When visiting the Emerald Isle, know you’re in for an adventure. From the scenery to the history and the culture, don’t even get me started because Ireland truly has it all. Ireland may seem like a small country, but you can easily get lost in Dublin’s bustling pub culture, Galway’s hidden gems, and the beautiful landscape of the ring of Kerry. Trust me, after embarking on my solo trip here for seven days, I am itching to go back!
Why Ireland?
I went here with a personal agenda. Since I am half Irish and half Hispanic, it was a MUST for myself to explore my roots and see where my ancestors once lived. I grew up Irish Step dancing an felt connected to the culture. I was anticipating having the time of my life and well, to say the least, it blew me away. As a solo female traveler, I felt safe and loved how friendly everyone was.
How Long Should You Travel To Ireland For?
If you’re someone who doesn’t get a lot of PTO and can only go away for a week or less, then this is the destination for you. The country is small enough that you can rent a car and explore that way, or if you’re like me and don’t trust yourself behind the wheel, there are plenty of affordable tour guides that can take you around the country in no time!
When Should You Travel To Ireland?
The best times to travel to Ireland are during March through May and September through November. That’s because the weather is perfect. It’s not too cold or hot and more importantly, not too rainy, which means magnificent views of Ireland’s finest. I traveled to 4 cities in the span of 7 days (Dublin, Galway, Cork and Kerry) and am so excited to share with you my top recs!
Check Out My Ireland Highlights!
My Favorite Experiences
Top 39 Things To Do In Ireland: Dublin
Since Dublin is home to the biggest airport in Ireland, unless you are traveling from Europe to a smaller city, then it makes sense to start your journey here. Keep in mind that Dublin is a big city. I wasn’t blown away here and would only recommend spending 1 or 2 days here. While I was here, I did find some amazing spots but did feel like there were a lot of touristy things to do here and if you know me, you know that I like to try and go off the beaten path.
1. Guinness Warehouse
Even if you don’t like beer, everyone needs to check this out. For 22 euro tickets and 19 euro for students, you get every bank for your buck. The museum is immersive and takes you through the process of how barley grain turns into one of the most popular beverages in the world. Guinness put Ireland on the world map as its popularity spread like wildfire overseas. With your ticket comes an interactive tasting session where you learn the p r o p e r way to drink it and a pint of your very own with a viewing room overlooking Dublin, what more could you ask for!
2. The Book of Kells at Trinity College
I would have to say that this Book of Kells and Trinity College was my FAVORITE part of the trip. The museum encouraged you to download their app which included informative and interactive audio guides and displays. One of the best feelings that I get after going to a museum is retaining the information and with this museum, you get exactly that. You actually leave remembering and learning about it rather than observing and learning surface-level information and forgetting it right away.
So what is the Book of Kells? In short, it’s one of the most famous medieval manuscripts. It’s a handwritten and drawn copy of the life of Jesus in 4 gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke & John). It was said to have been written 800 AD, 600 years before the printing press, and 400 years before St Patrick arrived in Ireland. They used incredible natural pigments in the drawing that were so intricate for their time. You even get to see the real Book of Kells on display. Talk about time travel!
3. Library at Trinity College
After head over to the Library at Trinity College where you get lost in time for real. It’s been a working library since 1732 where it’s home to over 200,000 books. In here you can smell the authenticity and original book materials that are aging day by day. Some people say it smells like Vanilla, chocolate and even musk! Here, you’ll also find Ireland’s oldest harp, which is a surviving example of the national symbol of Ireland.
Along the library walls are marble busts from famous Greek & roman philosophers. These individuals were great thinkers of the Western world and influenced the college’s students.
Some famous individuals are Plato, William Shakespeare, Johnson Swift (author of Gulliver’s Travels & an old student of Trinity), William Hamilton (an Irish astronomer, inventor of quantum equations which were the same formulas we used later to get to the moon and later moved on to becoming a student and professor at the college)
4. The Wooden Whisk
Grab breakfast here and you will not regret it. This place has so many locals which really shows that it’s not one of those tourist traps ready to kill your bank account. I got the eggs benedict but what killed me inside was that the egg yolk was HARD. AHH. That’s not my thing, but besides that everything else was delicious. This place was so close to town and super convenient when planning your day!
5. Irish Dance Show
I have alluded to this before, but after growing up competitively Irish Dancer, I needed to see the Irish dancers work their magic. Let me tell you this show was such an experience and the talent was just out of this world. The show I went to was such a steal for 49 euros, I not only got to see amazing Irish dancers perform but also a three-course meal and incredible service. The show I went to was right in the heart of town and very convenient to get to. I mean you can’t go to Ireland and NOT watch Irish dancing right? Well now you know where to go !!
6. Fish n’ Chips At Leo Burdocks
Presenting one of the oldest Fish and Chips spot in Dublin. Make sure your stomach is ready for the food you are about to eat. The portions are pretty filling, but of course, your girl ate it all hehe. The people there are so nice and it’s affordable for the amount of food you get. Pro Tip: stick it in your bag and head over to the next spot to eat it and enjoy the views.
7. St. Stephens Park
One of my favorite things to do when I travel is go to a local park with some food, eat lunch and then take a quick power nap. If you’re a little high maintenance and need that luxury mattress maybe don’t nap but soak in that golden hour sun, enjoy the views, and take in the moment. This park reminded me of Central Park in a way and helped me feel a little bit of home if that makes sense haha. This park has so many cute spots and I automatically felt a level of peace.
8. St.Patricks Cathedral
I’m not super religious, but I always like to go to the local churches/ cathedrals because you get to learn about the history which shaped the community. Unfortunately, this is not like the Book of Kells museum in that it was hard to retain the information from the tour. The man was so nice and had so much information so I would 100% go here, but if you would like to retain make sure you take some notes and ask questions!
9. Dubh Linn Garden
If you’re looking for ANOTHER cute park head to Dubh Linn Garden. This park is right next to St.Patrick’s cathedral and is just the right amount of relaxation you need to get you through the walking tour of Dublin. If you’re from NYC, this park reminds me of Washington Square Park (in short , it’s a tiny park filled with enthusiasm and good vibes all around!
10. Temple Bar
This is 1000% a touristy spot. I was always convinced that it was a local spot and super popular for that reason, but it was a bit underwhelming. Recommend checking this out and then heading to more local bars along the way!
If you were planning on spending some extra time in Dublin, visit
11. Kilmainham Gaol: a county prison that was more modern for its time and was meant to help prepare prisoners for society after their sentence; however that soon changed when it started to become overcrowded and mass famine spread. Source https://www.historyireland.com/kilmainham-gaol-dublin/
12. Hairy Lemon: I unfortunately did not have the chance to go here because it was too packed, but this place is as local as it gets. If you can’t find a spot here, there are tons of neighboring bars. I was really attracted to go here because they have free Irish dance classes and I wanted to check it out, but they didn’t have it when I got there! I would go here if I had traveled with a group of friends since it seemed more of a social bar.
13. Leprechaun Museum: So basically my uncle went here and said it was a fun museum. I didn’t personally go, but knowing my uncle and how well-traveled he is, I would definitely check it out!
14. Dublinia: Viking Museum: Fun Fact: I am OBSESSED with Vikings. Everything about Scandinavia interests me as well. If you ever watched the show Vikings, then you know about 85% of the entire museum. This was another really fun and interactive museum that really deserves all of the love and attention it can get. After head to St. Michaels Tower and get some cool views of Dublin
15. St. Michaels Tower: Right after the gift shop of Dublinia, you’ll see signs to go to St.Michaels tower and do not hesitate. Go go go !! There aren’t that many steps so even if you had a long day, the end is worth it! I probably spent about 15 minutes here and that’s all you need!
Things To Do In Ireland: Galway
Now comes the good part. If you’re like me and LOVE nature, and especially in a country like Ireland with SO much landscape, you’ll really only want to spend 1 day in Dublin and spend the rest out West!
Galway is a place I consider close to home. My family is County Mayo which was once a region called Connacht and just so happens to be South of Galway *cues Ed Sheeran’s Galway girl*. Even though I haven’t been here before this trip, it’s so symbolic of my family’s upbringing and I had that experience where I could visit family here! I took a really quick 2.5-hour bus from Dublin to Galway. It took me a block away from the pick up spot for my day trip to…..
Cliffs of Moher
For only 36.90 euros, you get a full day tour of not only the infamous Cliffs of Moher, but so many other amazing sights. I had such an amazing time on this tour. I met so many cool people and as you can tell, I can write for HOURS about this! 10/10 recommend going on this tour because the tour guides were also the sweetest.
