Travel Planning Guide for Dublin, Ireland: Tour Packages

The beautiful coastal drive from Dublin to Glendalough takes you past Dun Laoghaire Harbor, Dalkey and Killiney. These exclusive suburbs on the out reaches of Dublin are home to Ireland's rich and famous including U2's Bono, Enya and film director Neil Jordan. Then, driving through the Wicklow Mountains, you'll soon understand why this area is known as 'the Garden of Ireland’.

You'll continue on to the green mountains of Wicklow County, where you'll stop for morning tea (additional cost) at Avoca Handweavers. The oldest wool mill in Ireland, Avoca Handweavers is a great place to shop for high-quality Irish crafts.

The next stop on your Wicklow tour in Glendalough, in Wicklow Mountains National Park. Glendalough is renowned for its natural beauty and history, and is one of the most visited places in Ireland.

At Glendalough, your guide will walk with you through the 6th-century monastic settlement. You'll learn about St Kevin, the founder of the ancient monastery, and hear stories relating to the ruins scattered about the site, including the famous Round Tower. There will also be time for a leisurely stroll through the woods to Upper Lake.

Leaving the peace and serenity of Glendalough behind, you'll head off for a stop at a local pub for lunch (additional cost). Enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and good old-fashioned home cooking of a traditional Irish pub. Why not wash lunch down with a hearty pint of Guinness?

After lunch you'll begin your return to Dublin, via Sally's Gap, where scenes from 'Braveheart' were filmed in 1995. This scenic but desolate area of wild bogland offers a stunning contrast to the Wicklow Mountains.

You'll arrive back in Dublin in the late afternoon, with drop- off either in Ballsbridge (D4) or at Trinity College.

Your house party is hosted in the intimate and comfortable setting of a family-owned Georgian building in the heart of Dublin's literary quarter a fitting setting for this famous Irish tradition. Far from the fake antiques and atmosphere of Dublin's many large refurbished 'Irish' pubs, you will be welcomed by your Fear an Ti (host) for an evening that promises to both entertain and educate.

No Irish house party is complete without a good meal beforehand and you will be served a delicious three-course Irish dinner. Once you have finished your meal, the music, singing and dancing begins.

The show is suitable for all ages, and families with children are welcome. You can take part in the entertainment as much as you like, or simply sit back in comfortable surroundings and enjoy:

• A presentation about traditional music and Irish writers
• A live traditional music session
• storytelling
• Learning a song in the Irish language with a songbook
• Trying some simple Irish dancing
• The house party piece, where you can perform something yourself!

This is not a bus tour, it is a 4X4 adventure. You will go off the road and explore remote areas of outstanding beauty. Far beyond the reach of mortal tourists. There is loads of space, the seats are soft and comfy and you can open all the windows to let in the fresh air. You will never be without a barbecue and there is tea and coffee on board.

Tour Highlights:

• Explore areas beyond the reach of normal tours
• Green fields and stone walls of Dingle
• Travel in one of the coolest vehicles in Ireland
• Ireland's highest mountain range - the Macgillyycuddy Reeks
• Kiss the magical Blarney Stone
• Swim with Funghi the Dolphin in Dingle Bay
• Gaelic football on Ireland's most spectacular beaches
• Explore the undiscovered peninsula of West Cork
• Take the cable car to Dursey Island
• BBQ on the beach
• Great nights out in some of Ireland's best pubs
• Horse-riding on The Beara Peninsula
• Walk in the Galtee Mountains
• Climb Ireland's highest mountain - Carantoul
• Try your hand at riding a Llama
• Experience the rich historical past of the region, from Stone Age man to the modern age
• Learn the art of Gaelic Beach Volleyball
• Chill out and paint a picture, painting kits on board (no nudes)

These are just some of the possibilities, if you have any suggestions or requests let us know and we will try and organize something for you.

You'll be suitably impressed by the magnificent historic house and gardens of Powerscourt Estate. Dating back to the 18th century, Powerscourt's gardens command views over the surrounding countryside, and the house is one of Ireland's finest.

Your tour continues into the heart of the Wicklow Mountains to Glendalough. Glendalough is a truly spellbinding place, home to the impressive 10th-century Round Tower. After your guided tour of this beautiful spiritual site, you will have time to enjoy lunch (not included in the tour cost), surrounded by some of the most beautiful countryside Ireland has to offer.

