A Grand Week in the Emerald Isle: The Ultimate 7-Day Itinerary for Ireland

by Christopher O'Keeffe May 30, 2025

There are countries you visit once and politely admire. And then there’s Ireland—a place that seeps into your bones and makes your soul hum an old folk tune you didn’t know you knew. Spend seven days here, and you'll learn more about storytelling, serendipity, and sheep-induced traffic delays than in a year of organized tours.

Ireland is not a checklist destination. It's a land of detours and conversations, where the most magical moment often happens five miles off the route you thought you were taking. And that’s precisely why you need the Ireland Collins 2026 Road Map. Not only is it the most up-to-date and beautifully detailed companion you can fold into your glovebox, it also offers what Google Maps cannot: a sense of narrative.

So, here it is. A seven-day itinerary that captures the spirit of Ireland, with a nod to myth, music, and the mighty Atlantic winds. Whether it’s your first time or your fifth, this route will remind you why Ireland is less of a destination and more of a homecoming.

Day 1: Dublin – The Book of Kells and a Proper Pint

Start your journey in Dublin, the nation’s bustling, history-heavy capital. This is a city that has produced more Nobel Laureates per capita than any other, yet it still pours a pint with the nonchalance of a corner shop transaction. Begin with a stroll through Trinity College, and make a beeline for the Long Room Library and the Book of Kells. The illuminated manuscript is a marvel, but it’s the aroma of ancient books and oak that will linger.

From there, follow your feet through Temple Bar (for one Guinness, no more) and find your way to The Long Hall — a Victorian gem of a pub with plush red interiors and an unpretentious pint. This is your acclimation day. Let the rhythm of the city start to beat in time with your own.

Stay overnight in St. Stephen’s Green or the Georgian Quarter, depending on whether you prefer leafy tranquility or quick access to late-night craic.

Day 2: Dublin to Kilkenny (130 km / ~2 hrs)

Collect your rental car and get acquainted with the left side of the road. This is where the Ireland Collins 2026 Road Map becomes your best friend. Unlike a phone app, it doesn’t care if you’ve got zero signal in the middle of County Carlow. It shows scenic routes, historical landmarks, and quaint backroads your GPS wouldn’t dream of suggesting.

Your destination today is Kilkenny, a medieval town with a castle at its heart and cobbled lanes that seem designed for wandering. Visit the formidable Kilkenny Castle, wander through Rothe House, and then duck into the Smithwick’s Experience for a tour (and a tasting).

In the evening, head to Kyteler's Inn, a 13th-century tavern once owned by Ireland’s first accused witch, Dame Alice Kyteler. She fled prosecution; her tavern did not.

Spend the night in a cozy B&B or a boutique hotel like Butler House.

Day 3: Kilkenny to Killarney (210 km / ~3 hrs)

Depart early, tracing a gentle line southwest. The Collins 2026 map lets you navigate beyond the motorways—take a detour via Cashel, where the Rock of Cashel rises like a limestone sentinel from the Tipperary fields.

From there, you’ll weave into County Kerry, landing in the postcard-perfect town of Killarney. Surrounded by lakes, mountains, and enough fuchsia to drown a palette, Killarney is your base for the next two nights.

Stroll through Killarney National Park, cycle to Muckross Abbey, and dine at Bricín, where traditional Irish food gets a creative, modern twist. Order the boxty. Yes, again.

Day 4: Ring of Kerry (179 km loop / allow 6-8 hrs with stops)

The Ring of Kerry is not a drive; it's a rite of passage. Loop anti-clockwise to dodge the tour buses, and let the road reveal its drama gradually. The Collins 2026 Map is invaluable here. It points you to pull-outs with the best views, lesser-known stone forts, and trails that the average traveller misses entirely.

Highlights include:

• Ladies View for a panoramic overlook of the Lakes of Killarney.

• Sneem, the village where time slows to a conversational pace.

• Valentia Island, accessible by bridge, home to fossilized tetrapod tracks and the enchanting Skellig Experience Centre.

• Ballinskelligs Bay, where the Atlantic heaves like a breathing myth.

By the time you circle back to Killarney, you’ll feel like you’ve lived several lifetimes in a single day.

Day 5: Killarney to Doolin (190 km / ~3.5 hrs)

Today, drive north through Adare, arguably Ireland’s prettiest village. Thatched cottages and manicured flower beds make it feel like a film set, but it’s lived-in and lovely.

Make your way to the Killimer-Tarbert ferry to cross the Shannon Estuary—the map will guide you to the exact docking point. From there, head into County Clare and on to Doolin, the home of traditional Irish music and windswept romance.

Before checking into your guesthouse, visit the Cliffs of Moher. They’re as dramatic as you’d hoped, especially if you walk the quieter Doolin Cliff Trail instead of crowding the main viewing platform.

Evening: catch a session at Gus O’Connor’s Pub. The music starts when it wants to and ends only when the fiddler runs out of Guinness.

Day 6: The Burren and Galway (75 km / ~1.5 hrs)

Spend the morning exploring the Burren, a surreal limestone plateau that looks like it was borrowed from the moon. The Collins map will help you find the Poulnabrone Dolmen, Caherconnell Fort, and quiet walking loops that few others take.

In the afternoon, drive to Galway, Ireland’s cultural capital, where buskers line Shop Street, oysters are served fresh in the shell, and the streets always seem to be preparing for a festival. Drop your bags at a boutique hotel like The House Hotel, then wander the Latin Quarter.

Evening recommendation: dinner at Aniar for Michelin-starred magic, followed by pints and poetry at Tigh Neachtain.

Day 7: Galway to Dublin (210 km / ~2 hrs direct, longer with detours)

You could take the M6 back to Dublin and be done with it. But where’s the poetry in that? Instead, let the Collins 2026 Map help you chart a meandering return. Stop in Athlone to visit Sean's Bar, Ireland’s (and maybe the world's) oldest pub.

Alternatively, pass through Birr, home to a lesser-known castle and a giant Victorian telescope. These are the kinds of stops that don’t feature on apps but do feature on maps created by people who understand the soul of travel.

Back in Dublin, return the car, and toast your journey with a final pint at Peruke & Periwig, where cocktails are served with literary flourish.

Why the Ireland Collins 2026 Map Belongs in Your Glovebox (and Your Heart)

The Collins 2026 Map of Ireland is more than a navigational tool. It is a co-pilot, a confidant, and occasionally a saviour. With a scale of 1:300,000, it balances clarity and detail, showing national routes, scenic byways, ferry crossings, and heritage sites. It includes Wild Atlantic Way markers, tourist attractions, lay-bys, car parks, viewpoints, and walking trails—the hidden infrastructure of a perfect road trip.

Unlike a phone, it doesn’t lose signal. Unlike an app, it doesn’t drain battery. And unlike any GPS, it encourages the kind of happy accident that makes a trip unforgettable.

Better yet, it’s printed on high-quality, tear-resistant, water-resistant paper. The folded version fits easily in a glovebox; the laminated version survives spilt coffee and sudden rain squalls.

And then there’s the aesthetic pleasure—a real map makes you feel like an adventurer, not just a passenger.

Final Reflections

There is no wrong way to see Ireland. But there is a better way. A way that allows for surprise and spontaneity, for the long scenic detour and the unexpected stone circle. This itinerary is just the bones—you’ll add the flesh with every wrong turn and local tip you follow.

Let Ireland seduce you slowly. And let the Collins 2026 Road Map be your guide, your muse, and your perfectly crumpled souvenir.

Because in Ireland, the journey is the story.

Sláinte.

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