Why Should You See Ireland East
The Ireland East Itinerary includes lush gardens, intact castles, ancient monasteries and colourful fishing villages. It is mainly inland rather than coastal, with more history than scenery. This route is covered in 8 posts and needs 9 days. It is ideal for a short trip.
Author & Photographer: George Mitchell
Our recommendations are not influenced by affiliate links – we do not have any. Our advice is derived from our personal experience and knowledge based on living in Europe for seven years and studying its art, architecture and culture. Ireland is one of our favourite destinations.
All of our recommendations are top-rated by Google Maps Ratings, which is based on everyone, not just tourists. Each place recommended in our custom Ireland East Map is appended with a Google Maps Rating (G0 to G5).
Ireland East Itinerary
A synopsis of the itinerary is provided first. Then there are links to the detailed itinerary guides.
Dublin
D-Day in Dublin gives a good example of why you want to stay near the airport for at least a day.
Powerscourt
Dublin to Powerscourt 46 km, 0:49 hrs.
Powerscourt (G4.7) is a beautiful garden, especially in May, with the scarlet rhododendrons blooming. It comes with Italianate pebble mosaics and Japanese Gardens. The separate but nearby Powerscourt Waterfall is worth a visit.
Glendalough
Dublin to Glendalough 68 km, 1:12 hrs.
Glendalough (G4.8) is an archaeological masterpiece. It comes with an excellent guided tour included in the OPW fee. The route returns via the Wicklow Mountains.
Kilkenny
Dublin to Kilkenny 131 km, 1:34 hrs.
Kilkenny explores cathedrals, Tudor-era streets and a castle masterpiece. It does not have a medieval atmosphere. The Kilkenny Castle (G4.7) comes with an excellent guided tour included in the OPW fee. The Seafood Chowder across the street is to die for.
Cashel
Kilkenny to Rock of Cashel 62 km, 0:54 hrs.
The Rock of Cashel (G4.5) is a remarkable archaeological site. It comes with an excellent guided tour included in the OPW fee. Great views can be enjoyed from the highway and the Hore Abbey ruins (G4.6), which are worth a visit.
Kilkenny to Kinsale
Kilkenny to Kinsale 183 km, 2:10 hrs.
This itinerary explores Cahir Castle (G4.6); Swiss Cottage (G4.5), a thatched-roof masterpiece; and the stone multi-arched Glanworth Bridge (G4.8), the oldest bridge still in use in Europe — over 570 years old!
Cobh to Kinsale
Cobh to Kinsale 51 km, 0:46 hrs.
Cobh and Kinsale are two fishing villages with brightly painted pubs and restaurants. We enjoyed visiting St. Colman’s Cathedral (G4.7) in Cobh. We enjoyed the Sandy Cove (G4.9) drive and Charles Fort (G4.7) as well.
Mizen Head — Sheeps Head
Kinsale to Mizen Head 114 km, 2:11 hrs.
Mizen Head to Sheeps Head 57 km, 1:11 hrs.
We were totally rained out with no visibility at Mizen Head (G4.7) and Sheeps Head (G4.8). While the day was dreary, we could at least enjoy the rolling green farmland at Drombeg Stone Circle (G4.7).
Detailed Itinerary Guides
Here are our detailed day-by-day itineraries.
Final Comments on this Itinerary
This is an action-packed itinerary. Most newbie tourists head to sites they have heard about, or what I call name recognition. The places we recommend are all highly rated by local people, as shown by the high Google Map Ratings. Remember, the most important “destination” is meeting the people.
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Itinerary Map & Resources
You may want a couple of days before and after this itinerary for Dublin and/or Trim. Trim is an excellent base to use to reach Dublin Airport.
If you have more than a week, then combine this tour with places we did not have time for. These can be found on the map, like Inistioge Bridge, Glen of Aherlow, Cork’s English Market, and Waterford, to name a few. Or combine Ireland East with all or parts of the Ireland South and/or Ireland West itinerary below.
Google Maps Ratings
Google Maps provides a rating from 0 to 5 for all sights, hotels and restaurants (but not cities). All of our recommendations are appended with the rating (prefixed with a G) from Google Maps. As it is based on feedback from tourists and locals, it is much more reliable than travel booking websites. We consider a score of 4 to 4.39 to be Very Good; 4.4 to 5 to be Excellent.
Ireland FAQ
The Ireland FAQ post answers Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) like:
- Where should I go in Ireland?
- What is the best season for travel?
- What is the best clothing?
- Where should I go? What are the must-sees?
- How much time do I need for Ireland?
- Can I see everything in a week?
- How safe is Ireland?
- How much cash should you take to Ireland?
- Should I pay in Euros or my own currency?
- What apps are useful for travel?
- Should I rent a car? Take a Taxi?
Terra Encounters 
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