Loading
Phone+44 1483 968 737AustraliaMonday to Friday 8am - 9pm (AEDT)
Travel Agent Login

8-Day Discover Ireland

  • view trip mapView Trip Map
  • downloadDownload
  • shareShare

Overview

Experience the Ireland you see on the postcards! During this eight-day trip, you will see the Ireland of rolling green hills, patchwork fields, ancient castles, and a ruggedly beautiful coastline.

You will start your trip in Cork. This is a cosmopolitan university city abounding with pubs, cafés, restaurants, historic churches, art galleries, and art house cinemas. During the eight-days you will also have plenty of opportunities to explore Ireland's famously beautiful countryside.

West Cork County is something of a whirlwind, as you'll visit the enigmatic stone circle at Drombeg, the harbour town of Glandore (a popular summer retreat for locals from Cork City), the endearingly tiny fishing village of Union Hall, and the town of Timoleague, home to a 13th-century Franciscan friary that is one of the most impressive landmarks in the country.

Next, you're off to the beating heart of Ireland: Dublin, where you will be visiting one historic pub after another, you'll enjoy typical Irish merrymaking in the form of traditional live music and convivial conversation over pints of frothy Guinness.

You will also discover the dramatic landscapes of Northern Ireland as you embark from Dublin to County Antrim and the famed Giant's Causeway, as well as make the quick jaunt over to Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland.
Sightseeing
Outdoors & Nature
Food & Drink

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival in Cork

Hide details accordion
Arrival in Cork

From the moment you arrive at the airport, you'll enjoy first-class service with the private driver taking you to your hotel in the city centre of Cork. After checking in, you'll have the remainder of the day free to relax. Cork is the Ireland you see on the postcards. You can find here the rolling green hills, patchwork fields, ancient castles, and a ruggedly beautiful coastline. There's no better way to stretch your legs after a long flight than a leisurely stroll around the city.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Hotel Isaacs3 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Free Time in Cork, Ireland

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Cork Airport to Hotel Isaacs

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Cork

Day 2

Visit Blarney Castle

Hide details accordion
Visit Blarney Castle

After breakfast, your guide will collect you from the hotel. Today, you will visit Blarney Castle and take a guided tour of Cork city centre. At Blarney Castle, you'll learn about the history and culture of the castle and what makes it so enchanting. This is your chance to kiss the famous Blarney Stone and gain what the Irish refer to as the "gift of gab" (eloquence and persuasiveness). Afterwards, you'll return to Cork City, where your guide will lead you along the banks of the River Lee, pointing out historic sights along the way.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Hotel Isaacs3 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Blarney Castle

    Walking Tour of Cork City

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Cork

    Blarney

Day 3

Kinsale and West Cork Tour

Hide details accordion
Kinsale and West Cork Tour

Today is another opportunity to leave the city behind and explore Ireland's famously beautiful countryside. This full-day tour of West Cork County is something of a whirlwind, as you'll
visit the enigmatic stone circle at Drombeg, the harbour town of Glandore (a popular summer retreat for locals from Cork City), the endearingly tiny fishing village of Union Hall, and the town of Timoleague, home to a 13th-century Franciscan friary that is one of the most impressive landmarks in the country.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Hotel Isaacs3 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Kinsale and West Cork Tour

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Cork

    Kinsale

Day 4

Travel to Dublin

Hide details accordion
Travel to Dublin

Next, you're off to the beating heart of Ireland: Dublin. Private car transfer will be arranged, so you can relax and arrive in style to the capital of Ireland. After checking into your hotel, the remainder of the day and evening is yours to enjoy as you see fit. One great option is to head to Dublin's cultural quarter for a pub crawl.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Brooks Hotel4 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Free Time in Dublin

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Cork to Dublin

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Cork

    Dublin

Day 5

Tour the Streets of Dublin

Hide details accordion
Tour the Streets of Dublin

After breakfast, you'll head out and enjoy Dublin's famous sights on a private tour tailored to your interests. Over two hours, you'll stroll through the city with an expert guide, who will point out the top historic landmarks such as City Hall,Trinity College, the 18th-century St. Mary's Church, Dublin Castle, and the former House of Parliament.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Brooks Hotel4 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Tour the Streets of Dublin

