What is like to take an Ireland 12 day Guided Tour

**My 14‑Day Tour of Ireland**

My two‑week adventure through Ireland began with a few extra days in Dublin before the official tour started. During that time, we explored some of the city’s highlights on our own, including the Guinness Storehouse, Teeling Distillery, St Patrick Cathedral, The Book of Kells and Dublin Castle.

The Guinness Storehouse is a seven‑floor experience detailing the process of brewing Guinness beer. One floor focuses entirely on marketing, and there are several tour options—self‑guided, guided, or with extra experiences such as the Guinness Academy or Stoute Experience. Tickets sell out quickly, so I recommend booking in advance. Be prepared for long lines at the entrance, even with pre‑purchased tickets.

We also visited the Teeling Whiskey Distillery, which opened in 2015 and was the first new distillery in Ireland in 125 years. The tour provided an excellent explanation of their three‑step distillation process, which produces a smooth and flavorful whiskey. The tasting afterward was a great bonus and definitely worth doing.

Next was St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Ireland’s National Cathedral—beautiful and full of history. Dublin Castle was unfortunately under renovation, so we could only view the exterior. Later, we made our way to Trinity College to see the Book of Kells, which was also undergoing renovation. Many exhibits were closed or incomplete, and this wasn’t noted online, so keep that in mind when booking.

Day 1-Our guided tour officially began the following day with a city tour of Dublin and a visit to Kilmainham Gaol. It was a sobering experience—many were imprisoned there for political reasons, and even children as young as four were jailed for survival crimes. It’s an important historical site, but a heavy experience.

Day 2: We visited EPIC: The Irish Emigration Museum which tells the story of why millions left Ireland. The exhibits are engaging and informative, and I’d recommend it to anyone interested in Irish history. Dinner that evening was at Taylor’s Three Rock, where we enjoyed a meal paired with Irish music and dance performances.

Day 3: We began the morning with tea and scones at a local farmhouse before touring the House of Waterford Crystal, learning how their iconic glass is made.

Day 4: We took a walking tour through Cork and visited Blarney Castle. The surrounding gardens were stunning. While some of our group kissed the Blarney Stone, I opted to explore the grounds instead.

Day 5: We enjoyed a jaunting car (horse‑and‑buggy) ride through Killarney National Park, followed by a bus tour of the Dingle Peninsula. We saw a fascinating sheepdog demonstration and ended the day with dinner at Paidi’s Bar.

Day 6: Our day included a stop at John B. Keane’s Pub, a Galway walking tour, and a visit to the Cliffs of Moher. The weather was cold and rainy, but we were lucky enough to get a clear view before the clouds rolled in. For convenience, there’s a golf cart service available to take visitors up and down the cliffs.

Day 7: We explored Kylemore Abbey, a Benedictine monastery on an expansive estate in Galway. The Abbey and its gardens were beautiful, though heavy rain limited our time outside.

Day 8: On the way to Derry, we visited Ballintubber Abbey (the oldest in Ireland), the Belleek Gallery, and a wool clothing manufacturer.

Day 9: We toured the Giant’s Causeway, though strong winds and rain made it difficult to enjoy fully. Some tours include Dunluce Castle and the Dark Hedges from the Game of Thrones, but ours did not. We took a Game of Thrones Studio Tour at the Game of Thrones Studios on our own that afternoon. It was fantastic.

Day 10: We spent the day in Belfast, which has a distinctly British feel being part of the UK. We visited the **Peace Wall**, built in 1969 to reduce sectarian violence between Catholics and Protestants. Today, it’s covered in political and cultural graffiti that tells its own story.

Day 11: We finished with a visit to Titanic Belfast, a museum dedicated to the history of the ship built here. The museum features multiple galleries detailing the Titanic’s design, construction, and voyage. I expected more artifacts from the ship itself, but the overall presentation was still impressive.

This trip through Ireland offered a mix of history, natural beauty, and culture—an unforgettable journey through some of the country’s most iconic landmarks. This was a small group tour of only 25 people in comparison to some tours that have 50 people. We covered a lot of ground in 12 days. For some people this may not be the best option for a guided tour. For some people may be more a self-guided tour or a chauffeured tour may be more enjoyable. Our Travel Advisors will be able to find a tour that best suits your needs and wants. Please give us a call to find the right tour for you at 727-269-6908
.

Ideal image size should be 920x313 (DELETE THIS TEXT)

SAMPLE TITLE

Helpful hints as you build your page:

Step 1: Add your descriptive text here. Be sure to delete these instructions when finished. 

Step 2: Replace the image. 

- Click the sample image above

- Click on Cruise Planners Images icon in the text editor bar menu

- Check the Content Templates Images Only box

- Type destination keyword (Caribbean, Europe, USA, Exotics)

- Select an image with 920x313 in the title -- click Select Image