rick steves tours ireland 2023

Best of Ireland in 14 Days Tour

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• Dublin, learning about its rich history from the days of Viking raids
• Enjoy scenic drive along the forests, mountains, and lakes of Killarney National Park
• Experience walk along the local paths and lanes, hire a bicycle and pedal the scenic 30-mile Dingle Loop
• Enjoying the beautiful Irish countryside
• Enjoy dramatic Cliffs of Moher, where you'll find yourself leaning into the wind

What's this trip about?

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The Ultimate Tour

Ireland Uncovered

Travel themes.

• Hiking & Walking
• National Parks
• Nature & Wildlife

Destinations

• United Kingdom

Attractions

• Dingle Peninsula
• Educational/ learning
• Historic sightseeing
• Land expedition
• Short Cruise

Trip includes

• A small, friendly group of 24–28 people — half the size of most tour groups
• Full-time services of a professional Rick Steves guide and local experts who will make the fascinating history, art, and culture of Ireland come alive for you
• All tours and admissions — at no extra cost — covering at least 29 group sightseeing events, Dublin walking tour, Trinity College, Book of Kells, Kilmainham Gaol, Rock of Cashel, Kinsale walking tour, Charles Fort tour, Sheep farm tour, Crystal cutting demonstration, Dingle's Slea Head drive, Great Blasket Centre, Gallarus Oratory, Irish musical evening, Burren nature walk, Cliffs of Moher, Boat ride to Aran Islands (weather permitting), Aran Islands minibus tour, Dun Aengus fort, Connemara drive, Cong visit, Ashford Castle School of Falconry, Drumcliff visit, Derry coach and walking tour, Dunluce Castle, Giant's Causeway, Old Bushmills Distillery tour, Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge (weather & season permitting), Guided tour of Belfast, Titanic Belfast…and more
• All group transportation from Dublin to Belfast
• 13 nights' accommodations in memorable, centrally located hotels and B&Bs
• All breakfasts and half your dinners
• All tips for guides and driver
• Rick Steves Travel Store credit to use toward guidebooks for your trip
• Guaranteed tour price, locked in the moment you make your deposit
• Optional single supplements — this tour has a limited number of private rooms for solo travelers for an additional fee
• Tour alum discount of $50 for each tour you've taken prior to 2017
• 50% discount on a consulting appointment with our in-house experts to assist with your pre- or post-tour travel plans
• Flexibility should you need to transfer, or cancel/interrupt your tour
• Fine print: You are responsible for the cost of your drinks and free-time sightseeing

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Meet your guide and fellow tour members at our hotel at 5 p.m. After a group meeting, we'll enjoy a "Welcome to Ireland" dinner together, followed by an orientation walk through the heart of Dublin. Sleep in Dublin (2 nights). No bus. Walking: light.

Today is all yours...free on the Dingle Peninsula. Take a long walk along the local paths and lanes, hire a bicycle and pedal the scenic 30-mile Dingle Loop, sail for the day to the rugged Blasket Islands, or simply savor your generous Irish breakfast and hang out in town. No bus. Walking: light to strenuous (your choice).

We'll seamlessly cross into Northern Ireland today. In Derry, a local guide will take us on a tour of the town, sharing stories about "The Troubles" and the infamous "Bloody Sunday" of 1972. Then we'll drive on to the nostalgic seaside resort of Portrush, where we'll have dinner together and sleep (2 nights). Bus: 5 hrs. Walking: moderate.

Breakfast is provided, but there are no group activities today. You can fly out of Belfast or Dublin's handy airports, or take the ferry to Wales for further adventures in the British Isles. Your guide will help you with any post-tour planning, leaving you well prepared for the road ahead. Slán leat!

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Your trip, your way, planned by an expert:.

• You choose budget, destinations, activities, transport & lodging type
• Expert designs the itinerary for you, and once approved, takes care of logistics

Dates & Availability

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Rick Steves .

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

Rick Steves Reviews & Ratings

Longtime Travelers

Terrible Covid Experience

We are in Ireland now, traveling with Rick Steves Tours and a group of 27. Two days ago a member of the group tested positive for Covid, and we had all been exposed....

Other Rick Steves Reviews

This is about the store not the tours.

We purchased two backpacks from Rick Steves Europe. One of them arrived damaged and unusable. Their website says that you must contact them if you receive damaged me...

A Perfect 10

Sicily is Pure Eye Candy :: Will Leave You Wanting More :: Seamless Way To Travel The Island

A perfect "10" for the Rick Steves' Best of Sicily 11-Day Tour. My 1st tour with any company. This was a perfect combination of scheduled time and free time .. with ...

