First Time Visitor...need help with itinerary...Thanks In Advance!

First Time Visitor...need help with itinerary...Thanks In Advance!

Author
Message
Profile Picture
Posted Tue 12 May 2026 3:17 PM
View Quick Profile
Junior Member
Junior Member (63 reputation)Junior Member (63 reputation)Junior Member (63 reputation)Junior Member (63 reputation)Junior Member (63 reputation)Junior Member (63 reputation)Junior Member (63 reputation)Junior Member (63 reputation)Junior Member (63 reputation)
Gold Achievements 0 Silver Achievements 0 Bronze Achievements 8
Posts: 2
Group: Community Member Last Active: Thu 14 May 2026 1:21 PM Visits: 387
Greetings,
My wife and I are planning our first (of many future) trips to Ireland.  I am a well-traveled international traveler but can't seem to figure out how to drive on the left side of the road, so I will take trains/buses to our destinations.  We're planning on flying into Dublin from the States in late September/early October and starting our +/- 7 day trip there.  

Here's what I have sketched out so far...
Day 1 -- Arrive in Dublin
Day 2 -- Dublin
Day 3 - Travel to Galway in AM
Day 4 - leave Galway late afternoon for Cork
Day 5 - Cork
Day 6 - leave Cork late afternoon for Dublin

For our first trip, does this itinerary make sense?  Is there plenty of variety of things to see in these cities?

I really like this website and am planning on using the BandB site to book BandB's for our stay.  
Profile Picture
Posted Wed 13 May 2026 9:27 AM
View Quick Profile
Community Expert
Community Expert (71.8K reputation)Community Expert (71.8K reputation)Community Expert (71.8K reputation)Community Expert (71.8K reputation)Community Expert (71.8K reputation)Community Expert (71.8K reputation)Community Expert (71.8K reputation)Community Expert (71.8K reputation)Community Expert (71.8K reputation)
Gold Achievements 4 Silver Achievements 4 Bronze Achievements 28
Island of Ireland
Posts: 798
Group: Community Moderator Last Active: Wed 20 May 2026 7:34 AM Visits: 13.9K
Hello Chris,
Thanks for posting about your plans for you and your wife to visit in late September, early October! We understand the whole driving thing, and rest assured, it is possible to get around using public transport during your time with us. Transport for Ireland has a wonderful journey planner that you can use to find the best options for your needs. So from Dublin Airport to the city, there are a couple of options: taxis, or there are direct buses by Aircoach and Dublin Express from outside of arrivals.

Dublin City has plenty of things to do on your first full day, and a must see on any trip to the Republic of Ireland. If there is any specific attraction that you have in mind, I would suggest booking tickets online in advance, as there are usually time slots and also the best prices. Travelling the next morning to Galway takes about 2 hours 30 minutes by Citylink 761 bus service, so an early start will mean you get to spend more time exploring the city and all it has to offer before heading east again to Cork City using either the Citylink 251 service ( 3 hours) or Bus Éireann 51 service (4 hours 20 minutes). 🚌

For the journey back to Dublin from Cork, Transport for Ireland has 2 main options: the Citylink 707 service ( 3 hours) or the Irish Rail train option ( 2 hours 30 minutes), giving you plenty of time to enjoy Dublin for your last night. As well as the B&B Ireland website, there is an accommodation page on our website to help with accommodation, especially around Dublin, where there are fewer traditional B&B type accommodations. Just scroll down to the Where do you want to stay section and use the filters to refine your search by type and location.

I hope this helps with your plans and you have a great first experience with us, and long to come again! 💚

Profile Picture
Posted Thu 14 May 2026 1:20 PM
View Quick Profile
Junior Member
Junior Member (63 reputation)Junior Member (63 reputation)Junior Member (63 reputation)Junior Member (63 reputation)Junior Member (63 reputation)Junior Member (63 reputation)Junior Member (63 reputation)Junior Member (63 reputation)Junior Member (63 reputation)
Gold Achievements 0 Silver Achievements 0 Bronze Achievements 8
Posts: 2
Group: Community Member Last Active: Thu 14 May 2026 1:21 PM Visits: 387
Thanks very much Martin for your reply.  In your opinion, given our constrants, are Dublin, Galway, and Cork three great cities to start with?
Profile Picture
Posted Fri 15 May 2026 9:04 AM
View Quick Profile
Community Expert
Community Expert (71.8K reputation)Community Expert (71.8K reputation)Community Expert (71.8K reputation)Community Expert (71.8K reputation)Community Expert (71.8K reputation)Community Expert (71.8K reputation)Community Expert (71.8K reputation)Community Expert (71.8K reputation)Community Expert (71.8K reputation)
Gold Achievements 4 Silver Achievements 4 Bronze Achievements 28
Island of Ireland
Posts: 798
Group: Community Moderator Last Active: Wed 20 May 2026 7:34 AM Visits: 13.9K
Yes, indeed! Your choices of these 3 cities will give you a super introduction week to what is available in the Republic of Ireland. Dublin itself is a perfect start to your first time with us, with plenty of great attractions to cover, and easy to walk around and see what you want.
Galway, both county and the city, is also perfect to see the west coast charm and amazing landscapes. From food to streets to music, definitely plenty to keep you busy.
Cork is another popular city to visit for all the right reasons. Plenty of culture, food, and history to take in as you walk around this city. Cobh, a few miles away, is another popular spot to see while staying in Cork, especially as you have planned a little extra time here.
Please check out all of the highlighted links to see all the great things to visit! I am sure you will both have a great time. ☺️


Similar Topics