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Irish Coast
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4.8
Read 186 reviews

Discover the heart of Ireland

Take your time on this Ireland tour, which explores the most acclaimed sights in the south and west, including the mountainous beauty of Connemara.

Trip details

Tour start Dublin

trip-destination

Tour end Dublin

9 icon

Days

8 icon

Nights

12 icon

Meals

Available Promotions for this Tour

Solo Travel

Group Discount

Repeat Guest Savings

Highlights

Sean’s Bar in Athlone

Raise a glass in the oldest bar in Europe. Sean's Bar has been serving thirsty customers since 900 AD.

Kylemore Abbey & Gardens

Visit the beautiful home of Benedictine nuns, who have lived on the estate since they fled Belgium during WWI.

Ring of Kerry Highlights

See the highlights of Ireland's most famous scenic drive, with views of rocky shores, emerald green fields and ancient ruins dotting the landscape.

House of Waterford Crystal

See how crystal is crafted at the world's most legendary manufacturer.

Jaunting Car Ride

Take a scenic old-fashioned horse-drawn carriage ride through Killarney National Park.

Blarney Castle

Kiss the famous Blarney Stone and get the gift of gab at this historic castle.

Marine Bar in Dungarvan – CIE Tours Exclusive

Enjoy a drink with some traditional music in this centuries-old, family-run pub.

Cliffs of Moher

Visit the Cliffs of Moher, a spectacular wall of sandstone soaring 700 feet above the pounding Atlantic surf below.

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Itinerary

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slide Day 1Dublin City Tour & Pearse Lyons Distillery
Your tour departs at 2:00 PM from your hotel in Dún Laoghaire, a charming seaside suburb. Get started with a panoramic tour of Dublin, seeing historic O’Connell Street, Georgian buildings and squares, and St Stephen’s Green. Visit the historic Liberties section of the city to explore Pearse Lyons Distillery. Housed inside an old church, Pearse Lyons offers a distinctive experience; you’ll hear fascinating stories about the church and the neighborhood as well as sample the whiskey. Return to your hotel for a welcome drink with your fellow guests, and then enjoy an independent evening of dining and exploring as you wish.
Head to the vibrant, artistic city of Galway. Along the way, enjoy a drink at Sean’s Bar in Athlone. The oldest pub in Europe, Sean’s Bar has been quenching thirsts since 900 AD. Join a local guide for a walking tour through Galway and discover this thriving city of medieval winding lanes and buzzing street life. Enjoy free time to explore Galway on your own, then join your group for dinner at your hotel. (B, D)
Explore scenic Connemara to admire how constantly changing cloud formations give granite hills, sparkling lakes and peat bogs an added dimension. Take a catamaran cruise of Killary Harbour, a 9-mile fjord (seasonal). Tour Kylemore Abbey, set beside a tranquil lake, and see its elegant rooms, the charming church, and the Victorian Walled Gardens. Return to Galway where the evening is free to explore the city. (B)
Travel south around Galway Bay and through the stark beauty of the Burren, a distinctive limestone landscape. Immerse yourself in farm life as you watch trained sheepdogs herd their flock. Visit the Cliffs of Moher, rising 700 feet above the pounding Atlantic surf. Ferry across the River Shannon estuary to the lovely town of Killarney. In the evening, visit Kate Kearney’s Cottage for dinner and a lively show of traditional music and dance. (B, D)
Take a traditional horse-drawn jaunting car through Killarney National Park to scenic Ross Castle, set on the shores of Lough Leane. See the highlights of Ireland’s most popular scenic drive, the Ring of Kerry. The stunning coastal and mountain landscapes will provide plenty of photo opportunities. Visit Moriarty’s, a CIE Tours preferred shopping partner, in the Gap of Dunloe. Visit the colorful village of Kenmare and enjoy free time to explore its charming craft shops, art galleries and cafes. Return to Killarney where your evening is free to explore as you wish. (B)
Drive through the mountains into rich farming country on the way to Blarney Castle. Kiss the famous “Stone of Eloquence” or explore the tranquil gardens. Travel along the coast to the Marine Bar in Dungarvan, a CIE Tours exclusive venue, for some traditional music. Continue to Waterford, the oldest city in Ireland, where you’ll join a local guide for a walking tour through the narrow streets to discover its fascinating past. Spend free time before dinner at your hotel. (B, D)
Visit the House of Waterford Crystal, a CIE Tours preferred shopping partner, to watch skilled artisans create sparkling masterpieces on a guided factory tour. In Kilkenny, you’ll have free time to explore the medieval city center and tour the beautifully restored Kilkenny Castle. Here you will see glorious 17th-century tapestries, family portraits, and sumptuous furnishings reflecting the lifestyle of the Butler family who once resided there. Travel on to Dublin, where you’ll dine with a glass of wine at The Morehampton. (B, D)
Sightsee independently on a Hop-On, Hop-Off bus and visit one of Dublin’s top attractions: Guinness Storehouse, Teeling Distillery, EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, Jameson Distillery Bow St. Experience, or GPO Museum. (B)
Your tour ends after breakfast. (B) B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner>

