Travel Guide to Ireland 2026: Dublin, the Cliffs of Moher, Galway & Kerry
Planning to visit Ireland? This travel guide to Ireland covers everything for a first trip: where Ireland is, the best time to go, entry rules (Ireland is not in Schengen), the 10 best places to visit, a 7-day road trip, realistic costs, safety tips and the best hotels and universities. From the pubs and Georgian squares of Dublin to the Cliffs of Moher, the Ring of Kerry, Galway and the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland is green, friendly and full of stories.
Last updated: October 2026 · Entry rules and taxes in this travel guide to Ireland were checked against official sources
📊 Quick Facts for Your Travel guide to Ireland
- Capital: Dublin💡 About 1.5 million people in the Dublin region
- Currency: Euro (EUR)💡 Northern Ireland uses the pound. Check today's rate
- Languages: English and Irish (Gaeilge)💡 Irish is spoken in the Gaeltacht areas
- Population: About 5.4 million💡 2026 estimate
- Area: 70,273 km²💡 About five-sixths of the island of Ireland
- Time zone: UTC+0 (UTC+1 in summer)💡 Same as London. Convert times
- UNESCO sites: 2💡 Brú na Bóinne (Newgrange) and Skellig Michael
- Power: 230 V, plug type G💡 The same three-pin plug as the UK
ℹ️ Figures in this travel guide to Ireland are 2026 estimates from official and international sources.
📍 Where Is Ireland?
Ireland lies in the North Atlantic, west of Great Britain across the Irish Sea. The Republic of Ireland covers most of the island; the six counties of Northern Ireland in the north-east are part of the United Kingdom, with an open land border between them. The west coast faces the Atlantic, with cliffs, islands and peninsulas along the 2,500 km Wild Atlantic Way.
Dublin is a short flight from London, Paris and Amsterdam and has direct flights from many North American cities. Check the distance from your city with our distance calculator.
📅 Best Time to Visit Ireland
The best time to visit Ireland is May to September, when days are long (up to 17 hours of daylight in June) and temperatures reach 15–20 °C. July and August are the busiest and most expensive months. April, May and September are good-value shoulder months. Winter is mild but wet and dark; it is the time for cosy pubs, Christmas markets and cheaper hotels. Expect rain at any time of year, and around St Patrick's Day (17 March) book early.
St Patrick's Day, lambs and green fields.
Long days and festivals; the busiest season.
Fewer crowds and Halloween, which began in Ireland.
Mild, wet and festive; city breaks and pubs.
📅 Use the seasons in this travel guide to Ireland to match your trip to the weather, festivals and prices you want.
🛂 Ireland Visa & Entry Requirements
Visa-free for many visitors: citizens of the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and many other countries can visit Ireland without a visa for up to 90 days; the immigration officer stamps the length of stay at the border. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can use an ID card. Ireland is not in the Schengen Area, so days in Ireland do not count towards your Schengen 90 days, and the EU's EES and ETIAS do not apply here. Ireland and the UK form the Common Travel Area.
- PassportValid for your whole stay.
- UK side tripsVisiting Northern Ireland or Great Britain? Non-Irish visitors need a UK ETA (£20) for that part.
- US preclearanceFlying to the USA from Dublin or Shannon, you clear US immigration in Ireland before boarding.
- Main airportDublin (DUB), about 30 minutes from the centre by Aircoach or Dublin Express bus.
🔗 Official sources: Irish Immigration Service · Department of Foreign Affairs. Entry rules change, so always confirm before booking and avoid paid look-alike sites.
🛂 Entry rules in this travel guide to Ireland were last checked in October 2026.
☘️ 10 Best Places to Visit in Ireland
These are the places we recommend most in this travel guide to Ireland, with the best months to see each one.
Trinity College and the Book of Kells, Temple Bar, the Guinness Storehouse and Kilmainham Gaol.
💡 Best time: May–SepIreland's most famous cliffs, with coastal walks from Doolin.
💡 Best time: Apr–SepLive music, colourful streets and the gateway to Connemara and the Aran Islands.
💡 Best time: May–SepA 179 km loop of lakes, mountains and beaches; Killarney National Park.
💡 Best time: May–SepSlea Head Drive, colourful pubs and Gaelic culture.
💡 Best time: May–SepWild bogs, Kylemore Abbey and the Twelve Bens.
💡 Best time: May–SepNewgrange, a 5,000-year-old passage tomb older than the pyramids (UNESCO).
💡 Best time: All yearAn early monastery on a sea rock (UNESCO); landing boats run mid-May to September.
💡 Best time: May–SepA medieval city with a castle, cathedral and craft pubs.
💡 Best time: Apr–OctThe English Market, Blarney Castle and Ireland's food capital.
💡 Best time: May–Sep🗺️ 7-Day Ireland Road Trip Itinerary
A classic first-timer loop by car from Dublin to the west and back. Remember: Ireland drives on the left.
Follow this route from our travel guide to Ireland day by day, or shorten it to fit your trip.
- Dublin: arrive; Trinity College, the Book of Kells and an evening in a traditional pub.
- Dublin: Kilmainham Gaol, the Guinness Storehouse, or a day trip to Newgrange.
- Galway: drive west (2.5 hours); Shop Street and live music in the Latin Quarter.
- Connemara or the Aran Islands: Kylemore Abbey, or a ferry to Inis Mór.
- Cliffs of Moher: through the Burren to the cliffs, then on to Killarney.
- Ring of Kerry: drive the loop (or the Dingle Peninsula) and Killarney National Park.
- Depart: via Cork and Blarney Castle, flying home from Cork or Shannon.
