Leinster is Ireland’s cultural crossroads, from the cobblestones of Dublin to the medieval lanes of Kilkenny and the sea-bright harbors of Wexford. Over centuries, monks illuminated manuscripts, Norman lords raised castles, and storytellers kept the music going—today you can walk it all in an easy day’s reach.

This long-stay itinerary is designed for slow travelers who want time to savor: museum mornings, coastal afternoons, and pub sessions that roll into songs. You’ll balance headline sights—Book of Kells, Guinness Storehouse, Kilkenny Castle—with local markets, sea-cliff rambles, and bakeries you’ll dream about later.

Practical notes: Irish weather is changeable—pack layers and waterproofs year-round. Contactless payments are widely accepted; tipping around 10% in restaurants is appreciated. Driving is on the left, but trains and buses connect cities comfortably if you’d rather relax and watch the fields roll by.

Dublin

Dublin is a city of storytellers: Viking foundations, Georgian flair, Nobel laureates, and pubs that double as living rooms. It’s compact and walkable, yet full of contrasting neighborhoods—leafy canals, docklands glass, and village-like Howth by the sea.

Expect world-class museums, friendly bar chat, and a food scene that blends Irish terroir with modern technique. Between the Liffey’s bridges and the swans on the Grand Canal, you’ll find your own local.

Getting to Dublin: Fly into Dublin Airport (DUB). Compare Europe-bound flights on Omio (flights). If you’re originating outside Europe, also compare fares on Trip.com and Kiwi.com. Typical flight time from the U.S. East Coast is ~6–7 hours; intra-Europe hops are 1–3 hours, often $40–150 off-peak.

Where to stay (bookable via our partners):

• The Shelbourne, Autograph Collection — Dublin’s grande dame overlooking St. Stephen’s Green; classic afternoon tea and polished service.
• The Merrion Hotel — Four Georgian townhouses with an Irish art collection and serene courtyard; near the National Gallery.
• Clayton Hotel Burlington Road — Spacious, reliable base just south of the canal; good transport links.
• Generator Dublin — Stylish hostel/private rooms beside Smithfield; great for budget-minded travelers.
• Browse apartments and houses: VRBO Dublin or hotels on Hotels.com Dublin.

Days 1–6: Trinity to the Liberties—Foundations of the Fair City

Start on campus at Trinity College: wander the quadrangles before meeting Ireland’s most famous manuscript. For priority access and context, join this guided experience:

• Dublin Book of Kells, Castle and Molly Malone Statue Guided Tour

  

Stroll Grafton Street’s buskers into St. Stephen’s Green, then loop to Dublin Castle and the Chester Beatty (an underrated gem of global manuscripts). In the Liberties, track medieval lanes to Christ Church and St. Patrick’s Cathedral; the bells and stonework tell Dublin’s oldest stories.

Eat and drink:

• Breakfast: Bread 41 for croissants and house-milled sourdough; Bewley’s Grafton Street for art nouveau splendor and scones.
• Lunch: The Winding Stair (river views, Irish seafood pie); Leo Burdock near Christ Church for classic fish & chips.
• Dinner: Chapter One by Mickael Viljanen (refined Irish tasting menus); The Vintage Kitchen (BYO; hearty seasonal plates—book well ahead).
• Pints & trad: The Long Hall (Victorian bar, perfect pint); O’Donoghue’s (traditional music legacy), The Cobblestone in Smithfield (fiddle-fueled sessions).
• Coffee: 3fe Grand Canal Street for Dublin-roasted espresso; Cloud Picker on Pearse Street for bright filter coffees.

Days 7–12: Kilmainham, EPIC, and the Story of a Nation

Reserve Kilmainham Gaol for a moving look at independence-era history; pair with a walk in Phoenix Park or a cycle to the Magazine Fort. On the docks, the award-winning EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum connects Irish stories worldwide—personal, interactive, and deeply human.

Cap an afternoon at the city’s most famous pour:

• Guinness Storehouse Experience

  

Nearby, Jameson Bow St. offers a crisp whiskey tasting in its original distillery; the sensory comparison between stout and pot still whiskey is a Dublin rite of passage.

Eat and drink:

• Lunch: Muse café at EPIC for lighter plates; Fish Shop on Benburb Street (wine bar + hake in buttermilk batter).
• Dinner: Sole Seafood & Grill for oysters and Dover sole; Fade Street Social for Irish produce over wood fire.
• Sweet stops: Queen of Tarts for berry crumbles; The Pepper Pot in Powerscourt Townhouse for brown-bread sandwiches.

