This guide of tips for traveling to Ireland It will help you prepare a trip to an island full of fantastic landscapes and castles that will meet the wishes and expectations of everyone who visits.
Known as the "Emerald island" Because of the diversity and shades of green, Ireland is a perfect country to travel by rental car on a circular route in which in addition to its green landscapes, where the highest cliffs of Europe are located, you can enjoy castles and abbeys in ruins, which have a special charm in addition to having a good pint of black beer in a traditional pub
Keep in mind that any complete route along this fantastic island also includes the part of Northern Ireland, which belongs to the United Kingdom.
Based on the experience of our trip to Ireland for free, we have made this selection of those we believe are the 10 essential tips for traveling to Ireland.We start!
1. What is the best time to travel?
The best time for a trip to Ireland is in May and September, when temperatures are more pleasant, there is less chance of rain and also more hours of light. Although these months, especially in July and August, have the disadvantage that there is much more tourism and prices for accommodation rise quite a bit.
Spring and autumn, especially May and October, are also good times to visit Ireland, having the lowest prices and less tourism.
Winter is the worst time to have few hours of light and depend a lot on the weather, which is usually quite unstable.
In any case, it is advisable to take an umbrella or a raincoat at any time of the year, since rains throughout the island are very frequent, about 200 days a year, and can last from a few minutes to several days.
2. Entry requirements
For travel to Ireland or Northern IrelandIf you are Spanish or belong to a European Union country, you only need to carry a valid passport or ID.
We must pay attention to Brexit, the United Kingdom's departure from the European Union, since if this happens, the requirements for entry to Northern Ireland may change.
If you are not a citizen of the European Union, it is advisable to look for this information on the page of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of your country or on the embassies of Ireland and the United Kingdom.
Another requirement that is not mandatory, but if very advisable, is to carry the European Health Card that covers care in all public hospitals in the country or if you do not have it, have the best travel insurance.
Similarly, it is important not to forget that although the European Health Card covers any medical problem, there are situations that are not included as a repatriation, so it is also highly recommended to have the best travel insurance to Europe.
We always travel insured with Mondo, with whom we carry a totally adequate insurance to the needs that we will have on the trip. Hiring your insurance here with Mondo, just for being a Street Travelers reader, you have a 5% discount.
3. Security
The turbulent times of Northern Ireland, with the struggles between supporters of independence and related to the United Kingdom, we can say that they are over.
Nowadays, traveling to Ireland and Northern Ireland is totally safe, beyond small thefts or thefts that can occur in the most touristy or crowded areas of Dublin.
If you rent a car to travel the island at your leisure, it is not necessary to take the international driving license, and keep in mind that you have to drive on the left lane. To practice a little, we recommend several laps in the car rental company parking lot and thus be more calm when you go on the road.
At the time of driving, it is important to be very attentive at the entrance to the roundabouts and not stand in the fast lane of the highways if you do not go at the proper speed.
In the cities you also have to be concentrated when crossing any street and look both ways, remember that cars will come from the right!
4. Money exchange
In Northern Ireland, the official currency is the pound sterling and although some pubs and tourist attractions may accept euros, it is not safe or mandatory.
To get pounds sterling, one pound is equivalent to approximately 1.12 euros, it is preferable to get money at ATMs, rather than changing euros at the exchange offices or taking money changed from the bank of your country, since with these last two options, you will pay more for less.
To avoid paying commissions and always having the current change, we recommend using the N26 card to pay and the Bnext and Revolut cards to get money at the ATMs. They are the ones we use, They are free and will save you a lot.
You can find more information in this article about the best cards to travel without commissions.
Pound sterling
5. How to travel to Ireland?
The most common way of travel to Ireland is to look for a flight that lands at the Dublin airport. This airport is one of the busiest in Europe thanks to the fact that its reference company Ryanair offers low cost and direct flights from many European cities, including those in Spain.
Once you land in Dublin you can rent a car at the same airport to start a route through Ireland or stay in the city and take small day trips.
To go from Dublin airport to downtown you have these options:
- Bus: The 24-hour Aircoach will take you downtown (O'Connell Street and Grafton Street stops) in half an hour for 7 euros or 12 euros, if you buy round trip.
The 747 line of the Airlink bus also makes the same route with stops at O'Connell Street and College Green, for the same price, from 5 a.m. to 00:30 a.m. You can book the ticket here in advance.
- Direct transfer to the hotel: It is the most comfortable way to reach the hotel by having a driver who will take you from the terminal to the door of your hotel in half an hour, without intermediate stops. You can book it here.
- Cab: They have a price of about 25 euros.
Another good option is to land at Belfast International Airport, one of the two airports that the city has. From this airport you can take the Express 300 bus service that will leave you in Belfast in less than half an hour.
Dublin taxis
6. Route through Ireland
To the travel to Ireland It is important to plan the rental car route well so that you can know most of the natural wonders, castles and abbeys that this impressive country has.
We recommend a circular route through Ireland between 10 days and two weeks, starting and ending in Dublin, which we will talk about later in a complete section.
The first stop on the trip to Ireland leaving the capital of Ireland is Bruna Boine, a prehistoric necropolis before Stonehenge and located less than an hour from Dublin. After the visit you can continue north until you reach Belfast, a city that has several essentials such as the Titanic Museum, the historic center and the route of the Murals.
A few kilometers from Belfast is one of the most spectacular natural wonders of Europe, the Giant's Causeway and other places to see in Ireland located near these impressive basalt columns, such as the Carrick a Rede Suspension Bridge and the Castle of Dunluce
Still in Northern Ireland, you will arrive in the city of Derry to see its famous murals that have the theme of the conflict between unionists and Republicans.
The next part of the route combines the natural landscapes of the road that passes through Glen Gesh Pass and the cliffs of Slieve League with castles and abbeys such as Glenveagh and Sligo, until you reach another of the wonders of the country, Kylemore Abbey .
Visit Kylemore Abbey when traveling to Ireland
After taking thousands of photos of this beautiful abbey located on the shore of a lake, you can continue along the Sky Road stopping in the charming town of Clifden and ending in the lively city of Galway. If you are doing well on time, before arriving in Galway, we recommend you head towards the beautiful ruins of the abbey and the monastic ensemble of Clonmacnoise.
After having a few pints of black beer in the most famous pubs and spending the night in Galway, you can continue the journey in the direction of the famous Cliffs of Moher, stopping before at Dunguaire Castle.
The Cliffs of Moher, which rise more than 100 meters above the Atlantic Ocean, are a true natural wonder and an essential part of Ireland, which we are sure, will not disappoint you.
Between the cliffs and the city of Killarney, which you will visit later, is an area of Dolmens in which the Poulnabrone and the Bunratty Castle stand out.
Killarney is the gateway to the Ring of Kerry, one of the most impressive scenic roads in Europe.
The next two visits of the trip will be two of the most beautiful castles in Ireland, Blarney Castle and the Rock of Cashel, in the latter that is in ruins you will see some fantastic Celtic crosses.
Before arriving in Dublin, we recommend stopping at Wicklow County, which has Glendalough as a monastic ensemble, its most prominent place. This area impresses with the landscapes of green valleys, waterfalls, lakes and high mountains.
7. Dublin
Another comfortable way to travel to Ireland It is to stay every night in Dublin and take small excursions to the wonders that are closer like the Giant's Causeway and the landscapes of Wicklow.
Two or three days will be enough to know the main points of interest of the capital of Ireland such as its famous Temple Bar neighborhood, the well-kept parks, the historic center, Trinity College and especially the lively pubs and taverns.
One of the best tips for traveling to Dublin and not missing out on anything important is to complete this list of places to visit in Dublin and this one of the best things to do in Dublin.
To live all these experiences and make the most of your time you can follow these personalized guides according to the days you have:
- Dublin guide in one day
- Dublin guide in two days
- Dublin guide in 3 days
It is important to complete these itineraries with a guided tour that allows you to know the interesting history of the city and its curiosities. Among the most recommended visits by travelers are this free tour of Dublin and the free tour of mysteries and legends, both free and with a guide in Spanish.
Visit the Temple Bar on a trip to Ireland
After finishing all visits to the city and if you still have extra time, we advise you to do some of the best excursions in Dublin.
You can do these places for free by renting a car or using public transport. Another more comfortable option is to book one of these excursions with a guide in Spanish:
- Book excursion to the Cliffs of Moher and Galway
- Book excursion to Belfast and the Giant's Causeway
- Book excursion to Wicklow and Glendalough
8. Belfast
Belfast is another perfect city to use as a base if you think travel to Ireland and get to know the surroundings on small day trips.
Although it does not have as many tourist attractions as Dublin, the capital of Northern Ireland has been reborn from past conflicts to become a modern city that welcomes the traveler with open arms.
Among its most prominent places is the impressive Titanic Museum, located in the port area, the historic center with a large City Hall, the route of the Murals that will help you understand the armed conflict and traditional pubs to take a good look of black beer and getting the good vibes like The Crown Liquor Saloon or White's Tavern.
A good option to get to know the interesting history of this city and not miss anything is to book this guided tour in Spanish through the neighborhood of murals or this free tour of Dublin Free!
After completing this list of essential places to see in Belfast, we recommend visiting the Giant's Causeway by bus or booking this guided tour in Spanish.
Belfast murals
9. Typical dishes
Another one of the best reasons for travel to Ireland It is to try their local food, always accompanied by a good black beer.
Some of the most typical dishes are:
- Fish and Chips: Breaded fish and chips.
- Irish Stew: beef stew with potatoes, carrots and onions, among other ingredients.
- Irish Breakfast: energy breakfast with bacon, sausages, eggs, black and white blood sausage, tomato, beans ...
- Bacon and Cabbage: two pieces of bacon accompanied by cabbage and potatoes.
- Boxty: potato pie.
- Colcannon: mashed potatoes with cabbage and onion.
- Chowder seafood: seafood soup with salmon and potato.
- Beef and Guinness Stew: a beef stew with Guinness black beer.
- Pie Cottage: minced veal pie covered in mashed potatoes.
Fish and chips
10. More tips for traveling to Ireland
Other of the best tips for traveling to Ireland They are:
- Bring an adapter for the three flat pin plugs of Ireland.
- Lunch time is usually between 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. and dinner between 5:30 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. Try to adapt the schedules to enjoy the recommended restaurants.
- Pubs are the center of social life and tourists are welcome.
- Dress in layers, in Ireland it changes time very quickly.
Do you want to organize a trip to Ireland?
Get it here:
The best offers of Flights to Ireland here
The best hotels at the best prices in Ireland here
Get € 35 for your reservation with AirBnb here
Book the best tours and excursions in Ireland in Spanish here
Rent your car in Ireland at the best price here
Book your travel insurance with a 5% discount here
10 essential tips for traveling to the United Kingdom
The best offers of Flights to Ireland here
The best hotels at the best prices in Ireland here
Get € 35 for your reservation with AirBnb here
Book the best tours and excursions in Ireland in Spanish here
Rent your car in Ireland at the best price here
Book your travel insurance with a 5% discount here
10 essential tips for traveling to the United KingdomIf you feel like helping us complete the list of the 10 essential tips for traveling to Ireland, add yours in the comments.
