5 Day Ireland Itinerary: Essential Tips and Must-See Attractions

How Many Days are Needed in Ireland?

To really experience Ireland, you’ll need five days. You’ll want to experience the capital city for a bit and then move on to the rolling green hills.

Could you add a day or two more? Yes, but I certainly wouldn’t recommend anything shorter than five days to ensure you get a well-rounded experience.

Starting Your Journey at the Dublin Airport

You’ll likely be starting at the Dublin Airport if you are coming from abroad. If you’re coming from the United States, Dublin is also usually a fairly affordable airport to fly into (compared to London or Paris).

Located just over 6 miles (10km) north of Dublin, the airport is easily accessible by bus, taxi, or car. When I visited Dublin solo on a budget, I took the bus, as over 1,000 buses and coaches go to and from the airport daily. 

Buses operate a short walking distance from the airport terminals and are super easy to find. There’s even a map of Dublin Airport bus zones, bus stops, and the location of bus operators. You can buy bus tickets online from a range of operators. Dublin Bus Route 41, serving the city center via Dublin Airport, operates on a 24-hour basis.

Ultimate 5 Days in Ireland Itinerary

Day 1: Dublin

Christ Church Cathedral

I suggest starting at Christ Church Cathedral on your first day in Dublin. The Cathedral was founded sometime after 1028 when King Sitric Silkenbeard, the Hiberno-Norse king of Dublin, made a pilgrimage to Rome.

This makes Christ Church Cathedral originally a Viking church that has stood in the former heart of medieval Dublin for almost 1,000 years!

Here, you’ll find a crypt (the city’s oldest working structure), Strongbow’s final resting place, a rare copy of the Magna Carta, and their famous mummified cat and rat.

I highly suggest taking a tour, as they may even let you ring the bells!

St. Michan’s

I highly recommend St. Michan’s on your 5 day Ireland itinerary. It’s less well-known but not one to be missed! The first Christian chapel on this site dates from 1095 and was a Catholic church until the Reformation.

Converted into the Church of Ireland in 1686, it has served more than 300 years as such.

Probably the most unique experience I’ve had in a church was going into its crypts and getting to “shake hands” (rub the finger) with an 800-year-old crusader! It’s supposed to be good luck; otherwise, I’m not sure I would have done it!

St. Patrick’s Cathedral

St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the younger medieval cathedral (its elder being Christ Church Cathedral), was founded in 1191 and is the National Cathedral of the Church of Ireland.

With a 43-meter (141 ft) spire, St. Patrick’s is Ireland’s largest and tallest church (not Cathedral), making it worth adding to your 5 day Ireland itinerary.

Christ Church Cathedral and St. Patrick’s are in an unspoken rivalry since each is funded by one of the leading alcohol distributors, Guinness and Jameson. The Guinness family is viewed so highly that they get front-row seats in St. Patrick’s next to the President.

Dublin Castle

Dublin Castle has had various roles throughout its history, including serving as a military fortress, a prison, a treasury, and courts of law. From 1204 until Ireland gained independence, it was the center of English (and later British) rule in Ireland for 700 years. The castle was rebuilt several times in the seventeenth, eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth centuries. Today, it functions as a government complex and is used for hosting state ceremonies.

While Dublin Castle is awesome to look at, when I went, they said that they didn’t allow the public in as this is where their government is housed. However, I checked online, and it seems they indeed allow tours. I’m not sure what the deal was when I went back in 2013, but it seems if you’d like to visit now, you can.

The state apartments, undercroft, Chapel Royal, Heritage Center, and restaurant are open to visitors, so I hope you add it to your 5 day Ireland itinerary!

Day 2: Dublin

Kilmainham Gaol

Kilmainham Gaol (Jail) is worth seeing and was my favorite thing to do in Dublin. Strange to say of a prison, but true! I found its history fascinating!

It opened in 1796 as the new County Gaol for Dublin. Many Irish revolutionaries, including the leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising, were imprisoned and executed in this prison by the British.

