This 7 day Ireland itinerary is the one we followed on our honeymoon — which tells you everything about how we feel about it. We had already visited Dublin and Galway a few years earlier and fell completely in love with both cities, so when it came to planning our honeymoon we did not hesitate. Ireland is small but it packs an extraordinary amount of beauty, history, pub culture, and genuine warmth into a relatively compact country. Seven days is a great first visit, splitting your time between the west and the east with a focus on Galway and Dublin.
This itinerary gives you three days in Galway, three full days in Dublin, and one travel day between them. It covers the Cliffs of Moher, the Aran Islands, the Howth coastal walk, and enough pub sessions and traditional music sessions to send you home with a permanent affection for the country.
DAY 1: ARRIVE AND HEAD TO GALWAY
Fly into Dublin Airport and take the Bus Éireann coach directly to Galway — about 3.5 hours and surprisingly comfortable. Arriving in Galway in the afternoon gives you time to check in, walk the medieval city centre, and find your first traditional session. The pub scene along Quay Street and Shop Street starts early and runs late. Galway is a city that pulls you in immediately — let it.
In the evening, walk along the waterfront toward Salthill. Every morning we were in Galway we made this same walk to clear our heads and it became one of our favourite rituals of the whole trip. There is something about the light on Galway Bay in the morning and evening that is completely unique to the west of Ireland.
DAY 2: CLIFFS OF MOHER DAY TRIP
The Cliffs of Moher are about an hour from Galway by bus or car and one of the most dramatic natural sights in Europe. The cliffs rise 214 metres above the Atlantic at their highest point and stretch for 14 kilometres along the Clare coastline. Walk south from the main visitor centre toward O’Brien’s Tower for the best views and the most dramatic cliff edge. Book the bus from Galway in advance — the day trip coaches fill up fast in summer.
If you have a car, combine the Cliffs with a drive along the Burren — a vast limestone plateau with an otherworldly landscape unlike anything else in Ireland. The road between Doolin and Ballyvaughan through the Burren is one of the best drives on the island.
DAY 3: ARAN ISLANDS OR MORE OF GALWAY
The Aran Islands are 45 minutes by ferry from Rossaveel (about 40 minutes from Galway by bus) and offer a completely different Ireland — Irish-speaking, wind-swept, ancient stone forts, and a pace of life that feels centuries removed from the mainland. Inis Mór is the largest island and the most visited, with Dún Aonghasa — a prehistoric cliff-top fort — as the main highlight. Rent a bike on the island and cycle to the fort. Allow a full day.
Alternatively, use the day to go deeper into Galway itself — the Saturday market at St Nicholas’ Church, the Spanish Arch, and a long afternoon in the pubs watching whatever rugby is on. We watched local practice matches along the waterfront on our Galway mornings and it became an unexpected highlight of the whole trip.
DAY 4: TRAVEL TO DUBLIN AND THE GUINNESS AND JAMESON EXPERIENCE
Take the morning coach from Galway to Dublin — about 2.5 hours on the Citylink express. Check in to your Dublin accommodation and head straight to the Guinness Storehouse on St James’s Gate. The self-guided tour through the history of Guinness is genuinely excellent and ends with a complimentary pint poured at the Gravity Bar — a 360-degree glass room at the top with panoramic views over Dublin. Book online in advance to save time.
In the afternoon, visit the Jameson Distillery Bow St. in the Smithfield neighbourhood for a guided tour and whiskey tasting. The combination of the Guinness Storehouse and Jameson in one afternoon is unbeatable for understanding what Ireland drinks and why. End the evening in Temple Bar — lively, a little touristy, but undeniably fun on your first night in Dublin.
DAY 5: DAY TRIP TO HOWTH
Take the DART commuter train from Dublin City Centre to Howth — about 30 minutes and one of our favourite day trips from any city in Ireland. Howth is a fishing village on a headland north of Dublin with a spectacular coastal cliff walk and one of the best concentrations of fresh seafood restaurants in the country.