See all Other Rick Steves reviews

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Tour operator, rick steves.

Our mission is to inspire, inform and equip Americans to have European trips that are fun, affordable and culturally broadening. We value travel as a powerful way to better understand and contribute to the world in which we live. We strive to keep our own travel style, our world outlook and our business practices consistent with these values.

About Rick Steves

Guidebook author and travel TV host Rick Steves is America's most respected authority on European travel. Rick took his first trip to Europe in 1969, visiting piano factories with his father, a piano importer. As an 18-year-old, Rick began traveling on his own, funding his trips by teaching piano lessons. In 1976, he started his business, Rick Steves' Europe, which has grown from a one-man operation to a company with a staff of 80 full-time, well-travelled employees at his headquarters in Washington state. There he produces more than 50 guidebooks on European travel, America's most popular travel series on public television, a weekly hour-long national public radio show, a weekly syndicated column, and free travel information available through his travel center and website. Rick Steves' Europe also runs a successful European tour program. Rick Steves lives and works in his hometown of Edmonds, Washington. His office window overlooks his old junior high school.

--We research and write European guidebooks, produce a public television series and a public radio show

--We organize and lead energetic tours throughout Europe

--We sell select travel bags, guidebooks, maps, DVDs, and other travelers' supplies

--We offer travel consulting and trip planning services

--We teach do-it-yourself travel seminars

--We provide a wealth of free information about travel in Europe via our Travel Center and Website

--We travel a lot

What we don't do

--We are not travel agents, so we don't book flights, hotels, or rental cars

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Cancellations and refunds: Your tour deposit is 100% refundable for 30 days from the date it is received, unless noted otherwise below. After 30 days your deposit becomes nonrefundable, and will be forfeited should you decide to cancel your reservation. Deposits made 60–90 days before a tour departs become nonrefundable on the final payment due date. If you book a tour less than 60 days before its departure date, the entire tour cost becomes non-refundable after 7 days.

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Rick Steves' Ideal Ireland Itinerary Hits All The Must-Visit Destinations

If anyone is qualified to curate the perfect, all-inclusive tour of Ireland, it's Rick Steves . The travel expert, author, and TV personality is a specialist when it comes to traversing Europe's diverse cityscapes and backcountry, and Ireland is no exception. According to Irish Central , Ireland is one of the world's top five best countries to visit, and for a good reason! With so many coveted cities and coastal escapes, it can be hard to squeeze in the best of this country in the short amount of vacation time we have to spend. Steve's personalized itinerary doesn't skip out on any of Ireland's trendy locations, crafty pubs, seaside cities, and charming historical sites. Kinsale, the Dingle peninsula, the Aran Islands, Galway, and Belfast are all part of this legendary 14-day excursion through the Irish countryside and picturesque coastlines.

The journey begins in the heart of Dublin, one of Ireland's most fascinating cities. From there, travelers will move through Killarney National Park to the northern tip of Ireland and ending in Belfast. This tour is available from Spring until Fall, so travelers can budget for the time of year that works best with their schedule. Spring and Fall tend to be the best times to travel to this nation, given the reduced crowds in the shoulder seasons. Yet, Steves recommends summer because of the longer daylight hours, allowing you to pack in all the best sights, tastes, and smells. Fortunately, the Irish landscape is captivating year-round, with a fresh canvas of wild, untamed wilderness to explore.

Dublin and Kinsale

What better introduction to Ireland than beginning in the nation's capital? Day one of this tour educates travelers about the history of Ireland, from Viking raids to British slavery. Of course, members still have plenty of time to wander the city on their own agenda, taking in the wonder of this vibrant town. If you want the expert's opinion, Steves recommends perusing iconic promenades like O'Connell Street, Temple Bar, and 14 Henrietta Street, as well as historic sites like the 700-year-old Dublin Castle and the Chester Beatty Library, which houses intricate artifacts from Asia and medieval Europe.

The five-hour bus ride from Dublin to Kinsale directs travelers through sweeping emerald plains and medieval ruins that form part of Ireland's ecclesiastical heritage. Upon arriving in Kinsale on Ireland's southeast coast, guests will be enamored at this town's colorful streets and breathtaking harbor. According to Steves, Kinsale is the culinary capital of Ireland, so indulging in some of the city's local favorites is a necessity. Jim Edwards and the Whitehouse are two of his favorites for seafood!

Killarney National Park and Dingle

The rugged mountains and glistening lakes of Killarney National Park might just be one of the most enamoring sights along the entire tour. Embracing 24,710 acres, this national park is home to Ireland's largest forests and has become a designated Biosphere Reserve. The Mossy Woods, Old Kenmare Road, and Derricunnihy Church are just a few of the gems nestled inside this sacred preserve.

