3 days in Ireland: A glorious long weekend in the Emerald Isle
Vibrant green pastures dotted with sheep, foamy pints of Guinness at the pub, and of course, some of the nicest locals that you’ll ever meet.
Ireland is one of my favorite places that I’ve solo traveled: it’s safe, easy to get around, and the Irish are incredibly friendly and hospitable.
I had an absolute blast during my long weekend in Ireland. It was just enough time to get a feel for the best of what this charming country has to offer, including dramatic seaside cliffs, guitar medleys enjoyed over pints at the pub, and loads of history and uniquely Irish culture.
Planning a quick few day getaway to Ireland? Here’s my guide on how to make the most of a trip to the Emerald Isle with a (jam-packed) three-day itinerary.
Day 1: A Perfect Day in Galway
A bohemian town known for its bustling streets, traditional music, and nightlife, Galway is the fourth largest city in Ireland with ~80,000 people. The city feels quite small, is easily walkable, and has plenty of Irish culture, history, and pubs to enjoy.
It’s also much closer than Dublin to the Cliffs of Moher, the famous dramatic seaside cliffs off the west coast of Ireland that are touristy but beautiful and well worth a visit.
Getting to Galway: From Dublin, Galway is a ~2.5 hour car, bus or train ride. Train is only slightly more expensive than a bus, but you can also take the bus directly from the airport rather than having to make your way to the Dublin train station. I didn’t look into renting a car given it was a quick trip, but that’s certainly an option and will give you more freedom to explore at your leisure outside of major cities. Regardless of your chosen mode of transportation, you’ll venture from the east to the west side of Ireland and see plenty of green pastures along the way.
You could easily spend more than one day in Galway, but here are my recommendations for the top places to hit in town:
Grab some breakfast: There are plenty of cute bed and breakfasts owned by locals around Galway (I stayed here and it was fairly no frills but budget-friendly and well-located with a good breakfast). If breakfast isn’t included at your accommodation, grab a coffee and pastry at one of the cute coffee shops in the town center like Little Lane Company or Coffeewerk + Press.
Head out on a walking tour: I enjoyed my free walking tour of Galway and getting a feel for the rich history, language, and culture of this Irish town. It was a little drizzly, but my guide took us around the key historical highlights in Galway including the Spanish Arch, Latin Quarter, Quay Street, Hall of the Red Earl, and more. I liked learning about the history and traditions of this city through the eyes and stories of my local guide. Along with a walking tour, I also popped into the Galway Cathedral on my own.
Stop for a lunch break: After a busy morning of walking, head over to the restaurant Ard Bia at Nimmo’s for lunch, which is located close to the Spanish Wall along the water and near the city center. It has incredible food, desserts, and ambiance and is right along the water.
Have a wander around the city: Explore Galway’s bustling Latin Quarter and Quay Street on your own. Listen to buskers perform live music in the streets and shop around for traditional Irish products like woolen goods, jewelry, and sweet treats.
Stop by the Galway Market by the Saint Nicholas’ Collegiate Church, a small local market with cute artisan crafts and food (including some excellent baked goods). The market is open year-round on weekends (check the market’s schedule here).
If the weather is nice, head to Salthill Promenade to walk along the coast for 3 kilometers (1.8 miles), admire the sea views, and grab a bite to eat.
Grab dinner and pint (or two) at a pub: There are plenty of cute and delicious restaurants around Galway. Head to Ard Bia at Nimmo’s (if you didn’t make it there for lunch) or try Brasserie On The Corner, Kai, Rúibín, or Cava Bodega.
After dinner, head to a local Irish pub and order yourself a pint (you’re in Ireland, so I’d recommend a pint of Guinness). There are tons of traditional Irish pubs around Galway and many have musical performances. I enjoyed the contemporary music and festive atmosphere at The Quays Bar and Restaurant. For a more traditional pub experience, I highly recommend The Crane Bar, where I heard a dozen musicians with as many instruments perform traditional Irish music, which was interrupted by the occasional singing performance and poetry reading.
Day 2: Marveling at the Cliffs of Moher
The Cliffs of Moher are one of the most famous sites in Ireland. These dramatic cliffs and rock formations along the western coast of Ireland are a top tourist site but for good reason – the sweeping views of the rock faces dropping into the ocean are truly something to marvel at.
