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Ireland Flexible schedule Tours & Trips

517 Ireland trips. Tours from 129 tour companies. 1,960 reviews. 4.5/5 avg rating.

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Stepping Stones in the Atlantic: The Hebrides, Faroes, Shetland & Orkney Islands
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Stepping Stones in the Atlantic: The Hebrides, Faroes, Shetland & Orkney Islands

By Road Scholar
preferred
4.4/5 Great
100+ reviews
Large Ship Cruise
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Edinburgh, Orkney Islands, Shetland Islands

Highlights

  • Navigate to some of the most beautiful, isolated islands in the Atlantic including St. Kilda and the Faroe Islands.
  • Interact with the 60 or so residents of Fair Isle, the most remote inhabited island in the United Kingdom.
  • Discover Orkney’s remarkable prehistoric sites including two ceremonial stone circles and a well-preserved village.

Themes

50 plus, Cultural, Education / Learning

What travelers are saying

"Our family of four, including two adult children, took the Bicycling: Day Trips to Paradise in Canada. This trip is entirely outsourced to the owners of the inn, there are no Road Scholar employees involved in the trip. Two of us have taken bicycle trips all over the world and the bicycling component of this trip was disorganized, haphazard and almost unsafe. We all filled out forms giving details regarding our bicycle fitting months before the trip. On the first day, the leader Stephen, went around the room and asked the same questions and said everyone would get fitted in the morning before we began the first ride. The morning brought a rack of bikes, all different types in various levels of readiness. There were road bikes, hybrid bikes, mountain bikes and e-bikes. The rides were all on paved surfaces and the mountain bikes were heavy and the additional suspension added weight. The bike I received had rust on the chain and rear sprocket. When I asked about it, was told they were waiting for another van to show up with tools and equipment. Once it arrived, they gave me the lubricant to spray on the rust. My wife’s bike would not shift into the high gear on the front sprocket. Instead of adjusting the derailleur, they suggested spraying it with lubricant. Our one son is over six feet and needed a larger frame bike, even though he detailed it in the bike form months ago, there was no bike to fit him. One of the guides, then went home and brought a larger bike that was a full suspension mountain bike for him. The bike was very heavy, hard to control on the road and he felt unsafe. After two days, one of the guides convinced Stephen that they could adjust a hybrid bike to fit him. Clearly there was no work done to prepare the bikes for the trip. Many of the bikes needed adjusting and all needed lubricant to function easily. For every day, there was a tray of snacks placed out for us to take along the ride. None of the bikes had any baskets or attached bags, so if you didn’t bring a small day pack, there was no way to carry the snacks. For lunch on the rides, they brought exactly one sandwich for each rider. Since most of us get hungry while doing a day of exercise, it would have been helpful to have a few extras. On one day, they ran out of sandwiches and one of the leaders that were riding with us did not get lunch. Do NOT take this trip if you are expecting it to be a bicycling trip. We have used VBT and Discovery Bicycle Tours many times over the past 25 years and they are excellent bike tour companies. Lastly, after sharing these details with Road Scholar after the trip, their response was weak at best. After doing the full reviews and having to call them, their response was to give us $200 credit after spending $8000 on this trip. Not only was that insulting, they assumed that I would take another trip with their organization."

Trip dates & details
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15 days
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The British Isles by Sea: Ireland, Scotland and England
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The British Isles by Sea: Ireland, Scotland and England

By Road Scholar
preferred
4.4/5 Great
100+ reviews
Large Ship Cruise
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Amsterdam, Dublin, Edinburgh, Giant’s Causeway, London

Highlights

  • Learn about the canals and historical architecture of Amsterdam.
  • Thrill in the remarkable landform of Northern Ireland's Giant’s Causeway — a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  • Explore the Castle of Mey, the northernmost castle on the UK mainland and long time residence of the Queen Mother.