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Dublin

Day 6

Giant's Causeway Tour and Belfast Sightseeing

Hide details accordion
Giant's Causeway Tour and Belfast Sightseeing

This full-day tour is your opportunity to discover the dramatic landscapes of Northern Ireland as you embark from Dublin to County Antrim and the famed Giant's Causeway. This section of the northern coast is the most popular tourist site in the region. It's home to some 40,000 cylindrically shaped basalt rocks closely packed together and thus creating a unique geometric formation. After hiking around the causeway, you'll make the quick jaunt over to Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Brooks Hotel4 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Giant's Causeway and Belfast Tour

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Dublin

    Northern Ireland

Day 7

Sample Irish Whiskeys

Hide details accordion
Sample Irish Whiskeys

Ireland is justifiably famous for its high-quality whiskeys. Few are more popular around the world than Jameson, which was first introduced in Dublin way back in the year 1780. The itinerary for today involves a visit the Jameson Distillery on Bow Street to enjoy a 40-minute tasting tour of various
blended whiskeys. Not only that, but you'll learn all about the complex distillation process that the distillery has been using for over two centuries to produce this iconic Irish product.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Brooks Hotel4 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Jameson Distillery

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Dublin

    Midleton

Day 8

Farewell, Ireland!

Hide details accordion
Farewell, Ireland!

And so your grand Discover Ireland vacation comes to an end today. In the morning, you'll enjoy a private transfer from your hotel to the airport where you'll catch your flight home. Come back soon!

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Brooks Hotel to Dublin Airport

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Dublin

Included in Price

  • 7 nights accommodation
  • 6 activities
  • 7 breakfasts
  • Airport transfer
  • Ground transportation
  • Licensed English speaking guides

Not Included in Price

  • Alcohol beverages
  • Domestic flights
  • Entrance fees
  • Entry visas / airport departure tax
  • Gratuities
  • International flights
  • Laundry
  • Personal expenses
  • Travel insurance
  • Trekking permits
pdf icon

Want to Read This Later?

Download this trip itinerary as a PDF and start planning your next trip offline!

Why Choose Designer Journeys

access

Access Exclusive Experiences

Open your eyes to a world of exclusive experiences that will make your next trip extraordinary. Designer Journeys’ local travel designers are connected to unique experiences that are out of reach for most people – so you’ll return with some amazing stories to tell.

local expertise

Extraordinary Local Expertise

Using highly experienced local travel designers means you have access to your very own local expert. You'll find experiences you never knew existed, avoid some of the common pitfalls and, most of all, feel like you have an insider guiding you every step of the way.

support

Supported Every Step of the Way

Our in-destination local travel designers are the first line of support when you are travelling. They are in your time zone and have the local expertise and knowledge to solve any issue that may arise – making you feel more confident about your trip.

custom travel designed

Travel Designed For You

Designer Journeys style of travel is all about how you want to travel – its private travel designed exactly to your needs. Our local travel designers customise every trip to suit you, whether completely bespoke or based on one or more of our 2,000+ gallery of itineraries.

Image - Designer Journeys
Image - Designer Journeys
DESIGN YOUR EXTRAORDINARY

Why Travel with Designer Journeys

Smile icon
Your Trip. Your Version of Extraordinary.

At Designer Journeys, we know that we all travel differently. That's why you decide where you travel, how you travel and your travel experiences when you design your trip with us.

Message icon
Connect and Design With an Expert.

Our trusted Local Designers use their destination insight, local knowledge and travel planning expertise to build your extraordinary trip. Our dedicated Travel Concierge team will be there every step of the way to ensure your perfect trip becomes reality.

Trust icon
Book with Confidence. We are Trusted.

Secure payment platforms, multiple accreditations, rigorous Local Designer selection process, and decades of travel expertise means you are in safe hands with Designer Journeys.

As seen on
Partners