Travel 101: The Ultimate Itinerary for 10 Days in Ireland

March 12, 2026 - Vacations - by Marco Monroy Robles

Ireland packs more into a small island than seems physically possible. Ten days gets you from Dublin through villages and all the way to the coast, with cliffs that make even grown adults nervous. Last-minute vacation packages to Ireland offer the best value in off-peak seasons when the crowds thin, but the country is still ready to welcome you.

Days 1–3: Dublin and surroundings

Start at the Chester Beatty Library, not Trinity College. This free museum has Islamic manuscripts and papyrus fragments that most Dubliners don't even know exist. The rooftop garden overlooks Dublin Castle without the entry fee that Trinity charges.

Spend your second morning at Glasnevin Cemetery, where Michael Collins and a million other Irish residents rest. The guided tours will explain Irish history through the people who made it. In the afternoon, head to the Cobblestone pub in Smithfield for traditional music that only costs the price of a pint.

Drive an hour south on day three to Glendalough. The monastic settlement dates back to the 6th century and is surrounded by green mountains.

Days 4–5: Galway and Connemara

Travel three hours west to Galway, a harbor city known for music and seafood. The compact Latin Quarter is filled with dozens of pubs in just a few blocks. Most of them host afternoon music sessions where locals play for free. 

Spend day five driving through Connemara, which is the wild region north of Galway. The region is filled with Stone walls that split the green hills that roll down to the Atlantic. Ireland vacation packages sometimes include car rentals, which are extremely helpful here.

Days 6–7: The Burren and Cliffs of Moher

The Burren covers much of County Clare in exposed limestone that looks more like a lunar surface than farmland. Wildflowers somehow grow in the rocks and cracks, all while tombs from 3000 BC still stand in the middle of this strange terrain.

The following day, get to the Cliffs of Moher by 8:00 AM before the crowds do. These sea cliffs tower 700 feet above crashing waves, and you'll understand why they say Ireland is being blown away bit by bit. The fishing village of Doolin is very close, which is a great place to stop for dinner and a pint.

Days 8–10: Ring of Kerry and Dingle Peninsula

The Ring of Kerry is a famous coastal loop around the Iveragh Peninsula. Drive it counterclockwise, starting early to avoid tour buses. There are tons of mountains and cliffs to see, so just stop whenever something catches your eye.

Save your final two days for the Dingle Peninsula. The town of Dingle is known for serving the freshest food in Ireland as fishing boats unload their catch each morning. Drive the Slea Head loop on day nine, past incredible stone huts built by monks over 1,000 years ago. 

You should spend your last day mixing beach time with the last pubs of the trip. Visit Inch Beach to see how the low tide goes on and on for miles. Back in Dingle, visit one of the dozens of pubs that have been pouring Guinness for over a century. 

Ireland vacation packages usually bundle hotels and car rentals, making exploring the western coast much easier. You'll leave with a very well-balanced view of this tiny yet mighty island.