Road Trips
Causeway Coastal Route: Stops, Map and a Local's Recommendations (2026)
The Causeway Coastal Route: 120 miles that take four hours when the A6 takes ninety minutes, and every stop that justifies it.
The IrelandExplore journal
Good stories.
Better journeys.
The places, the practical bits,
and the Ireland between them.
By Patrick Hughes
62 guides to explore
Destinations
Music Festivals in Ireland 2026: what's worth visiting for
Ireland runs around 60 music festivals in 2026. Which are worth routing a trip around, and which suit which kind of traveller.
Destinations
10 Days in Ireland: The Complete Itinerary for First-Time Visitors
Ten days in Ireland day by day: the route, the drives that take longer than they look, and where the extra three days over a week go.
Road Trips
Ireland Road Trip Planning Guide: Routes, Driving Tips & Logistics for First-Time Visitors
Planning an Ireland road trip: the routes that work, driving on the left, and the logistics learned from driving every county.
Destinations
Best Hotels in Dublin for Corporate Events & Business Travel (2026)
Dublin hotels for business travel and corporate events: which districts to be in, and the ones that save you a morning in traffic.
Behind the Brochure
Do You Need a Visa for Ireland? Entry Requirements for Visitors
Ireland entry requirements for visitors, including visa-free travel, passports, Northern Ireland, UK ETA rules, and practical border questions.
Behind the Brochure
Tipping in Ireland: How to avoid mistakes
Clear tipping advice for Ireland visitors, including restaurants, pubs, taxis, tours, hotels, card machines, and what locals actually expect.
Getting Around
Dublin Local Transport for Tourists: Hidden Pitfalls & 2026 Hacks
Dublin transport for visitors: the Leap Card, the routes that let you down, and the peaks to plan around rather than fight.
Itineraries
Best 3-Day Dublin Itinerary for Families by Public Transport
A family-friendly 3-day Dublin itinerary using public transport, with museums, parks, easy food stops, and realistic pacing for children.
Destinations
Ultimate Guide to County Louth: 2026 Hidden Gems & Myths Beyond the Smallest County Hype
Ireland's smallest county holds the Boyne Valley monasteries and the Cooley Peninsula of the Tain. What to see in Louth, and where to start.
Destinations
Ultimate Guide to Dublin Airport (DUB): Terminals, Transport, Security & U.S. Preclearance
Dublin Airport explained: T1 for Ryanair and most European flights, T2 for Aer Lingus and the US carriers, plus preclearance.
Destinations
Doolin vs. Ennis: A Musician's Take on Where to Stay in County Clare
Doolin or Ennis as a base in County Clare, judged on the music, by a singer who has spent years at sessions in both.
Road Trips
Local's Guide: Driving from Armagh to Louth Across Irish Border
Driving from Armagh into Louth across a border you cannot see, and what the speed-limit signs tell you that nothing else does.
Destinations
My Family Lives in County Clare: Here's How We Visit the Cliffs of Moher
How a family living between Liscannor and Doolin visits the Cliffs of Moher: when to go, where to park, and what visitors miss.
Destinations
Why Skip Dublin for a Day in County Armagh: Hidden Gems of the Orchard County
A day in County Armagh instead of queuing at the Guinness Storehouse: the twin cathedrals, Navan Fort and the orchard country.
Destinations
How to Pack for Four Seasons in One Day: Lessons from 10 Years Touring
Practical Ireland packing advice for changeable weather, with layers, waterproofs, footwear, and lessons from years of touring the island.
Destinations
Belfast vs. Dublin: The Real Differences from Someone Who's Lived in Both
Belfast or Dublin, from someone who has lived in both: cost, atmosphere, food, and how to split five to seven days between them.
Road Trips
Wild Atlantic Way Driving Tips for First-Time Visitors: Essential Guide to Narrow Roads, Left-Side Driving & Safe Navigation
Driving the Wild Atlantic Way for the first time: single-track lanes, passing places, driving on the left, and the stone walls.
Destinations
Dublin Hotels with Breakfast Included: Best Value Options in an Expensive City
Dublin hotels that include breakfast, and why that often beats a cheaper headline rate in one of Europe's pricier cities.
