5 Days in Ireland: A Day-by-Day Itinerary

Five days is enough for Dublin’s Trinity College, Kilmainham Gaol and the Guinness Storehouse, then a move west to Galway and its Spanish Arch, Latin Quarter and Salthill Beach. The two cities are linked by coach, so the transfer day needs a look at the National Journey Planner, and the plan leaves out the countryside between and beyond them.

At a glance

• Recommended length: 5 days
• Route: Dublin, then Galway
• Main transport: buses and coaches
• Trip planning: National Journey Planner, covering the whole island
• Where to find rooms: Fáilte Ireland registers of approved accommodation

Is 5 days enough in Ireland?

Five days covers the big names of Dublin and the old center of Galway. In Dublin that means Trinity College and the Book of Kells, Dublin Castle, St Patrick’s Cathedral, Kilmainham Gaol, the Guinness Storehouse and the museums. In Galway it means the Spanish Arch, the City Museum, the Latin Quarter, the cathedral and the beach at Salthill. Rural Ireland and Northern Ireland stay off the map.

With one more day, Dublin is the place to add it. The National Museum of Ireland has two sites, one on Kildare Street and one at Collins Barracks, and EPIC at Custom House Quay is a third museum to fit in.

With one day less, drop the Collins Barracks site and the National Museum on Kildare Street, and keep Trinity, Kilmainham Gaol and the Guinness Storehouse.

When to plan 5 days in Ireland

Dublin’s winter days are short on sun: January averages 1.9 hours a day, February 2.9 and March 3.7. Rain falls on about 12 days in January and 11 in March, so the indoor stops of this plan (the Old Library, the museums, the Storehouse) suit the season well. April brings a high of 54°F (12°C), a little warmer for the walks in Galway.

Where to stay in Ireland for 5 days

Fáilte Ireland publishes registers of approved accommodation across the country, covering hotels, guesthouses, bed and breakfasts, historic houses, hostels, self-catering and more.

Maynooth Campus in County Kildare is another option, with rooms from student style to superior suites.

Getting around Ireland in 5 days

Buses and coaches are one of the main ways to get around the island, and the bus is the main form of transport in rural Ireland. Bus Éireann runs coaches in the Republic and Translink in Northern Ireland. All public transport on the island runs above ground. For the Dublin to Galway leg, the National Journey Planner compares bus, train, tram, ferry and taxi journeys across the island, so check times there before fixing the day.

5 Days in Ireland, day by day

Day 1: Trinity College and Dublin Castle

Start at Trinity College, Ireland’s oldest university, founded in 1592. The Book of Kells is displayed in its Old Library. Dublin Castle, a major government complex and key tourist attraction, comes next, then St Patrick’s Cathedral on St Patrick’s Close.

Keep the Old Library for the first slot, when the day is fresh, and take the castle and cathedral afterward. Use the journey planner if a leg is too long to walk.

Day 2: Kilmainham Gaol and the Guinness Storehouse

The Guinness Storehouse is at St. James’s Gate Brewery.

Pair the two stops in one day so the transfer between them happens once. In winter, when sun is scarce and rain frequent, both are good indoor visits.

Day 3: EPIC and the National Museum

EPIC museum is in the chq Building on Custom House Quay, Dublin 1.

Pick the sites you care about most and leave the rest. This is the lightest day of the plan and the first to cut if the schedule runs short.

Day 4: Spanish Arch and Galway’s Latin Quarter

Take a coach west to Galway, checking times first. The Spanish Arch is one of two remaining arches on the Ceann na Bhalla, the Head of the Wall, and it houses the Galway City Museum. The museum has three floors of galleries and holds the original statue of writer Pádraic Ó Conaire and a Galway Hooker, the Máirtín Oliver.

• Latin Quarter from Galway Market: less than five minutes on foot

The Latin Quarter is reached by heading south down Lombard Street, on the right. The Galway Tourist Information Centre sits inside the City Museum on Spanish Parade, a handy first stop on arrival.

Day 5: Galway Cathedral and Salthill Beach

Galway Cathedral stands on the west bank of the River Corrib, a little north and west of the city center. Salthill Beach is several small beaches separated by rocky outcrops.

The City Museum is on the banks of the Corrib, close to The Claddagh and Galway Bay, so the museum and the water can share an afternoon. Leave the cathedral for the morning.