Raise your pint and revel in the spirit of Ireland.
Can you think of a better time to visit Ireland than during St. Patrick’s Day week? Drop in on the Emerald Isle during one of the most festive times of year, exploring its vibrant cities and breathtaking countryside.
Don some green, grab a pint, and join the locals in Dublin for the city’s legendary St. Patrick’s Day parade. Then, make your way west to kiss the Blarney Stone and marvel at the Cliffs of Moher.
Your tour package includes
6 nights in handpicked hotels
6 breakfasts
3 dinners with beer or wine
5 sightseeing tours
Expert Tour Director & local guides
Private deluxe motor coach
Included highlights
St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin
St. Patrick’s Cathedral
Cobh Heritage Centre
Blarney Castle
Galway Bay
The Burren
Cliffs of Moher
Itinerary
Overnight Flight1 night
Day 1: Travel day
Board your overnight flight to Dublin today.
County Dublin3 nights
Day 2: Arrival in Dublin
Included meal: Welcome dinner
Welcome to Ireland! Meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers at tonight’s welcome dinner.
We handpick every hotel to strike the balance of comfort, location, and local charm. Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date, but these are frequently used hotels for this tour and we're confident you'll be satisfied.
This contemporary hotel is located in the heard of Cardiff. Guests enjoy spacious rooms, the fitness center, and restaurant. Nearby you'll Find Cardiff Castle, the Museum of Cardiff, and many restaurants.
Garryvoe Hotel
This contemporary hotel is located on the coast of Garryvoe in County Cork. Guests enjoy a restaurant, bar, and health club. Nearby, you’ll find Garryvoe Beach and beautiful coastal views.
Maldron Sandy Road
This comfortable hotel is located near the center of Galway. Guests enjoy free Wi-Fi, a hotel bar, and a restaurant. Nearby, you’ll find the Galway Shopping Centre, Páirc Bhaile an Phoíll, and the Terryland Forest Park.
Crowne Plaza London – King’s Cross
This upscale hotel is located in London, steps away from the St Pancras railway station. Guests enjoy on-site restaurants, the leisure club, and a fitness center. Nearby, you’ll find King’s Cross Theatre, Trafalgar Square, and...
Round-trip flights are one more thing we handle to make your journey as smooth as possible. Our team of travel experts will find the best flight itinerary for you at a competitive rate, thanks to our partnerships with top airlines.
Add our airfare and you’ll get:
Round-trip flight for your tour
Airport transfers at your destination
A great price locked in today
24/7 support from our dedicated service team
Options for arriving early, staying longer, or requesting an upgrade
Flexible rebooking options if your tour itinerary changes
In order to enter Ireland (and the United Kingdom on the tour extension), U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport with an expiration date extending at least six months beyond the date of reentry.
We recommend having at least one blank passport page for entry stamps.
There is no visa required for U.S. or Canadian citizens.
If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact your destination country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.
You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements and searching the code IRP.
You will walk for at least 1.5 hours daily across moderately uneven terrain, including paved roads and cobblestone streets with some hills and stairs.
Travelers should be healthy enough to participate in all included walks without assistance. Adding optional excursions may increase the total amount of walking on your tour.
You should feel comfortable managing your own baggage at times.
If you have any mobility concerns or physical restrictions, please contact our Customer Experience Team.
Round-trip flights booked through Go Ahead Tours arrive in and depart from Dublin (or depart from London on the tour extension). A representative from Go Ahead Tours will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. Please remain in the arrival lounge, as the representative might be escorting one of your fellow travelers to the bus at the time of your arrival.
Transfers to and from the airport at your destination are included for travelers who have purchased their flights through Go Ahead Tours. Travelers who purchase their own flights may request airport transfers with Go Ahead Tours for an additional cost.
A flight from Shannon to London is included in the price of the tour extension.
All other included transportation is by private motor coach.
Please note that our travelers are limited to one checked bag and one carry-on bag per person due to storage limitations on motor coaches and other transfers, which may include train connections or flights.
Contact your airline(s) for baggage size and weight restrictions for your flights, which may include on-tour flights in addition to your round-trip flights to and from tour. Please note that your included on-tour flights may have more restrictive baggage limits.
Some airlines may impose additional charges if you choose to check any baggage or exceed baggage size and weight restrictions. Be advised that you are responsible for any baggage fees incurred on all flights.
Make sure you label your baggage and keep valuables, medication, and documents in your carry-on bag.
We recommend packing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that can be easily layered to accommodate varying temperatures, as well as a light jacket or rainwear.
A sturdy pair of walking shoes or sneakers is recommended for sightseeing.
You may want to pack dressier attire if you plan to visit a high-end restaurant or attend a special performance.
It is preferable not to visit churches or other religious sites with bare legs and shoulders (and entrance may be denied on this basis).
At least 60 days prior to departure, check with your doctor or healthcare provider for the latest updates and entry requirements, or visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov.
If you have medication that you take daily, be sure you have enough for each day of the tour as well as any possible delays encountered.
If you have dietary restrictions and/or food allergies please notify Go Ahead Tours at least 30 days prior to departure by logging in to your account and updating your traveler info. To update this information closer to your departure date, please call our Customer Experience Team.
You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements and searching the code IRP.
Irish pubs serve up hearty lunches, such as the traditional stew of bacon and boiled cabbage. Soda bread is delicious, very filling, and served with many meals. Nibble a scone at afternoon tea, with a pat of high-quality butter from County Kerry. Guinness stout is an international sensation, but locals might favor Murphy's, depending on where you are.
Dublin has seen something of a culinary revolution, and the city now boasts an impressive array of new restaurants offering exciting cuisine with continental Europe, Asian, and even American influences.
For traditional English fare at a reasonable price on the tour extension, try a pub meal of fish and chips or bangers and mash. Stilton cheese, steak and kidney pie, and Cumberland sausages are also worth a try.
Modern-day London, on the tour extension, boasts an array of diverse international restaurants. Popular options for the adventurous palate include Indian, Thai, Chinese, Indonesian, Greek, and West African cuisine. Sip afternoon tea with delicious finger sandwiches and scones at Harrods for the ultimate in English tradition.
Ireland (and the United Kingdom on the tour extension) operates within 230-240 volts and uses a Type G plug with three large, flat pins.
We recommend packing a universal adapter, as well as a voltage converter if you plan on using your own hairdryer or other electrical device without a built-in converter.
The strength of the air conditioning in European hotels is often not as strong or as cool as what you might be used to in the U.S. or Canada. When air conditioning is available, it is usually regulated seasonally and controlled centrally by the hotel.
Hotels may provide hairdryers, irons, and other small appliances, but these amenities cannot be guaranteed.
Wi-Fi is available in most hotels, though charges may apply.
There is no internet access on the motor coach.
Please contact your mobile service provider for information on roaming charges.
Ireland (and the United Kingdom on the tour extension) is on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), which is five hours ahead of Eastern Time (ET).
When it’s noon in New York, it’s 5pm on tour.
You will use the euro in Ireland (and the Pound sterling in the United Kingdom on the tour extension).
Better rates of exchange are usually available overseas, although it’s worth ordering some currency from your local bank to use when you first arrive.
We strongly advise that you take debit/bank cards and credit cards, which can be used to withdraw cash at local banks as needed.
You can use most debit/credit cards at ATMs on the international networks Cirrus and Plus, but make sure to check with your home bank about withdrawal fees.
Inform your bank and credit card company of your travel plans so that they won’t confuse your international purchases for fraudulent charges.
International banks and businesses primarily accept debit and credit cards that work with the EMV chip system. If you do not already have at least one debit or credit card with a chip in it, we strongly recommend requesting one from your bank prior to your tour.
At the conclusion of your tour, it’s customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a gratuity in local currency. Please keep current exchange rates in mind.
We recommend tipping the equivalent of $10USD to $12USD per person per day for your Tour Director and the equivalent of $3USD per person per day for your driver.
If applicable, we also recommend the equivalent of $2USD per local guide.
Tips can only be paid in cash.
Most optional excursions will be available for purchase while you are on tour.
Your Tour Director will only accept cash (in USD only), Visa, or MasterCard as payment for excursions.
Please be advised that if you pay for an excursion by credit card while on tour, it may take up to three months for your card to be charged.
Some optional excursions may only be purchased in advance. See page four of your tour itinerary for more information.
The was my favorite tour yet! Ireland is beautiful and the people are so nice. I definitely want to go back someday.
St. Patrick’s in Ireland
5 out of 5 stars
1st-time traveler Rhoda, traveled in Mar 2024
We had never been on a group tour. Friends had used EF and suggested a Friends Fest in Ireland over St. Patrick’s - it was such a wonderful experience to not have to worry about flights, hotels, points of interest and meals. This gave us the opportunity to just enjoy ourselves...
EF Go Ahead Tours
Hi Rhoda,
Thank you for sharing your experience with us! We're thrilled to hear that your first group tour with EF was such a wonderful...
St. Patrick’s Day Celebration
5 out of 5 stars
9th-time traveler Joyce, traveled in Mar 2024
Being in Dublin on St. Patrick’s Day was amazing! This tour also took us to Cork, Killarney and Glasgow. Everyone had a blast and seeing the Cliffs of Moher on a cloudless day was spectacular!
Amazing ST Pattie’s week!!!
5 out of 5 stars
1st-time traveler Timothy, traveled in Mar 2023
My tour to Ireland was everything I was hoping for and more. Our tour guide was excellent 14 out of 10 star rating!!!! The week was spectacular and exceeded all expectations!!!! This was my first tour with any group and EF tours knocked it out of the park. I would highly...
Ireland!!!
5 out of 5 stars
5th-time traveler Anonymous, traveled in Mar 2023
Patricia was an exceptional tour guide! She was so fun and made everything go smoothly! I would definitely recommend trip and especially her as guide!!
St. Paddy’s Day in Dublin
5 out of 5 stars
1st-time traveler Julia, traveled in Mar 2023
What a fantastic way to spend St. Paddy’s Day ☘️ My husband and I love learning everything we can during our travels. Our tour director Patricia was everything we had hoped for and more. Her vast knowledge of the country’s history and customs were exemplary. If you are looking...
