5 Day Private Tour of Ireland Itinerary
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5 Day Irish Tour Itinerary Summary
This 5-day Irish driver-guided tour itinerary has been designed for you to enjoy must-see sights and locations in Ireland to provide you with a great taste of what makes this little island of ours so unique and special.
This itinerary is merely a guideline, however, and should you wish to alter it in any way, or even if you have completely different locations in mind for your Irish vacation, simply request your tour quote today and we can create a completely custom itinerary to suit your needs.
Included
- Risk-free booking guarantee: Full refunds up to 7 days before the start date
- Certified driver-guides with 15+ years of experience, passionate about sharing their love of Ireland
- Discover the historic legends, stunning natural beauty, and fascinating tales woven into Irish culture with your private guide
- Exclusive experiences that others without our local insight will not provide
- Travel in style in our luxury air-conditioned Mercedes vehicles
- Fully customizable bespoke and complimentary itinerary for your vacation
Day 1: Dublin Airport Collection & Kilkenny Tour
This 5 Day Tour of Ireland starts in the capital city of Dublin as your driver-guide collects your group from the airport and whisks them off for a magical tour of Ireland.
We waste no time in starting the tour, heading straight to the medieval heart of Ireland, Kilkenny, to visit:
Kilkenny Castle
Built in 1195, the castle was featured in Oliver Cromwell’s re-conquest of Ireland in 1650 and was besieged during the Irish Civil War in 1922.
St. Mary’s Medieval Mile Museum brings to life Kilkenny’s history as a medieval city. Displays of Kilkenny’s civic treasures and replicas of some of the High Crosses of Ossory illustrate the local Gaelic monastic heritage and the ancient city’s historic role in Ireland.
Kilkenny City Tour
A city in the ‘Sunny South East’ of Ireland and the country’s medieval capital, Kilkenny offers the traveler a mixture of rich cultural heritage, beautiful streetscapes, exciting vibrant nightlife, and great shopping opportunities. The River Nore flows through the city, splitting it in two, with most sights of interest on the western side of the river. Kilkenny is the county town or main center of County Kilkenny. With a population of 26,000, it’s the size of a large town but retains the official status of a city, a status granted it by King James I of England in 1609.
Once you’ve had a quick tour of the city, we’ll head to your accommodation for the evening in Kilkenny.
Day 2: Killarney Day Tour
Your driver-guide will collect you & you will make your way to the infamously beautiful Killarney, first stopping at:
Muckross House
This nineteenth-century Victorian mansion bearing all the necessary furnishings and artifacts of the period is set against the outstanding beauty of Killarney National Park. As a focal point within Killarney National Park, Muckross House is the ideal base from which to explore this landscape.
Torc Waterfall
You will visit the famous Torc Waterfall which is located close to the entrance to Muckross House. From the viewing point, you will have a view over the Middle Lake as well as the falls themselves.
You will marvel at the falls that are a 20-meter high, 110-meter-long cascade waterfall formed by the Owengarriff River as it drains from the Devil’s Punchbowl corrie lake at Mangerton Mountain and sits at the base of Torc Mountain.
Killarney National Park Drive
Killarney National Park, the very first national park to be established in Ireland in 1932, is a very popular tourist attraction, for its diverse nature and amazing scenery. The park is of high ecological value because of the quality, diversity, and extensiveness of many of its habitats and the wide variety of species that they accommodate, some of which are rare. The park was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1981.
The park contains an expanse of rugged mountainous country. This includes the MacGillycuddy’s Reeks, the highest mountain range in Ireland.
Your driver-guide will return you to your Killarney hotel for the evening where you can simply take a stroll through the quaint streets of Killarney.
Day 3: Cliffs of Moher & The Burren Private Tour
This morning after breakfast your driver-guide will collect you from your hotel and drive you north towards the Limerick Clare border to your first stop:
Bunratty Castle & Folk Park
Here you will visit the acclaimed 15th century Castle, the most complete and authentic castle in Ireland. The site on which Bunratty Castle stands was in origin a Viking trading camp in 970. The present structure is the last of four castles to be built on the site. You will take a tour of this iconic fortress; hear and see how the lords and ladies of this castle lived; hear stories of battles and bravery and enjoy stunning views across the idyllic Clare countryside.