Days 13–18: Coastal Breathers and Village Vibes

Hop the DART to Howth for a cliff path loop: gannets wheeling, lighthouse views, and seals in the harbor. Back in town, wander the Georgian crescents around Merrion Square and the National Gallery; every painted door seems made for a photograph.

Weekends are for markets: Temple Bar Food Market (Sat) for local cheeses and oysters; Blackrock Market (weekends) for vintage finds and global bites. Evenings, duck into Kehoe’s or The Palace Bar for storytelling with your pint.

Eat and drink:

• Howth: Aqua (sea views, grilled turbot), Beskó for a quality coffee before the hike.
• City: Tang for wholesome brunch; Featherblade for excellent-value Irish steaks.

Days 19–24: Parks, Botany, and Neighborhood Evenings

Spend a lazy day in Phoenix Park—one of Europe’s largest urban parks—keeping an eye out for resident fallow deer. In Glasnevin, the National Botanic Gardens and adjoining cemetery weave nature with memory; the wrought-iron glasshouses are exquisite.

Explore Portobello and the canals at golden hour; then graze your way down Camden Street. If you love theater, check schedules for The Abbey or Gate and plan a curtain-up night.

Eat and drink:

• Breakfast: Two Pups (brunch favorites, great pastries); Alma for Argentine-Irish pancakes and chimichurri eggs.
• Dinner: Variety Jones (open-fire tasting menu; intimate); Bistro One in Foxrock for classic French-Irish plates.
• Pubs: Toners and Kehoe’s for old-school snug ambiance; Devitt’s for live trad on weeknights.

Days 25–28: Big-Day Excursions from Dublin

Use Dublin as a launchpad for Ireland’s cinematic landscapes and neighboring cities. Book early in peak season (May–September).

• Dublin to Glendalough, Wicklow and Kilkenny Full Day Guided Tour

  

• Dublin to Dunluce Castle, Giant's Causeway, Dark Hedges & Belfast

  

Alternative day trips you can DIY or join tours for: Malahide Castle with coastal walk to Howth; Newgrange/Brú na Bóinne in County Meath (prebook access to the passage tomb); and a long but rewarding Cliffs of Moher day.

Dublin food crawl idea (one evening): Start with Irish oysters and stout; share small plates at Pickle (regional Indian), end with a nightcap at The Palace Bar (whiskey list to get lost in).

Kilkenny

Kilkenny, the Marble City, is a medieval tapestry of lanes, stone bridges, and a storybook castle above the River Nore. It’s small enough to walk, rich enough to linger—craft studios, galleries, and some of Ireland’s best dining for a city its size.

Expect lively pubs, artisan bakeries, and a pace that invites you to slow down and chat with the cheesemonger.

Getting there (Dublin → Kilkenny): Morning train from Dublin Heuston to Kilkenny MacDonagh, ~1h35, typically €14–€25. Compare schedules and fares on Omio (trains in Europe). Buses run ~2h15 via Carlow; see Omio (buses).

Where to stay:

• VRBO Kilkenny for cottages and townhouses near the castle or riverside.
• Hotels.com Kilkenny for central boutique hotels and inns.

Days 29–34: Castle, Lanes, and the Medieval Mile

Tour Kilkenny Castle (Victorian interiors, art collections) and picnic in its parklands. Walk the Medieval Mile from the castle to St. Canice’s Cathedral; climb the round tower for a sweeping city view.

Browse Rothe House & Garden for a sense of merchant life c.1600, then pop into the Butler Gallery for contemporary Irish art inside a historic setting.

Eat and drink:

• Breakfast: Arán Artisan Bakery & Bistro (sourdough, shakshuka) and Cakeface for playful pastries.
• Lunch: Kilkenny Design Centre café facing the castle; Petronella down a medieval laneway for Irish comfort dishes.
• Dinner: Campagne (Michelin-starred French-Irish, silky sauces), Ristorante Rinuccini (family-run Italian; handmade pasta and veal dishes).
• Pubs: Kyteler’s Inn (14th-century tavern lore, live music), Tynan’s Bridge House Bar for snug corners.
• Coffee: The Fig Tree off High Street; Upside Coffee kiosk for a quick flat white.

Days 35–40: Crafts, Countryside, and Estate Days

Follow the craft trail—ceramics, glass, and textiles in studios around town. Take the riverside Nore Valley walk to Bennettsbridge, rewarding yourself with local ice cream and a bus back.

Short trips: Jerpoint Abbey (Cistercian ruins with fine carvings) near Thomastown; an afternoon at Mount Juliet Estate for golf, riding, or a refined lunch.

Eat and drink:

• Lunch: The Blackberry Café (soups, pies) or Zuni for modern Irish plates.
• Dinner: Butcher Restaurant (local beef, inventive sides) or Truffles (European bistro classics).
• Pints: Biddy Early’s for casual, Left Bank for a lively evening in a grand former bank.