Prisoners at Kilmainham Gaol were not segregated, so men, women, and children were all incarcerated together, with up to 5 individuals in each cell. They were given only a single candle for both light and heat and had to make it last for two weeks. Kilmainham Gaol closed in 1924.

“It is possible to see all ninety-six cells from a central viewing area. The use of light was deliberate and philosophical. It was thought that the huge skylight would spiritually inspire the inmates, while the out-of-reach cell windows would encourage them to turn heavenward.”

The National Museum

One of the best things about Dublin is that it’s pretty affordable. Some attractions are free, and some may ask for a donation, as with The National Museum, but it’s a recommendation, not mandatory.

I will say that I did donate, and please do so if you go. Besides the cost, my favorite part of the National Museum was the building—it is amazing!

The National Museum of Ireland is the country’s leading museum institution, with a strong emphasis on national and international archaeology, Irish history, Irish art, culture, and natural history. It was originally a military barracks but was converted into a museum quite a while ago.

If you’re lucky, you can see one of their reenactments—I always love reenactments!

The Guinness Gravity Bar

I originally wasn’t going to visit the Guinness Storehouse, but everyone I talked to insisted it was a must. So I’m recommending you add it to your 5 day Ireland itinerary as, although I hate beer in America, it really does taste better in Ireland!

While ascending seven stories of the Guinness Factory, you learn how they make beer and see many of their advertisements over the years—showing how the brand grew and evolved. You get a tasting about halfway up, and then, when you reach the top, you enter the Guinness Gravity Bar.

The Guinness Gravity Bar has a panoramic view of Dublin and is a must-see. When my hostel mates and I went, we were lucky enough to be there on the clearest day they’ve had in five years (so said the bartender)! It is worth the visit and has some of the most beautiful views in Dublin!

Also, you get a free pint of Guinness with a shamrock drawn in the foam (I still don’t know how they do it)! For beer enthusiasts, you can learn how to pour your own pint at the Guinness Academy, but we opted not to.

Tours Available:

• Guinness Storehouse Experience
• Guinness Storehouse Experience + Stoutie
• Guinness Storehouse Experience + Guinness Academy

Day 3: Visit the Cliffs of Moher

The Cliffs of Moher are one of Ireland’s most visited tourist sites, so it’s a must while you’re in Ireland.

As I was traveling solo and don’t drive on the left side of the road in the United States, I was a bit concerned about renting a car to explore Ireland. Instead, I opted to get on a Paddywagon Tour bus.

Even if you don’t pick Paddywagon, taking any tour bus is a wonderful budget way to visit the Cliffs of Moher from Dublin!

While Paddywagon lets you easily experience Ireland’s breathtaking Cliffs of Moher from Dublin, it is a longer day tour as you’re on a bus for about twelve hours. I was lucky in that I made friends with the people next to me, so the time driving between locations was spent chatting with them, which helped to pass the time.

If you’re not as lucky (although I hope you are), I recommend bringing headphones to listen to an audiobook or music. I can’t read in the car because I get car sick, but if you can handle it, reading is also an option.

Update 2024: According to their website, they now have free high-speed Wi-Fi on board, which should help with the longer day trip.

Kinvara Fishing Village

On the way to the Cliffs of Moher, the tour made a few stops, including the Kinvara Fishing Village, known for its traditional boats called the “Galway Hookers.” I wasn’t very impressed with this place, to be honest.

Maybe it was because there wasn’t much happening during the 30 minutes we were there, but I could have done without it. If we had more time, there might have been more to do, but it’s hard to say based on the limited stop time.

Benedictine Abbey

The next stop on the Paddywagon Tour was a Benedictine Abbey, which was so gorgeous! No one lives or worships here anymore; it’s just ruins now, but still incredible.

It’s surrounded by hills and greenery as far as the eye can see. Truly what you see in all the movies filmed in Ireland.

The Baby Cliffs

The next stop was the Baby Cliffs, or the “mini cliffs.” They’re not as incredible as the full-size cliffs, but it was still a nice stop along the way.

There was then a stop-off for lunch before we moved on to the main event—Cliffs of Moher!

