Custom travel to Ireland

Ireland (84,421 km², 7 million inhabitants), split since 1921 between the Republic (EU) and Northern Ireland (UK), forms a Celtic island of primordial beauty, 2 h from Paris. It is here that Europe's oldest Celtic culture has survived: Gaelic spoken, UNESCO-listed « trad » music, and 12,000 pubs, the highest density after Iceland. Two UNESCO sites: Brú na Bóinne (Newgrange, older than the pyramids) and Skellig Michael, a 6th-c. monastery popularized by Star Wars. To the west, the Wild Atlantic Way is the world's longest defined coastal route, Cliffs of Moher, Connemara, Dingle. To the north, the Giant's Causeway and Belfast. Trinity College in Dublin houses the Book of Kells, and the Guinness Storehouse traces the 1759 stout. Allow seven to ten days for Dublin, the west coast and Kerry.

Highlights

• Dublin & Trinity College Book of Kells, 1592 Trinity (oldest Irish university), 9th-century Book of Kells (most precious manuscript), Temple Bar pubs, 1759 Guinness, 1780 Jameson distillery.
• Cliffs of Moher 214 m & Wild Atlantic Way, 214 m cliffs over 14 km (County Clare), 2,500 km Wild Atlantic Way (world's longest defined coastal road), Connemara, Donegal Slieve League 600 m.
• UNESCO Skellig Michael 1996, 217 m rocky island, 6th-century monastery, 600 carved steps, Star Wars final scene (Luke Skywalker), seasonal access May-October, 180 visitors/day max.
• UNESCO Newgrange 1993 (3200 BC), 5,200-year-old corridor tomb (600 years older than Egyptian pyramids), December 21 winter solstice alignment, UNESCO Boyne Valley + Knowth + Dowth.
• UNESCO Giant's Causeway 1986, 40,000 hexagonal basalt columns (Antrim, Northern Ireland), formed 60 million years ago, Celtic legend of giant Finn McCool, 50 km North Coast.
• Traditional pubs & Celtic music, 12,000 pubs in Ireland, improvised traditional sessions (Doolin, Galway, Westport), Guinness draft, fish & chips, Bushmills 1608 world's oldest distillery.

Sample itineraries

When to go

Ireland has a temperate oceanic climate, mild but rainy (230 rainy days a year, often brief, « four seasons in one hour »). The best period runs from May to September: 13-22 °C, long days, green vegetation. Skellig Michael is only accessible May to October, weather permitting. May-June is our favorite period: mild weather, long days, moderate crowds and Skellig puffins. July-August is the summer peak, warmer but busier. September-October, our second favorite period, offers magnificent light and fewer crowds. November-March, winter, is rainy and windy, but the Newgrange winter solstice on December 21 and Dublin's Saint Patrick's parade on March 17, one of the world's largest, are worth the trip.

• Spring, Skellig + Cliffs puffins (May – June), Skellig accessible, May-July Cliffs puffins, green Ring of Kerry
• Summer, trad festivals + Wild Atlantic (July – August), Galway Arts Festival, trad festivals, Skellig, Wild Atlantic
• Autumn, Galway Oyster + colors (September – October), Late September Galway Oyster Festival, October Skellig last month
• Winter, Saint Patrick + Newgrange solstice (November – March), Dublin Saint Patrick parade, Newgrange solstice lottery

Practical information

Ireland is very safe, in Europe's top 5 Global Peace Index. No visa for French citizens; outside Schengen but ID card sufficient thanks to the Common Travel Area with the UK. No mandatory vaccines, the European Health Insurance Card works on site. Tap water drinkable everywhere. Credit cards accepted everywhere, euro in the Republic and pound in Northern Ireland. Customary tip of 10%. Left-hand driving, quick adaptation, caution on narrow Connemara roads facing roaming sheep. Rainy climate: pack layered clothing and waterproof shoes. Skellig Michael should be booked six months ahead, accessible only May to October. The Newgrange solstice lottery offers only 60 spots for 50,000 requests a year.

Frequently asked questions

When is the best time for Ireland?

May-June and September remain our two favorite windows: 13-18 °C, long days (up to 17 h of daylight in June), moderate crowds, Skellig Michael accessible (only May to October, weather permitting) and puffins nesting on the Cliffs of Moher from May to July. July-August is the summer peak, warmer (16-22 °C) but noticeably busier on the Ring of Kerry and the Cliffs. Ireland has a temperate, rainy oceanic climate (230 rainy days a year, often brief, « four seasons in one hour »), so no season is entirely sheltered from a shower. November-March stays off-season, rainy and windy, but two events are worth the trip: the Newgrange winter solstice on December 21 (lottery for 60 spots out of 50,000 requests) and Dublin's Saint Patrick's Day parade on March 17, one of the largest in the world.

How to access UNESCO Skellig Michael?

Skellig Michael (UNESCO 1996) is only accessible from May to October, weather permitting, with a strict maximum of 180 visitors a day imposed to protect the 6th-century monastery. We book your spot 6 months in advance with Casey's of Portmagee, the only 100% Irish operator, 4th-generation captains. The crossing takes 50 minutes across the Atlantic, with a landing that can be tricky depending on swell; you then climb 600 steps carved into the granite rock up to the monastery perched at 217 m, popularized by Star Wars' final scene with Luke Skywalker, and spend about 4 hours on the island before the boat back. To save time or avoid the swell, a private helicopter is possible (€1,500/person), saving nearly 4 hours over the boat.