Themes

50 plus, Cultural, Education / Learning, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"Our family of four, including two adult children, took the Bicycling: Day Trips to Paradise in Canada. This trip is entirely outsourced to the owners of the inn, there are no Road Scholar employees involved in the trip. Two of us have taken bicycle trips all over the world and the bicycling component of this trip was disorganized, haphazard and almost unsafe. We all filled out forms giving details regarding our bicycle fitting months before the trip. On the first day, the leader Stephen, went around the room and asked the same questions and said everyone would get fitted in the morning before we began the first ride. The morning brought a rack of bikes, all different types in various levels of readiness. There were road bikes, hybrid bikes, mountain bikes and e-bikes. The rides were all on paved surfaces and the mountain bikes were heavy and the additional suspension added weight. The bike I received had rust on the chain and rear sprocket. When I asked about it, was told they were waiting for another van to show up with tools and equipment. Once it arrived, they gave me the lubricant to spray on the rust. My wife’s bike would not shift into the high gear on the front sprocket. Instead of adjusting the derailleur, they suggested spraying it with lubricant. Our one son is over six feet and needed a larger frame bike, even though he detailed it in the bike form months ago, there was no bike to fit him. One of the guides, then went home and brought a larger bike that was a full suspension mountain bike for him. The bike was very heavy, hard to control on the road and he felt unsafe. After two days, one of the guides convinced Stephen that they could adjust a hybrid bike to fit him. Clearly there was no work done to prepare the bikes for the trip. Many of the bikes needed adjusting and all needed lubricant to function easily. For every day, there was a tray of snacks placed out for us to take along the ride. None of the bikes had any baskets or attached bags, so if you didn’t bring a small day pack, there was no way to carry the snacks. For lunch on the rides, they brought exactly one sandwich for each rider. Since most of us get hungry while doing a day of exercise, it would have been helpful to have a few extras. On one day, they ran out of sandwiches and one of the leaders that were riding with us did not get lunch. Do NOT take this trip if you are expecting it to be a bicycling trip. We have used VBT and Discovery Bicycle Tours many times over the past 25 years and they are excellent bike tour companies. Lastly, after sharing these details with Road Scholar after the trip, their response was weak at best. After doing the full reviews and having to call them, their response was to give us $200 credit after spending $8000 on this trip. Not only was that insulting, they assumed that I would take another trip with their organization."

Trip dates & details
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17 days From$6,795
Price updated 1 year+ ago
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The Majesty of the British Isles: England, Ireland and Scotland by Sea
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The Majesty of the British Isles: England, Ireland and Scotland by Sea

By Road Scholar
preferred
4.4/5 Great
100+ reviews
Small Ship Cruise
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Copenhagen, Dublin, Edinburgh, London, Portland

Highlights

  • Walk through the Lost Gardens of Heligan, a 1,000-acre English estate all but abandoned during World War 1 and recently rediscovered and restored to the glory of its heyday.
  • In Dublin, meet students at historic Trinity College who accompany you around campus, see the famed Book of Kells and eat a pub lunch with traditional musicians who share their talents.
  • Discover medieval Scotland in the Scottish Highlands and in Edinburgh, including an exploration of the interior of Edinburgh Castle.

