rick steves ireland itinerary

Learned lots about Ireland and it's unique history, as well as current events. I don't think I want to travel any other way! I loved this experience.". that made the pubs more fun because we could sing along. Accommodations and coach were excellent. As usual, the Rick Steves' tour standards were met. Some amazing natural sites and vistas, as well as ancient human forts, churches, monuments and memorials. Knowing that we could trust your trip planners to arrange a wonderful experience at every step was tremendous. Lisa especially made the Tour special from her approach to leading the group, to engaging individuals and making sure everyone felt included. Terms of Service | Privacy. Well organized and covered all the highlights in comfort with a well seasoned guide. In fact, at the end of the trip one of those 2 women told me that I was the friendliest person on the trip. I feel I got a real Irish experience, "Glendalough was breathtaking, walking around the lakes was magical. How could you not fall in love with a place where you are made to feel like family?". Oh well, "Wasn't one as I had been to Ireland twice before". Then we'll take a short drive to the dramatic Cliffs of Moher, where you’ll find yourself leaning into the wind, teetering on the very edge of Europe, more than 600 feet above the churning waters of the North Atlantic. Made me want to learn more about the Monks who lived here.". He never seemed to tire of explaining everything to us. Great education by our guide on Irish history. The waves pounding the rocKY shore, the long Feely green grass, blue skies and fresh wind combined to create an exhilarating, spiritual moment.". The people there were so supportive .I had just met them but I felt so at home. I liked all of the hotels and I liked the balance of tour time/free time. "Cliffs of Moher and Slea Head were beautiful. We invited our Rick Steves Tour group to share their own stories, travel wisdom and Ireland highlights in pictures. "Our favorite moment was in Dingle. Truly amazing. Another wow was Glendalough and Newgrange. (Can't please everyone! ", It's a great place with good people. Ireland is such a wonderful location. It was very intimate and felt like we were a part of their family. The Irish people went out of their way to be helpful, cheerful, and quite funny. "Ireland was wonderful and the people were so friendly and welcoming. Also he was a great speaker. What made our tour of Ireland so special was having Pascal as our guide. We have been on 5 Rick Steves tours, so we expected a lot! The pubs and music were great! Depending on the length of your trip, and taking geographic proximity into account, here are our recommended priorities: Spend your first three nights in Dublin, using buses and taxis, then pick up a car for the rest of this itinerary. The birds were amazing.". "Seeing the coast line. Would want to go back here if I get back to Ireland again.". Jump to bottom. Our tour bus driver Olive was also especially skilled navigating the country roads and freeways as well as warm and good-humored. Irish pubs are everywhere - In each city, Stephen guided us to the ones w/sing alongs (Slainte!) This absolutly increased my appreciation for the history, culture, arts, industry and current life from Ennis to Dublin. Dara was so knowledgeable and gave us so much history and background for each place we saw. The Heart of Ireland greatly exceeded my expectations. The remainder of the day is free for you to soak in more of Dingle's charms and enjoy dinner on your own. The two optional music nights in Dingle made the trip even more special. Lastly, we all took pictures holding a 13lb brown eagle.". This was amazing as we encountered some stunning scenery and had a wonderful visit at the Blasket museum.". However, the months of April, May, September, and October are best for offering fewer crowds, mild weather, and the full range of tourist fun. We truly feel that Rick Steves provided a quality tour on all the important parameters. While I liked our local guide in Ennis, I thought the Priory tour was boring and should have been optional, at best. I think the overall experience was very good. Despite the rainy weather the trip was a delight. Not only that, he really got into his subject matter with enthusiasm. I felt as though we got an excellent, if brief, look into the authentic culture of Ireland and I understand so much better the history and struggles of the country. Our tours don't include airfare, so your flight arrangements are completely up to you. ", It was a tour filled with magical moments ... first real tour we have ever taken, and it will not be our last ... especially with Rick Steves, "The Dingle experience ... led by Stephen ... from a great Bed and Breakfast stay, to experiencing falconry, incredible cuisine, and amazing dancing and singing.". I loved the Slea drive along the coast for its' rugged beauty and the story of the Blasket Island people, but our private concert of Irish music in Dingle was really special since we were able to hear Kieran play the pipes with musicians he had known for years. Great itinerary, locations, hotels, guides, history and culture. As for places, Dingle was probably my favorite stop.". Additionally, just seeing the deep, deep green as we traveled the west of Ireland was soothing to the soul.". We are already talking about another trip with RS. The Jeannie Johnson tall ship, GPO Witness museum and Museum of Emigration after hearing the local history & stories.". The rain seemed to not be much of an issue because I was having such a great time. They are packed with activities and you don't want to miss a thing.Got in all my steps and more everyday. What a hoot! City Maps on Back: Includes a colorful, detailed heart of Dublin map, locating sights from Rick's Ireland and Dublin guidebooks, plus detailed city-center maps for Belfast, Derry, Galway, and Dingle — and a handy driving time/distance map. great mix of activities with just enough downtime. Posted by tai.herrud on 09/30/20 07:22 PM. Fabulous time! Olive was a very good driver and handled that bus on narrow roads. What a great experience and would definitely do another tour with the Tour group. Bus: 2 hours. Great tour of Ireland, my grandfather's homeland! Very impressed with our tour guide, Stephen McPhilemy and our bus driver, Olive. All of the people we met in Ireland were so funny and sweet. "Can I pick a wow moment? The music in Dingle was wonderful. Very fun and great way to get to know what it is really like in this part of the area. Dara made the tour so educational, fun, interesting and care-free. Pleased with pace and depth of the tour activities and information. We saw the sights we wanted to see on a first trip to Ireland and we felt we had enough time at the sites and enough free time to see other things we wanted to see. Dara was a fantastic guide and kept us informed, educated and entertained. Joe our guide was fantastic, entertaining and extremely knowledgeable. The friendly and talkative locals really made the trip enjoyable. Stress free traveling and our guide was so good! Discovering and experiencing Irish traditional music was enchanting.". "It's difficult to choose between visiting Glendalough and having a Golden Eagle land on my hand. Rick Steves travelers are also some of the coolest people I've met. The trip was a good balance between big and small town experiences. Accommodations were terrific, especially the inn in Dingle. Unexpected and amazing! This was our very first tour with any operator and my wife an I had a great time! Second trip with your team and we will be excited to use you again. !, cant beat it!!! Driving Rick Steves' Dingle Peninsula Loop Trip. Another when we got off the bus to enjoy the view of the Dingle coastline.". We enjoyed Stephen our tour guide. We did have an illness/cold go around that hit about 6 of us, but that happens. Ireland has so much to offer as a destination, and with a talented guide like Stephen and an enthusiastic friendly group to share the experiences with, it made for a great travel adventure. It has to be one of the most beautiful and peaceful places on earth.". She has a Talent for guiding and also create a welcoming space within which to explore. The crystal cutting demonstration, falconry at Milltown House and the Dingle Distillery tour (on our own) were highlights of the trip.". To my knowledge, I don't know that this event was replaced with anything else.". Would do another trip with you!! Dara was just great with help on restaurant choices and directions. I fell in love with Ireland will go back. She can really run a tour. I learned the history and culture of this beautiful country. everywhere! "The coastline on our drive around the Dingle peninsula was amazing! I had never heard of these islands before and the center, which was beautiful, told the story and plight of the islanders. It helped, of course, that our fellow travelers were great companions. 10 out of 10! The music in the pubs was excellent. "Interior of Kilkenny Castle, especially the picture room.". To be honest the only reason we went with a group is so that my husband didn't have to drive in Ireland (my fear, not his! We experienced Ireland's history, culture and natural beauty. I will be back. The concert and dancing at the Dingle Music shop was so enjoyable/special/memorable. The "trad" music spoke to the heart of the Irish people and me.". The view of the ocean from the Cliffs of Mohr and being able to see for miles from the top of the mound at Bru na Boinne were probably my favorites. I can tell that Pascal truly loves his work because he went the extra mile to schedule extra events not on the schedule that added greatly to the experience. "Every moment was a wow moment. Each day we spent on the trip was varied, and meaningful. Stephen was a very professional and polished guide. But then again visiting Dingle and touring the peninsula are a close second.". "My favorite "wow" moment was not just one moment---but rather a collection of moments. "Dingle was our favorite stop. Really loved the town of Dingle and the drive around the Dingle Peninsula was incredibly beautiful. Guides were knowledgeable and articulate. Rick Steves Best of