Wild Atlantic Way
Enjoy this scenic journey at a relaxed pace, exploring ancient sites, lakes, mountains, and villages. Meet amazing people, eat incredible food and marvel at the dramatic coastline of dancing light and brooding sea.
Exploring Ireland is easy. In the countryside the roads are excellent, well signposted and largely toll free. Distances between towns are short and driving is on the left hand side of the road, same as in New Zealand.
Suggested Itinerary
Day 1: Dublin – Galway (208km)
Galway City is relaxed and ready to party. Buzzing with brightly painted pubs, traditional live music, street performers, delicious seafood and winding lanes. Experience it on a culinary walking tour.
Day 2-3: Connemara Region
Explore the lakes, peat bogs, beaches and mountains of this fascinating region. You’ll see farms with stone walls and isolated thatched cottages on the heather covered hills.
Day 4: Galway – Kilrush – Killarney (195km)
Travel through The Burren, a geological paradise. Continue along the coast of Clare to view the spectacular Cliffs of Moher.
Day 5: Ring of Kerry (179km)
You’ll need a full day to drive this popular scenic ring road once you factor in all the stops for photos! Travel through Killorglin famous for the Puck Fair, Glenbeigh to see panoramic views of the Dingle Peninsula, branch off the main Ring of Kerry and drive the Skellig Ring before rejoining the main road and returning to Killarney.
Day 6: Dingle Peninsula – Limerick (150km)
See ring forts, high crosses and other ancient monuments, ensure you stop in Dingle for delicious seafood and unique pubs.
Day 7: Limerick – Dublin (194km)
Visit Birr Castle Demesne on your way back to Dublin.
Customise this itinerary to travel at your own pace.
Highlights worth seeing along the way
Discover the mountains and boglands – On your drive to Clifden pass between Ben Mountains, the Atlantic Ocean and preserved boglands. As well as experiencing this spectacular scenery dotted with castle ruins and abbeys, visit Kylemore Abbey and the Victorian Walled Garden.
Kilrush – The Heritage Centre is in the original Moyasta Junction Station House; the start of the restored 2 kilometre old narrow-gauge line and home of the restored train carriages.
Sneem Village – In the ‘Ring of Kerry’ and nestled between mountains and rugged coast, Sneem has some great views and is famous for its brightly coloured houses.
Movie set spotting – You will recognise many areas from films including the Dingle Peninsula from ‘Ryan’s Daughters’ and ‘Far and Away’, and the Connemara region from ‘Quiet Man’ and ‘The Purple Taxi’.
Hear Gaelic being spoken – West of Dingle see the many ancient sites in Kerry. You’re bound to overhear the locals speaking Gaelic.
Birr Castle Demesne – Walk around the gardens and along the peaceful river. See one of the world’s largest telescopes here, and some amazing feats of science and engineering.
Our favourite places to stay
• Jurys Inn Galway, Galway
• Abbeyglen Castle Hotel, Clifden
• Hotel Killarney, Killarney
• Limerick Strand Hotel, Limerick
Choosing your Rental Car
Take into consideration the size of the vehicle you require. We strongly recommend a minimum 1.4 litre for two adults. If the vehicle is to be used for day touring from a central base and not for transporting your luggage, a smaller vehicle may be adequate. We suggest you book your car before leaving home as this will save money and ensure you get the car of your choice.
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Image credit: Tourism Ireland
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