Atlantic cliffs, county pubs and green valleys: Ireland at traveller's eye level.

Complete Guide to Ireland

From our Dublin office, we welcome English-speaking travelers through an island that stretches 500 kilometers from north to south, yet demands at least ten days to grasp its nuances. Ireland reads itself through contrasts: the wild west coast battered by the Atlantic, where Connemara and the Cliffs of Moher plunge steeply into the ocean, contrasts with the gentle pastures of the Midlands and the urban life of Dublin, Galway and Cork.

The Wild Atlantic Way unfolds 2,500 km of coastal road from Donegal to Kerry, passing through the Burren, a limestone plateau that harbors unique flora, and the Dingle Peninsula, where Irish remains the language of daily life. Further north, Northern Ireland adds the Giant's Causeway and Belfast, accessible without formalities from the Republic. The southeast, around Kilkenny and Waterford, preserves traces of Viking and Norman invasions in its abbeys and castles.

As for climate, you must accept the rain: it crosses the country year-round, but rarely for more than a few hours. May, June and September offer the best windows of light, with 14 to 18°C and long days. To build a coherent itinerary, it's better to combine two or three regions rather than attempt the full circuit: Dublin and the southwest, or Galway and Connemara with a loop toward Donegal.

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The regions of Ireland

Each region has its own personality: climate, landscapes, pace of life and ways of traveling. Our local team helps you choose the combination that suits you.

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Dublin and the East

Dublin concentrates nearly a third of the country's population and maintains a walkable scale, from Trinity College to Temple Bar. To the south, County Wicklow unfolds its boggy mountains, the glacial lakes of Glendalough and its sixth-century monastery. To the north, the Boyne Valley is home to Newgrange, a Neolithic tumulus predating the pyramids. Allow two to three days for Dublin, plus a day-loop in Wicklow to breathe outside the city. Winters are mild but humid, summers hover around 18°C with evenings stretching until 10 p.m. in June.

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South-West and Kerry

The southwest concentrates the landscapes many come seeking: Ring of Kerry, Dingle Peninsula, Killarney National Park with its lakes and MacGillycuddy's Reeks mountain range, the island's highest peak at 1,038 m. Killarney serves as a logical base, Dingle appeals with its bay where the bottlenose dolphin Fungie sometimes lives and its pubs where Gaelic is still spoken. Allow four to five days to explore the region without rushing. Roads are narrow, often single-track, so plan for an average speed of 50 km/h rather than the posted 80.

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Connemara and Galway

Galway, a student and festival city of 85,000 inhabitants, serves as the gateway to Connemara. Beyond, a different pace awaits: boglands, lakes, the peaks of the Twelve Bens, roads to Roundstone and Clifden. Connemara National Park can be explored on foot in a few hours, and Kylemore Abbey offers a neo-Gothic landmark on the shores of its lake. The Aran Islands, 45 minutes by ferry from Rossaveal, preserve dry stone walls and prehistoric forts. Allow three to four days for the region. Water is everywhere, so pack a waterproof jacket and quick-drying shoes.

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Cliffs of Moher and the Burren

County Clare offers two neighboring and contrasting landscapes. The Cliffs of Moher rise 214 m above the Atlantic along an 8 km rocky coastline, accessible from the visitor center or via coastal path from Doolin. Just to the north, the Burren is a limestone plateau spanning 250 km² where orchids and alpine gentians bloom in May alongside Mediterranean plants—a botanical curiosity shaped by the microclimate. Doolin remains the reference village for traditional music, with daily sessions in three historic pubs. Two days are sufficient to visit both sites.

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Northern Ireland

Six counties under British jurisdiction but with no physical border: you travel from Dublin to Belfast in 2 hours by car, sterling accepted. Belfast has transformed its Titanic shipyards into a cultural district and remains accessible for understanding the Northern Irish conflict, through the murals of Falls Road and Shankill. The Giant's Causeway, 40,000 hexagonal basalt columns, can be visited in a loop with Dunluce Castle and the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge. The Glens of Antrim and the Causeway Coastal Route offer three days of calm coastal driving, less crowded than the south.

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South-East and Boyne Valley

The south-east is the country's driest region, sometimes called the Sunny South East by the Irish. Kilkenny retains its Norman castle and medieval alleyways, Waterford remains the country's oldest city, founded by the Vikings in 914. The counties of Wexford and Cork lead to Cobh, the Titanic's last port of embarkation, and to the Mizen Head peninsula. Cork, the country's second city, deserves two days for its English Market and gastronomic scene. Allow three to four days to travel from Dublin to Cork via Kilkenny and Waterford.

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