➕ With more time: add Kilkenny, the Skellig Islands, Donegal's wild coast, or a trip north to Belfast and the Giant's Causeway (a UK ETA is needed for non-Irish visitors).
💵 How Much Does a Trip to Ireland Cost?
Ireland is one of the most expensive countries in Europe, especially for hotels in Dublin. These are approximate daily costs per person in 2026, excluding flights. Use our currency converter to see them in your own currency.
| Travel style | Per day (approx.) | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | €80–120 | Hostels, pub food, buses and free museums |
| Mid-range | €180–300 | Hotels and B&Bs, restaurant dinners, a rental car and tours |
| Luxury | €500 + | Castle hotels, fine dining and private drivers |
💡 All prices in this travel guide to Ireland are per person, per day, and change with the season and exchange rates.
🚗 Car hire is the easiest way to see the west, but book early for summer and check the insurance (some credit-card cover is not accepted). A pint costs about €6–8 in Dublin, and the National Museum and National Gallery are free.
💡 Safety & Travel Tips for Your Travel guide to Ireland
Ireland is very safe. Watch for pickpockets in busy parts of Dublin (O'Connell Street, Temple Bar) and do not leave bags in parked cars at tourist sites. On the cliffs, stay behind the barriers; the edges are unstable and winds are strong. On narrow country roads drive slowly and watch for cyclists, tractors and sheep.
Roads in the west are narrow; allow extra time.
Showers come and go every day.
Live Irish music in pubs is usually free.
Hotels sell out for concerts and rugby.
"Sláinte" (cheers) and "Go raibh maith agat" (thank you).
Euro in Ireland, pounds in Northern Ireland.
🏨 Best Hotels in Ireland: 8 Top Picks
Stay near St Stephen's Green or Temple Bar in Dublin; in the west, castle hotels and country houses are a highlight.
Dublin's grandest address since 1824.
Check prices on Booking.com →Four Georgian townhouses with an art collection.
Check prices on Booking.com →A 13th-century castle on Lough Corrib.
Check prices on Booking.com →A Gothic Revival manor and championship golf course.
Check prices on Booking.com →A castle near Shannon Airport and the Cliffs of Moher.
Check prices on Booking.com →Floor-to-ceiling lake and mountain views.
Check prices on Booking.com →A stylish base by Lough Atalia with a spa.
Check prices on Booking.com →A riverside lodge on the Ring of Kerry.
Check prices on Booking.com →🔎 How we chose for this travel guide to Ireland: hotels are picked for location, reputation and a spread of regions and styles. Prices and availability change daily, so the buttons open live Booking.com results for each property.
🤝 Affiliate disclosure: hotel buttons are affiliate links. If you book through them, AtlasWise may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes which hotels we list.
🎓 Top Universities in Ireland
Ireland is a popular, English-speaking study destination, with strong universities and many international students.
| University | City | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Trinity College Dublin | Dublin | Public |
| University College Dublin | Dublin | Public |
| University of Galway | Galway | Public |
| University College Cork | Cork | Public |
| Dublin City University | Dublin | Public |
Founded in 1592, Ireland's oldest and highest-ranked university.
Visit website →Ireland's largest university, with a big international community.
Visit website →Strong in medical technology and marine science.
Visit website →A historic campus known for food science and medicine.
Visit website →A young university strong in business and computing.
Visit website →🔎 How we chose for this travel guide to Ireland: the leading universities in Ireland by reputation and research. Last checked: October 2026.
🍀 Irish Culture & Food
Irish culture is built on storytelling, music and conversation. The pub is a social centre, traditional music sessions fill rooms with fiddles and tin whistles, and Gaelic sports such as hurling and Gaelic football draw huge crowds. Writers from Joyce and Yeats to Sally Rooney, and the festival of Samhain (the origin of Halloween), all come from here.
Try a full Irish breakfast, Irish stew, soda bread, boxty (potato pancakes), fresh oysters and seafood chowder on the west coast, and of course a pint of Guinness or a glass of Irish whiskey.
❓ Travel Guide to Ireland: FAQ
Do I need a visa for Ireland?
US, Canadian, Australian and many other citizens can visit visa-free for up to 90 days. Ireland is not part of Schengen or ETIAS.
Is Ireland in the Schengen Area?
No. Ireland is in the EU but runs its own borders and shares a Common Travel Area with the UK.
Do I need a UK ETA to visit Northern Ireland?
Yes, non-Irish visitors need a UK ETA (£20) to enter Northern Ireland or Great Britain.
What is the best time to visit Ireland?
May to September for long days and the best weather; April and September for value.
Is Ireland expensive?
Yes, especially Dublin hotels; the countryside and B&Bs are better value.
How many days do you need in Ireland?
Seven days covers Dublin, Galway, the Cliffs of Moher and Kerry; ten lets you add Northern Ireland.
Do they drive on the left in Ireland?
Yes, and distances are in kilometres in the Republic but miles in Northern Ireland.
What currency does Ireland use?
The euro (EUR); Northern Ireland uses the pound sterling.
📚 Trusted Resources for Your Travel guide to Ireland
- Tourism IrelandOfficial tourism board
- Heritage IrelandOfficial sites, including Newgrange tickets
- UNESCO: IrelandWorld Heritage Sites in Ireland
Finished this travel guide to Ireland? 🌍 More European guides: France · Netherlands · Portugal · Spain · All of Europe
⚖️ Compare Ireland with other countries in Compare Countries.
🏛️ Planning a bucket list? See the 20 best World Heritage Sites to visit.
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