The Cliffs of Moher

The Cliffs of Moher are stunning and were well worth the long trip. If you’re lucky, you’ll get a day like I did that was really clear.

I had heard that it can get pretty gloomy out there, and you can’t see too much when it does, so check the weather before you go if you have some flexibility in your 5 day Ireland itinerary.

My other travel tip is to wear good shoes as you’ll be doing a fair amount of walking. The Cliffs of Moher run for about 14 kilometers (about 8.7 miles). You won’t have time to walk the whole thing on the tour, so don’t worry about THAT much walking.

At the southern end, they reach a height of 120 meters (390 ft) above the Atlantic Ocean. Their maximum height of 214 meters (702 ft) is just north of O’Brien’s Towers, a round stone tower near the midpoint of the cliffs where the tour lets off.

Bunratty Castle

After the Cliffs of Moher, we went to Bunratty Castle. It was okay, but it was not worth the while to get there, in my opinion.

Again, it may have seemed worth it if I had more time to explore or go inside. I’ve heard great things about Bunratty, but I just didn’t experience it.

It’s surrounded by restaurants, which diminishes its majestic castle effect. However, it is the most complete castle in Ireland, and extensive restoration has been done on it.

After our stop at Bunratty Castle, we headed back to Dublin!

The Paddywagon Tour from Dublin

Again, this bus tour of the Cliffs of Moher from Dublin is about twelve hours long, so it is a whole-day trip. However, I do feel that it was well worth the time and money spent.

It should be noted that the tour appears to have changed a bit since I went on it. It now includes the “Burren” landscape near Galway Bay.

Check out the Paddywagon Tours website for the latest information.

Note: Their website says that the Paddywagon Cliffs of Moher Tour is a bestseller and is likely to sell out. They recommend buying tickets at least 24 hours in advance.

Duration: 12 hours

Alternative Ways to Visit the Cliffs of Moher

If this tour recommendation to visit the Cliffs of Moher doesn’t fit your 5 day Ireland itinerary or you’re looking to explore other options, I highly recommend Get Your Guide Tours.

They are easily refundable should you run into any issues, and they offer affordable and reliable tour companies to purchase from.

Day 4: Visit Blarney Castle

Everyone tells you you must visit Blarney Castle to kiss the Blarney Stone when you visit Ireland. So, guess what? I did!

During my visit, I learned about the Blarney Stone legend and answered the most important question: Why do people kiss the Blarney Stone?

How to Get from Dublin to Blarney Castle

The Blarney Stone, which is located at Blarney Castle, is 5 miles (8 km) northwest of the city of Cork in the South of Ireland. Ireland is well connected by train, so it’s not a difficult trip.

It’s about a two-hour and 45-minute drive by car and a two-and-a-half-hour ride by direct train from Dublin. The train can be a little pricey, so if you’re looking for a budget option, I recommend checking into a bus.

If you’re coming from the airport, a bus leaves the Dublin airport eight times a day directly for Cork. It is the cheapest way, but depending on traffic, it can take 5-7 hours.

How to Get from Cork to Blarney Castle

Once you’ve gotten to Cork, it’s just a short bus ride to Blarney Castle. You’ll arrive at Cork’s only train station, Kent, and from there, you can walk to the bus station (a 10-minute easy walk of a half-mile).

You then take the 215 bus to Blarney, which is about 25 minutes each way, and two buses run each hour. The 215 bus drops you off near the gates of Blarney Castle, and tickets can be purchased on the bus.

Blarney Castle History

Blarney Castle, as it stands today, is the third castle to have been built on this site. The first was a wooden structure constructed in the 10th century. Around 1210 A.D., it was replaced by a stone building with an entrance about twenty feet above the ground on the north face. This building was later demolished for foundations.

In 1446, the third castle was constructed by Dermot McCarthy, the King of Munster, of which only the keep remains standing today.

Kissing the Blarney Stone

The word blarney means “clever, flattering, or coaxing talk,” as many Irish are famous for this; it’s little surprise they have their own Irish stone for it.

The Irish politician John O’Connor Power defined as such: “Blarney is something more than mere flattery. It is flattery sweetened by humour and flavoured by wit. Those who mix with Irish folk have many examples of it in their everyday experience.”

