4 days in Ireland: excellent itinerary options 2023

Coming to Ireland soon? Delighted to hear it: we have been living here for almost 10 years and enjoy every inch of the land! These are our suggestions for spending 4 days in Ireland.

4 days in Ireland: excellent itinerary options

Ireland is a beautiful place for a holiday, even if you just have a few days to spend on its emerald coastlines.

We have been stationed in Dublin for over a decade and we are well accustomed to short journeys throughout the country: every time we have a handful of days free, we head off to explore a different area of it and it is remarkable how much you really get to see even in a very little time.

Distances here are not lengthy and although you need to take your time driving on these roads, there is a lot you can see in Ireland even with little time

You may easily spend 2 weeks touring Ireland without running out of things to do. However, you may also see a lot of the country with a shorter visit.

Whether you are here for business and want to tack on a few days for sightseeing or you find yourself passing trough Ireland on the route from the US to continental Europe or the UK, here are our thoughts on the best ways to spend 4 days in Ireland.

How to utilize these 4 day Ireland itineraries

I have been living in Ireland for the past 14 years and take frequent local holidays to make the absolute most of my time here.

I approach these ideas from the practical understanding of a local and the amazement of the tourist and this is what I have attempted to express in the itineraries below.

While I can think of many ways to spend even just a weekend in Ireland if living here, in the itineraries below I have picked locations that I feel are of greatest interest to foreign visitors to Ireland, who may wish to explore some of the country;s biggest attractions and must see sights.

I propose you use these itineraries as a baseline to evaluate what you can see with 4 days in Ireland and then make specific alterations based on your circumstances and budget.

I added links to many other articles on this site abt Ireland: if you click on them, you will discover more extensive information about the destinations listed as well as practical suggestions for visiting Ireland.

The finest ways to spend 4 days in Ireland: suggested itineraries overview

Area visited Best for
The West (incl. Kerry, Cliffs of Moher, Dublin) (incl. Kerry, Cliffs of Moher, Dublin)
Scenery, cities
The South (Cork, Blarney castle, Dublin) (Cork, Blarney castle, Dublin)
Castles, sceneries, cities
The West (Galway region) and Dublin
Doable without driving
Ireland top sites
Whirlwind tour

Ireland in 4 days: tour the West

West of Ireland 4 days itinerary quick facts:

Best for: beautiful cliffs, desolate landscapes, some of Ireland ‘must see’ places
Arrival/ Departure: arrival in Shannon / departure from Dublin
Suitable for kids? Yes but requires lengthy hours in the vehicle
The West of Ireland is without a doubt one of the most picturesque regions in the entire of the island.

Foreigners come here but so do locals: a summer vacation in the West of Ireland is a greatly cherished ritual for many Irish families and it is an easy and picturesque way to get a break from the city.

The magnificent Cliffs of Moher are distance from Dublin but you may visiti them with a day excursion from the city

With 4 days in the West, I propose you organize your time as follows:

Day 1: landing in Shannon and travel to Killarney

The first day is all about arriving in Ireland and settling in.

This section of the nation has small roads, extremely different from many people may be accustomed to in the US or even in continental Europe and I cannot emphasize enough how crucial it is to take your time to have a decent rest before facing them.

On your first day, I propose you arrive in Shannon, make your way to Killarney and explore locally.

There is much to do in Killarney without having the drive unduly.

You may read our tips on how to spend a day in Killarney here.

Spend the night in Killarney town at the magnificent Brehon Hotel or the comfortable Old Weir Lodge

Day 2: Drive the Dingle peninsula

On your second day I propose you drive (or take a tour of) the gorgeous Dingle Peninsula.

This is a great section of the nation, simple to enjoy and explore and packs in both magnificent natural coastline views and vibrant communities such as Dingle Town.

Spend the night in Tralee or adjacent region so you are ideally positioned for the next part of your journey.

Day 3: The Cliffs of Moher and Galway

The Ciffs of Moher are one of the most renowned if not the most famous sites in the entire of Ireland and I strongly suggest a visit.

