Compare Ireland Your Way: B&B Vacation by Great Value Vacations vs Shades of Ireland featuring Northern Ireland - 2024 by Collette

Day 1 Welcome to Shannon!

Arrive at Shannon International Airport and pick up your rental car which you will have for the remainder of your vacation. Drive to your first destination in County Clare and settle into your hotel. Enjoy your first pint of Irish beer as you prepare for the next few days of sightseeing

Day 2 Ireland Bed & Breakfast

After breakfast, it's time to travel to your next destination. The remaining nights of your vacation will be spent at the Irish Bed & Breakfast of your choice! Be sure to book your stay prior to your departure date to ensure you are accommodated at your first choice Bed & Breakfast. Your local hosts can also help you with directions, or suggest different places to visit around their home!

Consider a visit to Galway, a city in Western Ireland bursting with culture and incredible coastal cuisine! Once a small fishing village, Galway has transformed into a vibrant metropolis with annual festivals, bohemian cafe culture, and colorful shop fronts. 

Day 3 Ireland Bed & Breakfast

From your B&B in Galway, make your way down south to County Clare, home to the rugged Cliffs of Moher. Encounter nature in its wildest, purest form as you drive along the Wild Atlantic Way to Ireland’s most spectacular natural wonder. 

On a clear day, you will be able to see the Aran Islands, Galway Bay, the Twelve Pins and the Maum Turk mountains in Connemara as well as the Dingle Peninsula and Blasket Islands in Kerr. 

After you've soaked in the beauty of the Cliffs of Moher, check into a B&B in Clare.

Day 4 Ireland Bed & Breakfast

Leave your B&B in the morning and drive to Bunratty Castle & Folk Park. Built in 1425, Bunratty Castle is the most complete and authentic medieval castle in Ireland. Explore 15th and 16th century furnishings, tapestries, and works of art that capture the mood of the times. Then get a taste of medieval life at Bunratty Folk Park, complete with a school, post office, doctors house, hardware shop, printers and pub!

From Bunratty, continue your drive south to Killarney. Check into a B&B then explore this lively city.

Day 5 Ireland Bed & Breakfast

Today, drive to the Ring of Kerry, a road taking you through 10,000 years of Irish history! On this 111-mile route, you will pass landmarks like Skellig Michael, Muckross House, Derrynane Beach, the stone forts of Cahergal & Leacanabuaile, and more. 

Once you've completed the circular route, check into a B&B near Kenmare and rest up for your next day of adventure. 

Day 6 Ireland Bed & Breakfast

In the morning, drive east to Blarney Castle near Cork. Explore the grounds of this famous medieval castle dating back to 1446 and don't forget to kiss the Blarney Stone, which is said to give each kisser the gift of eloquence. 

Then make your way to the city of Cork, considered Ireland's third city after Dublin and Belfast. Walk the compact city center and make stops at the English Market, St Fin Barre's Cathedral, and Cork City Gaol. 

Make your way toward Kilkenny for your final evening in Ireland.

Day 7 Depart Ireland

Say goodbye to Ireland as you drive to Dublin airport. Drop off your rental car then transfer to your departure gate for your flight home.

Day 1 Overnight Flight

Set out on an amazing Irish adventure that tells the complete story of the shades of Ireland.

Day 2 Dublin, Ireland - Tour Begins

Get a taste of old Dublin. Tonight, you and your fellow travelers revel in a traditional Irish evening, including regional cuisine.

Day 3 Dublin

Today, it’s your choice! Choose to ride with a local guide to see St. Patrick’s Cathedral, O’Connell Street, the National Gallery, and the historic Phoenix Park -OR- choose a walking tour of the city’s historic center, exploring St. Stephen’s Green, Grafton Street, and the General Post Office. Either way, what follows is an afternoon to discover Dublin’s charms on your own. Later, you may join an optional tour to the Guinness Storehouse, followed by dinner at a contemporary restaurant showcasing Irish cuisine.

Day 4 Dublin - Kilkenny - Waterford

Step back in time and begin the day in the medieval splendor of 12th century Kilkenny on the River Nore. Then, in Waterford, embark on a leisurely paced walking tour of Ireland’s oldest city. It’s your choice! Tour the Waterford Crystal factory and learn how exquisite crystal has been made for centuries -OR- visit the Medieval Museum for a guided tour and a glass of wine in the 15th-century Mayor’s Wine Vault.

Day 5 Waterford - Blarney Stone - Killarney

The legend goes that those who kiss the Blarney Stone gain the gift of eloquence – give it a try if you wish at historic Blarney Castle. Cross into County Kerry and continue on to charming Killarney, where you will board a traditional boat* and sail through breathtaking lakes in the company of an expert boatman. This evening, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 6 Killarney - Ring of Kerry - Killarney

Take in the rugged coastline as you loop your way around the picturesque Ring of Kerry, past pristine beaches, quaint villages, and majestic landscapes. At the Gap of Dunloe, shop for local artisan-made crafts. The night is free for reminiscing about the day as you find your own authentic taste of Irish culture.

Day 7 Killarney - Cliffs of Moher - Ennis

Bid Killarney farewell and travel across the lovely Shannon River into County Clare. Visit the Cliffs of Moher, one of Ireland’s most iconic sites. Walk along the rambling edge, soaking up unparalleled views and snapping incredible photos. Complete your day at the historic Old Ground Hotel in the heart of Ennis Town. This evening you may join an optional medieval banquet dinner, hosted in a castle.

Day 8 Ennis - Galway - Enniskillen, Northern Ireland

Experience the daily life of a traditional Irish family during a memorable farm visit. Then continue on to Galway for a brief tour that showcases “The City of Tribes.” Your day ends in the northwest reaches of Eire.

Day 9 Enniskillen - Donegal Town - Derry

Take in the rugged, natural beauty of County Donegal. Stop in Donegal Town and stroll the town square, enjoying its quaint craft and woolen shops. Next, travel to Derry, known for its turbulent political history. This afternoon, a local guide leads a walk through the old city, including the Craft Village, a charming 19th century Georgian square in the heart of the walled city. Tonight, it’s Diner’s Choice… choose your included dinner from a "menu" of Derry’s great restaurants.

Day 10 Derry - Inishowen Peninsula - Derry

This morning, journey to the Inishowen Peninsula and Malin Head. Take in breathtaking scenery as you explore Ireland's northernmost point. Return to Derry and enjoy an afternoon at leisure. Tonight, you may join an optional tour to discover the culture of Derry through storytelling, music and song, with dinner at a restaurant serving pub style food.

Day 11 Derry - Giant's Causeway - Glens of Antrim - Belfast

See the most famous natural site in Northern Ireland as you visit the magnificent Giant’s Causeway. Formed by volcanic activity millions of years ago, the causeway resembles a cobble road leading into the sea. Then lose yourself in the natural beauty of Northern Ireland as you explore the scenic back roads of the Glens of Antrim to Belfast. Top your day off with a visit to a whiskey distillery and learn the process of making this national tipple. Here you can taste whiskey and enjoy dinner.

Day 12 Belfast

Begin the day with a guided tour of Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland, and hear of the struggles in this great city’s history as you pass through the different neighborhoods. See “Samson” and “Goliath,” the cranes at the shipyard that built the Titanic, before touring the “Titanic Experience,” Northern Ireland’s most visited attraction. This afternoon is yours to explore Belfast further, as your Irish adventure comes to a close.

Day 13 Belfast - Tour Ends

Your tour ends in Belfast.