Here are some tips to help you on your way
1. Ireland uses the Euro while Northern Ireland uses the British Pound. Use a credit card with no foreign transaction fees and eliminated the need to use cash. Credit cards are accepted almost everywhere. Always pay in the currency of the country you are in. That is if offered the choice of paying in US dollars or Euros always pay in Euros, to avoid double conversion. Generally US dollars can only be exchanged at a bank, if you have an account, and the conversion rate will be well below official rate. Also never convert money at the airport. The rates are terrible. If you need Euros the best way to get them is by using a debit card. Try and get a debit card with minimun fees. I would recommend the Charles Schwab debit card. Any fees that may occur while using this card in the USA or abroad are credited back to your account. You can open an online checking account with Charles Schwab with no minimum deposits or fees.
2.If you want to use your cell phone while in Ireland just visit any phone store such as Vodafone or Three and they will give you a new SIM card to use while in Ireland. These phone store can be found in most of the larger towns in the country. They will switch it out for you or give you a new ESIM. With the newer phones, Apple 14 and above, there is not need to physically replace the SIM card. they just give you an esim which is basically just a number you can use while abroad and you just switch back to your original number when you return home. You can reuse the same SIM card if you return to Ireland. Usually costs around $30/month. Remember your phone must be unlocked to switch out SIM cards. Check with your carrier before you leave. Alternately you can get an international plan from your carrier before you go.
3.If you need directions on your phone before you leave the airport and before you get internet on your phone, simply use the wifi at the airport and put the directions into maps before you leave the airport. The directions will stay in maps even without internet. Just be aware you cannot change the directions on route.
4.Ireland is a very safe country to visit. Dublin is a very walkable city especially around Grafton Street, Trinity College, St Stephen’s Green and the Temple Bar area. Don’t miss the Guinness Storehouse Tour or a visit to the National Museum Archaeology on Kildare Street which houses artifacts dating back to the Bronze Age. Public transport is easily available with an efficient double decker bus system and the Luas tram service. Taxis and Ubers are also readily available.
A day or two in Dublin should suffice and then it’s time to hit the road. The west coast is where you want to be. The Wild Atlantic Way,1600 miles (2600 km) in length, is one of the longest defined coastal routes in the world. It winds its way all along the Irish west coast from the Inishowen Peninsula in the north down to the picturesque town of Kinsale, County Cork, in the south. Here are some highlights along the way. In the south Kinsale, Cobh, Dingle and Killarney are popular destinations with Killarney being the gateway to the scenic Ring of Kerry, a day trip in itself. Heading north, if you are crossing into County Clare use the ferry at Tabert to cross the Shannon River. This will save a journey all the way around Limerick City. Alternatively, you can visit the charming village of Adare in County Limerick, which is considered one of the prettiest villages, with attractions like Adare Manor, thatched cottages, and the Adare Heritage Centre. Visit the Cliffs of Moher and if you have time take a ferry to the Aran Islands. The ferry departs from the small village of Doolin or from Rossaveel in County Galway.
A night or two in Galway City is a must. Near the ocean lies Salthill known for its promenade and sandy beaches. The heart of the city is around Eyre Square with nearby attractions like Galway Cathedral, Spanish Arch, Quay Street and the Latin Quarter. This area is surrounded by restaurants, shops and pubs that offer traditional Irish music. To the west of Galway City is Connemara, the Irish-speaking Gaeltacht region renowned for its stunning, rugged landscapes, beautiful beaches, and charming villages, offering a mix of natural beauty and cultural experiences.
Heading north along the stunning Sligo coastline, the imposing tabletop mountain, Ben Bulben dominates the landscape. Stop a while at the grave of W.B. Yeats in the churchyard of St. Columba’s Church in the village of Drumcliffe. Then on to my personal favorite Donegal. I am a bit biased here as this is where I grew up. Donegal Town is a great base to explore the county. Surrounding its main square (The Diamond) are numerous pubs, restaurants and hotels. Two more top class hotels, Harvey’s Point Hotel and Solis Lough Eske Castle, are located 5 miles from the town on the picturesque Lough Eske. Visit O’Donnell’s Castle in the center of the town and take a ride along Donegal Bay on the Waterbus.
From Donegal Town drive west toward the fishing village of Killybegs and on towards Carrick. On the way, about 6 km after Killybegs and just after the Blue Haven Restaurant, come of the main road and the take a left on to the scenic road towards Muckross. Pull over at the viewing point and you will get a fabulous view of Muckross Beach. Drive on straight though Kilcar village and then take a left in the middle of Carrick village and head for the Cliffs at Slieve League, also known as Bunglass. Rising almost 2,000 feet (598 meters)above the Atlantic Ocean, Sliabh Liag (Slieve League) is among the highest sea cliffs in Europe. Offering one of the most breathtaking views in Ireland. As well as from above, another great way to see the cliffs is to take a boat tour from Teelin Pier with Slieve Liag Boat Tours. Take your bathing suit and take a dip in the crystal-clear waters of the Atlantic, right beneath the towering cliffs.
As you enter Carrick on your way back take the left for Glencolmkille. After a 10 minute drive, at the bottom of the hill, turn left into the village. Visit the Folk Village, perched on a hillside overlooking the sandy curve of Glen Bay Beach. The Folk Village Museum is a cluster of several small cottages, called a ‘clachan’, perched on a hillside overlooking the sandy curve of Glen Bay Beach. Each cottage is an exact replica of a dwelling used by the local people in each of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries and is equipped with the furniture, artifacts and utensils of its particular period. A reconstructed schoolhouse, fisherman’s dwelling and tiny pub-grocer offer additional insights into rural Irish life in one of the most remote corners of the country. From the Folk Village continue on the road you were on and drive another 10 minutes to the end of the road, towards Malin Beg. Here you will get a magnificent view of the Silver Strand Beach, a horseshoe beach accessible via 174 steps.
Take the same road back to Glencolmkille. In this direction you will get dramatic views of Glen Head with its Napoleonic watchtower on top. I would highly recommend a hike to the tower for spectacular views and a contented feeling of isolation. It would be a moderate hike up, taking about 20 minutes to get to the top. There is a path to the top and a pair of sneakers would suffice. To reach the path before you re-enter the village, at the firehouse turn left, then left again and follow the road to the end. Near the gate there is room for a couple of cars to park. From the gate you will walk the rest of the way to the top.
From Glencolmckille you can either take the road back to Donegal Town (take a right back up the hill) or take the Glenlish Pass towards Ardara. Take a left, left again at the bridge and right at the t junction. Notable stops up the county are Narin & Portnoo Strand, Fanad Head Lighthouse, Glenvagh House and National Park and An Grianán of Aileach, a reconstruction of a stone ringfort with its breathtaking view, thought to have been built in the sixth or seventh century.
If planning to travel into Northern Ireland, you can just drive in. It’s an open border with no passport control. Remember to let your car rental company know you are travelling into Northern Ireland. They will charge you around $50 for insurance. Please note County Donegal is in the Republic of Ireland, not Northern Ireland. In the North the currency is in British Pounds, they use miles instead of kilometers and petrol is by the gallon instead of liters. The main attractions in Northern Ireland are the Giant’s Causeway, the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, Titanic Belfast Museum and Old Bushmills Distillery.
In County Meath, about a 30-minute drive north of Dublin Airport and 8km west of Drogheda Town lies Newgrange and the Brú na Bóinne Vistors Centre. This exceptional grand passage tomb was built during the Neolithic Period, around 3100 BC, making it older than Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids. Aligned with the winter solstice, the burial chamber captures the sun rays on the shortest day of the year, as the room gets flooded with sunlight.
Other notable attractions around the country are Glendalough in County Wicklow, Kilkenny Town, Rock of Cashel in County Tipperary and Hook Head Lighthouse in County Waterford.
5. When looking for a place to stay, Ireland offers everything from Castles to Airbnb. Hotels and traditional B&B can be found even in the most remote places. Many establishments use booking.com as their preferred booking site.
6. Travelling by car is probably the easiest way to get around, but it’s not for everyone. There are numerous tours and local tours that are available. Also, Ireland boasts a very good public transport system. The bus service is Bus Eireann and the train system is Larnród Éireann (Irish Rail). You can find timetables and book fares on their respective websites. You can buy bus tickets on the bus, but I would recommend buying your ticket online for cross country travel, as tickets may be reserved further down the line. You can get a bus to almost anywhere in the country from the airport. After entering arrivals at Dublin airport walk straight towards car rentals and parking garage. When crossing the walkover look to your left and you will see the bus pick up area. On returning to Dublin Airport the bus will drop you right at the arrivals door. For more local bus service there is an additional low-cost Local Link that connects smaller towns.
7.The best time to visit Ireland is between the middle of April to the end of September. In the past decade or so May to the middle of June and September has been the driest time of the year. Bring layers of clothes, instead of heavy clothing, with a light rain jacket for the Spring, Summer and early fall months.