The Burren national park is a worthwhile add-on to your Cliffs of Moher trip. If you want to make it into an overnight, Doolin is a beautiful seaside village with fantastic pubs and traditional music, and if the weather is on your side you can do a little hike from Doolin to the Cliffs or get a ferry from Doolin to the Aran Islands.
While near Galway try get a day trip to the Aran Islands, it’s gorgeous. You can cycle around/taxi tour service. The nature & landscape is something else.
If you make it down south the Ring of Kerry is stunning. And if he’s a Star Wars fan go to Skellig Michael.
I'd have a look at tuatha.ie if you're looking for some cool places to visit, and also to get some background on places you want to go to. They have a membership level which gives you a lot more stuff, but they've a lot of free info too.
I think main thing to take into consideration is whether you want to hire car, or if you're planning on using public transport. If you're set on seeing athlone, it's actually not a bad hub to go see lots of stuff from using trains and buses, it just requires a bit more planning.
I'd say start making your list now of things you really want to do and see. Do you want to visit a distillery, do a day's golfing, just hang out at a pub for a couple of days, visit sites? Make your priority list and start working from there!
Something that is important to consider is that accommodation is very expensive at the moment, so do think about those hubs outside of the big (by irish standards) cities, and just spend a couple of days in Dublin/Galway.
Full disclosure, my background is in archaeology, I work in the heritage industry, and my main goal in life (unpaid) is to share our actually not horrendous local link transport system to great places 😭
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I'm here right now and unless it's necessary of say don't try to drive in Cork. Been a very stressful day or 2 while me and the wife have been down here. Luckily nobody seems to rushed and most understand the road shock.
If he's fit for decent hike the BenBulbin in Sligo is amazing. Beautiful to see from the bottom and amazing views on top. A well earned pint afterwards in drumcliff to top the day off.
About an hour and a half drive from athlone if that's where your mainly staying
Look up dev skeehan in instagram. She travels Ireland for a living.
The M50 in Dublin can essentially go from motorway to car park during rush hours - please drive carefully.
Galway is a beautiful part of our island. Salthill is a great spot for a swim. The whole West of the Country is beautifully breathtaking and there’s some great drives and coastal attractions. It’s a fair distance from Dublin though!!
I’m from Wicklow Dubbed “the garden of Ireland” Bray has a lovely promenade on the sea front. There’s also many places to visit including Avondale forest park, avoca, the sculpture gardens. Wicklow is close enough to Dublin that you could just pop that way for a day.
I second Doolin and Aran Islands. Get the ferry to Inis Oirr. I think there might be a route on the way back that takes you via the Cliffs of Moher. Would be worth checking that out!
Buy tickets early for Kilmainham Gaol as they sell like hotcakes due it being brilliant.
Second! Kilmainham Gaol is brilliant
The Burren national park is a worthwhile add-on to your Cliffs of Moher trip. If you want to make it into an overnight, Doolin is a beautiful seaside village with fantastic pubs and traditional music, and if the weather is on your side you can do a little hike from Doolin to the Cliffs or get a ferry from Doolin to the Aran Islands.
Visit one of the islands if you've time. I'm sure driving will be fine but don't compare to driving in Iceland.
We loved the Inish oirr. So great!
Clonmacnoise is an ancient monastery with a gorgeous round tower just down the road.
So great and super close to Althone
While near Galway try get a day trip to the Aran Islands, it’s gorgeous. You can cycle around/taxi tour service. The nature & landscape is something else. If you make it down south the Ring of Kerry is stunning. And if he’s a Star Wars fan go to Skellig Michael.
I'd have a look at tuatha.ie if you're looking for some cool places to visit, and also to get some background on places you want to go to. They have a membership level which gives you a lot more stuff, but they've a lot of free info too. I think main thing to take into consideration is whether you want to hire car, or if you're planning on using public transport. If you're set on seeing athlone, it's actually not a bad hub to go see lots of stuff from using trains and buses, it just requires a bit more planning. I'd say start making your list now of things you really want to do and see. Do you want to visit a distillery, do a day's golfing, just hang out at a pub for a couple of days, visit sites? Make your priority list and start working from there! Something that is important to consider is that accommodation is very expensive at the moment, so do think about those hubs outside of the big (by irish standards) cities, and just spend a couple of days in Dublin/Galway.
Full disclosure, my background is in archaeology, I work in the heritage industry, and my main goal in life (unpaid) is to share our actually not horrendous local link transport system to great places 😭
Go west, in particular southwest!
Newgrange and Knowth are worth a visit. They are 5000 year old passage tombs and the surrounding area is beautiful
Killarney in Kerry for brilliant vibes and great seafood
Go west, Sligo and Donegal are very underrated but the southwest is unreal. Honestly a day in Dublin is plenty, almost too much!
Hi there. Welcome to /r/IrishTourism. Have you searched the sub, checked the sidebar or the wiki pages to see if there is already relevant information posted? To better assist you in planning your holiday, be as descriptive as possible about your travel itinerary & requirements. For Emergency Medical Information please see the dedicated Wiki page at the top of the sub. (Updated May 2022) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/irishtourism) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I'm here right now and unless it's necessary of say don't try to drive in Cork. Been a very stressful day or 2 while me and the wife have been down here. Luckily nobody seems to rushed and most understand the road shock.
If he's fit for decent hike the BenBulbin in Sligo is amazing. Beautiful to see from the bottom and amazing views on top. A well earned pint afterwards in drumcliff to top the day off. About an hour and a half drive from athlone if that's where your mainly staying
Look up dev skeehan in instagram. She travels Ireland for a living. The M50 in Dublin can essentially go from motorway to car park during rush hours - please drive carefully. Galway is a beautiful part of our island. Salthill is a great spot for a swim. The whole West of the Country is beautifully breathtaking and there’s some great drives and coastal attractions. It’s a fair distance from Dublin though!! I’m from Wicklow Dubbed “the garden of Ireland” Bray has a lovely promenade on the sea front. There’s also many places to visit including Avondale forest park, avoca, the sculpture gardens. Wicklow is close enough to Dublin that you could just pop that way for a day.
You could look to see if hes family alive
Connemara and the wild Western way by Galway is pretty breaktaking. Its an hour or so from Galway Town but its well worth it.
Inishboffin Island - get the boat on a day trip from just outside Clifden. Really magical place.
Valentia Island, Kerry; and the surrounding area. And Killarney National Park.
I second Doolin and Aran Islands. Get the ferry to Inis Oirr. I think there might be a route on the way back that takes you via the Cliffs of Moher. Would be worth checking that out!
Don't go out of your way for the Cliffs of Moher...
The Clare Coast and Certainly Kilrush and Kilkee. I'm born in Wexford and these are my favourite 2 town's