Itineraries
7 Day Ireland Itinerary: The Classic Route
Seven days in Ireland on the classic route: Dublin, Galway, the Cliffs of Moher, Kerry and Dingle, and what the week really fits.
Destinations
Top Things to Do in Galway: Music, Food and Day Trips
Things to do in Galway: the city on foot, the music, the food, and the day trips that make it a good base for the west.
Behind the Brochure
Best Time to Visit Ireland: Month-by-Month Guide (2026)
Month-by-month guide to the best time to visit Ireland, with weather, crowds, prices, festivals, and practical trip-planning tradeoffs.
Destinations
How to Get Around Ireland: A Complete Transport Guide
Getting around Ireland by car, bus and train: what each is good for, what it costs, and where you genuinely need your own wheels.
Where to Stay
Where to Stay in Belfast: Best Areas + Hotels (2026)
Where to stay in Belfast: the Cathedral Quarter, the Queen's Quarter and the quieter options, with hotel picks from someone who lives here.
Things to Do
Best Day Trips from Cork (2026): Kinsale, Ring of Kerry & More
The best day trips from Cork for first-time visitors, including Kinsale, Cobh, Blarney, West Cork, and realistic driving advice.
Things to Do
Cliffs of Moher Cruise
Seeing the Cliffs of Moher from the Atlantic instead of the clifftop: the boat trip, what you see, and how to book it from Doolin.
Things to Do
Complete Guide to the Cliffs of Moher
A complete guide to the Cliffs of Moher: tickets, the visitor experience, the walks either side, and the times of day worth targeting.
Destinations
Cork Travel Guide: Markets, Music and the Rebel City Spirit
Cork for visitors: the English Market, the music, and why the Rebel City gets undervalued when people plan an Irish trip.
Things to Do
12 Best Day Trips from Dublin
Twelve day trips from Dublin worth leaving the city for, with how long each takes and whether you need a car to do it.
Things to Do
5 Day Trips from Galway (2026)
Five day trips from Galway: the Cliffs of Moher, Kylemore Abbey, Connemara and the Aran Islands, with how to book each one.
Things to Do
How to Get Doolin Ferry to Inishmore (Inis Mór) on the Aran Islands
Getting the Doolin ferry to Inis Mor: the operators, the crossing, and how to combine it with the Cliffs of Moher cruise.
Getting Around
How to Get from Dublin Airport to the City Centre
Dublin Airport to the city centre: a taxi is EUR 25-35 door to door, the Dublin Express is cheaper. Which to take, and when.
Things to Do
Dún Aonghasa | Inishmore, Aran Islands
Dun Aonghasa on Inis Mor: the fort on the cliff edge, how to reach it from the pier, and how long the walk really takes.
Destinations
Galway Travel Guide (2026): Music, Seafood and the Wild Atlantic Weather
A practical Galway travel guide covering where to stay, music, food, day trips, weather, transport, and what first-time visitors should know.
Things to Do
Bike Trip on Inishmore on the Aran Islands
Cycling Inis Mor, the largest Aran Island: hiring a bike at the pier, the route round, and how much of a day it takes.
Behind the Brochure
Essential Ireland Packing List: What You Really Need for Your Trip
What to actually pack for Ireland, where the weather changes its mind every twenty minutes and heavy bags are the usual mistake.
Destinations
Belfast Travel Guide 2026
Belfast for visitors from someone who lives there: what to see, how long it takes, and how to fit it around the Causeway Coast.
Where to Stay
Where to Stay in Dublin: Best Areas + Hotels (2026)
Where to stay in Dublin: the areas worth the money, the ones that are not, and hotel picks from ten years living in the city.
Where to Stay
Where to Stay in Galway: Best Areas + Hotels (2026)
Best areas to stay in Galway for first-time visitors, with practical hotel bases for the city centre, Salthill, Connemara, and day trips.
Where to Stay
Where to Stay in Cork: Best Areas + Hotels (2026)
Where to stay in Cork: the city centre against the quieter areas, with hotel picks from twenty years of coming back.
Where to Stay
Where to Stay in Northern Ireland: Best Areas + Hotels (2026)
Best areas to stay in Northern Ireland, with practical hotel bases for Belfast, the Causeway Coast, Derry, Fermanagh, and first-time trips.
Itineraries
How to Spend A Perfect Day in Cork
One day in Cork hour by hour: the English Market, the walks and where to eat, whether you are staying in the city or nearby.
Getting Around
Car Rental Ireland: The Complete Guide (2026)
Renting a car in Ireland: the EUR 2,000 credit card hold, the daily surcharges nobody mentions, and the cross-border rules.
Things to Do
Complete Guide to the Céide Fields, County Mayo (Ancient Site)
Visitor guide to the Ceide Fields in County Mayo, with what to see, why the site matters, opening details, nearby stops, and travel tips.
Behind the Brochure
Essential Irish Phrases for Travellers: Complete Guide with Pronunciation
Irish phrases worth knowing before you visit, with pronunciation, from someone who learned Gaeilge at school and still uses it.
Destinations
Dublin Travel Guide: Your Complete Guide to Ireland's Capital
Dublin from someone who lived there for ten years and still works in the city: what to see, where to eat, and what to skip.
Behind the Brochure
Is Dublin Safe to Visit? A Local's Guide (2026)
Yes, with a few caveats. Ten years of living and working nights in Dublin: the areas to watch, the scams, and where tourists actually run into trouble.
Behind the Brochure
Credit Cards in Ireland: What Visitors Really Need to Know (2026)
Cards, cash and contactless in Ireland: what works, what to tell your bank before you fly, and how much cash to actually carry.
Destinations
The Wild Atlantic Way: Ireland's Ultimate Coastal Road Trip
The Wild Atlantic Way: 2,500 km down Ireland's west coast, how to break it into stages, and the stretches worth the detour.
Behind the Brochure
Do You Need an ETA Visa to enter Northern Ireland in 2026?
Do you need a UK ETA to cross into Northern Ireland in 2026? The rules by nationality, and how the land border actually works.
Destinations
Exploring Northern Ireland: Where to Go, Stay and What to See
Northern Ireland for visitors: Belfast, the Causeway Coast and the Mournes, what to see in each and how long to give them.
Destinations
Kilkenny for Visitors: Where to go, stay & eat
Kilkenny for a long weekend: the castle, the Medieval Mile, where to eat, and the festival week to book around or avoid.
Behind the Brochure
Why is Ireland Called the Emerald Isle?
Why Ireland is called the Emerald Isle: William Drennan's 1795 poem, how the name spread, and whether it still fits today.
Things to Do
Complete Guide to Kylemore Abbey & Victorian Walled Gardens for 2026
Kylemore Abbey and its Victorian walled garden in Connemara: tickets, how long to allow, and the walk most visitors skip.
Things to Do
Complete Guide to Malin Head, Donegal, Ireland
Malin Head, the most northerly point in Ireland: how to get there, what to see on the headland, and when the light is best.
Destinations
The Best Irish Islands to Visit: A Complete Guide
The Irish islands worth the crossing: which have bridges, which need a ferry, and how much time each one really needs.
Where to Stay
Top 7 Types of Accommodation in Ireland
Hotels, B&Bs, guesthouses, hostels and self-catering in Ireland: what each costs, what to expect, and which suits your trip.
Behind the Brochure
16 Best Places to Visit in Ireland
Sixteen places worth building an Irish trip around, from the cities in the east to the cliffs and castles of the west coast.
Itineraries
Travel Notes: Donegal Road Trip by Campervan
My 3-day campervan trip through County Donegal - from Malin Head to Sliabh Liag on the Wild Atlantic Way. Camp spots, driving notes, and straight reviews.
Destinations
Complete Guide to County Donegal: Routes, Sights & Where to Stay
Donegal is too big to do in a weekend. How to pick your corner, the loops that work, and where to stay in each part of the county.
Behind the Brochure
10+ Reasons You Should Visit Ireland
Reasons to put Ireland on the list beyond the green landscapes, from the food and the music to the parts visitors rarely reach.
Things to Do
15 Best Things to Do in Dublin (by a local)
Fifteen things to do in Dublin, chosen by someone who moved there in the late 1990s and watched the city change around him.
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