Breakfast
A full Irish breakfast
Eggs, sausage, bacon, black and white pudding, tomato and soda bread, with strong tea. It sets you up for a day of walking.
Local tip Share one if you are not hungry, because the plates are large.
Arrival day
Before Day 1. This is a one-way road trip, so sort the car first and keep the first evening light.Details
- Getting here
- Dublin airport is a short ride from the center by bus or taxi. You will not need a car in the city, so collect it on the morning of Day 2 and return it at the far end of the trip, which is usually a one-way fee, so check ahead.
- Driving in Ireland
- Cars drive on the left and many roads on the west coast are narrow, with stone walls and no verge. Take an automatic if you are not used to a manual, allow more time than the map says and pull in to let faster drivers pass.
- Weather
- Rain can come in any month and it can clear in an hour. Pack a waterproof jacket, shoes that can get wet and a warm layer, even in summer, and keep the schedule loose enough to wait out a shower.
- First evening
- Day 1 begins at Trinity College, so a stay near the center suits it. Walk along the river, eat early and sleep, because the drive west starts the day after the city.
Day 1. Dublin on foot
4 stops · 6.6 kmThe capital, walkable and compact. A great old library behind college gates, a castle with Viking roots, the gaol where the story of independence was settled, then the river and the cobbled lanes after dark.
- 1MorningWorth the time
Trinity College Dublin
The oldest university in Ireland, founded in 1592, with cobbled squares and a Long Room library lined with old books. Go early, before the day groups arrive.
Go when Morning, before the day groups arrive.
Local tip The Long Room and the Book of Kells are the draw, and tickets are timed in busy months, so check ahead. The cobbled squares outside are free to walk and a good place to start.
Photo by Stephen Bergin on Unsplash About 8 min walk0.7 km - 2MiddayWorth a short stop
Dublin Castle
A castle on the site of a Viking settlement, long the seat of English rule and now a place of state ceremony. Walk the courtyards and the gardens behind, which are quiet and free of traffic.
Go when Midday, between the college and the afternoon.
Local tip The gardens behind the castle are quiet and a good place to eat a picnic. Check ahead on state rooms, which close for official events.
Photo by Lisa Fecker on Unsplash - Lunch
Brown bread and a bowl of soup
Hearty soup with dark, nutty brown bread and butter, an everyday Irish lunch. Look for a small cafe near the castle.
Local tip Ask for the soup of the day, which is usually the freshest.
About 10 min by car or transit2.8 km - 3AfternoonWorth the time, book ahead
Kilmainham Gaol
A grim prison from the 1790s where the leaders of the 1916 Rising were held and executed. The guided tour tells a hard but important chapter of the country's story. Book ahead.
Go when Afternoon, on a booked tour.
Local tip Tours are the only way in and fill up, so book before you travel. It is cold inside, so bring a layer even in summer.
Photo by Chris Kofoed on Unsplash About 11 min by car or transit3.1 km - 4EveningAn evening stop
Temple Bar
A district of narrow cobbled lanes by the river, with pubs, small shops and live music. Lively and loud at night, and calmer on a weekday, so go for the atmosphere rather than a quiet drink.
Go when Early evening, before the weekend crowds (about 9:54 PM).
Local tip It is loud and busy on weekends and aimed at visitors. For a quieter pint with local people, walk a few streets away from the river.
Photo by Leonhard Niederwimmer on Unsplash - Dinner
A pub dinner of stew
Slow-cooked Irish stew of lamb and root vegetables, or beef and Guinness pie, in a warm pub. A classic first night.
Local tip Arrive before the evening music so you can still get a table.
If it rains. Dublin is built for rain. Spend the long hours inside the college library and the castle, and keep the gaol tour for the afternoon. Walk the lanes after dark, when the pubs glow.
Day 2. Across the island to Galway
4 stops · 187.7 kmThe drive west. A big park on the way out, a ruined monastery on a slow river, then a harbor city on the Atlantic and a long promenade as the light goes.
- Travel from Temple BarAbout 14 min by car or transit4.7 kmWhere Day 1 ended.
- Breakfast
Porridge and a scone
Warm oat porridge or a fresh scone with butter and jam, with tea, before the long drive west.
Local tip Fill the tank and a flask before you leave the city.
- 1MorningWorth a short stop
Phoenix Park
One of the largest walled city parks in Europe, with wide lawns, a herd of fallow deer and long straight avenues. A green start to the day, close to the road west.
Go when Morning, on the way out of the city.
Local tip The deer are often near the Furry Glen and the main avenue. Keep a respectful distance, and do not feed them.
Photo by Rubina Ajdary on Unsplash About 1 h 42 min by car110.3 km - 2MiddayWorth the time
Clonmacnoise
A monastery founded in the sixth century on the bank of the River Shannon, with high crosses, round towers and ruined churches. A quiet pause in the middle of the drive across the island.