Days 41–44: Day Trips and Easy Living

Take a day to the Rock of Cashel in Tipperary—an iconic limestone outcrop crowned with medieval ruins and intricate frescoes. Back in town, browse small galleries and sit out on the canal bank with gelato if the sun plays nice.

Reserve an evening for a music session—Kilkenny’s pub musicians are generous with reels and requests.

Wexford

County Wexford is Ireland’s sunny southeast: dune-fringed beaches, a rugged lighthouse peninsula, and a Viking-rooted town with a lively culinary scene. It’s where you watch seabirds arrow the sky and end the day with just-landed scallops.

This is your coastal exhale—mix heritage sites with long walks, seafood pubs, and quiet gardens.

Getting there (Kilkenny → Wexford): Train via Waterford Plunkett + onward train/bus, ~2–2.5 hours, €15–€25; or a direct coach ~2 hours depending on service. Compare options on Omio (trains) and Omio (buses).

Where to stay:

• VRBO Wexford for seaside cottages near Curracloe or Hook Peninsula hideaways.
• Hotels.com Wexford for central hotels near the quay and arts venues.

Days 45–50: Wexford Town, Gardens, and Heritage

Explore the quay and narrow streets of Wexford Town, then head to Johnstown Castle & Gardens—a romantic lakeside estate with the Irish Agricultural Museum. If opera’s your thing, check the National Opera House schedule for tours or performances.

Walk the Wexford Wildfowl Reserve boardwalks at dusk to watch migratory birds settle, especially in autumn and winter.

Eat and drink:

• Breakfast: Stable Diet for granola and scones; D’Lush Café in the Arts Centre for hearty brunch plates.
• Lunch: Green Acres (restaurant + wine shop + gallery) or La Côte for refined seafood.
• Dinner: La Côte tasting menu spotlighting local catch; Cistín 2.0 style bistros pop up—ask locals for the latest chef-led spot.
• Pubs: Simon Lambert & Sons (craft beer, house-smoked meats), The Sky and the Ground (live music, cozy corners).
• Coffee: Steam on Trimmer’s Lane; Bean & Goose chocolate tastings if you spot a weekend event.

Days 51–56: Hook Peninsula, Abbeys, and Seafaring Villages

Drive or bus to the Hook Peninsula: climb Hook Lighthouse, one of the world’s oldest operational lighthouses, for horizon-spanning views. Wander the ruins and walled gardens of Tintern Abbey, linked by woodland trails to the sea.

Continue to Kilmore Quay for thatched cottages and fishing boats. Order chowder, watch gannets dive, and time sunset along the Saltee Islands viewpoint.

Eat and drink (Hook/Kilmore Quay):

• Lunch: Mary Barry’s Seafood in Kilmore for prawns and crab claws; Saltee Chipper for a casual harborside bite.
• Dinner: Aldridge Lodge (if operating during your stay; acclaimed local dining—book ahead) or back to Wexford Town for Green Acres.

Days 57–62: Curracloe Sands, Raven Wood, and North Wexford

Stretch out along Curracloe Beach—silvery sand made famous by cinema—and loop the Raven Nature Reserve trail through whispering pines. On a breezy day the dunes feel endless.

Spend a day in Gorey for boutiques and cafés, or detour to Courtown for a coastal stroll and ice cream. Celebrate the end of your journey with a seafood feast back in Wexford Town.

Departing Wexford → Dublin Airport: Train from Wexford (O’Hanrahan) to Dublin Connolly ~2h15–2h30 (€15–€30), then bus or taxi to DUB. Compare on Omio (trains) and Omio (buses). If you prefer to overnight in Dublin before flying, browse Hotels.com Dublin or VRBO Dublin.

Optional Dublin activities you can slot anywhere (choose what fits your pace):

• Guinness Storehouse Experience

  

• Dublin Book of Kells, Castle and Molly Malone Statue Guided Tour

  

• Dublin to Glendalough, Wicklow and Kilkenny Full Day Guided Tour

  

• Dublin to Dunluce Castle, Giant's Causeway, Dark Hedges & Belfast

  

Local transport tips: Dublin buses and DART trains reach most sights; trains link cities comfortably. For intercity planning and tickets, use Omio (trains) and Omio (buses). Ferries to coastal day trips around Ireland can be checked on Omio (ferries).

Sixty-two days later, you’ll have more than photographs: a favorite pub snug, a cliff bend where the wind lifted your cap, and a bakery that knew your order. Dublin, Kilkenny, and Wexford reward unhurried days—layers of history, sea air, and songs that linger.