A week-long holiday without a car in Ireland is easily doable; in fact, it’s almost ideal. This North Atlantic country aptly called the Emerald Isle is a stunner not just by looks, but also because of its people, fables, and culture. Studded with lush, rolling landscapes, wind-weathered coasts, and cities both gritty and charming, it’s the perfect place to explore.
But how to spend a week in Ireland without a car? We’ve got a few tricks up our sleeves. There are many ways, depending on what type of traveller you are and how adventurous you would like to be during your visit. Here are the best ways to spend a week in Ireland without a car.
Read here the best 7 day Ireland travel itineraries.
Stick to the cities
Urban types who enjoy city stays will find comfort in the fact that Ireland’s biggest cities are easily accessible via public transport. Dublin—being the capital city, not to mention the largest in the country—has the most diverse options.
The greater Dublin area is serviced by buses, urban rail, and light rail, with the Dublin Metro on the way. The city boasts the Dublin Area Rapid Transit, dubbed DART, which services the city centre as well as the coastal area with 31 stations in total. It also has a commuter rail with four lines: Northern, South Eastern, Western, and South Western.
Cork, in southwest Ireland, on the other hand, has buses and urban rail, with plans for a light rail system. Limerick and Galway are serviced by buses and urban rail, while Derry and Waterford are accessible by buses.
If you’re not feeling too adventurous or feel like you’re pressed for time, staying in the cities where you can hop on buses or trains that run quite regularly might be your best option. A week is hardly enough to spend in Dublin, but if you go for the highlights, you might tick off a couple of cities during your holiday.
You could spend two or three days in Dublin, visiting attractions, stopping by the Guinness Storehouse Factory, and drinking with the locals in pubs. Then jump on the Dublin-Cork line to explore the southern city of Cork.
Alternately, take the Dublin-Galway line to explore the charming city of Galway and then squeeze in a day trip somewhere. The Wicklow Mountains National Park is a skip, hop and a jump away from Dublin, while the majestic Cliffs of Moher are a two-hour bus ride from Galway.
Join a multi-day group tour
If you do want to cover a lot of ground, another hassle-free way to get around is by joining a multi-day tour, you’ll be on wheels but technically won’t be driving yourself. This is especially great if you want to mix it up and are angling for diverse activities and places. Without a car for convenience, that is harder to do. A tour will offer you the right mix of activities as well as transport.
As Ireland is a top holiday destination, tours include week-long options that will take you through cities and to some of the country’s less accessible gems.
Mind you, with many of these tours; your schedule will be a little tighter as your itinerary will be packed with many stops. These tours are designed for travellers who like to squeeze in as many attractions and experiences as possible in a short span of time.
Guided tours with a packed schedule aren’t for everyone. If you prefer to take things at a slower pace, there are some options out there, but remember to take a good look at the itinerary before booking.
For an epic tour that ticks off many items on most Ireland bucket lists, the seven-day Grand Tour of Ireland might be the right choice. This small group tour starts its journey in Dublin and offers a diverse blend of historical attractions, charming towns, stunning landscapes, and quiet countryside. The organisers will arrange your accommodation, guide, and transport as well as give you a chance to opt-in for extra activities like horseback riding, kayaking, and surfing.
For a slightly less busy but still productive visit, try the Irish Highlights tour, during which you’ll dedicate a day to exploring Dublin and then another circling the Ring of Kerry. You’ll see less and therefore spend more time at each sight. Visit Galway the Bunratty Castle, and the Cliffs of Moher, to name a few. Accommodation, a guide, some meals, and transport and included.
Or try a six-day option and take the last day off to bliss out and recover from a busy week. The Celtic Voyage is perfect for this and includes a visit to the westerly point of Valentia Island and the excavation site of Ross Island.
Journey by train and bus
If ticking off as many places as possible isn’t as important as seeing a good portion of the country in general, a leisurely pace might be more your style. If that is the case, you’ll find travelling by train and, at times, by bus an excellent way to see the country.
Ireland’s landscape and seascape panoramas are the stuff of fairy tales, and one of the best ways to admire the scenery is through the window of a train rolling through the countryside. The advantage of journeying by train (or bus), therefore, is two-fold: it lets you sit back, relax, and see this beautiful country as you travel from one point to another.
Ireland’s railways will take you from one major city to another or from a city to one of the bigger towns. Organised train tours to major attractions are also on hand. If travelling by train is not an option to where you’d like to go, then a bus will get you there.
Hike a Long-Distance Trail
Of course, if you want a full-immersion of the Irish countryside, there are always Ireland’s great walking trails that go from one town or village to another, and take you through the beautiful land.
The 53-kilometre (33-mile) Causeway Coast Way, for example, will only take two to three days to complete and takes you along Northern Ireland’s vast coastal stretch. There’s also Glendalough, which takes about a day or two to complete. For the ultimate hiking adventure, you can take a Ring of Kerry hiking tour that takes 6-7 days to complete.
Remember long-distance hiking requires stamina, strength, and endurance, not to mention a lot of planning and preparation. Before you take on a challenge like this, be sure that you’ve trained for it and covered all your bases concerning gear, sleeping arrangements, food, and safety.
Are there any countries you love visiting where you don’t need a car? Tell us about them in the comments!
