9-Nights Irish Legends Self-Drive from $1,845

CIE Tours

OFFER ID 1542495

Explore hidden gems along with tried-and-true favorites on this self-drive adventure. Begin with a stay in a beautiful Georgian mansion, visit medieval Kilkenny, friendly Killarney, and buzzing Galway. All our self-drive Classic Itinerary tours include your hotel stays, a hop-on bus ticket and a voucher for a Dublin attraction, and an entertainment experience; other attractions mentioned are suggestions.

Authentic Local Experiences:

Immerse yourself in traditional favorites and explore some hidden gems including medieval Kilkenny.?

Trip Highlight:

Irish Night at Abbey Tavern

Dining Experiences:

9 Breakfasts (B) and 5 Dinners (D)

Hotels:

Dunboyne Castle Hotel | Dunboyne (1)
Newpark Hotel | Kilkenny (2)
Killarney Towers Hotel | Killarney (2)
Salthill Hotel | Galway (2)
Radisson Blu Royal | Dublin (2)

9 nights from $1,845 per person

Itinerary

Click here for Full Itinerary Details

Itinerary Details

CIE Tours: Irish Legends Self-Drive

Day 1: Dublin Arrival
Pick up your rental car at the airport upon your arrival. Your tour begins at Dunboyne Castle Hotel, a Georgian mansion built in 1764, with 21 acres of gardens in historic County Meath. The local area is rich in historic activities to choose from, or just relax and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. Dine in your hotel this evening.

Hotel: Dunboyne Castle Hotel
Meals: (D)

Day 2: Kilkenny
Travel to the small city of Kilkenny. Discover its fascinating architectural heritage by taking a walk down the Medieval Mile along the city’s main street; see its 13th-century cathedral and its grand castle, built by the Anglo-Normans in 1195.

Hotel: Newpark Hotel
Meals: (B)

Day 3: Kilkenny
You might choose to visit Waterford or you might like to visit New Ross in County Wexford to explore the Dunbrody Famine Ship, a replica of the vessel used during the 1840s famine to transport emigrants to North America. One notable fact about the port of New Ross is that it’s the port from which Patrick Kennedy, the great-grandfather of President John F. Kennedy, departed for America; JFK returned to New Ross and gave a memorable address from the quay in 1963. Return to Kilkenny to dine in your hotel this evening.

Hotel: Newpark Hotel
Meals: (B, D)

Day 4: Killarney
Set out for Killarney. Along the way you might stop in Cobh, a charming harbor town that was the last port of call for the Titanic in 1912. Condé Nast recently named it as one of the 25 most beautiful small towns in Europe, praising “its rows of candy-colored homes along the water and towering cathedral standing sentry over the harbor.” Millions of emigrants left that harbor in the 19th and 20th centuries, when it was the main point of embarkation for ships going to America. Perhaps you’ll visit the Cobh Heritage Centre to explore this fascinating history. You might then choose to proceed on to visit Blarney Castle to climb the winding staircase to kiss the famous stone and earn the legendary gift of the gab, or simply stroll through the gardens. Head on to the friendly town of Killarney, where you will dine in your hotel.

Hotel: Killarney Towers Hotel
Meals: (B, D)

Day 5: Killarney
You might choose to visit Moriarty’s, a CIE Tours preferred shopping partner, in the beautiful Gap of Dunloe. Then go to discover the glorious Dingle Peninsula as you drive along the south shore to admire views of heathery mountains, sandy stretches of beach, and rocky headlands. Browse around the town of Dingle. Or you may choose to explore the Ring of Kerry, Ireland’s best-known scenic drive. Dine independently this evening, and return to your hotel in Killarney.

Hotel: Killarney Towers Hotel
Meals: (B)

Day 6: Salthill | Galway
Begin driving north; you might choose to stop at the Cliffs of Moher, soaring 700 feet above churning Atlantic swells. On a clear day you can see great views of Galway Bay and the Aran Islands. Continue on to Galway, where your hotel is on the promenade in the seaside suburb of Salthill; there are many lively pubs nearby or you may choose to explore the buzzing city of Galway, with its street performers, medieval buildings and charming shops. Dine in your hotel this evening.

Hotel: Salthill Hotel
Meals: (B, D)

Day 7: Salthill | Galway
Today is a good day to visit the Aran Islands, should you choose. You can book online with Aran Island Ferries and get the ferry from Galway City to get to Inishmore, the largest of the three Aran Islands. These austere, rocky islands are renowned for the hardy islanders who maintain traditional fishing and farming methods, and who still speak the Irish language. You might choose to hike or hire a bike at the pier to cycle to Dun Aengus, a huge Iron Age fortress perched on sheer cliffs above the Atlantic; it was described by a 19th-century archaeologist as “the most magnificent barbaric monument extant in Europe”. There are a variety of tours available if you’d prefer to be driven around the island. Explore Kilronan, the island’s small main village – it’s a good spot to enjoy a casual lunch before returning by ferry, and then on back to Salthill for the evening.

