Plan the perfect trip to Ireland | Ireland Holiday Guide

Have you ever heard of a fantastic place related to little creatures, clovers, and their beautiful greenish color? We are talking about Ireland! An incredible country located in northwestern Europe, officially known as the Republic of Ireland. With more than 6.4 million inhabitants is one of the most popular destinations in Europe.

This country is a fantastic place with great plains worth seeing. The Emerald Isle (named for its beautiful and green landscapes) is packed with majestic history, vibrant culture, historical castles, and great people. Keep reading and learn about all the things you can enjoy in this wonderful country!

How to get there

Many things are good about Ireland, and one of the first that we want to mention is its airports. With a few crowds and good services, these airports are the best options that you can have.

If you want to make your first stop in the capital Dublin, your best option is the international Dublin Airport. This is the most popular airport in the country, the last year (2020) it handled more than 32.9 million passengers. It is easily accessible by bus, taxi, and rail.

Next on this list, we want to suggest to you the Cork Airport, which is the second largest and the third-busiest airport in Ireland. It is located in the south of Cork city center. There you will find some shopping and eating areas, as well as two hotels near the passenger terminal.

Finally, located in County Clare is the Shannon Airport. This one is perfect if you are planning to start your trip on the western side of the country. It is accessible by road, there are bus services, and you can rent a car.

Visa Information

Remember that a visa is a document that allows you to enter a foreign country. In the case of Ireland, you need to check whether people from your country need a visa. You can check online if you need one, on The Irish Naturalization and Immigration Service (INIS) page. However, you do need to have a valid passport to enter the country.

Best time to visit the country

It is important to have an idea of the weather in each season of the year in Ireland. During spring (March-May) the weather is pleasant and becomes gradually warmer. The summer (June – August) is mostly hot and dry. Fall (September to November) is considered a moderate season, with mild weather, however, the temperature will drop in November. Finally, during winter (December – February) you can expect cold weather and rain.

Knowing this, the best time to visit Ireland is during spring and fall. Temperatures in spring are between 8°C and 12°C, just perfect to enjoy the festivities to celebrate St. Patrick. On the other hand, fall temperatures range between 14°C and 18°C. Some popular events during this season are the Kinsale Gourmet Festival and the Galway International Oyster Festival.

Safety

Overall, Ireland is a very safe destination to visit! However, you should always be careful and follow some basic recommendation tips to stay safe all the time. Like in any tourist destination, there are pickpockets, but you will be fine if you are careful with your belongings and valuables.

The little crime that there usually happens late at night, so it is better to avoid the lonely streets at night. We are sure that if you exercise normal precautions, your trip will be safe and enjoyable.

Budget

For your trip to Ireland, you could spend around €109 ($128) per day. This amount includes standard accommodation, transportation, food, and entertainment without luxuries! If you plan to visit specific places or attend some festivals, you can check online for further information.

Now, if you are traveling for a week the budget should be around €766 ($900.13) and for two weeks €1,533 ($1,801.43).

Let’s see how much you can afford with €109 ($128) per day:

• Hotel or Hostel: €50 ($58.76)
• Food: €32 ($37.60)
• Local transportation (taxis, buses, subway): €18 ($21.15)
• Entertainment (shows, movie tickets): €15 ($17.63)

Let’s break down some more specific food and drinks prices:

• Meal at an inexpensive restaurant: €9 ($10.58) – Salad.
• Mid-range restaurant: €30 ($35.25) – Three-course meal.
• Soft Drink: €5 ($5.88) – 0.33-liter bottle.
• Beer: €1.79 ($2.10) – 0.5-liter draught.

Currency

The official currency in Ireland is the Euro. One Euro is equivalent to 1.18 USD. You need to know that the Euro is the only currency accepted in Ireland, so you cannot use dollars. However, pound sterling is accepted in the border regions. Visa and MasterCard are the most popular credit cards.

You can also use debit cards, but it is always important to check with your bank the possible rates that will be applied each time you use it. The best place to get cash in Ireland is using an ATM, however, be careful! The Irish ATMs work with a 4 digit PIN, so make sure that your card has 4 digits.