Go when Midday, as a break from the road.
Local tip Allow an hour or so to wander the crosses and ruins. Check ahead on opening and on the visitor center, and bring a layer for the wind off the river.
Photo: Ingo Mehling, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons - Lunch
A sandwich from a village shop
A fresh sandwich or a hot pie from a village shop, eaten at a picnic table by the river.
Local tip Small shops on the road close early, so buy lunch when you see one.
About 1 h 12 min by car70.9 km - 3AfternoonWorth a short stop
Spanish Arch
A remnant of Galway's medieval walls beside the River Corrib, where ships once unloaded. Sit on the grass nearby and watch the river meet the bay.
Go when Afternoon, as you arrive in the city.
Local tip The grass beside the arch is where students and locals sit when the sun is out. It is a gateway to the old quarter and the quays behind.
Photo: Josi, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons About 21 min walk1.7 km - 4EveningWorth the time
Salthill
The seaside promenade on the edge of Galway, a long walk beside the bay. There is a local custom of touching the wall at the far end, and the sky over the bay is the draw at sunset.
Go when Evening, for the long light over the bay (about 9:54 PM).
Local tip Walk to the end of the promenade and touch the wall, as locals do. The wind off the bay can be sharp, so bring a layer.
Photo: Robert Linsdell, CC BY 2.0 on Wikimedia Commons - Dinner
Galway oysters and seafood
Galway Bay is known for its oysters, eaten fresh with brown bread and a glass of stout, or a bowl of seafood chowder.
Local tip Oysters are best in the cooler months, so ask what is fresh.
If it rains. Rain makes the drive slow but the monastery moody. At Salthill the sky and the sea can be dramatic in a squall, so watch from the promenade and keep a coat on.
Day 3. Connemara, the bog and the fjord
4 stops · 87.1 kmA loop through the wildest country of the west. A deep sea inlet, a lakeside abbey, a mountain park and a coast road with the Atlantic spread out below. Sleep on the far side.
- Drive from SalthillAbout 1 h 1 min by car55.4 kmWhere Day 2 ended.
- Breakfast
A big breakfast before Connemara
Eggs, brown bread and tea, a hearty start before a day with few places to eat.
Local tip Take a snack, because the villages on the loop are small.
- 1MorningWorth a short stop
Killary Harbour
A long, narrow sea inlet between steep green mountains, close to the village of Leenane. Stop for the view of the water and the hills rising straight from it.
Go when Morning, with the light on the water.
Local tip The hills fall straight into the water here. Stop at the pull-outs, not on the road.
About 29 min by car or transit13.5 km - 2MiddayWorth the time
Kylemore Abbey
A Gothic revival house on a lake, now a working abbey, with a walled garden and woods behind. The reflection in the water is the classic view, so allow time to walk beside the lake.
Go when Midday, with time to walk beside the lake.
Local tip The lake path gives the best view back at the abbey. Check ahead on opening for the garden and the abbey itself.
Photo: Alvesgaspar, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons - Lunch
Lamb and potatoes
Connemara lamb, tender and mild, served with potatoes, a plain and filling lunch of the west.
Local tip Kitchens close in mid afternoon, so eat before the walk.
About 11 min by car or transit3.5 km - 3AfternoonA half day on foot
Connemara National Park
A mountain and bog park with short trails up Diamond Hill. A moderate climb gives a view of the lakes and the sea. Dress for wind and wet, and turn back if the cloud comes down.
Go when Afternoon, if the cloud is high.
Local tip Diamond Hill is a steady climb on a rough path. Wear waterproofs and shoes with grip, carry water and turn back if the weather closes in.
Photo: Misik Péter Neo7, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons About 30 min by car or transit14.7 km - 4EveningWorth the time
Sky Road
A high loop road west of Clifden, with a view over the Atlantic and the scatter of small islands. Stop at the pull-outs rather than the road, and look for the late light on the water.
Go when Evening, with the late light on the islands (about 9:54 PM).
Local tip The upper loop is narrow, so drive slowly and use the pull-outs. The view west over the Atlantic is the whole point.
Photo by Eduardo Drapier on Unsplash - Dinner
Fresh fish in Clifden
Fish caught that day, such as haddock, cod or hake, with chips or potatoes, in a small harbor town.
Local tip In quiet months, check which kitchens are open.
If it rains. Showers come and go in Connemara. Stay on the lake path at the abbey, skip the hill if the cloud is down and enjoy the coast road from the car, stopping when it clears.