Hotel: Salthill Hotel
Meals: (B)

Day 8: Dublin | Abbey Tavern
Drive to Dublin today. Along the way, you might stop in Athlone, where you might choose to have lunch in one of the many restaurants and cafes in the center of town and perhaps visit Sean’s Bar for a drink, as thirsty patrons have for centuries. This pub has a documented history going back to 900 AD – and is featured in the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest pub in Europe. During renovations in 1970, ancient walls and old coins dating back centuries were discovered. Head on to Dublin for the evening, where you will enjoy dinner and a lively show of traditional entertainment at the Abbey Tavern in the seaside suburb of Howth.

Hotel: Radisson Blu Royal Hotel - Dublin
Meals: (B, D)

Day 9: Dublin Sightseeing
Explore Dublin on a Hop-On, Hop-Off bus tour, seeing all the city’s highlights with the freedom to stop off to explore further as you please. Your Hop-On, Hop-Off bus ticket also gives you admission to the Little Museum of Dublin, an old Georgian townhouse with a fantastic collection of 5,000 objects telling the story of the city. Plus, you will have a voucher to admit you to one of Dublin’s top attractions: the Guinness Storehouse, a seven-story attraction telling the story of Dublin’s iconic beverage, complete with a pint at the Gravity Bar on the top floor; Teeling Distillery, the first new whiskey distillery to open in Dublin in 125 years; EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, telling the story of the people who left Ireland and how they shaped the world; the GPO Museum, innovatively detailing the fascinating story of the 1916 Rising, the pivotal event that led to Ireland’s independence; or Jameson Distillery Bow St., the original home of Jameson Irish Whiskey since 1780. Your evening is free to explore Dublin’s many bustling pubs and restaurants as you wish.

Hotel: Radisson Blu Royal Hotel - Dublin
Meals: (B)

Day 10: Tour Ends in Dublin
Your tour ends after breakfast. Return your rental car at Dublin Airport.B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner >

Meals: (B)

Meal Abbreviations: B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner

Featured Destinations

Galway

Galway is a city, a county, and an experience to be savoured and remembered. The historic city of the tribes dances to a beat uniquely it's own. There is a certain chemistry and vibrancy to this friendly university city, which many delight in, and few forget. Music, festivals, horse racing, pubs, restaurants, shops, theatres and most of all -Galway people, combine to create this atmospheric medieval city of culture. From this pulsating heart the rest of the county flows.

Galway Bay, immortalised in song, its beauty unchanging. Scenic Gaeltacht areas including the Aran Islands. Connemara, with the picturesque town of Clifden as its capital. Mountains, castles and stone walls, banks of turf, long sandy beaches, clear lakes, joyful leaping streams and flowing rivers. The mighty Shannon, delightful countryside punctuated by pretty villages, traditional pubs.

Photo used with permission
from Joe Desbonnet, www.galway.net

Excursions

Inishmore, Aran Islands - 8 hours Full Day

On the very edge of Europe, is an Island rich in the language, culture and heritage of Ireland, unique in its geology and archaeology and in its long tradition of gentle hospitality. Here is a place to sense the spirit of Gaelic Ireland, to touch the past, but with all the comforts and facilities of the present. Aran will take you back to an Ireland of Celts and Early Christians. This is an island of great peace and tranquility, but it is also an island of great fun and activity. A timeless land in an endless sea, weathered monuments on awesome cliffs, great labyrinths of limestone, meandering walls, patchwork fields, quiet beaches and a welcoming island people.

This morning we will depart from Galway and take a ferry to Inishmore, the largest of the three islands, the other islands being Inishmaan and Inisheer. The Islands are located off the West Coast of Galway about 18km out from Rossaveal Harbour in Connemara. Inishmore is approx. 13km long, and contains 3,092 ha. with a native population of about 900. Kilronan the chief center and port.
Landing in Kilronan on Inishmore, you are met by your driver in a horse drawn buggy for a guided tour of the Island and visiting one of its more impressive stone forts called Dun Aonghasa. It is semi-circular structure, resting on the edge of a perpendicular cliff rising 100 meters out of the ocean. The fort consists of an inner court 50 meters across surrounded by a wall six meters high and five meters thick at the base.

Visit the Aran Islands Interpretative Centre which highlights the unique history, spirit and landscapes of the Aran Islands. The center details the geology, history and present lifestyle of the islands. See how the legendary currachs, those open-topped, often tar-coated, boats that skim over the waves, are made. Also on display are details of the fish species off the islands and how the islanders have long used seaweed to create patches of soil that could be cultivated for crops, in between the dry stone walls that crisscross the islands and divide its tiny fields. The islands' other craft traditions, including weaving of the famous Aran sweaters, are also documented.

Duration: 8 hours

Included:
Enjoy a pub lunch on Inishmore

Departing the island by ferry you return to Galway City.
Note: it is also possible to fly to Inishmore.

