Vacation Tours of IrelandA 7 Day Ireland Itinerary, Day by Day
This 7 day Ireland itinerary runs Dublin, Kilkenny, Cork, Killarney, Dingle, the Cliffs of Moher and Galway in one loop, with a distance and drive time for every leg. It is written for people planning the trip themselves and for people weighing that against a guided tour that covers the same ground. Each day lists what to see from official sources and how long the road to the next stop takes, so you can judge the pace before you book anything. If you would rather leave the driving and route-finding to someone else, a similar route exists as a bookable small-group trip. The bookable tours are compared on all vacation tours of Ireland.
The Rock of Cashel on its hill, seen across the fields from Hore Abbey. Photo: w_lemay, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Quick answer The 7-day loop in brief
A 7 day Ireland itinerary works as one clockwise loop from Dublin, with the longest day, Dingle to Doolin, at about 251 km or 3 h 47 min if you route back through Killarney. You sleep in a new town each night, starting with Kilkenny and finishing in Galway before the run back to Dublin. Seven days is enough for this south and west loop, and the bookable 7-day small-group tour on this site covers much of the same ground. What it does not cover is Northern Ireland, which needs a separate leg or a 10-day version.
Key takeaways
- Prefer someone else to drive? The 7-Day Ireland Tour covers Cork, Kerry, Clare and Galway in 7 days from $2,823.90 with breakfast and entry to the Rock of Cashel, Blarney Castle and Muckross House.
- Hiring a car instead? Read the rules on driving in Ireland first, from left-hand driving to tolls.
- Timing the trip matters. The best time to visit Ireland explains the seasons for this route.
- One line is enough here: the full side-by-side comparison of the bookable multi-day tours lives on the vacation tours of Ireland compared.
The 7 Days at a Glance
The whole loop on one table. Every distance and drive time below comes from OpenStreetMap routing between town centres, which is a secondary calculation and not an official figure, so treat the times as driving without stops.
Seven Nights, Six Driving Legs
The route runs clockwise out of Dublin through the medieval south-east, down to Cork, across into Kerry, out to Dingle, up through Clare to Galway, then back east. The longest leg is Dingle to Doolin at about 251 km and 3 h 47 min, adding the Dingle to Killarney and Killarney to Doolin figures. The shortest is Killarney to Dingle at about 65 km and 1 h 07 min.
Build in stops, because these figures exclude them entirely.
| Day | From and to | Distance or time | Overnight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dublin, city sightseeing | not stated | Dublin |
| 2 | Dublin to Kilkenny | about 125 km, 1 h 37 min | Kilkenny |
| 3 | Kilkenny to Cork | about 145 km, 1 h 58 min | Cork or Kinsale |
| 4 | Cork to Killarney | about 87 km, 1 h 14 min | Killarney |
| 5 | Killarney to Dingle | about 65 km, 1 h 07 min | Dingle |
| 6 | Dingle to Doolin via Killarney | about 251 km, 3 h 47 min | Doolin |
| 7 | Doolin to Galway, then Galway to Dublin | about 72 km and 1 h 13 min, then about 209 km and 2 h 30 min | Dublin or Galway |
Day by Day
Each day below gives the sights, the practical detail worth knowing and the drive to the next overnight stop. Distances and times are the OpenStreetMap routing figures between town centres, given without stops.
Day 1: Dublin
Land, then walk. Dublin city counted 592,713 residents at the 2022 census and over 1.5 million in the greater region, and the centre is compact enough for a first day on foot. The Book of Kells dates from about 800 AD and sits in the Old Library at Trinity College, where one volume is always on display and the page is turned every 12 weeks.
The Guinness Storehouse at St James's Gate opened in 2000 inside a 1902 building, with seven floors around a glass atrium shaped like a pint and the Gravity Bar on top. Kilmainham Gaol, built in 1796 and closed in 1924, is visited by guided tour only, and seven leaders of the 1916 Rising were executed there. If you would rather add a day trip before the loop starts, see the day trips from Dublin guide.
Overnight in Dublin.
- Trinity College and the Book of Kells, one page displayed at a time
- Guinness Storehouse, seven floors and the Gravity Bar
- Kilmainham Gaol, guided tour only
Day 2: Dublin to Kilkenny
A gentle first driving day of about 125 km and 1 h 37 min without stops. Kilkenny is 117 km from Dublin by one official count and had 27,184 residents in 2022. Kilkenny Castle was the seat of the Butler family, and St Canice's Cathedral has a 9th century round tower you can still see from across the city.
