Irish Explorer Self-Drive

Pick up your Hertz rental car upon your arrival at Dublin airport. Your tour begins at the Clontarf Castle Hotel, a short drive from Dublin Airport and a few miles north of Dublin city center. Head out to discover Dublin. Take a Hop-On, Hop-Off bus tour, and see all the city’s highlights with the freedom to stop off to explore further as you please. You will have a voucher to admit you to one of Dublin’s top attractions: Choose from the Guinness Storehouse, a seven-story attraction telling the story of Dublin’s iconic beverage, complete with a pint at the Gravity Bar on the top floor; Teeling Distillery, the first new whiskey distillery to open in Dublin in 125 years; EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, telling the story of the people who left Ireland and how they shaped the world; or the GPO Museum, innovatively detailing the fascinating story of the 1916 Rising, the pivotal event that led to Ireland’s independence. Return to enjoy dinner in your hotel this evening. (D)

Drive to Roscommon to explore Irish history at Strokestown Park. Tour the National Famine Museum and Strokestown House. The grand Georgian mansion reveals the contrast between the luxurious lives of its residents and the destitution of their tenants. Stroll the park to see the walled gardens and woodlands. Next, visit Blakes of the Hollow Pub, a Victorian bar that retains many features original to its founding in 1887. Famed author John McGahern, a regular visitor, described it as “one of the happiest and most beautiful bars in the whole of Ireland”. Take a photo by its official “Game of Thrones” door highlighting the series’ sixth season. Continue your travels north to Donegal, where you will dine in your hotel this evening. With its windswept hills where only sheep can thrive, Donegal is renowned for woolen production and tweeds. (B, D)

Head to Teelin to reach the best viewing point of the Slieve League sea cliffs, the highest in Europe. Take in the incredible ocean views from these spectacular cliffs. Travel up through beautiful views of Donegal; you may want to visit Triona Design Donegal Tweed Center in Ardara, a CIE Tours preferred shopping partner, where spinners and weavers will demonstrate their crafts. Head back to your hotel in Donegal town, a busy little town that was once a Viking port. Enjoy dinner independently this evening. (B)

Drive to Fermanagh and discover the secrets that have made Belleek Pottery one of the most enduring success stories of Irish craftsmanship during a tour of Belleek Pottery. You’ll go behind the scenes to see how this world-famous fine china is made. Travel to bustling, creative Galway for a walking tour with a local guide. Check out its medieval streetscape, its charming shops, and many cafes and restaurants. Enjoy dinner at your hotel, and explore the city’s nightlife as you choose. (B, D)

Explore the famed scenery of Connemara to admire how constantly changing cloud formations give granite hills, sparkling lakes, and peat bogs an added dimension. Stop at the Connemara Celtic Crystal factory in Moycullen to watch skilled artisans demonstrate fine glass-cutting. Return to Galway and enjoy an evening of independent dining and exploration. (B)

Drive through Co. Clare to visit the Cliffs of Moher, soaring 700 feet above the Atlantic Ocean. Walk along the cliffs to see spectacular vistas, including Galway Bay and the Aran Islands, along with miles of cliffside. Make your way to the friendly town of Killarney, where you will dine in your hotel this evening. (B, D)

Head out to the Ring of Kerry, Ireland’s most famous and popular scenic drive. You might choose to stop at Moriarty’s in the beautiful Gap of Dunloe, a CIE Tours preferred shopping partner. Continuing on the scenic drive, pause for panoramic mountain views at Moll’s Gap. Or you might choose to explore the wonders of the Dingle Peninsula, for its spectacular seascapes and the charm of its villages. Explore Killarney tonight, as you dine independently and perhaps discover some of the town’s lively pubs. (B)

Visit Blarney Castle, built nearly 600 years ago by one of Ireland’s greatest chieftains. Climb the winding stairs to kiss the famed Blarney Stone; legend says if you do you’ll be given the gift of eloquence. Explore the castle’s extensive gardens, set on 60 acres of parkland. Next, head to your hotel in Dublin. Dine in the nearby seaside suburb of Howth at the Abbey Tavern, enjoying Irish cuisine and an evening of lively entertainment. (B, D)

Enjoy a relaxing day at leisure while enjoying the sights of 18th century Georgian houses with brightly painted doors, tranquil parks, and historic O’Connell Street, or you might choose to explore some of Ireland’s charming seaside suburbs, like Dalkey or Malahide. You could even go further afield, by driving into the Wicklow Mountains and seeing Glendalough, the romantic ruins of a sixth-century monastery established by St Kevin, and complete with high stone crosses, a picturesque round tower, and several churches. Take this opportunity to enjoy dinner on your own as part of your Dublin exploration. (B)

Your tour ends after breakfast. Return your rental car at the airport. (B) B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner>