Ireland folds a thousand years of history into intimate cities, sea-lashed peninsulas, and villages where music spills out onto cobbles. Monastic sites, Norman castles, and Georgian squares tell stories beside contemporary galleries and a roaring culinary renaissance.

Expect four seasons in a day: layered clothing and waterproofs are your allies. The euro is the currency; tipping is appreciated (10–12% for good service). Ireland drives on the left—trains and buses are excellent for this route, with scenic roads reserved for day trips.

Over 14 days, you’ll weave Dublin’s literary quarter and whiskey lore with Galway’s trad sessions and Atlantic vistas, then savor Cork’s markets, harbor towns, and castle gardens. We’ve balanced must-see highlights with local gems, coffee haunts, and pubs that matter to the community, not just the guidebooks.

Dublin

Dublin is a city of storytellers—Joyce and Wilde, but also the taxi driver who knows every lane by heart. Walkable and witty, it’s where medieval lanes, Georgian elegance, and a thriving food scene meet along the River Liffey.

Arriving in Ireland? Compare flights into Dublin: Europe-based travelers can check Omio (flights to/from Europe). From farther afield, browse Trip.com (global flights) and Kiwi.com. In town, Dublin Bus, DART (coastal rail), Luas trams, and taxis cover distances; walking links most sights.

Days 1–5: Georgian splendor, bookish treasures, and coastal breezes

• Trinity College & the Book of Kells: Begin with Ireland’s illuminated masterpiece and the Long Room’s vaulted hush. For context and time-saving entry, consider this guided tour:
  St Patrick's Cathedral, Book of Kells and Dublin Castle Tour

  

• Guinness & Whiskey—Dublin’s liquid history: Learn the craft behind two icons on a half-day pairing. You’ll taste, compare, and get the stories behind them:
  Dublin Jameson Distillery and Guinness Storehouse Guided Tour

  

  
  Prefer to explore independently? Reserve the flagship experience here:
  Guinness Storehouse Experience

  

• Kilmainham Gaol & Museum Quarter: Ireland’s struggle for independence is palpable in Kilmainham. Pair with the National Gallery or the Little Museum (entry included on this hop-on route):
  Dublin Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour with Guide and Little Museum Entry

  

• Wicklow & Glendalough day trip: Carved valleys, monastic ruins, and the cobbled lanes of Kilkenny make a fantastic day out:
  Dublin to Glendalough, Wicklow and Kilkenny Full Day Guided Tour

  

• Howth coastal loop: Take the DART to Howth (35 minutes). Walk cliffs scented with gorse, watch seals near the harbor, and cap it with seafood chowder. This is an easy DIY half-day.
• Optional Northern Ireland day trip: If you want basalt causeways and Titanic history in one sweep, choose:
  Dublin to Belfast Black Cab, Dunluce Castle and Giant's Causeway

  

Where to eat and drink

• Breakfast/Coffee: Brother Hubbard North (Middle Eastern-leaning brunch and superb house-baked breads); Bread 41 (laminated pastries and sourdough—go early); 3fe Grand Canal (benchmark espresso); Queen of Tarts (buttermilk scones and custard tarts near Dame St.).
• Lunch: The Winding Stair (river views, Irish farmhouse cheeses, Killenure Dexter beef); Spitalfields (crispy pigs’ head croquettes and a serious steak-and-kidney pudding); The Fumbally (seasonal salads and toasties in a creative space).
• Dinner: Chapter One by Mickael Viljanen (Michelin-starred tasting menu, Irish ingredients with Nordic rigor); Bastible (inventive plates, excellent bread service); Variety Jones (open fire cooking, handwritten menus).
• Pubs with character: Kehoe’s (Victorian snugs), Toners (Guinness poured with pride), Mulligan’s of Poolbeg (newspaper-strewn, old Dublin soul), The Cobblestone in Smithfield (nightly trad sessions).

Stay in Dublin

• VRBO Dublin — apartments and townhouses
• Hotels.com Dublin — browse top areas
• Top picks: The Shelbourne, Autograph Collection (grand dame on St. Stephen’s Green), The Merrion Hotel (art-filled Georgian elegance), Clayton Hotel Burlington Road (good value, leafy southside), Generator Dublin (design-forward hostel in Smithfield).

Next leg (morning of Day 6): Dublin to Galway — Train from Heuston to Galway Ceannt via Irish Rail, ~2h20. Typical fares €17–€35 booked ahead. Check times and prices on Omio (trains in Europe). Buses run ~2h45–3h15 if you prefer coach comfort via Omio (buses).

Galway

Galway hums with street musicians and pub sessions, a compact city that wears creativity lightly. The Latin Quarter brims with cafés, color-washed shopfronts, and a salt tang from the bay.

Use Galway as a launchpad for Connemara’s bogs and lakes, the Burren’s lunar limestone, and the Cliffs of Moher. Evenings are for seafood, stout, and tunes you’ll remember for years.

Days 6–9: Trad music, Connemara lakes, and cliff-edge drama

• City stroll: Eyre Square to the Spanish Arch, then along the Corrib to the university’s Quadrangle. Walk the Salthill Prom—tradition says “kick the wall” at the end for luck.
• Cliffs of Moher & the Burren day trip: See karst pavements, sea birds, and the cliffs’ cinematic drop. This well-paced excursion includes classic stops:
  Galway to Cliffs of Moher, Aillwee Cave & Dunguaire Castle Tour

  

• Connemara loop: Go via Oughterard and Maam Cross to Kylemore Abbey (walled gardens, neo-Gothic church). Weather shifts fast—bring windproof layers.
• Aran Islands (Inis Mór): Ferry from Rossaveal; cycle to Dún Aonghasa’s prehistoric clifftop fort and the Wormhole’s natural pool. Plan a full day with an early sailing.

