All Guides

46 guides and growing. Practical Ireland travel, written by someone who lives here.

Departures at Dublin Airport (© Patrick Hughes)
Behind the Brochure 6 Feb 2026

Do You Need a Visa for Ireland? Entry Requirements for Visitors

If you're planning a trip to Ireland, one of the first things you'll want to sort out is whether...

7 min read
A bar on Achill Island, Ireland
Behind the Brochure 28 Jan 2026

Tipping in Ireland: How to avoid mistakes

This question is one I get asked by US and Canada visitors almost more than any on my Facebook...

6 min read
The Luas in Dublin passing along a street.
Getting Around 23 Jan 2026

Dublin Local Transport for Tourists: Hidden Pitfalls & 2026 Hacks

I've stood at the Aircoach bus stop on Stephens Green with a young couple from Boston (in the rain)...

8 min read
Three children play at the EPIC Museum in Dublin
Itineraries 22 Jan 2026

Best 3-Day Dublin Itinerary for Families by Public Transport

I might have been born and raised in County Armagh, but I spent more than ten years living in...

9 min read
Copyright Tourism Ireland
Destinations 5 Jan 2026

Doolin vs. Ennis: A Musician’s Take on Where to Stay in County Clare

I've spent years visiting Clare as a singer, including as a singer in the Irish group, Anuna, and I...

6 min read
Glendalough - Courtesy Fáilte Ireland
Itineraries 11 Oct 2025

7 Day Ireland Itinerary: The Classic Route

Seven days in Ireland sounds like plenty of time until you start planning. Dublin, Galway, the Cliffs of Moher,...

15 min read
Wild Flowers on Inishmore (© Patrick Hughes)
Behind the Brochure 8 Oct 2025

Best Time to Visit Ireland: Month-by-Month Guide (2026)

Look, I write about Ireland for a living, so OF COURSE I'm going to say that there's no wrong...

7 min read
Harland and Wolff Cranes in Belfast
Where to Stay 2 Oct 2025

Where to Stay in Belfast: Best Areas + Hotels (2026)

Not sure which Belfast hotels to choose? My local guide explains the city’s top areas for accommodation, from the...

4 min read
Cobh Harbour ©Fáilte Ireland
Things to Do 2 Oct 2025

Best Day Trips from Cork (2026): Kinsale, Ring of Kerry & More

The great thing about Cork is not just all the things to do in Cork itself, it's what lies...

7 min read
People getting on to a cruise boat at Doolin
Things to Do 2 Oct 2025

Cliffs of Moher Cruise

Visiting the Cliffs of Moher is the most popular excursion on the island of Ireland and the sensational light...

9 min read
Things to Do 2 Oct 2025

Complete Guide to the Cliffs of Moher

The Cliffs of Moher are nothing less than awe-inspiring, a natural wonder famous for its sheer beauty and the...

9 min read
Aerial view of Cork City, Courtesy Fáilte Ireland
Destinations 2 Oct 2025

Cork Travel Guide: Markets, Music and the Rebel City Spirit

National Geographic recently put Cork on its list of the top 25 places in the world to visit, and...

4 min read
A sweeping view of the Cliffs of Moher with summery pink flowers in the foreground of the picture.
Things to Do 2 Oct 2025

12 Best Day Trips from Dublin

Most people's introduction to Ireland is a stay in Dublin. Yes, the atmosphere is great, there's a ton of...

7 min read
Things to Do 2 Oct 2025

5 Day Trips from Galway (2026)

Galway is beautifully positioned as a base for day trips to the Cliffs of Moher, Kylemore Abbey and anywhere in the West...

7 min read
Things to Do 2 Oct 2025

How to Get Doolin Ferry to Inishmore (Inis Mór) on the Aran Islands

Doolin in County Clare is famous as the principal port for ferries coming from the Aran Islands to the...

7 min read
Front of Dublin Airport
Getting Around 2 Oct 2025

How to Get from Dublin Airport to the City Centre

You've just landed at Dublin Airport and need to get into the city centre. Here's what you need to...

6 min read
Things to Do 2 Oct 2025

Dún Aonghasa | Inishmore, Aran Islands

Aran Islands | Wild Atlantic Way | Itineraries Dún Aonghasa Guide | Inishmore Itinerary (One Day) If you want...

7 min read
Inside of a Galway pub
Destinations 2 Oct 2025

Galway Travel Guide (2026): Music, Seafood and the Wild Atlantic Weather

If you ask most Irish people where to send a visitor who wants a taste of real Ireland, Galway...

4 min read
Things to Do 2 Oct 2025

Bike Trip on Inishmore on the Aran Islands

A trip along Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way is made even richer by time spent exploring one of its most...

5 min read
Heaps of suitcases at a port
Behind the Brochure 2 Oct 2025

Essential Ireland Packing List: What You Really Need for Your Trip

I'll be honest with you: packing for Ireland trips up more visitors than it should. It's not that the...

8 min read
Titanic Museum Belfast
Destinations 2 Oct 2025

Belfast Travel Guide 2026

As someone who lives in sunny Belfast (okay, sunny is usually a stretch!), I do get asked whether it's...

5 min read
The Observatory Bar at Grand Central Hotel, Belfast
Where to Stay 2 Oct 2025

Where to Stay in Northern Ireland: Best Areas + Hotels (2026)

I come from the North, live in Belfast, and these wee six counties are still top of my list...

10 min read
Dublin Docklands from across the River Liffey
Where to Stay 2 Oct 2025

Where to Stay in Dublin: Best Areas + Hotels (2026)

Dublin’s accommodation scene used to baffle me during the 10 years I lived there. Here’s a city where you...

