Hi Ivelysse,
Great to hear you're planning a two-week trip to Ireland in fall 2026 — and that you're thinking of going independently rather than joining a tour. That’s a fantastic choice, especially if you’re looking to set your own pace and really connect with the places you visit.
Since you're still figuring out where to begin, I wanted to suggest something a little different: spend some of your time exploring Northern Ireland. It’s often overlooked in first-time itineraries, but it's absolutely packed with beauty, history, culture, and charm — and very manageable by car or even partially by public transport.
An example itinerary might include:
The Causeway Coastal Route - Rent a car and drive the spectacular Causeway Coastal Route via Carrickfergus Castle, The Gobbins Cliff Walk; Cushendun, and Torr Head. Base yourself in Ballycastle, Bushmills, or Portrush. Must-see sights include: The Giant’s Causeway; Dunluce Castle; Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge and the Dark Hedges (for Game of Thrones fans). You could also consider a stop at Rathlin Island — remote, wild, and full of seabirds in season.
Renting a car gives you the most freedom, especially for scenic drives like the Causeway Coastal Route and rural inland areas. Driving is on the left, but roads are generally good. If you’re not keen on driving, you could base yourself in 2–3 spots and use public transport — Belfast, Derry, and Coleraine are all connected by rail and bus.
Northern Ireland has a great mix of family-run B&Bs, boutique guesthouses, and budget hotels. Towns like Portrush and Bushmills are good bases with walkable centres. You can find further information about accommodation in the area
here.
If you’re looking for: Epic coastal drives, History and castles, live music and warm pubs, friendly locals and fewer crowds…then Northern Ireland will tick all your boxes. If you’re open to this kind of route, I (and others here) would be happy to help fine-tune it.
Happy planning!
Alison