Themes

50 plus, Cultural, Education / Learning, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"Our family of four, including two adult children, took the Bicycling: Day Trips to Paradise in Canada. This trip is entirely outsourced to the owners of the inn, there are no Road Scholar employees involved in the trip. Two of us have taken bicycle trips all over the world and the bicycling component of this trip was disorganized, haphazard and almost unsafe. We all filled out forms giving details regarding our bicycle fitting months before the trip. On the first day, the leader Stephen, went around the room and asked the same questions and said everyone would get fitted in the morning before we began the first ride. The morning brought a rack of bikes, all different types in various levels of readiness. There were road bikes, hybrid bikes, mountain bikes and e-bikes. The rides were all on paved surfaces and the mountain bikes were heavy and the additional suspension added weight. The bike I received had rust on the chain and rear sprocket. When I asked about it, was told they were waiting for another van to show up with tools and equipment. Once it arrived, they gave me the lubricant to spray on the rust. My wife’s bike would not shift into the high gear on the front sprocket. Instead of adjusting the derailleur, they suggested spraying it with lubricant. Our one son is over six feet and needed a larger frame bike, even though he detailed it in the bike form months ago, there was no bike to fit him. One of the guides, then went home and brought a larger bike that was a full suspension mountain bike for him. The bike was very heavy, hard to control on the road and he felt unsafe. After two days, one of the guides convinced Stephen that they could adjust a hybrid bike to fit him. Clearly there was no work done to prepare the bikes for the trip. Many of the bikes needed adjusting and all needed lubricant to function easily. For every day, there was a tray of snacks placed out for us to take along the ride. None of the bikes had any baskets or attached bags, so if you didn’t bring a small day pack, there was no way to carry the snacks. For lunch on the rides, they brought exactly one sandwich for each rider. Since most of us get hungry while doing a day of exercise, it would have been helpful to have a few extras. On one day, they ran out of sandwiches and one of the leaders that were riding with us did not get lunch. Do NOT take this trip if you are expecting it to be a bicycling trip. We have used VBT and Discovery Bicycle Tours many times over the past 25 years and they are excellent bike tour companies. Lastly, after sharing these details with Road Scholar after the trip, their response was weak at best. After doing the full reviews and having to call them, their response was to give us $200 credit after spending $8000 on this trip. Not only was that insulting, they assumed that I would take another trip with their organization."

Trip dates & details
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15 days From$3,399
Price updated 1 year+ ago
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The Splendor of Spring in the Channel Islands and Isles of Scilly
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The Splendor of Spring in the Channel Islands and Isles of Scilly

By Road Scholar
preferred
4.4/5 Great
100+ reviews
Small Ship Cruise
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Channel Islands, Dublin, Edinburgh, Isles of Scilly, London

Highlights

  • Discover the car-free Channel Island of Sark on a horse-drawn carriage excursion.
  • Sail to idyllic Tresco to discover the subtropical Tresco Abbey Gardens.
  • Explore tiny Bryher’s diverse environments from arable fields to heathland to sandy beaches.

Themes

50 plus, Education / Learning, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"Our family of four, including two adult children, took the Bicycling: Day Trips to Paradise in Canada. This trip is entirely outsourced to the owners of the inn, there are no Road Scholar employees involved in the trip. Two of us have taken bicycle trips all over the world and the bicycling component of this trip was disorganized, haphazard and almost unsafe. We all filled out forms giving details regarding our bicycle fitting months before the trip. On the first day, the leader Stephen, went around the room and asked the same questions and said everyone would get fitted in the morning before we began the first ride. The morning brought a rack of bikes, all different types in various levels of readiness. There were road bikes, hybrid bikes, mountain bikes and e-bikes. The rides were all on paved surfaces and the mountain bikes were heavy and the additional suspension added weight. The bike I received had rust on the chain and rear sprocket. When I asked about it, was told they were waiting for another van to show up with tools and equipment. Once it arrived, they gave me the lubricant to spray on the rust. My wife’s bike would not shift into the high gear on the front sprocket. Instead of adjusting the derailleur, they suggested spraying it with lubricant. Our one son is over six feet and needed a larger frame bike, even though he detailed it in the bike form months ago, there was no bike to fit him. One of the guides, then went home and brought a larger bike that was a full suspension mountain bike for him. The bike was very heavy, hard to control on the road and he felt unsafe. After two days, one of the guides convinced Stephen that they could adjust a hybrid bike to fit him. Clearly there was no work done to prepare the bikes for the trip. Many of the bikes needed adjusting and all needed lubricant to function easily. For every day, there was a tray of snacks placed out for us to take along the ride. None of the bikes had any baskets or attached bags, so if you didn’t bring a small day pack, there was no way to carry the snacks. For lunch on the rides, they brought exactly one sandwich for each rider. Since most of us get hungry while doing a day of exercise, it would have been helpful to have a few extras. On one day, they ran out of sandwiches and one of the leaders that were riding with us did not get lunch. Do NOT take this trip if you are expecting it to be a bicycling trip. We have used VBT and Discovery Bicycle Tours many times over the past 25 years and they are excellent bike tour companies. Lastly, after sharing these details with Road Scholar after the trip, their response was weak at best. After doing the full reviews and having to call them, their response was to give us $200 credit after spending $8000 on this trip. Not only was that insulting, they assumed that I would take another trip with their organization."

