Day 1: Dublin | The Church Café Bar and Restaurant
Welcome to Dublin, where you’ll be picked up at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Dublin is a city known for its many lively pubs, the wit of its people, and an unparalleled literary heritage. Stroll the city as you wish today, seeing its fine Georgian architecture, the shopping along pedestrianized Grafton Street, Trinity College in the center of town. This evening, enjoy dinner at The Church Café Bar and Restaurant; this converted building is where brewer Arthur Guinness was married, playwright Sean O’Casey was baptized, and where Handel practiced the organ before the first-ever public performance of his “Messiah” in 1742.
(D)

Day 2: Kilkenny | Beer Tasting
Your dedicated driver/guide will meet you at your hotel and you’ll head to the small, historic city of Kilkenny. You might choose to stroll its Medieval Mile to experience its rich heritage, narrow streetscapes, and well-preserved merchants’ houses. Experience a fun beer-tasting. Spend some free time browsing before dinner in your hotel.
(B, D)

Day 3: Blarney Castle | Killarney
Travel on to visit Blarney Castle. Climb the winding staircase to kiss the famous stone, which legend promises will bestow the “Gift of the Gab”, or simply explore the beautiful gardens. Pass through County Cork to the lively town of Killarney – a draw for visitors to Ireland since the 18th century. Have dinner in your hotel, and then perhaps venture out to to explore some of its friendly pubs, many with live music.
(B, D)

Day 4: Dingle Peninsula | Celtic Whiskey Bar Experience
See some of the most dramatic scenery in Ireland today, as you explore the mountains and seascapes of County Kerry. You may wish to visit Moriarty’s in the Gap of Dunloe, a CIE Tours preferred shopping partner, before heading out to the Dingle Peninsula. This beautiful region was made famous by films like “Ryan’s Daughter” and “Far & Away”. Enjoy some time in the town of Dingle, a town renowned for its charm. Alternatively, you might prefer to see the scenic splendor of the Ring of Kerry, Ireland’s most famous scenic drive. In the evening, head to the Celtic Whiskey Bar in Killarney for a tasting, chocolate pairing, and dinner.
(B, D)

Day 5: Cliffs of Moher | Galway
Take in the spectacular beauty of the Cliffs of Moher, soaring 700 feet above the Atlantic surf. Walk along the top of the cliffs for views across Galway Bay to Connemara and the Aran Islands. Head to Galway and your hotel in the seaside suburb of Salthill. Have dinner in your beachfront hotel, and then you might choose one of the lively pubs in Salthill or head into the city centre.
(B, D)

Day 6: Sean's Bar | Athlone
Spend a leisurely morning exploring vibrant, artistic Galway as you please. Venture to Athlone, and head to Sean’s bar. Sean’s Bar is not only the oldest bar in Ireland, dating back to 900 AD, it’s the oldest in Europe, according to the Guinness Book of Records. The sloped floors (often covered with sawdust), candlelight, and turf fire pay nostalgic tribute to this pub’s rich history. Enjoy dinner in your Athlone hotel this evening.
(B, D)

Day 7: Dublin | Guinness Storehouse
Enjoy the scenery of central Ireland as you head to Dublin on the east coast, where your dedicated driver-guide will bring you to your hotel and say farewell. Visit the Guinness Storehouse in the heart of the city – one of Ireland’s most popular attractions – and enjoy a sample of Ireland’s iconic brew as you take in the panoramic view from the seventh-floor Gravity Bar. Dine independently this evening.
(B)

Day 8: Sightseeing in Dublin
Explore Dublin independently today. 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 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. Dine independently this evening.
(B)

Day 9: Tour Ends in Dublin
Your tour ends after breakfast, when you are brought from your hotel to Dublin Airport.
(B)

B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner