Hi Anthony,
It's great to hear you'll be able to spend two weeks exploring the island of Ireland this summer!
I've shared some ideas for an itinerary here below, although feel free to modify it, and add or remove bits depending on your interests and how much time you'd like to spend in each place. I've tried including some villages, national parks, and castles, for a balanced overview of everything the island has to offer.
You could begin your journey southwards towards Cork - which is a 2h30 drive - with stops in
Kilkenny and the
Rock of Cashel for example.
Cork city is a great place to wander around and use as a base to visit the towns of
Cobh, Kinsale, and
Blarney Castle too.
Next on your journey, you could head towards
Killarney (count 1h30 drive), which is the perfect spot to explore the surrounding area, especially as it is the gateway to the
Ring of Kerry. If you have time, you could also opt for a boat trip to the
Great Skellig.
You could then start heading north towards Galway, driving along the
Wild Atlantic Way, which is dotted with stunning views and
lovely villages. Make sure to stop at the
Cliffs of Moher, and if time allows, the
Burren.
Galway city is ideal for sampling Ireland's traditional music and pub culture. It's also a good base to explore the
Connemara,
Kylemore Abbey, and the
Aran Islands. The
Galway International Arts Festival will also be taking place from the 17th of July onwards.
The drive northwards into Northern Ireland will most likely be the longest part of your journey, although you could break it up with a stop in Sligo, or Donegal. The town of
Derry~Londonderry, also known as the Walled City, is a perfect place to begin your adventure in Northern Ireland. From there, head to the
Giant's Causeway, which is about one hour away. Depending on how much time you have in the area, you could also fit in a visit to
Dunluce Castle or the
Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge for a rush of adrenaline!
Belfast is 1h30 away from the Giant's Causeway, and full of fascinating history and sights to see, including the wonderful
Titanic Belfast. It's also become a bit of a foodie's heaven, so don't miss out on some
tasty treats. If you'd prefer skipping Belfast, count a good three hours from the Giant's Causeway to Dublin.
You'll find plenty of
sights to keep you busy in Dublin (The
Guinness Storehouse, Trinity College Library..), and, if you have the time, there are also some
great day trips out from Dublin, whether that's exploring nearby
coastal villages, neolithic sights such as
Brú na Bóinne, or the
Wicklow Mountains.
In terms of accommodation, you can use the search tool
available here, which also allows you to apply filters, such as the type of accommodation you're looking for.
I hope this helps, and don't hesitate to get back to us if you have some more questions!
Alex