Ireland Road Trip

If you are traveling from the United States, you will most likely arrive in Dublin in the morning. I suggest renting a car from the airport and heading west toward Galway. On your way to Galway, stop in Athlone for lunch and visit Sean’s Bar, Ireland’s oldest pub. The owner is happy to share the history of the pub while you sip on a pint. My husband and I love to stay at the Galway Bay Sea View Apartments. This place is situated in the Salthill area and offers one or two-bedroom condo’s that all have an amazing view of Galway Bay. There are plenty of pubs and restaurants nearby. The Latin Quarter is about a 30 minute walk away and offers pubs, restaurants, and shopping. This is a lively spot to go and hear live music as well. Don’t forget to stop at Aran Island Knitwear to get yourself a cozy sweater.

Take a day trip to the see the famous Cliffs of Moher. It’s about an hour and a half drive from Galway. It costs €8 per person and includes access to the Visitors Center, O’Brien’s Tower, and pathways to walk along the top of the cliff. Make sure you go on a clear day so you don’t miss the beautiful scenery. If you decide to plan your trip during the summer months, take advantage of the boat tour that leaves from Doolin to see the cliffs from a different perspective.

Another day trip from Galway is to Connemara. This National Park is a must-see. We decided to drive to Diamond Hill, which is near the town of Letterfrack. This drive is so gorgeous, but watch out for sheep along the road. Once at Diamond Hill, there are two options for hiking this area. The lower trail takes about 45 minutes. For the more adventurous, you have the option to do the upper trail that takes about two hours to complete. Either way, you will be ready for lunch after this hike. I had the best seafood chowder at a little place called Anglers Rest Bar and Restaurant.

After checking out of Galway Bay Sea View Apartments, we traveled north to Sligo and checked into The Glasshouse Hotel, another great hotel right in the heart of things. Our favorite pub in town is Thomas Connolly’s which is just across the river from the Glasshouse.

If you are looking to do some hiking, this is the day to do it. All three of these hikes are very close to each other. We started with Benbulbin, which is a steep-sided, flat top mountain. We opted for the easy forest loop at the base of the mountain however if you are looking for something more challenging, you can hike to the summit. Then we headed to Glencar Waterfall. It is a very short walk back to the waterfall and is a perfect spot to relax for a bit. The last hike of the day was to Devils Chimney. This hike should be done after heavy rainfall. When the wind blows from the south, the waterfall is blown up and back over the cliff and looks like smoke coming out of a chimney.

We stayed in a little cottage on the water. It was just 10 minutes from town. Take this day to just chill out. If you are looking to tour a castle, why not Donegal Castle. The following day we went to check out the largest cliffs in Ireland, Slieve League. I recommend paying the additional €5 to drive up and park closer to the starting point. After an invigorating hike, stop at John Joe’s Bar in Kilcar. The owner is so sweet. And before leaving town, walk down to Studio Donegal to watch the artisans weave tweed to be sold in the store. I brought home a beautiful tweed blanket as a reminder of this unique experience.

A trip to Ireland is not complete without a visit to a whiskey distillery. Bushmills is the world’s oldest licensed whiskey distillery, so we had to stop there. The following day, we visited Carrick-a-Rede, where they have a rope bridge suspended over the Atlantic Ocean. This may not be for those who are afraid of heights.

The last few days, we stayed in Dublin. Here’s a tip: drop off the rental car before heading into Dublin. There is no need for it in the city because Dublin is very walkable if you stay in the right area. We like to stay at The Henricks in Smithfield. Not only are the prices better on that side of the River Liffey, but it is just a short walk to the famous Temple Bar area. I highly recommend doing a Rural Pub Tour with Shane. He will drive you out of the city to visit a few pubs in the Dublin and Wicklow Mountains. And if you’re looking to visit another whiskey distillery, check out Teeling.