The best 7 day Ireland itinerary

High cliffs, rugged coastline, green landscapes and medieval castles - Ireland is an island full of natural beauty, raw nature and manyfold cultural and historic sites. It is with good reason one of the most popular road trip destinations of tourists worldwide! To help you plan your trip tp the green island, find here our 7 day itinerary to discover Ireland by campervan. 

Ireland itinerary 7 days

Day 1: From Dublin to Blarney Stone

Itinerary: Dublin - Countryside Kilkenny (1.30h) - Rock of Cashel (50 min) - Blarney Stone (1:15h)

Our journey begins in Dublin, capital and biggest city of Ireland. If you do not already possess a motorhome, you will have no problem finding one here. Dublin is a city which has a lot to offer and for which ideally, you should take numerous days. In case your time is limited, there are a couple of highlights, which we recommend you to visit before continuing your trip. Go pay a visit to Dublin Castle, Phoenix Park and the Christ Church Cathedral. If you travel with kids, the Dublin Zoo could be worth a visit and also Powerscourt Gardens are a great trip for the entire family. 

After having visited Dublin, take your campervan and go to the Countryside Kilkenny, enjoy the panoramic views of Kilkenny and climb Brandon Hill. Action lovers will enjoy Castlecomer Discovery Park, Kiltoran Raceway or canoe riding in Graiguenamanagh. About an hour from Killkenny is the famous Rock of Cashel, an impressive historic site orininating from the 12th century.

The last highlight of this first day is Blarney Stone, a block of Carboniferous limestone built into the battlements of Blarney Castle. There is a special ritual you should know about: According to legend, kissing the stone brings you great eloquence. Be careful though: kissing the stone requires some physical effort and can only be done with the help of an assistant! 

Day 2: From Kinsale to Dingle Peninsula

Itinerary: Blarney Stone - Kinsale (40 min) - Ring of Kerry (2h) - Dingle Peninsula (1.45h)

Our second day begins with a trip to Kinsale, a sweet historic port and fishing village. It is located near the mouth of river Bandon and a good place to slowly start the day. Before leaving, do not forget to visit Muktose’s Church and check if there are any food festivals taking place! 

After a two hour drive you will arrive at Ring of Kerry, a 179-kilometre-long circular route. Many different highlights lay on this route, for instance the Ladies View (a beautiful viewpoint), Ross Castle, Torc Waterfall, Killarney National Park and Cahergall Stone Fort. Depending on how long your trip is going to be, you can spend more or less time on the Ring of Kerry. If you do not have sufficient time to visit everything, don’t worry: There are still many beautiful places waiting for you on this trip and hey, it does not have to be the last time you visit Ireland... 

Dingle Peninsula is going to be the last stop of the day and the perfect place to enjoy a stunning sunset. Must-sees are definitely Dunmore Head, the Ranga (a spanish cargo vessel wrecked on the coast in 1982) and Rahinnane Castle.

Day 3: From Loop Head to Galway

Itinerary: Dingle Peninsula - Loop Head Peninsula (3h) - Cliffs of Moher (1.15h) - Galway (1.30h) 

Get ready to spend a lot of time in the car today. Luckily time goes by fast while enjoying a beautiful coastal view every step of the way. After a three hour drive to the Loop Head Peninsula, take a break relishing the beautiful Loop Head lighthouse. Next, take your motorhome and go to one of the most popular sights of Ireland: The Cliffs of Moher. These 14 kilometre long sea cliffs with a maximum height of 214 metres should not be missing on this trip. Especially impressive is O’Brien’s Tower, the highest point of Cliffs of Moher from where you can enjoy the view on Aran Islands, Galway Bay and Loop Head.

The next stop of our trip is not just familiar with Ed Sheeran fans, but is actually the sixth most populous city in Ireland: Galway. The European Capital of Culture invites you to take a walk to the Spanish Arch, originating from the 18th century, Galway Cathedral, Menlo Castle and St. Nicholas’ Church. History enthusiasts should also take some time to visit the Galway City Museum.

