7 days in Ireland: Dublin, Limerick, & Galway

Fall in Ireland is hard to beat. There is something so wonderful about walking around the city streets, strolling through Christmas markets, or seeing the countryside in the crisp fall air and then warming up by the fire in a pub with a nice pint of Guinness. This is, in my opinion, the best first-timer, family-oriented Ireland itinerary. I took this trip with my parents, sisters, and family friends. There were 12 of us total! Everyone had a wonderful time, so it’s definitely a trip for all ages. This route is unique in that you get a mix of both large and small cities while also getting a glimpse of the countryside and the west coast.

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Days 1-2: Dublin

The best airport to fly into is Dublin International. We flew from the states on Aer Lingus, Ireland’s flagship airline. Aer Lingus has great year-round deals with direct flights from destinations all over the US. If you are a budget traveler, be sure to watch their website for deals! Getting around Dublin is also very simple thanks to public transportation. You can easily get a bus ticket into the city center from right outside the Dublin airport. We took the bus into the city and primarily walked when in the city center. Dublin is an extremely walkable city, and everything from tourist destinations to restaurants, cafes, and pubs is very central. If walking is not your thing, no worries! The central train and tram lines (Luas/DART) are very affordable and easy to use.

We stayed at the Arlington Hotel in North Quay. The rooms were clean, spacious, and affordable. They served breakfast on site which was great for traveling with a family. They had everything from cereal to a traditional Irish breakfast. Additionally, the Arlington has a pub with great food and live music! It was the perfect place to stay for two nights in Dublin.

After arriving at your hotel and dropping your bags, it’s time to get out there! You can walk in any direction and find something interesting. When you first arrive, I highly recommend walking through the central area (Temple Bar and Grafton St) and checking out the vintage shops, cafes, and pubs. St Stephen’s Green, Trinity College, Christ Church Cathedral, and Dublin Castle are all centrally located, and walking to each is a great first day activity, especially as it helps you get your bearings. There are many fantastic pubs, bars, and restaurants to pop in and have a pint, cocktail, or grab a bite to eat.

On the second day, pick one tourist activity you want to do. You could hit as many as you like, but in my experience one is enough! I’d rather spend the rest of my time finding local pubs and cool shops, but to each their own! We did the distillery tour at Teeling Whiskey Distillery. The tour was about an hour. The tour included presentations on the history of the distillery, a tour of the grounds, and a whiskey tasting, and included in the ticket was a signature cocktail. Teeling is centrally located and very easy to walk to.

One of the best parts of a trip to Ireland is the pubs. Here’s a list of my favorite Dublin pubs that I keep coming back to at every visit. (I’ve never been in Temple Bar! I think there are local spots or lesser-known spots that are even better.)

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Travel day Dublin → Limerick

Limerick is located on the west side of Ireland. The train from Heuston Station in Dublin to Limerick is roughly 2.5 hours with one transfer at Limerick Junction. Booking in advance is cheaper, however it’s possible to book on the day of travel as there are multiple trains a day. We booked tickets online the morning of and didn’t have any issues. There is also a bus to Limerick from Dublin. It takes around the same time as the train (2.5 hours) and runs every 30 minutes to an hour depending on the operator.

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Day 3-4: Limerick

We took the first train in the morning and arrived in Limerick midday, which allowed us to enjoy the afternoon in Limerick. Limerick is substantially smaller than Dublin with a population of 90,000 people. The city center is small and easy to get around on foot. We stayed at The George Boutique Hotel. The rooms were on the smaller side but modern and clean. The hotel also offers breakfast on site. They also had a bar and restaurant which we ate at one night which was delicious!

Even though Limerick is a smaller town, we had plenty to do for the afternoon and the following day we were there. Once you arrive, take a stroll through the city center and across the river to the castle. King John’s Castle is a 13th century fortress located on the bank of the River Shannon. The visitor center features a museum with a chronological history of the castle. The highlight is walking the grounds and climbing the tower. The views of the river and Limerick are exceptional! Next to the castle is St. Mary’s Cathedral. It’s a beautiful old church which is definitely worth a visit.

It is worth noting that Limerick is not a tourist destination. It’s more off the beaten path. I think it’s underrated for food and pubs, and it’s a great base for traveling the west coast. Every meal we had in Limerick was exceptional and some pubs we found ourselves returning to the next day!

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Day 5: Limerick → Cliffs of Moher → Galway

The easiest way to get from Limerick to Galway is by car or by bus. We chose to rent a car so that we could leisurely make our way up to Galway. We rented a car from Shannon airport. There is a bus from Limerick to the airport which takes about 30 minutes. There are many rental spots to choose from. One thing to note for Americans is that they drive primarily manual cars in Ireland. If you are only comfortable driving an automatic, make sure to book early! Automatics sell out as rental companies have fewer automatics to rent. Additionally, they drive on the left, and the roads are rural and narrow.

The drive from Limerick to Galway non-stop would take an hour and a half. We chose to go out of our way to the Cliffs of Moher. The Cliffs are about an hour and a half away. Depending on the time of year you visit, you may have to pre-book parking at the Cliffs as it tends to sell out. As we were there in November, there was plenty of parking. The Cliffs are a must do! We lucked out with sun, but just walking the Cliffs and enjoying the views was a highlight of the trip. The Cliffs to Galway is about a 2 hour drive.

Just north of the Cliffs is the tiny coastal town of Doolin. You may have seen pictures of the brightly colored thatched buildings in Doolin. We stopped and shopped at the yarn stores and souvenir shops. As we were there in November, fewer stores and restaurants were open, but it’s still worth stopping at. We continued on from there and stopped for lunch at Moran’s. Moran’s Oyster House sits on a harbor out by itself. They serve everything from fish and chips, oysters, mussels, salmon, and chowder to burgers. If you are a seafood fan, I cannot recommend it enough. We were there on a day with lots of fog, but I can imagine it’s beautiful on a clear day. From there, we drove into Galway and returned the car.

If renting a car is not your speed, but you’d still like to see the Cliffs of Moher, guided day tours are available from Limerick and Galway:

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Day 5-6: Galway

After arrival from Limerick, we dropped our rental car and checked into our hotel. We stayed on Eyre Square at the Skeffington Arms Hotel. This was the perfect location to walk around Shop Street. As we were there in late November, the Christmas markets were out in all their glory. The Christmas market on Eyre Square was right outside our hotel, so we could pop out for hot chocolate or mulled wine. As we had arrived late in the evening, we enjoyed the Christmas market on the first night and called it an early night, as the day trip was quite a long day!

Galway is similar to Limerick in that it’s small and easy to get around on foot. However, it’s quite a lively tourist town with street performers, colorful shops, and pubs. Galway is a walkable city, and we had no problems getting around on foot since we had dropped our rental car off when we arrived.

On the second day, head down Shop Street, the main pedestrian street running through the Latin Quarter. It’s lined with shops, cafes, and pubs, and there’s almost always a musician playing on the street. Keep going until you reach the Spanish Arch and the river. If you have time on your second day, walk out to Salthill Promenade along the water.

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Day 7: Galway → Dublin

On our last day, we checked out early and took the train to Dublin. The train station in Galway is right next to Eyre Square, so it was easy to walk right over and hop on a train. The train took roughly 2.5 hours. From Heuston Station in Dublin, you can take the bus or an Uber to the airport. There is also a bus that runs from Galway directly to Dublin Airport. Whichever you choose, give yourself plenty of buffer time before your flight.

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Final Thoughts