Ireland: Where Every Road Tells a Story
Ancient castles, wild coastlines, legendary pubs. Your guide to the whole island — North and South.
Ireland is one of those places that gets under your skin. The Republic gives you Galway’s chaos, Dublin’s literary pubs, and cliffs that drop straight into the Atlantic. Cross into Northern Ireland and you’ve got Belfast reinventing itself every year, the Giant’s Causeway doing things geology shouldn’t be allowed to do, and some of the best coastal driving in Europe. Two countries, two currencies, one island — and honestly, you could spend a month here and still miss half of it. The weather will absolutely rain on you, but you won’t care. There’s always a pub nearby. This guide covers both sides of the border, from budget breakdowns to getting around, so you can plan the whole thing in one place.
1–1.5 hrs
From the UK
May–Sep
Best time
English + Irish
Main language
EUR (South) / GBP (North)
Currency
Best Time To Visit
Ireland and Northern Ireland, with their lush landscapes and rugged coastlines, offer year-round charm.
Spring (March to May) is a hidden gem, with blooming wildflowers, playful lambs, mild weather (12°C/54°F), and festivals like St. Patrick’s and the Cork International Choral Festival. It’s perfect for hiking, cycling, or visiting the Cliffs of Moher.
Summer (June to August) is peak season, featuring long days (up to 18 hours of daylight), warm temperatures (15°C–20°C), and events like the Galway Arts Festival. It’s ideal for exploring the coastline and iconic spots like the Ring of Kerry.
Autumn (September to November) brings golden foliage and events like the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival, while winter (December to February) offers a peaceful escape with fewer crowds. However, spring and summer are best for enjoying Ireland’s outdoors and stable weather.
What To Expect
12°C
- Temperature
Capital: Belfast (Northern Ireland) , Dublin (Rep. Ireland)
Population: 1.885 million (Belfast), 592,713 (Dublin)
Language: In Ireland, English is the first language. However, Ullans (Ulster-Scots) and Irish are both recognised as culturally significant
Currency: The official currency of Northern Ireland is Pound Sterling (GBP). 1 USD is equivalent to 0.81 GBP. 1 € is equivalent to 0.86 GBP. Republic of Ireland use the Euro! Check the latest rates here
Credit Cards & ATMs: Credit and debit cards are widely accepted, so there is no need to carry large amounts of cash on you. ATMs are available in all towns and cities. A lot of places will also accept contactless payments like Apple Pay or Google pay.
Plugs: The plugs in both Northern Ireland and Ireland are type G. The standard voltage is 230 V, and the standard frequency is 50Hz. I recommend buying a universal adapter
Safety: Over the years, Ireland has undergone significant transformation and today stands as a popular tourist destination known for its hospitality. While it’s generally safe for travellers, as with any region, it’s always wise to stay informed about local nuances. Major cities like Belfast and Derry – Londonderry are bustling with activity, and tourists typically find them welcoming. Always be aware of your surroundings, avoid isolated areas late at night, and stay updated on local news.
Ireland Travel Guides
City breaks, coastal road trips, and everything in between. North and south of the border.
Northern Ireland
Ireland
Itineraries + Maps
Travel Tips
How Much Does Ireland Cost?
Two countries, two currencies, one island. Here’s what you’ll actually spend — covering both the Republic (EUR) and Northern Ireland (GBP).
