of Kerry drive.

The Gap of Dunloe is very touristy, but hiking in the late afternoon means you’ll see far fewer people and cars.

You can choose how far you want to walk. The main viewpoint is the Head of the Gap of Dunloe, which takes about 1.5 hours one way. There are three bridges between the parking area and the Head of the Gap. The third bridge is around 1 hour one way. It took us longer because we kept stopping to take pictures of the sheep along the way.

Day 3 - Ring of Kerry drive

The Ring of Kerry is a 179 km (111 miles) scenic driving route around the Iveragh Peninsula in County Kerry. It was one of the highlights of our trip. We recommend planning your route to avoid missing key stops along the way. Many guided tours skip the Skellig Ring, and in our opinion, the drive is not as impressive if the Skellig Ring is left out.

The first stop is Ross Castle, with beautiful lake views as you walk along the grounds. After that, drive to Muckross Abbey. Even though it is mostly in ruins, it is still very well preserved and worth a short visit. We skipped Torc Waterfall, as the photos didn’t seem particularly impressive.

One of the most iconic viewpoints is Ladies View, named after Queen Victoria’s visit in 1861. Her ladies-in-waiting were reportedly so impressed by the scenery that the viewpoint was named after them.

However, the best part of the drive begins after Moll’s Gap. Just past the Avoca car park, there is a stunning viewpoint over the Black Valley. Kenmare is a great stop for lunch; we sat outside at Blasta and had a perfect Soup of the Day.

From here, the road trip goes from good to great. If you enter these coordinates (51.8223671, -9.9797001) into Google Maps, it will take you to a small parking area with access to the Kerry Way hike. The Kerry Way is Ireland’s longest signposted walking trail. You can walk as far as you like, with sweeping views over the MacGillycuddy’s Reeks and a remote, dramatic green valley landscape.

We also took a short detour to Staigue Stone Fort, an Iron Age defensive structure likely built for a local king. It is free to visit, but the access roads are very narrow, so drive carefully.

Most itineraries include Derrynane Beach. It can be skipped unless you have extra time or want to do a longer coastal walk. Locals often hike the Derrynane Mass Path (Loop 12), which takes around 2.5 to 3 hours.

The highlight of the Skellig Ring is Kerry Cliffs, rising nearly 1,000 ft above the Atlantic. Entry is €5 per person (June 2026). From the entrance, it is a 10-minute walk to the main viewpoint. There are two viewpoints, North and South. Start with the North (right side). In our opinion, Kerry Cliffs are even more impressive than the Cliffs of Moher, with closer viewpoints, fewer crowds, and more rugged, dramatic edges.

From there, we drove to Castlemaine, where we stayed for the night.

Day 4 - Drive the Dingle Peninsula

The Dingle Peninsula loop is around 95 km (60 miles). We recommend planning your route to avoid missing key stops along the way.

After breakfast, we started from Castlemaine. The first quick stop is Inch Beach, a long stretch of sand popular for walking and surfing. Next is Minard Castle. The access roads are very narrow, and the castle sits on private property, so it cannot be entered, but it’s still worth a short stop for the views.

From there, continue through Dingle Town, but don’t stop yet. We returned later in the afternoon.

After passing Dingle, you’ll reach Ventry Beach, which marks the beginning of the famous Slea Head Drive. The scenery from here becomes spectacular, with dramatic coastal views and winding roads. Many viewpoints are tucked just around bends, so it’s worth driving slowly.

About 300 meters (900 feet) before the White Cross viewpoint, there is a larger pull-off area where you can park. This is where we found the (now very popular) Instagram rock spot (see photo below).

The next stop after White Cross is Coumeenoole Beach. Parking is limited and narrow, but the beach itself is beautiful. The real highlight here is the hike to Dunmore Head, which takes about 30 minutes round-trip and leads to the westernmost point of mainland Ireland.

Another must-stop is Dun Chaoin Pier, one of the most scenic viewpoints on the peninsula, with rugged cliffs, winding coastal roads, and views over the Atlantic Ocean.

For lunch, we stopped at Kruger’s Bar, which has a nice outdoor seating area when the weather allows.

After lunch, we continued to Gallarus Oratory, an early medieval stone church dating back to around the 11th or 12th century. On the way, you can also stop at the Ceann Sibeal viewpoint.

