Ireland rewards curiosity: Viking-founded cities layered with Georgian elegance, wild coasts whipped by Atlantic winds, and a culture that moves to fiddles and friendly chatter. In eight days, you’ll taste its history in Dublin’s Book of Kells and Guinness Storehouse, then chase sea air and trad music in Galway—gateway to the Cliffs of Moher.

Expect deep storytelling everywhere—street statues with legends, pubs where songs are as important as stout, and markets showing off a new Irish food renaissance. Fun fact: Ireland’s oldest pub license dates to the 12th century, and the island is also a global hub for specialty coffee.

Practical notes: weather changes quickly, so pack layers and a light rain jacket year-round. Tap-to-pay works almost everywhere; tipping is appreciated (10–12% for sit-down meals). Drive on the left; trains and buses are easy between cities. With a mid-range budget, you’ll eat very well and have money for a couple of memorable tours.

Dublin

Dublin is compact, walkable, and witty—birthplace of literary giants and home to lively neighborhoods from Georgian squares to the Liberties. Grafton Street buskers serenade shoppers, while the River Liffey separates museums from markets and pint-sized conversations.

Top highlights include Trinity College’s illuminated Book of Kells, the Guinness Storehouse’s tasting ritual, and leafy St. Stephen’s Green. Don’t miss coffee at 3fe or Kaph, a browse through the artisan-filled Powerscourt Centre, and an evening of trad at O’Donoghue’s.

• Where to stay (Dublin): Classic elegance at The Shelbourne, Autograph Collection (splurge); refined comfort at The Merrion Hotel (luxury art-filled townhouses); great-value business-class at Clayton Hotel Burlington Road; stylish budget at Generator Dublin. Or browse self-catering stays on VRBO Dublin or more hotels on Hotels.com Dublin.
• How to get here: Fly into Dublin (DUB). Compare flights on Omio (Flights). In city, buses and trams (Luas) are frequent; buy a Leap Visitor Card or tap contactless.

Day 1: Arrive and set the tone

Afternoon: Land in Dublin and check in. Shake off the flight with coffee at Kaph (Drury St) or Proper Order (Smithfield). Stroll Trinity College’s quad and Grafton Street’s street musicians, then duck into the Victorian shopping arcade at Powerscourt Centre for Irish design boutiques.

Evening: Dinner at The Winding Stair (seasonal Irish dishes overlooking the Liffey) or Etto (small plates, great wine list; book ahead). For a first pint and live trad, try O’Donoghue’s on Merrion Row or The Cobblestone in Smithfield. Nightcap: Porterhouse Temple Bar for house-brewed ales.

Day 2: Book of Kells, Guinness, and a food lover’s Dublin

Morning: Join the early-access Trinity College tour to see the Book of Kells before crowds, then amble past Dublin Castle’s exterior and the Molly Malone statue with a guide.

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

Afternoon: Explore St. Patrick’s Park and the free Chester Beatty (world-class manuscripts), then head to St. James’s Gate for the multi-sensory Guinness experience, finishing with a 360° view at the Gravity Bar. Typical ticket €30–40.

Guinness Storehouse Experience

Evening: Taste modern Irish on a small-group food tour (eight tastings plus drinks) around Trinity and the historic core—ideal for finding new favorites. Expect artisan cheeses, soda bread, and a sweet finale. Approx €85–95.

Dublin Historical Centre Food Tour with 8 Food Tastings & Drinks

Day 3: Howth’s sea cliffs and city shopping

Morning–early afternoon: Escape to Howth for a half-day loop: lighthouse views, sea birds, and a working fishing harbor. Your guided bus + walking tour covers the summit cliffs and village lore (great photos). About €30–40.

Howth Coastal Half-Day Bus Tour from Dublin with Live Guide

Afternoon: Back in town, browse Irish-made goods at Avoca and Powerscourt Centre. Coffee at 3fe (Lower Grand Canal St) or Vice Coffee Inc (Wolfe Tone Sq). If whiskey beckons, pop by Bow St. for a Jameson tasting (45 minutes, book ahead).

Evening: Dinner ideas: Featherblade for affordable Irish beef; Fish Shop (Queen St) for crisp hake and natural wine; Brother Hubbard (North) for mezze-style plates with Middle Eastern flair. Finish with trad at The Stag’s Head or a flight at The Open Gate Brewery (experimental taps; limited hours).

Day 4: Museums and Georgian elegance

Morning: The National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology (free) showcases Celtic gold and bog bodies; then wander the Georgian doors around Merrion Square. Coffee and pastry at Bread 41 (wild-yeasted croissants) if you’re nearby.

Afternoon: EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum traces global Irish stories with interactive exhibits. Walk the Grand Canal for a local slice of Dublin. Late lunch at The Woollen Mills (hearty Irish classics) or Bunsen for a quick, great burger.

Evening: Splurge dinner at Bastible (seasonal tasting menu; reserve well ahead) or keep it casual at L. Mulligan Grocer (gastropub). Cap the night with a session at Darkey Kelly’s—good tunes without Temple Bar crowds.

Galway

Galway is Ireland’s bohemian heart: a medieval core of stone lanes, colorful shopfronts, and buskers, where trad spills from pubs and Atlantic light brightens the Spanish Arch. It’s a foodie town that still feels like a village.