🎒
Backpacker
~€50–70 / £45–60 / $55–80 per day
- Hostel dorms from €20/£17/$22 per night
- Supermarket meals and pub grub
- Public buses and walking
- Free parks, coastal walks, and street music
🍜
Mid-Range
~€120–180 / £105–155 / $135–205 per day
- B&Bs, boutique hotels, and Airbnbs
- Restaurants, pubs, and café lunches
- Mix of car rental and intercity trains
- Guided tours, castle entries, and boat trips
🏨
Upscale
~€250+ / £220+ / $285+ per day
- Castle hotels and luxury country houses
- Fine dining and Michelin-starred restaurants
- Private tours and chauffeur-driven day trips
- Premium whiskey tastings and spa retreats
Detailed Cost Breakdown
| Type | Republic (EUR) | Northern Ireland (GBP) | USD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hostel dorm | €20–40/night | £17–35/night | $22–45/night |
| Hostel private room | €50–100/night | £43–87/night | $55–115/night |
| Budget hotel | €70–120/night | £61–104/night | $80–140/night |
| Airbnb apartment | €80–150/night | £70–130/night | $90–170/night |
| B&B / Guesthouse | €60–120/night | £52–104/night | $70–140/night |
| Campsite | €15–25/night | £13–22/night | $17–29/night |
City Travel
- Bus/tram (one-way): €2–3 / £1.70–2.60 / $2.20–3.50
- Dublin Leap Card daily cap: ~€8 / £7 / $9
- Taxi base fare: €4–5 / £3.50–4.30 / $4.50–5.75
Long Distance
- Intercity bus: €15–30 / £13–26 / $17–35
- Intercity train: €15–45 / £13–39 / $17–52
- Car rental per day: €40–80 / £35–70 / $46–92
Eat Cheap
- Fast food / deli lunch: €8–12 / £7–10 / $9–14
- Supermarket meal prep: €4–7 / £3.50–6 / $4.50–8
- Coffee: €3–4 / £2.60–3.50 / $3.45–4.60
Eating Out
- Mid-range restaurant: €20–40 / £17–35 / $23–46
- Pub meal (main + drink): €15–25 / £13–22 / $17–29
- Pint of Guinness: €5.50–7 / £4.75–6 / $6.30–8
Budget Fun
- National park / coastal walk: Free
- Museum entry: €5–15 / £4.30–13 / $5.75–17
- Dublin walking tour (tip-based): Free–€10
Big Experiences
- Cliffs of Moher entry: €10 / £8.60 / $11.50
- Titanic Belfast: £25 / €29 / $33
- Giant’s Causeway visitor centre: £15 / €17 / $20
- Guided day tour (e.g. Ring of Kerry): €40–70 / £35–60 / $46–80
Tips for Saving Money in Ireland
💧 Bring a reusable water bottle. Tap water is safe to drink across the entire island. Skip the bottled stuff and save a few euros every day.
🚶 Take free walking tours. Dublin, Belfast, Galway, and Cork all have tip-based walking tours run by locals. Budget-friendly and you actually learn something.
🍳 Cook your own meals. Hostels and Airbnbs with kitchens are everywhere. Tesco, Lidl, and ASDA (in the North) keep grocery costs low. A week’s worth of breakfasts for the price of two café ones.
🏠 Stay slightly outside city centres. A 15-minute bus ride from central Dublin or Belfast can halve your accommodation costs. The suburbs aren’t far.
🚌 Get a Leap Card in Dublin. It caps your daily spend and saves 20%+ over single tickets. In the North, use a Translink day pass for the same effect.
🚲 Rent a bike or just walk. Dublin, Galway, and Belfast are all compact enough to cover on foot. Dublin Bikes and Belfast Bikes cost next to nothing for short trips.
🏛️ Hit the free attractions. Phoenix Park, the Peace Walls, the Causeway Coastal Route, Bray to Greystones cliff walk — some of the best things on the island cost nothing.
🍺 Eat at pubs and markets. A pub carvery lunch is half the price of a restaurant dinner and twice the portion. St George’s Market in Belfast and the English Market in Cork are cheap and brilliant.
🕐 Travel off-peak. Bus and train fares drop outside rush hours. Booking intercity trains in advance can save you 40% or more on the same route.
🎟️ Use discount cards. The Dublin Pass, Heritage Card, and National Trust membership (for NI) all pay for themselves within a couple of attractions.
