3 Places You Must See With a Week in Ireland – And None of Them are Dublin

You have the dream trip planned for a week in Ireland finally coming up, and now all you have to do is figure out where to go. Your first thought might be, “I have to see Dublin! It’s the capital and the heart of the country!”

You’re right, it is the capital, but it is definitely not the beating heart of Ireland. For that, you have to get away from Dublin. Go out into Ireland’s beautiful and sometimes mysterious countryside to experience its everything it has to offer. It’s here where you’ll get up close with wild coastlines, mystical ruins, green landscapes, world-famous trad music, cozy towns and, of course, all the Guinness-soaked pubs you can handle.

But where exactly should you go with your week in Ireland, then? You can’t cover a ton of space in only one week. Don’t worry, I have you covered. In this guide, I’ll take you to my three favorite stops in Ireland. By the time you’re done, they’re likely to become your favorites, too!

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Why You Should Visit Doolin During Your Week in Ireland

I’m starting this list with my absolute favorite place in Ireland: the quaint little village of Doolin. There isn’t much to Doolin, but don’t let its small size fool for you. It makes up for that fact by delivering several top-notch attractions.

Probably the main reasons people stay in Doolin are because of the easy access to the Cliffs of Moher and Aran Islands. From Doolin, it’s just a short ferry ride to any one of the three islands and an even quicker drive to the Cliffs of Moher. If you want some adventure, the Doolin Cliff Walk is a thrilling way to experience the Cliffs of Moher.

When you’re not traipsing along a cliff or navigating the Aran Island’s haunting terrain, Doolin is at its best when you’re simply wandering along its main road taking in the tranquil scenery. Stop in one of the few Irish pubs for a pint and to hear some trad music. The music here is considered some of the best in Ireland. I recommend McGann’s Pub for a pint to go with your music.

If you want to get away from people – not that Doolin is particularly crowded – you could walk up to the ruins of Killilagh Church. From here, you’ll be treated to panoramic views of Doolin’s serene countryside.

Before you leave Doolin, drive up to Doonagore Castle for even more excellent views. This time you’ll get to see the village and coastline all framed nicely by the castle.

Why You Should Visit Kilkenny During Your Week in Ireland

Doolin is great if you want that small Irish village ambiance. Yet, if you’re looking for something with a bit more to do without the chaos of a big city like Dublin, Kilkenny could be for you.

Kilkenny maintains a small-town charm despite being larger than Dingle and Doolin. It’s still substantially smaller than Dublin, though. It also sits in the heart of Ireland’s Ancient East, giving you quick access to many of the country’s medieval ruins.

Step outside Kilkenny to visit several evocative ruined sights all within a 45-minute drive. These sights include the iconic Rock of Cashel, Kells Priory and Jerpoint Abbey. You could also drive a bit farther afield to see the large monastic settlement of Glendalough.

If you prefer to stay in Kilkenny, you’re still spoiled for things to see. The two highlights are Kilkenny Castle and the Medieval Mile Museum. You can visit the castle to walk through its old halls to see how Kilkenny’s noble Butler family lived.

Do you prefer to get a more intimate and educational experience with the region’s history? The Medieval Mile Museum has you covered! This excellent museum is one of the best I visited in Ireland. Because of Kilkenny’s location in Ireland’s historic heartland, the museum has many different objects on display to learn more about the area’s past.

Like the best Irish towns, Kilkenny has a thriving pub scene. Along its main road, also knowns as the Medieval Mile, you can find a wide variety of pubs to choose from. You can even tour the former brewery-turned-museum of Ireland’s oldest ale, Smithwick’s.

Kilkenny is also the seat of the most successful hurling club in Ireland. You can learn more about this traditional Irish sport and even get a chance to play it at the Kilkenny Way Hurling Experience. Better yet, why not watch the Kilkenny Cats play a game if they’re in town!

Why You Should Visit Dingle During Your Week in Ireland

Dingle offers some of the best of Doolin and Kilkenny wrapped up in an adorable small town. Located on Ireland’s famed Wild Atlantic Way, Dingle is a coastal village where the history of the region permeates every nook and cranny.

