Irish Highlights — Self-Launched (7 Days)
7 days · Ireland
Brendan Vacations charges £1,400
No-markup version: ~£412 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Brendan Vacations' 7-day "Irish Highlights" coach tour: Dublin, Galway, Limerick, Killarney and the Ring of Kerry, Blarney Castle, Waterford and County Wicklow — done with public buses and trains, hostel/guesthouse beds and self-bookable day tours instead of a 48-seat coach. Same headline sights, roughly a third of the price. Costs are approximate backpacker/budget-traveller estimates in GBP and assume travelling in shoulder/summer season; Dublin beds cost noticeably more than the west.
Day-by-day
Dublin: Trinity, St Patrick's and a free walking tour
Dublin
Arrive and check into a hostel in the Temple Bar / Smithfield area (Generator Dublin, Jacobs Inn or Barnacles Hostel are all easy on the wallet). Join one of the free city walking tours leaving from City Hall or O'Connell Street around 11:00 and 14:30 — tip £5-10 at the end. Wander the grounds of Trinity College (Book of Kells ticket ~£16 if you want it, book online via Trinity's own site to skip the queue), then walk to St Patrick's Cathedral (€8/£7) and loop the Georgian squares via Merrion Square. Evening: trad session and a pint in a quieter pub off Temple Bar — try The Cobblestone in Smithfield, where a pint is ~£5 rather than £7.50.
🚌Dublin Airport to city: Airlink 747 or Dublin Express bus ~£7 single, or public 16/41 bus ~£2.60 Leap card fare
🛏Hostel dorm in central Dublin (Generator Dublin / Jacobs Inn / Barnacles)
- →Free walking tour of Dublin (tip-based)
- →Trinity College grounds and Book of Kells (optional)
- →St Patrick's Cathedral
- →Georgian squares walk
- →Trad session at The Cobblestone
Dublin to Galway via Bunratty or Athlone — night in Limerick
Galway and Limerick
Take an early Citylink or GoBus coach from Dublin to Galway (~£15-18, 2h30, book on citylink.ie or gobus.ie). Spend the middle of the day in Galway's Latin Quarter: Spanish Arch, the Claddagh, Galway Cathedral and a stroll along the Corrib. If Bunratty Castle and Folk Park is on your wish list, take the Bus Éireann 51 from Galway to Bunratty (~£10, 1h15) and pay the €15/£13 entry at the gate. Continue on the 51 or the Expressway X51 to Limerick (~£6, 40 min), check into a guesthouse near the city centre and do your own orientation loop: King John's Castle from the outside (€12/£10 if you go in) and the medieval quarter. Dinner in a Limerick pub ~£10-12.
🚌Citylink/GoBus coach Dublin-Galway ~£16; Bus Éireann 51 Galway-Bunratty-Limerick ~£14 total
🛏Budget guesthouse or hostel in Limerick city centre
- →Galway Latin Quarter, Spanish Arch and Claddagh
- →Galway Cathedral
- →Bunratty Castle and Folk Park (self-booked entry)
- →Limerick medieval quarter and King John's Castle exterior
Limerick to the Cliffs of Moher, then on to Killarney
Cliffs of Moher and Killarney
Book a one-way Cliffs of Moher day tour that drops you at Limerick or Ennis (Lally Tours and Galway Tour Company both run these, ~£30-35 via GetYourGuide), or take the public Bus Éireann 350 from Limerick to Ennis then Ennis to Doolin (~£12 total) and walk the coast path to the Cliffs visitor centre. Entry to the Cliffs Exhibition Centre is €10/£8.50. If the Shannon Estuary cruise from Killimer appeals, the public Shannon Ferries crossing from Killimer to Tarbert is only €20/£17 for foot passengers — a genuinely scenic alternative to the coach's private cruise. In the afternoon make your way to Killarney: bus to Ennis or Limerick then the Expressway 14 to Killarney (~£18, 3h). Check into a guesthouse near the town centre.