Pricing: Please inquire

Dunboyne

Killarney

Kilkenny

Dublin

Dublin enjoys one of the loveliest natural settings in Europe. Dublin attracts visitors from around the world with its old world charm and friendly atmosphere. Most of the architecture dates from the 18th century, when Dublin enjoyed great prominence and prosperity. Also of interest are stately Georgian houses which front Merrion Square. O'Connell Street is considered the commercial center of Dublin. Perhaps the most memorable feature of Dublin is the traditional pub, where visitors can enjoy conversation over fine Irish brew. The city also offers many fine parks, including St. Stephen's Green and Phoenix Park. National Gallery's renowned collection includes works by such famous masters as Rembrandt and Monet. Trinity College's Old Library is home to the most cherished treasure, the Book of Kells, a manuscript of the Gospels. Admire Christ Church Cathedral and St. Patrick's Cathedral. Enjoy the exhibits in impressive National Museum. Self-guided walking tours include Old City Trail, Georgian Heritage Trail and the Cultural Trail.

Excursions

Dublin: Highlights of Dublin City - 8 hours

Ireland, known affectionately as the “the Emerald Isle” is renowned for its excellent hospitality and you can be assured of a warm welcome by your guide and driver, who will meet you at the port. Discover the history, literary heritage and culture that lies behind Dublin’s elegant Georgian architecture and famous landmarks, during your full-day tour.

Founded in the 16th-century, Trinity College is Ireland's oldest university and holds the Book of Kells, a greatly treasured example of early Irish manuscript illumination. History lovers may opt to visit the nearby Treasury of the National Museum or EPIC - the interactive museum commemorating the emigration of 10 million Irish. For those interested in art, the National Gallery houses a superb collection.

Afterwards make a lunchtime pit stop at the Guinness Storehouse, where you learn how a pint of the world-famous Guinness is created. The heart of the building is modelled on a giant pint glass, which would hold approximately 14 million pints of Guinness beer if filled! Enjoy a complimentary pint of Guinness in the Gravity Bar, which boast 360-degree views of the capital.

Complete your touring this afternoon, with a visit to St. Patrick's Cathedral, the largest church in Ireland and final resting place of Jonathan Swift, author of Gulliver's Travels. Here, take a guided tour of the impressive staterooms which are a longtime symbol of British rule in Ireland, before being transferred back to your ship.

Highlights:

Admire the grandeur of St Patrick's Cathedral, the largest church in Ireland and final resting place of Jonathan Swift, author of Gulliver's Travels
Pour yourself a pint of Ireland’s finest at the Guinness Storehouse to discover the country’s most famous export

Tour Duration: 8 hours

Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information

Physical Activity Level: Light

Inclusions:

Private transport by Mercedes E-class or similar for 1 and 2 passengers, VW Caravelle (7 passenger seats) or similar for 3 and 4 passengers and 12-seater or similar for 5 and 6 passengers.
Expert local guide for 8 hours of sightseeing in Dublin
Entrance fees to all sights and museums
All taxes

Exclusions

All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
Gratuities
Supplement for public holidays
Anything not specifically mentioned in the "inclusions" list above

Dublin - Dublin City & Powerscourt - Full Day Tour

Dublin: An Introduction to Dublin - 4 hours

Vacation Details

Valid Date Ranges

05/09/2025 - 05/18/2025

from $2,095 per person

05/16/2025 - 05/25/2025

from $2,095 per person

05/23/2025 - 06/01/2025

from $2,095 per person

05/30/2025 - 06/08/2025

from $2,095 per person

06/13/2025 - 06/22/2025

from $2,095 per person

06/24/2025 - 07/03/2025

from $2,095 per person

06/27/2025 - 07/06/2025

from $2,095 per person

07/08/2025 - 07/17/2025

from $2,195 per person

08/08/2025 - 08/17/2025

from $2,195 per person

08/22/2025 - 08/31/2025

from $2,195 per person

08/29/2025 - 09/07/2025

from $2,195 per person

09/02/2025 - 09/11/2025

from $2,095 per person

09/16/2025 - 09/25/2025

from $2,095 per person

09/19/2025 - 09/28/2025

from $2,095 per person

09/26/2025 - 10/05/2025

from $2,095 per person

10/07/2025 - 10/16/2025

from $1,845 per person

10/10/2025 - 10/19/2025

from $1,845 per person

10/17/2025 - 10/26/2025

from $1,845 per person

* This departure has been designated a guaranteed departure by the operator, meaning that the minimum number of guests has been met, although still subject to weather and other conditions.

Prices Start At

from $1,845 per person

Length

9 Nights

Air City

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Vacation Rating

Deluxe

Remarks

Prices are per person, land only, based on double occupancy, subject to availability and change without notice. Taxes additional. Single supplement available. Surcharges may apply. Internal and international airfare not included. All pricing and accommodations are subject to availability. Full terms and conditions apply. Rates may vary by date of travel; please inquire for the best prices for your preferred travel dates. Itinerary and map subject to change. Prices subject to availability and changes without notice. Some restrictions may apply.

All fares are quoted in US Dollars.

OFFER ID

1542495

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