Smithwick's ale was first brewed here, and the city hosts the Cat Laughs comedy festival in June and the Kilkenny Arts Festival in August. If you would rather see Kilkenny with a guide from Dublin instead of driving, the Glendalough and Kilkenny day tour covers it in 9 hours for $50 with walking tours of both Glendalough and Kilkenny included. Overnight in Kilkenny, because tomorrow's leg starts here.
- Kilkenny Castle, the Butler family seat
- St Canice's Cathedral and its 9th century round tower
Day 3: Kilkenny to Cork
About 145 km and 1 h 58 min of driving without stops. If you want a castle stop on the way, the Rock of Cashel in County Tipperary was the traditional seat of the kings of Munster, its round tower stands about 28 m high and Cormac's Chapel dates from 1127 to 1134. Cork is the second-largest city in the Republic with 224,004 residents in 2022, and the English Market there traces its origins to 1610 with the current building dating from 1786.
Kinsale lies about 25 km south of Cork city, had 5,991 residents in 2022 and is the southern end of the roughly 2,500 km Wild Atlantic Way, which is covered in detail in the Wild Atlantic Way guide. Overnight in Cork or Kinsale.
- Rock of Cashel, round tower about 28 m high
- English Market in Cork, trading since 1610
- Kinsale, the southern end of the Wild Atlantic Way
Day 4: Cork to Killarney
A short driving leg, about 87 km and 1 h 14 min. Blarney Castle sits on the way if you loop north first. Its current keep dates from 1446 and was built by the MacCarthy of Muskerry family, visitors lean backward over a drop to kiss the Blarney Stone, and the grounds include a poison garden.
In Killarney, which had 14,412 residents in 2022 and draws about 1.1 million tourists a year, the national park covers 102.89 km2 and was Ireland's first. It holds Ross Castle, Muckross Abbey, Muckross House, Ladies View and Torc Waterfall, plus about 900 red deer of the only remaining wild native herd in Ireland. Muckross House has 65 rooms, and the Bourn and Vincent families gave the house and an 11,000 acre estate to the state in 1932.
Overnight in Killarney.
- Blarney Castle keep from 1446 and the poison garden
- Killarney National Park, 102.89 km2 and Ireland's first
- Muckross House, 65 rooms, gifted to the state in 1932
Day 5: Killarney and the Ring of Kerry, Then Dingle
Give the morning to the Ring of Kerry, a 179 km circular route through Killarney, Kenmare, Sneem, Waterville, Cahersiveen and Glenbeigh. Tour buses run it counter-clockwise so they can pass on the narrow roads, and many private drivers go clockwise to Kenmare first to avoid meeting the coaches. If you would rather have a guide handle the loop, the Ring of Kerry day tour from Killarney runs 7.5 hours for $55 with pickup on request and a lunch stop at Waterville.
Then drive to Dingle, about 65 km and 1 h 07 min. Dingle town is about 50 km southwest of Tralee, had 1,671 residents in 2022 and sits in a Gaeltacht, an Irish-speaking area. Overnight in Dingle, the full notes are in the Dingle Peninsula guide.
- Ring of Kerry, 179 km, coaches run it counter-clockwise
- Dingle town, a Gaeltacht of 1,671 residents
Day 6: Dingle's Slea Head, Then North to Doolin
Spend the morning on the Slea Head Drive, which loops from Dingle town past Ventry Beach, prehistoric forts, beehive huts, the Famine Cottage and Gallarus Oratory, with a full view of the Blasket Islands from Slea Head. The Blaskets have been uninhabited since the 1950s, and Dunmore Head beyond Dingle is the westernmost point of mainland Ireland. Then take the longest drive of the trip to Doolin, about 251 km and 3 h 47 min if you go back through Killarney (65 km and 1 h 07 min, then 186 km and 2 h 40 min).
Doolin sits about 4 miles from the Cliffs of Moher, is known for nightly traditional music in its pubs and is a ferry hub for the Aran Islands. If a full day works better, the Cliffs of Moher, Burren and Galway day tour from Dublin gives 2 hours at the Cliffs with visitor centre entry for $87. Overnight in Doolin.
- Slea Head Drive, Gallarus Oratory and the Blasket Islands
- Drive to Doolin, about 251 km and 3 h 47 min via Killarney
- Doolin, 4 miles from the Cliffs of Moher
Day 7: The Cliffs of Moher, the Burren and Galway
The Cliffs of Moher come first, then the Burren, which covers about 530 km2 of karst limestone roughly 325 million years old. Over 70 percent of Ireland's flower species grow there, including 23 of the country's 28 orchid types, and the area holds about 70 megalithic tombs and nearly 500 stone forts. Poulnabrone dolmen has a 3.9 m capstone.
