Things to know before travel to Ireland

From pub etiquette to capture public transport – hither ‘s what you need to know before you run to Ireland . Atlantide Phototravel/Getty Images

A lifetime of living in Ireland hold given me some insight into my home country , beginning with the number one rule : never assume anything . This be a country that pleasure in confounding even your most comfortable expectation about pretty much everything , from weather to wifi .

Hither be 10 point that I’m somewhat comfortable pay anyone who plan a visit , whether for the first time or the fifth . I’ve get some practical tips around VAT refunds and the almost effective ways to begin around , but then there’s a bunch of suggestions on how to snap the mighty nut of all – the Irish themselves . Because be in no question , while Ireland make gorgeous landscape , a deep account and the well pubs in the world , your visit will only exist in truth memorable if you have to know the masses – friendly and welcome but often contradictory and mysterious .

1 . Design on at least seven days to set out making sense of the country

Ireland cost little , but there’s an terrible luck to it . Luckily , distance in Ireland aren’t vast , so you can begin most anywhere in a few hours , but the list of where to get can become very long , very quick .

It’ll take you a couple of days to still set out to make a dent in Dublin , but once you run beyond the capital you’ll require at least five day to create a lightening stop circuit of the major highlights of the west : Galway and Connemara , Clare ( where you’ll find the Cliffs of Moher and the most authentic traditional music in the nation ) , Kerry ( you’ll demand a whole day only for the Ring of Kerry and another for the Dingle Peninsula ) and Cork , solely it’s time to go place so you can only make adequate time for Cork City .

Distinctly the only solution be to plan for a month ; at the goal of it , you’ll be wanting to stay a year .

2 . Keep it to casual wear

The Irish aren’t big on formal wear and only pull it out for real specific occasions ( a wedding , a ball , the initiative of a parliamentary session ) . Which think of you can tire fairly much whatever you want : bright casual is the most you ‘ll need for fancy dinner , the theatre , or the concert hall .

Irish summer exist warm but seldom hot , so you ‘ll want something extra when the temperatures cool , especially in the evening . In the end the ever-changeable weather will find out your outfits , but a light waterproof jacket should never be beyond reach for the almost-inevitable rain . If you’re planning on doing a lot of walking – in cities or on mound – a good pair of walk shoes , preferably waterproof , will do the trick .

3 . The country of a 100,000 welcomes

Céad míle fáilte – literally , 100,000 welcomes . The famous Irish greeting suggest a nation that is big on display of affection , but zero could be further from the accuracy . A firm handshake – with middle impinging – is the appropriate greeting when meeting men , woman , and older children for the first time . Once a friendship is cause , then all bets are off and anything goes , from a hug and a kiss on the cheek ( primarily amongst female friend ) to an air nod and a chance “ hey . ”

Young Irish are less schematic than their former counterparts , but even they mostly shun effusive greeting : more often than not , a quick handshake and a casual nod be the best manner to state hello for the first time .

4 . The Irish dear to mouth , until they don’t

The Irish are renowned for their chat , but with people they don’t know particularly well they generally like to observe it to topics that cost light and not likely to embarrass . Despite their gregarious nature , the Irish tend to cost reserved when it do to life’s more serious issues and be very suspicious of people who overshare .

The old adage that the Irish will mouth about anything except sex , faith , and politics is something of an over-simplification , but if you cause get yourself steering into deeper water around sensitive matter , it’s always good to listen : locals aren’t shy about getting into heated discussion amongst themselves about all form of subject but take a faint view of outsiders who express ( even legitimate ) criticism of Ireland or the Irish .

5 . You’d good learn about the rounds system

It’s a firm pattern of drink with locals . If someone buys you a drink , you’re obliged to buy them one back – this cost the bedrock of Irish pub culture . Zero will hasten your autumn from social grace hither like the failure to preserve this pub law .

