Region
Dublin and the east
Sleep in Dublin for two to four nights; add Howth by train, and Glendalough or Newgrange as a tour or a car day.
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Key facts · Ireland
- Best months
- Apr–Oct
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Language
- English everywhere
- Plugs
- G · 230 V
- Time zone
- GMT in winter
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Britain and Ireland ↗Neither the UK nor Ireland is part of Schengen: days spent here do not count towards the 90/180-day Schengen limit, and a Schengen visa does not admit you to either country.
- Britain and Ireland ↗The island of Ireland runs on two currencies: euro in the Republic, pound sterling in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Carry a card that pays in both without fees.
- Britain and Ireland ↗Both islands drive on the left. Speed limits are in miles per hour in the UK (including Northern Ireland) and in kilometres per hour in the Republic of Ireland.
- Ireland ↗Ireland is in the EU but not in the Schengen area; it sets its own entry rules and a Schengen visa is not valid for Ireland. Check Irish immigration for your passport.
- Ireland ↗Ireland and the UK form the Common Travel Area, with no routine checks on the land border. Visitors who are not Irish or British must still meet UK rules (including the UK ETA where it applies) to enter Northern Ireland.
- Ireland ↗Driving is on the left; rural roads are narrow with hedges and few passing places.
Dublin is the base and the east coast is a set of day trips. The DART commuter train serves the coast north and south of the city, buses and tours cover Wicklow, and rural sites like Newgrange need a timed ticket. Keep the Dublin bed and travel light for the day.
Where to sleep
Sleep base
- DublinTrip line
Stay near St Stephen's Green for walks to Trinity and the museums.
Best Apr–Oct
JFMAMJJASOND
Day trip
- GlendaloughCity guide
Wicklow Mountains monastic site; bus or tour about 1.5 h each way.
Best Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
JFMAMJJASOND - NewgrangeGuide: planned
Passage tomb with timed tickets; tour or car about 1 h each way.
Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.
Plan the nights
How to split the nights, day-trips and what to do with your bags
Open Plan the nightsClose Plan the nights3 partsNights · Day-trips · Bags
Night sequences
- 3 nights
- Dublin 3, Howth as a half day
- 4 nights
- Dublin 4, Glendalough or Newgrange as a day
- Dublin, Glendalough and Newgrange in one day is too much: choose one trip per day.
Day-trips door to door
| To | From | Door-to-door p50 | Last return | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Howth | Dublin | 50 min | unknown | DART trains run frequently until late evening; check the last train. |
| Glendalough | Dublin | 100 min | unknown | Buses are few in winter; a tour is easier. |
| Newgrange | Dublin | 75 min | unknown | Entry is by timed visitor-centre ticket; book before you go. |
Bags between cities
Leave the big bag at the Dublin hotel and take a day pack.
When to go
Months and weather
Open When to goClose When to go1 partSeasons
Seasons at a glance
Pick a month to see where to go.
Show all 12 months, country by countryHide the 12-month table
| Country | JJan | FFeb | MMar | AApr | MMay | JJun | JJul | AAug | SSep | OOct | NNov | DDec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dublin | ok | ok | ok | go | go | go | go | go | go | go | ok | ok |
| Howth | × | × | ok | ok | go | go | go | go | go | ok | ok | × |
| Glendalough | × | × | ok | go | go | go | × | × | go | go | × | × |
| Ireland (country-wide) | ok | ok | ok | go | go | go | ok | ok | go | go | ok | ok |
Computed from each country’s own data; hover a country name for the source. Advisory countries are left out.
Eat and move on
Regional food and where to go next
Open Eat and move onClose Eat and move on1 partGo next
Go next
West of Ireland
planned3–5 nights
Galway, Connemara, the Burren, Cliffs of Moher, Aran Islands
Kerry and Cork
planned3–5 nights
Killarney, Ring of Kerry, Dingle, Cork city
Dublin and the east: what we know, and what is coming
3 of 4 places open
On this page
- 4 places with their role: where to sleep, what to do as a day trip
- How to split 3 or 4 nights
- 3 day trips with door-to-door time
- Seasons month by month, from the cities’ own tables
- What to do with the big bag between beds
Coming as the guide grows
- Climate strip by zone, with the storm and haze months
- Get in: airports and stations with door-to-door times
- Regional passes and cards, with a buy / skip verdict
- Regional food: what, where and when it works
- A page for Newgrange — Passage tomb with timed tickets; tour or car about 1 h each way.
Meanwhile
Planning aids
Built from this guide's own data
Open Planning aidsClose Planning aids3 partsIn numbers · Trips here · Local time
Region in numbers
- Where to sleep
- 1 base
- Day trips
- 3, 50 min to 1 h 40
- Nights suggested
- 3–4 nights
Trips that stop here
Dublin and the west
7 days · 3 nights here
Dublin → Galway → Doolin or Clifden
West and south-west
10 days · 3 nights here
Dublin → Galway → Doolin (Clare) → Dingle → Killarney
Both sides of the border and the west
14 days · 3 nights here
Dublin → Belfast and Causeway Coast → Donegal → Galway → Killarney or Dingle → Cork
Local time
What time it is there now, compared with the clock on your device.
Dublin
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Checking your clock…Europe/Dublin
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