Planning first trip to Ireland

My husband and I are planning our first trip to Ireland for our 40th anniversary. We are retired and would like to spend 2-4 weeks. We know we want to visit Dublin area (Guinness, Smithwick's, Kilkenny, Trinity College Library), but might also like to visit the area where Game of Thrones was filmed, and we would definitely like to see historical sites and the beautiful landscape/cliffs/shore. Would it be better to book with a tour or book and plan on our own? We are thinking about Fall 2026 or Spring 2027.

Hello Mella,

How exciting that you are planning your first trip to the Emerald Isle, and for the lovely occasion of your 40th wedding anniversary! Your plans sound wonderful and I'll gladly share some ideas and travel tips with you. In two to four weeks, you can discover a lot of wonderful landscapes, bustling cities, Game of Thrones locations and historical sites on the island of Ireland.

First of all, it is certainly possible to navigate our wee island on your own, either driving or using public transport. If you would prefer to use a travel agent, you can find our recommended travel operators on our website.

As for places to visit, Dublin is a great introduction to Ireland, with a visit to the Guinness Storehouse not to be missed! 

Kilkenny is a bit further afield, but can be reached in under two hours by car or direct bus from Dublin. If you decide to do a loop of the island, you could visit towards the end of your trip.

Then, there is indeed a lot to discover for Games of Thrones fans. The studio tour and most filming locations are in Northern Ireland. One idea would be to travel north from Dublin, and after the Studio Tour, continue to Belfast and the Antrim coastline. Antrim is not only home to Pyke Castle (Dunluce Castle) and the King's Road (the Dark Hedges) and many other filming locations, it also happens to offer the stunning coastal landscapes you are looking for!

More spectacular cliffs, beaches and windswept islands can be found along the Wild Atlantic Way, taking you from Donegal to Cork. From here, you could drive or travel by bus to Kilkenny and finally back to Dublin. 

I hope that this gives you some inspiration and ideas for the planning stages of your trip. Enjoy the preparations for your Ireland adventure, and please feel free to ask more questions!

Regards,

Vera