How to Spend 10 Days In Ireland

If you’re searching for a place to visit that feels a bit like falling into the pages of a fairytale, it’s Ireland. Filled with lush green forests, sweeping views of the sea, colorful cottages, and vibrant villages, the Emerald Isle has it all. 

We’re about to take you on a journey from coast to coast, revealing some of the prettiest little towns and opening your horizons to some of the best folk music this side of heaven. Traveling from Donegal to Dublin, we have a plan that will help you see some of the greatest sights in this enchanted land. 

Let’s Start With Logistics

Since we’re going to start in the northernmost part of Ireland, we have a few options in terms of airports to fly into. We’re going to begin our journey up in Donegal, so you might want to fly into Belfast in Northern Ireland. That’ll be your shortest drive. 

Alternatively, you could also fly into Dublin and drive three hours north to Donegal. As another option, there’s also the smaller Shannon airport on the West Coast which would also put you at a three-hour drive to Donegal. For this trip, a car will certainly be necessary. So, you’ll want to make a booking with Hertz or Enterprise after you book your flight. 

Donegal | Day One

Since you’ll have a bit of logistics to sort through initially, we’ll set Donegal at three days. The first day you arrive, you might need some time to acclimate to the time zone, depending on where you’re coming from. Our favorite place to stay in the county is a real treat – Lough Eske Castle. 

On your first day, you’ll do well just checking into the hotel at 3 pm, settling into your decadent room, and then heading down to The Gallery Bar for a bite to eat. Depending on the season, you might even have a few daylight hours left to stroll the property a bit and wander down to the lake. If not, you’ll be glad to just sit by one of the many fires in the various lounge areas with a whiskey in hand as you take in the fact that you’re in Ireland!

Donegal | Day Two

We don’t want to rush out just yet, so we’ll spend an entire second day here in Donegal. Again, if you have the chance to fully walk the castle grounds – all the way down to the lake – you’ll feel like you’re in an enchanted forest and love every minute of it. The castle’s spa is also a delight. You could lounge by the pool in their Victorian Glass House or enjoy a treatment. 

Otherwise, if you’d like to get out and about, the city center isn’t far away and there’s plenty to see and do there, as well. Take a guided tour of Donegal Castle, dating all the way back to 1474. Then, just across the street, you can dip into Olde Castle Seafood Bar for some publike ambiance and fresh seafood. 

Depending on your time, Derry is about an hour away. If you’re a Derry Girls fan, this will be a real delight. You could also walk the Derry Walls. They’re a little less than a mile and form a walkway through the inner city, revealing its Renaissance-style street plan.

Galway | Day Three

After you have one more lovely breakfast at the castle, it’s time to pack your bags and head south to Galway. Here, you’ll find a colorful city packed to the gills with culture. Stay a night at the Leonardo Hotel. You can park your car in the garage next door and this puts you right in the heart of the Latin Quarter. If you got here early enough, you’ll love taking a walk in the Claddagh region along the water. 

Or, if it’s later in the afternoon, it’s all about grabbing a meal and waiting for the traditional Irish music (trad) to start. The Leonardo Hotel puts you right at the base of Quay Street, so you can walk straight up the street and take your pick for some great dining options. 

The Quay Street Kitchen does a lovely peppercorn steak. That could easily be your starting point. Then, you’ll want to head across the street to Fitzgerald’s to see if the music has started. A few other great options for trad are Taaffes, Tigh Choili, The Kings Head, and Darcy’s up in Eyre Square.