Ireland offers some truly spectacular places to see, and some amazing experiences to be had. Whether you are visiting the Emerald Isle or call it home, some of the top sightseeing day tours and trips enable you to get the very best of what this island has to offer.
This compilation of Get Your Guide day tours is your ultimate Irish bucket list. From the Cliffs of Moher, Kilmacduagh Abbey to Connemara and more – these Irish Day trips will ensure that you experience the very best of what Ireland has to offer.
Dublin: Cliffs of Moher, Kilmacduagh Abbey & Galway Day Tour
This day tour lets you explore Ireland’s scenic landscapes and the most sought-after at that. No visitor to Ireland goes back without a trip to the Cliffs of Moher, and this trip ensures that you see its beauty plus more.
Your day trip will be along the lines of the below:
You will embark on a guided day trip to discover the iconic Cliffs of Moher by bus. Visit Galway and its stunning surrounding landscape and see famous landmarks, including Dunguaire Castle and Kilmacduagh Monastery.
The day tour departs Dublin at 6:45 am and journeys through the flat open plain of the Curragh. You will pass the Irish National Stud thoroughbred horse breeding facility as your guide shares a wealth of history and information.
Next, head to the ruins of Kilmacduagh Monastery and its roundhouse — unique for the way it leans over by more than two feet. Spend 15-20 minutes here. Then, arrive at the Cliffs of Moher for a view of the Atlantic Ocean and explore on your own for around 1.5 hours.
Go to the visitor’s centre for the interactive Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience with a large multimedia screen displaying a bird’s-eye view from the cliffs, and a video from the underwater caves.
Next, discover the lunar landscapes of The Burren with a 15–20-minute visit and hear about the many secrets of this atypical landscape, home to the warmest ground temperature in Ireland.
Arrive in the city of Galway, where you will have around one hour to explore on your own. Discover its old-world charm on cobblestone streets that evoke an authentic Ireland of times gone by.
Then drive along the coastal route of the Wild Atlantic Way to Kinvara, passing Dunguaire Castle and the 12 Bens mountain range along the way. Return to Dublin and get dropped off at the meeting point at around 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm.
If this sounds like a day trip you want to book for yourself and your friends, find a link here.
From Galway: Connemara & Kylemore Abbey Full-Day Guided Tour
This day trip lets you experience the unspoiled natural beauty and rugged landscapes of Connemara. Connemara’s beauty and charm are unrivalled, and all tourists to Ireland dream of visiting this region.
The tour departs from Galway. You will travel in an airconditioned bus and explore Kylemore Abbey and its elegant gardens with the included entry ticket.
The day trip also ensures a stop in the charming mountain village of Leenane to take in the views of Ireland’s only fjord at Killary. Then, you get two hours to explore Kylemore Abbey and go for a nature walk in the Victorian Walled Gardens.
The day tour continues its journey along the coast to the pretty Gaelic-speaking village of An Spideal. Here you are free to take a stroll amongst the many traditional thatched-roof homes and admire the beautiful beaches.
You can find an easy booking link here from Get Your Guide if this is the kind of day trip you always wanted.
Dublin: Giants Causeway, Dark Hedges, Dunluce & Belfast Tour
A lot of tourists want to travel from Dublin to Northern Ireland. If this is what you want as well, this day tour from Dublin allows you to do just that.
You can get a feel of the coastline of Northern Ireland on a day trip from Dublin in a comfortable bus.
Follow your guide as you visit iconic sights, including the Giant’s Causeway, the Dark Hedges, Dunluce Castle, and Belfast.
Here’s what your day trip will be like Depart Dublin and travel North, stopping at a service station along the way for breakfast, buying lunch, and stretching your legs. Your first attraction is to take a 5-minute photo stop at the famous and picturesque ruins of Dunluce Castle. Afterwards, head to the Giant’s Causeway, formed from about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns. Enjoy at least two hours at the UNESCO World Heritage Site and get up close to the hexagonal columns, often referred to as the “8th Wonder of the World.”