The Folk Park, set on 26 acres of unspoiled Clare countryside, is a treat for persons young, old, and in-between, and features over 30 buildings in a ‘living’ village in a rural setting. Farmhouses, village shops, and streets are recreated and furnished as they would have been at “that time” according to their social standing, from the poorest one-roomed dwelling to Bunratty House a fine example of a Georgian residence that was home to the Studdarts, the last family to occupy the Castle.
Cliffs of Moher
Neither words nor pictures can fully capture the power and grace of the Cliffs.
Rising over 200 meters high and spanning 8 kilometers along the wild Atlantic coast, the Cliffs provide stunning views of the Aran Islands with the ocean crashing below. Your driver-guide will be able to inform you of all the folklore and myths that surround this incredible testament to the beauty of nature.
It is not just the setting of the cliffs of Moher that will blow you away, fans of wildlife and bird watching will want to spend hours here appreciating the Puffins, razorbills, Kittiwakes, and occasional peregrine Falcons that call the area home.
The Burren
Next on your tour is The Burren, a region famous internationally for its landscape and flora. Most of the Burren is designated a Special Area of Conservation to protect this extremely unusual habitat of Limestone Pavement, Calcareous Grassland, Hazel scrub, Ash/Hazel Woodland, Turloughs, Lakes, Petrifying Springs, Cliffs, and Fen.
The word “Burren” comes from the Irish word “Boíreann” meaning a rocky place. An invading Army Officer once said, “here there is not water enough to drown a man, wood enough to hang one, nor earth enough to bury one”.
Once you’ve explored The Burren with your guide, we’ll head up the coast to Galway and to your accommodation for the evening.
Day 4: Transfer to Dublin & Half Day Tour
This morning, your driver-guide will collect you from your hotel & will take you to Dublin where you will visit some of the city’s best sites throughout the next two days.
Today, we’ll spend the afternoon visiting:
Dublin Castle
The castle is one of the most important buildings in Irish history. From 1204 until 1922 it was the seat of British rule in Ireland serving as a residence for the British monarch’s representative, the Viceroy of Ireland. After a fire in 1684, it was rebuilt with grand reception rooms known as the State Apartments which were the focus of great state occasions. In the early nineteenth century, the Castle was enhanced by the addition of the Chapel Royal. This magnificent Gothic Revival structure, bristling with pinnacles on the outside and rich with ornamental features within, is one of the architectural highlights of Georgian Dublin today.
Kilmainham Gaol
Kilmainham Gaol, built in 1796 and located in the heart of Dublin City in Ireland, served as a prison in former times where many Irish revolutionaries were imprisoned and executed by the British. Today it houses a museum on the history of Irish nationalism and offers guided tours of the building. An art gallery on the top floor exhibits paintings, sculptures, and jewelry of prisoners incarcerated in prisons all over the country.
Kilmainham Gaol, one of the biggest gaols – or ‘jails’ – in Europe and sometimes referred to as the ‘Irish Bastille’, is among the most popular tourist attractions in Dublin, attracting thousands of visitors every year.
Guinness Storehouse
Your next visit is the world-famous Guinness Storehouse where you can experience the history, heart, and soul of Ireland’s most iconic beer by exploring the past, present, and future of St. James’s Gate. The Guinness Storehouse building was once the fermentation plant of the brewery but now you can make your way through the space, exploring the ingredients, history, and culture that tell the Guinness story. Your visit will culminate in the Gravity Bar, where you can enjoy a taste of the Black Stuff, some food tasting, and receive a Guinness branded gift.
Temple Bar
Finally, on your last evening in Ireland on this tour, visit the Temple Bar District to see firsthand why the Irish are so famous for their drinking culture by exploring the wonderful selection of traditional bars that fill the street with the sound of laughter and traditional Irish music.
Finally, after a long day of touring, we’ll settle into your accommodation in Dublin for the evening.
Day 5: Dublin Day Tour & Airport Drop-off
And alas, we reach the final day of your tour in Ireland! We’ll round off the trip with some visits to some more of Dublin’s best sites before your flight (depending on flight/departure times):
EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum
Take part in this incredible interactive journey to learn about how this small island and its people have made such an impact across the world.
General Post Office
Where the Proclamation was read on Easter Sunday, 1916, for the first time ever.
Irish Whiskey Museum
Taste the true spirit of the Island and learn a complete and unbiased history of Irish whiskey from experts!
Trinity College Dublin
The oldest university in Ireland and the host of the hallowed ‘Book of Kells’ which dates back to 384AD!
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