Part 1 of Our 23-Day Ireland Road Trip Series
Dublin Arrival, Jet Lag Tips, Kilmainham Gaol, Guinness Storehouse & More
Our Ireland road trip was originally planned for June 2020 but was delayed until June/July 2022 due to the global shutdown. This gave us time to refine our itinerary into a thrilling 23-day clockwise loop around Ireland and Northern Ireland, starting and ending in Dublin. We opted for a quicker 1–2 night stay at each place, but definitely travel at whatever pace feels right for you.
We flew Aer Lingus from Boston to Dublin, a smooth 6-hour overnight flight. We bid low for a business class upgrade and got it! Comfy seats, solid food, and excellent service made it a great start.
Day 1: Landing in Dublin & Battling Jet Lag
After a quick passport check and baggage claim, we took a taxi to our hotel, Ashling Hotel in Dublin 8 (inner west side of Dublin city center, conveniently near Heuston Station and LUAS Red Line). Taxis or Uber saves time over buses when jet-lagged.Room not ready? No problem. We stashed bags and powered uphill 1.7 km to Kilmainham Gaol, a former prison turned museum with a powerful history of political prisoners and executions. Book guided tours online in advance (summer sells out quickly)! Inside, the guided tour hit hard; echoing cells where political prisoners waited, and the chilling execution yard where history’s weight pressed down. We left more connected to Ireland’s story.
Pro Tip: Consider the OPW Heritage Card for unlimited access to top sites like Kilmainham, castles, and abbeys. Adult €40, Senior €30, Student/Child €10, Family €90. Calculate if it saves money based on your itinerary.
Next, the tourist magnet we couldn’t resist, the Guinness Storehouse, Ireland’s most visited attraction. The self-guided tour unfolded like a love letter to stout; roasted barley smells wafting, massive vats gleaming. We splurged on the Stoutie upgrade: while our pints were being poured a camera captured the perfect foam “selfie.” Up in the Gravity Bar, Dublin sprawled 360 degrees below us, our fresh pints in hand. Book timed tickets well in advance. Book your Guinness Storehouse tickets here.
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Exhausted but exhilarated, we wandered to The Brazen Head (Dublin’s oldest pub, est. 1198) for fish and chips and Guinness; perfect after a warm, active day. The fish and chips arrived crispy and golden; Guinness foam clung perfectly. It was a great first dinner in Ireland. Getting on local time right away is key to beating jet lag: push through Day 1 and go to sleep no earlier than 8 PM local time.
Day 2: Dublin Museums, Trinity College & Castle
Refreshed after Ashling’s amazing breakfast buffet, we took LUAS to EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, interactive and fascinating (even for non-Irish descent; add genealogy sessions if tracing roots).
A quick chocolate and coffee detour at Butlers, onto Trinity College. The Long Room Library felt like stepping into Hogwarts—endless shelves, hushed awe, and beautiful architecture. The Book of Kells? Beautiful, but tiny and underwhelming up close. Still worth a visit to experience The Long Room Library and the Trinity College Campus. From there, we headed to a self-guided Dublin Castle tour. They do offer guided tours, but these can sell out, especially during the summer months. Afterwards, we did some shopping on Grafton Street and listened to the talented buskers.
Dinner was at Hairy Lemon. The homemade Beef and Guinness stew was a trip highlight: it was tender, flavorful perfection.
We strolled back through Temple Bar, already buzzing about what lay ahead. Little did we know, the real adventure: rental car, wild mountains, and Ireland’s untamed west was just about to begin… and it would test us in ways we never expected.
Ready to plan your own Dublin start or full Ireland road trip? Head to Crafted Routes for personalized custom itinerary planning tailored to your pace, interests, and budget!