From Doolin it is about 72 km and 1 h 13 min to Galway city, home to 85,910 people at the 2022 census, with the Spanish Arch, Galway Cathedral and Lynch's Castle to see. From Galway the run back to Dublin is about 209 km and 2 h 30 min, or stay the night and fly out of Shannon, which lies about 20 km west of Limerick. If you prefer a guided finale, the Aran Islands and Cliffs of Moher tour from Galway runs 10.5 hours for $89 with ferry, Cliffs admission and a cruise included.
- Cliffs of Moher and the Burren, 530 km2 of limestone
- Poulnabrone dolmen, a 3.9 m capstone
- Galway to Dublin, about 209 km and 2 h 30 min
Five Days or Ten
The same route stretches and shrinks. Here is what to cut for five days and what to add for ten, with the road legs from the source figures.
The Five-Day Cut
Five days forces a choice. Drop Kilkenny and Cashel and drive straight from Dublin to the southwest, about 303 km and 3 h 48 min of driving without stops. Then run Cork to Killarney at 87 km and 1 h 14 min, Killarney to Dingle at 65 km and 1 h 07 min, and Killarney to Doolin at 186 km and 2 h 40 min for the Cliffs of Moher, before the run back to Galway and Dublin. That is the Cliffs, Dingle and Kerry in one loop, which is what a first visit with limited time can absorb. Vagabond Tours suggests 7 days for a first visit and says a 7-day trip can cover one well-developed regional route such as Cliffs of Moher, Dingle and Kerry, which is exactly this shape. For a guided version of the same week cut short, the 5-Day South West Ireland Tour runs Galway, Clare, Kerry and Cork in five days from $1,464.67. Budget for the trip as a whole on the Ireland trip cost page.
If you would rather keep Kilkenny, drop Dingle instead. Dublin to Kilkenny is about 125 km and 1 h 37 min of driving, Kilkenny to Cork about 145 km and 1 h 58 min, then Cork to Killarney and on to the Cliffs. You lose the Slea Head loop and the Gaeltacht but keep the castles and the coast.
The Ten-Day Extension North
With ten days, add the northwest after Galway. Galway to Westport is about 80 km and 1 h 19 min of driving, a natural base with Connemara and its National Park next door. From Westport the road runs on to Derry, about 243 km and 3 h 25 min. Derry's walls sit 113 km and 1 h 24 min from Belfast, and Belfast to the Giant's Causeway is about 97 km and 1 h 14 min, so the Causeway coast works as a loop out of either city. The Enterprise train links Belfast back toward Dublin in about 2 h 08 min if you want to hand the car back early. Northern Ireland uses pounds, not euros, and its speed limits are in mph. The crossing into Northern Ireland covers the crossing, and Connemara has more on the Galway leg.
Two guided ten-day tours cover long loops of the island. The 10-Day Ireland Tour runs Dublin to Donegal, Derry, Kerry and the Cliffs of Moher for $3,917.02 in a group of up to 15, with a night in an Irish castle. The 10-Day Wild Ireland Tour from Irish Experience Tours adds Wicklow, Tipperary and Mayo for $3,301 with entry to Glendalough, the Rock of Cashel, Kylemore Abbey, Cahir Castle and the Cliffs of Moher. For the northern half alone, the 5-Day Northern Ireland and Atlantic Coast Small-Group Tour covers Belfast, the Giant's Causeway, Derry, Donegal and Westport for $1,486.20.
Hotels and pubs with flower baskets on a Kenmare street. Photo: JoachimKohler-HB, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Same Week Without a Car
Irish Rail reaches Galway, Cork, Kilkenny and Killarney, and guided tours remove the driving entirely.
Trains and Buses
Irish Rail runs Dublin Heuston to Galway with journey times from about 2 h 20 min to 2 h 50 min, for example 07:35 arriving 10:12. Trains to Killarney take about 3 h 21 min with a change at Mallow, for example Heuston 09:00 arriving 12:21. The Cork line is faster, about 2 h 32 min to 2 h 38 min on direct services leaving on the hour from 06:00. Dublin to Kilkenny takes about 1 h 27 min to 1 h 45 min on the Waterford line. Killarney is also served by Bus Eireann and TFI Local Link Kerry from Dingle and Waterville, and Kerry Airport is a 15 minute drive from town. One warning from Irish Rail: allow a full hour to move between Heuston and Connolly by Luas or bus, because connections between the two stations are not guaranteed.