Before returning to Dublin, you'll visit the traditional Irish village of Laragh one of the most picturesque villages in Ireland, nestled in the heart of the Wicklow Mountains

The trip is an awesome blend of great scenery, fresh air and outdoor activity, local culture and history and loads of laughs. The small group sizes mean an amazing degree of flexibility, so every trip is different and moulded to suit you and your fellow passengers. The small groups also allow you to stay in small out-of-the-way B and B's and hotels, offering a warm friendly welcome and first class accommodation. All rooms have private bathrooms and most come with TV's and Tea and Coffee facilities.

Tour Highlights:

• Visit the legendary Giants Causeway
• Conquer your fear of heights on the Carrick-a-Rede Rope bridge
• Clamber over the cliff-top ruins of Dun Luce Castle
• Take a Black cab tour of the fascinating Belfast city
• Hill-walking amongst some of the most remote and stunning scenery in Ireland
• Try Surfing in the North and north-west
• Horse-riding on breath-taking endless beaches
• A walking tour of Londonderry/Derry city
• Explore the nine Glens of Antrim
• Walk in the Mourne Mountains
• Climb Knocknaree Mountain to Queen Maeve's tomb

These are just some of the possibilities, if you have any suggestions or requests let us know and we will try and organize something for you.

Located in the heart of the legendary St James's Gate brewery in Dublin, this production site has been home to the "Black Stuff" since 1759, when Arthur Guinness signed a lease for 9,000 years. The Storehouse, a former fermentation plant, has now been remodeled into a visitor center dedicated to the history of Guinness. Ireland's number one visitor attraction unfolds its tale across seven floors shaped around a giant pint glass which, if full, would contain 14.3 million pints of Guinness.

The highlight of the visit for many is the Gravity Bar, symbolically the "head of the pint", where one can enjoy 360 degree views across Dublin while savoring a complimentary pint of Guinness.

With great views from the top of the bus, strategically placed stops and an interesting commentary, this truly is the best way to see the sights of Dublin.

You can hop-on and off as many times as you like aboard this open-top double-decker bus. There are 20 stops and the entire route takes approximately 90 minutes. The bus departs regularly from each stop and your ticket is valid for 24 hours from first use.

The route takes you to many of Dublin's major attractions including Dvblinia, Old Jameson Distillery, Dublin Castle, Phoenix Park (where you will find Dublin Zoo), and of course the Guinness Storehouse.

For complete route and full list of stops, please click on 'View Map' below

The Irish pub remains the social focus of Irish culture and is one of Ireland's most popular attractions. While most cities around the world boast of at least one offspring of Celtic drinking culture, the original Irish pub remains a rare commodity. On this entertaining musical pub crawl you'll visit authentic establishments in the heart of Dublin.

Temple Bar is a hive of activity where artists, designers and young entrepreneurs have set up small art galleries, cafes, theaters and colorful shops. The pedestrianized streets allow you to walk freely through the narrow cobbled alleys running close to the banks of the River Liffey.

Dublin Traditional Irish Music Pub Crawl includes at least 2 of the following famous Irish bars:

• Oliver St. John Gogarty's
• The Ha'penny Bridge Inn
• Isoldes Tower
• The Chancery
• The Legal Eagle
• The Palace Bar

To help you experience the history of this ancient land, your guide will lead you into the actual tombs of Newgrange (dating from 3000 B.C.), one of the oldest and largest Neolithic burial chambers in Europe. They even predate the Egyptian pyramids!

Afterwards, you'll enjoy a relaxed drive through the Boyne Valley to visit Monasterboice, a spellbinding place which is home to some of Ireland's most famous Celtic crosses.

This tour is seasonal, operating from April to October only.

Likely to sell out! This popular tour has limited availability, and sells out quickly. Book now to avoid disappointment!

The BBC series Ballykissangel was filmed in the lovely village of Avoca, and you will have time to check out the familiar sites such as Fitzgerald's pub and the Post Office. You'll also have time to visit the Avoca Handweavers and craft shop, reputed to be the oldest weaving mill in Ireland.

Then it's on to the tour's other highlight, Glendalough, the 'glen of the two lakes'. The ancient monastic settlement of Glendalough is a truly spellbinding place, home to the impressive 10th-century Round Tower.

Your guide has a passion for all aspects of history and will be delighted to discuss anything which might be of interest to you. Dublin combines a medieval city with the most stately of eighteenth century architecture and a thriving contemporary cultural scene. Behind the doorways, at every street corner there are reminders of the characters - revolutionary, literary and others - who imagined the city.

In just 2 hours, this entertaining 'seminar on the street' conducted by history graduates of Trinity College Dublin, explores the main features of Irish history - Dublin's development, the influence of the American and French Revolutions, the Potato Famine 1845 - 1849, the 1916 Rising, the War of Independence and concludes with the Northern Ireland peace process.

