The Irish Pub Trail — Self-Launched 8-Day Ireland Loop
8 days · Ireland
CIE Tours charges £2,470
No-markup version: ~£885 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of CIE Tours' 8-day Irish Pub Tour: Dublin, Kilkenny, Blarney, Killarney, the Dingle Peninsula, the Cliffs of Moher, Galway, Connemara and Athlone — linked by public buses (Bus Éireann, Expressway, Citylink) and trains instead of a private coach, staying in hostels and family-run guesthouses instead of 4-star hotels, and booking the same distilleries, tastings, castles and traditional music nights directly. All costs are approximate per person, based on backpacker/budget rates for Ireland and a shared dorm or twin room.
Day-by-day
Dublin — Jameson Bow St. & a first pint
Dublin
Arrive into Dublin Airport and take the Aircoach or Dublin Express bus into the city (~€8-10, 30-45 min) rather than a private transfer. Check into a city-centre hostel or budget guesthouse near Smithfield or Temple Bar's quieter edges. Do your own walking loop of the highlights the coach tour covers from the window: Trinity College, Dublin Castle, Christ Church Cathedral and St Patrick's. Book the Jameson Distillery Bow St. 'Distillery Tour + Tasting' slot online in advance (~€26) — the same visit CIE includes. Evening: pick your own pub. The Brazen Head (claims to be Ireland's oldest pub, ~€6.50 a pint) or a trad session at The Cobblestone in Smithfield — free entry, music most nights.
🚌Dublin Express / Aircoach airport bus (~£7-9) + walking and Luas tram
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse, Dublin city centre (~£30-40/night)
- →Self-guided walking loop: Trinity College, Dublin Castle, Christ Church & St Patrick's Cathedral
- →Jameson Distillery Bow St. tour and whiskey tasting (pre-book direct, ~£23)
- →Evening trad music session at The Cobblestone or The Brazen Head
Kilkenny — Medieval Mile & a brewery tasting
Kilkenny
Take a Bus Éireann or JJ Kavanagh express coach from Dublin to Kilkenny (~2h, €12-15). Drop bags at a hostel or guesthouse in the town centre. Walk the Medieval Mile yourself — it's a signposted 1.5km route linking Kilkenny Castle to St Canice's Cathedral, and the castle grounds are free. Kilkenny is also the home of Smithwick's Experience (self-bookable tour + tasting, ~€17), the closest independent equivalent to the tour's Sullivan's Taproom tasting. Afternoon: stroll the Butler Gallery (free) or climb St Canice's Round Tower (~€5). Evening: live music and pints at Cleere's Bar or Tynan's Bridge House.
🚌Dublin to Kilkenny express coach (~£11)
🛏Hostel or guesthouse, Kilkenny town (~£28-35/night)
- →Self-guided Medieval Mile walk and Kilkenny Castle grounds
- →Smithwick's Experience brewery tour and tasting (pre-book, ~£15)
- →St Canice's Cathedral and round tower
- →Live music at Cleere's Bar
Dungarvan, Blarney Castle & on to Killarney
Dungarvan – Blarney – Killarney
Break the journey south yourself: take a morning bus from Kilkenny to Dungarvan (~1h45, ~€10) and call into The Marine Bar, the traditional-music pub on the tour's itinerary — free entry, food served. Continue by bus from Dungarvan to Cork (~1h15, ~€10), then a local bus to Blarney (~30 min). Pre-book Blarney Castle and Gardens online (~€20) and decide for yourself whether to queue to kiss the stone — gardens and castle ramparts are the better value. Late afternoon bus/train Cork to Killarney (~1h30, ~€15). Base yourself at a Killarney hostel for two nights and find your own trad session on Main Street or at O'Connor's.
🚌Kilkenny–Dungarvan–Cork–Blarney–Killarney buses and rail (~£30 total)
🛏Killarney hostel dorm or private twin (~£30-38/night)
- →The Marine Bar, Dungarvan — traditional music pub
- →Blarney Castle and gardens (book direct, ~£17)
- →Evening trad session in Killarney town
Dingle Peninsula & the Gap of Dunloe
Dingle Peninsula
Do the Dingle Peninsula the cheap way: catch the Bus Éireann 275 from Killarney to Dingle town (~1h15, ~€12) — the route itself crosses the Conor Pass, one of Ireland's best bus windows. In Dingle, walk the harbour and book a boat trip to see Fungie's old patch or a Slea Head drive day tour with a local operator (~€25-35). Alternatively, hire a bike in Killarney and ride the Gap of Dunloe for the Moriarty's-in-the-Gap experience the tour stops at — Moriarty's is a walk-in café/bar, no booking needed, and Kate Kearney's Cottage at the entrance is the classic stop. In the evening, back in Killarney, book a whiskey-and-chocolate tasting at a local bar or the Killarney Whiskey Hub (~€30-35) as the independent stand-in for the Celtic Whiskey Bar pairing dinner. Farm/sheepdog demos run at several Kerry farms — book direct (~€12-15) if you want the same experience.