You can experience this history most acutely along Dingle’s Slea Head Drive. While most of the tourists are doing the more well-known Ring of Kerry south of Dingle, you’ll be enjoying the Dingle Peninsula coastline with far fewer people. This 30-mile drive along some of Ireland’s most stunning coastline features one historical landmark after another.

After the drive, grab a drink at one of Dingle’s many pubs. Dingle has many to choose from, but there are two that stand above the rest: Foxy John’s and Curran’s. Walking in either of these traditional pubs will take you into a bygone era in Ireland’s past when pubs served the public’s needs beyond a simple pint of beer. Both of these spots still sell hardware and a random assortment of housewares to serve the town’s needs. It’s an interesting mix that you can’t get anywhere else.

Just beyond Dingle, you can spend a day at one of two beaches. Inch Beach is the larger and more popular choice. This 4-mile-long strand of coastline delights visitors with its wide, flat beach and views around Dingle Bay.

If you want a more secluded beach experience, search for nearby Minard Castle where you can have the water mostly to yourself. This tiny beach also has a ruined castle overlooking the bay, which makes for a dreamy view to admire when you’re done relaxing by the water.

And Why You Should Forget Dublin

No offense to Dublin, but if you only have a week in Ireland, it just isn’t worth your time. This is especially if this is a first-time visit.

We spent three days in Dublin at the end of our trip, and our time there paled in comparison to everywhere else we saw in Ireland. It isn’t even that we didn’t enjoy it (because we did), but the countryside and smaller towns are so much better.

I don’t know about you, but when I think of Ireland, I think of cozy little pubs in a small town or village surrounded by pastoral green fields. Instead, Dublin is a fairly generic blue-collar city. To its credit, it has some great museums, fun pubs and is filled with history, but it lacks the wow factor I look for in big cities. I came away thinking I could have just been in any average city in America, except with lots of Irish pubs.

You certainly can have a good time in Dublin, but you’ll have more fun everywhere else.

Tips for Including Dublin with a Week in Ireland

If you still want to include Dublin during your week in Ireland, here are three tips. These will help you enjoy Dublin while still making the most of your time in Ireland.

1. Do Dublin first. We waited till the end of our trip to visit Dublin, and after seeing the rest of the country, it was a bit of a letdown. We grew accustomed to the small-town charm of places like Doolin, Dingle and Kilkenny. So, by the time we reached Dublin, the urban landscape lost its appeal. Had we done Dublin first, Michelle and I both agreed we would have had a better lasting impression of it.
2. Dublin only needs two days. You have a ton of options of things to do in Dublin, but you really only need two days here if it’s your first time in Ireland. I can’t stress it enough: Your priority should be the countryside and smaller towns. In fact, you could even do 1.5 days in Dublin before heading out to the country.
3. Here are three must-see things in Dublin. While you’re in Dublin, make sure to see these three things: The Little Museum of Dublin, EPIC: The Irish Emigration Museum, and The Guinness Storehouse. These were my three favorite museums in Dublin that I think everyone should see, especially the first two.

Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting Ireland

How much time should I spend in each town?

With a week, you can easily spend two days in each town while still having enough time for travel to have an enjoyable time. You’ll still have a day leftover to add another destination or a bit more time in one of these towns.

What is the best way to travel around Ireland?

Unfortunately, Ireland doesn’t have a cohesive train infrastructure to make getting from one place to another easy. You could do buses, but even then, the trips aren’t simple, as you’ll likely have to make at least one change from point A to point B. You’ll also be constrained by the bus schedule.

With that said, the best and easiest way to get around Ireland is by renting a car. If you’re an American, take note that Ireland drives on the opposite side of the road. Plan some time to practice driving after picking up your car in an empty lot if you think you’ll need it.

Is a week enough time for Ireland?

If you are only going to see Doolin, Dingle and Kilkenny, then yes. However, if you can get a few more days in Ireland to really take your time and explore some other parts of the country, I recommend it. I think 10-14 days is the perfect amount of time to really experience Ireland.

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Resources to Book Your Trip to Ireland

Whether you’re looking for tours, hotels or flights, here are some tools to help get you started planning your trip to Ireland!

Look for activities and tours offered through GetYourGuide or Viator!

Still can’t find what you’re looking for? Check out my travel essentials for more of my recommendations.

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