I was
lucky enough to travel to Ireland with my brother when he came to visit. We
made it to three different cities and they were all so amazing although we were only there for a day each. We went to
Dublin, Galway, and Cork. Even though we were only there a short time, the impression made was a great one. We traveled in between the cities very easily. There were daily buses to take you to the different cities. We didn't plan ahead for this part of the trip but rather just asked the front desk of the hostel we were staying at. They were very helpful and pointed us in the right direction! I loved every hostel we stayed in and only
wish that we had more time to hang out at the actual hostels!
Here is a list, by city, of some of the things I enjoyed about Ireland.
Here is a list, by city, of some of the things I enjoyed about Ireland.
Dublin
Where to stay: Four Courts Hostel
We flew
into Dublin from London and from the airport and it was relatively easy to get
there. We used the Hop on, Hop Off bus in order to get there (more info on that
following) which we picked up right outside of the airport. I know a few other people who have stayed here
as well and they had an enjoyable experience as well. Although I haven’t done
it myself, my friends have reported that this hostel has a good bar crawl and
it was lots of fun! It’s also priced quite nicely at around $20-25 a night,
depending on how many people are sharing the room.
There’s
a bar right down the street from this hostel that says it’s the oldest in
Dublin, so a visit is worthwhile. It’s a very typical Irish pub feel and if you
go into the back room, there’s another part of the bar where the walls are
covered in currency from different countries which was pretty awesome
What to do:
Buy the Bus Tour
It was recommended
by a friend that it was worth it to purchase the Bus Tour and I am passing on
that recommendation. It was definitely worth
it. You buy one day and get one day free. It’s hop on, hop off, goes all over
the city, and if you so choose to listen, there is information about each stop playing
throughout the ride. You can also take this bus from the airport into the city!
Go to the Guinness Storehouse
This is a MUST.
The Hop On, Hop Off bus will take you to right outside of it. Go on the tour
here. It’s really impressive how they have set up the whole factory to show how
Guinness is made. You also get a free pint of Guinness at the end! They also
have an option where you can learn how to pour the perfect pint of Guinness (more
complicated than I thought!)
Galway
Where to stay: Snoozles
Snoozles
is specifically one of the hostels I really wish we had more time at. It was
such a cool place to hang out. We traveled by bus from Dublin to Galway; this
hostel is right next to the bus station. Their accommodations were better than
I ever expected with really nice rooms and a private bath for a 6 person room.
It has an entertainment area downstairs as well as a patio and kitchen. It’s
about a 5 minute walk from the main area of Galway. Priced around $20-30, it’s
a great place to stay in Galway.
What to do:
Cliffs of Moher
This one I don’t know
too much about due to time constrictions. If you plan on doing this, be aware
that the Cliffs are not in Galway but are about an hour drive away. There are
tours that take you there via bus that leave in the morning and come back later
in the afternoon.
Just walk around!
Galway is a very
quaint little Irish town. The buildings are colorful, some of the streets are
cobblestone, and the people are friendly. Take a walk through the town and go
down towards the water. It’s a beautiful place to hang out for a bit.
Eat at Dail bar
Recommended by a
friend, this place was a great place to settle in for a Guinness and some grub.
The Quays
This pub was
lots of fun and had great live music.
Cork
Where to stay: BruBar & Hostel
This hostel was especially
cool because it’s inside of a bar. Downstairs is the bar and then once you head
upstairs, it turns into a hostel! The rooms were really small but considering
we weren’t in the rooms for too long, it didn’t matter so much.
What to do:
Take a trip to Blarney!
There are buses
that go to Blarney where the Blarney Castle is. The grounds around the castle
are gorgeous and then, I mean, there’s a real castle. It was so. cool.
Happy traveling!