🚌Cliffs day tour ~£32 with drop-off; onward bus to Killarney ~£18
🛏Guesthouse or hostel in Killarney town (e.g. Neptune's Hostel, Killarney Flesk B&B)
- →Cliffs of Moher and visitor centre
- →Coastal walk from Doolin
- →Shannon Ferries estuary crossing to Tarbert (optional)
- →Evening in Killarney town
Ring of Kerry by public bus and Moll's Gap
Ring of Kerry
Do the Ring of Kerry as a local does: Bus Éireann route 280 circles Killarney-Kenmare-Sneem-Cahersiveen-Waterville-Killorglin on weekdays, and a hop-on one-day Explorer ticket is around £20-25. Alternatively a self-booked Ring of Kerry day tour from a Killarney operator runs ~£35-40 on GetYourGuide. Either way, stop at Moll's Gap for the view into the Black Valley (the tearooms there do a decent scone), stretch your legs in Waterville on the coastline, and see the Cahirciveen heritage area. If you have an afternoon spare, Muckross House and gardens near Killarney is €9/£7.50 entry, or rent a bike from Killarney and ride the Muckross estate loop (~£10-12). Back for pub dinner in Killarney, ~£12-14.
🚌Bus Éireann 280 Ring of Kerry day pass ~£22 (or self-booked day tour ~£38)
🛏Guesthouse or hostel in Killarney town
- →Ring of Kerry scenic drive
- →Moll's Gap and Black Valley viewpoint
- →Waterville coastline walk
- →Muckross House and gardens (optional)
- →Bike hire Killarney (optional)
Blarney Castle and on to Waterford
Blarney and Waterford
Bus from Killarney to Cork (Expressway 40, ~£14, 1h30), then the local 215 to Blarney village (~£3). Blarney Castle and Gardens entry is €18/£15.50 — book online direct with Blarney Castle to save the queue, and budget time for the poison garden and fern walk, not just the stone. Return to Cork and take the Expressway X8 train alternative: Irish Rail Cork to Waterford is ~£16 by train (2h15) or ~£12 on the X8 bus. Check into a Waterford guesthouse and eat in the city's Viking Triangle, where a decent pub dinner is £12-15.
🚌Killarney-Cork bus ~£14; Cork-Blarney 215 ~£3; Cork-Waterford train ~£16
🛏Guesthouse or hostel in Waterford city centre
- →Blarney Castle, stone and gardens
- →Cork city stop-off
- →Waterford Viking Triangle evening
Waterford Crystal, Dunbrody Famine Ship and on to Dublin
Waterford, New Ross and Dublin
Morning at the House of Waterford Crystal on the Mall — the workshop tour is ~€16/£14 and bookable directly on waterfordcrystal.com or via GetYourGuide. Then the 370 bus or a short trip up to New Ross (~£6-8, 45 min) for the Dunbrody Famine Ship Experience (€14/£12) and the JFK monument at the quayside. Return west to Waterford and take the Irish Rail train or Expressway bus to Dublin (~£18-22, 2h30). For the farewell dinner, skip the €80 farmhouse event and book your own version: dinner in a Wicklow or Dublin farmhouse-style restaurant, or simply a strong trad-music pub meal in Dublin for ~£18-20. Day trip through County Wicklow is easiest done on your own by taking the DART to Bray or Greystones (~£4) for cliff-walk views.
🚌Waterford-New Ross bus ~£7; Waterford-Dublin train/bus ~£20; DART to Bray ~£4
🛏Hostel or budget hotel in central Dublin
- →House of Waterford Crystal workshop tour
- →Dunbrody Famine Ship Experience
- →JFK monument, New Ross
- →County Wicklow coast by DART (Bray/Greystones)
- →Farewell pub dinner in Dublin
Dublin departure
Dublin
No scheduled activities, matching the original itinerary's final day. Breakfast at the hostel or a Dublin café (~£7), a last wander around Grafton Street or the National Museum of Ireland (free) if your flight allows, then the bus back to Dublin Airport (~£7). If you want extra Dublin nights, book pre/post hostel beds yourself — dorm beds run £22-35 in summer and it's far cheaper than the operator's add-on hotel nights.
🚌Airlink/Dublin Express to Dublin Airport ~£7
🛏None (departure day)
- →Free National Museum of Ireland (optional)
- →Grafton Street and city centre wander
Self-launched vs. Brendan Vacations
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Brendan Vacations | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£412 | £1,400 |
| Duration | 7 days | 7 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £988 per person (71%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Brendan Vacations-style trips? Check them out here.~£412
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Irish Highlights — Self-Launched (7 Days) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £412 per person for 7 days in Ireland. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Brendan Vacations?+
Yes — Brendan Vacations charges around £1,400 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £412 — a saving of roughly £988 (71%) per person.
How long is the Ireland trip?+
This itinerary runs 7 days, covering 7 day-by-day stops through Ireland.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, backpacker, budget trip through Ireland, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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