What takes your fancy? Walking in rugged mountain ranges? Eating food fresh from the sea? Warming up by a turf fire in a traditional Irish establishment? Well, then you're going to love Ireland.
We have put together the perfect road trip to experience this amazing country this summer. Visiting places like Galway, and Limerick. Killarney, Cork and Dublin.
After picking up your car, you will head to Galway, a balmy, bohemian city with a love of traditional music – Galway is hard to resist. The spirit of Ireland’s west coast beats through the bustling streets, from mellow old pubs boasting turf and cosy corners to shops selling Claddagh rings, Aran sweaters and bog-oak carvings.
Places to see - Connemara National Park, Quay Street, The Latin Quarter, The Spanish Arch, Cliff Moher and Dunguaire Castle
We recommend staying at Clayton Hotel Galway for 3-nights to explore the surrounding sights.
The next stop is Limerick, a city full of little "wows". First off, there's its location - right on the grey-blue gush of the River Shannon. Then, there's its history: from brutal sieges in the 17th century, all of which is written into the town's streetscapes. And then there's its music, art and literature, from The Cranberries to Pulitzer prizewinning author Frank McCourt. This vibrant city is a place of tragedy and regeneration, of culture and "craic" (fun)
Places to see - Ballybunion, Doolin and The Aran Islands
We recommend staying at The George Limerick Hotel for 3 nights to take it all in.
After an eventful stop in Limerick, it is now time to head to Killarney. This is the place that launched a billion postcards and now that postcards are a dying art form, it's becoming the place that launched a billion tweets, Facebook posts and Instagram snaps. Simply put, this is the Grand Central Station of tourism for the southwest.
Places to see - Killarney National Park, Ring of Kerry, Torc Waterfall, Kenmare, Staigue For, The Gap of Dunloe and The Dingle Peninsula
We recommend staying at Arbutus Hotel for 3 nights to explore the surrounding sights.
Your next stop is one of the best places in the world if you ask the Cork folk. This breezy, cosmopolitan spot in Ireland's southwest inspires a devotion in its locals that few other places can rival. And it's easy to see why. Sitting proudly on an island in the middle of the River Lee, Cork's feelgood buzz surges through its hip coffee shops, vibrant art galleries and off-beat museums. Despite being a city, there's a decided towny feel here.
Places to see - Kinsale and the Blarney Castle
We recommend staying at Maldron Hotel Shandon for 3 nights to explore the surrounding sights.
Your road trip is near the end but you still have one last city on your adventure, no visit to Ireland can be done without seeing the city that's as intimate as a village and as friendly as an Irish pub. Dublin is framed by mountains, centred on a river and edged by a beautiful bay, the city's streets and alleys are filled with vibrant art and historic buildings, hip cafes and traditional "old man" establishments. Walk the streets and you'll feel the energy of over 1,000 years of history, as echoes of the Vikings mix with buzzing boutiques, cobbled streets reverberate with sounds of buskers, and 18th-century parks play host to festivals, film and food markets.
Places to see - Trinity College Library
We recommend staying at Riu Plaza the Gresham for 2 nights before heading to the airport.
Winter sun doesn't have to mean the same destinations year after year. Whether you're dreaming of tropical islands, unforgettable wildlife encounters, bustling cities, or beaches that stretch for miles, there are plenty of destinations that come into their own during winter. If you're already thinking about your next escape, here are five winter sun destinations worth adding to your travel wish list.
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