Guide to Ireland- Travel tips, insights & maps

Last Spring I spent 8 days traveling all across the Republic of Ireland. If visiting the Emerald Isle is a dream of yours use this compilation of tips and insights to assist you in planning your perfect Irish Holiday.

When I began planning our trip I started by collecting a few travel books, reading several blogs and some preliminary google searches in order to find some of the best tips for locations to visit, must see destinations and hopes of discovering some hidden gems. After my initial research I created a google doc where I kept tips, information and links for easy access as I continued to gather information. Once this step was done all of that was used to create a travel itinerary. Over the course of 5 months that itinerary was revised and edited to incorporate the top sights and activities per requests by everyone in our travel party as well as to include locations, restaurants and additional stops along our route (if time allowed) so we would have options. When I make an itinerary I always like to incorporate plan “B & C” (or D & E because you never know….you might get to your destination and want to scrap all of the other plans) as back up options or optional contingency plans in case of inclement weather/change in plans or random mishaps/unknowns that shift the plan for the day.

While planning your itinerary determine which direction you will be traveling, sights you want to see along your route and look for gems that are unknown via a quick google maps search. *TIP: Plug an address or city into google maps and then scroll in using the layers tab and search for highlighted areas of interest using the functions in google maps. One of those searches led to the discovery of the Cliff Walk at Kilkee, one of the lesser known cliffs along Ireland’s west coast and an incredible sight to behold. The Cliff Walk offers unique views of the Irish coast, the Atlantic Ocean and tranquility.

Every time I researched Ireland I saw multiple blogs that covered the typical, well known sights such as Cliffs of Moher (and rightly so, they are INCREDIBLE!!), Dublin’s Temple Bar area, Blarney Castle (and of course kissing the Blarney Stone), and several other overly advertised locations. We did incorporate a few of those, but the main goal of our trip was to discover the unknown gems, uncovering hidden natural beauties and finding the locations lesser known. Continue below for some tips on visiting the touristy places like Temple Bar, Cliffs of Moher and driving on the Ring of Kerry as well as tips for uncovering off the beaton path treasures and recommendations of lesser known locations to add to your Irish dream wish list.

One of the first locations that I stumbled upon that kept coming up during my hours and hours of research was the iconic Cliffs of Moher. Yes, of course you can visit Ireland and skip a trip to the cliffs, but I recommend you add them to your list and trust me that they are “iconic” and listed as the number one tourist destination in Ireland for a reason! They sweeping views, rugged cliffs and breezy air tinged with salt are part of the Irish experience you really won’t want to miss! This view is really worth a visit, there’s nothing quite like the magic of looking out to sea while you watch the inch closer to the horizon, seabirds circle through the air and swoop next to the edge of the cliffs. We were met with breezy conditions and partially cloudy skies, but as we sat and soaked up the view the sun broke through the clouds revealing magnificent beams of light streaming across the sea. It was breathtaking to witness waves crashing against the majestic cliffs while we felt the warmth of the sun on our face and watched dandelions swaying in the breeze. We skipped the crowds by arriving at 4:30pm, about an hour before the visitor center closed. By arriving towards the end of the day we were able to enjoy the magic of the area with only seeing a handful of other people the entire 2+ hours we were there!

If you’re worried about crowds (at top tourist locations) here are a few tips to avoid that. 1) Plan your trip in the off season! We visited over the last week of April and were blessed with wonderful weather, very few crowds and affordable prices on our flights & at all the accomodations. 2) Plan to visit first thing in the morning, before all the tour buses and crowds arrive. 3) Arrive towards the end of the day & plan to stay for sunset (when there are zero crowds, ample parking is available & the sunlight on the cliffs is mesmerizing!). 4) Visit unknown, off the grid locations 5) Plan to visit the Top touristy areas in off peak hours, such as a few hours before closing or sunset for minimal crowds.

For those who plan to explore across the Republic of Ireland & Northern Ireland you will need to consider a few things such as having both euros & pounds on hand for purchases as well as an ETA to cross the border. In order to travel between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland via land transportation will require obtaining an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) prior to your travel dates. Other recommendations for Northern Ireland travel is to verify that your travel insurance/travel car insurance will cover (crossing the border) the entirety of your travels and if you will be driving across the border I recommend verifying that the coverage extends to both portions of Ireland. As for rental car recommendations, I recommend the company SIXT. We had no issues with our rental car and using them for the rental. My friend Chico looked into multiple companies prior to our trip and compared options, prices and benefits from the various companies and we landed on SIXT who offered better coverage and a better overall cost. Our rental of a standard SUV for 8 days was a little under $600 for full coverage!

