Dublin Airport sits about 6 miles (10 km) north of the city center, which makes Dublin the easy first stop for a first trip to Ireland. From there the trip can run west to Galway, the beating heart of the West, with its Latin Quarter, its weekend market and a promenade over the bay. It suits travelers who like their sightseeing on foot, with museums, pubs and old stone close together.
Outside the cities, the bus is the main form of transport in rural Ireland, so the map in your head should follow the coach routes. Some sights also have fixed rules: Kilmainham Gaol, for one, can only be visited on a guided tour. Americans need no visa for stays of 90 days or less.
At a glance
- Arrival airport: Dublin Airport, about 6 miles (10 km) north of the city center
- Getting around: buses and coaches, the main form of transport in rural Ireland
- Entry: no visa required for 90 days or less
- Travel advisory: Level 1, Exercise normal precautions
- Weather in Dublin: January high 46°F (8°C), April high 54°F (12°C)
- Top sights: the Book of Kells, the Guinness Storehouse, Kilmainham Gaol, Galway’s Latin Quarter
Where is Ireland and what is it like?
Dublin Airport is about 6 miles (10 km) north of the city center. Kilmainham Gaol is about 2 miles (3.5 km) from the center, and it’s around a 30-minute walk from the Guinness Storehouse. EPIC sits in the Docklands, a 10-minute walk from O’Connell Street, with Connolly station 4 minutes away on foot.
Dublin’s old quarters are made for strolling. Temple Bar is a square south of the River Liffey, with side streets and narrow alleys running off it. St Patrick’s Cathedral stands at the junction of Patrick Street and Upper Kevin Street. The city describes itself with coastal charm, cultural vibrancy and a deep connection to nature and heritage.
History is easy to find in the capital. Trinity College Dublin, founded in 1592, is Ireland’s oldest university. Dublin Castle is a major government complex as well as a tourist attraction, so it’s a working building and a sight at once.
Where to go in Ireland
Dublin’s historic core
The Book of Kells is displayed at Trinity’s Old Library. The National Museum of Ireland has two addresses: Kildare Street (Dublin 2) and Collins Barracks on Benburb Street (Dublin 7). Check which one holds the collection you want before you set off.
This area suits travelers who want museums, a cathedral and a castle within easy reach of one another. Start at Trinity in the morning, then walk to the castle and the cathedral.
Kilmainham and the Guinness Storehouse
Kilmainham Gaol is one of Dublin’s most popular visitor attractions. The Guinness Storehouse is at St. James’s Gate Brewery, and the walk between the two takes around 30 minutes.
Pair them in a single day, since walking the distance is realistic. Kilmainham is by guided tour only, so build the day around its tour time and fit the Storehouse around it.
Galway
Galway centers on its Latin Quarter, less than five minutes’ walk from Galway Market. From the market, head south down Lombard Street and the quarter is on the right. Galway City Museum sits behind the Spanish Arch, on the banks of the River Corrib, close to The Claddagh and Galway Bay. The Spanish Arch is one of two remaining arches on the Ceann na Bhalla (The Head of the Wall).
The Galway Tourist Information Centre is inside the museum, at Spanish Parade. Galway Cathedral stands on the west bank of the Corrib, a little north and west of the center.
Salthill
Salthill Beach is made up of several small beaches separated by rocky outcrops. It’s a popular spot for walking, swimming and relaxing, and it’s lifeguarded during the summer months. Visitors can stroll the Promenade, with uninterrupted views of Galway Bay, the Burren Mountains and the Aran Islands.
The walkway has a dedicated cycling lane and a walking lane, so bikes and walkers don’t have to share. Salthill is an easy outing from Galway for anyone who wants sea air after a morning of museums.
What is there to do in Ireland?
The Book of Kells and Trinity
The Book of Kells Experience includes entry to the Old Library, where the book is displayed, and the digital exhibition in the Red Pavilion. The Red Pavilion houses three immersive digital exhibitions, so there’s more to see than the manuscript alone.
Trinity also runs Trinity Trails, a 45-minute guided outdoor walking tour of the campus grounds, in English. It gives context before or after the indoor visit.
Plan on the better part of a morning if you want the Old Library, the pavilion and the walking tour together. Anyone short on time can choose between the Book of Kells at the Old Library and the 45 minute Trinity Trails campus walk.
The Guinness Storehouse and Kilmainham Gaol
The Guinness Storehouse experience includes the Gravity Bar, with 360° views of the city.
Turn up with a plan for the tour time, because you can’t simply wander in and look around on your own.
The two are around a 30-minute walk apart. Walk it if the weather is dry, and in the colder months expect rain on a good share of days.
Temple Bar and EPIC
Temple Bar has boutiques, cafés, galleries and pubs, and it has the highest density of pubs in all of Dublin. It also has three theatres: Smock Alley, the Projects Arts Centre and the Olympia.
EPIC, in the Docklands, has 20 interactive galleries.
Use Temple Bar for an evening and EPIC for a daytime visit. Together they cover the lively side of Dublin and a museum for rainy hours.
Galway’s Latin Quarter, market and museum
The Latin Quarter has unique shops, cosy pubs and cobbled, pedestrian streets with street performers. Galway Market runs every Saturday and Sunday and has grown to include hundreds of stalls.
