Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we visit the country of Ireland! Ireland has some of the best tourism infrastructure in the world; they speak English, albeit with a heavy accent, it’s easy to get around and there are plenty of accommodation options. Trips to Ireland make a great first-time international trip for travelers looking to branch out from domestic travel.
As you know, here at Wolters World, we like to prepare travelers with the good, and the bad, of visiting a new travel destination. So these are the best and the worst things you’ll experienceon your Ireland vacation.
Hate #1: Ireland Weather
Sometimes you get lucky with warm days and sunny skies, but generally, the weather in Ireland is dark and damp. When you are planning a trip to Ireland, you should be prepared for rain at any time of the year. All that lush green countryside that earns Ireland the “Emerald Isle” nickname does not come from sunny days! On the plus side, winter in Ireland is not that cold and you’ll only have to deal with rain instead of snow.
Hate #2: Dublin Pub Tourism
Ireland’s pub culture is one of the things we love about visiting Ireland, but there does seem to be a heavy influx of drunk tourists to Dublin. Thanks to cheap flights, it’s a popular spot for bachelor parties, and things can get a bit rowdy. It’s more annoying than dangerous, so just keep your wits about you if you’re out late at night.
Hate #3: Prices in Ireland
Ireland is expensive. The B&B’s aren’t overly expensive, but eating out and shopping in Ireland can be pricy. Ireland is more expensive than Britain, Germany, France or Spain, so make sure you are looking at prices ahead of time and budgeting accordingly. The good news is that you can often get great flight deals to Ireland, so there’s a chance to save money on your Ireland vacation. As flights become more expensive, you might have to shop around, be flexible with your dates or travel in the off-season to get those cheap flights to Ireland.
Dublin is especially expensive, so we recommend a quick visit to Dublin before moving on to explore the rest of the island. It will definitely be the most expensive part of your Ireland trip.
Hate #4: Public Transportation in Ireland
If you’ve traveled around other countries of Europe and are used to taking trains into small towns and villages, you will be disappointed in the options for public transportation in Ireland. The trains and buses don’t have the widest service area, and some hard to reach places may have service, but it’s very infrequent. When you do use public transportation in Ireland, it’s expensive. It’s often cheaper to rent a car, and you’ll have more flexibility in your Ireland itinerary that way.
Hate #5: Driving in Ireland
Driving in Ireland is the best way to see the country, but many travelers are nervous about driving on the left. It can be nerve-wracking, especially considering most cars are manual transmission and you’re now on the right side of the car. Add in narrow, winding lanes and roundabouts and you’ve got your work cut out for you. Once you get used to it, it’s not so bad, but it’s definitely something to think about.
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Love #1: Irish Countryside
You’ll soon forget all of the “hates” when you get a glimpse of the scenery in Ireland. It’s green, with rolling hills, seaside cliffs, neolithic structures, medieval ruins, castles and so much more. There’s a reason Ireland is so popular with travelers; there are just so many great things to see in Ireland.
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Touring Ireland is really about the “3 C’s: Coast, Countryside, and Castles.”
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Love #2: Irish People
Everyone I’ve ever met in Ireland is awesome. They are funny, friendly and sarcastic. From the taxi drivers to the service staff, the people of Ireland make it a destination you want to return to. They are super helpful, so you never have to worry about asking for help.
If you’re lucky, they might even teach you some new words!
Love #3: Irish Villages
Ireland is full of quaint Irish villages. If you are planning a road trip through Ireland, make sure you leave time in your itinerary to stop in these small towns and hang out at the local pub to meet some locals. Irish cities like Dublin and Galway are cool, but the “real Ireland” is in the small villages you pass through along the way.
Love
#4: Irish Pubs & Food
The pub culture in Ireland is fantastic. Seeing the live music is one of the best parts of visiting Ireland. The local pub is the meeting place for friends and families, so you can bring your kids to the pub, too (just not late night).
We used to include Irish food as one of the worst parts of visiting Ireland, but it’s changed so much for the better! Ireland went through a foodie revolution and now you can get really good Irish food or international food all over the country. As one of our fans said, “History robbed Ireland of a culinary tradition, but the emerging food scene is really exciting.”
Just know the portion sizes tend to be on the larger side, so you might want to split entrees if you’re with a group.
Some of the traditional Irish foods you have to try include:
- The seafood, like mussels, oysters, prawns, and salmon, is fresh and fantastic! Smoked salmon is one of Jocelyn’s favorite foods in Ireland!
- Fish and Chips are a must in Ireland, whether you get them on the street from a chippy, or in a pub. They will taste so much better than the fish and chips you’ve had in the States.
