Two-week October road trip – Is this itinerary too rushed?
Hi everyone!
We're a couple (late 20s) visiting Ireland from Montreal during the first half of October 2026. It'll be my first trip and my partner's second. I've spent quite a bit of time reading previous posts on this subreddit and this itinerary is based on the advice I found here, but I'd love some feedback before I start booking accommodation.
We're renting a car and are looking for a relaxing road trip rather than trying to tick every tourist attraction off a list. We enjoy:
- traditional pubs and live music
- scenic drives and coastal landscapes
- wandering around towns and cities
- short walks and viewpoints (not serious hiking)
We're also very aware of Ireland's drink-driving laws, so we'll always plan ahead and have a designated driver who doesn't drink.
Here's our current itinerary:
- Oct 3–5: Dublin (3 nights)
- Oct 6: Kilkenny (1 night)
- Oct 7–8: Cork (2 nights)
- Oct 9: Dingle (1 night)
- Oct 10: Limerick (1 night)
- Oct 11: Galway (1 night)
- Oct 12: Sligo (1 night)
- Oct 13: Derry (1 night)
- Oct 14–15: Belfast (2 nights)
- Oct 16–17: Dublin (2 nights)
- Oct 18: Fly home
The longest driving day is about 2–2.5 hours before stops, and we actually enjoy taking our time on the road.
I'd really appreciate feedback on a few specific questions:
- Does this itinerary feel rushed, or is it a reasonable pace for two weeks?
- Are there any overnight stops that you'd combine or skip to spend more time elsewhere?
- Is one night in Dingle, Limerick, Galway and Sligo enough if our goal is to get a feel for each place rather than see everything?
- If you had to remove one stop to make the trip more relaxing, which one would it be and why?
Thanks in advance! Looking forward to hearing your thoughts.
Edit: Thank you for all your heads-ups. I’ve posted a revised itinerary in the comments that gives us more time to enjoy each place.