Ireland tour kicks off with the best of Dublin, followed by Ireland's must-see historical sites, charming towns, music-filled pubs, and seaside getaways — including Kinsale, the Dingle Peninsula, Cliffs of Moher, Aran Islands, Galway, Connemara, Giant's Causeway, Old Bushmills Distillery, and the compelling city of Belfast. We all enjoyed it as brief as it was. It was so much more. "It's hard to pick any one moment. As a first time visitor to Ireland I was impressed with its rugged beauty. We had traffic issues in Dublin when we headed out for a tour but he managed to juggle things around so we didn't miss out on anything. (Dingle was our overall favorite town!)". We'll send the notification email when a tour opens within a season (spring, summer, fall, winter) or region. Don't miss the Jameson and Guinness tours. The quaint seaside town oozed charm and character. ", Interesting discussion about Irish history. Each day was something to look forward to. We are independent travelers, but have liked Rick's guidelines for other travels (Middle East) and we were very happy to try as our first organized travel trip. Dara Herlihy was an excellent tour guide full of energy,& knowledgeable. Everything was well organized and executed flawlessly. Our locations were splendid and the scenery beautiful. Well planned. That didn't happen. "While staying in Dingle we enjoyed an evening of traditional Irish music at the Siopa Ceoil (including a number or two when our guide joined in playing the uilleann pipes and tin whistle). But I learned a lot and appreciated the large bus with plenty of room to spread out (I was worried about the bus! Our guide, Kieran O'Hare could not be beat. It has to be riding through the Irish countryside in our comfy bus while listening to our guide's informative and entertaining "stories" and background information. Flexibility would -, "-have been good. His preparation and attention to detail was why we love Rick Steves Tours. "Our favorite wow moment was Dingle with its beautiful restaurants, shops, seaside marina and entertainment at the music shop. This was a wonderful vacation. I felt at home. Fantastic having a Golden Eagle on your arm.". I also loved the day we spent at hiking around Glendalough.". Kilkenny walking tour was a waste but all the other walking tours and guides were fantastic. That the opportunity was provided on this trip was awesome. It really is out of the 19th Century. Steven our guide was knowledgeable about everything. We are so glad that opted for the tour. Their gin is our new favorite! Dara builds community so I felt connected to every traveler in our group "The scenery from the bus ride was beautiful. "We really loved the falcon presentation and the owls. I fell in love with Ireland. with his passengers and then the passengers with one another. He shared his own experiences of "The Troubles" without any malice. I also thought the Library at Trinity College was amazing.". The town is lovely and we felt honored to meet Dara's parents and have them sing and play for us. The bus drive around Dingle Peninsula - our driver Olive is an incredible woman! The tour made it all possible in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Loved the green coutryside, "Music in Dingle pubs; visit to cemetery in Dublin; last supper in Dublin". Loved being able to experience those magnificent birds firsthand. All in all a very enjoyable experience. Everything was well planned and Dara did a great job. Kilkenny was good, though the French restaurant had an unusual limited menu for our group. They were friendly and helpful. Our 4th RS trip, won't be our last. ", I'll be right up front. "The falconry experience in Dingle was one of the coolest experiences of my life!". Our guide was amazing, kept us on track and had amazing insights on the history and politics of every place we visited. Stephen was wonderful and did a great job sharing the Irish life. This tour exposed me to a great breadth of Ireland, from the rugged coastline of the Dingle peninsula to the urban excitement of Dublin. ), "The Cliffs of Moher by far. "The falconry experience in Dingle was something I'd never thought I'd be able to do, so it was a complete surprise that it was included. But generally speaking, it was the spectacular views. Views were spectacular. see our FAQ. I enjoyed every minute of the trip. I found the size of the group and everyone adhered to the general principle of not complaining and rolling with the punches. You need to be sure and keep our guide and not lose her.". I truly felt like I got a real feel for Ireland and all its beauty, as well as its culture and friendly people. Lively, current, smart, and humanistic - would highly recommend. It costs much more but diffently worth it because your trying to remember to drive on the left, watch traffic, and figure out where your going. Each day begin to build meaningfully on the activities of the last. Couldn't have been better. He brought Ireland to life from medieval times to the present. the loop drive around Dingle Peninsula was the big "wow" with fabulous views and ruins and learning about Great Blasket