- Lamb is also popular in Ireland. The lamb shanks are so good!
- Of course, potatoes are a staple in Ireland. They come in many forms, like fries, baked potatoes or mashed potatoes. Boxty is a popular potato dish, and it is similar to a potato pancake or dumpling.
- If you see a Chinese takeaway, try ordering a Spice Bag. It’s got chips, chicken, veggies and spices. It’s a must!
- For breakfast, the oatmeal or porridge is really good, especially if you add Irish Whiskey and cream. A “Full Irish” is a full Irish breakfast, which includes eggs, bacon, sausage, white pudding, black pudding, hash browns, grilled tomatoes, and baked beans. It’s a lot of food!
- Irish ham is also another staple and a delicious main dish to order. You can get it on its own or baked into pies.
- Shepherd’s Pie is served in pretty much every pub and is one of our favorite things to eat on a cold Irish day. It usually includes ground lamb and vegetables baked with a mashed potato crust. Cottage pie is the same thing but with beef instead of lamb.
- The dairy products in Ireland are delicious! If you’ve had Irish butter, then you know how good that is. But it’s more than butter – all of the dairy products in Ireland, including the cream caramels, are so tasty!
- Most bread in Ireland is soda bread rather than yeast bread. It’s quite dense and makes a great toast with your Irish butter spread on top.
Of course, we can’t talk about Irish food without mentioning the great beverages in Ireland! Even if you are used to drinking Irish beer like Guinness or Smithwick’s back home, it tastes so much better when you’re in Ireland! The Irish Whiskey is amazing, too, and every place seems to have its own version. The Whiskey Trail is a fun way to plan out your Ireland itinerary!
Love #5: Ireland Accommodation
The best places to stay in Ireland are Bed & Breakfasts, not hotels. Outside of the main cities, there aren’t major hotels in Ireland, so B&B’s are the accommodation of choice. It’s a quintessential part of any Ireland vacation. You are staying in someone’s home, and you get a huge Irish breakfast. Having breakfast with your B&B host is also the best way to get insider tips for your Ireland vacation. Just remember, you’re staying in their home, so if you are arriving late, it’s a good idea to phone ahead and let them know when to expect you.
Bonus Love #6: Ireland Tourist Traps
In many destinations, the tourist traps would fall into the “worst” category, but in Ireland, the tourist traps are actually worth visiting. As long as you know you’re visiting a tourist trap and are prepared to deal with the crowds.
- Kissing the Blarney Stone at the Blarney Castle is definitely a tourist trap, and you definitely should go see for yourself!
- Temple Bar in Dublin is the most famous pub in Ireland and definitely falls into the category of “tourist trap you must visit.”
- Likewise, Belfast has the Crown Bar, which is also a really cool pub that’s popular with tourists.
- The Titanic Museum in Belfast is also a tourist trap, but it’s worth visiting just to see the architecture of the building. Don’t skip it, but be prepared to be surrounded by crowds of tourists.
- Giant’s Causeway is not a tourist trap, but paying for parking is. There’s a big parking lot and a visitor’s center that you have to pay for, but you can park for free at the train station and just walk right up to Giant’s Causeway.
- Paying to see the Cliffs of Moher. The Cliffs of Moher are another beautiful natural attraction in Ireland, and you should definitely see them, but paying to see the natural beauty makes it feel like a tourist trap. (If it’s a cloudy day, don’t bother as you won’t be able to see much.)
- The Guinness Storehouse is a bit of a tourist trap, as you can have Guinness throughout the country. The view from the top is worth visiting, but you’re not really getting “free” Guinness.
- There are a lot of popular photo spots in Ireland that feel like a tourist trap in that you just go and snap a photo and move on. The Spire and Molly Malone statues in Dublin, and the Salmon sculpture in Belfast are a few examples. If you’re in the area, you may as well get a photo, too!
- The Book of Kells at Trinity College is a cool experience, but the book itself is just a book on display.
- Game of Thrones tours are a bit overdone. Unless you are a die-hard fan of the show, I would opt for another, more varied tour.
- The town of Killarney has become a tourist trap with all of the tour buses that stop there before touring the Ring of Kerry. So the restaurants and hotels are more expensive and really geared towards the bus tour crowds.
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Ireland is really fantastic, and if you haven’t traveled internationally, it’s the perfect first-time trip overseas. I have really enjoyed all of our trips to Ireland. The “hates” are really just things to have a heads up on rather than a reason not to visit Ireland. Want more tips for planning a trip to Ireland? Check out these other blog posts: