Planning a trip to Ireland: A 21 Day Itinerary on the North Half
Getting Started: The Dream Itinerary
Planning a trip to Ireland can feel both exciting and overwhelming. With its dramatic coastline, charming villages, and endless green landscapes, every corner seems worth visiting — which makes deciding on a route the hardest part.
When we first began planning, I thought we’d circle the entire island: starting in Dublin, winding down to the southwest to Kilkenny and Dingle, follow the Wild Atlantic Way to Connemara and Donegal, then looping through Northern Ireland before returning to Dublin for our flight home.
On paper, it looked amazing. In real life? It was a lot of driving. And more importantly: a lot of left-side driving. That’s not something either of us had done before, and Randy in particular was a little uneasy about it. We played around with shortening the trip to 14 days and cutting down the number of stops, but the cost to change flights was steep. So instead of shortening the trip, we simplified the route.
The Pivot: Less Driving, More Exploring
In the end, we decided to skip the southern loop and focus entirely on the northern half of the island. We kept our 21 days but traded a packed itinerary for a slower pace. That meant more time in each place, less time in the car, and no pressure to rush through the country just to check boxes.
We also skipped Dublin completely. We’re not big-city people, and while Dublin has plenty to offer, it just didn’t feel like “us” for this trip. We figured we’d save it for another time, when we return to explore the south half of the island. That decision shaped our trip for the better: fewer hours behind the wheel, more time to experience the landscapes and culture that drew us to Ireland in the first place.
Final Route: Our 21-Day North Ireland Itinerary
We flew into Dublin, rented a car right at the airport, and got on the road. Here’s how we broke it down:
Athlone – 1 night (a great halfway stop)
Clifden – 4 nights (perfect for exploring Connemara)
Sligo – 1 night (quick stop, but scenic)
Glencolumbkille – 3 nights (peaceful, wild coastline)
Dunfanaghy – 2 nights (great food and beach walks)
Buncrana – 2 nights (perfect for exploring Inishowen)
Bushmills – 3 nights (Antrim coast, Giant’s Causeway)
Belfast – 2 nights (city break, history, murals)
Newcastle – 2 nights (mountains meet sea)
Monasterboice area – 1 night (easy final stop)
Every leg of the trip was designed to be manageable. Most drives were between 1.5 to 3 hours, max. It gave us time to stop, explore, and enjoy — not just pass through.
How we Planned It
Our 21-day Ireland itinerary came together from a mix of resources:
Travel tools like ChatGPT helped with route options and timing. The website Irish Road Trip was a goldmine for ideas, especially hidden gems and less touristy options.
Friends and family shared their own trip notes, which helped us get a feel for what was realistic..
We joined a couple of Facebook travel forums, which were surprisingly helpful for practical tips and suggestions.
And for pure inspiration, we followed Irish photographer Darren Spoonley whose photos gave us a feel for landscapes and light.
Where We Stayed: All Airbnbs, All the Way
For accommodations, we went all in on Airbnb. We love having our own space (and laundry), especially for a trip this long, and Ireland had plenty of charming and affordable options.
So far, we’ve been really happy with every place — easy check-ins, kind hosts, and lots of thoughtful local touches. We also liked being able to do a bit of our own cooking when we wanted, and having the space to spread out (especially after full days out exploring).
FAQs: Planning a Road Trip in Ireland
How many days do you need for an Ireland road trip?
It depends on your pace. Many travellers do 10–14 days, but with 21 days we were able to slow down and focus on one region instead of trying to see everything.
Is driving in Ireland difficult?
It takes adjustment — driving on the left, narrow roads, and lots of roundabouts. Keeping distances shorter each day made it easier but it’s still a big change.
Do you need to visit Dublin?
Not necessarily. Dublin is rich in culture and history, but if you’re more interested in landscapes and small towns, you can skip it without feeling like you’ve missed Ireland.
Where should I stay in Ireland?
We chose Airbnbs for all of our stops. It gave us variety, comfort, and a sense of local hospitality. Hotels, B&Bs, and even castle stays are also popular options.
Ireland Travel Series Overview
This is just the beginning of our Ireland series. In the next posts, we’ll share highlights from each region we visited: the landscapes that left us speechless, the quiet moments that stuck with us, and the photographs that became our way of remembering it all.