How to spend a week in Ireland: See the best places to visit on our one-week Ireland itinerary

What does a one-week Ireland itinerary actually look like?

If you want to see Ireland in a week, our A Week in Ireland: Dublin, Belfast & Irish Castle Stay tour is the seven-day Ireland itinerary you’ve been dreaming of—well, it’s actually nine days in total with the arrival and departure days, but you’ll have seven full days on the Emerald Isle to explore! From Phoenix Park to a regal night at Cabra Castle, this itinerary covers an impressive sweep of Ireland (without ever feeling rushed). Here’s how it all unfolds.

Things to do in Ireland on our Weeklong Tour

• Days 1-3: Discover the best of Dublin. Join an expert guide at icons like St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Trinity College. You can also add our optional Glendalough excursion.
• Days 4-5: Admire Irish castles and countryside. Kilkenny Castle, the Rock of Cashel, Country Limerick—the sites you’ll visit are a history-lover’s dream. Admire even more on our optional Cliffs of Moher, Pub Lunch & the Burren excursion.
• Day 6: Visit a working farm. Swing by County Meath as you journey north to watch sheepdogs herding their flock, and tuck into scones, tea, and traditional Irish brown bread.
• Days 7-8: Join a guide in Belfast. Go from exploring the Titanic Belfast Museum to hearing the history of the Troubles on a tour of Northern Ireland’s capital. Cap it off with an optional visit to Giant’s Causeway.
• Day 8: Stay in a 19th-century castle. Feel like royalty inside the ivy-covered walls of Cabra Castle in County Cavan.
• Day 9: Head home (or back to Dublin!). Wave goodbye to the Emerald Isle, or spend two extra nights in Dublin.

What to see on a guided tour of Dublin

Dublin’s story stretches back hundreds of years—and as you explore the city with a local guide on day three of our A Week in Ireland: Dublin, Belfast & Irish Castle Stay tour, you’ll feel every century of it. Royal parklands, Gothic cathedrals, a legendary brewery, and Georgian squares make discovering Dublin one of the best things to do in Ireland.

Dublin’s must-see landmarks

• Phoenix Park: Phoenix Park was established as a royal hunting ground in 1662 and spans 1,750 acres (making it the largest enclosed public park in any European capital). It’s home to rolling greenery and the Irish president’s residence.

• St. Patrick’s Cathedral: You’ll feel awed as you step into Ireland’s largest church, which has stood for more than 800 years and features unforgettable Gothic architecture.

• Trinity College: Famed writers like Oscar Wilde and Samuel Beckett studied at Trinity College, which is Ireland’s oldest university.

• Merrion Square: This spot near Trinity College offers a green respite in the heart of the city (and is the place to see stunning Georgian architecture).

• Temple Bar: After exploring Dublin with a local expert, you can choose to go for a pint in the lively Temple Bar district along the River Liffey.

  (Psst… want to head outside the city? Add our optional Glendalough excursion to explore well-preserved ruins in County Wicklow.)

Spend a day covering more than 1,000 years of Irish history

Day four of our A Week in Ireland: Dublin, Belfast & Irish Castle Stay tour includes a broad sweep of history—as well as a full day in the Irish countryside. Here’s what the experience will bring as you hop from Kilkenny (and its eponymous castle), to the ruins crowning the Rock of Cashel, and then on to your hotel in County Limerick.

What to expect for your day in the Irish countryside

• Kilkenny Castle: Built in 1260 and restored more than 700 years later, Kilkenny Castle welcomes more than a million visitors a year. Roam through the fortress, its gardens, and nearby St. Canice’s Cathedral.
• Rock of Cashel: Get your camera ready—this fortress ruin is one of Ireland’s most iconic landmarks. Take in its dramatic setting on a rocky outcrop above County Tipperary and hear about its collection of Celtic, Christian, and Viking ruins.
• The Golden Vale: This fertile stretch of countryside between County Tipperary and County Limerick plays a major part in Ireland’s dairy industry, and offers quintessentially Irish scenery for your memory book.
• Included dinner in County Limerick: Cap off your day in the countryside by sharing a meal with your fellow travelers in County Limerick.

Seek out the highlights on Ireland’s western coast

Get ready to dive into day five of our A Week in Ireland: Dublin, Belfast & Irish Castle Stay tour your way. Use your free day to explore County Limerick on your own, or to add our expertly crafted Cliffs of Moher, Pub Lunch & the Burren excursion. This optional tour is your ticket to two bucket list gems in County Clare: the Cliffs of Moher, where sheer bluffs and endless Atlantic views shine, and the Burren, a striking limestone expanse dotted with wildflowers. (Psst... read our Ireland Travel Guide to see why it’s worth adding the Cliffs of Moher excursion.)

Choose how you make the most of your free day

• Enjoy your perfect pace: Our travel experts intentionally added a full free day to the middle of your tour! It gives you room to slow down and follow your own interests, whether that’s digging into the local scene or heading to the coast on our excursion.
• The Cliffs of Moher: Standing on these cliffs at the edge of the Atlantic is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and is one of the most amazing things to experience in Ireland with a group. It can be rainy and very windy, which only adds to the dramatic view. Our tip? Skip the umbrella and wear a waterproof windbreaker instead.
• The Burren: Nature lovers, this one’s for you. The Burren’s limestone plateaus look almost lunar—until you spot the wildflowers. In fact, more than 70% of Ireland’s flower species bloom here. It truly is one of the best places to visit in Ireland.
• County Limerick: Prefer to skip the excursion and spend a slower day your own way? There’s surely a pub and a bowl of Irish stew with your name on it. Head into Limerick City to have a leisurely lunch, stroll along the Three Bridges Walk, and visit the Limerick Milk Market.

Connect with rural Irish life and cultural identity

Travel experiences don’t get much more authentic than the ones you’ll step into on day six of our A Week in Ireland: Dublin, Belfast & Irish Castle Stay tour. Start the day watching a sheep-herding demonstration on a working farm. Then, cross the border and end the day in Belfast, where history and the present day collide.

Making your way from County Meath to Northern Ireland

• Watch daily life at a working farm: This included stop in County Meath offers an up-close look at rural Irish life. See a sheep-herding demo, tuck into a spread of scones, brown bread, and tea—and keep your eyes peeled for newborn lambs if you visit in the spring.
• Get to the agricultural heart of County Meath: Fertile soil and nutrient-rich pastures make this county a hub of farming. There’s also plenty of history to be found—the ancient passage tomb of Newgrange is here, too.
• Cross into Northern Ireland: Continue heading north to cross into Northern Ireland, a separate nation and constituent country of the United Kingdom. Seeing both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland adds a fascinating layer of history to your journey.

What to expect on your guided tour of Belfast

Belfast has a way of surprising people, and is one of the top cities to visit in Northern Ireland. Seafaring, resilient, and bursting with creativity, it’s a city shaped by centuries of history—including the fairly recent sectarian conflict known as the Troubles. Spend day seven and part of day eight of our A Week in Ireland: Dublin, Belfast & Irish Castle Stay tour exploring with a local guide, who can share first-person context that turns sightseeing into something deeper.

Belfast’s must-see highlights

• Belfast City Hall: Marvel at this grand Baroque landmark, which is capped with an impressive copper dome and has anchored the city’s heart since the early 20th century.

• The Grand Opera House: Pass by this nearly 130-year-old hub of the arts, which was fully restored in 2020 and is still dazzling audiences with everything from ballet to comedy.

• Belfast’s storied streets: Step into the past with a local guide, who will reveal the layers of history that have helped shape Northern Ireland, from Belfast’s Bronze Age roots to the conflict known as the Troubles.

• Titanic Belfast Museum: This world-class museum stands on the very shipyard where the RMS Titanic was built, and you’ll trace the ship’s fateful story through interactive exhibits and recreated spaces.

• The Botanic Gardens: After exploring Belfast with a local expert, you can choose to spend some free time in this 19th-century green space, which boasts a glass conservatory, open-air rosarium, and more.

  (Psst… want to leave the city limits behind for the afternoon? Add our optional Giant’s Causeway excursion. This UNESCO-listed site in County Antrim consists of 40,000 interlocking basalt columns that step down into the sea, and is steeped in its fair share of Irish folklore.)

Spend a regal evening in a historic castle

Return to the Republic of Ireland and get ready to feel royal—day eight of our A Week in Ireland: Dublin, Belfast & Irish Castle Stay tour brings you to the historic halls of Cabra Castle in County Cavan. This 19th-century castle-turned-hotel has towering, ivy-covered walls that rise above meticulously landscaped grounds, and you’ll get to spend a gilded evening soaking it all in.

How to settle into Cabra Castle

• Feel the history: Although the current structure was rebuilt in 1808, the original structure (known as Cormey Castle) was built in the 1600s and destroyed in the Cromwellian War.
• Explore the grounds: Enjoy free time to explore the castle’s 100 acres of parks, gardens, and woodlands.
• Look for wildlife and flowers: Follow the walking trails through Dun a Ri Forest Park to spot minks, rabbits, and otters. You might also see blankets of bluebells if you visit in the spring, which many consider to be the best time to visit Ireland.
• Raise a glass with your tourmates: Celebrate your trip with your fellow travelers at a farewell dinner, served with beer or wine.

Ireland is pure magic, and we take care of every detail on our Ireland tours so that you can soak it all in. Our local experts know where to find the highlights and hidden gems—and how to skip the lines, too. They’ll show you the Emerald Isle’s most authentic sides, so all you have to do is enjoy the scenery and find your next perfect pint of Guinness.

Get to the heart of the Emerald Isle while enjoying…

• Stress‑free logistics handled by locals
• Expert guides with insider knowledge
• Built‑in cultural experiences (think: visiting a working farm and staying in a real castle)
• Balanced pacing, with the perfect amount of both guided and free time
• Expertly chosen accommodations full of local charm
• Easy transportation on a private motor coach
• …and more!