Custom travel to Ireland

Ireland (84,421 km², 7 million inhabitants), split since 1921 between the Republic of Ireland in the south (Éire, 26 counties, independent, EU member) and Northern Ireland (6 counties, UK member), forms a Celtic island of primordial beauty, 2 h by air from Paris. It is here that Europe's oldest Celtic culture has survived to this day, after two millennia of Viking, Norman and English invasions — Gaelic still spoken, « trad » music UNESCO-listed in 2014, Celtic dance and 12,000 pubs (the world's highest density after Iceland). The country boasts four Nobel laureates in literature (Yeats, Shaw, Beckett, Heaney) and two UNESCO sites: Brú na Bóinne (1993, Boyne Valley — Newgrange and Knowth dated 3,300 BC, older than the pyramids) and Skellig Michael (1996, 6th-c. monastery popularized by Star Wars). To the west, the Wild Atlantic Way (2,500 km) is the world's longest defined coastal route — Cliffs of Moher (214 m), Connemara, Dingle Peninsula. To the north, the Giant's Causeway (UNESCO 1986) and Belfast (Titanic Quarter). In Dublin, Trinity College houses the Book of Kells, Temple Bar concentrates the traditional pubs and the Guinness Storehouse traces the stout founded in 1759. Allow seven to ten days to combine Dublin, the Wild Atlantic Way 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

Essential Ireland: Dublin, Wild Atlantic, Boyne Valley

Duration : 10 days

Route : Paris-Dublin flight (1 h 45 direct Air France) → DUBLIN (3 nights, Georgian Merrion Hotel + Trinity Book of Kells + Temple Bar + 1759 Guinness + Kilmainham Gaol) → UNESCO BOYNE VALLEY 1993 excursion (3200 BC Newgrange + Knowth + Hill of Tara) → GALWAY (1 night, bohemian city) → CONNEMARA (2 nights, 1228 Ashford Castle or Gaeltacht B&B) → 214 m CLIFFS OF MOHER + DOOLIN (1 night, world capital of trad, Christy Barry session) → RING OF KERRY + KILLARNEY (1 night) → return Dublin (1 night) → direct flight

Complete Wild Atlantic Way: 2,500 km Donegal-Cork

Duration : 15 days

Route : Paris-Dublin flight → Dublin (1 night) → DONEGAL Slieve League 600 m (2 nights, Europe's tallest cliffs) → MAYO Achill Island + Keem Bay (2 nights) → CONNEMARA + Killary Fjord (2 nights, Ashford Castle) → GALWAY + Aran Islands (1 night + Doolin ferry) → DOOLIN + Cliffs of Moher + Burren (2 nights, world capital of trad) → KERRY Ring of Kerry + Skellig Michael (3 nights, Portmagee) → CORK + Titanic Cobh + Blarney Castle (1 night) → return Dublin (1 night) → direct flight

Complete Ireland + UNESCO North Coast Northern Ireland

Duration : 13 days

Route : Paris-Dublin flight → Dublin (3 nights) → UNESCO BOYNE VALLEY 1993 (Newgrange) → BELFAST NORTHERN IRELAND (1 night, 2012 Titanic Quarter + Crumlin Road Gaol + murals) → UNESCO 1986 NORTH COAST (Giant's Causeway 40,000 columns + Carrick-a-Rede + Dunluce Castle + 1608 Bushmills + Game of Thrones Dark Hedges) → DONEGAL (1 night) → CONNEMARA + Ashford Castle (2 nights) → CLIFFS OF MOHER + DOOLIN (2 nights) → KERRY Ring of Kerry + Skellig (2 nights) → return Dublin → direct flight

