A few years ago, my friend and I backpacked around Ireland for ten days on a three-town travel route. My itinerary: 3 days in Dublin, 2 days in Galway, and 1 day in Doolin. This guide will mainly focus on these three tourists stops, but I’ll also recommend a few bonus towns I would love to experience next time I visit. Ireland is the perfect summer destination, so let’s get into all the bucket list items for your next vacation!

Know Before You Go

• You don’t need to learn how to drive on the opposite side of the road to get around Ireland—the easiest (and cheapest) way to travel around this little country is actually public transportation. Renting a car can eat up a lot of your travel funds, but luckily most places in Europe are easily accessible by bus (coach) or train.
• You’ll need to exchange your currency before traveling to Ireland. Ireland is part of the EU and uses Euros (not pounds like in the UK).

Dublin

Oh, Dublin! I’ll admit, I felt like three days was more than enough time in Dublin, but for a lot of people, Ireland’s capital is a must for their bucket list. I spent most of my stay on the south side of the River Liffey, where most everything is easy to walk to.

Guinness Storehouse: Probably the top seller for Dublin’s attractions, the Guinness Storehouse is a seven-story factory and museum for Ireland’s most famous beer. Each floor is its own experience, with the seventh floor being my favorite: the Gravity bar. The bar has a 360˚ view of Dublin and is where you’ll collect your complimentary Guinness. Self-guided tours are €18.

Powerscourt Townhouse Centre: This hidden gem is right off the famous Grafton Street! From the outside, it looks just like any grand Georgian style home. But inside is a unique, open shopping center with boutiques and cafes.

St. Stephen’s Green: This park reminded me of a small-scale Central Park, with its beautiful walking paths through the lush green lawns and duck ponds. It’s a nice reprieve from the city if you want to read or take a snooze in the grass.

Temple Bar: It’s touristy as all heck, but you must stop by the Temple Bar for a pint at this Irish pub. It’s loud and crowded, but also the best place to get hammered and sing Irish pub songs. You’ll meet people from all over the world here, which was my favorite part.

The Ivy: Truffle parmesan chips. Basil broccoli. Arancini. It’s perfect for a girl’s cocktail hour or brunch, if you feel like splurging a bit on tasty apps and boozy cocktails. The walls are decorated in rose gold and floral print, so there’s an Instagram spot in every corner.

Ruby Sessions: This place is one Dublin’s most famous spots for live music. It’s an intimate music venue known to house acoustic sets from artists like Ed Sheeran and Hozier. They’re only open on Tuesdays, so definitely plan your visit around a performance that you’ll love.

Galway

Galway was my favorite stop in Ireland, mostly for its laid-backness and natural beauty. This coastal town is perfect for walking around and exploring.

Give it a Go: If you’re looking for a streak of adventure in Galway, I highly recommend booking a kayaking tour with Give it a Go. The tour leader, Duncan, was friendly and knowledgeable about the area. The kayaking trip was about two hours long and fairly easy if you’re a beginner.

The meet-up place is at a small boat launch a bit outside of town, so you’ll need to get an Uber there. Wear warm clothes you don’t mind getting wet (though Duncan provides you with a wetsuit) because the water is pretty chilly, even in the summer months.

Mutton Island Lighthouse: Apart from downtown is Mutton Island. Cut through South Park, which has grassy, wildflower trails along the coastline, to get to the road that leads to the lighthouse. The walk down is fiercely windy, but worth it to see the panoramic view of the city.

Day Trip to Connemara: Take a day trip through Ireland’s hillside to the district of Connemara. You can find decently priced tours of Kylemore Abbey and Connemara National Park on Tripadvisor.

Doolin

From Galway, you can take the bus to Doolin and ride along the Wild Atlantic Way. This winding road hugs the western coast of Ireland, with the turquoise sea through one window and the green hills of the inland out the other. Unless you’re renting a car, taking a bus is the only way into this tiny costal town.

Cliffs of Moher: You CAN’T MISS the Cliffs on your trip! I promise you, this natural beauty will be one of the best wonders of your life.

From Doolin, you have two options for how to get to the Cliffs. The first is the shuttle, which you can hop on and off throughout the town. Make sure you get on at the shuttle stop though, not the bus stop; the shuttle stop is green (bus stop is red) and next to McDermott’s Pub. The second option is the more adventurous route: the Cliff Walk. The walk from Doolin to the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Center is about 5 miles, and the pathway runs all along the jagged coastline. It’s the most stunning walk you’ll find in Ireland.

Aran Islands & Cliffs cruise: If you have time, catch a cruise along the coastline to see the Cliffs from the sea. The way the Cliffs rise up from the water is a view that just can’t be beat. I only did a cruise along the coastline, but another popular ride is to the Aran Islands. There are three of these rocky islands, which are known for their ancient ruins from medieval times.

To get to the Doolin docks, just walk the main road all the way down. Keep in mind that the sea does get choppy, so if the weather looks like it may turn, it may make for an unpleasant ride. We went on a day that was super rainy and windy, and the rough waves made us sick.

Cave Kayaking: What better way to explore the Cliffs than to go cave kayaking! While I didn’t have time for a second kayaking trip, this would be a perfect coastline excursion for any adventure-seekers looking for a more intimate view of the coastline. Check out the Liscannor Bay Tour with North Clare Sea Kayaking Tour Company.

Bonus Stops: Killarney and Cork

Killarney: This mountain-side getaway has it all: castles, nature walks, and a cute little town to walk through. It’s one of the largest tourist destinations in Ireland, so there’s always something going on for out-of-towners.

Cork: This town is located along the southern ridge of Ireland and is known for the Blarney Stone (aka the Kissing Rock). To kiss the stone, you have to dangle yourself through a slit in the parapets, which legend says will bring you the gift of flattery.

Giant’s Causeway: While this natural wonder is technically located in Northern Ireland (which is NOT part of the Republic of Ireland), many tour companies do day trips here from Dublin. These naturally made basalt columns are still on my bucket list to experience.

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