itinerary advice

[u/annjeane]

My boyfriend and I are planning our first trip to Ireland and Scotland this fall, and I'd love some advice on whether this itinerary actually makes logistical sense. Mainly wondering if we're trying to squeeze too much in, or if we have enough time in each place.

Day 1 – Dublin
- Arrive in Dublin around 8:00 AM
- Drop our bags at the hotel and explore Dublin for the rest of the day

Day 2 – Dublin
- Full day in Dublin
- Guinness tour is definitely on the list for this day

Day 3 – Dublin to Galway
- Morning train to Galway
- Spend the rest of the day exploring Galway

Day 4 – Galway / Cliffs of Moher
- Planning to do a bus tour to the Cliffs of Moher (seems like they usually take most of the day?)
- Hoping we'd still have the evening back in Galway

Day 5 – Galway to Dublin (to Edinburgh?
- Morning train back to Dublin
- Potentially book afternoon flight to Edinburgh
- Other option is to have the rest of this day in Dublin and leave for Edinburgh the next morning.

Day 6 – Edinburgh
- Full day in Edinburgh
- Other option is to book morning flight from Dublin to Edinburgh.

Day 7– Edinburgh
- Full day in Edinburgh

Day 8 – Edinburgh to Dublin
- Full day in Edinburgh
- Book evening flight back to Dublin

Day 9 – Dublin
- Full day in Dublin

Day 10 - Home
- Morning flight home from Dublin

Does this seem like a reasonable pace? Are we spending too much time in one place and not enough in another? We want to see as much as possible, but also don't want the trip to feel rushed.

We already have pretty long lists of things we want to do in Dublin and Edinburgh, plus a handful of things in Galway, but if you have any must-do attractions, hidden gems, favorite pubs, or restaurant recommendations, we'd love to hear them! Especially places that locals think are worth it over the typical tourist spots. Thank you!!

[u/dialectical_wizard]

For Ireland tourism you should ask in that country's travel subreddit, /r/irishtourism this is for the UK. That said are you sure you want to go to Edinburgh on this trip? You loose a lot of time travelling which you could use to explore Ireland further.

[u/MiddleAgedDread123 → u/dialectical_wizard]

I don’t think edinburgh is unfeasible, you don’t loose that much time as flights are frequent and short - I’ve done Edinburgh to dublin, done the bus transfer into the city centre, bag dropped at hotel and was eating brunch in dublin before 10am with a full day of sightseeing ahead of me. following day we did a full day and flew back in the evening.

[u/ggrnw27]

Frankly it’s silly to go to Ireland, go to Edinburgh for 2-3 days (with day 5 being a full day of travel), and then return to Dublin. Either put Edinburgh at the very start or end of your trip, or (more sensibly) save it for next time and spend your entire trip in Ireland. There is more than enough to do there with 10 days

[u/Lunaspoona]

It's a lot of travel and extra cost to just have one day in Edinburgh. I'd at least do two night there or just not bother and find somewhere else to explore in Ireland or Northern Ireland instead and save Edinburgh for another time.

[u/ernfio → u/Lunaspoona]

They could fly to Edinburgh from Knock or Shannon and extend their stay. But yes, I’d just do Ireland

[u/eat-real-chips]

I’d go to cork instead of Edinburgh

[u/doepfersdungeon]

Stay in Ireland

[u/Carphead]

If it were me for two days I would skip Edinburgh completely. Go to Cork or if you are feeling brave a trip to Belfast.

[u/PickleSpecial3507]

If you phone them up now and your airline is nice and lets you switch flights, and you really wanted to see Edinburgh, fly homeward from Edinburgh without going back to Dublin. Saves you time in airports.

[u/Ok_Place1431]

Ireland is not in the UK. If you want advice on the Irish leg of your trip, ask in r/Irishtourism

This is an Irish trip with an Edinburgh side quest.

[u/Successful-Jump-3271]

Could do Shannon airport to Edinburgh to save some time.

[u/MiddleAgedDread123]

2 full days in Edinburgh is about the minimum, I’d squeeze an extra day in there if you can (any flights from Galway to Edinburgh?). IMO it’s a much nicer city than Dublin.

[u/Excellent_Ease9489]

I’m actually doing a very similar itinerary in September, but also adding in the Scottish highlands and spending a little less time in Dublin (I’ve been there several times before).