How to Plan a Relaxed 7-Day Road Trip Around the Wild Atlantic Way

How to Plan a Relaxed 7-Day Road Trip Around the Wild Atlantic Way

If you are planning a road trip around Ireland, one of the easiest mistakes to make is trying to see far too much.

If you're looking for a relaxed 7-day Ireland road trip itinerary, this section of the Wild Atlantic Way is a great place to start.

Ireland looks small on a map, but once you get onto the smaller roads, stop for photographs, find a beach you were not expecting or decide to stay somewhere for lunch, the day can disappear very quickly.

And that is actually part of what makes travelling around Ireland so enjoyable.

If you have seven days, I would not try to drive the entire Wild Atlantic Way. You will spend too much time in the car and not enough time actually enjoying the places you have travelled all this way to see.

For a first trip, I think a route through Kerry, Dingle, Clare, Galway and Connemara gives you a fantastic mix of mountains, coastline, small towns, pubs, beaches and some of the best scenery in Ireland.

Days 1 & 2 — Killarney and Kerry

I would start in Killarney and give yourself two nights there.

If you are arriving through Shannon Airport, Killarney is a very manageable place to begin the trip.

On your first day, do not put too much pressure on yourself. Check into your accommodation, have something to eat and go for a walk around town.

If you have the energy, Killarney National Park, Ross Castle and Muckross are all nearby and give you a lovely introduction to County Kerry.

The next day can be your proper sightseeing day.

You could visit Torc Waterfall, Ladies View, the Gap of Dunloe or explore some of the Ring of Kerry.

My advice would be not to try and complete the entire Ring of Kerry just because it is on every travel list.

If you find somewhere beautiful, stop.If you want to stay for an hour, stay for an hour.

A relaxed Ireland road trip is always more enjoyable than one where you are watching the clock all day.

Days 3 & 4 — Dingle

From Killarney, make your way towards Dingle.

I would definitely stop at Inch Beach along the way.

Even if you only spend 20 or 30 minutes there, it is a beautiful first taste of the Atlantic coast before continuing into Dingle.

Once you arrive, take your time.

Dingle is not somewhere I would simply use as a place to sleep before driving somewhere else.

Walk around the town, find a pub, have dinner and enjoy the atmosphere.

The next day, drive Slea Head.

This is one of those places where a relatively short drive can take you most of the day because there are so many places worth stopping.

Dunquin, Coumeenoole, the Blasket Island views, small beaches and the dramatic coastline can easily fill a day without you ever feeling like you are rushing.

This is also one of the reasons Dingle has become so popular with couples eloping in Ireland. You can have mountains, coastline, beaches and beautiful quiet locations without spending hours travelling between them.

Even if you are not planning an elopement, that same thing makes Dingle a brilliant base for a relaxed holiday.

Day 5 — Clare and the Cliffs of Moher

From Dingle, make your way north towards County Clare.

This will be one of your longer travelling days, so I would keep the rest of the day simple.

Doolin is a great place to stay and gives you easy access to the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren.

Of course the Cliffs are famous, but Clare is much more than one attraction.

There are beautiful coastal roads, little villages and some fantastic pubs.

If you get a good evening, spend some time along the coast and enjoy it rather than immediately heading back to the hotel.

Day 6 — The Burren and Galway

Spend the morning exploring the Burren before heading towards Galway.

The Burren is completely different from Kerry and Dingle.

The limestone landscape almost feels like you have entered another part of the world.

You do not need a long list of attractions here either. Drive slowly, stop when something interests you and enjoy the landscape.

Then continue into Galway.

After a few days of scenic driving, Galway is a nice change of pace.

Park the car and forget about it for the evening.

Walk around the city, find somewhere to eat, listen to some music and enjoy the atmosphere.

Day 7 — Connemara

For your final day, head west into Connemara.

Connemara is one of the parts of Ireland where I would deliberately keep the plans loose.

There are mountains, lakes, bog roads, beaches and little stretches of road where the scenery suddenly opens up in front of you.

Clifden is a good base and the Sky Road is always worth doing.

But again, do not try to tick off every attraction.

Connemara is somewhere you enjoy by slowing down.

