My Perfect 3 Day Ireland Itinerary
Although I’m a huge fan of travelling less but longer and I’d always recommend spending more than 7 days with travelling through Ireland, I know there are some of you who prefer short stays and short staycations. If you’ve never been to Ireland, spending three days there might just be the perfect start for you. Especially, if you like city trips.
Day 1+2 Dublin
Let’s assume you’re flying into Dublin (customise it if you are flying into Shannon, Cork or Kerry Airport or send us an email) and are arriving late in the afternoon.
If you are like me (fellow high sensitive persons, where are you?), you’ll want to get used to the vibes of a new country, new city and new people around you. That’s why I personally love spending the first afternoon and evening exploring the area, going out for dinner and enjoying some live music in a pub - without any schedule or to-do-list.
Dublin is a great city with so much to see and do but it is a city after all. I think it is great for one or two days, but trust me - you’re going to love driving out into the countryside after that and finally getting to know the “real“ Ireland.
Back to Dublin for day 2 now though. If you’re a fan of seeing as much as you can, the Hop on Hop off buses are probably great for you to do a sightseeing tour of Dublin (you’ll see the bright green busses everywhere, book online to save some money). In case you love city trips and cities in general, extend your stay in Dublin to have more time to see everything. Or, if you’re only here for a few days, check out our blog post Our Perfect 3 Day Ireland Itinerary (coming soon!).
Start your morning right with a breakfast in one of Dublin’s amazing vegan places like Cornucopia Dublin. To read more about my experiences as a vegan in Ireland, here is my blog post about it.
Then split your morning between the magnificent National Museum of Ireland and Trinity College. Make sure to book tickets in advance for the Book of Kells Exhibition, it’s really worth it. You’ll recognise the Long Room of the Old Library of Trinity College from instagram and I highly recommend to visit it. The main chamber of the Old Library is filled with 200,000 of the Library’s oldest books and is one of the most impressive libraries in the world. Being a book nerd, this is probably my favourite place in Dublin.
Do a tour of Dublin Castle and visit the Chester Beatty Library right next to it - a winner of the European Museum of the Year. Both Trinity College and Dublin Castle lie in the heard of the city, so there are many and lovely lunch options around. If you’re getting a snack somewhere, maybe enjoy it in the beautiful St Stephen’s Green park. It’s right next to one the city’s main shopping streets, Grafton Street - it’s filled with gorgeous shops and places in case you’re more into that than history and exploring.
St Patrick’s Cathedral, around the corner from the Chester Beatty Library, is the largest church (not cathedral) in Ireland. For me, it isn’t a must see, but if you’re around and have some time on your hands, or if you’re a huge fan of churches - go!
No trip to Dublin would be complete without a visit to the Guinness Storehouse, so be sure to spend some hours here learning about Guinness, pull your own pints and enjoy the spectacular 360 panoramic views of the city from the Gravity Bar in the 7th floor. In case you don’t like Guinness (although I highly recommend visiting the Storehouse, especially because of the views from the 7th floor), maybe do a tour at the Jameson Distillery instead.
Say hi to the Molly Malone statue, explore the Temple Bar District and finish your night with a pint or cider in one of the pubs. Grogans in William St is a great choice and one of Dublin’s most loved pubs.
If you’re not a fan of planning and exploring it all by yourself, why not book a guided tour through Dublin? Tours like this airbnb experience here about Dublin’s Best Kept Secrets. It’s so much better than the Hop on/Hop Off busses and brings you to places you wouldn’t see with other tours.
Day 3 - Day trip outside Dublin
Howth
For me, Howth is probably the best choice for a day trip near Dublin. The beautiful cliff walk and the blue sea are really worth a visit and I think it’s a great place to spend your last day in Ireland without the pressure of having to drive through the whole county to get back to Dublin in time. Explore the Howth Cliff Walk and enjoy the views, visit Howth Harbour and stop at Howth Market (usually open only on the weekend, please check before going there).
Greystones / Bray Head Cliff Walk
The area between Dublin and the Wicklow Mountains has a lot to offer. The Bray Head Cliff Walk is one of the highlights in Wicklow if you’re a fan of walking. The walk takes you from Bray to Greystones along a beautiful coastal path with spectacular views. The top of Bray Head offers stunning views of the Irish Sea and the Wicklow Mountains. If you’re hungry after your walk, be sure to visit The Happy Pear in Greystones.
The Wicklow Mountains
The area around the Wicklow Mountains is filled with natural beauty. It’s the perfect day trip from Dublin if you love spending your time in the great outdoors, surrounded by beautiful and peaceful nature. Powerscourt Estate is a country estate with beautiful house and gardens located in the heart of the Wicklow Mountains and it’s perfect for exploring. If you’re hungry, visit The Happy Pear in Greystones before heading deep into the Wicklow Mountains.
After that, enjoy the views on your route through the Wicklow Mountains. There are more than enough amazing spots to pause en route, so be sure to have your camera ready. If you love amazing views, climb the great Sugarloaf. The climb is short and steep, but the views from the top are stunning.
The Cliffs of Moher
If you’ve never been to Ireland before and just can’t wait to see more of this beautiful and unique country, why not book a day tour to the Cliffs of Moher? It would be too stressful for me personally, but I know many people take a day trip to the West coast with this little time and absolutely love it.
Many day tours (like this one here) include visiting the Cliffs of Moher, Doolin, The Burren National Park and Galway City. There isn’t enough time to take it all in in such short time but you’ll definitely see as much as possible and you’ll always be able to come back and explore more.
Be sure to check out my itineraries for 7 days, 10 days and 14 days before coming back!
Are you travelling through Ireland with your dog? Check out my blog post about my favourite dog friendly airbnbs and hotels here .
Happy planning!