Visiting Ireland for the first time, we weren’t sure whether to rent a car, take a bus or train and which cities to fit into our 10 day trip. We decided to train from Dublin to Limerick to Galway and back to Dublin. We are sharing our itinerary with you, because we know you’d love this trip too!

DUBLIN

Day 1: Tour the Guinness Storehouse and eat at Quays

Visiting the Guinness Storehouse was such a cool introduction to Dublin. Starting as a fermentation plant in 1904, the Guinness Storehouse is still rocking it with delicious beer and fascinating tours. One of our favorite parts? The view at the Gravity Bar once you finish the tour (and of course the Guinness- so much better than the states!)

We topped off our day at Quays Irish Restaurant (get the Irish stew- it’s incredible)

Day 2: Hit up some must see spots- St. Stephen’s Green, Trinity College, St. Patrick’s Cathedral and more

Spend time in the morning walking through Trinity College and St. Stephen’s Green. We were blown away at the beautiful architecture at Trinity, and the landscape at St. Stephen’s was so intensely green that it looked as if it was painted. These areas are definitely were some of the beauty of Dublin lies.

St. Patrick’s Cathedral is another iconic Dublin can’t miss spot. You’ll have plenty of time to see all these three things and still have time to pub hop in between.

LIMERICK

Day 3: Travel by train to one of the oldest cities in Ireland that often gets overlooked, Limerick

Taking the train is such an enjoyable way to travel. It’s easy, stress free and offers beautiful views of the Irish countryside the whole way through. We stayed at the Absolute Hotel and had a drink on the bar patio once arriving. It was lovely- we highly recommend staying there!

Day 4: Visit King Johns Castle and St. Mary’s Cathedral

Spend a day at an Irish castle over 800 years old. Wander through the fortress, overlook cemeteries, colorful buildings and rainbows (we saw TWO rainbows during our time here).

Head over to nearby St. Mary’s Cathedral. It is the oldest building in all of Limerick that is still in use today. As beautiful as the outside is, the inside is even more breathtaking, and is a must see in Limerick. Go on a Sunday to hear the choir sing.

Day 5: Explore Limerick

Spend the day with no plan in mind and soak up the culture of Limerick. Visit the Milk Market, the Fashion Quarter, antique shops and bookshops and admire the street art along the way. Our favorite part about Limerick is how off the beaten path it seemed in comparison to Dublin and Galway. It was traditional in all senses and we felt like we were thrown back in time. It was what we always dreamed Ireland would be.

We ended our time in Limerick at Azur Restuaruant and the Locke Bar for an Irish Coffee.

GALWAY

Day 6: Travel day and explore Galway

If we could describe Galway in one word it would be dreamy. It’s impossible not to love every part of this beach-vibe Irish city.

Find some traditional Irish food, and go off to explore throughout the day. Visit the Latin Quarter, get lost in the tight side streets filled with boutiques and cafes, duck into a pub for some live music and a Guinness and savor the culture.

We went in November when it was chillier but if you are there in the summer, take advantage of being on the coast. 

Day 7: Visit the Cliffs of Moher via a bus tour from Galway

Book a tour in Galway to see the Cliffs of Moher. The drive took our breath away. We stopped for lunch in Doolin (the cutest Irish town you could imagine), and spent the rest of the day at the Cliffs.

Walking through the cliffs was awe inspiring and at times we felt close to tears at how astonishing they are. To this day it was one of the most beautiful sights we have ever seen. Sheep graze the grass surrounding you and you are free to walk pretty much wherever you’d like. Just be careful since there are no fences and no boundaries!

You’ll see sunset views of the Aran Islands before heading back to Galway. Tickets only run about 30 euro a person through one of the local tour companies.

Day 8: Eat more Irish food and pub hop

Not only can you find traditional Irish food in Galway but also some of the best seafood being on the west coast. Seafood chowder is to die for at any of the local restaurants. Spend the day and night hopping from pub to pub, peaking in local boutiques and walking along the coast.

DUBLIN

Day 9: Travel day back to Dublin and visit to Temple Bar 

The best way to end your time in Ireland is at the infamous Temple Bar (open since 1840!) Just because it’s touristy doesn’t mean you should skip this one – it still holds all of it’s charm. We also highly recommend Dingle Whiskey Bar for a flight of whiskey if that’s your thing. It was some of the best we’ve ever had.

Day 10: Grafton Street and fly home

Located in the heart of Dublin you’ll find Grafton Street full of life at all times, bustling with shops and restaurants. Keep an eye out to see if there are any festivals going on when you’re visiting. We were there for the Dublin at Christmas Lighting Ceremony and it was magical.

We hope you enjoy your trip to Ireland as much as we did. As always, if you have any questions feel free to leave a comment or contact us by email.

Emilie & Chris