Take in the fantastic views of the Irish Sea and then spend around 20 minutes travelling along the avenue of intertwined beech trees known as “Dark Hedges.” Planted in the 18th century by the Stuart family, the beautiful sight was used in the Game of Thrones series and the Transformers movie. Lastly, head to Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland and the birthplace of the Titanic ocean liner. Stop next to Belfast City Hall and spend approximately 1.5 hours exploring the city. Do some sightseeing, and shopping, and grab some food before continuing the journey home.
If this day trip from Dublin interests you, make a booking for yourself and your friends here.
From Dublin: Wicklow Mountains, Glendalough & Kilkenny Tour
This must be one of the most favourite day trips in Ireland. Wicklow is a very popular haunt for most Dubliners, and tourists also want to go on a day tour from Dublin to explore the Wicklow Mountains and more.
On this day trip, you will embark on a guided trip through the lush pastures of Ireland from Dublin. Tour the vast Wicklow Mountains and see the monastery of Glendalough. Lose yourself in the medieval lanes of Kilkenny.
Depart from Dublin and set off on a luxury bus to Glendalough. As you journey out of the city, your guide will fill you in on many interesting facts and fun stories about Dublin.
Arrive at Glendalough, considered one of the most beautiful corners of Ireland. Enjoy an optional guided tour of the monastic settlement and some free time to explore the area or relax at a local café.
The more adventurous can opt to take a hike to the Upper Lake and return via a boardwalk (approx. 2.5 km). The route takes you past the Lower Lake through a stunning nature trail that leads deep into the valley and onto the Upper Lake.
Continue through the Wicklow Mountains. As you drive, your guide will tell you about its geology and history. Pass through famous movie locations featured in P.S. I Love You and Braveheart. Stop for a 10-minute photo opportunity at the Wicklow Gap before a scenic ride to Kilkenny.
Once you reach Kilkenny, have free time to navigate the narrow lanes and historic buildings. Admire its extraordinary castle where you can picnic, or enjoy lunch in the local pubs. Then, join an optional guided tour of the city before making your way back to Dublin.
Find a convenient booking link right here for this Get Your Guide Tour.
Ireland: Dingle Peninsula Day Tour
The Dingle peninsula in southwest Ireland stretches out into the Atlantic Ocean and attracts visitors for its mountainous and coastal scenery as well as its antiquities. It’s a trip of a lifetime if we may say so. Everyone who goes to the Dingle peninsula comes back inspired and impressed by the region’s sheer beauty.
On this day trip, you’ll visit the major attractions of this spectacular region on a 6.5-hour tour from Killarney. From Slea Head you can see the Blasket Islands, which are the last outposts of Europe and are known as “the next parish to America.” They are famous for the literary and linguistic heritage of the former inhabitants. These remote islands have been uninhabited since the 1950s.
The western end of the peninsula is a Gaeltacht area that has produced a number of nationally notable authors and poets, including O’Siochfhradha and Peig Sayers among others. Being an Irish-speaking district traditional customs are still very much alive. A band of sandstone forms the Slieve Mish mountain range at the neck of the peninsula in the east, and the unnamed central mountain range further to the west. Ireland’s highest mountain other than Macgillycuddy’s Reeks, Mount Brandon, reaches 951 meters and forms part of a high ridge that boasts stunning views over the peninsula and northern county Kerry.
The Dingle peninsula is named after the town of Dingle, derived from the Corco Dhuibhne who occupied the peninsula in the Middle Ages and who also held a number of territories in the south and east of county Kerry. Dingle was Kerry’s chief port in the old Spanish trading days and in the reign of Queen Elizabeth was important enough to be a walled town. The peninsula is the location of numerous prehistoric and early medieval remains. The Gallarus Oratory, for example, is located on the very west of the peninsula near the village of Baile a Fheirtearaigh in Ard na Caithe.
Mesmerising, isn’t it? You will learn a lot on this trip, and it will be a lot of fun too.
If you want this to be your day trip from Kerry, find a booking link to the Get Your Guide tour here.
If you liked our suggestions, you may also love our guide on how to spend 24 hours in Killarney. And the one on having the best time in Wicklow.
Here’s to happy travels and plenty of day trips in 2023!
