Ireland has remarkable coast lines and countryside, attractive towns, castles and friendly people. Ireland is small enough to explore easily. The Anglo-Irish Treaty divided Northern Ireland from southern Ireland, Northern Ireland stayed with the United Kingdom rather than be part of the Irish Free State. Both parts of Ireland are incredibly beautiful and worth exploring. I hope this short summery of Ireland will help you plan your trip.
Best Time to Visit
You can visit at any time of year. Especially the months of March to May and September to November, as the weather isn’t as cold. The months of June, July and August are the warmest of the year, However, in summer tourist sites are overcrowded and prices are high. From late October some tourist areas are less crowded.
Things to do and see
- The Ring of Kerry is in the Southwest of Ireland in the county of Kerry. It’s a 179km circular scenic route. It is a popular destination point. The route passes coastal landscapes and seaside villages. An amazing place to visit.
- Torc Waterfall lays at the base of Torc Mountain and is 20 meters high and 110 meters wide. A beautiful waterfall worth visiting.
- Croagh Patrick also known as the Reek is a mountain 764meters high. It is the 3rd highest mountain in the county of Mayo.
- Guinness Storehouse is a popular place to visit in Dublin to see how Guinness is made, after learning about the brewing process you can have a taste of Guinness from the Gravity bar.
Food
Being an island country, fish and seafood is plentiful, there is also excellent local meat and dairy products. Traditional Guinness is Ireland’s most famous export.
Transportation
Air: There ae direct flights from London to Ireland. Aer Arran and Aer Lingus run domestic flights.
Roads: The roads in Ireland are well maintained, especially the main city roads. Remote areas are less maintained and may have roads with potholes Drivers drive on the left-hand side of the road.
Rail: The rail network connects the whole country and also operates internationally.
Taxi: Uber is operating in Ireland and there are also metered taxis.
Ferry: Ferry services connect to Aran Island.
Bus: Bus Eireann connects the whole country.
Visa
Visas are not required for all U.S, Canadian and Australian nationals for stays of up to 90days over a 6month period. EU countries can stay in Ireland for an unlimited period.
Language
The official language spoken in Ireland is English, although Gaelic is still spoken in certain areas. English and Gaelic are used on road signs.
Money
The official currency in Ireland is the Euro (EUR) You will find ATMs accepting all major credit and debit cards in all cities and larger towns, but if you are visiting rural areas you should make sure you have enough cash with you.
Tipping
Tipping is not expected in Ireland, but some restaurants will include a service charge of 10-15% on the bill.
Social etiquette
84% of the people are Roman Catholic. In smaller communities the pub is the centre of social interaction. Smoking is banned in all public places.
Adaptor
There is one plug associated with Ireland.
Wifi
Internet cafes are available in every town. You can access free wifi at most hotels and restaurants and hotspots.
Ruth’s Lonely Planet 