Trip dates & details
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10 days
Inquire
More
Secret Isles of Great Britain and Ireland
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Secret Isles of Great Britain and Ireland

By Road Scholar
preferred
4.4/5 Great
100+ reviews
Large Ship Cruise
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Edinburgh, Isles of Scilly, London

Highlights

  • Discover enchanting gardens including the subtropical Tresco Abbey Gardens.
  • Explore archaeological sites like the Callanish Standing Stones and medieval blackhouse villages.
  • Residents of Ireland’s Tory Island introduce you to their language, music and stories.

Themes

50 plus, Cultural, Education / Learning, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"Our family of four, including two adult children, took the Bicycling: Day Trips to Paradise in Canada. This trip is entirely outsourced to the owners of the inn, there are no Road Scholar employees involved in the trip. Two of us have taken bicycle trips all over the world and the bicycling component of this trip was disorganized, haphazard and almost unsafe. We all filled out forms giving details regarding our bicycle fitting months before the trip. On the first day, the leader Stephen, went around the room and asked the same questions and said everyone would get fitted in the morning before we began the first ride. The morning brought a rack of bikes, all different types in various levels of readiness. There were road bikes, hybrid bikes, mountain bikes and e-bikes. The rides were all on paved surfaces and the mountain bikes were heavy and the additional suspension added weight. The bike I received had rust on the chain and rear sprocket. When I asked about it, was told they were waiting for another van to show up with tools and equipment. Once it arrived, they gave me the lubricant to spray on the rust. My wife’s bike would not shift into the high gear on the front sprocket. Instead of adjusting the derailleur, they suggested spraying it with lubricant. Our one son is over six feet and needed a larger frame bike, even though he detailed it in the bike form months ago, there was no bike to fit him. One of the guides, then went home and brought a larger bike that was a full suspension mountain bike for him. The bike was very heavy, hard to control on the road and he felt unsafe. After two days, one of the guides convinced Stephen that they could adjust a hybrid bike to fit him. Clearly there was no work done to prepare the bikes for the trip. Many of the bikes needed adjusting and all needed lubricant to function easily. For every day, there was a tray of snacks placed out for us to take along the ride. None of the bikes had any baskets or attached bags, so if you didn’t bring a small day pack, there was no way to carry the snacks. For lunch on the rides, they brought exactly one sandwich for each rider. Since most of us get hungry while doing a day of exercise, it would have been helpful to have a few extras. On one day, they ran out of sandwiches and one of the leaders that were riding with us did not get lunch. Do NOT take this trip if you are expecting it to be a bicycling trip. We have used VBT and Discovery Bicycle Tours many times over the past 25 years and they are excellent bike tour companies. Lastly, after sharing these details with Road Scholar after the trip, their response was weak at best. After doing the full reviews and having to call them, their response was to give us $200 credit after spending $8000 on this trip. Not only was that insulting, they assumed that I would take another trip with their organization."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
15 days From$7,595
Price updated 1 year+ ago
More
8 Day Independent Irish Spirit
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8 Day Independent Irish Spirit

By CIE Tours
none
4.5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Self-Guided / Independent Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Dingle Peninsula, Dublin, Galway, Killarney National Park

Highlights

  • Explore Connemara, a region of unspoiled open scenery with misty mountains and sparkling lakes
  • Pleasant two-hight Stays in Killarney & Galway
  • Enjoy Independent Dublin tour
  • You have opportunity to create your own daily Itinerary
  • Visits Cobh Heritage Centre, Titanic Experience and Blarney Castle

Themes

50 plus, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife

What travelers are saying

"I waited 20 years for my dream trip to Scotland and Ireland and splurged $7000 on this tour. The second half of touring Ireland was great, the first portion in Scotland was horrendous. The tour guide for Scotland made sexual advances and inappropriate comments to me and I had to cautiously avoid him and stay with the group to not have any interaction with him. I also sustained an injury on the bus, caused by the driver, which I had to report to CIE myself. I filed a complaint with a CIE customer service manager when I returned and learned that another woman also filed a complaint regarding the tour guide (2 women from the same tour!) CIE has not responded from the initial report over a month ago and have DONE NOTHING!!! This sexual predator is still working as a tour guide for them which is a screaming indicator regarding the sexual harassment investigations and policy enforcement for this company. Beware if you are a single woman and are looking to book with CIE, there are better options and I strongly recommend you avoid this company!!"