7 min read
Where to Stay 2 Oct 2025

Where to Stay in Galway: Best Areas + Hotels (2026)

Galway is the most popular place to stay in the West of Ireland for a good reason. It's worth...

7 min read
Cork City by night - Courtesy Fáilte Ireland
Where to Stay 2 Oct 2025

Where to Stay in Cork: Best Areas + Hotels (2026)

My first proper visit to Cork was to sing at its choral festival with the Irish group, Anúna, about...

6 min read
Aerial View of Cork City
Itineraries 25 Aug 2025

How to Spend A Perfect Day in Cork

Cork deserves a proper day of exploration, whether you’re staying in the city itself or using a different coastal...

5 min read
A roadside in County Donegal with green verges
Getting Around 18 Jun 2025

Car Rental Ireland: The Complete Guide (2026)

Here's a scenario that happens way too often: you arrive at Dublin Airport, excited to get on the road....

10 min read
Entrance to the Ceide Fields
Things to Do 16 Jun 2025

Complete Guide to the Céide Fields, County Mayo (Ancient Site)

When you stand at the edge of the dramatic cliffs of North Mayo, you can look out across stone...

6 min read
Exterior of a book shop in Galway Ireland
Behind the Brochure 16 Jun 2025

Essential Irish Phrases for Travellers: Complete Guide with Pronunciation

I was brought up learning some basic Irish at primary and secondary school and I've learnt that even using...

6 min read
Poolbeg Dublin by Patrick Hughes
Destinations 10 Jun 2025

Dublin Travel Guide: Your Complete Guide to Ireland's Capital

A local's insider perspective from someone who lived in Dublin for 10 years and still works in the city....

14 min read
A peaceful Grafton Street in Dublin at night
Behind the Brochure 9 Jun 2025

Is Dublin Safe to Visit? A Local's Honest Guide (2026)

One man's perspective, having lived in Dublin for 10 years and worked at night at venues across the city....

7 min read
Person using a credit card
Behind the Brochure 27 May 2025

Credit Cards in Ireland: What Visitors Really Need to Know (2026)

One of the most common questions I get from visitors planning their first trip is about money. Can I...

7 min read
The Wild Atlantic Ocean
Destinations 25 May 2025

The Wild Atlantic Way: Ireland’s Ultimate Coastal Road Trip

Why the Wild Atlantic Way Belongs on Your Bucket List The Wild Atlantic Way isn’t just a scenic drive,...

3 min read
Exterior of Belfast Grand Central Station
Behind the Brochure 23 May 2025

Do You Need an ETA Visa to enter Northern Ireland in 2026?

If you're visiting the island of Ireland, there's a good chance you want to explore both the Republic of...

5 min read
A view across the green fields of South Armagh
Destinations 14 May 2025

Exploring Northern Ireland: Where to Go, Stay and What to See

Planning a visit to the North (as I'd say), that is, to Northern Ireland? My local guide covers what...

3 min read
Jerpoint Abbey, County Kilkenny - copyright and courtesy Luke Myers via Failte Ireland
Destinations 30 Jan 2025

Kilkenny for Visitors: Where to go, stay & eat

Kilkenny is one of Ireland's smallest cities, but it punches way above its weight with historical things to do....

4 min read
Boggy land near Tullagh Strand
Behind the Brochure 30 Jan 2025

Why is Ireland Called the Emerald Isle?

The Origin of the Term 'Emerald Isle' The term Emerald Isle is widely attributed to William Drennan, a prominent...

5 min read
Things to Do 29 Jan 2025

Complete Guide to Derrygimlagh: First Transatlantic Flight & Marconi

Derrygimlagh is a signature discovery point on Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way. While not as famous as the Cliffs of...

8 min read
The front castellations of Kylemore Abbey in County Galway
Things to Do 29 Jan 2025

Complete Guide to Kylemore Abbey & Victorian Walled Gardens for 2026

Kylemore Abbey is a beautiful Abbey and Gardens in Connemara, County Galway, Ireland. Originally known as Kylemore Castle, it...

6 min read
Things to Do 29 Jan 2025

Complete Guide to Malin Head, Donegal, Ireland

Malin Head in Donegal is the most northerly point of the island of Ireland, sitting at the very tip...

6 min read
The coastline of Inishmore island in Ireland
Destinations 29 Jan 2025

The Best Irish Islands to Visit: A Complete Guide

Our beautiful coastline here in Ireland is dotted with incredible islands, each of which has its own charm, history,...

3 min read
Where to Stay 29 Jan 2025

Top 7 Types of Accommodation in Ireland

Ireland has a plethora of accommodation options in both remoter, rural spots or right in the city locations that...

4 min read
The stunning Fanad Head Lighthouse
Itineraries 4 Sept 2024

Explore Donegal: Your Ultimate 3-Day Road Trip Itinerary on the Wild Atlantic Way

I have been visiting County Donegal since I was a teenager. My first memories are of visiting friends in...

15 min read
Behind the Brochure 4 Sept 2024

15 Best Places to Visit in Ireland

Ireland is a small country with a huge variety of places to visit. In the East, Dublin and Belfast...

12 min read
An Irish castle called Dunguaire is shown in the background of Galway Bay
Behind the Brochure 4 Sept 2024

10+ Reasons You Should Visit Ireland

If you're mapping out your Irish holiday, consider adding Ireland to your maybe list. You might know that Ireland...

7 min read
Ha'penny Bridge, River Liffey, Dublin - Courtesy Gareth McCormack
Things to Do 4 Sept 2024

15 Best Things to Do in Dublin (by a local)

While Dublin is a very modern city, you'll find traces of its history on every street, from Viking to...

13 min read