Hi Erinn!
Okay, I’ve put some thoughts into cool Ireland experience options for your solo trip. To grab all of this info in a .pdf click this link: Ireland Trip Suggestions 4 days Erin W.
Based on our chat I’ve got two generic itineraries to suggest, each with different combinations of experiences available to build your own best fit travel experience. Both are based on getting you out to explore Ireland beyond the city of Dublin, so you can see more of the diversity of the country and get to see at least one of the natural wonder type areas like Killarney National Park, Ring of Kerry, Cliffs of Moher, Giant’s Causeway etc.
When looking for hotels in Killarney and Dublin early June, I was surprised at how expensive they were! I went in October and had many more choices in reasonable rates. Here are my two recommendations, and there’s a page for each on with links to tours for you to consider.
- Option A: Dublin + 2/3 day guided tour package.
This is likely your most economical choice and the easiest stress-free way to go for planning. - Option B: Dublin + get yourself to/from Killarney + custom day tours.
This is the most freeing, open-ended option, but as a solo traveler might be a bit more stressful getting yourself around in country. It’s possibly more expensive, unless you choose to book through something like Homestay.com.
Generically, I also have a page on Ireland Vacation Ideas on my website here
https://amidlifetraveler.com/ireland-vacation-ideas-ireland-travel-planning/
When I planned my own trip, I looked at vacation packages then just took the highlights of what interested me in those and made my own package based on combining different day tours.
So that you know, most of the links in this document are my affiliate links. So, if you use them to book then it will not cost you any more money but instead gives a referral credit back to me, which helps to fund the website and podcast. Referrals are small typically 2-6% so it’s not a big moneymaker, just helps support the cause. I only recommend things that I truly think are interesting and good, things that I’ve either tried or would like to try. In the end, it’s your vacation experience and I know you will choose something that give you a cool Ireland experience.
Take a look, check things out and let me know if there’s anything else that I can do to help!
Best,
Laura
206.465.5955 | hello@tripsfromseattle.com
GENERAL SEARCH LINKS
SEARCH FOR PLACES TO STAY: HOTELS.com, Expedia Vacation Rentals (like Airbnb), Orbitz, Homestay.com
GUIDEBOOKS: LONELY PLANET (print, digital, or just specific city chapters)
SEARCH THINGS TO DO & SHORT TOURS
SEARCH ALL KILLARNEY IRELAND TOURS – (Viator & TripAdvisor Results) Trips from Seattle partner
SEARCH ALL KILLARNEY IRELAND TOURS – (Get Your Guide Results) Trips from Seattle partner
SEARCH FOR THINGS TO DO – (Expedia results)
ERIN’S IRELAND TRIP! OPTION A – Dublin + 2-3 Day Guided Tour Package w/accommodations
Easiest & Likely the most economical choice (hotels are expensive in June!)
Day 1: Arrive Dublin: Jetlag recovery & cram best of Dublin w/Hop On Hop Off +1 thing
Dublin: Hop On Hop Off bus tour + Guinness tour? Then travel to Killarney
Guinness Storehouse standard ticket w free pint,
Guinness Storehouse Connoisseur experience,
Guinness Beer Club Guided Tour
Combo: Dublin Airport Airlink bus + Dublin Hop on Hop off bus tour
Dublin Hop On Hop Off Tour w/2 Routes
Dublin Hop On Hop Off bus + Malahide Castle tour
Day 2: Join a 2 or 3 day tour from Dublin w/accommodations included
Day 3: w/your tour (return to Dublin in evening if 2 day tour)
Day 4: Dublin & fly to Paris
2 Day County Kerry tour w/Dingle Peninsula, Ring of Kerry and overnight in Killarney
2 Day Northern Ireland – Belfast & Giant’s Causeway from Dublin by Rail w/accommodations
2 Day Southern Ireland Highlights, Cork, Blarney Castle, the Burren from Dublin w/accommodations
2 Day Game of Thrones sights, Belfast and Giant’s Causeway from Dublin w/accommodations
2 Days Connemara and Galway from Dublin w/accommodations
3 Day Cork, Blarney Castle & Ring of Kerry by rail w/accommodations
4 Days from Dublin – Last Kingdom Tour w/accommodations
ERIN’S IRELAND TRIP! OPTION B – Dublin + get to Killarney + make your own tour package
Truly custom to you – but a little more work + might be more expensive overall.
Day 1: Arrive Dublin: Jetlag recovery & cram best of Dublin + Night train or bus to Killarney
Dublin: Hop On Hop Off bus tour + Guiness tour? Then travel to Killarney
Guinness Storehouse standard ticket w free pint
Guinness Storehouse Connoisseur experience
Guinness Beer Club Guided Tour
Combo: Dublin Airport Airlink bus + Dublin Hop on Hop off bus tour
Dublin Hop On Hop Off Tour w/2 Routes
Day 2: Sleep in & wake up in peaceful Killarney. Walk around town or in the National Park, rent a bicycle, + pick some type of half day tour activity (kayaking, walking, hiking, boat, cycling, etc)
Day 3: Full day tour of something spectacular nearby (Dingle, Ring of Kerry, Gap of Dunloe)
Day 4: Return to Dublin, fly to Paris
SEARCH ALL KILLARNEY IRELAND TOURS – (Viator & TripAdvisor Results) Trips from Seattle partner
SEARCH ALL KILLARNEY IRELAND TOURS – (Get Your Guide Results) Trips from Seattle partner
SEARCH FOR THINGS TO DO – (Expedia results)
FAVORITES LIST – RECOMMENDATIONS
1-hr Lakes of Killarney boat cruise
Killarney on Horse & Carriage; Jaunting Car Tour, 1 hr
Killarney Kayaking & Ross Castle Tour, 2 hrs
Killarney National Park Cycling Tour, 3 hrs
Kayaking Tour w/Ross Castle and Innisfallen Island, 3 hrs
Coasteering Active Adventure, 3 hrs
Rock Climbing & Abseiling @ Gap of Dunloe, 4 hrs
Gap of Dunloe Killarney lakes Boat and horse jaunting car tour 5 hr
Gap of Dunloe Killarney lakes by boat and walking tour, 5 hr
Ring of Kerry Scenic Coach Tour, 6 hrs
Dingle Peninsula and Slea Head, 6.5 hrs
Self-Guided Cycling Tour: Ring of Kerry & Valentia Island, 9 hrs
Ring of Kerry & Skelligs Awaken (Star Wars film location), 9 hrs
Guided Hike of Carrounthil in Killarney National Park, 8.5 hrs
Dingle Peninsula w/ Dolphin Fungie Boat Tour from Killarney, 1 day
Combo: 2 hr Killarney Ntnl Park guided walk + Dingle Peninsula, 1.5 days
Combo: 2 Day Last Kingdom and Bray Head w/Star Wars Film Locations, 2 days w/accommodation
TRANSPORTATION DUBLIN-KILLARNEY – Rome2Rio compare bus, train, & drive