Stop at a beach.

Pull in beside a lake.

Find a café.

Take a smaller road simply because it looks interesting.

That is often where the best part of the trip happens.

A Few Things Worth Knowing Before You Go

One thing visitors sometimes underestimate is how long travelling around Ireland can take.

A journey that looks short on Google Maps can involve narrow roads, villages, tractors, sheep and plenty of places where you will want to stop.

So always give yourself a little more time than you think you need.

I would also recommend staying two nights in at least a couple of places.

Changing hotels every morning can get tiring surprisingly quickly.

Two nights in Killarney and two nights in Dingle gives you a much more relaxed start to the trip.

It is also worth keeping part of each day unplanned.

Do not organise every meal, every viewpoint and every stop before you arrive.

Some of the nicest travel memories in Ireland come from finding somewhere completely by accident.

And bring a waterproof jacket.

You do not need to spend your holiday checking the Irish weather forecast every ten minutes.

The weather can change very quickly.

Bring layers and keep going.

Coming to Ireland for Something Special?

Something I have noticed over the years is that people sometimes begin planning an Ireland road trip and then realise they could actually make one day of the trip even more memorable.

That might be a proposal, an anniversary, renewing vows or even eloping in Ireland.

For couples thinking about eloping to Ireland, a road trip like this works particularly well because some of the country's best elopement locations are already along the route.

Kerry, Dingle, Clare and Connemara are all fantastic areas for an intimate ceremony without having to turn the entire holiday into a wedding schedule.

If that is something you are considering, there is more information about Ireland elopement planning at Ireland Elopements & Co.

But whether you are coming here for an Ireland elopement, a honeymoon, a family trip or simply a holiday, the same advice applies.

Do not try to see everything.

Choose a few great places and enjoy them properly.

Stay a little longer when somewhere feels right.

Have the extra pint.

Take the road you had not planned to take.

And do not worry if the itinerary changes halfway through.

That is often when an Ireland road trip becomes the trip you actually remember.