How many days to visit Ireland?

It depends on what you want to cover. For Essential Ireland (10 days, our most-chosen itinerary), plan on 3 nights in Dublin, an excursion to Newgrange, two nights in Connemara, one night at the Cliffs of Moher and Doolin, then the Ring of Kerry, about 1,200 km total. For the complete Wild Atlantic Way, from Donegal to Cork over 2,500 km, the world's longest defined coastal road, allow 15 days to fit in Slieve League, Achill Island, Connemara, the Aran Islands and Kerry without rushing. To add Northern Ireland (UNESCO Giant's Causeway, Belfast, Bushmills), plan on 13 days. If you combine with Scotland (Belfast-Edinburgh flight 45 min or Belfast-Cairnryan ferry 2 h 15), allow 13 to 15 days total.

Should I rent a car?

Yes, it's recommended for exploring the Wild Atlantic Way, Connemara and Donegal at your own pace. Left-hand driving is a quick adaptation for French visitors, about 30 minutes, with a little extra caution at roundabouts. We provide a high-end automatic car (Mercedes C-Class or BMW 3-Series) with Garmin GPS; the main road network is in good condition, but secondary roads in Connemara, Donegal and Dingle stay narrow, sometimes with sheep wandering free. For the Wild Atlantic Way, we usually recommend a private French-speaking driver-guide in a Range Rover Defender 4WD instead, more comfortable on the winding coastal roads. Trains link the major cities but stay slow (Dublin-Galway 2 h 30, Dublin-Cork 2 h 45), and there's no Uber, though Bolt works well in Dublin, Cork and Galway.

Does it really rain all the time?

Moderate rain 230 days/year but often brief (« 4 seasons in 1 hour »). Gore-Tex waterproof clothing essential. The rain makes Ireland green. May-June statistically less rainy.

Can you combine Ireland with Scotland?

Yes via plane (Belfast-Edinburgh 45 min, Dublin-Edinburgh 1h05) or ferry (Belfast-Cairnryan 2h15, Larne-Cairnryan). Eurail Ireland-UK Brit Rail pass. Recommended combo: Ireland Wild Atlantic + Scotland Highlands.

What budget for 8 nights?

Three levels, as a guideline, for two people excluding international flights. Comfort (from €2,590/person): 4★ family B&Bs in Gaeltacht (Connemara, Doolin, Killarney, Dingle), boutique hotels in Dublin (Merrion Hotel or Westbury), automatic compact car, 3-4 guided experiences (Trinity, Newgrange, Cliffs, Doolin). Premium (from €3,590/person): 5★ castle hotels (1228 Ashford Castle, 16th-c. Dromoland Castle, Adare Manor), private Skellig Michael with Casey's, automatic Mercedes, gastronomic dinners (1★ Michelin Loam Galway), private Christy Barry session in Doolin. Exclusive (from €6,500/person): Royal Suite at Ballyfin Demesne, private helicopter to Skellig Michael, private French-speaking driver-guide in a Range Rover Defender for the whole Wild Atlantic Way. Add €150-€400 per person for the Paris-Dublin round-trip flight (direct Air France 1 h 45, Aer Lingus, or low-cost Ryanair).

Is Ireland family-friendly?

Yes, ideally: safe Dublin, captivating Trinity for teens (Book of Kells), impressive Cliffs of Moher, Skellig possible from age 8 (sporty), pubs welcoming children until 9pm, warm family B&Bs.

Is Ireland Schengen?

No, the Republic of Ireland is not in the Schengen area even though it has been in the EU since 1973, but no visa is needed for French citizens, other Europeans, Britons, Americans, or Canadians. A French ID card is enough, a passport is not required. This is thanks to the Common Travel Area, a free-movement agreement between the UK and Ireland dating back to 1923 and maintained after Brexit, which also lets you cross from the Republic into Northern Ireland (UK) with no border control or document change, only the currency shifts (euro to pound sterling).

Why New Horizons by Lisa for Ireland?

10 years of local partnerships, castle hotels (1228 Ashford, Dromoland), Skellig Michael booking 6 months ahead, private trad sessions (Christy Barry Doolin), Wild Atlantic Range Rover drivers, French-speaking 24/7 support.

How to pay while there?

Credit cards are accepted almost everywhere, in B&Bs, restaurants and pubs, even for small amounts, contactless is standard. Still, keep some cash on hand (euros in the Republic, pound sterling in Northern Ireland) for markets, Connemara farm stalls, or some very rural B&Bs. Tipping isn't mandatory but 10% is customary at restaurants if service isn't already included.

What should I pack?

Ireland's oceanic climate calls for layered, waterproof clothing even in summer: a Gore-Tex-style waterproof jacket, a warm sweater, and sturdy waterproof walking shoes (essential for the Cliffs of Moher, Connemara, or Skellig Michael). Also pack solid closed shoes for Skellig's 600 steps and the 14-km Cliffs of Moher walk, a Type G adapter (same as the UK), and, if visiting in December, warm layers for the short, cool solstice days.