Stand by the River Liffey, observe where Norse longboats sailed up over 1,000 years ago to capture the early Christian village of Dublin. It was here they went on to build what was to become one of the most important trading towns in the Viking world. Follow in George Frederick Handel's footsteps and see the site where his Messiah was first performed under the shadow of the ancient Christ Church Cathedral and find out why Dublin has two cathedrals of the same faith and why the tower of Christ Church Cathedral contains a world record.

Next take the opportunity to visit Dublinia, the Viking & Medieval museum or the magnificent interior of Christ Church Cathedral with its atmospheric crypt containing cathedral treasures and historic artefacts.

Your walking tour will then bring you to a stretch of Viking/Norman city wall still standing in splendid isolation on a street tourists rarely see. Enter the ancient gateway and pass up steps by the St Audoen's Church founded in 1190 and now the city's oldest parish church still in use.  Your tour will conclude at St Audoen’s, where many cafes and traditional bars await you including the Brazen Head, Ireland's oldest pub. Alturnatlivly take a look around the St Audoen’s visitors center

After a brief stopover in the Italian Quarter where you can view the contemporary wall-mounted depiction based on Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper you will head to an early 18th century church now successfully converted into a striking pub. Next, you'll pass by the site of the Chapter House of St Mary's Abbey, an underground vestige of the Middle Ages, before taking a shortcut through the Victorian Fruit & Vegetable Market building to the infamous 18th/19th century prison district of Dublin where public hangings were a common occurance.
 
The highlight of this tour is the visit to St Michan's Church. First founded by the Vikings around 1030 it remained the only parish church on the north side of the city for 600 years. The crypt of the church contains the mummified bodies which were buried here many centuries ago. The tour finishes at the Old Jameson Whiskey Distillery where you can make an optional visit or jump on the tram back to the city centre

Your visit to Malahide Castle includes a guided tour. There will also be time to unwind with a cup of tea in the pleasant castle surrounds.

Soak in scenes of Irish daily life as you pass through the picturesque fishing village of Howth before proceeding to Howth summit. On your Journey back to Dublin you'll have a 10-minute stop at the summit for breathtaking views of Dublin Bay.

On this tour that's as educational as it is recreational, you'll embark on an animated and entertaining journey through the sights and sounds that inspired great Irish writers including James Joyce, George Bernard Shaw, Brendan Behan, Sean O'Casey, Samuel Beckett, Oscar Wilde and W.B. Yeats - not forgetting modern scribes like Seamus Heaney, Eavan Boland, Paula Meehan and Brendan Kennelly.

Kicking off at the Duke Pub on Duke Street, this literary pub crawl will take you to famous pubs and haunts while actors recite verses from the best Irish literature. You can sink a pint while learning about the lives of these great writers and hear some of the hilarious stories that became folklore in Dublin's literary circles.

FREE ENTRY to 27 of Dublin's top visitor attractions:
There are 27 attractions available on your Dublin Pass, so the more you see, the more you save! Dublin is a delight to explore and very easy to navigate on foot, many visitor attractions are within easy walking distance of each other. All the free entry attractions are listed below.

FREE Dublin Arrival Airport Transfer:
Travel free of charge from Dublin Airport to Dublin City only. Simply validate your Pass at the Aircoach stop outside Dublin Airport and jump on an Aircoach right into the city center. Use of this service activates your Dublin Pass. Once activated it is valid for number of days indicated on the pass.

FREE 86 Page Dublin Color Guidebook:
Receive a comprehensive Dublin guidebook including attractions, general information, interesting facts about Dublin and full color city and regional maps. With clear, concise information and easy to follow directions, this guide has all the essential tips for a top Dublin experience!

Skip the Line:
The Dublin Pass entitles you to the benefit of fast-track entry, allowing you to skip the long queues at some of the busiest tourist attractions! Simply show your Dublin Pass to the attendant and you can bypass the queue, saving you time, adding convenience and making you feel like a VIP!

Special Offers:
Save even more money with the Dublin Pass and avail of more fabulous special offers in some of Dublin's finest shops, restaurants, theatres, entertainment venues, tours and much more!

Discover all aspects of the history of the River Liffey and of Dublin city itself, from the first arrival of the Vikings 1000 years ago, to the rapid development of the city during the 18th and 19th Centuries to become a major European capital, and of the subsequent decline and more recent redevelopment of Dublin's Docklands.

You will learn the story behind the iconic Ha'penny bridge as well as Gandon's masterpiece, the majestic Custom House. You will follow the story of Dublin's Royal and Grand Canals and see where Oliver Cromwell landed in 1649 and hear how Captain William Bligh surveyed Dublin Bay in 1800. Learn of how much of present day Dublin now sits on reclaimed land, including Trinity College and the Spire in O'Connell Street.