Walk the Howth Head cliff loop — about 10km and two to three hours at a comfortable pace. The path follows the cliff edge with views across Dublin Bay, Ireland’s Eye island, and on a clear day all the way to the Wicklow Mountains. It is one of the great coastal walks in Ireland and completely free. End the walk back in the village and have lunch at one of the harbourside seafood restaurants — the crab claws and chowder here are outstanding.
DAY 6: EXPLORE DUBLIN
Use the full day to cover central Dublin at your own pace. Start at Trinity College and the Book of Kells — the 9th century illuminated manuscript is extraordinary and the Long Room library is one of the most beautiful rooms in Ireland. Book timed entry in advance.
Walk through Merrion Square past the colourful Georgian townhouses and Oscar Wilde’s statue, then into St Stephen’s Green for a break. The National Museum of Ireland on Kildare Street is free and excellent — the bog bodies and Viking gold collections are highlights.
In the evening, go to The Church on Mary Street — a restaurant and bar built inside a fully restored 18th century church, complete with the original organ pipes, stained glass windows, and a balcony overlooking the nave. Live music and dancing most nights. It is one of the most spectacular pub settings in Ireland and a genuinely unmissable Dublin experience. Book a table in advance for dinner.
DAY 7: HEAD HOME
A final morning walk through Dublin — grab breakfast at a cafe on Grafton Street, have one last look at the Ha’penny Bridge over the Liffey, and make your way to Dublin Airport for the flight home. Ireland has a way of making you plan the return trip before you have even left.
ETIAS — WHAT AMERICAN TRAVELERS NEED TO KNOW
ETIAS covers EU Schengen Area countries — Ireland is in the EU but is not part of Schengen, so ETIAS does not apply. However, Americans should check current visa-free entry requirements for Ireland before travelling. For trips that combine Ireland with mainland Europe, read our complete ETIAS guide.
TIPS FOR PLANNING YOUR IRELAND ITINERARY
Book the Cliffs of Moher bus and the Aran Islands ferry in advance — both sell out in summer. Book the Guinness Storehouse and Book of Kells online to save time. Rent a car if you want flexibility on the west coast — public transport covers the main routes but a car opens up the Burren, Connemara, and the smaller coastal roads. Pack layers regardless of the season — Irish weather changes fast and the west coast in particular can go from sunshine to horizontal rain in twenty minutes.
Grab an eSIM before you go — Saily covers Ireland well (code THEJETLAGJOURNEY25 for 25% off) and so does Airalo (code JLJ10 for 10% off).
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE 7 DAY IRELAND ITINERARY
Is 7 days enough for Ireland?
Seven days is a great introduction to Ireland, especially if you focus on Galway and Dublin as this itinerary does. There is much more to see — Cork, Kerry, Donegal, the Dingle Peninsula — but seven days gives you a genuinely rich experience of the two cornerstone cities and the best day trips from each.
Should I start in Dublin or Galway?
We recommend starting in Galway and ending in Dublin — fly into Dublin, coach straight to Galway, work your way back east. This avoids retracing your steps and means your final days in Dublin are well-rested and you know the country better by the time you explore the capital.
Is the Howth coastal walk worth it?
Absolutely — it is one of our favourite day trips from Dublin and completely free. The cliff loop is about 10km, the views across Dublin Bay are spectacular, and the seafood in the village afterwards is some of the best in Ireland. Take the DART from the city centre — it is 30 minutes and runs frequently.
What is the best pub experience in Dublin?
The Church on Mary Street is our top recommendation — a restaurant and bar inside a beautifully restored 18th century church with live music, dancing, and one of the most spectacular interiors of any pub in Ireland. For a traditional session, the pubs around Temple Bar and Grafton Street have music most nights.
Do I need a car for this Ireland itinerary?
Not necessarily — buses cover Galway to Dublin and the main day trips. But a car for the west coast days gives you access to the Burren, Connemara, and the smaller coastal roads that buses cannot reach. If you are comfortable driving on the left, renting a car for the Galway days and taking the coach to Dublin works well.
MORE FROM THE JET LAG JOURNEY
Read our complete city guides for things to do in Dublin and things to do in Galway for more detail on each city. For planning a bigger European trip, our guide to how to plan a trip to Europe covers everything. And for more on travel budgeting, read our 40 ways to travel cheaper.
