Hello Steve,
It's wonderful to hear that you are planning a visit in May, a lovely time to be here on the island of Ireland!
Splitting your time equally between
Belfast and
Dublin sounds like a super idea. From both cities, it is possible to see not only the city delights but also the areas nearby. With hop on hop off bus tours,
public transport, and some organized tours, you will easily fill your itinerary.
Belfast, located on the
Causeway Coastal Route has plenty of places to visit, even
Derry~Londonderry is only 2 hours away so easily part of a day trip or even an overnight stop to break up your time. The
hop on hop off bus in Belfast offers lots of tours within and outside of the city and definitely worth a look.
Dublin has plenty to offer too.
Major attractions and all within walking distance of each other or again the
hop on hop off bus offers a route around them all if this suits better. Plenty of
day tours available to other areas closeby if you fancy some time outside the city.
There is indeed direct train and bus services between Dublin and Belfast,
Transport for Ireland has a wonderful journey planner that you can use to find the one that suits you best. And as you mention,
flights from Glasgow to Belfast International airport just outside the city may be a more preferred option indeed.
I hope this gives you lots of inspiration, and hopefully, your fellow members and some industry partners will be able to add this list!
Speak soon,
Martin