The Self Drive Tour of Ireland is a 9-day sample itinerary covering Dublin, Kilkenny, Dingle, and Galway — designed for travelers who want to experience the Emerald Isle behind the wheel of their own car. The route runs east to west across the island, beginning with two nights in Dublin, traveling south through Kilkenny and the medieval midlands, west to the rugged Dingle Peninsula, and ending with two nights in Galway before departing from Shannon Airport.
Route: Dublin (2 nights) → Kilkenny (2) → Dingle (2) → Galway (2) → depart Shannon
Like all Juniper Tours itineraries, this is a sample built for inspiration — every trip is custom-designed for your dates, group, and travel style by an Ireland specialist who has personally visited the country dozens of times.
Welcome to Ireland
Highlights
Your Self Drive Tour of Ireland is the perfect introduction to the Emerald Isle. Take the road wherever it may lead — through stone-walled fields in County Kilkenny, along the Atlantic edge of the Dingle Peninsula, and out to the Cliffs of Moher on the way to Galway.
Above all, consult with your Travel Specialist. We'll make sure the highlights of your trip are pre-booked so you don't miss the experiences that fill up months ahead — Dingle Distillery tours, private castle visits, the Cliffs of Moher ferry. Generous time at leisure is built in so you can explore on your own and at your own pace. Let the journey guide you.
This is a SAMPLE itinerary and is meant for inspiration only.
All of our tours are created on a custom basis to ensure the ideal trip that's only for you. The itineraries on our website are intended solely as inspiration and are not available for purchase as a set package.
Make it Yours
Accommodation
Ireland offers a wide range of accommodation styles — from boutique city hotels in Dublin and Galway to charming family-run B&Bs in the countryside, country house estates, and historic castle hotels like Dromoland, Adare Manor, and Ashford Castle. Juniper will select where you stay based on your preferences and the pace of your trip.
Transportation
All the dots will be connected based on your preferences and budget — airport transfers, rental cars (compact, mid-size, or luxury; automatic or manual), train passes, and even private chauffeur-driven options if you'd prefer not to drive yourself on Ireland's left-hand roads.
Day Tours & Entrance Tickets
Pre-scheduled tours and experiences for a seamless and enriching trip — Powerscourt Estate, Kilkenny Castle, the Dingle Distillery, the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience, Connemara and Kylemore Abbey, falconry, whale-watching, and private guided tours throughout.
Ready to Make This Trip Yours?
Speak with our Ireland specialist about your dates, your travel style, and what you want this trip to feel like.
Book a ConsultationSelf Drive Tour of Ireland: Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Dublin
Arrive at Dublin Airport (DUB) and transfer into Ireland's capital. Today is intentionally light to help with jet lag and let you settle into the rhythm of the trip. Immerse yourself in Irish culture with an Irish food tour through the city's old market lanes, a Guinness Storehouse experience at St. James's Gate, or a quiet evening at a local pub catching live traditional music.
Overnight in Dublin
Day 2: Dublin
Dublin is a small capital, but it carries an outsized weight of history and literature. Spend today on a historical walking tour of Trinity College and the Book of Kells, a cruise along the River Liffey, or visiting the EPIC Irish Emigration Museum or the Long Room library. Your Destination Specialist can help finalize the day so you experience the version of Dublin that fits your interests — literary, historic, food-focused, or all three.
Overnight in Dublin
Day 3: Dublin to Kilkenny
After breakfast, check out of your Dublin hotel and take a short taxi ride to your car rental agency (taxi fare not included). Once you've collected your car, you'll set out into the Irish countryside.
Your first stop is the elegant Powerscourt Estate in County Wicklow to explore its lush 47-acre formal gardens and 18th-century manor house. Weather permitting, take a stroll to the Powerscourt Waterfall — at 121 meters, the highest waterfall in Ireland.
As you continue south to Kilkenny, route yourself through the Wicklow Mountains National Park for a scenic alternative to the motorway. Glendalough's 6th-century monastic settlement makes a worthwhile detour if time allows.
Overnight in Kilkenny
Day 4: Kilkenny
Explore the famous "marble city" — Kilkenny earned the nickname for the polished black limestone quarried in the area for centuries. Take a privately guided tour of Kilkenny Castle, originally built in 1195 by the Anglo-Norman Strongbow and home of the Butler family for nearly 600 years. Spend the afternoon walking the Medieval Mile, browsing the Kilkenny Design Centre for serious Irish-made craft, or hiring a private guide to bring the city's history to life.
Overnight in Kilkenny
Day 5: Kilkenny to Dingle
Check out of your Kilkenny hotel and head west toward the Dingle Peninsula. The drive offers some of Ireland's most rewarding stops along the way — Blarney Castle (where you can kiss the legendary Stone of Eloquence), the Rock of Cashel (a clifftop fortress that served as the seat of the Munster kings), and the original Jameson Distillery in Midleton. Your Destination Specialist will help organize the day so you hit the stops that matter most to you without making the drive feel rushed.
Overnight in Dingle
Day 6: Dingle
A full day to explore everything the Dingle Peninsula has to offer. Drive the famous Slea Head Drive — a 30-mile circular route around Ireland's westernmost peninsula, passing beehive huts, Iron Age forts, and the dramatic cliffs at Dunmore Head. Visit the Dingle Distillery for a tour and tasting of its single-malt whiskey and award-winning small-batch gin. Take an excursion out on the water for dolphin and whale watching in Dingle Bay.