Where to eat and drink

• Breakfast/Coffee: Coffeewerk + Press (Scandi design meets specialty coffee); Urban Grind (precision brews); Mr. Waffle (crepes and coffee near UCHG).
• Lunch: McDonagh’s (since 1902—smoked fish chowder and classic fish & chips); Ard Bia at Nimmos (seasonal plates beside the Spanish Arch); Dough Bros (wood-fired pies topped with local cheeses).
• Dinner: Kai (west-of-Ireland produce, daily-changing blackboard); Aniar (Michelin-star terroir tasting, intimate room); Oscar’s Seafood Bistro (oysters, mussels, Atlantic catch).
• Pubs/music: Tigh Neachtain (snugs and trad), The Crane Bar (upstairs sessions), Tig Cóilí (afternoon and evening music, lively crowd).

Stay in Galway

• VRBO Galway — city flats and coastal cottages
• Hotels.com Galway — central stays
• Top picks: The g Hotel & Spa (Philip Treacy–designed glamour, spa), The Connacht Hotel (great for families, pool), Maldron Hotel Sandy Road Galway (reliable value), Hostels: Kinlay Hostel Galway, Snoozles Hostel Galway City.

Next leg (morning of Day 10): Galway to Cork — Train via Limerick Junction, ~3h30–3h50; fares typically €25–€45 on Omio (trains). Direct intercity coach ~4.5–5h via Omio (buses). Driving (if confident on the left) is ~2h45 via the M18/M20.

Cork

Cork calls itself the “real capital” with a wink—river islands, spires, and a food scene shaped by its storied English Market. It’s perfectly placed for Blarney Castle, harbor-town Kinsale, and the maritime history of Cobh.

Base in the compact city center and set out for coastal day trips. Evenings bring wood-smoked grills, craft beer, and trad in candlelit lanes.

Days 10–14: Markets, castles, harbor towns, and West Cork detours

• Cork city essentials: Tour the English Market (cheeses, cured meats, fresh fish), ring the Shandon Bells at St. Anne’s, and step into Nano Nagle Place (heritage and gardens). Stroll University College Cork’s arboretum and the Glucksman gallery.
• Blarney Castle & Gardens: Beyond the famous stone, the poison garden and fern walk are enchanting. Independent travelers can bus or drive; cruise days offer a convenient guided option:
  Cobh (Cork) to Blarney Castle & Kinsale - Shore Excursion

  

  
  Tip: If you’re not on a cruise, you can still mirror the route—train to Cobh for Titanic heritage, continue to Kinsale for seafood, and return to Cork.
• Kinsale day trip: Colorful houses, yacht-studded harbor, and star-shaped Charles Fort. Walk the Scilly Walk for bay views, then settle in for a long seafood lunch.
• Cobh & Spike Island: Visit the Titanic Experience and the cathedral that watches over the harbor. Ferries head to Spike Island, once the world’s largest prison—now a fascinating fortress to explore.
• West Cork detour (weather window): Gougane Barra’s mirror lake chapel, Skibbereen for famine history, Baltimore’s harbor, and Mizen Head’s bridge over churning seas. This is where the island feels wild and generous.

Where to eat and drink

• Breakfast/Coffee: Three Fools Coffee (savvy espresso on Grand Parade); Filter (hand-brew specialists on George’s Quay); Good Day Deli at Nano Nagle Place (eco-conscious brunch in a garden setting).
• Lunch: Nash 19 (Irish produce cooked with care—great fishcakes); Market Lane (reliable, seasonal crowd-pleaser); Miyazaki (tiny counter for superb ramen and katsu).
• Dinner: Elbow Lane Brew and Smokehouse (house-brewed beers and smoked beef rib); Paradiso (trailblazing vegetable-led tasting menu); Izz Cafe (Palestinian flatbreads from a cherished local family business).
• Pubs/breweries: Sin é (fiddle-forward trad), Mutton Lane Inn (laneway hideaway mapped by candlelight), Franciscan Well Brewery (beer garden and wood-fired pizza).

Stay in Cork

• VRBO Cork — city apartments and countryside homes
• Hotels.com Cork — central and riverside stays
• Top picks: Hayfield Manor Hotel (leafy haven near UCC), The River Lee Hotel (modern, riverside, great gym), The Metropole Hotel Cork (Victorian-era staple on MacCurtain Street), Maldron Hotel Shandon Cork City (good value near Shandon), Budget: Kinlay House Cork.

Departure (final morning): Cork to Dublin for flights — Intercity train to Dublin Heuston ~2h30; typical fares €25–€45 on Omio (trains). If flying home from Dublin, see Omio (flights within Europe) or global options on Trip.com and Kiwi.com. Alternatively, consider a return flight from Cork if your carrier offers it (check Omio for intra-Europe routes).

Optional swaps and extras

• Dublin foodie afternoon tea on wheels: A whimsical city loop that doubles as a treat:
  Afternoon Tea Bus Tour in Dublin

  

• Hands-on memento in Dublin: Craft a silver ring in a city-center studio—memories you can wear:
  Dublin Jewellery Forge a Hammered Silver Ring: Drury Street

  

Practical tips

• Pack layers, waterproof jacket, and comfortable shoes; coastal winds can be brisk even in summer.
• Book Book of Kells, Guinness Storehouse, and popular restaurants in advance—weekends fill fast.
• Tap-to-pay is widely accepted; keep a small stash of coins for rural cafés and buskers.
• Music etiquette: in trad pubs, listen first—join the chorus only when invited.

This two-week Ireland itinerary blends capital-city culture with Atlantic wilds and a southern larder of seafood and markets. You’ll come home with photos of cliffs and castles—and a head full of songs, stories, and new favorite pubs.