Two weeks gives you time to experience Ireland properly rather than just tick boxes. With 14 days, you can cover the full circuit — Dublin, Northern Ireland, Donegal, Connemara, Clare, Kerry and Cork — without feeling rushed. You'll have time to stay an extra day somewhere you love, take a detour when the weather clears, or simply sit in a pub long enough for a real conversation.
The route below runs counter-clockwise from Dublin: north to Belfast, along the Causeway Coast, through Donegal, south through Sligo and Mayo to Galway, east across Clare to Kerry, then back through Cork. Total driving is approximately 1,800 km over 14 days — an average of 130 km per day, very comfortable on Irish roads.
The big difference between 10 days and two weeks is Donegal. With 10 days, most people skip it. With two weeks, you can spend two nights in the northwest and experience what many consider the most unspoiled landscape in Ireland. The other gain is pace — you can afford to slow down instead of counting hours.
Day-by-day itinerary
Dublin — arrival
Arrive at Dublin Airport. Settle into the city centre and walk the Liffey quays in the evening. The Liberties neighbourhood (St Patrick's Cathedral end) is quieter and more local than Temple Bar.
Dublin city
Kilmainham Gaol or Guinness Storehouse in the morning. Trinity College and Book of Kells in the afternoon. The EPIC Museum on the Docklands is a strong alternative for an afternoon with Irish emigration stories.
Dublin → Belfast
2 hrsDrive north on the M1. Titanic Belfast in the afternoon — nine galleries built on the exact slipway where RMS Titanic was launched. Evening in Belfast's Cathedral Quarter — one of the best pub areas in Ireland.
Causeway Coast day trip
Drive the A2 north: Giant's Causeway, Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge (pre-book), Dunluce Castle, Old Bushmills Distillery. Return to Belfast or stay on the coast.
Belfast → Donegal
2.5 hrsDrive northwest past Derry — stop at Derry City Walls for a 30-minute circuit above the Bogside murals. Continue into Donegal and south to Killybegs or Carrick village for the Slieve League base.
Donegal — Slieve League + Glenveagh
Morning: Slieve League cliffs from Teelin — walk the Pilgrim's Path for the 601m clifftop view. Afternoon: drive north to Glenveagh National Park for the lakeshore walk and castle gardens.
North Donegal → Sligo
Morning option: drive north to Malin Head or Fanad Head Lighthouse. Drive south on the N15 past Benbulben — stop at Drumcliffe (Yeats' grave) and Carrowmore megalithic cemetery. Stay in Sligo town.
Sligo → Galway
1.5 hrsDrive south on the N17 through Connacht's best inland scenery. Arrive Galway by midday. Explore the Latin Quarter and Spanish Arch. Evening pub session on Quay Street for traditional music.
Aran Islands or Connemara
Option A: Ferry from Rossaveel to Aran Islands — Dún Aonghasa fort and bike the island; consider an overnight to stay after the day crowds leave. Option B: Connemara National Park, Kylemore Abbey and Clifden circuit via the N59.
Cliffs of Moher + Burren → Killarney
~4 hrs totalCliffs of Moher in the morning (90 min from Galway). Burren coastal drive south through Doolin. Drive to Killarney in the evening (2 hrs from Doolin). Two nights in Kerry from here.
Killarney National Park
Gap of Dunloe by jaunting car or on foot in the morning. Ross Castle and the lakes in the afternoon. Muckross House and Torc Waterfall on the return leg.
Ring of Kerry
179 km loopClockwise loop on the Ring of Kerry — the opposite direction to the tour coaches. Ladies' View, Moll's Gap, Sneem, Waterville, Caherciveen. Allow 5–6 hours. Return to Killarney for a final Kerry evening.
Dingle Peninsula
55 km from KillarneyDrive over the Connor Pass to Dingle Peninsula. Slea Head Drive loop from Dingle town — Iron Age forts, beehive huts and the Blasket Islands view at Dunmore Head. Drive to Cork (2.5 hrs) for the final night.
Cork — fly out
Blarney Castle (20 min from Cork city) or Cobh (25 min east) for a morning visit before the airport. Cork English Market is worth 45 minutes if timing allows. Cork Airport (ORK) is 15 minutes from the city centre.
Highlights
- The complete Ireland circuit — Dublin, Northern Ireland, Donegal, Galway, Clare, Kerry and Cork without shortcuts
- Donegal is the key difference over a 10-day itinerary — the northwest's raw landscape rewards the extra two days
- ~1,800 km total at an average of 130 km per day; scope to slow down when you want to
- Two full weeks includes one genuinely free day to stay somewhere longer or take an unplanned detour
- Best done May–September; Skellig Michael boat trips (Kerry) require booking 3–6 months ahead
Attractions in this guide
Titanic Belfast
Antrim
Giant's Causeway
Antrim
Slieve League Cliffs
Donegal
Glenveagh National Park
Donegal
Aran Islands
Galway
Cliffs of Moher
Clare
Killarney National Park
Kerry
Ring of Kerry
Kerry
Skellig Michael
Kerry
Dingle Peninsula & Slea Head Drive
Kerry
Local tips
- →Donegal roads are narrow and distances are longer than they look — allow 50% more time than the sat-nav suggests
- →Book Skellig Michael boat trips (May–Oct) 3–6 months in advance; this is the single thing most likely to sell out on a two-week itinerary
- →The Aran Islands are worth an overnight rather than a day trip — the islands after the last ferry leaves are completely different
- →Build in one unplanned day with no fixed destination — the best days in Ireland are often the unscheduled ones
- →Galway Arts Festival (July) and Galway Oyster Festival (September) are worth timing around; the city is at its best during both
- →Two weeks is still not enough for the southeast (Waterford, Wexford, Wicklow), the Boyne Valley and Donegal done properly — leave them for a return trip
Ready to go?
Plan your Ireland trip
Best time to visit
May – September
Getting there
Fly into Dublin (DUB) and out of Cork (ORK) for the ideal one-way circuit — no backtracking, two airports, maximum ground covered. Flying Dublin return is also fine: run the loop counter-clockwise (north first, then west and south) and you'll never retrace your route. Book car hire well in advance.
Region
Ireland · Itinerary
Attractions covered
10 in this guide