Author	Message
	Ireland Elopements & Co Posted Tue 25 Aug 2026 10:25 AM
Ireland Elopements & Co Industry Member 1 3 17 Posts: 30 Group: Approved Community Member Last Active: Tue 25 Aug 2026 10:28 AM Visits: 312	How to Plan a Relaxed 7-Day Road Trip Around the Wild Atlantic Way If you are planning a road trip around Ireland, one of the easiest mistakes to make is trying to see far too much. If you're looking for a relaxed 7-day Ireland road trip itinerary, this section of the Wild Atlantic Way is a great place to start. Ireland looks small on a map, but once you get onto the smaller roads, stop for photographs, find a beach you were not expecting or decide to stay somewhere for lunch, the day can disappear very quickly. And that is actually part of what makes travelling around Ireland so enjoyable. If you have seven days, I would not try to drive the entire Wild Atlantic Way. You will spend too much time in the car and not enough time actually enjoying the places you have travelled all this way to see. For a first trip, I think a route through Kerry, Dingle, Clare, Galway and Connemara gives you a fantastic mix of mountains, coastline, small towns, pubs, beaches and some of the best scenery in Ireland. Days 1 & 2 — Killarney and Kerry I would start in Killarney and give yourself two nights there. If you are arriving through Shannon Airport, Killarney is a very manageable place to begin the trip. On your first day, do not put too much pressure on yourself. Check into your accommodation, have something to eat and go for a walk around town. If you have the energy, Killarney National Park, Ross Castle and Muckross are all nearby and give you a lovely introduction to County Kerry. The next day can be your proper sightseeing day. You could visit Torc Waterfall, Ladies View, the Gap of Dunloe or explore some of the Ring of Kerry. My advice would be not to try and complete the entire Ring of Kerry just because it is on every travel list. If you find somewhere beautiful, stop.If you want to stay for an hour, stay for an hour. A relaxed Ireland road trip is always more enjoyable than one where you are watching the clock all day. Days 3 & 4 — Dingle From Killarney, make your way towards Dingle. I would definitely stop at Inch Beach along the way. Even if you only spend 20 or 30 minutes there, it is a beautiful first taste of the Atlantic coast before continuing into Dingle. Once you arrive, take your time. Dingle is not somewhere I would simply use as a place to sleep before driving somewhere else. Walk around the town, find a pub, have dinner and enjoy the atmosphere. The next day, drive Slea Head. This is one of those places where a relatively short drive can take you most of the day because there are so many places worth stopping. Dunquin, Coumeenoole, the Blasket Island views, small beaches and the dramatic coastline can easily fill a day without you ever feeling like you are rushing. This is also one of the reasons Dingle has become so popular with couples eloping in Ireland. You can have mountains, coastline, beaches and beautiful quiet locations without spending hours travelling between them. Even if you are not planning an elopement, that same thing makes Dingle a brilliant base for a relaxed holiday. Day 5 — Clare and the Cliffs of Moher From Dingle, make your way north towards County Clare. This will be one of your longer travelling days, so I would keep the rest of the day simple. Doolin is a great place to stay and gives you easy access to the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren. Of course the Cliffs are famous, but Clare is much more than one attraction. There are beautiful coastal roads, little villages and some fantastic pubs. If you get a good evening, spend some time along the coast and enjoy it rather than immediately heading back to the hotel. Day 6 — The Burren and Galway Spend the morning exploring the Burren before heading towards Galway. The Burren is completely different from Kerry and Dingle. The limestone landscape almost feels like you have entered another part of the world. You do not need a long list of attractions here either. Drive slowly, stop when something interests you and enjoy the landscape. Then continue into Galway. After a few days of scenic driving, Galway is a nice change of pace. Park the car and forget about it for the evening. Walk around the city, find somewhere to eat, listen to some music and enjoy the atmosphere. Day 7 — Connemara For your final day, head west into Connemara. Connemara is one of the parts of Ireland where I would deliberately keep the plans loose. There are mountains, lakes, bog roads, beaches and little stretches of road where the scenery suddenly opens up in front of you. Clifden is a good base and the Sky Road is always worth doing. But again, do not try to tick off every attraction. Connemara is somewhere you enjoy by slowing down. Stop at a beach. Pull in beside a lake. Find a café. Take a smaller road simply because it looks interesting. That is often where the best part of the trip happens. A Few Things Worth Knowing Before You Go One thing visitors sometimes underestimate is how long travelling around Ireland can take. A journey that looks short on Google Maps can involve narrow roads, villages, tractors, sheep and plenty of places where you will want to stop. So always give yourself a little more time than you think you need. I would also recommend staying two nights in at least a couple of places. Changing hotels every morning can get tiring surprisingly quickly. Two nights in Killarney and two nights in Dingle gives you a much more relaxed start to the trip. It is also worth keeping part of each day unplanned. Do not organise every meal, every viewpoint and every stop before you arrive. Some of the nicest travel memories in Ireland come from finding somewhere completely by accident. And bring a waterproof jacket. You do not need to spend your holiday checking the Irish weather forecast every ten minutes. The weather can change very quickly. Bring layers and keep going. Coming to Ireland for Something Special? Something I have noticed over the years is that people sometimes begin planning an Ireland road trip and then realise they could actually make one day of the trip even more memorable. That might be a proposal, an anniversary, renewing vows or even eloping in Ireland. For couples thinking about eloping to Ireland, a road trip like this works particularly well because some of the country's best elopement locations are already along the route. Kerry, Dingle, Clare and Connemara are all fantastic areas for an intimate ceremony without having to turn the entire holiday into a wedding schedule. If that is something you are considering, there is more information about Ireland elopement planning at Ireland Elopements & Co. But whether you are coming here for an Ireland elopement, a honeymoon, a family trip or simply a holiday, the same advice applies. Do not try to see everything. Choose a few great places and enjoy them properly. Stay a little longer when somewhere feels right. Have the extra pint. Take the road you had not planned to take. And do not worry if the itinerary changes halfway through. That is often when an Ireland road trip becomes the trip you actually remember.
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How to Plan a Relaxed 7-Day Road Trip Around the Wild Atlantic Way

How to Plan a Relaxed 7-Day Road Trip Around the Wild Atlantic Way

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