Stops Along The Cliffs of Moher Tour Pt 1
- Water Well: Back in the day, a priest would bless the water in the well in hopes that the farmers would have good crops. Now visitors sit on the stone and make a wish!
- Corcomroe Abbey: so my ancestor King Henry O’Brien had ordered workers to make the nicest Abbey and after they did, he killed them in fear that they would make an even better Abbey somewhere else!
- Dunguaire Castle: a beautiful castle right on top of a lake
- Beauty of the Burren Walks: a scenic overlook
Stops Along The Cliffs of Moher Tour Pt 2
- Fit’s Pub: a great spot to dine and drink in between all of the beautiful sights!
- Cliffs of Moher: Behold, what we have been waiting for this whole time! I was in awe when I saw this. AHH, there is something about the water, the cliffs, the birds, the air, the refreshing smell, and something else, THERE’S COWS right next to us! We were feeding them cows and they were so cute!! I took amazing footage on my drone although I think it isn’t allowed so make sure you ask!
- O’Brien’s Tower: This is a lookout point to see the Cliffs of Moher from new heights. I am telling you it’s truly impeccable.
- Doolin Pier: If you are an ocean lover, you’ll love seeing the bright green grass, the sharp black rocks along the crystal blue waves crashing. It was so relaxing to see and you just have to see it in person to know exactly what I am talking about!
- Doolin Pier: If you are an ocean lover, you’ll love seeing the bright green grass, the sharp black rocks along the crystal blue waves crashing. It was so relaxing to see and you just have to see it in person to know exactly what I am talking about!
24. Tig Choili
This place is THE SPOT. A local pub for sure. So many locals were chilling here and you feel like such a local!! I would definitely come here early so that you can snag a table (there’s only a few). You might want to snag a table because there are live performers that play traditional music and it’s SO GOOD.
25. TDillion & Sons Jewelry
If you’re Irish you probably already know what claddaghs are. They’re symbols of friendship, love, and loyalty. My uncle visited Ireland 4 years ago and gifted me a claddagh necklace. I had saved the box he gave it to me and made a promise to myself that when I go to Ireland one day, I will get the matching ring since the ring I had was from Universal Studios LOL. I made it my mission to go to THE EXACT STORE. When I showed up to the store, I realized that THEY ARE THE ORIGINAL MAKERS OF THE CLAGGADH.
To say the least, I was blown away by this place. The store has a museum which was filled with the history of the claddagh and I was too excited to get the ring that I didn’t retain much. After I saw matching earrings to go with my necklace and I was S O L D.
26. Salthill Beach
Next we walked throughout the town and ended up at this beautiful beach. It was a little chilly so I didn’t go in the water or anything but it was super peaceful!
27. Brasserie on the Corner
I heard about this restaurant on a blog post and they said they had the best mussels which means you know I had to try it. I LOVE mussels and I ADORED this place. Everything about it screamed authentic and fresh. I mean every bite into that mussel tasted like a dream. I was again blown away. Ireland, chill for a second please, it’s too much to handle. My friend got a sandwich panini and it was d e l i c i o u s. Hands down recommend. The vibes here felt fancy but everything was affordably priced. So many locals were here so you know in my book that is a plus.
If you were planning on spending some extra time in Galway, visit
28. Tour of the Aran Islands: If you have an extra day, I would highly recommend touring the Aran Islands. They have affordable boat tours on Get Your Guide. I wasn’t able to because my life mission was to go to the claddagh store and the tour started before the store opened so I needed to make my decision. If I had an extra day, I would 1000% be doing this!
Cork & Kerry
So it only makes sense if you’re in Galway to take a 3 hour bus to Cork and Kerry. Cork is another hidden gem in Ireland and I was lucky to have a friend studying abroad there that showed me the IT spots! It’s best to spend around two days here and trust me, you will NOT regret it. The reason I paired these two cities together is because I went on a day tour from Cork to the Ring of Kerry. Let’s get started and explore Cork & Kerry together.
28. Crack Jenny
So I was meeting my friend who is studying abroad in Cork and she heard about this spot. Presenting Crack Jenny’s one of the tastiest chicken burgers I have had in my life. The vibes here were sooo cool. I really felt like I was at a chill bar in NYC, not even lying to you!! What is cool about this spot is that right above was a club. If you want chill vibes to wine and dine, go there and if not, head upstairs to p a r t a y!! Something else that’s good to note is that they soundproofed the place pretty well so you barely heard anything!
