Days 1-2: Dublin
After the weekend in Madrid my next stop was Dublin, Ireland. I took the Airlink Express from the airport to the city. The Airlink Express bus was only seven euros compared, far less expensive compared to Uber or taxi which were a minimum of 21 euros. While planning my adventure in Dublin it was important to find a hotel which was centrally located so that sites were within walking distance. I settled on the Riverside Hotel in Temple Bar Square. The Riverside hotel is perfect if you are looking to chill and relax. The hotel has free wifi in the lobby. If you prefer a place with constant air conditioning and in-room wifi, I would suggest that you search for another property. After settling in, I went to explore Temple Bar Square and ended up at The Quay’s Restaurant for dinner! It was such a cute and affordable pub and restaurant. For dinner I ordered the Cottage Pie. Yum! Temple Bar Square is a great central location which has an active nightlife, but beware if you’re not a night owl– the music & pub noise goes on until 2 AM.
Temple Bar Square 
Quays Restaurant
The second day, I headed out at 7:00 AM for a 14-hour tour which includes stops at the Cliffs of Moher, Galway & Burren! The tour included a private coach bus that was super comfortable and included all the stops. The first stop was brief and included a 10-minute tour exploring the Kilmacduagh Monastery, which is a ruined abbey near the town of Gort in County Galway, Ireland. The next stop included a 2-hour stop exploring the Cliffs of Moher. I was super lucky this day as it was sunny and beautiful, but be prepared for super strong on-shore winds while exploring the cliffs. The cliffs were absolutely gorgeous and a must visit anytime you are in Ireland. Before the bus departed for the next stop, I stopped for lunch in at the local Cliffs of Moher cafe. I ordered the creamy clam chowder and it was to die for! The next stop on the itinerary was a 10- minute stop to explore the Burren (aka- the baby cliffs). Next we headed to the last stop, Galway. Galway was a relaxing 2-hour ride from Burren. The ride was relaxing and full of beautiful scenery. We arrived around 3 PM and had 3 hours to explore the town! The town is small and an easy 30-minute walk around the whole area. Each alleyway was quaint and lively. I would definitely rate this city as a must see while visiting Ireland! We arrived back sometime after 9 PM. I was so my tired, I went straight to the first place I found for dinner which was The Shack Restaurant. I ordered my very first Fish & Chips dinner and it was delicious!
Kilmacduagh Monastery 
Cliffs of Moher 
Burren 
City of Galway 
City of Galway 
Days 3-4: Cork
The next morning, I headed to the Heuston Train Station. The weather was nice so I decided to walk to the station, it only took 30 minutes and I save a little money too! I boarded the Irish Rail headed to Cork. The Irish Rail is a great deal at only $60, if you prepay online, and includes stops in all the three cities I stayed in for the 10 days. When you make your reservation, you can reserve a seat. When I boarded, the seat had my name on it – it was so cool! I took the 8 AM train and arrived in Cork at 10:30 AM. The hotel was only a ten-minute from the station. I stayed at the Hotel Issacs Cork. It was still early when I checked in and my room was not yet ready. I’m glad that I planned a tour that morning! I booked the original Jameson Distillery 2- hour tour in Midleton. I absolutely love whiskey and was so excited about the Jameson Whiskey Experience at the Distillery. At the end of the tour you get to sample three different shots and a complimentary drink. After the tour, I headed to the gift shop for a souvenir to remember my day! I decided not to take a taxi back to the hotel from the Distillery since it was expensive, instead I hopped on the train and headed back to Cork, only a 30-minute ride and only six euros. By this time, I was ready for dinner and decided on Son of a Bun since it was recommended to me by one of the locals. It is great for burgers!
The following day, I took the Blarney and Cobh Tour from Cork. The tour ran from 9:30 AM to 3 PM. The excursion began with a scenic drive to Blarney, where we had plenty of time to visit the world-famous Blarney Castle, its expansive gardens, and to kiss the Blarney Stone. I did not kiss the Blarney Stone because I heard rumors about the locals peeing on it. I decided to walk all the way up the castle, and it was tough! The stairs were super narrow and thought I was going to fall in some of the trickier areas. If you decide to go to the castle, make sure you wear good non-slip shoes. While in Blarney, you can visit the witch of Blarney, but since it was Halloween day, I wasn’t even going to try put some bad luck on me. After two hours of exploring the beautiful gardens of Blarney, we headed to Cobh. The small town of Cobh was cute with its rows of colorful houses! Most of the group decided to do the Titanic Experience. I learned so much more about the Titanic than I ever imagined possible! It’s definitely a must-do while in Cobh. After returning back to Cork, I headed to Cask later that night for dinner. Cask is the hotel’s restaurant & bar. It’s gorgeous and had great food. After eating there, I see why it has won awards the last two years!
Blarney Castle & Gardens 
Blarney Castle & Gardens 
Blarney Castle & Gardens 
Blarney Castle & Gardens
City of Cobh 
City of Cobh 
City of Cobh
Days 5-6: Killarney
After a wonderful time in Cork, I headed to the hotel’s restaurant for my very first Irish breakfast, it was so delicious! If you book a stay at Hotel Issacs, you must take the time to eat at Greene’s restaurant, it’s incredible! Once I was finished breakfast, I checked out and took the train to Killarney. I arrived in Killarney around 2 PM and had two hours of sunlight left to explore Killarney after check-in. The hotel was only a 5-minute taxi ride from the station.
Outside of Cahernane House Hotel 
Outside of Cahernane House Hotel
If you ever in decide to visit Killarney, I highly recommend that you plan to stay at Cahernane House Hotel! It’s absolutely breathtaking and has the whole Irish country vibe! Everyone was so welcoming! They were even gracious enough to upgrade my room to a suite. After I checked-in, I headed to straight to The Ross Castle. The castle is fairly small, but the views of Lake Killarney & Killarney’s National Park were absolutely gorgeous! After thirty minutes of sightseeing, I headed back into town for dinner. I found Killarney Brewing Company on my walk back, a great place for pizza and beer! After dinner, I headed downstairs to the hotel’s The Cellar Bar to claim my free drink ticket I received at check-in! I’m so glad that I did, it is such a cool bar!
Killarney National Park View 
The Ross Castle 
The Ross Castle
The following morning I had my second Irish breakfast and it was pouring rain, so I decided to relax at the hotel. Finally, around 2 PM, the sky cleared up and I headed out for a 2-hour bike ride through Killarney National Park. While exploring the park, I stopped at Muckross Abbey, Muckross House and Torc Waterfall! After an extremely tiring, but fun ride, I headed to town to eat dinner at Murphy’s Bar. I ended the night at The Shire, which is a Lord of The Rings inspired bar. It was super neat and definitely a must stop when you are visiting Killarney.
Muckross Abbey
Muckross House 
Muckross House 
Torc Waterfall
Days 7-9: Dublin
My last morning in Killarney, I had my very last Irish breakfast at the hotel and it was delicious! You have to try Irish pancakes while in Ireland, they are delicious! After check-out, I headed to the train station and back to Dublin for my last three nights in Ireland. The return trip to Dublin was almost four hours. When I arrived, I was ready for dinner. I headed to a local pub right next door to the hotel. This time in Dublin I decided to stay right in a different area proximate to the Heuston station in Phoenix Park. I stayed at the Phoenix Park Hotel, it was very affordable and conveniently located and definitely more quiet than the Temple Bar area. The following morning, I embarked on my next adventure with the Malahide Castle & North Coast Half-Day Tour from Dublin. The tour was such a nice way to get out of the city. I enjoyed learning about culture and the small town of Howth. Howth is a fishing village outside of Dublin, and it was absolutely gorgeous! After the tour, I took advantage of the remaining daylight to explore Dublin. I visited Grafton Street, Stephen’s Green, Dublin City Hall where I and enjoyed a hot chocolate at The Sweetest Thing. On my walk back, I stopped at The Brazen Head for dinner, the oldest pub in Dublin.
Malahide Castle & Gardens 
Day 9 of my trip was my last full day in Dublin and I wanted to make the most of it so I purchased the Dublin Pass for only $60, prepaid online, which was well worth it! The pass included entrance to 30 area attractions and a skip-the-line advantage at the attraction entrances. My first stop was the Dublin Zoo in Phoenix Park, but then I decided to take a detour and see the wild deer that wander freely in Phoenix Park. You don’t have to go far, you can find three types of deer in the park and they aren’t afraid of humans! It was the most amazing experience ever! After Phoenix Park, I finished the day touring the Guinness Storehouse, St. Patrick’s Cathedral and the Dublin Castle. It was a fantastic way to spend my final day in Ireland!
Day 10: Farewell & Heading Home
After checking out of the hotel, I took an Uber to the airport. It was expensive, but worth it to get arrive on time. If you haven’t flown out of the Dublin airport, definitely arrive at least three hours early since you have to go through security and customs twice! I hope this itinerary is useful for solo travelers or anyone who has not yet been to Ireland! Ten days wasn’t enough for me- I can’t wait to visit again!
