Ireland · Northern Ireland · 10-day road trip

Ireland road trip in 10 days: day-by-day driving itinerary (with map)

Our real route around Ireland and Northern Ireland: from Dublin to the Giant’s Causeway, Donegal, Connemara, the Cliffs of Moher, Dingle and Kinsale. With stops, timings, where to stay and everything you ask us.

• 10 days
• Day by day
• With map
• Northern Ireland
• Wild Atlantic Way

• Duration10 days
• DistanceAbout 2,000 km
• CountriesIreland and the UK
• CurrencyEuro and pound

Why do a 10-day road trip around Ireland

A road trip around Ireland is the best way to discover the Emerald Isle. In 10 days you can combine Dublin with some of the most spectacular landscapes in Europe: cliffs, wild peninsulas, lakes, castles and colourful villages.

In this article we share the exact route we followed, day by day, with rough timings and where to stay each night. It includes Northern Ireland and a big chunk of the Wild Atlantic Way. If you’d rather stay in the Republic of Ireland, you’ll also find an alternative itinerary at the end.

Our photos from the trip: the Giant’s Causeway, the Slieve League cliffs and the lambs on a farm in Kerry.

Our Ireland road trip on video

Ten days, a thousand landscapes and a feeling you never forget. This is the reel of our road trip around Ireland and Northern Ireland, so you can see the route before you read it.

Watch our Ireland road trip reel on Instagram

We organised this trip with Viajes El Corte Inglés.

Map of the 10-day Ireland road trip

This map shows every stop on our road trip around Ireland and Northern Ireland, in the order we visited them. It’s a loop that starts and ends in Dublin.

Which route to choose for your Ireland road trip

Before getting into the day by day, this is the first thing you ask us: is it worth including Northern Ireland? It depends on what you’re after:

Day 1: Dublin, Hill of Tara and Trim Castle

We landed in Dublin and spent the morning in the city before picking up the car, as the centre is best explored on foot. In the afternoon we headed north-west to County Meath, home to two of the most historic places in Ireland.

• 1Dublin09:00 · First stop

  Stroll around Trinity College and its library with the Book of Kells, cross the Ha’penny Bridge over the Liffey and finish in Temple Bar. You can book the Trinity College and Dublin Castle tour or join the Dublin free walking tour to get your bearings.

• 2Hill of Tara14:00 · 45 min drive

  The sacred hill where the High Kings of Ireland were crowned. At the top you’ll see the Lia Fáil, the Stone of Destiny, and huge views over the fields of Meath.

• 3Trim Castle16:00 · 20 min drive

  The largest Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland, on the banks of the River Boyne. It may look familiar: it was a filming location for Braveheart.

Day 2: Tollymore, Scrabo Tower, Glenariff and Kinbane Castle

Today you cross into Northern Ireland. There’s no physical border, but you’re now in the UK: the currency switches to pounds and distances are in miles. It’s a long driving day, from the Mourne Mountains to the Antrim coast.

• 
  09:00 · 1 h 45 driveTollymore Forest Park

  A forest at the foot of the Mourne Mountains, with stone bridges over the River Shimna. It was a filming location for Game of Thrones.

• 
  11:30 · 50 min driveScrabo Tower

  A 19th-century tower on top of a hill above Newtownards, with views over Strangford Lough.

• 
  14:00 · 1 h 15 driveGlenariff Forest Park

  Known as the Queen of the Glens of Antrim. Do the Waterfall Walkway, a trail of wooden boardwalks past several waterfalls.

• 
  17:00 · 40 min driveKinbane Castle

  The ruins of a 16th-century castle on a headland next to the cliffs. One of the stops that surprised us most on the whole trip.

Kinbane Castle, the hidden gem of day 2

One of the stops that surprised us most was Kinbane Castle, on the Antrim coast: the ruins of a 16th-century castle on a small headland by the cliffs. Time has worn it down, but the place is magical and well worth it.

Watch our Kinbane Castle reel on Instagram →

Watch out for mobile data when crossing into Northern Ireland

It happened to us on the road: as there’s no physical border between Ireland and Northern Ireland, you don’t even notice you’re in the UK… until your data stops working just when you need the map. Northern Ireland isn’t in the European Union, so your plan’s roaming may not work.

Watch our reel on Instagram →

Day 3: Giant’s Causeway, The Dark Hedges, Dunluce and Mussenden Temple

The most famous day on the Antrim coast. The stops are less than 25 minutes apart, so you can take it easy and get up early to reach the Causeway before the coaches.

• 
  09:00 · First stopGiant’s Causeway

  Around 40,000 basalt columns , mostly hexagonal, stepping down into the sea, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Arrive early and walk down along the coast to the Causeway.

• 
  12:00 · 15 min driveThe Dark Hedges

  The 18th-century beech tunnel that appeared in Game of Thrones as the Kingsroad. The road is closed to traffic: park in the designated area and walk in.

• 
  14:00 · 20 min driveDunluce Castle

  The ruins of a medieval castle perched on the cliffs. It looks great from outside, and you can also go in and explore it.

• 
  16:00 · 25 min driveMussenden Temple and Downhill Demesne

  An 18th-century circular temple on the edge of the cliff, with endless views over Downhill beach, and the ruins of the mansion next to it. One of our favourite stops of the day.

Day 4: Donegal, Assaranca Waterfall, Glenlough Bay and Slieve League

Donegal is Ireland at its wildest and least touristy. Today it’s all narrow roads, sheep on the tarmac and some of the highest cliffs in Europe.

• 
  MorningCloughglass

  First stop on the Donegal coast to stretch your legs facing the Atlantic.

• 
  MiddayAssaranca Waterfall

  A roadside waterfall near Ardara that you can see almost without getting out of the car.

• 
  AfternoonGlenlough Bay

  A hidden bay between the mountains that you can only reach on foot. The trail is tough, but the reward is having the cove almost to yourself.

• 
  SunsetSlieve League

  The cliffs of Sliabh Liag rise over 600 metres, almost three times the height of Moher, and are usually far less crowded.

And to round off the day, we found a secret waterfall that isn’t in any guidebook. If you want to know where it is, message us on Instagram.

Day 5: Stairway to Heaven, Devil’s Chimney, Glencar and Gleniff Horseshoe

A nature day between Fermanagh, Leitrim and Sligo. Heads up: the Stairway to Heaven is in Northern Ireland again, so you switch countries once more without noticing.

• 
  Morning · 4-5 h walkStairway to Heaven (Cuilcagh Boardwalk)

  A wooden boardwalk climbing across the bog to the plateau of Cuilcagh Mountain. It’s about 15 km there and back: bring water, a windproof jacket and comfy shoes. Before you go, check the official website to see whether you need to book parking.

• 
  AfternoonDevil’s Chimney

  Ireland’s tallest waterfall, about 150 metres high. It only really flows after a few days of rain; on windy days the water blows back upwards.

• 
  AfternoonGlencar Waterfall

  A woodland waterfall by Glencar Lough that inspired the poet W. B. Yeats. It’s just a few minutes’ walk from the car park.

• 
  SunsetGleniff Horseshoe

  A horseshoe-shaped road beneath the Benbulben mountains. One of the most beautiful scenic drives in the west.

Day 6: Kylemore Abbey, Pine Island, Galway and Doolin

We headed down into Connemara, the Ireland of lakes, bogs and mountains, and ended the day in Doolin to be right by the Cliffs of Moher first thing in the morning.

On the way from Sligo we made a stop you shouldn’t skip: Downpatrick Head, on the Mayo coast, with the Dún Briste sea stack standing in the sea. We tell you all about it in our guide.

• 
  09:30 · First stopKylemore Abbey

  Ireland’s most photographed neo-Gothic abbey, by the lake. Your ticket includes the interior and the Victorian walled garden.

• 
  11:30 · 30 min drivePine Island

  A pine-covered islet in Derryclare Lough with the Twelve Bens behind it. One of the prettiest spots in Connemara.

• 
  14:00 · 1 h 15 driveGalway

  The liveliest city in the west: Quay Street, the Latin Quarter and the Spanish Arch. You can book activities in Galway with Civitatis.

• 
  18:00 · 1 h 15 driveDoolin

  A village of colourful houses famous for its pubs with traditional music. Perfect for dinner and a night’s sleep.

Day 7: Cliffs of Moher, Kilkee Cliffs and Dunquin Pier

Today is one of the highlights of the trip. The Cliffs of Moher rise up to about 214 metres above the Atlantic along some 8 km. Afterwards, we drove down the Clare coast and crossed into Kerry on the Killimer–Tarbert ferry, which saves you a long detour.

• 
  09:00 · 10 min driveCliffs of Moher

  Go first thing in the morning or at sunset: fewer people and better light. The ticket includes parking, the visitor centre and the official viewpoints.

• 
  12:00 · 1 h 15 driveKilkee Cliffs

  A walk along the top of the Kilkee cliffs, far less crowded than Moher and with spectacular rock formations.

• 
  18:30 · 3 h drive and ferryDunquin Pier

  The zigzag pier on the Dingle Peninsula where boats leave for the Blasket Islands. Beautiful at sunset.

Practical information for the Cliffs of Moher

To drive the Wild Atlantic Way we strongly recommend you hire a car: it’s the best way to discover Ireland freely, stop in villages like Doolin and improvise routes at your own pace. This is what the Cliffs of Moher look like in our reel:

Watch our Cliffs of Moher reel on Instagram →

Day 8: Dingle, a lamb farm, Killarney and Muckross House

A day to enjoy Kerry at an easy pace, from the landscapes of western Dingle to Killarney National Park.

• 
  09:00 · First stopSlea Head and Dunquin

  Go back to Dunquin Pier in the morning light and drive the Slea Head Drive, the coastal road with views of the Blasket Islands.

• 
  11:00 · Surprise stopA lamb farm

  One of the loveliest moments of the trip: we stopped at a farm in Kerry where we got to hold baby lambs.

• 
  14:00 · 1 h driveDingle and Killarney

  Have lunch in the town of Dingle, full of pubs and colourful houses, then carry on to Killarney, the gateway to the national park and the Gap of Dunloe.

• 
  17:00 · 10 min driveMuckross House

  A Victorian mansion by the lake inside Killarney National Park. Torc Waterfall is very close by.

Day 9: Ballysaggartmore Towers, Lismore, Blarney Castle and Kinsale

Castles, fairytale towers and one of Ireland’s prettiest towns in the south of the country, between Counties Waterford and Cork.

• 
  10:00 · 2 h driveBallysaggartmore Towers

  Two neo-Gothic towers in the middle of the woods that were meant to be the entrance to a grand mansion that was never built.

• 
  11:30 · 5 min driveLismore Castle

  A fairytale castle above the River Blackwater. Its gardens can be visited in season.

• 
  13:30 · 1 h driveBlarney Castle

  Home of the famous Blarney Stone: they say whoever kisses it receives the gift of the gab. Its gardens are well worth a visit.

• 
  17:00 · 40 min driveKinsale

  A town of colourful houses by the harbour and one of Ireland’s food capitals. Perfect for a final seafood dinner.

Day 10: Rock of Cashel, Duckett’s Grove and back to Dublin

Last day of the Ireland road trip. We headed back to Dublin through the middle of the country, stopping at a few gems along the way.

• 1Trá na StellaMorning

  A stop by the sea to say goodbye to the coast before heading inland.

• 2Rock of CashelMidday

  A medieval complex on a hill in Tipperary, with a cathedral, round tower and Romanesque chapel. One of Ireland’s most iconic sights.

• 3Borodale ForestAfternoon

  A short woodland walk to stretch your legs before the last stretch of driving.

• 4Duckett’s GroveAfternoon

  The ruins of a 19th-century Gothic mansion in Carlow, with walled gardens you can visit for free.

• 5Back to DublinEvening · 1 h 15 drive

  Drop off the car and say goodbye to Ireland with a pint in a city-centre pub.

Alternative itinerary: 10-day Ireland road trip without Northern Ireland

If you’d rather focus on the Republic of Ireland, drive less and skip the ETA, this is the classic route through the south and west, following much of the Wild Atlantic Way:

If you don’t want to drive, you can also take a day trip from Dublin to the Cliffs of Moher and Galway.

Practical information: what you ask us most

These are the questions we get most on Instagram whenever we post about our Ireland road trip:

• DocumentsETA and passport for Northern Ireland

  Northern Ireland is part of the UK. Since 2025, EU citizens need an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) to enter, including by road from Ireland even though there are no checks. You apply online or with the official UK ETA app, and it’s linked to your passport.

• MoneyEuros and pounds

  In the Republic of Ireland you pay in euros and in Northern Ireland in pounds sterling. Cards are accepted almost everywhere, so there’s no need to change money.

• Mobile dataRoaming can fail in Northern Ireland

  As Northern Ireland isn’t in the EU, your plan may not include roaming. The easiest option is an eSIM that works across the whole island.

• CarDriving on the left

  Minor roads are narrow with passing places. Speed limits are in km/h in the Republic and in mph in Northern Ireland. If you use Dublin’s M50 motorway, the toll is paid online.

• AccommodationBook ahead

  In summer Dingle, Galway, Killarney and Doolin fill up. Book early and look for places with parking.

• WeatherAlways pack a raincoat

  In Ireland it can rain any day of the year and the weather changes in minutes. From May to September you get more daylight for driving.

Tips for your Ireland road trip

• Driving on the left: take it easy for the first few days and be careful at roundabouts.
• Narrow roads: in Kerry, Dingle and Connemara many roads are single-lane with passing places.
• Always pack a raincoat: the weather changes in minutes, even in summer.
• Book accommodation early: in summer Dingle, Galway and Killarney fill up.
• Allow extra time: distances look short, but you drive slowly and you’ll want to stop at every viewpoint.

Plan your Ireland road trip

• Car hire: essential for this itinerary. Compare prices on DiscoverCars and save up to 70%.
• Tours and guided visits: book tours in Dublin and in Galway with Civitatis, with free cancellation on most activities.
• Travel insurance: the European Health Insurance Card doesn’t cover cancellations or lost luggage. We travel with Heymondo and as a reader you get a 5% discount.
• Save when you book: with iGraal you get back part of what you spend on hotels, flights and rentals, plus a welcome bonus.
• Sports and outdoor clothing: jackets, caps and sunglasses for your hikes and trips from SIROKO. Use code VIAJEROS10 for an extra 10% off.
• Airport VIP lounges: wait for your flight in comfort, with food, drinks and Wi-Fi, in a VIP lounge with VIPLounges. Code VIAJEROSCURIOSONES saves you 5%.

More trips in Europe

If you enjoyed this Ireland road trip, don’t miss our guide to Downpatrick Head, on the Mayo coast, and our Cotswolds road trip in England. You’ll find more ideas in our European destinations and travel deals on our discount codes page.

Our Ireland road trip on Instagram

This is how we experienced Ireland and shared it on Instagram: save the post for your next adventure and follow us at @viajeros_curiosones.

See our Ireland road trip on Instagram →

Ireland road trip FAQ

Questions about the route and the car

Questions about Northern Ireland