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

It sounds like a wonderful way to celebrate your 40th anniversary—what a special trip to plan!

You’ve already picked some fantastic highlights around Dublin and Kilkenny, and I think you’re absolutely right to also look beyond that area. If you’re interested in Game of Thrones and dramatic coastal scenery, I would very strongly recommend adding time in Northern Ireland—especially the Causeway Coast and Glens.

This region is home to many of the most iconic filming locations from the series, all within a relatively compact and scenic area. Places like the Dark Hedges (the Kingsroad), Cushendun Caves, Ballintoy Harbour, and Murlough Bay were all used in the show, and they’re set among some of the most beautiful coastal landscapes in Ireland. Even if you weren’t a fan of the show, this stretch of coastline—often called the Causeway Coastal Route—is worth visiting for its cliffs, beaches, and historic sites.

As for whether to book a tour or go independently, with 2–4 weeks you’re actually in a great position to do a mix: Self-drive gives you the most flexibility, especially along the Causeway Coast where you’ll want to stop for views, short walks, and smaller sites. Day tours or guided experiences can be a nice addition in places like Dublin or Belfast if you want deeper historical context without planning everything yourself.  Many people find that Ireland is quite manageable to plan on their own, especially if you take it at a relaxed pace and base yourselves a few nights in each region rather than constantly moving.

For timing, both your options are good:

• Spring (April–May): longer days, fresh landscapes, fewer crowds
• Autumn (Sept–Oct): Autumn colours, still relatively mild weather, and a cosy atmosphere.

A suggested itinerary might be: Dublin → Kilkenny → west coast (for cliffs like Moher) → then up to Northern Ireland for the Causeway Coast → finish in Belfast.

You really can’t go wrong, but definitely don’t miss the north coast—it tends to be a highlight people didn’t originally plan for.

Wishing you both a wonderful trip!

Alison