Taking the famous Slea Head Drive (Steve's pick for the most beautiful road in Ireland), journey through some of Ireland's most photogenic landscapes in the Great Blasket Centre, leading to the Dingle Peninsula. Situated on Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way, this remote stretch of paradise has been coined as "the most beautiful place on earth," according to National Geographic. Creative energy runs wild on this peninsula, and Holden Leather Goods is a local artisan favorite run by a local creative. Given its flourishing dairy industry, high-quality products like milk and ice cream are ubiquitous on this coastline. Murphey's Ice Cream, in particular, delivers some of the best ice cream you'll ever taste, crafted from local dairy cows native to the region.

Moher and the Burren

On the road to Galway, stop in County Clare to walk atop the towering Cliffs of Moher. Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, these mesmerizing bluffs are coated in a rich layer of greenery that contrasts beautifully with the aquamarine seawater. The spectacular views are met with a thriving music scene in Ennis, the leading city of County Clare. Less than an hour from Ennis in County Clare, The Burren possesses an unparalleled diversity of flora and fauna, according to Steves. The topography houses several unique indigenous species and rocky moonscapes that support its bountiful ecosystem. With a limestone-heavy topography, locals in The Burren engage in what they call the "Winterage, ” where cattle are turned out to graze during the wintertime, encouraging them to prepare fresh soil and foliage for spring life to bloom. Like many cities in Ireland, the warm, hospitable culture of The Burren is complemented by a strong agriculture scene, with a particularly famous history of producing smoked salmon.

Galway and the Connemara Countryside

When visiting the Aran Islands in County Galway, Steves recommends heading straight to Inishmore, the largest of these islands that's home to iconic landmarks such as the ancient Celtic fortress, Dun Aengus and several enchanting castles . Just up the coast from the Aran Islands is the unspoiled scenic vista of the Connemara countryside. Located on the northwestern corner of county Galway, it's a region untouched by human hands, its natural beauty preserved over the centuries. Lakes, rivers, woodlands, and meadows coalesce on the vast, open landscape. Given its stunning organic scenery, this region is rich in outdoor activities, including hiking, fishing, cycling, and horseback riding. It was also the filming site for "The Quiet Man" in 1951. Some of the highlights Steves guides travelers through are Ashford Castle , the town of Cong, and Westport in County Mayo. Heading north on the backend of this trip, wander through the lush seaside resort town of Portrush, which is home to sandy golden beaches as well as the famous Dunluce Castle .

The Antrim Coast and Belfast

Steve's Irish tour concludes along the Antrim Coast and Belfast. According to Steves, this region of Ireland is famous for it's captivating imagery and rugged beauty that's grabbed the attention of iconic news outlets. Old Bushmills Distillery is a must-visit when in this Irish county, as it's the oldest distillery in the world! The main highlight of this coastal region is the Giant's Causeway, a series of basalt columns formed by volcanic activity more than 60 million years ago. What better way to close out a well-traveled road trip than in the historic town of Belfast? Fun fact — this is also the town where the famous Titanic ship was built, and the Titanic Belfast tour is not one to be missed! With a lively arts scene, make sure to check out some of the city's most famous murals before sitting down to dinner or drinks in an authentic Irish pub. After a group dinner, the last day of the tour is left in the hands of guests. Strolling through St. George's Market or touring the sacred halls of Belfast Castle are just two of the town's most coveted attractions that won't disappoint!

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• Christmas in Irel...

Christmas in Ireland 2023

My husband and I are interested in taking our 2 children ages 11 and 15 to Ireland over Christmas. My husband and I have been to Ireland several times in the past. We are looking to stay in Dublin for any Christmas Activities. Looking at other cities that have other Christmas adventures. Not looking to drive all over the country since we will only be there for 5 nights. Does anyone have any suggestions for a Christmas itinerary? Any hotels or should be do self catering?

One of my fondest memories was in Dublin in November 2002 just as the Christmas season was getting under way. My sister and I saw a performance of A Christmas Carol at the Gate Theater. That performance is in the top three of the 250-plus plays I have seen. We were both teary eyed when the lights came up at the end. However, I don't know if the Gate performs the Dickens story every year.

We also went to a beautiful Evensong performance at Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin. The actual Christmas service is probably wonderful.

Finally, the crowds are smaller in Dublin during the end of the year compared with the summer and autumn, when I also visited.

I have heard that the Merrion Hotel with its huge fire place and old world charm is beautiful to stay at during Christmas, but it would be a bit of splurge.

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