Dublin Forum: Help us make the right plans!!

Newgrange, Wicklow and Houth Area (if you mean Howth) are all easily visited from Dublin. Check for day trips.

Cork, Dingle Peninsula, Cliffs of Moher and Galway are all further afield. The logical way to visit them is in that order and by car. Not sure how you would visit them using public transportation but those who are more versed than I can respond to that.

Sorry to hear about your London experience but I wouldn't let that prevent me from renting a car in Ireland-----But don't use it in Dublin!!

Have a great time!!

Personally I would have spent less time in Dublin and more time for the other 95% of the Island but maybe you have unchangeable work commitments in the Capital.

I agree with the other posters, and 2/3 days is no where near what you need to see what you listed.

Can you change your plans and spend less time in Dublin?

@ 11 - 13th - Maybe take the train to Cork or Galway. That's all I'd do for those days.

Cork is not a day trip from Dublin.

okay, all. thanks for the advice. I'd like to explain that we are not opposed to keeping the Dublin place as a 'home base' and staying elsewhere for 1 or 2 nights. We do have to fly out of Dublin on the 14th, so it's where we'll wind up eventually.

So how does that change it all? I think 4 or 5 days in Dublin to relax, see the sights and then... Belfast, Cork, etc. I'm asking in what order. And we'd like to use the train as trains are fun and we never use them here in the US.

I would like to end in Galway, if possible--and for more than 1 day.

You all are so kind to help with this. I thank you. Wendy

that's better, trains are expensive though and don't save much time. belfast is probably the best option there. newgrange, howth and wicklow are all easily reachable from dublin. Cork is a day trip including blarney and cashel or mitchelstown caves. Extreme ireland do a few trips like that worth checking out. definitely head to Galway it's small but deceiving and so much fun and you can do day trips from there. one might be good to head to aran islands for one night, but 2/3 nights there anyway. at this time of year no need to book ahead see how you feel and maybe someone'll let you kip at theirs. try couch surfers. either way enjoy you're stay

Newgrange is in a rural location so if you are not getting a car, you'll need to take a bus tour. It is less than one hour from Dublin. On the other hand, it is on the way to Belfast, so it would be a pity to double back. Maybe someone else knows if there is any bus service from Drogheda train station to Newgrange.

If you are taking the train to Belfast, from Dublin, make sure it is an Enterprise (express).

I don't know about bus service but there are tour buses that go to Newgrange. Also to Powerscourt, Glendalough and Wicklow. I believe that there is bus service to Wicklow and Glendalough from Dublin.

Check with: http://www.buseireann.ie/ for routes and time tables. I believe timetables and maybe even some routes change around May when the tourist business heats up for the season.