Jewels of Ireland

Your tour departs at 2:00 PM from your Dublin hotel. Experience a panoramic tour of the city, then visit Dublin Castle for a guided tour. Learn how the castle was the seat of power in Ireland for many centuries, and see the State Apartments, used today for official ceremonies and presidential inaugurations. Enjoy a welcome drink with your group before enjoying an evening free to dine as you wish.

Tour Dublin independently, on a Hop-On, Hop-Off bus tour. Plus choose a visit to one of Dublin's top attractions - Guinness Storehouse, Teeling Distillery, EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, or GPO Museum. Join your group in the evening for a dinner of Irish specialties and a lively show at Taylors Three Rock Pub. (B,D)

Travel to Blarney Castle; climb the winding staircase to kiss its famous stone or enjoy the gardens. Go to Kinsale, a picturesque old fishing town now known for art galleries and gourmet food. Join a local guide for a fascinating walk around its historic streets, once besieged by the Spanish Armada, before dinner in your hotel.

Head west to Killarney and take some free time to discover this bustling, friendly town. Next, visit Moriarty's in the Gap of Dunloe, a CIE Tours preferred shopping partner. Continue on to Dingle, where you will dine in your hotel. (B,D)

Set out on the Slea Head Loop, one of Ireland's most beautiful drives, through scenic ocean and mountain vistas. Visit the Blasket Centre in Dunquin to learn about the Blasket Islands, visible off the coast. Abandoned in 1954, they were once a lively outpost of traditional culture and language. Return to Dingle and visit Murphy's Ice Cream; taste their distinctive flavors like Irish Orange Marmalade, Brown Bread, and Dingle Gin. Take the rest of the day to wander and dine as you wish in this quaint seaside village.

Visit the Foynes Flying Boat & Maritime Museum, which recalls air travel in the 1930s and 1940s. Drive to the magnificent Cliffs of Moher, soaring 700 feet above the Atlantic Ocean. In the evening, head to a castle for a medieval-style banquet with traditional songs and stories.

Travel through the rounded limestone hills of the Burren to Caherconnell and watch skilled dogs round up sheep. Stop in a charming Burren village to explore independently. Head to lively Galway for a walking tour with a local guide - check out the medieval history evident in the city walls, the narrow streetscape, and Lynch's Castle. Take time to explore the charming shops and perhaps listen to some street musicians before dinner in your hotel. (B,D)

Drive through Connemara to Leenane for a catamaran cruise (seasonal) of Killary Harbour, Ireland's only fjord. Travel on to see Kylemore Abbey, a beautiful castle in a lakeside setting. Enjoy an evening free to explore vibrant, artistic Galway city.

Travel north through County Mayo. Stop in County Fermanagh and visit Belleek Pottery to see craftspeople create their renowned fine china. Visit Donegal Castle, built by the O'Donnell chieftains in the 15th century and restored in the 1990s after falling into ruin for centuries. Enjoy free time in Donegal town before dinner in your hotel this evening. (B,D)

Enjoy a coastal drive to view Slieve League, Europe's highest sea cliffs. Continue on to our CIE Tours preferred shopping partner, Triona Design Donegal Tweed Centre in Ardara; see demonstrations of spinning, weaving and knitting. Enjoy some free time to explore before returning to the hotel for dinner. (B,D)

Meet with a local guide for a walking tour to see Derry's medieval walls, the Diamond, and St. Columb's Cathedral. Explore the Giant's Causeway, enormous hexagonal columns formed over 60 million years ago. Travel along the scenic Nine Glens of Antrim before heading to Belfast. (B,D)

Tour Belfast, seeing its grand Victorian buildings and discovering its rich maritime history. Visit Titanic Belfast to explore the story of the doomed ocean liner, built in the local shipyards in 1912. Head to Ballymascanlon House, an elegant Victorian manor house, for lunch. Next, visit Brú na Bóinne, where you'll learn about the 5,000-year-old burial tombs of Knowth and Newgrange in the visitor center before visiting one of the tombs. Relax over dinner with your group in your hotel. (B,L,D)

Head to Dublin, where you'll visit Croke Park, the legendary stadium where All-Ireland Football and Hurling Championships are played. Visit the GAA Museum and learn about the Gaelic Athletic Association's fascinating role in cultural, social, and sporting heritage. Take the Skyline Tour, ascending to the stadium's rooftop 44 meters above the city for amazing views of Dublin. The rest of your day is free to explore the city and dine independently.

Explore Dublin independently. Guests who have not used their vouchers on Day 2 may use them today to do the Hop-On, Hop-Off bus tour and choice of attractions. Otherwise, this vibrant city is yours to discover as you like. In the evening, dine independently at your choice of one of the many restaurants or pubs that Dublin has to offer.

Your tour ends after breakfast.