You can make your way on trails along the cliff tops and admire the view from different angles. If you’re there on a sunny day, you may even catch a glimpse of a rainbow (or two) in the distance. From the visitor center, you can head south to Hag’s Head or north to Doolin (although you do have the double back either way). My favorite views were along the walk south toward Hag’s Head, although anywhere you go is stunning. I’d recommend spending at least a couple of hours here. Along with the spectacular nature views, the Cliffs of Moher have a visitor center with interactive exhibits on the cliffs, a restaurant, and gift shop. You do have to pay an entrance fee per person to park and go into the visitor center.
I’m not normally a fan of big bus tours, but I found that taking this full day tour from Galway was the easiest way to make it to the Cliffs of Moher on my own and without a car (it’s about an hour and a half drive directly from Galway to the Cliffs). Plus, my tour also stopped at a castle or two, for a traditional pub lunch, and at the Burren, a nature reserve full of fascinating rock formations and flora. And I managed to learn some history from our guide along the way. I wanted a little more time at the Cliffs, but we had perfect weather and I had plenty of time to explore the trails and admire the views.
You do want to keep an eye on the weather and plan accordingly – the Cliffs of Moher are best in clear (and sunny) weather when the fog and rain won’t obstruct the sweeping views. I can’t guarantee you’ll get decent weather while in Ireland but you may want to keep your plans flexible and book your Cliffs of Moher tour for when the weather is best.
After a day of exploration, you can call it an early night and head to one of the dinner spots and/or pubs in Galway that I mentioned above. But don’t have too many pints, you have a big day in Dublin tomorrow.
Day 3: A Capital Visit to Dublin
On your last day, you’ll make your way to Dublin. Dublin is the capital of Ireland and a vibrant city full of history, museums, nightlife, and plenty of shops, restaurants, and pubs. There’s far too much to see in Dublin to experience it all in one day, but you can certainly get a feel for this city.
Heading back to Dublin from Galway: Catch as early a bus or train as you’re able from Galway and head the ~2.5 hours back to Dublin for your next adventure.
Below are several options for your Dublin exploring, a choose your own adventure, if you will:
Are you a history fan? Head to Trinity College to see its beautiful campus and check out the Book of Kells (intricate 9th century medieval manuscript handwritten and decorated by Irish monks). In my opinion, the real star of the show is the jaw-dropping Long Room in the Old Library, which is also included in your Book of Kells ticket.
Other famous historical sights in Dublin include: Kilmainham Gaol (infamous prison where you can learn about Ireland’s independence), St. Patrick’s and Christ Church Cathedrals, and Dublin Castle (13th century castle turned government building full of Irish history).
Beer and/or Irish whisky fan? Check out the Guinness Storehouse (book your tickets in advance) or Jameson Distillery Bow Street. You can also head to the Temple Bar area for the most touristy but certainly the liveliest nightlife in the city with pubs galore, including The Temple Bar Pub.
Some very cool (and less touristy) pubs around the Temple Bar area include: The Long Hall, The Stag’s Head, and The Palace Bar. Or you can have a wander around and see if there’s a pub that calls to you. There are plenty around to choose from.
Other popular Dublin sights and (generally free) museums worth adding to your itinerary include:
- Chester Beatty Museum: Fantastic (free) museum founded by an Irish mining magnate full of fascinating art, manuscripts, and other artefacts.
- Grafton Street: Popular shopping street in Dublin with tons of shops, restaurants, and amazing buskers. Located near Trinity College.
- Ireland’s National Museums: There are multiple free national museums in Dublin, including the National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology, Natural History Museum, and National Gallery.
- EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum: Museum highlighting the history of the Irish diaspora and emigration. Not free, but supposedly very good. They can also help you trace your Irish genealogy (for a fee).
- Craving some green space in the city? Head to Phoenix Park, St. Stephen’s Green, or the National Botanic Gardens.
- Little Museum of Dublin: Funky little museum that takes you through the last century in Dublin with memorabilia, photographs and artefacts that have been donated by the general public.
After exploring Dublin all day, grab a bite to eat and a pint at the pub and toast to a truly memorable whirlwind weekend in Ireland.
During your three-day Irish adventure, you’ve had a chance to sample all that Ireland has to offer. Perhaps you’ve befriended some Irish folks at the pub, heard some excellent music, learned some Irish history, and taken in the natural beauty of Emerald Isle. You might never have a pint of Guinness that is quite as good as what you’ve gotten here, but you’ll likely want to return for further exploring of this magical island.
Want to learn more about how to navigate three day weekend adventures? Read my blog post here. Or traveling through Europe? Check out my posts on the best saunas in Finland, top sights in Tallinn, Estonia, or exploring the fjords in Norway part I and part II.
