Ireland trip in September
This is what Ai has planned for us. Looking for advice and recommendations. The only thing for sure is that we need to fly out of cork on 9/9. It’s our 30th wedding anniversary. Lots of walking is fine, not really looking to do any long hikes. Trying to do a mix of touristy and non touristy things.
* Sept 2-4 Dublin (2 nights)
* Sept 4–5: Galway, The Burren, & Cliffs of Moher (2 nights)
* Sept 6: Killarney National Park (1 night)
* Sept 7–8: Cork City & Coast (2 nights)
* Sept 9–13: Andalusia, Spain (4 nights)
* Sept 14–17: Madrid & Toledo (3 nights)
## Sept 2: Arrival & The Big Icons
* The Touristy Must-Do: Land at Dublin Airport (DUB). Head straight to Trinity College to see the ancient Book of Kells and the jaw-dropping Long Room library.
* The Non-Touristy Twist: Avoid the chaotic Temple Bar pubs for dinner. Head to the trendy, local Stoneybatter neighborhood for an authentic pint and local food at L. Mulligan. Grocer.
## Sept 3: The Historic Prison & Hidden Gardens
* The Touristy Must-Do: Take a powerful guided tour through the historic cells of Kilmainham Gaol (Crucial: Tickets release exactly 28 days in advance at 3:00 AM Memphis time. Set a calendar reminder!).
* The Non-Touristy Twist: Walk right across the street to the Royal Hospital Kilmainham to stroll through its serene 17th-century formal gardens, completely free of crowds.
* Late Afternoon: Tour the Guinness Storehouse for a panoramic 360-degree view of the city from the Gravity Bar.
## Sept 4: Vibrant Galway & Coastal Walks
* The Touristy Must-Do: Catch the 2.5-hour morning train west from Dublin to Galway City. Walk through the bustling Latin Quarter to hear world-class street musicians.
* The Non-Touristy Twist: Grab lunch to go and walk the Salthill Promenade along Galway Bay where locals go to kick the wall at the end of the path for good luck.
## Sept 5: The Burren & The Cliffs of Moher
* The Non-Touristy Twist: Pick up your rental car and drive through The Burren, a surreal landscape of cracked glacial limestone. Stop at the ancient Poulnabrone Dolmen, a portal tomb older than the Egyptian pyramids.
* The Touristy Must-Do: Stand on the edge of the world-famous, windswept Cliffs of Moher to witness the sheer 700-foot drop into the Atlantic.
* Evening: Stay overnight in the nearby village of Doolin, the traditional music capital of Ireland. Enjoy an authentic fiddle session at Gus O'Connor's Pub.
## Sept 6: Ferry to Kerry & Lakes of Killarney
* The Journey: Take the car ferry across the River Shannon from Killimer to Tarbert to bypass a massive driving detour.
* The Touristy Must-Do: Drive into Killarney National Park to visit the historic stone lakeside ruins of Ross Castle and the scenic Torc Waterfall.
* The Non-Touristy Twist: Rent a traditional wooden rowing boat on Lough Leane to explore the peaceful lake and the ancient ruins of Innisfallen Abbey entirely away from the walking crowds.(have already ruled this one out)
## Sept 7: The Uncrowded Peninsula Drive to Cork
* The Non-Touristy Twist: Skip the heavily trafficked Ring of Kerry road loop. Drive the neighboring Beara Peninsula instead—tour buses are physically banned here, leaving the wild, mountainous coastal roads empty.
* Evening: Drive east, check into your Cork hotel, and explore the vibrant city center along Oliver Plunkett Street.
## Sept 8: Castles & Culinary Capital
* The Touristy Must-Do: Visit Blarney Castle just outside the city to climb the stone ramparts and kiss the legendary Blarney Stone.
* The Non-Touristy Twist: Explore Cork's historic Shandon neighborhood. Climb the bell tower at St. Anne’s Church where you are handed the ropes to ring the giant church bells yourself.
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