Pubs, crawling. Castles, sprawling. You, oohing and aahing.
Ireland Travel Guide
Whether you’re a nature junkie, all about that #PubLife, or a diehard music fan—you won’t need the luck of the Irish to find a reason to love Ireland.
Experience Ireland
Where hiking shoes turn into dancing-at-the-pub shoes turn into hiking shoes.
Adventure
Crush your daily steps goal and say things like “these views are bang on.”
Experience the struggle of ocean against rock at the Cliffs of Moher
Feel the power of Torc Mountain’s 66-foot waterfall
Go marching one by one along the famous One Man’s Pass trail
Count the Twelve Bens while trekking through Connemara National Park
Bike your way along Ireland’s west coast on the Great Western Greenway
Journey to the peak of Ireland’s tallest mountain, Carrauntoohil
Hike past world-famous lakes at Killarney National Park
Witness the unique geological formation of Giant’s Causeway
Ascend the Cuilcagh Boardwalk Trail AKA the Stairway to Heaven
Make like St. Patrick & see if you can find a four-leaf clover
Catch epic panoramic views along the Ring of Kerry
History
Castle. Lots of Castles.
Tour the 600-year-old Blarney Castle & Gardens
Kiss the Blarney Stone & be anointed with the gift of gab
Visit St. Patrick’s 800-year-old namesake cathedral in Dublin
See the library that inspired Hogwarts’ own at Trinity College
Read 1,200-year-old biblical stories in the Book of Kells
Uncover the fascinating story of Kilkenny Castle
Go back in time & discover the Aran Islands’ prehistoric forts
Get spooky on a historic Irish ghost tour
Walk the “Medieval Mile” in Kilkenny, featuring 14th-century castles
Craic (good times)
Fact: Irish bliss starts with Guinness.
Pour the perfect pint at the Guinness Storehouse
People-watch & pub-crawl along Dublin’s famous Grafton Street
Stepdance the night away anywhere (everywhere?) to live Irish music
Explore Galway’s Eyre Square, bustling with shops, cafes & art
Unleash your inner whiskey aficionado at the Jameson Distillery
Learn how to properly pronounce, and enjoy, Smithwick’s Ale
Supernaturalize your trip by visiting one of Ireland’s haunted pubs
Keep energized with a traditional Irish coffee from a local café
Enjoy some Irish comfort food, like beef stew or shepherd's pie
Listen to the buskers along Galway’s lively Quay Street
Buy yourself a locally crafted souvenir at the Kilkenny Design Centre
Accommodations. Activities. Rockstar Tour Director that knows which pub pours the best Guinness.
This is group travel with EF Ultimate Break. Expertly crafted itineraries, everything included. We keep your stress levels low and holy-s#!t-that-was-awesome levels high.
Lowdown
Language: English
Currency: Euro
Color: Green. So much green.
Capital: Dublin
Must See: Cliffs of Moher
Highest Mountain: Carrauntoohil
Cutest Encounter: Sheep
Dance to: Live Irish music
Drink to: Live Irish music
Hangover Cure: Live Irish music—kidding. Obviously it’s a full Irish breakfast.
Slang
Bang on: Meaning you’re right or accurate
Black stuff: Guinness
Brutal: Meaning awful or dreadful
Craic: Pronounced like crack; good times
Deadly or savage: Fantastic or great
Knackered or shattered: Exhausted
Langers: Drunk
Wired to the moon: A little hungover and three cups of coffee before 9:00am? You’re wired to the moon.
Take the piss: To mock, tease, or poke fun
Eat like a local
Don’t get it twisted, bangers and mash are a must. But there’s a whole lot of Irish food you’ve got to try.
Best ways to visit Ireland
Every way’s a good way to see Ireland, but we’ve kind of perfected it.
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We know a spot or two
Everybody knows Ireland is ridiculously good looking. But we know just the spots to experience the best of the Emerald Isle.
Pro tips
- Spuds get all the love, but make sure to enjoy Ireland’s incredibly fresh seafood, too.
- We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: the weather changes in an instant. Expect the unexpected—bring a waterproof jacket and shoes!
- The locals in Ireland are known for being friendly. Spark up conversation in the pubs and you may even find a new BFF.
- Support Ireland’s long history of craftsmanship and delicacies by buying local—from sweaters and jewelry to cheese and chocolate and more.
- When at the pubs with a group, it’s common for each person to take turns “buying a round” for the rest of the group. Try it out with your new friends!
- It’s tempting to take pictures at every corner or of every pint you purchase, but remember that life in Ireland is all about living in the moment. Enjoy it!
Ireland inspo
Traveler photos from Ireland
5/5: the perfect pour!
Our travelers love visiting Ireland, and they aren’t afraid to tell us.
Our kick-a** Tour Directors
We ❤️ them—and you will too.
Gavin
“Being from Ireland is something that I’m very proud of. No matter how far I travel or for how long, Ireland will always be my home. Ireland is the land of a thousand welcomes. Whoever you are, Ireland will welcome you with open arms and a hot mug of tea! Being a Tour Director allows me to dispense this welcome over and over again, and there’s nothing I enjoy more than meeting new people and showing off this little Emerald Island!”
Laura
“I was born in Ireland and live in a friendly little seaside village on the West Coast. Ireland is a magical place of music, dancing, and stories on a backdrop of rolling green hills, woodland, and cliffs standing over the Atlantic Ocean. Being a Tour Director is the perfect life for me, as it allows me to share with travelers what my amazing homeland has to offer!”
Marco
“I grew up between Sligo (West Coast of Ireland) and Florence (Italy). After graduating in Archeology, I traveled quite intensely around the world for 10 years, but no place feels like home more than sitting in a pub anywhere in Ireland—surrounded by strangers of every age and gender, chatting, downing a pint, listening to live music and having a great craic! My fiery passion for history and culture is something I love sharing with my groups, and for that I can thank EF Ultimate Break! Sláinte.”
Still undecided? We’ll help you find the perfect trip.
Our expert Trip Consultants are waiting to hear from you. Seriously. They freakin’ love helping travelers figure out their dream trips.