Southern Gems with Driver

Welcome to Dublin, where you’ll be picked up at the airport and brought to your hotel. Begin your trip with a day of sightseeing in 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. Your Hop-On, Hop-Off bus ticket also gives you admission to the Little Museum of Dublin, an old Georgian townhouse with a fantastic collection of 5,000 objects telling the story of the city. Plus, 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 (and winner of Europe’s Leading Tourist Attraction 2019); or the GPO Museum, innovatively detailing the fascinating story of the 1916 Rising, the pivotal event that led to Ireland’s independence. Dine independently this evening.

Continue your adventure on the Hop-On, Hop-Off bus tour – or you might choose to take a bus or train to see one of Dublin’s coastal villages or seaside suburbs. Places like Howth, Malahide, and Dalkey offer splendid views and plenty of charm. Head out for an evening for a dinner of Irish specialties and a lively show at Taylors Three Rock Pub. (B, D)

Meet your specialist driver/guide at your hotel. Now you’ll set out for Blarney Castle; climb the steep, winding staircase to kiss its famous stone and see if the legend is true: will it give you the gift of eloquence? Stroll the acres of gardens and parklands. Drive on to Kinsale, a picturesque old fishing town now known for art galleries and gourmet food. Explore its historic streets, once besieged by the Spanish Armada, before dinner in your hotel. (B, D)

Savor some time in Kinsale, strolling along the scenic harbor or shopping in the bookshops and art galleries. Drive toward the bustling and friendly town of Killarney to explore; perhaps you’ll choose to travel via the scenic West Cork route and experience the beautiful Healy Pass. You might visit Moriarty’s in the Gap of Dunloe, a CIE Tours preferred shopping partner. Continue to the charming town of Dingle, where you will dine in your hotel. (B, D)

Set out on the Slea Head Loop, one of Ireland’s most beautiful drives, through scenic ocean and mountain vistas. Visit the Blasket Centre in Dunquin to learn about the Blasket Islands, visible off the coast. Abandoned in 1954, they were once a lively outpost of traditional culture and language. Return to Dingle and take the rest of the day to wander and dine as you wish in this quaint seaside village. You might visit Murphy’s Ice Cream, known for their distinctive flavors like Irish Orange Marmalade, Brown Bread, and Dingle Gin. (B)

Visit the Foynes Flying Boat & Maritime Museum, which reveals the pivotal role a small Irish village played in the early days of transatlantic air travel. Drive to the magnificent Cliffs of Moher, soaring 700 feet above the Atlantic Ocean. Walk along the cliff path for wondrous views of the ocean and the miles of cliffs. Enjoy an evening at a medieval-style banquet in an authentic Irish castle. Say farewell to your driver/guide when he returns you to your hotel. (B, D)

Your tour ends after breakfast. A private transfer will take you from your hotel to Shannon Airport. (B) B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner >