How Many Days Do You Need In Ireland?

Hi, I'm Sean, Marketing Assistant here at Vagabond Tours Of Ireland 👋

Many first time visitors planning a trip to Ireland often ask "How many days do you need in Ireland?"

If you're in the same boat and not sure how long to spend in Ireland, then this blog is for you!

As part of the Vagabond & Driftwood Tours team, my goal is to help you find the perfect amount of time to spend in Ireland based on your travel style and preferences.

Read on to find out how long you should spend in Ireland.

5 - 6 Days In Ireland

5 to 6 days in Ireland doesn't sound like much but you'll be surprised with how much you can fit in to a trip in a short amount of time.

This length is ideal for travellers with limited holiday time, guests adding Ireland to a longer European trip or returning visitors who want to explore one particular part of the island.

What Can You See In 5 Days In Ireland?

Our 5 Day Vagabond Edge of The World is the perfect example of seeing the best of Ireland in a short period of time.

This tour explores the rolling hills and wild seas of southwestern Ireland. Unwind with fresh air, trail hikes and other activities along the spectacular Wild Atlantic Way touring route including sites such as the Cliffs of Moher, Dingle and Kinsale.

This tour itinerary is perfect for guests who want:

• An active introduction to Ireland
• Coastal landscapes and lively towns
• A short tour that still travels beyond Dublin
• A focused southwest Ireland itinerary
• An affordable vacation in Ireland

What Can You See In 6 Days In Ireland?

Six days gives you enough time to explore a distinct region without changing direction every day.

The easy-paced 6 Day Driftwood Great Southern Ireland Tour focuses on Cork, Kilkenny, Waterford and the best of Ireland’s Ancient East. Current highlights include Kinsale, Hook Lighthouse and other stunning locations such as Glendalough and the Wicklow Mountains.

Alternatively, the 6 Day Driftwood Northern Island Tour travels through Northern Ireland and the northwest, with current highlights including the Giant’s Causeway coastal route, castle stays and a boat trip along the Slieve League Cliffs.

Step It Up! 👟

Step counts are a a useful way to visualise the level of activity and fitness required to enjoy our tours.

Even though Driftwood Journeys of Discovery do feature a relaxed pace, you can still expect to clock up between 5,000 and 15,000 daily steps on tour. Of course, this will depend on your individual abilities and the preferences of your group.

Expect to put in a minimum daily step count of 10,000 on Vagabond Cultural Adventures. This figure will be significantly higher if your tour group are eager to challenge themselves. The busiest Vagabond groups can hit 15,000 to 30,000 steps daily.

The difference between the step count and the estimated distances for hikes on a Vagabond Cultural Adventure is that the step count is EVERYTHING you do during the day on tour, from the minute you leave the hotel to the minute you get back again in the evening. It may include you browsing shops and similarly chilled activities. It's not all adventure, you know!

Read about some typical guided Vagabond hikes

Quality Time & Gentle Pace ⌛

Maybe you're the kind of person who prefers to stroll around stately homes, gardens and explore quaint towns?

A gentler pace is the distinguishing feature of Driftwood Journeys of Discovery.

Driftwooders generally reach their hotels earlier in the day than their Vagabond counterparts.

Multi-Night Stays 🌌

Various tour itineraries — both Vagabond and Driftwood — spend two nights in Dingle.

However, onlty Driftwood Journeys of Discovery spend multiple nights in other Irish towns and cities:

• ✅ The 15 Day Driftwood All Ireland Tour spends two nights in both Westport and Dingle
• ✅ The 12 Day Wild Coasts & Clover Tour spends two nights in Westport, Lahinch, Parknasilla and Kinsale
• ✅ The 11 Day Driftwood Discover Ireland Tour spends two nights in both Clifden and Dingle
• ✅ The 7 Day Driftwood Castles & Kingdoms spends two nights in Kinsale

If staying longer in each destination and getting to know the locals a little better sounds good to you, choose Driftwood.

Comfortable/Rugged Vehicles 🚐

Fadó, fado...

In the beginning, our tour vehicles were repurposed military Land Rovers.

Fast-forward 22 years and our fleet is 100% Mercedes.

Every single tour vehicle boasts comfortable seats and is decked out to meet every conceivable guest need.

That said, some of our tour vehicles are still quite rugged! Your trusty steed on a Vagabond Cultural Adventure will be one of our uniquely customised 4x4 Mercedes minibuses.

So if you like the chunky and adventurous look, go Vagabond!

If you are more of a comfort-seeker who likes a larger seat with room to stretch your legs, our slick 15-seater Driftwood Mercedes tour vehicles may appeal more to you.

Skellig Michael & Boat Trips🛥️

Only our 12 Day Vagabond Giant Irish Adventure Tour gives you the chance to land on Skellig Michael Island.

We are dedicated to helping protect this beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Site. Because of this, we have restricted the option to land here to only this special tour itinerary.

Other tour guests can still take a boat trip around both Skellig Islands.

And there are a myriad of other boat trip options across all of our itineraries, both Driftwood and Vagabond.

Decisions, Decisions...🤔

I hope my quick guide to the differences between our tour styles has helped you make your decision.

Rest assured, no matter which Vagabond or Driftwood tour you choose, you'll still get an amazing experience of Ireland.

We guarantee highly-trained tour guides, beautiful scenery, friendly local experiences and tasty food served along a generous helping of culture and history.

Maybe you're still on the fence? Email me via enquiries@vagabond.ie or read our in-depth guide on choosing tours in Ireland.

Myself or another member of our helpful reservations team will answer any questions you might have and help you decide what tour is best suited to your needs.