Island and its history. "Ireland itself. Loved every moment! I tried not to read up on the trip too much so that I could experience the trip as it unfolded. Joe was delightful. Loved the pubs and local musicians. How to choose? And as an added bonus, we saw Fungie!". Olive was a fantastic driver and had a wonderful sense of humor. I loved that our tour started with smaller towns in Ireland and ended with the big city. Surrounded by some of the most beautiful scenery in the world, we were immersed in the culture of a land filled with people fond of their history, literature, music, food and drink. A fast-paced, exciting, and truly most enjoyable tour for me and my family. "The Cliffs of Moher were breathtaking. Would have preferred a little more time in Kilkenny and perhaps a little less time in Dublin. "Loved the drive on the Dingle Peninsula.". Stephen is fantastic, knowledgeable, witty and did a wonderful tour. "I had a ton of wow moments. The Falconry was a fun activity as well. It made me think twice about why I wouldn't just live there permanently.... "Two "wow" moments.... I like animals.". And we also got some great falconry pics! I prefer a busy pace where you learn and see a lot. And the surprises in Dingle--the eagle, falcons, and owls; and David Geaney's performance in the living room at Milltown House. Seeing Newgrange was also a "bucket list" moment.". Great way to experience Ireland from the coastal towns to the city of Dublin. It felt like we were in someone's home. Scenery and villagrs, towns, people were wonderful. "On the official tour route: the Long Room in the Trinity College Library combined with the Book of Kells, Slea Head drive and falconry demo (these latter 2 things in the Dingle area). "So many of them but peering at Kilkenny Castle at night on a walk.". From the countryside to the coast line to the "Tidy towns" ... it was breathtakingly beautiful and charming! Richer experience. Clearly people love their country. Enjoyed the sites visited BUT the informative commentary of the history and legacy of the sites made each visit memorable. My only regret is that the tour had to end. He also played some great music on the bus, usually connected to the area we were in at the time. The Cliffs of Moher were stunning. As always on any "touring" vacation, you would like to spend days rather than hours at a given site, but that is a compliment to the great places visited, not a complaint about time allotted. This was my mom's first time out of the country and watching her fall in love with traveling, thanks to Rick Steve's, meant the world to me. . "This may sound gross, but seeing the burnt and decapitated head of Oliver Plunkett. We were hesitant to book a tour but decided that we really needed to be able to just enjoy a trip for once and not have the worry of planning all of the details. It was really good to see various snapshots of Ireland ranging from rural, seaside Dingle to urban Dublin, and the breadth of history from prehistoric burial tombs predating the pyramids to modern politics. People in the smaller towns would come up to us on the street to see if we needed directions.". "Many wows! The tour was excellent. Please don't schedule Dingle when this festival is going on. All have been great. Thank you Dara!". The itinerary, bus experience and overall tour were excellent! Anytime we mentioned to anyone where we had been in Ireland, they always had good words to say about these small towns. And we beat the Germans!". Dara was amazing. Bus: 5 hours. Overall I was very pleased with the experience. "Too many to pinpoint just one. Very good guide and great fellow travelers. For our particular tour, the evening in Kilkenny at the Hole in the Wall pub singing and sharing was an evening that will never be duplicated.". "The opportunity to take part in the falconry experience was a bucket list item for me, so that was extremely special. I can't say enough about this tour. But most of all, the people and their charm! Join us for the Heart of Ireland in 8 Days! Of course it really helped because it was a beautiful sunny day, but offered a real perspective on Ireland and it's history.". Ireland was beautiful, lives up to it's title the Green Isle. Ireland Travel Guide by Rick Steves For coronavirus (COVID-19) travel information, see our FAQ . The cemetery in Dublin was remarkable! The way she maneuvered our large tour bus on the curves and narrow roads was amazing! We were skeptical but hopeful about what it would be like. Loved the aura of history and souls that had passed through those places.". Pascal was great, the bus was comfortable, and the group was friendly, flexible, and well-suited to this type of tour. "My favorite "WOW" moment was meeting the people of Ireland. Dara did his best to enable us for the event-really above and beyond. Truly a wonderful experience. Surprises at each stop over. And of course Stephen's many stories and songs on the bus.". Most days are moderately paced with 2–8 miles of walking, including some hills and stairs. ", My trip to Ireland was more than I could have imagined. Our tour guide, Stephen, was awesome! Good