Sample Itinerary · Ireland

Best of Ireland

Dingle · Kilkenny · Dublin · Belfast

Duration
10 Days · 9 Nights
Accommodations
4-Star or Higher
Transport
Private Transfers
Best For
First-timers · Couples · Families

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This is a sample itinerary — for inspiration only. Every Juniper trip is designed from scratch around you. Many clients travel a very similar route — if this resonates, book a free consultation and a specialist will build something just like it (or better) specifically for your travel style, dates, and group.

1
Day One

Arrive in Ireland

Dingle, County Kerry

Welcome to Ireland. A private driver meets you at arrivals and the journey west begins immediately — Ireland has a way of announcing itself before you’ve even had a chance to recover from the flight. En route to Dingle, you’ll stop to walk along one of the world’s most dramatic coastlines: the Cliffs of Moher, rising vertically out of the Atlantic for over 8 kilometres. It’s the kind of view that makes everything feel right about the decision to come here.

By early evening you’re checking into your accommodation in Dingle — a small, characterful port town on the southwest tip of the island. The rest of the day is yours. The town is compact enough to wander without a plan, and there’s no shortage of good food and genuine pub sessions to ease you into Irish time.

Private airport transfer
Cliffs of Moher stop
Arrive Dingle

Overnight: Dingle

2
Day Two

A Full Day on the Dingle Peninsula

Dingle, County Kerry

A full day to settle in and experience everything Dingle has to offer. Your specialist will have pre-arranged the right activity for your interests — the options here are genuinely excellent. A falconry experience gives you an intimate encounter with some extraordinary birds of prey in a landscape that feels purpose-built for it. Alternatively, the local distillery offers a guided tour through one of Ireland’s newer — but rapidly acclaimed — whiskey producers.

Those drawn to the outdoors can spend the day driving the Slea Head loop: the Blasket Islands viewpoints, the ancient beehive huts scattered across the hillsides, and the kind of Atlantic scenery that makes you pull over every few kilometres. The evening brings Dingle’s pubs back into focus — traditional music starts without announcement and usually runs until late.

Falconry experience
Distillery tour
Coastal drive option

Overnight: Dingle

3
Day Three

Dingle to Kilkenny via Blarney

Blarney · Kilkenny

An early start today. Your private driver collects you after breakfast and the journey east begins — it’s a good road that takes you through the midlands, and the stop at Blarney Castle and Gardens is worth building the day around. The castle itself is one of Ireland’s most recognisable ruins: a towering medieval structure with magnificent gardens surrounding it. Climbing the spiral staircase to the battlements, you’ll arrive at the Blarney Stone — lean back over the parapet, kiss the stone, and supposedly acquire the gift of eloquence. Whether you believe the legend or not, the view from the top is genuinely spectacular.

From Blarney, you continue northeast to Kilkenny — Ireland’s medieval capital, known locally as the Marble City for its distinctive local limestone. You’ll arrive in time to check in, take a walk through the old town, and find somewhere excellent for dinner.

Private transfer
Blarney Castle stop
Arrive Kilkenny

Overnight: Kilkenny

4
Day Four

Exploring the Marble City

Kilkenny

Kilkenny deserves a full day and rewards slow exploration. The centerpiece is Kilkenny Castle — one of Ireland’s finest surviving Norman castles, set above the River Nore with grounds that are genuinely beautiful. Your specialist pre-books a guided entry slot — the castle is state-managed by the OPW and tours are run by their own historians, so booking ahead means walking straight in on a set timeslot rather than queuing on the day.

The castle is only part of the Kilkenny story, and a private walking guide for a few hours in the afternoon is the best way to see the rest of the Medieval Mile: the narrow lanes, the gothic St. Canice’s Cathedral and its 9th-century round tower, the craft quarter that has developed around the old monastic grounds, the Butter Slip and Rothe House. Kilkenny is entirely walkable and the quality of the independent restaurants and pubs is excellent — your specialist has reservations ready for dinner.