Day 4. The Burren and the Cliffs of Moher
4 stops · 131.9 kmBack across Galway and south into County Clare. A castle on a bay, a limestone moonscape with a Stone Age tomb, the tall sea cliffs, then a village known for its music.
- Drive from Sky RoadAbout 1 h 25 min by car87.4 kmWhere Day 3 ended.
- Breakfast
Soda bread and tea
Fresh soda bread, with butter and jam, and a pot of tea before the road to the Burren.
Local tip Bread made that morning is the best, so ask where it came from.
- 1MorningWorth a short stop
Dunguaire Castle
A sixteenth century tower house on a rock beside the water at Kinvara. Small and photogenic, and a good stop for the view across the bay before the Burren.
Go when Morning, with the light on the bay.
Local tip A stop for a photograph and a short walk beside the water. Check ahead on whether the castle is open to enter.
About 33 min by car or transit17.7 km - 2MiddayWorth a short stop
Poulnabrone dolmen
A Stone Age portal tomb on a bare plateau of limestone in the Burren, thousands of years old. Walk out across the rock, and watch your footing on the cracks.
Go when Midday, with a pause to walk the rock.
Local tip The limestone is cracked and uneven, so watch your feet. The tomb is fenced, and the rare flowers in the cracks should be left alone.
Photo: User Kglavin on en.wikipe… on Wikimedia Commons - Lunch
Local cheese and a picnic
Farm cheese from the Burren, with bread, apples and chutney, eaten in the open on the limestone.
Local tip Pack out your rubbish and keep to the paths.
About 35 min by car or transit21.0 km - 3AfternoonWorth the time
Cliffs of Moher
Sea cliffs rising high above the Atlantic along the coast of Clare. Keep to the paths and well back from the edge, because the ground can be wet, the wind strong and the drop sudden.
Go when Afternoon, or late, when the day crowds thin.
Local tip Stay behind the barriers and off the edge, because the wind can be strong and the ground wet. The cliffs can be hidden by cloud, so do not count on a view.
Photo by joel protasio on Unsplash About 16 min by car or transit5.9 km - 4EveningWorth the time
Doolin
A small coastal village known for traditional Irish music. Listen to a session in a pub in the evening, when the visitors from the cliffs have gone.
Go when Evening, for the music.
Local tip Traditional sessions start informally and tend to run late. Listen quietly and ask before you record.
Photo: Ekki3, CC BY 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons - Dinner
Seafood chowder and music
A creamy bowl of seafood chowder, with brown bread, in a pub where the session is about to start.
Local tip The chowder often runs out, so eat early.
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If it rains. In wet weather the cliffs are often hidden. Take the Burren slowly, mind the slippery rock, and leave the cliff walk for the lull, since the barriers matter most in wind and rain.
Day 5. Loop Head and the road to Dingle
3 stops · 129.7 kmA long day down the coast. The tip of a quiet peninsula with a lighthouse, a ferry or a long road round the estuary, a huge beach in Kerry, then the harbor town at the end of the road.
- Drive from DoolinAbout 1 h 6 min by car62.9 kmWhere Day 4 ended.
- Breakfast
Eggs and brown toast
A simple breakfast of eggs, brown toast and tea, before a long day on the road.
Local tip The Loop Head road has no shops, so take a flask.
- 1MorningA detour for the end of the land
Loop Head
The tip of a long, quiet peninsula in County Clare, where a white lighthouse stands with the sea on three sides. Wild, windy and seldom crowded. Keep back from the edges.
Go when Morning, with a long day ahead.
Local tip The road out is long and quiet, with the sea on both sides. Keep back from the cliff edges, and check ahead on whether the lighthouse is open to climb.
Photo: AugusteBlanqui, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons About 54 min by car46.6 km - 2AfternoonWorth a stop to stretch
Inch Strand
A long sandy beach on a spit across Dingle Bay, with surf and dunes. A good place to stretch your legs before the end of the drive. Take care in the water, because the currents are strong.
Go when Afternoon, as a break from driving.
Local tip The beach is huge and the surf can be strong. Walk it rather than swim, and mind the tide and the currents.
Photo: Lionel Allorge, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons - Lunch
Fish and chips on the beach
Crisp battered fish and chips in paper, eaten with a view of the surf if there is a stand open.
Local tip Out of season, bring a sandwich as well.
About 34 min by car or transit20.2 km - 3EveningWorth the time
Dingle
A small, colorful harbor town at the end of the Dingle Peninsula, with a working fishing quay and shops painted in bright shades. Walk the waterfront as the boats come in.
Go when Evening, as the boats come in (about 9:54 PM).
Local tip A small town that fills in summer, so linger on the quay early or late. Dingle is a Gaeltacht area, where Irish is widely spoken.
