As teenagers, we've all dreamed at least once of organizing a great trip to Ireland, to discover the landscapes so often told in fairy tales and movies. A wonderful tour of the cities, following the Wild Atlantic Way, passing the Cliffs of Moher, the endless meadows, the green that becomes the most common color to encounter.
Ireland is truly a magical place: just consider the amount of cultural products directly influenced by its existence to understand why most people say they want to take a tour in such a place.
But how do you choose the best itinerary? What is the best time to explore this place? Is it worth renting a car? And what about accommodation? Here at Meeters, we answer all these questions!
With our experience inevent organization and our desire to create opportunities for people to make new friends we have gathered lots of information and advice on various topics, including itineraries for Ireland.
With that said, let's discover what you need to know to organize the perfect trip to Ireland!
What Is the Best Time to Visit Ireland?
Let's start with a fundamental point: when is the best time of year to go? Ireland is a rather rainy country where it's hard to have consistently good weather.
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Usually, it rains in the morning, clears up in the afternoon (giving the famous Irish sky, a beautiful blue), and rains again at night.
The high season in the country corresponds to the period when the weather is milder and runs from June to mid-August.
Is It Worth Renting a Car for a Trip to Ireland?
The Irish public transport system is reasonably efficient but still disadvantages tourists who love the idea of getting lost exploring.
For this reason, our advice is to rent a car, preferably automatic, so you can enjoy the country's beautiful coastal roads.
An automatic transmission is useful for a simple reason: driving in Ireland is on the left side, so drivers used to Italy have to relearn how to drive.
Regarding which car to rent, the advice is too broad to give a single name: it depends on the number of people traveling; a family with children will inevitably need a spacious station wagon.
One last note: if you plan to visit Northern Ireland by car, it's best to inform the rental agency. This will help avoid extra charges upon return; also, crossing the border requires paying an additional fee.
How to Handle Irish Weather?
So far, we've described Ireland as a rainy country, and that's true; but what else should you know to enjoy this place in the best way?
Apart from Dublin, Ireland is predominantly rural, where countryside and nature dominate. This translates into a simple suggestion: dressing comfortably is smarter than dressing stylishly, because you'll spend a lot of time in the car and walking, especially if you want to see the landscapes Ireland is famous for.
If you choose the Causeway Coastal Route, for example, you can see up close several of the country's great gems, provided you get out of the car and walk a few kilometers!
For this reason, no heels, wear sneakers, and have the desire to explore a place very different from our Italy; that's part of the beauty of travel!
How Much Does Ireland Cost?
Although at first glance the financial aspect might seem a sore point, taking a vacation in Ireland (perhaps even in a group) costs much less than it might seem.
The main reason is just one: Ireland is not Dublin, especially in terms of costs. Dublin is a European capital, with prices not far from those of Rome or Milan (but still less than Paris). Dublin's prices are not consistent with the rest of the country, which is decidedly more affordable.
Food costs are not too different from Italy, around twenty euros per person per meal (mainly dining in pubs and local eateries).
Where to Stay in Ireland?
Last but not least, how can we not touch on accommodation?
Ireland is too beautiful a country to spend every day in Dublin, and this means only one thing: you need to be resourceful with accommodation.
Fortunately, using sites like Booking or Airbnb, you can find very interesting places to rest your tired limbs after a day of walks or miles driven by car.
Hotels are also of good quality, but often have significantly higher costs than the “one night and gone” B&Bs mentioned earlier.
What Are the Best Cities to Stay in Ireland?
The answer to this question depends greatly on the type of itinerary you choose for your trip. Some rough ideas for places to find accommodation are medium to large cities like Cork, Waterford, Limerick, Galway, or Sligo.
If your route includes some more peripheral places like Letterfrack, Kilorgin, Bantry, or Dungloe, don't worry: the tourism boom on the island in recent years has made finding accommodation much easier than in the past; hotel platforms can work wonders in these cases.