Vacay AlchemistOne week is enough for a loop through Ireland's greatest hits if you're willing to drive (on the left) and keep the daily distances modest. This route runs Dublin - the southeast - the southwest coast - Galway - back, all on a manageable schedule.
Day 1 - Dublin
Trinity College and the Book of Kells, a walk through Temple Bar and across to the north side, Kilmainham Gaol if you booked ahead, and a traditional-music pub in the evening. Pick up the rental car the next morning, not tonight.
Day 2 - Dublin to Killarney via Kilkenny and the Rock of Cashel
Roughly 4 hours of driving broken by stops: Kilkenny's castle and medieval mile, then the Rock of Cashel. Overnight in Killarney.
Days 3-4 - Ring of Kerry and Dingle
Day 3: the Ring of Kerry loop (about 3-4 hours of driving with stops - Killarney National Park, Kerry Cliffs, Sneem). Day 4: the Dingle Peninsula's Slea Head Drive, which many travelers rate above the Ring, plus Dingle town for seafood and music.
Day 5 - Dingle to Galway via the Cliffs of Moher
Ferry across the Shannon estuary to shortcut the drive, then the Cliffs of Moher and a stretch of the Burren's limestone landscape. Overnight in Galway.
Days 6-7 - Galway and back to Dublin
A day in Galway (the Latin Quarter, Salthill promenade) with an optional trip to Connemara or the Aran Islands, then the drive back to Dublin (about 2.5 hours) for departure.
How to adjust
- No driving: base in Dublin, Killarney, and Galway by train/bus and take day tours to the Ring of Kerry and the Cliffs
- More coast: cut Kilkenny/Cashel, add a night on the Dingle Peninsula
- Northern route instead: swap the southwest for Belfast, the Causeway Coast, and Donegal
Frequently asked
Can you see Ireland in a week?
You can do a satisfying southwest loop - Dublin, Kerry, Dingle, the Cliffs of Moher, and Galway - in a week. Adding the north or the far west means a rushed pace.
Is driving in Ireland hard?
It's left-side driving on often narrow, hedge-lined rural roads. Most visitors adapt within a day; an automatic rental and avoiding night driving on the small roads helps.
Is the Ring of Kerry or the Dingle Peninsula better?
Both are excellent; Dingle's Slea Head Drive is shorter, less busy, and many travelers prefer it. If you only have time for one, Dingle is the easier and quieter choice.
Get a plan built around your dates and pace
Answer a few questions about your trip and get a real day-by-day itinerary with booking links - usually in under two minutes.
Plan my trip