🚌Bus Éireann 275 Killarney–Dingle return (~£20) or bike hire (~£15)
🛏Killarney hostel dorm or private twin (~£30-38/night)
- →Bus over the Conor Pass to Dingle town
- →Slea Head Drive or Dingle Harbour boat trip (~£25)
- →Gap of Dunloe walk or bike ride with a stop at Moriarty's
- →Whiskey and chocolate tasting in Killarney (~£27)
Shannon Estuary, Cliffs of Moher & Galway
Cliffs of Moher – Galway
Travel north on public transport: bus or train from Killarney to Limerick (~1h45, ~€15), local bus to Ennis or directly to the Cliffs of Moher (Bus Éireann 350 runs Ennis–Cliffs–Galway, ~€12-15 for the longer leg). The Shannon Estuary ferry (Killimer–Tarbert, ~€20 foot passenger) is a lovely detour if you route via Clare that way. Entry to the Cliffs of Moher Experience visitor centre is ~€10 — or walk the free coastal path from Doolin for the same views. Continue on the 350 to Galway (~2h from the Cliffs, ~€15). Check into a Galway hostel in the Latin Quarter and do your own short walking tour of Eyre Square, the Claddagh and the Spanish Arch before a night of pints and music on Quay Street.
🚌Killarney–Limerick–Cliffs–Galway public buses (~£30)
🛏Galway city hostel dorm (~£30-38/night)
- →Cliffs of Moher and coastal walk (visitor centre ~£9)
- →Optional Shannon Estuary ferry crossing (~£17)
- →Self-guided Galway walk: Eyre Square, Spanish Arch, Claddagh
- →Live music on Quay Street
Connemara, Cong & Athlone
Connemara – Cong – Athlone
Book a day tour to Connemara from Galway (~€35-45, leaving from Eyre Square — several local operators run the same loop as the coach tour: Kylemore Abbey, the Twelve Bens and Leenane). Or take the public Bus Éireann 419 to Clifden for a DIY version (~€15 return). For Cong, hop the bus/train toward Westport and take a local link to Cong village (~€15) — the Quiet Man Museum is a small, walkable cottage museum you can enter for ~€6, and the village's movie locations are signposted. Evening: train or bus from Galway to Athlone (~1h30, ~€15) and a pint at Sean's Bar, certified as Ireland's oldest pub — free entry, live music most nights. Stay in an Athlone hostel or B&B.
🚌Galway–Connemara tour, Galway–Cong–Athlone buses/trains (~£28)
🛏Athlone hostel or B&B (~£28-35/night)
- →Connemara day tour from Galway (~£32) or DIY bus to Clifden
- →Quiet Man Museum and Cong village walk (~£5)
- →Sean's Bar, Athlone — Ireland's oldest pub
Back to Dublin — Guinness & a proper music night
Dublin
Take the train from Athlone to Dublin Heuston (~1h15, ~€17) — a comfortable, scenic ride along the Royal Canal. Check into a Dublin hostel. Pre-book the Guinness Storehouse online (€26-30, cheaper off-peak; the Gravity Bar pint is included in the ticket) — the exact experience the tour includes, minus the guide. For the evening, book The Merry Ploughboy's dinner-and-traditional-music show directly (~€45-55, includes a three-course meal) — the same venue CIE uses. If your budget is tighter, any Dublin pub with a nightly session does the same job for the price of two pints.
🚌Athlone–Dublin train (~£15) + Luas/walking
🛏Dublin hostel dorm (~£32-40/night)
- →Guinness Storehouse and Gravity Bar (pre-book, ~£25)
- →The Merry Ploughboy dinner and Irish music show (book direct, ~£45)
- →Free afternoon: Phoenix Park or the National Museum of Ireland
Depart Dublin
Dublin
Last morning: a full Irish breakfast at a café (or the hostel's free one), a final wander along the Liffey or through the markets at George's Street Arcade, then the airport bus back to Dublin Airport (~£8-9). If your flight is later, the Chester Beatty Library and its rooftop garden are free and five minutes from Dublin Castle.
🚌Dublin Express / Aircoach to Dublin Airport (~£8)
🛏None (departure day)
- →Free morning in Dublin: George's Street Arcade, Chester Beatty Library
- →Airport bus transfer
Self-launched vs. CIE Tours
| This itinerary (self-launched) | CIE Tours | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£885 | £2,470 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,585 per person (64%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more CIE Tours-style trips? Check them out here.~£885
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 The Irish Pub Trail — Self-Launched 8-Day Ireland Loop cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £885 per person for 8 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 CIE Tours?+
Yes — CIE Tours charges around £2,470 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £885 — a saving of roughly £1,585 (64%) per person.
How long is the Ireland trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 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, foodie, 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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