When to go

Ireland has a temperate oceanic climate, mild but rainy (230 RAINY DAYS PER YEAR, often brief — « 4 SEASONS IN 1 HOUR »). The best period is MAY TO SEPTEMBER: 13-22 °C, long days (up to 17 h in June), green vegetation. SKELLIG MICHAEL accessible May-October only weather permitting. MAY-JUNE is OUR FAVORITE PERIOD: 13-18 °C + long days + moderate crowds + Skellig puffins (May-July) + green Ring of Kerry + blooming Killarney rhododendrons. JULY-AUGUST: 16-22 °C (warm for Ireland), summer peak + FESTIVALS (July GALWAY INTERNATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL + local trad festivals) but massive Cliffs of Moher + Ring of Kerry crowds + high rates. SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER our 2nd favorite period: 12-17 °C + crowds plummeting + magnificent oblique light + late September GALWAY OYSTER FESTIVAL (since 1954, 11 million oysters/year, world oyster opening championship) + Skellig last month (October). NOVEMBER-MARCH winter: rainy and windy (4-10 °C), partially closed Wild Atlantic Way, but NEWGRANGE DECEMBER 21 WINTER SOLSTICE (ANNUAL LOTTERY for 60 spots out of 50,000 requests/year, 17 min of sunbeam in 3200 BC tomb). MARCH 17 SAINT PATRICK'S FESTIVAL IN DUBLIN (WORLD-UNIQUE PARADE 500,000 spectators, Irish national day, parades in all cities, London Trafalgar Square fountain dyed green).

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 for tourists (top 5 European Global Peace Index). NO VISA for French citizens (EU since 1973, NOT SCHENGEN but FRENCH ID CARD ACCEPTED via UK-Ireland COMMON TRAVEL AREA maintained since 1923 despite 2020 Brexit). No mandatory vaccines, up-to-date DTP recommended + European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) which works in Ireland. Tap water drinkable everywhere. Visa/Mastercard accepted everywhere (€ in Republic + £ in Northern Ireland), Bank of Ireland + AIB ATMs everywhere. Customary tip: 10% in restaurants (service rarely included). Excellent mobile coverage (Vodafone Ireland + Three + Eir, Holafly eSIM), 4G/5G everywhere. LEFT-HAND DRIVING (British heritage 1171-1922) — 30-min adaptation, automatic recommended, Garmin GPS provided. Narrow roads in Connemara/Dingle/Donegal (caution, slow down, don't brake suddenly when facing roaming sheep). WEATHER: 230 RAINY DAYS/YEAR, sometimes « 4 SEASONS IN 1 HOUR » — LAYERED clothing (t-shirt + sweater + softshell + GORE-TEX waterproof coat), essential WATERPROOF SHOES, NO UMBRELLA (too windy). SKELLIG MICHAEL: BOOKING 6 MONTHS IN ADVANCE with Casey's of Portmagee, MAY-OCTOBER ONLY, 180 visitors/day max, weather permitting (frequent cancellations in strong wind, plan 2 days in Kerry for 2nd attempt). NEWGRANGE December 21 winter solstice: ANNUAL LOTTERY for 60 spots out of 50,000 requests/year (impossible to guarantee, normal year-round visit with slot booked 1 month in advance). CLIFFS OF MOHER: 8 AM-10 AM morning slot recommended (4,000 visitors/h in July-August, massive crowds).

Frequently asked questions

When is the best time for Ireland?

May-June and September: 13-18°C, long days, moderate crowds, Skellig accessible (May-October), Cliffs puffins (May-July). Avoid July-August (massive crowds). March Saint Patrick's if Dublin parade.

How to access UNESCO Skellig Michael?

May-October only, 180 visitors/day max, weather permitting. Our Casey's of Portmagee booking 6 months ahead. 50 min boat, 600 steps, 4h on island. Private helicopter option (€1,500/person).

How many days to visit Ireland?

Essential Ireland (Dublin + Wild Atlantic): 8 nights. Complete 2,500 km Wild Atlantic Way: 13 nights. Complete Ireland + Northern Ireland (UNESCO Giant's Causeway): 11 nights. Combo Scotland Edinburgh: 13-15 nights.

Should I rent a car?

Yes for Wild Atlantic Way and Connemara. Left-hand driving, 30 min adaptation. Right-hand wheel, automatic recommended, Garmin GPS provided. Narrow Donegal/Dingle roads (caution). Private driver-guide option (€250/day).

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?

Comfort: €2,400-3,200/person. Premium (castle hotels): €3,500-5,200. Excellence (Ballyfin, helicopter): €6,500+. Flights, car, accommodations, Skellig, trad sessions included.

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, Ireland is not in Schengen but in EU since 1973. No visa for French/Europeans. ID card or passport. Brexit doesn't affect (Common Travel Area UK-Ireland maintained since 1923).

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.