At Gallarus Oratory, there are two parking options: one paid parking area in front of the visitor center, and a free option accessed via a public path. We used these coordinates (52°10'17.1"N 10°21'01.4"W) to find the free parking spot.

Afterwards, we spent some time in Dingle Town, a great place to relax with pubs on Main Street or cafés near Dingle Harbour.

Later, we drove through Conor Pass, one of the highest mountain passes in Ireland. The road is narrow and winding, and visibility can change quickly — in our case, we ended up driving through clouds and couldn’t see much.

We ended the day in Tralee, where we stayed overnight. If you arrive early, it’s worth stopping at the Maharees for impressive beaches before heading to your accommodation.

Day 5 - Burren and Cliffs of Moher

From Tralee to Burren National Park is less than 3 hours. We stopped at the visitor centre, where the staff were very helpful in suggesting the best places to visit depending on the time you have.

Burren National Park is often said to have influenced J.R.R. Tolkien in his writing. The landscape is ancient; the Burren rocks formed around 350 million years ago, when Ireland was located south of the equator. During the last Ice Age (around 12,000 years ago), glaciers shaped the limestone pavement seen today. Over time, rainwater has slowly dissolved the limestone, creating the characteristic deep cracks and fissures.

If you have only a couple of hours, we recommend driving to Poulnabrone Dolmen, one of the most iconic prehistoric monuments in Ireland. It dates back to the Neolithic period (around 3800–3200 BCE), making it over 5,000 years old. It was used as a burial site for centuries, and excavations in the late 20th century uncovered remains of at least 33 individuals, including both adults and children.

Continue to Ballyvaughan for scenic views of the Burren landscape. If you have more time, you can complete the 7.5 km Mullaghmore Loop (blue route), which takes you across a unique, rounded limestone hill with terraced, lunar-like scenery.

From Ballyvaughan, you can drive to the Cliffs of Moher either via Lisdoonvarna (faster route) or via the more scenic coastal road through Fanore.

The Cliffs of Moher are free to access, but parking costs €8 per person (not per car). We noticed some drivers dropping passengers off at the entrance before parking elsewhere. It’s worth booking online in advance for a small discount.

There are two main walking sections: the Southern Section and the Northern Section. The Southern Section was closed during our visit, so we walked only the Northern Section, about 1 km in total. The Northern path is also closed about 800 meters after O’Brien’s Tower.

The cliffs can be extremely crowded, but with this itinerary, you may arrive after 4 pm, when most tour buses have already left. The visitor centre is well designed and includes educational exhibits and a high-quality 4K video experience about the cliffs.

Before sunset, drive to Galway, again either via Lisdoonvarna (faster) or the scenic coastal route through Fanore.

Flexible plan: If the weather is poor (rain or fog) and you prefer to skip either Burren National Park or the Cliffs of Moher, we recommend stopping in Ennis instead. It has an authentic medieval feel, and the Clare Museum in the town centre is a hidden gem that provides a great introduction to the history and heritage of County Clare.

Know before you go

Public transportation in Dublin - Leap Visitor Card

The Leap Visitor Card is a convenient public transport ticket for tourists visiting Dublin. It offers unlimited travel for a set period of time.

We bought the 24-hour version for €8. A standard Leap Card costs €5, but you then need to top it up with credit for each journey. The Visitor Card is simpler since it includes unlimited travel within the time window.

We used it to travel to Howth and Malahide, and then again the following morning for the trip to Dublin Airport. It was an easy and cost-effective option for short stays in the city.

Where to eat

Traditional Irish cuisine tends to be simple and hearty, with an emphasis on meat, potatoes, and comfort foods. Unfortunately, local fare isn't quite our style, and we decided to break from pub cuisine. We found ourselves gravitating toward the international food scene instead. Ireland offers excellent Asian restaurants, ranging from authentic Chinese and Japanese eateries to outstanding Thai, Korean, and Vietnamese cuisine. These international options ended up being some of our favorite meals during the trip. We found the chain 'LANA Asian Street' enjoyable and present in most of the small towns we visited.  

Where to stay

Dublin has a great public transport system. If you find a place near a bus stop, then it is very easy to go anywhere from there. If you want to easily walk to the center and stay in a hotel, the Clayton Hotel Burlington Road* is a great option, with a fantastic breakfast. 

We then used Airbnb to stay in another part of Ireland. Hotels were out of our budget.