Slideshow: Heart of Ireland in 8 Days, Day by Day

  • Rick Steves' Heart of Ireland in 8 Days Tour, Day by Day

    Tight on time? The Heart of Ireland in 8 Days — Rick's personal "best of" distillation of our two-week Best of Ireland tour — may be just the right fit for you. Hop aboard this slideshow for a sneak peek of the must-see historical sites, charming towns, and music-filled pubs that we enjoy on our Heart of Ireland in 8 Days tour. Let's go… (photo: Dominic Arizona Bonuccelli)

  • Cliffs of Moher, County Clare, Ireland

    Day 1 & 2: Welcome to Ireland

    We'll gather together at our hotel at 2 p.m. for a meeting, then take an orientation walk around Ennis, beginning with a tour of its friary. Afterward we'll get to know one another over a hearty "Welcome to Ireland" dinner together.

    The next morning after breakfast, we'll pack up and board our comfy bus, setting course for Ireland's Dingle Peninsula. En route we'll stop to visit the dramatic Cliffs of Moher, where you'll find yourself leaning into the wind, teetering on the very edge of Europe, more than 600 feet above the churning waters of the North Atlantic and County Limerick's lovely village of Adare. At the end of our drive we'll arrive in the pastel-painted, quintessentially Irish harbor town of Dingle. After a walking tour, we'll enjoy a gourmet dinner of local specialties followed by an evening of Gaelic tunes. (photo: Dominic Arizona Bonuccelli)

  • Adare and Dingle

    It's a great day to experience some of Europe's wildest natural beauty and most ancient Christian sites. We'll start our day with a crystal cutting demonstration from a master craftsman, then hop aboard our bus with our local expert to follow the famous Slea Head Drive, our vote for the most beautiful road in Ireland. We'll stop to tour the strikingly situated Great Blasket Centre, where we'll get a close-up look at the language, literature, and daily life of a traditional Gaelic Blasket community. The remainder of the day is free for you to soak in more of Dingle's charms and enjoy dinner on your own. (photo: Dominic Arizona Bonuccelli)

  • Day 4: The Rock of Cashel and Kilkenny

    Today we'll bid goodbye to Dingle as our bus transports us across the Emerald Isle. On our way we'll stop to tour one of Ireland's most historic and evocative sights: the Rock of Cashel. St. Patrick himself was here more than 1,500 years ago, and ever since, the Rock has been the spiritual heart of Ireland. From the craggy remains of the cathedral and castle to the views stretching out across the Plain of Tipperary, this is where the Irish in you will stir from head to toe. Upon arrival in Kilkenny, we'll meet a local guide for a walking tour of the medieval town center. Your evening is free for dinner and traditional music in one of the many atmospheric pubs. (photo: Dominic Arizona Bonuccelli)

  • Day 5: Medieval and Monastic Heritage

    This morning we'll visit Kilkenny Castle, a symbol of Norman occupation since the 12th century. After a walk through its restored Victorian interiors and extensive parklands, we'll head further back in time with a visit to Glendalough, Ireland's most impressive monastic settlement. We'll visit the iconic Round Tower, ruined churches, and the lakes that give Glendalough its name. Then we're off to Dublin, where we'll get oriented and enjoy dinner together. (photo: Rick Steves)

  • Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, Ireland

    Day 6: The Historic Heart of Dublin

    This morning we'll take a walking tour through Dublin, learning about its often calamitous history, from the days of Viking raids to the hard centuries of British occupation, to its remarkable literary legacy, to the modern city of today. We'll end at Trinity College for an illuminating look at the remarkable Book of Kells, a jolt of Irish creativity that helped pull Europe out of the Dark Ages. The rest of your day will be free to take in some of Dublin's other world-class sights, such as the National Museum or Dublin Castle. (photo: Dominic Arizona Bonuccelli)

  • Day 7: Prehistoric Tombs and Dublin

    Today we'll drive an hour out of Dublin to one of Europe's premier archaeological sites: the ancient tombs of Brú na Bóinne. Predating Stonehenge by a thousand years and the pyramids at Giza by 500, these massive "passage tombs" of Newgrange and Knowth are windows into a mysterious, pre-Celtic Ireland, just as it was pulling itself up and out of the Stone Age. This afternoon we'll return to Dublin to tour Glasnevin Cemetery and Museum, the final resting place of more than one million Dubliners, including many of Ireland's national heroes and heroines. Tonight we'll compare notes and celebrate our marvelous week together over a farewell dinner. (photo: Dominic Arizona Bonuccelli)

  • Day 8: Tour Over After Breakfast

    Breakfast is provided, but there are no group activities today. You can fly out of Dublin's handy airport, or for those not ready to return home yet, Dublin is a great jumping off point to Paris, London, Amsterdam, and many other exciting destinations. Your guide will help you with any post-tour planning, leaving you well prepared for the road ahead. Slán leat! (photo: Dominic Arizona Bonuccelli)

    Learn more about Rick Steves' Heart of Ireland in 8 Days tour.