Things to know before visiting Ireland

I've consolidated all of my best tips for visiting Ireland into one easy to access spot. Planning a trip to Ireland can be more difficult than many visitors anticipate. But if you follow the tips outlined in this guide you're sure to have a smooth experience!

🇮🇪 Getting to Ireland

Most visitors will arrive in Ireland via Dublin which is home to their primary international airport. The next best option is normally Belfast (in Northern Ireland).

There are also a limited number of seasonal flights from the USA to Shannon, Ireland which is located on the West Coast. This can be a great option if you plan to focus your travels on this area.

Ireland's largest airlines are Aer Lingus and Ryanair - these can be great options to consider when planning your trip since they have large operations on the island.

If you're already nearby, it is also possible to catch ferries from places like Wales or Scotland.

🚖 Getting around Ireland

🚗 Renting a Car = Maximum Freedom

The easiest way to explore rural areas like the Wild Atlantic Way, Connemara, or the Ring of Kerry is by car. Remember: drive on the left and many country roads are narrow and winding. I'd suggest booking the smallest viable vehicle option for your trip.

Book an automatic if you’re not comfortable with manual - they’re less common and pricier (also reserve early in the summer). Check if your credit card covers CDW insurance; if not, you’ll need to purchase it at the counter.

During my first visit to Ireland, in order to decline their CDW insurance, I actually had to have my credit card company provide a letter explicitly stating my embedded CDW insurance was valid in the Republic of Ireland. I'd ask for this letter ahead of time!

🚂 Trains Connect Major Cities

Ireland’s rail network (Irish Rail) is reliable between Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, and Belfast. Great for travelers who want a relaxed ride with scenic views and no parking stress.

While rail isn't super effective for exploring the Wild Atlantic Way, it can be a great way to experience some of Ireland's larger cities.

You could even pair trail transportation more effectively with shorter term rental cars or organized tours departing from the various major cities.

Be sure to buy rail tickets online in advance for cheaper fares.

🚌 Buses for Wider Coverage

Bus Éireann and private companies (like Citylink or GoBus) reach more towns than trains. They're slower than trains but budget-friendly and good for day trips.

🚕 Taxis & Rideshares

Widely available in cities but can be limited in rural areas. Download the FREE NOW app for Dublin, Cork, and Galway. The Uber app does work in Ireland, but it will only booked license taxis for you, not traditional ride sharing.

🌦️ Weather

Ireland’s weather has a reputation for keeping visitors on their toes. When people joke that you can experience four seasons in a single day, they’re not wrong!

A morning can start with bright sunshine, drift into misty drizzle by lunchtime, and finish with a golden sunset. The key is to dress in layers and keep a light waterproof jacket handy so you can adapt as the weather and temperature changes.

If you’re hoping to dodge the rain, the driest months are May through June. These months also bring longer daylight hours and pleasantly mild temperatures which are perfect for outdoor sightseeing.

On the flip side, October through January are typically the wettest months, especially along the west coast in counties like Galway, Kerry, and Donegal, where Atlantic storms bring frequent showers and strong winds.

While Ireland’s winters are damp, they’re rarely extreme. Snow does fall occasionally between December and February, but it’s usually light and short-lived.

Temperatures tend to stay moderate year-round, with summer highs averaging about 15-20 °C (59–68 °F) and winter lows generally hovering between 2–6 °C (35–43 °F).

☎️ Connectivity

Staying connected in Ireland is generally straightforward, but coverage can vary depending on where you roam.

Major cities and larger towns - including Dublin, Cork, Galway, Belfast, and Limerick - have strong 4G and growing 5G service from major providers. You'll also find plentiful free Wi-Fi in cafés, pubs, hotels, and public spaces.

Once you venture into rural regions, especially along the Wild Atlantic Way, the Ring of Kerry, or the more remote counties like Donegal and Mayo, expect spottier mobile coverage and slower data speeds.

You’ll usually have basic voice and text service in villages and along main roads, but there may be dead zones on mountain drives, coastal hikes, and islands where signal drops to 3G or disappears altogether. Public Wi-Fi is less common in these areas as well, so it’s smart to download offline maps and any essential travel info before setting out for the day!

🚫 Avoiding Crowds

If you want to experience Ireland’s highlights without jostling through peak-season crowds, timing and strategy make all the difference.

One of the best approaches is to plan your trip for late May or early June, when the weather is often at its driest and still relatively warm, but the big summer rush has not yet arrived.

You’ll benefit from long daylight hours, blooming landscapes, and generally milder prices before schools let out across Europe and the U.S.

Once you’re on the ground, think about when you visit popular attractions as much as where you go. Iconic spots like the Cliffs of Moher, the Ring of Kerry viewpoints, or the Giant’s Causeway are busiest in the middle of the day, when bus tours arrive from Dublin, Galway, or Belfast.

Plan to visit early in the morning or later in the evening to enjoy quieter trails, easier parking, and more dramatic light for photos.

Crowd avoidance also means exploring beyond the “greatest hits.” Balance headline destinations with smaller towns, lesser-known castles, and scenic drives where you’ll share the view with sheep more than people.

🧳 Packing for Ireland

Packing for Ireland is all about staying comfortable in a climate that can change from sunshine to showers in a single afternoon.

Layers are essential. Think T-shirts, long sleeves, a cozy sweater or fleece, and a light jacket you can peel off or add as the weather shifts.

A reliable raincoat is a must, even in the drier months, and waterproof shoes or boots will keep you happy on cobblestone streets and cliffside walks!

Don’t forget a travel plug adapter (Ireland uses the UK three-pin Type G outlets) so you can keep phones, cameras, and other electronics charged.

A compact umbrella, quick-dry clothing, and a small daypack for carrying extra layers or snacks will make sightseeing easier.

If you haven't already, be sure to check out my Travel Storefront on Amazon!

🗣️ Language

English is the primary language of daily life in Ireland. You'll have no issues getting around or communicating if you speak it.

However, Irish is the country’s first official language and is taught in schools, used on road signs, and spoken daily in designated Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking) regions, mainly along the west coast.

💰 Currency

The currency used in the Republic of Ireland is the euro (€). Coins and banknotes are the same as those used across other eurozone countries.

Be mindful that if you travel north into Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom, the currency switches to pounds sterling (£).

With that said, credit and debit cards are widely accepted in both regions. I'd suggest carrying a small amount of cash with you "just in case", but primarily paying by card.

💵 Tipping

Tipping expectations are similar throughout the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, service charges are often included in restaurant bills (check for a line that says service charge). If it’s already added, there’s no need to tip extra unless you received exceptional service.

If no service charge is listed, a tip of about 10% in a sit-down restaurant is customary. In casual cafés, counter service, or pubs where you order at the bar, tipping is not expected, though rounding up the bill or leaving a euro or two for table service is a nice gesture.

For taxis, rounding up to the nearest euro or adding a couple of euros for longer rides is common.

💧 Water

The tap water is generally safe to drink throughout all parts of Ireland.

You might encounter "non-potable" signs on some taps in extremely remote areas of Ireland, but this should be the exception, not the rule.