Restaurant recommendations near Cliffs of Moher- “The Cottage” in Doolin is quaint, cosy and has all the charm you could hope for. The rustic wooden beams and crackling fire sets an ambiance and every dish is delicious, especially the salmon chowder & fig, balsamic & brie salad. Learn more here: https://guide.michelin.com/en/clare/doolin/restaurant/homestead-cottage

Restaurant recommendations in Dingle- Solas Tapas & Wine Bar: US$5 – US$65, Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options. Reservations highly recommended:+353 87 993 2116. Strand St Unit 1, Dingle V92 Y79T Ireland Fenton’s Of Dingle: Vegan friendly restaurant, upscale a little pricier. Need to call for reservation:+353 66 915 2172 James Long Pub: Vegan options: vegan burger, vegetarian nachos, pizza, soup?, +353 66 915 2823 Blue Zone: Vegan options/Pizza (*great atmosphere-it’s a jazz bar/pub), reviews say the pizza is amazing & great prices $7-17, Murphy’s Ice Cream: Absolutely delicious, creamy and smooth. Recommend trying the chocolate or raspberry!

Restaurant in County Offolay, The Dungeon Bar at Kinnitty Castle Hotel; absolutely amazing location, incredible food, wonderful service, and there’s the fact that your having dinner, drinks or appetizers inside the dungeon of a real medeival castle from the 1200’s! I also highly recommend booking an overnight stay in one of their beautiful rooms. This was by far the most impressive location I’ve ever visited and had the pleasure of staying in over night. We felt spoiled by the accomodations, the delightful staff and it truly felt like we were living our fairytale dreams while wandering around the vast 60 acres of rolling lawns that surround the castle. Kinnitty is nestled in the foothills of the Slieve Bloom Mountains and only 90 minutes from Dublin, Limmerick & Galway and 2 hours from Cork this castle really is in the heart of the country. Learn more here: https://www.kinnittycastlehotel.com/index.html

Restaurant recommendations in Dublin: Merchants Arch Pub Dublin: Merchants Arch is a pub located in Dublin’s Temple Bar area. Temple Bar is a must-see in Ireland because it is full of Irish pubs playing live music and serving up Guinness. The Auld Dubliner: Located in the heart of Temple Bar is the sort of place you could spend an entire day in. With a cracking menu serving favourites like Irish stew and music on seven-days-a-week, definitely try to stop by here if you can. Chili Club: Located on Anne Lane, just down the street from the hanging umbrellas. Amazing Thai food and great atmosphere.

Restaurant recommendations in Wexford/Waterford areas: Hook Lighthouse cafe: a visit to the Hook Peninsula is not complete without treating yourself in the Lighthouse Café. Tintern Abbey Tea Rooms: The newly refurbished Tintern Abbey Tea Rooms are situated in the grounds of Tintern Abbey and adjacent to Colclough Walled Garden. Offering indulgent freshly made baked goods as well as homemade lemonade, traditional tea and freshly ground Coffee. The Hollow Bar & Restaurant: The Hollow Seafood and Steakhouse restaurant has worked hard to earn an outstanding reputation for serving the freshest, top quality food, all locally sourced and prepared to the highest of standards. Peppers Restaurant: 61 Merchant Quay, Waterford Ireland People rave about this place & say it is best Asian/Indian food they’ve had. Cafe Goa: Located in Waterford- Indian, Asian, Balti.

Over the course of 7 full days we were able to see a large majority of the Republic of Ireland including New Castle West, Limmerick, Kilkee Cliffs & Cliffs of Moher, Doolin, a large portion of the Ring of Kerry & Slea Head Loop, Dingle, Birr, Kilkenny, Wicklow National Park & Monastic City, Dublin, Waterford, Wexford, Hook Head Loop and many areas in between. We were able to thoroughly explore multiple cities with our itinerary and get a real sense & appreciation of the charms of the Irish countryside. One of the many discoveries I made was that the beautiful country of Ireland reminded me of home. The rolling hills, mountains and ocean all within a few hours are just a few of the perks I love about living in Oregon. This realization created a deeper connection and fondness for the lush green rolling hills, epic views and I must say I was swept me up in the magic of Ireland. I can’t wait to return!

Visit https://stampsinmypassport.com/services/ to find the full Itinerary and other helpful options & to learn more information about my marvelous trip through Ireland click the links below:

Several Maps of Ireland & locations