The Atlantic coast along the Ring of Kerry. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Plan Your Trip

How long to stay, how far things are, and when to go.

Getting around

Ireland is small, but its roads are not always fast. Motorways link Dublin with Galway, Limerick, Cork and Belfast, while the scenic west is a web of narrow, winding roads where 50 km can take an hour. Use the chart below to judge how much driving each day needs.

Good to know

Driving

Traffic drives on the left. Speed limits are in km/h in the Republic and mph in Northern Ireland. Most hire cars are manual, so book an automatic early if you need one.

Money

The Republic of Ireland uses the euro; Northern Ireland uses the pound sterling. Contactless cards are accepted almost everywhere, even in small pubs.

Weather

Pack layers and a waterproof whatever the season. Showers pass quickly, and it is rarely very hot or very cold. Long summer evenings stay light until after 10pm.

Without a car

Trains run from Dublin to Galway, Killarney, Cork and Belfast, and buses reach most towns. Day tours from Dublin and Galway cover the Cliffs of Moher, Connemara and the Causeway Coast.