Galway City Museum has three floors and several exhibitions tracing the county’s evolution from medieval times. It also holds the original statue of writer Pádraic Ó Conaire and a Galway Hooker, the Máirtín Oliver.
Plan Galway for a weekend if you like market stalls and street performers.
Shandon Bells, the English Market and Blarney Castle
At St Anne’s, visitors can play the Shandon Bells themselves, see the inner workings of the four faced liar clock and climb the tower. The English Market offers quality meats and fish, herbs, spices, fruit, vegetables, baked delicacies and speciality cheeses. Blarney Castle offers the castle, the Blarney Stone and the gardens.
If you want history and museums, Dublin comes first. If you want a walkable city with a weekend market and a seafront, choose Galway. Travelers who dislike guided formats will find Kilmainham less flexible, since it’s tour only.
Where to stay in Ireland
Fáilte Ireland publishes registers and listings of approved and registered accommodation providers across Ireland. The sectors listed include hotels, guesthouses, bed and breakfasts, historic houses, holiday and youth hostels, caravan and camping, self-catering, holiday apartments, holiday camps and holiday cottages.
Maynooth Campus Conference & Accommodation, in County Kildare, offers accommodation on a university campus, with rooms from student style to superior suites. Pre-booking is essential there. Accommodation is also included on Celtic Nature Walking Tours, which are for walkers who want the lodging sorted with the route.
How do you get to Ireland and get around?
Ireland is reachable by many air and ferry routes from anywhere in the world. From there you can go straight into Dublin or onward by coach.
Buses and coaches are one of the main ways to get around the island of Ireland, and the bus is the main form of transport in rural Ireland. Bus Éireann in the Republic of Ireland and Translink in Northern Ireland run coaches all around the island. The National Journey Planner covers the whole island and compares bus, train, tram, ferry and taxi journeys, so use it to line up connections. All public transport on the island runs above ground.
When should you go to Ireland?
Dublin’s winter and early spring stay cool and damp. February is close behind at 47°F (9°C) by day.
The days improve by spring. March reaches 50°F (10°C) with 11 rainy days, and April reaches 54°F (12°C). Pack a rain layer for any of these months and keep the indoor sights, such as the Old Library, EPIC and the museums, in your plan. Salthill’s beach is lifeguarded during the summer months, so a swim fits a summer visit.
What to know before visiting Ireland
U.S. citizens need no visa for stays in Ireland of 90 days or less, according to the State Department’s travel.state.gov.
- A U.S. passport must be valid for the duration of your stay in Ireland, with 1 blank page available per stamp.
- No vaccinations are required.
- The currency limit on entry and exit is 10,000 euros (about $11,671).
- The travel advisory for Ireland is Level 1, Exercise normal precautions, issued March 20, 2026, and Ireland is generally a safe destination for travelers.
- Dual citizens of Ireland and the United States must bring travel documents for both nationalities.
Booking Ireland for November: what to know
November is a good time to book early for anything with limited places. Pre-booking is essential at Maynooth Campus Conference & Accommodation, and advance booking is required for Celtic Nature Walking Tours.
Businesses using a prescribed accommodation term are required to register with Fáilte Ireland, and registered statutory providers must renew their registration annually. Check the register before you pay a deposit.
Sources
- ncei.noaa.gov (https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/wmo-climate-normals), checked 2026-10-30
- travel.state.gov (https://travel.state.gov/en/international-travel/travel-advisories/ireland.html), checked 2026-10-31
- staging.discoverireland.ie (https://staging.discoverireland.ie/galway/short-break-galway), checked 2026-10-30
- visittrinity.ie (https://www.visittrinity.ie/things-to-do-in-dublin/?_gl=1%2A11r2wxp%2A_gcl_au%2AMTYxMTg0OTA4MC4xNzUyMjU2NzEy%2A_ga%2ANjMxMzcyMzkuMTc1MjI1NjcxNQ..%2A_ga_NZKZL9ENYK%2AczE3NTIyNTY3MTQkbzEkZzEkdDE3NTIyNTY4MTEkajI1JGwwJGgxOTcyMTAzMjY5), checked 2026-10-30
- ireland.com (https://www.ireland.com/en-gb/things-to-do/attractions/kilmainham-gaol/), checked 2026-10-30
- ireland.com (https://www.ireland.com/nl-nl/magazine/built-heritage/temple-bar-dublin/), checked 2026-10-30
- staging.discoverireland.ie (https://staging.discoverireland.ie/galway/salthill-beach), checked 2026-10-30
- ireland.com (https://www.ireland.com/en-gb/plan-your-trip/travel/travel-by-bus/?user_id=f2e04926d6b5a3deacb3a2c6210e7b0268c17b09ed54baa2454a62748038e323&bt_user_id=2KzawWlT9Epke0opz97yBYg%2FyuBS%2BLrvCuUvu377v2EYVGln2GVil2xsuVis5upRZ%2FQSsiQn%2FqmAJu3c11n1EFT5LTgGbeb9X79E6Eo3kHWyGw4kD3ZwPfVcmNlWp%2FBL&bt_ts=1768578681080), checked 2026-10-30