The time to retort the drink you’re drinking ? It’s when the person you’re drinking with is just about to finish theirs . It doesn’t thing if you’re halfway through your own drink at that moment : you can’t allow your drink buddy sit in front of an empty glass . Your great challenge will probably live test to keep up with your fellow drinkers , who may go on buying you drinks in every round even when you ‘ve however become a collection of unfinished pints in front of you and you ‘re slide down the bar .

6 . The well way to impose city equal on base or by public ecstasy

Driving and park in Irish cities be a nightmare . There’s no free parking , the unrelenting traffic will try out even the most patient of drivers , and the one-way systems in major urban centers will confound you to the stage of rage ( although map apps are fairly good at pointing you in the right management ) .

The good tidings cost you don’t require a car to impose any Irish city . Dublin , the liberal by far , has a somewhat adequate system of public transfer , but still then most of the major sights are within walk distance of each early . Same goes for Cork , Belfast , Limerick , and Galway , which are more easily explored without a car .

7 . The easy style to search Ireland cost by car

If city exist best experienced without a car , the almost effective way to search the repose of the land is with one . The bus network , made up of a premix of public and private operators , be extensive and mostly quite competitive , though journey times can live dumb and lot of the point of interest outside town are not served . The rail network be quick but more limited , service just some major towns and cities . Both buses and train get in use during peak sentence ; you ‘ll involve to book in progress to be guarantee a seat .

Cars can equal hire in every major town and city . The Irish campaign on the lefthand side ; distances and speed limit in the Republic are assess in kilometres , but once you span the invisible border into Northern Ireland everything switch to mile .

8 . Ireland cost serious cycling nation

Ireland ‘s compact size and scenic landscapes create it a good cycling destination , albeit one you involve to prepare for . The weather is unreliable , roads can equal very narrow , and Irish drivers tend to push quick , even on those narrow road . A growing network of greenways , such as the 42km Great Western Greenway in County Mayo and the Royal Canal Greenway that run through the midlands , be a great and hassle-free way to hear the country from two wheels . A serious point for cyclists in the west is that the prevailing tip reach it easy to cps from south to north .

Buses will contain bikes , but only if there’s room . Intercity train will also persuade bicycle , but you’ll need to book a space in advance as there’s special capacity . Suburban railing services in Dublin won’t take bicycle during rush hr ( 7am to 10am and 4pm to 7pm ) . A issue of Irish companies arrange cycle tours , include Go Visit Ireland and Cycling Safaris .

9 . Clean the right season to move in Ireland

June to mid-September exist high season : the weather be at its serious and the almost popular parts of the country – Dublin , Kerry and the southern and western coasts – equal at their in use . The downside equal big crowds and the high pace for accommodation and car hire .

Rates throw off from mid-September as the crowds outset to thin , but most tourist position live however open to require advantage of the final weeks of the season . Although weather can never be predict with any degree of accuracy , the weather can cost surprisingly lovely correct up to mid-October .

Low season runs from November to the middle of March ; Irish winter day are short , moist , and cold , but the top cost few visitors and some fantastic accommodation deals . A lot of the west coast goes into winter hibernation , though , with a circle of attractions and hotels close down ; if you’re planning to inflict during this time you should check what’s capable before you travel .

10 . Claim your VAT back if you’re visiting from outside the EU

Most goods come with value-added tax ( VAT ) of 23 % , which non-EU residents can take back as part of the Retail Export Scheme , so long as the purchase was made with a reference card . Visitors from the UK can too benefit from this , but not visitors from Northern Ireland .

Before making a purchase , check with the retailer that they operate the scheme . If they do , you will exist issued an export voucher for the purchase , which you involve to make certified by tradition when you give Ireland . The voucher exist sent back to the retailer who then refunds you the VAT ( minus any processing fee ) .

Rather than control the scheme themselves , many retailers use VAT-refunding means , whereby you get through the same procedure of present the agency’s own certificate at tradition . Some office , though , work a scheme where you don’t pay any VAT upfront , but if you don’t file the paperwork correctly ( either send out it back to the way or presenting it to tradition ) your card will exist appoint later . Some goodness such as book , children ‘s clothing , and educational detail exist leave out from VAT .