🌊 Prioritise free natural attractions. The Cliffs of Moher coast path, Giant’s Causeway approach (free without the visitor centre), and dozens of beaches and hiking trails — all free.
📅 Visit off-season. Late autumn through early spring means cheaper flights, lower accommodation rates, and fewer tour buses at every viewpoint. Pack a waterproof and you’re grand.
Getting Around Ireland
The island is smaller than you think — but the roads are narrower than you’d expect. Here’s how to get from A to B without losing your mind (or your wing mirrors).
Cycling
Best for scenic routes and greenways. The Great Western Greenway and the Waterford Greenway are standouts.
✅ Bike-share schemes in Dublin and Belfast from €1–2
✅ Greenways are traffic-free and flat
❌ Weather can make long rides miserable
Car Rental
Best for road trips, rural areas, and the Wild Atlantic Way. Total freedom — just remember you’re driving on the left.
✅ Complete flexibility to explore at your pace
✅ Only real option for remote coasts and countryside
❌ Narrow rural roads take getting used to
Ferries
Best for island hopping — Aran Islands, Rathlin Island, Skellig Michael. Also connects Ireland to the UK.
✅ Only way to reach offshore islands
✅ Dublin–Holyhead and Belfast–Cairnryan for UK connections
❌ Weather-dependent, especially on western routes
Intercity Train
Best for the Dublin–Belfast, Dublin–Cork, and Dublin–Galway corridors. Scenic and relaxed.
- ✅ Comfortable and scenic
- ✅ Dublin to Belfast in about 2 hours
- ❌ Network is limited — trains don’t reach everywhere
Intercity Bus
Best for budget travel between cities. Bus Éireann in the Republic, Translink in the North.
✅ Cheapest way between major cities
✅ Good coverage of main routes
❌ Slow on cross-country routes, limited rural stops
Walking
Best for city exploration. Dublin, Belfast, Galway, and Cork are all compact enough to cover on foot.
✅ Free and the best way to find hidden spots
✅ Most city attractions within 30 minutes of each other
❌ Not much use between cities (obviously)
Which Is Right For You?
Sticking to one city
Walk it. Use Leap Card or Translink for buses.
Hitting multiple cities
Train between the big ones, bus for smaller hops
Wild Atlantic Way or countryside
Rent a car. No other option really works.
Tight budget
Intercity bus + walking. Book trains early for discounts.
Quick Tips
📅
Book Trains Early
Advance fares on Irish Rail and NI Railways can save 40%+. Last-minute prices are painful.
💳
Leap Card + Translink
Get a Leap Card in Dublin, a Translink pass in Belfast. Always cheaper than single tickets.
🛣️
Drive on the Left
Both Ireland and NI drive on the left. Roundabouts are everywhere. Take it slow the first day.
⚠️
Watch Rural Roads
Single-track lanes with hedgerows taller than your car. Go slow. Pull in for oncoming traffic. Watch for sheep.
Book Tours & Tickets
Related Resources
Travel Problems
Missed flights, lost luggage, dodgy hotels. It happens. Here’s how to handle all of it without losing your mind.
Theft & Scams
Pickpockets, tourist traps, and cons you won’t see coming. We break down the most common ones and how to avoid every single one.
Travel Insurance
Don’t skip this one. Especially travelling solo. We compare the best policies and explain exactly what you actually need.
FAQs
Do I need a visa to visit Ireland?
It depends on your nationality. UK and Irish citizens can travel freely across the whole island under the Common Travel Area — no passport technically required, though airlines will ask for ID. US, Canadian, Australian, and EU citizens don’t need a visa for the Republic of Ireland and can stay up to 90 days. For Northern Ireland (which is part of the UK), most non-UK/Irish citizens now need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) — this has been required since April 2025. It costs £10 and is applied for online. Always check both Irish and UK government websites before you travel, because the two jurisdictions have separate entry rules.
What currency does Ireland use?