Base here for the Wild Atlantic Way: day trips to the Cliffs of Moher, the Burren’s lunar limestone, Connemara’s bogs and peaks, and the Aran Islands’ stone-walled fields.

• Getting from Dublin to Galway (Day 5 morning): Train from Dublin Heuston to Galway Ceannt in ~2h20–2h35, typically €20–35 if booked in advance. Compare and book on Omio (Trains). Buses (Citylink/Aircoach) take ~2h30–3h from city center (~€13–20) via Omio (Buses). Self-drive is ~2.5 hours (M6 tolls apply).
• Where to stay (Galway): Contemporary spa stay at The g Hotel & Spa; reliable mid-range at Maldron Hotel Sandy Road Galway or The Connacht Hotel; social hostels at Kinlay Hostel Galway or Snoozles Hostel Galway City. See more on Hotels.com Galway or browse apartments on VRBO Galway.

Day 5: Travel west and meet Galway

Morning: Depart Dublin by train (~2h30). Grab a seat on the left for Shannon views near Athlone. On arrival, drop bags and fuel up at Dough Bros (Neapolitan-style pies; try the Irish lamb special when in season).

Afternoon: Explore the Latin Quarter: shop Quay Street’s indie stores, visit Galway City Museum (free) by the Spanish Arch, and sip at Coffeewerk + Press (two-story design shop + specialty coffee).

Evening: Dinner at Ard Bia at Nimmos (seasonal plates in a stone riverside building) or Kai (local veg and seafood, glowing candles). For trad, Tigh Neachtain is atmospheric; for late tunes and dancing, The Crane Bar in the West End is a classic.

Day 6: Aran Islands and the Cliffs of Moher (full-day)

Full-day adventure: bus to Doolin, ferry to Inisheer (Inis Oírr), island time with stone forts and shipwreck views, then a boat cruise beneath the Cliffs of Moher (weather permitting) before a scenic return via the Burren. Expect 10–12 hours; bring a windproof layer. Approx €75–95.

Galway to Inisheer Aran Islands, Cliffs of Moher and Boat Trip

Alternative if seas are rough: a land-based Cliffs & Burren coach tour with cave and castle stops (similar duration, no ferry).

Galway to Cliffs of Moher, Aillwee Cave & Dunguaire Castle Tour

Day 7: Salthill breezes, markets, and craft beer

Morning: Walk the Salthill Prom—locals “kick the wall” for luck at the Blackrock diving tower. Coffee at Urban Grind or Jungle Café (a leafy oasis near the station). If it’s Saturday, browse Galway Market by St. Nicholas’ for crepes, cheeses, and crafts.

Afternoon: Shop for a Claddagh ring at Thomas Dillon (est. 1750) and sample Irish cheeses upstairs at Sheridan’s. Then settle into The Salt House (Galway Bay Brewery) for a tasting paddle—great stout and red ales with a west-coast twist.

Evening: Dinner at McDonagh’s (classic fish & chips) or Oscar’s in Salthill (seafood, Galway Bay views). Catch one last session at The Crane Bar or Monroe’s. Sweet finish: Murphy’s Ice Cream (sea salt, Irish brown bread flavors).

Day 8: Back to Dublin and depart

Morning: Easy breakfast at Pascal Coffee House (pancakes or a proper Irish). Train to Dublin (~2h30 via Omio Trains) timed to reach the airport for your afternoon flight. If you have a spare hour, stroll the Georgian quarter around Fitzwilliam Square on the way out.

Afternoon: Depart Ireland with a camera roll of coastlines, manuscripts, and music.

Optional Dublin day trips (if you add a day or swap an activity)

• Glendalough & Wicklow Mountains + medieval Kilkenny (full day, lakes and monastic ruins): Dublin to Glendalough, Wicklow and Kilkenny Full Day Guided Tour

  

• Giant’s Causeway, Dark Hedges, and Belfast highlights (very full day north): Dublin to Dunluce Castle, Giant's Causeway, Dark Hedges & Belfast

  

Dining and coffee quick list (save for maps)

• Dublin coffee: 3fe (Lower Grand Canal St), Kaph (Drury St), Vice Coffee Inc (Wolfe Tone Sq), Proper Order (Smithfield).
• Dublin eats: The Winding Stair (Irish), Etto (small plates), Featherblade (steak), Fish Shop (seafood), Brother Hubbard (mezze), Bread 41 (bakes).
• Dublin pubs/breweries: O’Donoghue’s (trad), The Cobblestone (session), Porterhouse Temple Bar (brewpub), The Open Gate Brewery (Guinness pilot taps).
• Galway coffee: Coffeewerk + Press, Urban Grind, Jungle Café.
• Galway eats: Ard Bia at Nimmos, Kai, Dough Bros, McDonagh’s, Quay Street Kitchen.
• Galway pubs/breweries: Tigh Neachtain, The Crane Bar, The Salt House (Galway Bay Brewery).

Budget notes (50/100): Prioritize free museums (National Museum, Galway Museum), mix mid-range dining with casual classics (Bunsen, McDonagh’s), and choose 2–3 paid tours that excite you most (e.g., Book of Kells, Guinness, Aran/Cliffs). Book trains and popular tickets a few weeks ahead for best prices.

In eight days, you’ll skim the best of Ireland: a capital packed with history and flavors, and a west coast where sea cliffs meet song. Expect to return—everyone does—this time with friends you made over a pint and a chorus.