Kilkenny Castle & Medieval Mile
St. Canice’s & round tower
Private walking guide

Overnight: Kilkenny

5
Day Five

Kilkenny to Dublin

Dublin

Private transfer north to Dublin — the journey takes about an hour and a half and passes through some pleasant midlands countryside. Dublin is a compact capital that reveals itself gradually: the Georgian squares, the quays along the River Liffey, the neighborhoods that have completely reinvented themselves over the last decade. Check in, leave your bags, and spend the afternoon at your own pace getting a feel for the city before your two full days here.

Private transfer to Dublin
Arrive Dublin

Overnight: Dublin

6
Day Six

Dublin — History & Architecture

Dublin City

Dublin is small enough to walk — most of what’s worth seeing is within a radius that takes 20 minutes on foot. A historical walking tour gives the city a narrative framework: the Viking origins along the Liffey, the Norman occupation, Trinity College and the Book of Kells, the Georgian squares that survived modernisation, and the stories layered into streets that have been walked for a thousand years.

Your specialist can also arrange a sightseeing cruise along the River Liffey for a different perspective on the city — the view from the water makes Dublin’s architecture considerably more legible. The evening is excellent for dining — Dublin’s restaurant scene has improved dramatically and the right reservations are worth having. Your specialist will know which ones.

Historical walking tour
River Liffey cruise option
Evening dining

Overnight: Dublin

7
Day Seven

Dublin — Food, Culture & Pub Life

Dublin City

A second full day in Dublin, and the pace settles into something pleasanter. A guided food tour through the city’s markets and neighborhoods connects you to a culinary culture that’s evolved remarkably over the last ten years — far beyond the stew-and-soda-bread clichés. The morning is the best time for it.

The Guinness Storehouse is a genuine experience rather than a tourist obligation — the exhibition on the history of the brewery and the brand is well done, and the Gravity Bar at the top offers the best view of the city. Save time for a proper pub in the evening, ideally somewhere outside the tourist trail where the music starts without announcement around nine and goes for as long as people are listening.

Irish food tour
Guinness Storehouse
Traditional pub evening

Overnight: Dublin

8
Day Eight

Dublin to Belfast

Belfast, Northern Ireland

Private transfer north — the road to Belfast crosses the border into Northern Ireland smoothly, and the journey takes about two hours. Belfast is a city that has reinvented itself in a way that most cities haven’t managed, and arriving with fresh eyes rather than preconceptions is the best way to experience it.

Check in and spend the afternoon getting a feel for the city: the Cathedral Quarter’s Victorian pubs and street art, the Titanic Quarter’s extraordinary waterfront development, the covered Victorian market at St. George’s. Belfast has a distinct energy from Dublin and the contrast — the architecture, the accent, the atmosphere — is part of what makes including it in an Ireland itinerary so worthwhile.

Private transfer to Belfast
Arrive Belfast
Cathedral Quarter

Overnight: Belfast

9
Day Nine

Belfast — Titanic Quarter & City Exploration

Belfast, Northern Ireland

A full day in Belfast, and the centerpiece is Titanic Belfast — built on the exact slipway where RMS Titanic was constructed, it’s one of the finest maritime museums in the world. The architecture of the building is extraordinary, and the exhibition inside covers the full story of Belfast’s shipbuilding history with genuine depth. Plan at least two hours.

The Ulster Museum, set in the Botanic Gardens, covers 9,000 years of Irish and Northern Irish history in a beautifully curated space — from Neolithic artifacts to the Troubles period. Your specialist will have arranged the right sequence for the day to make the most of your final full day before departure. The evening is worth spending in one of Belfast’s excellent restaurants — the city’s food scene has developed considerably.

Titanic Belfast
Ulster Museum
Guided museum tours

Overnight: Belfast

10
Day Ten

Depart for Home

Belfast International Airport

A final Irish breakfast, then your private driver collects you for the airport transfer. Most people leave Ireland already thinking about when they’ll return — it has a way of staying with you. Your Juniper specialist remains reachable throughout departure day, and your in-app itinerary stays accessible for any last-minute questions. Safe travels home.

Private airport transfer
App support throughout

Love this itinerary? Make it yours.