Dingle sits inside a Gaeltacht — an officially designated Irish-speaking region — so you'll hear conversations in Irish in the shops and pubs and find traditional music sessions that haven't been polished for tourists. It's one of the most culturally distinct stops on any Ireland trip.
Overnight in Dingle
Day 7: Dingle to Galway
After breakfast, get an early start with a road trip to the Cliffs of Moher. Plan a comfort break in Adare, often called Ireland's prettiest village, with its thatched-roof cottages along Main Street. Once at the Cliffs of Moher — which rise 702 feet (214 meters) above the Atlantic at their highest point — take a short walk along the cliff path and take in the views. You can extend the visit with a longer cliff-top walk (one to two hours) or, for a different perspective, a ferry ride along the base of the cliffs from Doolin Pier. Continue north to Galway in the late afternoon.
Overnight in Galway
Day 8: Galway
Enjoy a full day in County Galway at your leisure. Consider exploring north of Galway city to the Connemara region — 1,500 square kilometers of mountains, lakes, and bogland — and the charming Kylemore Abbey, a Benedictine monastery tucked into the hills overlooking Pollacappul Lough. Or stay in Galway itself and enjoy the lively cafés and pubs of the medieval Latin Quarter, the buskers along Shop Street, and a sunset walk along the Salthill Promenade overlooking Galway Bay.
Overnight in Galway
Day 9: Depart for Home
After breakfast, check out of your Galway hotel and head south to Shannon Airport (about 90 minutes by car). Drop your rental car at the airport and prepare to say "Slán abhaile" — safe home — to the Emerald Isle.
Get Ready to Travel
Every Juniper itinerary is built around you — your dates, your pace, your priorities.
Request a QuoteYour Self Drive Tour of Ireland at a Glance
Self Drive Tour Highlights
- 8 nights accommodation, 4-star or higher
- Breakfast daily, except on arrival day
- Arrival and departure airport transfers
- Compact, automatic transmission car rental
- Optional travel protection
- Selected activities based on your interests
Selected Activities
- Dolphin and whale watching
- Falconry experience
- Dingle Distillery tour
- Cliffs of Moher ferry ride
- Private, guided castle tour
- Guinness Storehouse tour
- Historical walking tour of Dublin
- Irish food tour
- River Liffey cruise
- Guided museum tours
- Entrance to Powerscourt Estate
Self Drive Ireland: Frequently Asked Questions
How many days do you need for a self drive tour of Ireland?
Nine days is the ideal length for a focused self drive tour covering Dublin, the southeast, the Dingle Peninsula, and Galway. Shorter trips of 5–7 days work for travelers focused on one or two regions. To also include Northern Ireland, the Causeway Coast, or Donegal, plan for 12–14 days.
Is it difficult for Americans to drive in Ireland?
Driving on the left takes most American travelers about 30–45 minutes to feel comfortable with. Roundabouts are typically a bigger adjustment than the side of the road. We recommend booking an automatic transmission, choosing a compact or mid-size vehicle, and adding the rental company's full collision waiver. If you'd rather not drive at all, Juniper can build the same itinerary as a private chauffeur-driven trip.
When is the best time to take a self drive trip in Ireland?
May, June, and September are the best months for an Ireland self drive trip. You'll have long daylight hours, mild temperatures (55–68°F), the lowest rainfall of the year, and fewer coach tours than peak July–August. April and October are excellent shoulder-season options for travelers who don't mind cooler weather in exchange for fewer crowds.
Can I customize this Ireland itinerary?
Yes — and we recommend it. This is a sample itinerary intended for inspiration. Every Juniper Tours trip is custom-designed for your dates, group size, accommodation preferences, and travel pace. Common customizations include adding the Ring of Kerry, Killarney, Northern Ireland, Ashford Castle, or extending the trip to include Scotland.
What kind of car should I rent for a self drive trip in Ireland?
For most travelers we recommend a compact or mid-size automatic transmission vehicle. Manual transmissions are more common and cheaper in Ireland but unfamiliar to most U.S. drivers. Avoid full-size SUVs — many rural roads, hotel driveways, and village parking spaces in Ireland are narrow. Juniper handles all rental arrangements as part of the trip.
Do I need to book hotels and activities in advance?
For peak-season travel (June–August) and for top-tier hotels and castle stays, book 9–12 months ahead. Key experiences like the Dingle Distillery tour, private castle tours, and the Cliffs of Moher ferry can sell out weeks in advance in summer. Your Juniper specialist pre-books everything as part of the trip planning so nothing is left to chance.
Is this trip available as a fixed package?
No. This is a sample itinerary used for inspiration. Every Juniper Tours Ireland trip is custom-built for the traveler — accommodation tier, activity selection, pace, transportation, and routing are all designed individually. There are no off-the-shelf packages.
Explore More Ireland Itineraries
Browse our full collection of Ireland sample itineraries — from luxury castle stays to chauffeur-driven private tours and family-friendly trips.
Let's Build Your Ireland Trip
This sample is just the starting point. Tell us how you want it to feel — and we'll design the rest.
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