To kiss the Blarney Stone, you do have to wait in line. However, I think it’s something you’ll regret not doing if you don’t.

A word of warning: if you have mobility issues, please note you ascend a spiral stone staircase to reach the stone. Or, if you’re not a fan of enclosed spaces, you may want to pass on visiting the Blarney Stone.

The Blarney Stone Legend

For more than 200 years, millions of people have climbed the steps to kiss the Blarney Stone because of its legend. However, the legend of the Blarney Stone has several interpretations. Some say it was Jacob’s Pillow, brought to Ireland by the prophet Jeremiah. It then became the Lia Fail or ‘Fatal Stone,’ which was used as an oracular throne of Irish kings—a kind of Harry Potter-like ‘sorting hat’ for kings.

Another legend about the Blarney Stone claims that it was used as the deathbed pillow of St. Columba on the island of Iona. Afterward, the stone was relocated to mainland Scotland, where it was believed to possess prophetic powers regarding royal succession, becoming known as the Stone of Destiny. In 1314, Robert the Bruce gave a section of this historic stone to Cormac MacCarthy, the King of Munster, as a token of appreciation for his assistance in defeating the English at Bannockburn.

Yet another legend says it may be a stone brought back to Ireland from the Crusades—the ‘Stone of Ezel.’ A few claim it was the stone that gushed water when struck by Moses.

And that’s just some of the stories!

Whatever the truth of its origin, it’s believed a witch saved from drowning revealed its power to the MacCarthys.

Why Do People Kiss the Blarney Stone?

Why do people kiss the Blarney Stone? According to legend, kissing the Blarney Stone is believed to give the kisser the gift of eloquence or skill at flattery, also known as the ‘gift of the gab.’

This “magical” stone was set into a castle tower in 1446. Since then, everyone from politicians to literary legends to famous actors and actresses have kissed it!

However, you should know that kissing the Blarney Stone is no easy task. To do so, you have to go up that spiral staircase and then lean over backward on the parapet’s edge. Luckily, there is someone who works at Blarney Castle who is there to help, as well as wrought-iron guide rails and protective crossbars.

Before these safeguards were installed in 1897, it was perilous to kiss the stone. People would be held by their ankles to achieve the kiss.

Planning Your Visit to the Blarney Stone

The Blarney Stone isn’t the only thing to see on the estate at Blarney Castle! They put on several events, so check online before you go to see what’s coming up.

You can also visit the badger’s cave, the court, the dungeon, the witch stone, the estate, the battlements, the wishing steps, the witch’s kitchen, the lake, and the north wall—all of which you can find more information about here on their official website.

Buy your Blarney Castle tickets in advance to take advantage of their online discount.

The admission price does not include an audio guide; they are €6 and available in English.

Day 5: Day Trip to Northern Ireland or take a Road Trip?

For the final day of this 5 day Ireland itinerary, I recommend visiting Northern Ireland or taking another bus tour to see even more of the Irish countryside.

The Paddywagon tour company does day tours to other locations around Ireland, such as Giant’s Causeway, Blarney Castle, Kilkenny, Galway, Kerry, and others. If you’re a Game of Thrones fan, they also have a tour for you!

If you’re braver than I am when driving on the left side of the road, you can rent a car and drive around the country. It merely takes thirteen hours to drive around Ireland nonstop. I’m not recommending a nonstop road trip, but I mention this only to emphasize how compact the country is.

It’s also only a two-hour drive from Dublin to Belfast, and unfortunately, on my own trip, I didn’t realize this, which is why I’m bringing it to your attention.

Some notable tourist attractions in Belfast include…

• The Titanic Museum
• Ulster Museum
• St. George’s Market
• Belfast Castle
• Giant’s Causeway
• Game of Thrones Studio Tour

Seeing Ireland in 5 Days FAQ

Final Thoughts on this 5 Day Ireland Itinerary

Have any questions about this 5 day Ireland itinerary? Drop them in the comments below and I’ll answer them ASAP!

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