This is a sample luxury custom route — a starting point, not a fixed package. Many clients travel something very close to this, customized for their travel style, group, and dates. Book a free consultation and a specialist will build from here.

Accommodations
Boutique hotels, charming B&Bs, or historic castle stays — chosen based on your preferences and travel style.
Transportation
Private driver-guide, self-drive rental, or a mix of both — all transfers confirmed before you travel.
Experiences
Pre-arranged tours and activities built around your interests — entrance tickets sorted, no queuing.

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Activities on this itinerary

Your specialist pre-arranges the right luxury experiences based on your interests and travel style. These are the custom experience types available on this route — specific choices are made with you, not for you.

Falconry ExperienceDingle Peninsula

Dingle Distillery TourDingle

Cliffs of Moher FerryCounty Clare

Kilkenny Castle & Medieval Mile Walking TourKilkenny

Historical Walking TourDublin

River Liffey CruiseDublin

Irish Food TourDublin

Guinness StorehouseDublin

Titanic BelfastBelfast

Ulster MuseumBelfast

Dolphin & Whale WatchingKerry coast

Irish Entertainment EveningDublin or Belfast

Activities are selected and pre-booked with your specialist based on your interests — not all activities are included in every trip version. Availability varies by season.

The people who will design your Ireland trip

You work directly with a specialist who knows Ireland deeply — not a call center or booking agent. Every consultation is with someone who has been there, stayed in those hotels, and knows the region inside out.

Ireland · Scotland · UK · Iceland

Taryn Harrison

25 years of experience designing Ireland trips, with over 85 visits to the island. CMSC certified and former Peace Corps volunteer. Our most tenured Ireland specialist, with obsessive local detail built into every itinerary.

25 Yrs
85+ Ireland Visits
CMSC

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Italy · Switzerland · Portugal · Spain

Lexi Blade

Florence and Austria-based, Lexi brings on-the-ground expertise across Southern Europe’s most sought-after destinations. Every recommendation comes from personal experience.

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Scotland · Ireland · UK

Audrey Gabrys

Having lived across six countries, Audrey brings a genuinely international perspective to every itinerary. She specializes in Scotland’s Highlands and islands and brings the same off-the-beaten-track instinct to Ireland and UK trips.

Book a Consultation

About this itinerary

Is this a good first Ireland trip?


Yes — the Best of Ireland is specifically designed as an introductory tour. The route covers the country’s most iconic regions in a logical sequence: the dramatic southwest coast, a medieval city, the capital, and Northern Ireland. It’s Juniper’s most popular Ireland itinerary precisely because it works well for first-time visitors without feeling like a checklist.

Can I customise this itinerary?


Yes — this is a sample for inspiration. Every Juniper trip is designed from scratch. You can add regions (Galway, Connemara, the Causeway Coast), swap cities, extend stays, change the type of transport, and adjust the pace entirely. Your specialist builds the actual itinerary around your group’s preferences during the free consultation.

Is 10 days enough for this Ireland itinerary?


10 days works well for this particular route — two nights in each location gives you enough time to settle in without overstaying. Clients who have the option often add 2–3 days to include Galway and Connemara, which are a natural extension of the west coast section. A 7-day version is possible by focusing on fewer regions — your specialist can advise based on your available time.

Is this itinerary good for a honeymoon?


This route works well as a honeymoon base — the intimate scale of Dingle, the castle hotel options in Kilkenny and beyond, and the romantic atmosphere throughout the west of Ireland are all genuinely well-suited to couples. That said, our dedicated Romantic Ireland itinerary (15 days) is specifically designed for honeymoons and couples and covers the most romantic regions and properties in more detail.

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“Taryn helped us out of a huge jam on short notice. Truly an unbelievable once-in-a-lifetime experience. We navigated everything with such ease — a wonderful, stress-free luxury trip from start to finish.”

Christopher B.  ·  Verified Google Review

Build your luxury custom Ireland trip with one of our top travel specialists.

30 minutes, completely free. Walk away with a clear picture of what your luxury custom Ireland trip could look like — dates, route, 4 and 5-star accommodations, and all.

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