Background

2019 was my second trip to Ireland. This trip was a college spring break visit planned with three high school friends. Our goal was to see as much authentic Ireland as possible, on a college student budget within one week. In total, I spent around $900 USD on flight, food, lodging and experiences (2019).

Flight

We booked our flights to depart from a small international airport with a direct economy flight to Ireland. At the time our round trip Norwegian Airlines flight ballparked at $320. While Norwegian no longer offers the same deals, there are still budget flights to be had if you search around. Budget airlines typically lack the comfort and amenities of other airlines. However, a red eye Friday evening flight allowed us to sleep en route and arrive Saturday morning direct to Dublin, Ireland.

Transit and Lodging

We relied entirely on walking, bike, rail, bus and taxi to explore Ireland. The country has a robust public transit system, that is simple to use and affordable. Rail or bus takes you from Dublin to every major city and most small towns. Traveling this way is both efficient, economical and scenic.

For lodging we relied on a mix of hotels and hostels. The local hostels are full of young travelers and are clean. Space can be limited, but thankfully most hostels operate off streamlined booking platforms. There are private or group rooms available at most hostels. Prices ranged from 20-60 EUR/night.

Day 1 – Arrive in Dublin, Ireland

On Saturday we arrived at Dublin Airport. We promptly traveled by shuttle to a Dublin hotel where we split a room. We spent the day exploring the main tourist attractions of Dublin. In my opinion the main Dublin tourist sites can be seen in 1-2 days. Though an extended stay would likely be a fantastic cultural experience – a few days is plenty for a week long itinerary.

Dublin Highlights Day One

• Trinity College – Ireland’s oldest university in the heart of Dublin. Its magestic library houses the famed Book of Kells and numerous other national artifacts.
• Guinness Factory
• Street Meandering

Day 2 – Dublin to Kilkenny and Cork, Ireland

On Sunday morning we took an early bus out of Dublin – Cork bound. Stopping 1.5 hours from Dublin, we arrived to historic Kilkenny. We arrived in the mid-morning hours to what seemed like a ghost town. Sunday mass kept 80% of the town occupied and shops closed. Nevertheless, we wandered the streets of Kilkenny and observed the local architecture. After stopping for breakfast at one open cafe, the villagers began to return from Sunday mass and the town began to liven. Many shops remained closed on Sunday. Avoiding visiting on a Sunday is one recommended consideration.

Next, we made our way on foot to the main objective of our stop – Kilkenny Castle. Here we bought entrance tickets to tour the 13th Century castle.

Following the tour, we proceeded on foot through the streets of Kilkenny to our original bus stop. Here we caught another bus that proceeded the two hours to Cork. We arrived in Cork Sunday evening. We walked through Cork’s Victorian Quarter to check into our lodging – Bru Hostel. This accommodation was a young adult atmosphere, with hostel rooms above the lower floor pub. On the same street as our hostel were numerous pubs and food stops. The rest of Cork was easily accessible by foot, and we finished the evening grabbing food at a nearby pub.

Day 3 – Cork, Ireland

On Monday, we woke in Cork and set out on foot to explore the city. Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland. It’s city center sits surrounded by two major waterways. University College Cork is also found here, with the student populous well established in the city. Highlights we visited on foot included:

• Cork City Gaol – Former prison, now museum.
• University College Cork Campus
• The English Market – Stopped here for lunch!
• Saint Fin Barr’s Cathedral

Finally, we ended the evening back in the Victorian Quarter. Here we treated ourselves to sit-down dining at a local restaurant. We finished the evening listening to live jam session traditional music at Sin-e and The Cornerhouse Pubs.

Day 4 – Cork to Killarney, Ireland

Tuesday morning we departed Cork. This time we traveled by rail for two nights in Killarney, County Kerry! Seated on the northeastern shore of Lough Leane, Killarney is nestled within close proximity to natural wonders of Killarney National Park.

After a brief walk through Killarney, we checked in at The Black Sheep Hostel. This hip hostel was full of young travelers. It provided a clean kitchen and dining space. They even raised chickens that provided fresh eggs. We promptly stored our bags at the hostel and then headed out to explore Killarney National Park.

Renting bikes from a local shop, for approximately 20 EUR, we took the bike path into Killarney National Park. This was a highlight of the trip, as the stops were unexpected: Muckross Abbey, Muckross House and Ross Castle. That evening, we caught dinner at a pub in Killarney. We woke the next morning ready to see the famed Ring of Kerry.

Day 5 Ring of Kerry – County Kerry, Ireland

On Wednesday we boarded a bus to tour the scenic Ring of Kerry. The tour consists of numerous scenic stops in a loop around County Kerry. Despite the inclement weather, the natural landscape was stellar.

Typically, a one day Ring of Kerry bus tour includes views of Dingle Bay, stops of Sneem and Waterville, and a visit to magestic Torc Waterfall.

Day 6 and 7 – Killarney to Dublin

Lessons Learned

On Thursday we departed Killarney, bound for Dublin. In hindsight, we should have spent another day in the countryside. Options would have included: The Cliffs of Moher; Giant’s Causeway, or visiting another historic town such as Derry in the Northern Ireland.

The options to adjust your particular itinerary are numerous, and there is more to Ireland than Dublin. Nevertheless, we enjoyed our additional time in the Republic’s capital.

Dublin Part 2

After a half day of travel, we checked in to our hotel. We spent the afternoon exploring the outskirts of the city.

On Friday we ventured back into downtown Dublin. Here we visited the National Museum of Ireland and stopped at shops and sites we missed on Day 1. We also biked through Phoenix Park and paid homage to the Irish National War Memorial Gardens.

That evening, we caught a cab from our hotel to University College Dublin, to catch a football (soccer) match. Interestingly, the Irish Premiere League pits collegiate teams in the same league as local clubs. We had a grand time immersed with the small but passionate local crowd.

Friday evening concluded our week long visit to Ireland. On Saturday, the fellowship parted ways and we returned on various flights toward our home destination. An end to a stellar Spring break adventure.

Thanks for Reading

If you liked this article feel free to check out some similar posts here!