48 Hours in Ireland

Rolling green fields and an incredible cocktail scene

Structured for those looking for a 2 to 3-day trip to take in breathtaking views with great nightlife

Ireland Key Spots: For the visually-inclined

Itinerary:

• Day 1:
  • The Cliffs of Moher
  • Lunch at Tigh Neachtain in Galway
  • Dinner at Seafood Cafe in Dublin
• Day 2:
  • Trinity College Library
  • Lunch at Temple Bar
  • Guinness Storehouse
  • Jameson Distillery
  • Drinks at Vintage Cocktail Club
  • Dinner at Piglet
• Day 3:
  • Depart Dublin Airport

48 Hours in Ireland (the wordy version)
Now this is by no means a comprehensive itinerary for Ireland, and I’m missing everything from world-class golf to some of the best local pubs in the world, but for those with little time to spare, I found this to be a perfect yet small taste of Ireland.

Day 1: Cliffs and Pints
I’d recommend taking a red-eye flight over to Dublin Airport in order to get an early start on the day and maximize your time in the country. It’s not always the easiest, but pushing yourself to make it all the way through your first day on the ground allows you to quickly adjust to the time zone and not lose any precious hours during the quick trip.

After landing in Dublin, we picked up our rental car straight away then we were off to our main destination for the day: the Cliffs of Moher. It has been a spot I’ve long wanted to see and well worth the travel to get there. The drive is about three hours west, across breathtaking farms, sheep pastures and castle ruins.

Once you arrive, the Cliffs have a welcome center, cafe/restaurant, and 18km of walking trails along the coast to help take it all in. Once we had fought our way through the January wind long enough, we hopped back in our car to make the hour drive up to Galway for lunch.

After the short drive to Galway, we stopped into the historic Tigh Neachtain for a lunch that warmed us up with some of the most delicious chowders I’ve ever had, and of course a Guinness.

After the short drive to Galway, we stopped into the historic pub Tigh Neachtain for an amazing lunch that warmed us up with some of the most delicious chowder I’ve ever had, and of course a Guinness. We then spent some time walking around the Latin Quarter in downtown Galway, home to plenty of colorful buildings and shops for anything you souvenirs you could possibly want from Ireland. After a bit of shopping, we hopped back into our car for the 2-hour drive back to Dublin

Upon reaching Dublin’s city center, we were able to return our rental car and check in to the Moxy City Center hotel which is a short walk from temple bar while accessible to Ubers and taxis. Dinner was at The Seafood Cafe in the Temple Bar area of the city which is a roughly 15-minute walk from the hotel. After dinner, I opted to get some sleep and rest up for a long day of sightseeing ahead.

Day 2: Books, Brews, and Bites

After a cup of coffee and a workout at the hotel, my first stop of the day was at the Library at Trinity College Dublin. It’s important to purchase timed tickets to the Book of Kells in order to also see the Old Library. The Library, built in 1592, is breathtaking and is home to its Long Room lined with busts of notable philosophers and authors whose books are housed along its shelves

Following the library visit, you can opt to either get your steps in or take an Uber to the Guinness Storehouse in The Liberties section of town (it’s a 15-minute drive or 30-minute walk, mostly through Temple Bar). Along my walk, I decided to make a quick stop to refuel and have a few snacks at The Temple Bar (within the Temple Bar district) to check it off my list as a great place to have a few nachos and a pint of beer

The Guinness Storehouse experience itself is a fantastic journey through both Guinness’ history (dating back to its founding in 1759), its assistance in developing the city, and ultimately the process through which they brew their beer. I’m not a huge fan of beer myself, but this is worth making an exception for. Following the tour (during which they provide you a mini-glass of Guinness stout), make your way to the Gravity Bar on the top floor of the complex to try any of Guinness’ other offerings while taking in views of the city and checking out some of Dublin’s historic landmarks from afar.

The last experience of the day, after a 10-minute Uber ride, is the Jameson Distillery Bow St in Smithfield for yet another tour but this time with some whiskey. While slightly less involved than the Guinness Storehouse, the Jameson Distillery is a great pre-dinner tasting and tour experience. After Jameson, I headed back to the hotel to freshen up for dinner and some more cocktails.

For my second night in Dublin, I opted to go to cocktails and dinner, with the first stop being Vintage Cocktail Club in Temple Bar. Vintage Cocktail Club can compete with any of the world-renowned New York City speakeasies and proved a great start to the night with creative and delicious cocktails.

After a few drinks at VCC, I headed off to dinner at Piglet, a quaint wine bar in Temple Bar with an incredible wine list and amazing food. The menu on offer is a set menu for dinner, which rotates regularly based on what food the chefs feel is best for the season. I felt like I was sitting in a homely dining room in the French countryside enjoying an unforgettable meal on my last night in Ireland.

After dinner, I was off to the hotel for a good night’s sleep before flying out the following morning back home.

Suggested Packing List:

• Luggage: 1 roller carry-on, 1 backpack or purse
• Shoes: comfortable walking shoes, waterproof shoes
• Clothing: jeans, leggings, or warm pants for exploring; cute and cozy outfits for dinner
• Accessories: sunglasses, warm raincoat
• Apps to download: Uber if you don’t feel like driving