From Titanic to Connemara: the soul of Ireland in ten days
Arrival Dublin → Belfast
Road : Dublin Airport → Belfast - 170 km - ~2h30
Ideas for visits (afternoon): Titanic Belfast (flagship museum on the history of the liner and the city, in the Titanic Quarter).
Walk around the centre : City Hall, Cathedral Quarter (street art), St George's Market (if open that day).
Dinner : Mourne Seafood Bar (fish), Hadskis (modern Northern Irish cuisine).
Night : Belfast.
Belfast (full day)
Morning: Black Taxi tour (history, Peace Walls, murals), Titanic Belfast if not done the day before.
Museum afternoon (your choice) : Ulster Museum (culture, natural history); or HMS Caroline (naval history) in the Titanic Quarter.
Evening: lively Cathedral pubs
Quarter (live music).
Night : Belfast.
Belfast → Causeway Coast (Dark Hedges, Giant's Causeway) → Ballycastle/Portrush
Road : Belfast → The Dark Hedges → Giant's Causeway → Ballycastle/Portrush - 145 km - ~3h (excluding stops)
Key decisions :
- The Dark Hedges (Bregagh Road, Stranocum): avenue of 18th-century beech trees, pedestrian access recommended.
- Giant's Causeway (UNESCO): iconic basalt organs.
Option : Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge (weather permitting).
Dinner : Ramore in Portrush, O'Connor's Bar in Ballycastle.
Night: Ballycastle or Portrush.
Causeway Coast → Derry → Donegal (Glencolmcille/Teelin)
Road : Ballycastle/Portrush → Derry → Teelin/Glencolmcille - 170 km - ~3h
Morning: Derry~Londonderry (city walls, Guildhall).
Afternoon / Evening : head for the Wild Atlantic Way.
Dinner : Kitty Kelly's (Killybegs), Nancy's (Ardara).
Night : Teelin / Carrick / Glencolmcille.
Slieve League (“free” walk) + boat trip
Local routes : 40-60 km depending on accommodation
Morning: Free walk 1: Slieve League (panoramic path - options from viewpoint to “Pilgrim's Path”). Some of the highest cliffs in Europe (≈600 m).
Afternoon:
Boat trip: cruise to the foot of the Slieve League cliffs from Teelin/Killybegs (weather permitting).
Dinner : Ti Linn Café (snack/early dinner) or restaurants in Killybegs.
Overnight: Slieve League / Donegal region.
Donegal → Westport / Leenane (Killary Fjord)
Road : Donegal → Westport/Leenane - 210 km - ~3h30
Stops : beaches of Sligo (Streedagh) or Mullaghmore Head.
Boat option (if you prefer here) : Cruise on the Killary fjord (scenery and mussel farms) -alternative to Slieve League if the sea is rough.
Dinner : An Port Mór (Westport), Blackberry Café (Leenane, simpler).
Overnight stay: Westport or Leenane.
Connemara National Park (free walking) → Clifden
Road : Westport/Leenane → Connemara NP → Clifden -
95 km ~2h (+ Sky Road detours)
Morning: Free walk 2: Diamond Hill (loops of moderate difficulty, views of the Twelve Bens & Kylemore Abbey).
Afternoon: Sky Road (panoramic views), Clifden village, beaches
of Mannin Bay.
Dinner : Mitchell's (fish) or Guys Bar (gastro pub).
Night : Clifden / Letterfrack.
Clifden → Burren → Doolin/Lahinch (Cliffs of Moher)
Road : Clifden → Ballyvaughan (Burren) → Doolin/Lahinch -
200 km - ~3h45
Visits : Burren Karst, Poulnabrone Dolmen, Cliffs of Moher (late afternoon for soft light).
Boat option : mini-cruise from Doolin (view of the cliffs from the sea) if you have not done Killary/Slieve League by boat.
Dinner : McGann's (trad music in Doolin), Barrtrá (Lahinch).
Overnight : Doolin / Lahinch.
Doolin/Lahinch → Kilkenny (or Dublin, according to preference)
Kilkenny → Dublin (departure) or Dublin (day trip and departure)
Road : Kilkenny → Dublin Airport - 130 km - ~1h45-2h
If you sleep in Dublin the night before: morning visit to EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum / Trinity & Book of Kells (depending on timetable), final walk along the Liffey.
Return of the vehicle and flight home.
- accommodation in hotels or with local people
- Car hire with insurance
- Tips
- Activities and meals not mentioned