29. Sin E
You know me and my traditional music and well, hidden gems too. Behold Sin E, the perfect local bar for enjoying Irish culture and sipping on the one and only Murphy’s (the Irish local’s version of Guinness). The local music here was so nice but it went by so fast!!! Afterward, we headed upstairs because they had a lovely seating area. The place’s aesthetic screamed antique vibes. Most of the furniture looked thrifted and they used old handles as candle holders. I loved every inch of this place so if I ever were to come back to Cork, you best believe I would be going right back.
Ring of Kerry Tour
Now I couldn’t leave without touring The Ring of Kerry!! This your was a whopping 10 hours. Yes I had to be at the bus stop at 7:30 and got back at 6 I believe! These were the many sights we saw on the tour
- Killarney: This was a charming village right in the Killarney National Park where we rode a horse and carriage and learned about all of the biodiversity of the area.
- Sneem: This is coined one of Ireland’s most colorful and charming villages. We got to see a man with his pet goat!
- Caroll’s Cove: Another breathtaking spot with amazing views. You’ll for sure want to take some nice photos here!
- Waterville: Another great beach spot, welcome to Watervile. This is also home to Charle Chaaplin and we got to see his estate!
- Dingle Bay: We took a rest stop to Dingle Bay. Fun Fact: my family loves the gin that is distilled from here, hehe!
- Killorglin: In this town we went to the Kerry Bog Village, which is home of the Puck Fair, an ancient Celtic Festival.
- Torc Waterfall: This was for sure one of my favorite parts of the trip. Torc Waterfall. I mean take a look at this beauty and its 18-meter-high waterfall.
Get The Experience Here at Get Your Guide
I love Get Your Guide because they partner with local tour guides to ensure a fulfilling trip. The guides were amazing. So informative throughout the ride (even though sometimes I would doze off- sorry not sorry, I could never stay still on the bus) He even helped me find my drone when it got lost in the air. Tip: be careful flying your drone in Ireland. It’s basically all patches of green.
Something else I thought was so impactful was that the tour guides had driven 4 days to help out the civilians in Ukraine. They sent them medical supplies, food, other items, and even brought many to Ireland to seek refuge. He was telling the story and everyone started tearing up. I love how supportive Ireland has been to Ukrainians during this difficult time.
37. Conway’s Yard
If you like clubbing in Ireland, bless your soul, ahaha just kidding. It wasn’t really my vibe since I like to dance to Spanish music, but nonetheless, it was still a lot of fun. This place was super cool and hip. The bartenders were really on top of it (not like NYC, sorry not sorry). I mean the place was packed and I barely waited a long time. I definitely would recommend nightlife in NYC over this sorry Ireland haha.
38. Blarney Castle
If you’re in Cork, be sure to go to Blarney Castle. It’s one of the touristy things to do, but the medieval fortification was once some to the kings and queens of Ireland. What is most fun about going here is being able to kiss the Blarney Stone. The tale of the Balrney stone dates back years ago when a, “witch cast a spell on the stone to thank the sing who saved her from drowning and referred to it as ‘The Gift of Gab’” (History.com) “The word ‘blarney’ itself means skillful flattery or nonsense and the head of the McCarthy family” stalled the earl who was sent to steal the castle and his persuasiveness is the reason that the castle was never taken! So legend has it, when you kiss the stone you are given “The Gift of Gab” which means the gift of persuasiveness.
39. Cork City FC
If you are a fan of soccer, then you MUST check out a local game. My friend and I went here and we had a great time. I would say that if you are looking to watch a local game, then head to a rugby game since that is the most popular sport there. The Cork City FC fans are intense and the team definitely brought the heat and they won 3-0!
There You Have It
To say the least, Ireland was a blast and in just 7 days I did so much. This adventure was life-changing for me and taught me that I can do any trip alone and that is what I want to stress for you guys. Ireland is a beautiful country and I am so happy that I was able to explore my family’s roots. I explored so many hidden gems and cannot wait for you to see Ireland for yourself but until then, enjoy it from the sense of The Brooklynite Abroad.
what do you think?