Where you’ll stay

Royal Marine Hotel

Royal Marine Hotel Dublin, Ireland

The Royal Marine overlooks Dublin Bay and provides direct access to Dun Laoghaire Promenade and...
The Galmont Hotel & Spa

The Galmont Hotel & Spa Galway, Ireland

The Galmont is one of Ireland's premier 4-star hotels, located in Galway City on the Wild Atlantic...
Great Southern Killarney

Great Southern Killarney Hotel Killarney, Ireland

Great Southern Killarney, first opened in 1854, is Killarney’s Premier Historic Hotel. This iconic...
Granville Hotel

Granville Hotel Waterford, Ireland

The Granville Hotel in Waterford overlooks the River Suir and is a 5 minute...
Clayton Hotel Burlington Road entrance

Clayton Hotel Burlington Road Dublin, Ireland

Just 30 minutes from Dublin International Airport and a 15-minute stroll from St. Stephen’s Green...
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Inclusive package with no hidden extras

What's included?

  • Full daily breakfast and many meals*
  • An evening of Irish entertainment  
  • Transportation (Buses, shuttles & ferries)
  • Welcome drinks with your group
  • Free Wi-Fi on luxury coaches
  • All entrance fees to attractions
  • Comprehensive travel itinerary

 

*Breakfast is not included on Day 1

Our welcome gift to you

  • A travel backpack
  • Travel adapter
  • Rain poncho
  • Luggage strap and tags
  • Water flask

From our travelers

Blarney Castle

I cannot even begin to tell you how marvelous this tour is! Each day was full of craic, laughs, adventure, and beautiful scenery. The sights were amazing and the food was top notch.

Penny & Michael
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See what people are saying about this trip

4
CIE Tours Customer
6 years ago
Great trip good itinerary great driver and guide.

Only for the hotels do we lose a star. No air conditioning or no safe and royal marine too far out of town

5
Louise Elizabeth Tremblay
6 years ago

You get your money's worth, great breakfasts, excellent dinners. Our tour guide , Marlene was excellent

5
Ms. Beverly A Midura
6 years ago
Excellent tour !We could have kept going !!

Top value, excellent accommodation and meals as well as a superb tour guide Marlene!! Super driver Brendon. We especially enjoyed using the Spas and the boutique hotels were our favorites. The interesting stops were diverse and lots of fun. Time to make purchases and explore. We absolutely loved our tour. .

5
Ms. Melissa Helen Cossidente
6 years ago
The perfect Irish Vacation!

The tour stops were great. Here is what I liked:
Trinity College
Clonmacnoise
Walking tour of Galway
Conamara Marble stop
Sheep Herding Demonstration
Cliffs of Moher
Dinner w/ Show in Killarney was the best!
Buggy ride to Ross Castle
Ring of Kerry was just OK - too much driving!
Blarney Castle - could have spent more time there
Waterford Crystal Tour (Could have spent another day in Waterford)
Walking Tour around Waterford
Smithwicks Brewery tour (could have spent the day in that town.


What I didn't like
Kylemore Abbey - we weren't able to see the Abbey as it has been under construction for years - it's beautiful to look at but it was a waste of time. Lunch was good but the grounds were just ok
Ring of Kerry - it's a beautiful drive but it's way too long and needs to be broken up by stopping for more than 10 minutes at a time. There were some cute little towns that I could have stopped at for an hour or so.

I really like our guides but I didn't like them dropping hints about tipping constantly. I would rather have had the tips included in the price for them. Charge me an extra $100 so I don't have to worry about it there.

All in all this was a fantastic time! I love Ireland and I would definitely recommend CIE to others. I would look to use your company again in the future.

5
CIE Tours Customer
6 years 4 months ago
First Time on a Tour

The Irish Gold tour was well organized. Our tour guide, Carmel, was a wealth of knowledge, and our bus driver, John's humor made them a great team. I didn't know what to expect since this was my first time visiting Ireland, but they were such a fantastic team that they made me feel like I was on a family vacation although there was a schedule to be kept. How else would I have seen and learned all that I did in eight days!

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