Day 1: Independent Sightseeing in Dublin
Begin your trip with a day of sightseeing in Dublin. Take a Hop-On, Hop-Off bus tour, and see all the city’s highlights with the freedom to stop off to explore further as you please. Your Hop-On, Hop-Off bus ticket also gives you admission to the Little Museum of Dublin, an old Georgian townhouse with a fantastic collection of 5,000 objects telling the story of the city. Plus, you will have a voucher to admit you to one of Dublin’s top attractions: Choose from the Guinness Storehouse, a seven-story attraction telling the story of Dublin's iconic beverage, complete with a pint at the Gravity Bar on the top floor; Teeling Distillery, the first new whiskey distillery to open in Dublin in 125 years; EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, telling the story of the people who left Ireland and how they shaped the world (and winner of Europe’s Leading Tourist Attraction 2019); or the GPO Museum, innovatively detailing the fascinating story of the 1916 Rising, the pivotal event that led to Ireland’s independence. (You might choose to save your visit voucher for Day 14.) Dine independently this evening.

Day 2: Dublin Independent Sightseeing | Taylors Three Rock Pub
Continue your adventure on the Hop-On, Hop-Off bus tour – or you might decide to take a train or bus out of the city to see some of Dublin’s charming coastal villages and seaside suburbs, like Howth and Dalkey. Splendid ocean views, excellent seafood, and lovely streetscapes await you. Head out for an evening to dine on Irish specialties and take in a lively show at Taylors Three Rock Pub.
(B, D)

Day 3: Blarney Castle | Kinsale
Pick up your Hertz rental car and travel to Blarney Castle; climb the winding staircase to kiss its famous stone and see if the legend is true: will it give you the gift of eloquence? Stroll the acres of gardens and parklands. Drive on to Kinsale, a picturesque old fishing town now known for art galleries and gourmet food. Take a walk around its historic streets, once besieged by the Spanish Armada, before dinner in your hotel.
(B, D)

Day 4: Killarney | Dingle
Savor some time in Kinsale, strolling along the scenic harbor or shopping in the bookshops and art galleries, or you may wish to discover the coastal beauty of West Cork as you travel to see the friendly town of Killarney. You might visit Moriarty’s in the Gap of Dunloe, a CIE Tours preferred shopping partner. Continue to the charming town of Dingle, where you will dine in your hotel.
(B, D)

Day 5: Slea Head Loop | Blasket Centre | Dingle
Set out on the Slea Head Loop, one of Ireland's most beautiful drives, through scenic ocean and mountain vistas. Visit the Blasket Centre in Dunquin to learn about the Blasket Islands, visible off the coast. Abandoned in 1954, they were once a lively outpost of traditional culture and language. Return to Dingle and take the rest of the day to wander and dine as you wish in this quaint seaside village. You might visit Murphy's Ice Cream, known for their distinctive flavors like Irish Orange Marmalade, Brown Bread and Dingle Gin.
(B)

Day 6: Foynes Flying Boat Museum | Cliffs of Moher | Medieval Castle Banquet
Visit the Foynes Flying Boat & Maritime Museum, which reveals the pivotal role a small Irish village played in the early days of transatlantic air travel. Drive to the magnificent Cliffs of Moher, soaring 700 feet above the Atlantic Ocean. Walk along the cliff path for wondrous views of the ocean and the miles of cliffs. Enjoy an evening at a medieval-style banquet in an authentic Irish castle.
(B, D)

Day 7: The Burren | Galway
Travel through the rounded limestone hills of the Burren. You may wish to stop in one of its several charming villages, such as Kinvara, Ballyvaughan, or Doolin to explore. Head to Galway to explore this vibrant, artistic city. Enjoy the medieval streetscapes, the busking musicians, the Spanish Arch, and its many shops and cafes. Dine in your hotel.
(B, D)

Day 8: Killary Harbor Catamaran Cruise | Kylemore Abbey
Drive through Connemara to Leenane for a catamaran cruise (seasonal) of Killary Harbour, Ireland’s only fjord. Travel on to see Kylemore Abbey, a beautiful castle in a lakeside setting. Enjoy an evening free to explore the restaurants and lively nightlife of Galway city.
(B)

Day 9: Belleek Pottery | Donegal Castle
Travel north through County Mayo. Stop in County Fermanagh and visit Belleek Pottery to see craftspeople create their renowned fine china. Visit Donegal Castle, built by the O’Donnell chieftains in the 15th century and restored in the 1990s after falling into ruin for centuries. Enjoy free time in Donegal town before dinner in your hotel this evening.
(B, D)

Day 10: Slieve League Cliffs | Triona Design
Enjoy a coastal drive to experience the dramatic vistas and visit Slieve League, Europe’s highest sea cliffs. You might choose to visit our CIE Tours preferred shopping partner, Triona Design Donegal Tweed Centre in Ardara, where you will sometimes see demonstrations of spinning, weaving and knitting. Explore as you wish and dine in your hotel this evening.
(B, D)

Day 11: Derry | Giant's Causeway
Drive to the historic city of Derry and explore. The city has had a turbulent history, but today is a thriving cultural hub. Check out the Peace Bridge, uniting two communities once in conflict. See the medieval walls and St. Columb’s Cathedral, as well as the many murals of the Bogside. Drive on to see the Giant’s Causeway, enormous hexagonal columns arising out of the ocean. Science tells us they were formed over 60 million years ago, but legend says local giant Finn MacCool built them as a bridge to reach a Scottish foe. Travel along the scenic Nine Glens of Antrim before arriving in Belfast, where you’ll dine in your hotel.
(B, D)

Day 12: Titanic Belfast | Cross Guns Gastropub | Barberstown Castle
Explore Belfast and see a city filled with grand Victorian buildings. Visit Titanic Belfast and discover the city’s rich maritime history including the shipyards where the RMS Titanic was built in 1912. Visit Cross Guns Gastropub for a delicious lunch. Head to your hotel, the elegant Barberstown Castle, where you will dine. Once the home of acclaimed musician Eric Clapton, the house’s medieval castle keep dates back to 1288.
(B, L, D)

Day 13: Castletown House | Dublin
Head to Celbridge, Co. Kildare – the birthplace of Arthur Guinness, the founder of the Guinness Brewery – for a visit to Castletown House, an elegant Palladian mansion. Built in 1722, its design is said to have influenced the White House. Take a guided tour to see the period furnishings and art, and stroll the grounds. Head to Dublin, for an evening of free exploration.
(B)

Day 14: Independent Dublin Sightseeing
If you haven’t used your vouchers, you may use them today to do the Hop-On, Hop-Off bus tour and choice of attractions. Otherwise, this vibrant city is yours to discover as you like – or venture outside the city to the seaside suburbs of Howth or Dalkey. You might even go through the Wicklow Mountains to discover Glendalough, with its romantic ruins of a sixth-century monastery; see ornately carved stone crosses, picturesque stone church ruins, and a splendid round tower. Dine independently as you wish.
(B)

Day 15: Tour Ends in Dublin
Your tour ends after breakfast. Drive to Dublin Airport, where you will return your rental car.
(B)

B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner