Ireland welcomes you with “Cead Mile Failte”, one hundred thousand welcomes. Just a short time there and you will experience the friendly nature of the people and come to learn that they feel strangers are just friends they haven’t met yet.
Getting There and Getting Around
Getting to Ireland can come in many forms and here are a few. An immersive ocean cruise around the Island for those travelers that don’t want to pack and unpack several times. For anyone wanting to see as much as possible of the Island, try a small group coach tour or better yet a private driver tour. Select a hotel and stay in one area a then take day trips to attractions or stay in Dublin and experience the city. There are also trains if you want to try both north and south.
Remember, Northern Ireland is on the pound sterling and the Republic of Ireland is on the euro. Anyone comfortable driving on the left, may also consider a self-drive trip. One absolute must is a castle or manor stay while you are there for at least one night for an amazing experience.
Popular Sites in the Republic of Ireland
Ireland has so much to offer and narrowing down the sights to just a few of the biggest really depends on why Ireland is on your list. Travel the wild Atlantic way for small towns, rural landscape, and sheep! A foodie must go to Galway, the gastronomic capital and university city. Guinness Storehouse, Irish whiskey distilleries, and pub tours abound around the Island as well as Game of Thrones and Star Wars tours. Here are a few of my favorite must see sights.
A few days in Dublin is a must if you can. Dublin is a chapter in itself but let’s see if I can give a few options. Do some shopping on Grafton Street, see the countless museums, look for the statue of Oscar Wilde lounging on a rock in Merrion Square. Visit Dublin Castle, built on the site of a Viking fortress in the 13th century. Spend some time walking the grounds at Trinity College and see the Book of Kells. The book of Kells contains the four gospels in Latin and is the most richly decorated of Ireland’s medieval manuscripts. Make sure you get tickets in advance Visit the Guinness Storehouse, just beyond the city center is a 7-story attraction telling the story of Guinness the national drink, with a bar on top called Gravity Bar, which has the most amazing views of the city. Of course, it goes without saying, but I’m saying it anyway, try out a few pubs. They are central to the culture of Ireland. They are steeped in lore, history, and a great way to meet the locals.
Dublin is just the beginning of the adventure, start your trek around Ireland and try some of these sometimes breathtaking and sometimes just-plain-fun sights.
· Blarney Castle- Kiss the Blarney Stone and gain the gift of eloquence.
· Cliffs of Moher and the Burren
· Cobh, the last stop for the Titanic
· House of Waterford Crystal
· Ring of Kerry
· Dingle Peninsula
This is just a taste of what there is to do and see in Ireland. If Ireland is on your list, decide what you want from a vacation, do a touch of research, or call your travel advisor, and get ready for Cead Mile Failte from the amazing people of Ireland!
Click the link to see our Group Trips to Ireland and beyond or get Inspiration for your Trip to Ireland.
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