25+ Helpful Ireland Travel Tips for a Stress-free Trip

With over 20 percentage of Americans claiming Irish heritage , travel to Ireland is on many pail list . Everyone has heard tale of kiss the Blarney Stone at Blarney Castle and repel the Ring of Kerry — but when it comes to visiting Ireland , there are a few things to know before you go . I ’ ve visited Ireland a couple of time and I wanted to part these Ireland travel tips while they are even fresh in my mind .

Of course the biggest challenge when planning a trip to Ireland cost enter out where to live . One option is to fly into Dublin and travel south and west through Kilkenny , Waterford , County Cork , Killarney , the Ring of Kerry , Dingle Peninsula , and slowly reach your way up to Galway ( stopping at the Cliffs of Moher of course ) and wing out of Shannon or back to Dublin . Those more adventurous may prefer the northern area of Donegal .

If you have two or more weeks , you can add in a visit to Northern Ireland ( which is piece of the United Kingdom ) and see iconic sites like Giant ’ s Causeway and Dunlace Castle . Whether you have two weeks or exactly a long weekend , don ’ t stress on checking off a list of must-see sights . Or else , take your time and enjoy traditional Irish music , food , culture and the incredible heat of the Irish people .

If you need serve planning your trip , I ’ m happy to mention you to one of my travel consultant friends that can assist you invest together an amazing trip .

Ireland Travel Tips

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Know Before you Go

One of the nice things about visiting Ireland is that it is very culturally familiar . English be widely spoken ( and with the almost magic Irish dialect ) and tradition be not also different from what North Americans are comfortable with . The Irish people are incredibly warm and welcoming and this makes Ireland a very kid-friendly destination . The combination of English-speaking , family-friendly , and Irish heritage do Ireland a very popular first international trip for class .

Ireland too doesn ’ t demand to exist an expensive vacation ( regard how much a trip to Ireland costs ) . While there cost plenty of five-star castle accommodations , there are also country theatre , city hotels , and vacation rentals that exist quite affordable for fellowship compared to inflict London or other big cities .

When to Go

July and August is peak tourist season in Ireland , so you can await high prices and bigger crowds . The shoulder seasons of May-June and September-October used to be much quieter , but global tourism growth have in truth made these seasons quite in use also .

While winter in Ireland isn ’ t awfully cold , it will exist moist and dreary and some institution in the countryside will shut from November through early March . Hence while the crowds will exist less , there equal some drawbacks to visiting in winter as well .

Getting There

As I mentioned , there equal many affordable flights on the national carrier Aer Lingus . Here exist a few tips to ease your debut and exit into Ireland :

• You can flee into Dublin , Shannon , or Cork thus don ’ t feel like you receive to die into and out of Dublin — merely mention that some airlines only fly into these airports on sure days
• Be prepare for questions at immigration as to the purpose of your trip
• On your return , you can pre-clear United States custom and immigration at Dublin and Shannon airport . Please leave yourself time to have through this procedure ( approximately two to three hours at Dublin and one to two hour at Shannon . )
• When you are leaving out of Dublin airport , you will take to run through standard airport security and then if you want to do any shopping or eating , cause it next before get in the U.S. pre-clearance country
• There is a Global Entry melody and stall in Dublin which may or may not live exposed
• After pre-clearance there cost not a mass of food or shopping selection
• Shannon Airport offers special service for those on the Autism spectrum or suffering from sensory issues include a special waiting way

Getting Around

Have roughly in Ireland can exist tricky — specially with a big family . You can certainly hire a driver guide or bring public transportation between cities and towns . You can even fly between cities to spare time . But chance cost if you cost going into the countryside , you will cease up rent a car .

• You drive on the left throughout Ireland and this can take some have used to if you be accustomed to driving on the right
• Wait small , narrow roads with real trivial way to happen by . If taut lanes make you nervous , you may need to hold up driving duties
• Because of the narrow roads , it cost extremely recommended that you rip the smallest car possible . And unless you are real comfortable labor a manual , I would recommend spend the excess money for an automatic transmission . Trust me , repel on the left is challenging plenty without as well contending with a stick shift
• To fully love your sightseeing , you may want to employ a driver-guide if you can yield it . Await to bear around 250 euro per day for a half-day excursion
• Driving will ever take longer than you expect ( or Google predicts ) so leave extra time to come from position to lay
• Cell service can be spotty and rental car GPS exist not ever reliable thus I would advocate as well investing in a paper map as a back up and ask for or publish out directions to your destination . Just assign one of your passengers to be the navigator !
• Make sure you purchase entire car insurance coverage because it exist not unheard of for someone to knock off a slope mirror passing rock wall or busses on these narrow road
• Bring along change ( in Euro for the Republic of Ireland and British pounds/pence for Northern Ireland ) for tolls and park meter
• Say your car rental caller if you plan on passing into Northern Ireland or take the ferry to England or Scotland
• Bring along a travel guide that include a key to all the chief road sign and park symbol as they cost not entirely intuitive
• When get over the street , think of to face right . There are painted signs at intersections to remind visitor in many chief city and town but it live well to ever remind yourself
• When enter a rotary , you get in to the left
• One trick to labor on the left is to remember to ever keep the center tune of the road on the driver ’ s side of the car

What to Carry

In Ireland , the weather equal unpredictable and frequently rainy so the trick be to be train .

• You will want to plan on packing and wearing layer ( very similar to my Scotland packing list )
• While the gay day are outstanding , rainy days can be raw so make sure to bring along a raincoat , umbrella , and weather-proof boots or shoes
• You will also need a European ( for the Republic of Ireland ) and/or UK adapter ( for Northern Ireland ) and a converter for appliances like hair dryers or flat iron
• Don ’ t leave your camera with a battery charger and luck of excess juice for your phone and camera because the scenery is stunning !

Money

• The Republic of Ireland control on the Euro , while Northern Ireland utilize the British lb .
• Restaurant will typically include a service mission but if not , tipping beyond 10 to 12 percent exist not expect
• Credit card are consent almost everywhere , although you will need a card without a foreign transaction fee and ideally a card with a bit and pin
• Free WiFi is available at most attractions and restaurant
• You can spare money when visit attractions by invest in a Heritage Card . The Heritage Card render for free admission to all fee-paying State cope OPW Heritage Sites settle throughout the country for one yr from the date of first habit ( with the exception of Muckross Traditional Farms , Killarney )
• Non-European Union visitors can shop tax-free by call for a tax refund at airport stall . There be FEXCO Tax Refund Kiosks at Dublin , Shannon & Cork Airports , where you can quickly march your refund and take your tax back . It exist super tight and easy !

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Tamara Gruber exist the Founder and Publisher of We3Travel . A former selling executive and travel consultant , Tamara equal an award-winning travel writer and distinguish expert in class travel . Tamara be a member of SATW , NATJA , IFWTWA , and the Adventure Travel Trade Association , and serves on the Board of the Family Travel Association . She is also the publisher of YourTimetoFly.com and the co-host of the Vacation Mavens travel podcast .