Day 4: Wild Atlantic Way to Achill Island

Itinerary: Galway - Achill island (5h) on Wild Atlantic Way

Today’s itinerary begins at Galway and leads us onto a part of the Wild Atlantic Way, a 2,500 km long trail on Ireland’s west coast just until Achill island. In case you prefer to take a shorter route, you can also take the interstate route, which is just 2 hours. We however do recommend the longer path, as it leads you to beautiful sights, viewpoints and beaches. Some recommendations are for instance Glinsk pier and Killary Harbour (a fjord in Connemara). 

When finally arriving at Achill island, the largest of Irish isles, there are several points of interest not to miss. Pass by Croaghaun Croaghaun, the most westerly and highest peak of Achill Island as well as Slievemore, the second highest peak. Keem Beach and Ballycroy Nationalpark are also great destinations to visit during your stay.

Day 5: From Mullaghmore to Slieve League

Itinerary: Achill island - Mullaghmore Head (2.30h) - Slieve League (1.30h)

Let’s start day five with a trip to Mullaghmore Head, a village on the Mullaghmore peninsula in County Sligo and a big wave surfing paradise. You can witness waves up to 15 metres high and incredibly talented surfers trying to ride on them. Definitely worth a stop!

Afterwards, continue the route by driving to Slieve League, an impressive 596 metres high mountain with some of the highest sea cliffs of the island. Not as famous as the Cliffs of Moher is Slieve League almost three times higher! 

Day 6: From Fanad Lighthouse to Giant's Causeway

Itinerary: Slieve League - Fanad Lighthouse (2h) - Dunluce Castle (2h) - Giant’s Causeway (10 min)

Day six begins with a two hour drive to Fanad Lighthouse, an idyllic place between Lough Swilly and Mulroy Bay. Another two hour drive will bring you to Dunluce Castle and Giant’s Causeway, one of the most famous places in Ireland and a UNESCO world heritage site. It consists of 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, which were formed by an ancient volcanic fissure eruption. The result is a stunning place with stepping stones that lead from the cliff foot and disappear under the sea. 

Dunluce Castle is a ruined medieval castle and one of the biggest of its kind in Ireland. Its rough charme is enhanced by extremely steep drops on either side surrounding the castle. A visit is highly recommended!

Day 7: Belfast and Dublin

Itinerary: Giant’s Causeway - Belfast (1h) - Dublin (2h)

Our Ireland itinerary led us all the way around the Irish coast, leaving is us where we started. Dublin is just a 2 hour drive from Giant’s Causeway, we however recommend to make another stop in Belfast on the way. It is the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland, which holds numerous interesting sights worth a visit. Places that deserve some of your attention are for instance the museum Titanic Belfast, Belfast City Hall, the Botanic Gardens and Cavehill. Further highlights include Belfast Castle, St George’s Market, Saint Anne’s Cathedral and the Grand Opera House. 

Ireland two week itinerary

Ireland certainly has a lot to offer and cannot be fully explored in one week. While our 7 day Ireland itinerary guides you to the most important places, you will be able to explore even more stunning sights if you have a bit more time. Travelling around Ireland in two or more weeks allows you to spend less time in the campervan, travel slower and add certain places to your list.

Amongst those we recommend the following places:

Glendalough: A great area to take long hikes on maintained trails, go rock climbing or just enjoy the idyllic landscape during a picnic.
Waterford: Located in the south-east of Ireland and the oldest city of the Republic of Ireland. Visit Reginald's Tower, the oldest urban civic building in Ireland and take a look at the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity.
Wicklow Mountains: The largest continuous upland area in the Republic of Ireland and the perfect location for hikes.
Copper Coast Geopark: A designated area comprising a stretch of the southern coast of Ireland, which contains records of Palaeozoic volcanism and the last ice age.
Aran islands: A beautiful group of three islands on the west coast of Ireland at the mouth of Galway Bay. Marvel at several Bronze Age and Iron Age forts!
Connemara national park: Located in western Ireland and a must-see for bird enthusiasts, but not just! 2,000 hectares of mountains, bogs, heaths, grasslands and forests are definitely worth visiting.
Kylemore Abbey: A Benedictine monastery in western Ireland and founded in 1920

The list could go on and on, Ireland is just too stunning a country with too many magnificent places. We hope this Ireland itinerary could inspire you for your next adventure and this green country. If you do not already have a campervan, visit Yescapa to find a large variety of motorhomes and campervans to rent!