Two currencies on one island. The Republic of Ireland uses the Euro (EUR). Northern Ireland, as part of the UK, uses Pound Sterling (GBP). You’ll need both if you’re crossing the border — and you probably will, because the border is invisible and you can cross it without even noticing. Cards are accepted almost everywhere on both sides, but check your bank’s foreign transaction fees. ATMs are widely available in all towns and cities.
Is Ireland safe for tourists?
Yes — both the Republic and Northern Ireland are generally very safe for visitors. Violent crime against tourists is rare. The main risks are the same as anywhere in Western Europe: pickpocketing in busy tourist areas (Temple Bar in Dublin, the Cathedral Quarter in Belfast) and opportunistic theft from rental cars. Keep valuables out of sight, don’t leave bags unattended, and you’ll be fine. Northern Ireland has moved on significantly from its troubled past and is one of the friendliest places you’ll visit. Use common sense, and you won’t have problems.
How long do I need in Ireland?
A week gives you a solid taste — enough for Dublin, the Cliffs of Moher, and either Galway or the Ring of Kerry. Ten days lets you add Belfast, the Giant’s Causeway, and a road trip section. Two weeks and you can genuinely cover both the Republic and Northern Ireland at a comfortable pace without feeling rushed. If you’re doing the Wild Atlantic Way properly, that alone can take 10–14 days. The short answer: budget more time than you think you’ll need. Everyone says they wish they’d had longer.
What's the best time to visit Ireland?
May to September gives you the longest days and the most reliable (by Irish standards) weather. June, July, and August are peak season — warmest temperatures (15–20°C), up to 18 hours of daylight, and every festival going. But it’s also the busiest and most expensive. Shoulder months (May and September) are brilliant: fewer crowds, lower prices, and the weather’s often just as good. Winter (November to February) is cold and dark but has its own appeal — Christmas markets, empty landscapes, and pub fires. Rain is possible in every month. Pack a waterproof whatever time you come.
Can I drive across the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland?
Yes, and you probably won’t even realise you’ve done it. There are no border checkpoints, no passport checks, and no stopping. The road signs change (kilometres in the Republic, miles in the North), the speed limits change, and your phone might switch networks — that’s about it. If you’ve rented a car in the Republic, check your rental agreement allows cross-border travel. Most do, but some charge a supplement or restrict it.
Do I need travel insurance for Ireland?
Strongly recommended. UK citizens have some reciprocal healthcare access in the Republic through the EHIC/GHIC scheme, but it doesn’t cover everything — and it doesn’t apply in Northern Ireland if you’re from outside the UK. For most international visitors, healthcare in Ireland is not free. An A&E visit in Dublin can cost €100+ just for the assessment. Travel insurance covers medical costs, trip cancellation, lost luggage, and all the things you hope won’t happen but sometimes do. Compare policies in our Travel Insurance guide.
Is Ireland expensive?
It’s not the cheapest country in Europe, but it’s manageable. Dublin is the priciest part — accommodation and dining there are on par with London. Belfast is noticeably cheaper. Rural areas and smaller towns are cheaper again. A backpacker can get by on around €50–70 / £45–60 / $55–80 per day. Mid-range travellers will spend €120–180 / £105–155 / $135–205. The biggest costs are usually accommodation and car rental. Pubs are surprisingly reasonable outside Dublin and tourist hotspots.
Can I drink the tap water?
Yes. Tap water is safe and high quality across the entire island — Republic and Northern Ireland. Bring a reusable bottle, skip the bottled water, save your money.
What should I pack for Ireland?
Layers. Always layers. The weather can shift three times in an afternoon. A waterproof jacket is non-negotiable — not a fashion piece, a functional one that actually keeps rain out. Comfortable walking shoes (waterproof if possible), a light fleece or jumper for evenings, and something smart-casual if you’re planning a nicer dinner out. Umbrella optional — most people give up on them in Irish wind. Sunscreen in summer (yes, really — when the sun does appear, you’ll burn faster than you’d expect at this latitude).
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