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7 days From$642
Price updated 1 year+ ago
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London (Southampton) to Dublin
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London (Southampton) to Dublin

By Regent Seven Seas Cruises
none
Small Ship Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Bordeaux, Dublin, London, Southampton

Highlights

  • Discover the lovely medieval town of Dinan
  • Visit to picturesque landscape of Pont-Aven
  • Visit to Bordeaux
  • Explore the historical sites of Spain
  • Discover the Ireland city of Dublin

Themes

Cultural, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Small Ship Cruise

Trip dates & details
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11 days From$4,799
Price updated 1 year+ ago
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Ireland for the Family
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Ireland for the Family

By Travelous
none
4.9/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Private Guided
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Dublin, Killarney National Park

Highlights

  • Explore Killarney National Park and discover areas of the National Park
  • A suitable Falconry experience for all of the family to enjoy together, and a marvellous opportunity to create memories
  • Explore Clare, where you will have the opportunity to discover the landscapes of the Burren while enjoy a tour of a traditional Irish farm
  • Cliff at Lyons sits where city ends, and countryside begins
  • Discover Dublin

Themes

50 plus, Cultural, Family Friendly

What travelers are saying

"Our trip to Egypt was perfect- expert guides, drivers and airport reps. Our guides took us into tombs that others didn’t get to see, we had lunch in a private home with an Egyptian family, we had Nubian coffee made the old way, by a Nubian man, on the banks of the Nile. Everything went so smoothly. The timing was perfect too …our guides had us in temples, pyramids and tombs without crowds. I will use Travelous in the future and I have advised friends and family to do the same. Chris Bazos made all the arrangements for us. Our guides were Noha and Atef."

Trip dates & details
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8 days From$3,999
Price updated 1 year+ ago

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Ireland Reviews & Ratings

4.5/5  Excellent
1,960  Reviews
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Excellent
729
Great
359
Average
84
Disappointing
16
Terrible
10
J

Janice Aylward

Apr 2024

Written on

Irish Highlights

Great itinerary, BUT would drop the Old Time Village, staff they’re not very welcoming, not a lot to see. Orla, the guide at the Cliffs of Mohar was brilliant and v...

Tour:  Irish Highlights (Summer)

D

Dorothy Nicholas

Apr 2024

Written on

Irish Highlights

The itinerary was awesome! It was well thought out and perfectly planned for the guests. It included incredible sight seeing and a blend of optional experiences th...

Tour:  Irish Highlights (Summer)

T

Trusted Customer

Apr 2024

Written on

Irish Highlights

Had THE BEST driver & guide ever! Food was very good . The excursions were fascinating. Only had 1 negative experience but mother nature was to blame not our gui...

Tour:  Irish Highlights (Summer)

T

Timothy Parsons

Apr 2024

Written on

Irish Highlights

My only complaint is that I did to know to dress warmly: parts of Ireland were COLD! (I did purchase a sweater that I love, and it helped.) "Irish Highlights" is a...

Tour:  Irish Highlights (Summer)

T

Trusted Customer

Apr 2024

Written on

Irish Highlights

*************** was a superb tour guide. We had a great time and enjoyed talking to all the people.

Tour:  Irish Highlights (Summer)

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Ireland Tour Selection Trips

  • Walking and biking tours of Ireland can be wonderful, taking you through forests, across pastures and down small country roads you otherwise wouldn’t know existed.
  • One good reason for Americans to take a guided tour of Ireland: driving (on often narrow roads with standard transmission cars) is on the left.
  • Come prepared for rain (“liquid sunshine”) at any time, keeping in mind that this is what keeps Ireland so green.
  • While Ireland is a bit smaller than the U.S. state of Indiana, it’s rich in culture, scenery, and history, so don’t feel you have to see it all in one trip – though a number of tours do hit many of the highlights.
  • Dublin has the youngest population in Europe, making it a good choice for millennials.