The West and North-West of Ireland contains some of the most stunning and undiscovered areas of the Country. Imagine a land of rugged mountains, spectacular beaches, wild moorland, dark mysterious lakes, hidden villages, rebel castles and thatched cottages. It is the perfect way to get away into the hidden corners Ireland.

This is not a bus tour, it is a 4X4 adventure. You will go off road and explore remote areas of outstanding beauty. Far beyond the reach of mortal tourists. There is loads of space, the seats are soft and comfy and you can open all the windows to let in the fresh air. You will never be without a barbecue and there is tea and coffee on board.

On this tour you will reach areas that are totally remote, rich in history and heritage, away from mainstream tourism and not in any guide book. The trips are informative, visiting some of Ireland's hidden historical treasures, finding out about the rich historical heritage and perfect for those visiting Ireland for the first time. Meet the locals and witness a traditional way of life that still survives today.

Tour Highlights:

• Galway Bay's Atlantic coastline
• Walk in the Connemara mountains
• Amazing Atlantic sunsets
• Great pubs and live music
• Drive across the sand to an island
• Stunning castles and legendary places
• Drive through hidden valleys with dark, mysterious lakes
• Have a BBQ, bonfire and play Gaelic football on the beach
• Drive through hidden valleys with dark, mysterious lakes

These are just some of the possibilities, if you have any suggestions or requests let us know and we will try and organize something for you.

Next admire the panoramic views of St Patrick's Cathedral. Founded by a Norman archbishop in the 12th century it is reputed to be the site where St Patrick baptized the people of the area in the 5th century.

You will visit a beautiful park, laid out and paid for by the famous Guinness family, in the park there is also a showpiece called the Literary Parade which highlights the pantheon of famous Dublin writers, from Oscar Wilde to George Bernard Shaw.

Find out how the world-famous brewery of Guinness helped to lift this area from depressing slums into a thriving community. Your walking tour will then take you around the neighbors of St Patrick's including the deanery, a police station housed in a one-time medieval archbishop's palace and you will also visit Marsh's Library, Ireland's first public library (and believed to be haunted!). Your walking tour will conclude inside St Patrick’s Cathedral

Walk across the College Green and enter the hallowed gateway of Trinity College, passing through its elegant 18th and 19th century courtyards. Discover some of the fascinating history associated with the early origins of the university as well as tall tales surrounding this academic institution. Admire the Old Library building, now believed to be the largest single library chamber in the world, before strolling through Cricket and rugby pitches and hideaway gardens.

Pass through the halls of the National Gallery of Ireland until reaching a district of splendid Georgian squares, long elegant terraces, tranquil parks and magnificent government institutions. At Merrion Square Park (Archbishop Ryan Park), head for the statue to Oscar Wilde before making your way to the Dáil or Irish Parliament building, formally an aristocrat's mansion. Cross the road and see the birthplace of the Duke of Wellington, the victor of Napoleon at Waterloo and stand before the last magnificent public building erected by the British before their final withdrawal in 1922.

Photograph a bustling market street with street vendors and international food shops, stroll along the banks of the river Liffey and shoot the famous H'penny Bridge. Visit Dublin's cultural quarter, Temple Bar and photograph street performers, musicians and the party atmosphere. St. Stephens Green, where Dubliners and visitors alike can relax away from the hustle of the streets.

Your Dublin Photography Walking Tour ends at Custom House Quay at the Famine memorial statues.

Some of the things you will learn from your photographer guide:

• How to incorporate lighting conditions to create dramatic photos
• How to capture the atmosphere of a particular scene
• How to compose a photograph to get the maximum effect

Next you'll visit Dawson Street, the site of Dublin’s smallest pub, the Dawson! You will also see the elegant Mansion House, home of the Lord Mayor, the Royal Irish Academy, a scientific and cultural institution since the 1700s and St Ann's Church with its 18th century galleried interior and historic connections. You will then be led down to Trinity College and take a look at the classically proportioned Bank of Ireland and former 18th century House of Parliament.

Next stop is Temple Bar, Dublin's equivalent to Paris' Left Bank, you will cross the famous Ha'penny Bridge over the River Liffey to Dublin's main street and one of the widest boulevards in Europe.

Look out for intriguing monuments including the magnificent O'Connell Monument commemorating Daniel O'Connell.  Finally you will make your way inside the General Post Office, headquarters of the 1916 Rebellion before concluding your tour at the Spire, a 120m high symbol of the street's renewal.