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Ireland Itinerary

Bring out your inner Celt with our immense Ireland itinerary. Sleep in a castle, join in a traditional Irish music jam, and sip a pint with locals – every stop takes you deeper into Irish lore and culture. A Eurail Ireland Pass gives you the freedom to stay longer in areas that grab your interest. Relax as the trains whisk you through the lush Irish countryside, dotted with its numerous historical remains.

If you’re traveling with a Eurail Global Pass, you can get discounted ferry travel from France to Rosslare in southeast Ireland. From there, you can then take the train along a brilliant scenic route to Dublin.

Itinerary in short

Cities visited on this trip:

 

Click here or on the map to view this route in our Trip Planner 

Dublin, Ireland

Visit Dublin for lessons in Irish history and Irish drinking! In the heart of the city is Trinity College, known for its stunning Old Library. Its prime exhibit is the beautifully decorated Book of Kells, which dates from 900AD. Take a tour of the campus, led by the University’s very own students.

Need an intellectual excuse for a sneaky drink? Try the Guinness Storehouse or tiny Irish Whiskey Museum for an education on the national drinks (tours include samples). Otherwise, join in with the shenanigans at the raucous Temple Bar district, or add traditional Irish pub The Stag’s Head to your Dublin itinerary.

Dublin’s main attractions get busy and tours sell out quickly. Turn up early in the day to ensure you get a place!
The Ha'Penny Bridge over the River Liffey, Dublin

From Dublin to Kilkenny

Travel time:

1h25m

Transfer:

0

  • Dublin, Ireland

    Dublin Heuston

  • 1h 25m
  • Kilkenny, Ireland

    Kilkenny (MacDonagh)

Kilkenny, Ireland

Kilkenny Castle is the focal point of the once medieval capital of Ireland. The castle has witnessed everything from sieges to restorations in its 800-plus years of history. Self-guided tours are available and include access to the fabulous Long Gallery. Orienteering courses in the extensive parklands are free.

Sports fans can get to grips with ‘The Kilkenny Way’ of hurling with a taster session. Kilkenny’s Cats (the local hurling team) are the all-time champions of the national sport, one of the oldest field sports in the world.

View of Kilkenny Castle across the River Nore

From Kilkenny to Cork

Travel time:

4h9m

Transfer:

1

  • Kilkenny, Ireland

    Kilkenny (MacDonagh)

  • 1h 29m
  • Dublin, Ireland

    Dublin Heuston

  • 2h 40m
  • Cork, Ireland

    Cork (Kent)

Cork, Ireland

Cork is an excellent place to get involved in local Irish life. Ring the Bells of Shandon at St. Anne’s Church, stock up at the much loved old City Market, and share a pint of Murphy’s (Irish Stout is the drink of choice here).

Take a trip northwest to the enchanting Blarney Castle. Tell your friends you kissed the Blarney Stone. This gives you the ‘gift of the gab’ – eloquence and persuasiveness, so the legend has it. Add to the mystical experience with a walk through the castle’s Rock Close, where witches and fairies abide.

The Shandon Bell Tower rising above Cork city

From Cork to Killarney

Travel time:

1h21m

Transfer:

0

  • Cork, Ireland

    Cork (Kent)

  • 1h 21m
  • Killarney, Ireland

    Killarney

Killarney, Ireland

Irish nature at its best. At the foot of the MacGillycuddy's Reeks, Ireland’s tallest mountain range, Killarney is blessed with the beautiful Killarney National Park, Lough Leane, and Muchross and Upper Lakes.

From Killarney you can trek the Ring of Kerry, a 112-mile-long (179 kilometer) scenic route along the coastline of the Iveragh Peninsula. Expect to see picturesque seaside villages, ancient island monasteries, and plenty of sheep surrounded by every shade of green.

Lough Leane, Killarney National Park

From Killarney to Galway

Travel time:

4h5m

Transfer:

2

  • Killarney, Ireland

    Killarney

  • 0h 58m
  • Mallow, Ireland

    Mallow

  • 0h 35m
  • Limerick, Ireland

    Limerick Junction

  • 2h 32m
  • Galway, Ireland

    Galway (Ceannt)

Galway, Ireland

Soak up the charm of lively Galway. Mingle in Eyre Square and the JFK Memorial Park. Stroll along the River Corrib, where anglers fish for salmon and chatter in Irish, up to Galway’s Cathedral and University. Back near the docks, admission into the Fisheries Watchtower and City Museum is free.

Don’t miss out on the welcoming atmosphere at one of the city’s authentic Irish pubs. Get in amongst the traditional music sessions at Tig Cóilí or The Crane. Or be amazed by the hodgepodge of articles that cram every corner of O’Connors Famous Pub.

Galway (Ceannt) train station is centrally located, just off Eyre Square.
Claddagh Quay, where the River Corrib meets Galway Bay

Get your hands on a Eurail Ireland Pass!