Additional details

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE

Ireland is open to foreign travelers.

Upon arrival, visitors must undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine and fill out a COVID-19 Passenger Locator Form to indicate where they intend to self isolate.

Read more about Countries Reopening for Tourism 

Ireland tours are available all year round, but it does get quite chilly. Often tours in Ireland feature a lot of time outdoors along the coast, so be sure to dress warmly!

Walking is a very popular activity on many Ireland trips. It is advised to bring a pair of warm, sturdy walking shoes or broken in hiking boots to protect your feet from blisters.

What to expect from a tour in Ireland

Touring Ireland is a wonderful experience, full of jovial fun, fascinating history, and of course a pint or two. If you enjoy beer, it’s safe to say you will enjoy traveling in Ireland. If you don’t enjoy beer, don’t worry, but be prepared for a few pub visits. You may like the taste of beer by the end of your trip!

American travelers in particular may be surprised by the pub atmosphere in Ireland and the wider UK. The Irish pub experience is far more family friendly than a typical bar or pub in the United States. Going by yourself to hang out with a book is perfectly acceptable.

But if you’re a more outgoing person, and enjoy meeting and hanging out with locals, the pub is the place to be; and you will be considered a local by the end of your trip if you go consistently. This is one reason why Ireland tours for singles are so popular.

Other than whiskey and beer, Ireland has much to offer in the way of history. Guided tours of Ireland will definitely touch on some of this, in varying degrees depending on which tour you choose.  

Ireland Tour Routes

You may be wondering whether your trip in Ireland will visit both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. In most cases, Ireland tours do visit both. The Republic of Ireland is dramatically larger than Northern Ireland, so you will spend most of your time in this area.

Some likely stops on this part of your tour include the Ring of Kerry, a stunning scenic route dotted with various historical sites. The Cliffs of Moher, which are only a short distance from Dublin, are another popular spot. The only thing that makes these breathtaking cliffs more stunning is the powerful, heart-stopping wind that blows in off the sea.

Northern Ireland is home to the Titanic Museum in Belfast, a very popular tour attraction. Giants Causeway is also a main attraction in Northern Ireland, especially for being a Game of Thrones filming location. Finally, your small group tour in Northern Ireland will likely include some historical components about recent conflicts between Catholics and Protestants in this part of Ireland.

Ireland Walking Tours

Because of Ireland’s natural beauty, relative accessibility and general safety, going on hiking and walking tours is one popular way of visiting the country. Going on a walking tour around Ireland is a great way to remove yourself from the routine, and place yourself in an otherworldly landscape.

If you decide to visit the Western coast of the country, you will be confronted with contrasting, dramatic stone landscapes and beautiful mountains. This region is known for  both its rough seas, and its population of wildflowers.

If you want to experience the entire island, consider a coast-to-coast walk. On this route, you are sure to experience many more cultural landmarks, including the some of the earliest Christian landmarks.

If the call of England and Scotland are too irresistible to you, you are in luck, as many tours combine visiting the three, similar locations. This way you can get triple the dosage of intense historical drama, jaw-dropping natural landscapes, and good drink and pub food.

What is the weather like in Ireland?

As it is nearly surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, Ireland’s climate is both kept temperate by the water, and also made irregular because of it. As a result, Ireland’s weather is relatively unpredictable -- but not extreme.

When traveling to Ireland in the winter, you should dress warmly, but don’t worry about freezing temperatures. It rarely drops much below 46 degrees, and a result, don’t expect any heavy snows either.

In the summer, temperatures are in generally in the upper 50’s, and reach highs of around 66 degrees. Unlike in Scotland, you never have to worry about extremely long rain spells, nor will it rain consistently enough to make you wish you had your own pair of wellies. Either bring a light rain jacket just in case, or use every drizzle as an excuse to grab a Guinness in a cozy pub -- the choice is up to you!

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