Photo: JoachimKohler-HB, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons - Dinner
Dingle seafood
Mussels, crab claws or fresh fish from the quay, eaten in a small dining room above the harbor.
Local tip Small towns fill up quickly in summer, so book ahead.
If it rains. A wet day at Loop Head is wild and bare. Keep back from the edges, and shorten the beach stop to a look from the car if the surf is up.
Day 6. The Dingle Peninsula
4 stops · 35.4 kmThe end of the road. A drive round the western tip with views to the islands, a museum about the island people who left, an early Christian chapel, and a high pass at the end of the day.
- Travel from DingleAbout 30 min by car or transit13.8 kmWhere Day 5 ended.
- Breakfast
A slow breakfast in Dingle
Scrambled eggs on brown bread, with good coffee, in no hurry before the peninsula drive.
Local tip The coast road is slow, so start early.
- 1MorningWorth the time
Slea Head
The most westerly point of the Dingle Peninsula, where the road follows a cliff above the sea with the Blasket Islands in view. Go slowly, use the pull-outs and keep an eye out for walkers on the narrow road.
Go when Morning, when the road is quiet.
Local tip The road is narrow, with a drop on the sea side. Drive slowly, give way to coaches and walkers and stop only at the pull-outs.
Photo: Philcomanforterie, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons About 10 min by car or transit2.9 km - 2MiddayWorth the time
Great Blasket Centre
A museum at Dunquin about the people of the Blasket Islands, who lived in a remote Irish-speaking community until 1953 and left behind a body of writing. Check ahead on opening.
Go when Midday, as a pause from the road.
Local tip It tells the story of the island community, which left for the mainland in 1953. A good stop in wet weather, and a quiet one. Check ahead on opening.
- Lunch
Soup and sandwiches at the museum
A bowl of soup and a sandwich with a view of the islands, a good break from the road.
Local tip Check ahead on whether the cafe is open.
About 22 min by car or transit9.0 km - 3AfternoonWorth a short stop
Gallarus Oratory
A small stone chapel shaped like an upturned boat, built without mortar and standing for well over a thousand years. Small, quiet and worth a walk round it.
Go when Afternoon, with the light on the stone.
Local tip Step inside and notice how dry it stays, thanks to the tight stonework. It is small and often busy with groups, so go late in the day.
Photo: Age Bosma, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons About 23 min by car or transit9.8 km - 4EveningWorth the time, in clear weather
Conor Pass
A high mountain road over the peninsula with a view down to bays on both sides. It is narrow, so check the weather first, because cloud can hide the view and the drop is steep.
Go when Evening, on a clear day (about 9:54 PM).
Local tip A high road, narrow and with a steep drop. If the cloud is down, there is nothing to see, so skip it and enjoy the town instead.
Photo: Superbass, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons - Dinner
A last evening of lamb or fish
A final dinner in Dingle, a roast of local lamb or the day's fish, with a slice of apple tart.
Local tip Allow time before an early start, if you drive out in the morning.
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If it rains. Cloud hides the views on the pass, so skip it and spend the time at the museum and in the chapel. The coast road is better in a break in the weather.
Departure day
After the last day. The trip ends on the far south-west peninsula, a long way from a big airport, so plan the way out.Details
- The drive out
- Dingle is a few hours by road from Shannon or Cork airports, and sometimes the closest runway is Kerry Airport. Check which suits your flight and leave a buffer for slow roads and a stop for fuel.
- Returning the car
- A one-way return is often to a city or an airport rather than a town, so check where yours can be left and when that desk is open before the last day.
- If you have a few hours
- Take one more walk on a beach or a headland in the morning, and buy a loaf of brown bread or a jar of honey from a shop for the journey home.
Questions people ask
When is the best time to visit Dublin?
By average weather from 2021 to 2025, May to September are the most comfortable months for walking around Dublin. This plan is built for early June, which is one of the best months. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.
How many days does this plan cover?
It covers 6 days in Dublin, planned for early June. Each day is built around a small number of stops, with room to rest.
Who is this plan for?
It was planned for most travelers. The pace and the places reflect that, so check it fits how you travel.
Is anything on this plan booked?
No. Places marked "book ahead" need a reservation. Hours, prices and availability change, so confirm before you go.
Can I plan my own days like this?
Yes. Archie drafts a day by day plan for your dates and takes your pace, the weather and who is travelling into account. You can start one from the Archie app.
Can I change this plan?
Yes. It is a starting point you can change to fit your own trip: swap a place, add a day or move the pace.
How much walking is there?
Each day has about 6.6 to 183.0 kilometers between its stops, and 354.2 kilometers in all across 6 days. A short hop is a walk and a longer one a ride. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.
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Make this plan yours
Make it yours in a minute, then move days around and add what you want.
A trip idea · Updated November 2026
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