Even when the weather is not ideal, even with the tourist buses, even with the ‘I have seen them in a million photos’ concerns about them, they are gorgeous and missing them is, in my view, a pity.

Surprisingly, they are also simple to visit if you are frightened of heights or with visiting with kids (you can read all the information here) (you can read all the details here)

After a visit to the cliffs, travel over to Galway but don’t rush: the Burren, which is this region, is distinctive and lovely and it is worth soaking in the scenery while driving.

Spend the second half of the day and your night in Galway (take a look at the Connacht hotel), catching the sights, supper and listening to live music in one of the numerous local bars.

Day 4: Dublin

On day 4 I persuade you to come to Dublin, which is an often underrated location in Ireland but one I feel warrants a day.

The journey from Galway is straightforward (you can even leave the vehicle and take the bus if you like) and once you are in the city you can finally stop driving and simply wander. Dublin is simple to experience on foot.

There is a lot to do in Dublin and in one day you may visit most of its important sights by strolling about the city center.

You may wing it or discover my complete one day Dublin itinerary here

Dublin is highly costly when it comes to hotels (and B&Bs and apartments…) thus I do urge you book early and wisely.

I have a decent range of hotels here (ideal for families but not exclusively) and I recently had a great stay at the Hilton Garden Inn and the Hilton Dublin on Charlemont road which is well placed, comfortable and well supplied.

Ireland in 4 days: the South and the East\sSouth and East of Ireland 4 days itinerary quick facts:

The South and the east of Ireland include some of the country’s most renowned landmarks including Dublin, Glendalough and Blarney castle with its fabled stone.

Best for: historical sites, castles, countryside/mountain landscapes
Arrival/ Departure: Dublin
Suitable for kids? Yes, this is one of the simplest locations for youngsters to enjoy

Day 1: Kilkenny

If you are arriving in Dublin it may seem unusual to depart without visiting. However, I have strong reasons to let you take to the road right immediately.

Unlike many other sites in Ireland, Kilkenny is a fairly simple drive from Dublin (motorway) and it is such a wonderful welcome to Ireland, it makes for an excellent first visit.

Park your vehicle in the city center, relax at your hotel and then spend the day visiting the town.

There is enough to see (see my whole one day in Kilkenny itinerary here) and the city is sure to grab you with its gorgeous medieval sites and bustling vibe.

I appreciate staying at the Ormonde hotel located in the city center to take it all in in gorgeous surroundings.

Kilkenny castle as viewed from its front yard. The gardens stretch to the rear of the castle with lovely grass

Day 2: Cork and Blarney castle

After Kilkenny I propose you go towards the direction of Cork, int he South of Ireland.

This is a simple journey again and it doesn’t only bring you to cool Cork city but also enables you to view one of the most stunning castles in Ireland: the rock of Cashel.

The rock is amazing and simple to get from the main road: I encourage you see the rock (doesn’t take long) and you can also have coffee/lunch at the neighboring tea restaurant.

From here, you may travel to the famed Blarney castle, which you can easily see in a couple of hours (a little longer if waiting to kiss the stone), and then spend the night in Cork city (The Kingsley hotel and the Montenotte hotel are two decent alternatives) (The Kingsley hotel and the Montenotte hotel are two good options).

Day 3: Glendalough and Wicklow Mountains

On day 3 I make you travel back towards Dublin but with an overnight stay in the Wicklow highlands.

This is an area of immense natural beauty (they are a National Park) and they are a gorgeous and tranquil spot to visit.

The simplest way to appreciate is to travel to Glendalough and spend day there.

Here you have a two magnificent lakes, a good restaurant for a calm supper and the famed Glendalough monastery complex, which is an absolutely amazing.

If you appreciate gardens and manor houses, you may also wish to view Powerscourt Gardens, which are in this region and one of the most renowned gardens in the world.

In the neighborhood, I definitely suggest the Brooklodge Hotel, which is a fantastic romantic getaway (you can read our review here) or the amazing Tinakilly home.

Day 4: Dublin

On day 4, I have you coming back to Dublin. As I indicated before, I strongly suggest you abandon the vehicle as soon as you get in the city and then explore on foot.

Depending on you personal interest for Dublin, you may either wander about the city center and take in the key landmarks that way or organize a visit to classic destinations such as the Guinness storehouse.

In this scenario, I propose you purchase skip the line tickets in advance here.

4 days in Ireland without a car: Dublin and Galway

Best for: non drivers
Arrival/ departure:Dublin
Suitable for kids:yes
If you don’ want or cannot drive in Ireland, you will be delighted to know it is still feasible to see quite a lot.

The ideal way to spend the day in Ireland without a vehicle I feel is the following:

Day 1 Arrival in Dublin and bus to Galway.

Regular buses link Dublin to Galway and the travel is straightforward and quite quick. Hop aboard the bus on arrival and relax with an afternoon and night in Galway.

The Connacht hotel is a nice alternative.

Day 2: Day excursion to the Cliffs of Moher

The Cliffs of Moher are a ridiculously lengthy day excursion from Dublin but a nice simple one from Galway by bus (have a look here for dates and tickets) (have a look here for times and tickets).

Spend the day between the cliffs and the city and then unwind with a night in Galway town.

This is a simple way to spend a day viewing magnificent countryside and without the burden of having to haul our baggage around and change lodgings.

Day 3: Day excursion to Connemara

If you are in Ireland in the summer, a day trip to Connemara might be one of the highlights of your vacation.

This location is noted for its stunning environment and is also the home of famed Kylemore Abbey.

The region is well accessible by day tours from Galway such as this one and provides for a fantastic day out without having to drive or change hotels.

A bus trip was how I first visited Connemara and it was a nice, uncomplicated alternative.

Day 4: Dublin city

On day four, it is simple to make tour way back to Dublin with a morning bus and spend the afternoon touring.

As noted above, I do suggest the Hilton Dublin as a base in the city and this schedule to make the most of your stay here.

4 days in Ireland showcase whirlwind itinerary

If all the itineraries above have left you with a burning desire to visit absolutely everything I have described, I am going to throw in a final itinerary that would enable you to see a lot and cross some important locations off your Ireland bucket list.

Please just be aware that this requires a decent chunk of driving a not much down time.

It goes without saying that several beautiful attractions are left out even with this tight schedule but I made care to include some of the most popular.

Best for: Bucket list trip lovers
Arrival/Departure: Dublin
Suitable for kids: yes but quite exhausting

Day 1: Arrival in Dublin and travel to Cork

On the first day I have you travelling South.

You may simply drive to Cork and make a stop at the beautiful Rock of Cashel on the route or continue to the city by bus.

While less picturesque, this may be an excellent method not to have to drive directly away, something worth considering if you would be struggling with jet lag for instance.

In Cork city (The Kingsley hotel and the Montenotte hotel are two outstanding possibilities) (The Kingsley hotel and the Montenotte hotel are two good options)

Day 2: Blarney castle and Killarney

Start your second day visiting the iconic Blarney castle, near Cork and then go to Killarney, in County Kerry.

Killarney is most recognized as a base to drive the ring of Kerry but you will not have time for this on your time constraint, therefore I advice instead you spend your time to see the town and gorgeous Muckross Mansion.

Spend the night in Killarney and enjoy its bustling nights.

Day 3: Drive from Killarney to Galway

On day three you will mark off one more must see location and visit the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren, before making your way to Galway, where you will also spend the night.

The Connacht hotel is a nice alternative.

Day 4: Galway to Dublin

Like all my previous itineraries I have you arrive to Dublin on the fourth day.

This makes for significant preparation if you are flying from there but also guarantees that you have one day where you don’t have to travel and can simply rest.

As noted above, I do suggest the Hilton Dublin as a base in the city and this schedule to make the most of your stay here.

I hope you liked these itineraries and they helped you decide how to spend 4 days in irelan/d Safe travels!

Key: 4 days in Ireland

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