The Cliffs of Moher are the gap, and a day tour fills it in. This Cliffs of Moher, Burren and Galway day tour from Dublin at $87 includes 2 hours at the Cliffs with visitor centre entry. From Galway, the Aran Islands and Cliffs of Moher tour at $89 bundles the ferry, the Cliffs admission and the cruise below them in 10.5 hours. Aran Island Ferries also sail year-round from Rossaveal, 23 miles west of Galway, with a shuttle bus from Victoria Place in the city and a shortest crossing of 40 minutes to Inis Mor. For the north, Expressway Route 64 runs Galway to Derry via Sligo, Donegal and Letterkenny. Rules of the road do not matter if you never drive, but the seasons do, so check the best time to visit Ireland.
Guided Tours That Run This Route
If you would rather hand the whole week to a driver and a small coach, the comparison table on the vacation tours of Ireland homepage sets every listing side by side, and the routes below are the closest matches to this itinerary. Prices are the listing prices and group sizes come from the operator listings. A guided coach also removes the rental excess hold, which on Irish desks runs about €1,500 to €3,000 against your card.
The 7-Day Ireland to Island Small Group Tour is the closest match of all: seven days from Dublin through Cork, Kerry, Clare and Galway at $2,823.90 (the booking page also shows $151.60 of extra charges, so confirm what they cover) for up to 12 passengers, with the Rock of Cashel, Blarney Castle, Muckross House, a Cliffs of Moher hike, the Shannon ferry and a return ferry to Inis Oirr with a Cliffs cruise all in the price. Breakfast is included, lunch and dinner are not, and there is no hotel pickup.
| Tour | Days | Route | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7-Day Ireland to Island Small Group Tour | 7 days, 6 nights | Cork, Kerry, Clare and Galway | $2,823.90 |
| 5-Day South West Ireland Tour | 5 days, 4 nights | Galway, Clare, Kerry and Cork | $1,464.67 |
| 6-Day All Ireland Tour | 6 days, 5 nights | Northern Ireland, Donegal, Galway, Clare, Kerry and Cork | $1,023.66 |
| 5-Day Northern Ireland and Atlantic Coast Small-Group Tour | 5 days, 4 nights | Antrim, Derry, Donegal, Mayo and Galway | $1,486.20 |
Sources: Irish Rail, Aran Island Ferries
Planning Questions
Is 7 days enough to see Ireland?
Seven days covers the Dublin to Galway route through the southwest and the Cliffs of Moher at a comfortable pace, which is what the day-by-day plan above does. It is not enough to add Northern Ireland without rushing, so see the ten-day extension for that. Vagabond Tours also suggests 7 days for a first visit covering one or two regions, and the 7-Day Ireland to Island Small Group Tour covers much of the same ground in a group of up to 12.
Can I do this Ireland itinerary in 5 days?
Yes, by driving straight from Dublin to the southwest and dropping Kilkenny and Cashel, or by dropping Dingle and keeping the castles. The full road legs are in the five-day section above. The 5-Day South West Ireland Tour is the guided version of the shorter loop, from $1,464.67 with four nights of accommodation and Cliffs of Moher entry included.
What should a 10 day Ireland itinerary add?
The north. Galway to Westport is about 80 km and 1 h 19 min of driving, Westport to Derry about 243 km and 3 h 25 min, and the Giant's Causeway sits 97 km and 1 h 14 min from Belfast. That gives you Connemara, Derry's walls and the Antrim coast on top of the southern week. The 10-Day Ireland Tour covers Donegal, Derry, Kerry and the Cliffs for $3,917.02 in a group of up to 15.
Can I do a 7 day Ireland itinerary without a car?
Yes. Trains reach Galway in about 2 h 20 min to 2 h 50 min, Killarney in about 3 h 21 min with a change at Mallow, Cork in about 2.5 hours and Kilkenny in about 1.5 hours from Heuston. A day tour fills the gap at the Cliffs of Moher. The full picture, including coach routes like Expressway 64 to Derry, is in the trains and buses section above and on the driving in Ireland page if you change your mind about hiring a car.
Which guided tour matches this route best?
The 7-Day Ireland to Island Small Group Tour is the closest match: seven days from Dublin through Cork, Kerry, Clare and Galway at $2,823.90, with the Rock of Cashel, Blarney Castle, Muckross House, a Cliffs of Moher hike, the Shannon ferry and a ferry to Inis Oirr included. Breakfast is in the price, lunch is not, and there is no hotel pickup. The shorter and northern options sit in the table above, with the full comparison on the Ireland vacation tours homepage section.
How far is Dingle from Dublin on this route?
The Dingle Peninsula tourism association gives 350 to 352 km and about 4 hours 15 minutes from Dublin, on the M7 to Limerick, the N21 to Tralee and the N86 into Dingle. It warns the peninsula roads are narrow and hilly, so the last stretch is slow. From Killarney it is only about 65 km and 1 h 07 min of driving, and the Dingle Peninsula guide covers the Slea Head loop once you are there.