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The Emerald Isle feels like it's tailor-made for road trips: Wild Atlantic coastline, stunning green landscapes, towering cliffs, colorful villages, and surprisingly gorgeous beaches. If you're lucky to visit during a period of good weather, which is always a bit of a gamble here, you'll be hard-pressed to find a more beautiful place on Earth.
We took a Sprinter camper van from Seaweed & Saltwater out west to get a taste of this beautiful country, and for that reason, this itinerary is biased toward camping. We did all the sleeping in our van, which meant we weren’t always close to hotels.
The places we visited are informed by advice from trusted local Irish friends, so you get to see the highlights but also some of the local, less-visited spots on the island – which are totally underrated.
I'm so glad we listened to them instead of following the more standard and basic itineraries we saw all over the internet. Now, I'm excited to share the same itinerary with you – we already can’t wait to get back to explore more.
Start your Ireland trip by spending a couple of days in its capital city, Dublin. This city is a great jumping-off point to acquaint yourself with Irish history and culture before heading out to the more rugged, wild, and rural landscapes out west.
Definitely make a trip to the Guinness Storehouse to learn everything about Ireland’s favorite stout, to the Temple Bar neighborhood for charming pedestrian streets and nightlife, and to Drury Street for trendy cafes, pubs, and shops.
On the morning of day 3, pick up your rental car (or camper) and drive 3.5 hours west, toward the cheery village of Doolin in County Clare. Doolin sits just north of Ireland’s most famous site, the Cliffs of Moher, and is known for its music. Don’t miss a visit to the traditional Irish music shop and be sure to linger in their pubs to get a true taste of the friendly local culture.
If the weather is nice and there's enough sunlight left, you can go ahead and visit the famous Cliffs of Moher today. You can either hike to the cliffs from Doolin on the walking trail (my preference) or drive 7.5km to the main entrance (which can be more crowded and costs a small fee). Whichever option you choose, be sure to give yourself at least a few hours to properly admire these stunning cliffs.
That said, if it works better for your schedule or the weather isn’t cooperating, you could also visit first thing the next morning. I'd recommend giving yourself flexibility so that you have greater odds of visiting with decent weather and visibility!
Continue north to Galway, the capital of County Galway. Galway is the largest city you will visit apart from Dublin and it's worth spending a day here soaking in its atmosphere. Don’t miss a stroll through Shop Street, a lively pedestrian avenue with street musicians, shops, and pubs with outdoor seating. Grab a pint at Taaffes Bar and surprisingly good pizza at The Dough Bros. After Galway, continue deeper into the peninsula known as Connemara, towards the small coastal village of Roundstone for the night.
Enjoy your morning coffee on a perfectly-perched picnic table overlooking Dog’s Bay, a horseshoe-shaped white sand beach just outside of Roundstone with waters so clear and blue you’ll forget that you’re in Ireland instead of the Caribbean.
From there, drive 30 minutes northwest to the colorful village of Clifden. Like a smaller and even more quaint version of Galway, this is the perfect pitstop to enjoy shopping, a pint, and lunch.
After Clifden, take a detour down a one-track road (that eventually becomes unpaved) to an off-the-beaten-path spot: Cleggan Cliffs. While these might not be as high as the Cliffs of Moher, they're still spectacular and you’ll likely be the only one there... apart from the sheep, of course.
Finally, end the day with a golden hour trip around Killary Fjord, a flooded valley that offers perhaps the most scenic drive of the entire road trip. After winding around the harbor, continue north into Doo Lough Pass, a gorgeous valley surrounded by moody green and black mountains. It’s easy to find a pullout to camp in this stunning area.
Continue north for 1.5 hours to Achill Island, an Irish holiday village where the sheep roam freely (drive carefully!). Tucked away on the other side of a mountain lies one of the most beautiful beaches in the world: Keem Bay. This lesser-known beach is the most idyllic place to spend an afternoon picnic, with bright blue waters surrounded by high green cliffs and grazing sheep.
Afterward, continue another 1.5 hours up to Downpatrick Head, a dramatic seaside peninsula landscape with absolutely mind-blowing views. This is the perfect place to watch the sunset as it turns the grass atop the cliff an impossibly bright green.
After traversing through the best of the west, it’s time to return your rental and head home after another 3.5-hour drive east to Dublin.
Taking a break from my 9-5 in Austin, TX to travel the world with my husband. Visiting popular and lesser known spots across Europe and Asia. Lover of food, architecture, (moderate) hiking, and "doing as the locals do." Follow me on my journey @trippingmillennial for recs and how to pursue a gap year!
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