sized group, comfortable bus, the hotels and food were better than we expected (especially the group dinners! We met so many wonderful people on this trip and plan on keeping in touch with two other couples. This afternoon we'll return to Dublin to tour Glasnevin Cemetery and Museum, the final resting place of more than one million Dubliners, including many of Ireland's national heroes and heroines. Loved the Gravedigger watering hole and the cemetery tour.". Be on your feet, walking and standing for up to three hours, indoors and outdoors, in all weather conditions. I loved not having to book so many accommodations and at the same time,this was an active tour. FLawless, perfect. And, after we arrived at our next destinations, each local tour was great also, with wonderful hosts. We credit our tour guide, Dara, for this. It surpassed my expectations. It was my second trip to Ireland and he made this time a much The beauty of it was stunning!". And just as phenomenal was playing with the birds of prey at Dingle Falconry which was my MAIN reason for visiting Ireland. "Cliffs of Moher were a great sight, but for me the best moment was the Rock of Cashel. Most touching moment came during our trad music session in Dingle. I love the coast line and it was breath taking and the history and local culture and people made it a joy. Her knowledge, bright personality and wonderful demeanor contributed to an overall wonderful experience for our family. Live music was great. "The "Dead Zoo", the Natural History Branch of the National Museum. Dara always prepared us in advance as to what to expect.". If you have time for only one idyllic peninsula on your trip, choose the Dingle Peninsula over the Ring of Kerry. Spectacular scenery on the west coast.". Hotel accommodations were less than expected based on previous Rick Steves tours. So inspiring we ended up buying several pieces from their shop!". Schedule was adhered to and check in and out of hotels a breeze. The tour members were all congenial and good buddies. "In Dingle, Stephen was able to get the top Irish dancer in World competition to dance for us, and we were the envy of folks back home for having seen him. The scenery was beyond anything I've ever witnessed and exactly how you imagine Ireland looking. He was fun and included everyone. "Technically not part of the tour, but the most fun I had was on the Musical Pub Crawl in Dublin. "It's hard to pick a "favorite" because there are so many. That said, I was impressed with how buttoned up the tour was. He has the true heart of a tour guide. We were there for milestone birthday's and he made an extra effort to make it a fantastic experience. The incredible guide and guest guides, pristine countryside, historic sites, lovely hotels and inns, excellent food, wonderful tour members, and great weather all added up to make this trip a once in a lifetime adventure. Completely educated on Ireland, loads of fun, great food, great weather. But also seeing the warmth and friendliness of the people - from hotel staff to people in pubs to store clerks, everyone was so welcoming and helpful. We had a lovely group of co-travelers and our tour guide was very knowedgeble. There was a balanced amount of free time and group activities. We laughed a lot and had experiences we would not have had as independent travelers. We saw everything that was important to see. Ireland is beautiful, the people are friendly and gracious, Dara was a joy as our guide, and we had a fun group of travelers. He was a great tour guide and very knowledgeable on Irish history and current politics. I would have rather had an extra night in Ennis, Dingle or Kilkenny than in Dublin. Every detail was covered even flapjacks in kilkenny. But the falconry experience in Dingle was a one of a kind experience. Tight on time? "Glendalough was absolutely breathtaking. Afterward we'll get to know one another over a hearty "Welcome to Ireland" dinner together. Overall quality of the tour lived up to my expectations of the Rick Steves name. Dara Herlihy was outstanding. Bus: 4 hours. "I loved the Rock of Cashel. He made everything so wonderful. But included in that list is Dingle in general, Irish music both organized and unorganized, the National Cemetery, Book of Kells, the Mounds and the FOOD!". The tour was great. Would like an extra day in a cute village, one less in big city. My ear something that I will never forget. `` people on the bus, setting course Ireland. Peninsula with Blasket Island history, religion and natural beauty of the bird landing on me to tears and! Pub life its beautiful restaurants, shops, seaside marina and entertainment the... Never forget. `` Dingle Peninsula, Clonmara was wonderful and did great. Been friendlier the pre-historic bodies preserved in peat bogs were really something special, chatting with the birds prey. Us lovely things a lot is the co-author of the tour. `` to learn about. Steves tours and guides were fantastic. `` and this tour without any malice happy! World Cup loved our bus transports us across the Emerald Isle lesson Francis... 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