Interesting facts about the culture

Ireland is a small green nation located to the west of the British Isles. The first official language in the country is Irish Gaelic and the second is English. Irish is spoken not only in Ireland but also in other countries, for example in the USA, Great Britain, and Canada, some people speak this language at home. Something interesting about this language is that there is not a word for yes or no. To answer they just repeat the verb (in an affirmative or negative form).

There are two very important things in Ireland, which represent a huge part of their traditions. The first is St. Patrick’s Day, a celebration held on March 17. He is one of Ireland’s patron saints, and they celebrate this day eating traditional Irish food (includes beer, bacon, and chicken). The second are Leprechauns. These are known in Irish folklore as small men that have buried gold in some places of the country.

Another thing that is important in Irish culture, is sports. They are real supporters of their national soccer team, and they also play Hurling and Camogie, which are Ireland’s native Gaelic games.

What to do in Ireland

Ireland, a stronghold of Celtic culture, has a great history behind that left many historical sites that will take you back in time to relive those important moments. Enjoy the wonders in the open air that Ireland has to offer, such as its beautiful views, cliffs, paths, castles, historical sites, and more interesting places to visit.

The best places to visit

• Rock of Cashel, in Cashel: Also known as Cashel of the Kings or St. Patrick´s Rocks. It is a historical place from the 5th century. It has medieval buildings and a gothic cathedral.
• Kylemore Abbey, in Galway: A beautiful castle, which serves as an abbey, with beautiful Victorian gardens, a neo-gothic cathedral, and the family mausoleum.
• Cliffs of Moher, in the Burren: One of the places that you cannot stop seeing, some cliffs that rise 120 meters above the ocean. A beautiful place that will transmit you that peace and calm of the breeze and the sea.

Of course, not everything in the Emerald Isle is history, it also has fantastic places where you can have fun and have a good time to enjoy your vacations or your free time on your business trip.

The best activities

• Take a cruise on the River Shannon: This river is the longest on the entire island, one of the most relaxing activities, without doubt, enjoy sailing through the river and enjoy the panorama that the Emerald Isle offers.
• Go to the Dublin Zoo, in Phoenix Park: Come and have fun at the largest zoo in Ireland and one of the most popular attractions in the country´s capital, with over 100 different species of animals to see.
• Go to the Irish festivals: Ireland has many fun festivals around the year and they are worth going to see. Some of them are The Dublin Theater Festival (September-October), The Galway Art festival which attracts more than 400 international artists (July), and Watching the Kilkenny Cat Laughs (June, during the Bank Holiday Weekend).

How to get around in Ireland

There are different ways to get around Ireland; however, the fastest way is to travel by train. You can easily travel from Dublin to other cities and towns. There are also express and local bus services in every town, it is a slow means of transportation, but it works if you have plenty of time to enjoy the cities. One excellent idea to enjoy the landscapes and cities is to travel by bike.

There are rental agencies that offer services for €20 per day. The way that you move around the cities in Ireland will depend on the time that you have to explore the country and your budget. The fastest way is by train and the cheapest way is by bus.

How to stay connected in Ireland

Probably you are thinking about the best way to stay connected in this new country. Because, we know that when we travel, it is important to be in touch with our family and friends that we left at home. In this case, there are a few ways to stay connected in Ireland.

You can rent a cellphone; use the Wi-Fi available at the hotel (but no in most rural areas), or go to an internet café (that is not very common). However, for sure there is not a better way to stay connected than getting an Irish SIM card or an international SIM card.

The local telecommunication providers are Three Ireland, eirMobile, and Vodafone Ireland. The international provider that we want to recommend you is SimOptions, which has many different options full of data and unlimited services, to stay connected all the time during your trip!

Frequently Asked Question

Should I rent a car?

You can rent a car for $30 per day, but you can easily travel by train or bus (and it is cheaper).

Which airports can I fly to?

The main airports are the Dublin Airport, the Cork Airport, and the Shannon Airport.

What are the most popular types of hotels?

The most popular accommodation types are hotels, B&Bs, and guesthouses.

How much does a holiday cost?

You can spend around €109 ($128), including standard accommodation, food, transportation, and entertainment.

What are the best things to do?

If you are traveling to Ireland, you have to visit the splendid castles and landscapes and attend the different festivals that are held throughout the year.

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