Explore Ireland’s ancient roads, castles, and legends by car, moving through the land at your own pace, with the help of local experts.
This 7-day driving tour of Ireland will bring you on an unforgettable journey, encapsulating and exploring Ireland with a diverse range of scenery, castles, adventure, history, heritage, culture, and wildlife along the way. Enjoy exciting experiences, yet feel as though you’re gliding through the days at a smooth, even pace. This and more is what we offer on this tour and in our entire range of Ireland Self-Drive Tour Packages.
You will start by leaving the bustling streets of Dublin behind for the awe-inspiring Wild Atlantic Way. On this world-famous route, you will cover more than 1,100 km of the ruggedly beautiful Irish coastline, from Connemara to Kinsale.
Our team of expert local guides and trip planners have crafted a 7-day driving tour of Ireland that is packed with memorable experiences, allowing you to discover the best our country has to offer. Some of the highlights include breathtaking sights on the Ring of Kerry, amazing hidden gems like Moll’s Gap and Torc Waterfall, as well as the natural wonderland of Killarney National Park.
You will visit the Cliffs of Moher, Ireland’s most famous landmark, and you will quite possibly fall in love with the bustling bohemian city of Galway and the ancient charm of the Aran Islands. Let us plan your journey from start to finish and leave you to create memories to last a lifetime.
Due to our tours’ remote, off-the-beaten-path locations, and the fact that we cannot guarantee that all accommodation partners have ramps and/or elevators, unfortunately, our tours are not wheelchair accessible.
Keep scrolling and reading to learn more about this 7-day self-drive Ireland tour. But if you’d like a little more information and inspiration before you book, consider our much-loved Small Group Tours of Ireland and perhaps even our unparalleled Tailor-made Tours of Ireland.
Every Self-Drive Tour booked with Overland Ireland comes with exceptional service, guided itinerary, and extras as standard — and this includes our carefully crafted Paddy the Pocket Pilot App. So, if you’re looking for an independent way to see Ireland with all the benefits and surprises of a guided tour with pre-booked “tried & loved” accommodation, you’re in good hands. But don’t take our word for it, check out our tour group reviews here.
We are one of the only Ireland tour companies that can include as much as we can in the price of your tour. Nobody likes hidden surprises and unexpected charges while on vacation, so we do whatever we can to avoid them. Our mission is simple: keep costs down and experiences up! We have worked really hard to find you the best deals across the Emerald Isle.
Do you have special dietary requirements or preferences? Please get in touch to let us know as we can cater this tour to vegans, vegetarians, and pescatarians.
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Total driving distance & time: 310 km – 4 hours 10 minutes, excluding stops
Switch on Paddy the Pocket Pilot app and start your 7-day self-drive Ireland tour crafted by expert local trip planners. Leave Dublin behind for Clonmacnoise, a beautiful 6th-century monastery on the banks of the River Shannon. This remarkable place was a center of excellence for learning and saw scholars create some of the finest Celtic art and manuscripts for over 600 years.
With a whetted appetite, you will cross the country into County Galway. Your next stop is Kylemore Abbey in the heart of Connemara. The rugged landscape is guaranteed to take your breath away, come hail, rain, or shine. Spend time roaming the abbey and Victorian walled garden on this 1000-acre estate overlooking Kylemore Lake and the majestic Connemara National Park.
At the end of a busy day, stay in Clifden, surrounded by the Twelve Bens mountain range. Discover some great bars, restaurants, and nightly music, and have a chat with the locals over a pint of the Black Stuff!
We have added the option of staying in an exquisite castle, so you can embrace your inner Prince or Princess! How’s that for a start to your Ireland driving tour for 7 days?
Total driving distance & time: 100 km – 1 hour 40 minutes, excluding stops
Day two of this 7-day driving tour of Ireland starts with a short drive to Rossaveal Pier on Galway Bay. Here, you board the ferry to the Aran Islands. You’ll land on the largest of the three islands: Inishmore. Explore the rugged scenery by bicycle or special request jaunting cart. The route will take Dún Aonghasa, a stunning stone fort that lies 100m over the ocean. While on Inishmore, you might pick up a few words of “Gaeilge” from the locals. And why not treat yourself to an authentic Aran Sweater?
Your 7-day self-drive Ireland tour then returns to the mainland, where your Galway adventure begins! Hug the coastline into bustling, bohemian Galway City. Expect a great atmosphere, entertaining street performers, and plenty of craic in this much-celebrated town.
Total driving distance & time: 90 km – 1 hour 45 minutes, excluding stops
Galway is a city that has its Medieval history at its very heart. Our local guide will take you down the narrow streets where you can duck in and out of brightly colored shops. Try on Claddagh Rings and Galway Shawls before passing through The Spanish Arch to take in the famous Claddagh fishing village.
This day just keeps on giving. You will now travel southwest towards The Burren National Park and the jaw-dropping Cliffs of Moher. On this adventure, you will visit Corcomroe Abbey, a 13th-century Cistercian Monastery, and the 16th-century Dunguaire Castle in Kinvara. The cliff experience will take you by foot across its stunning natural features with the powerful Atlantic Ocean waves crashing in below. The cliffs are one of the most spectacular natural features in the Emerald Isle and a highlight of this Ireland driving tour for 7 days… they are sure to leave you lost for words.
The evening is spent in the hometown of traditional Irish music – Doolin.
Total driving distance & time: 240 km – 3 hours 30 minutes, excluding stops
No 7-day self-drive Ireland tour itinerary is complete without seeing some ancient structures! Drive to the most famous Dolmen at Poulnabrone. These Neolithic monuments are scattered throughout the country marking burial sites and passageways dating back to 3000 BC.
A short journey from the Dolmen, the farmers at Caherconnell will treat you to a spectacular sheepdog trial. Prepare to be awestruck by the skill of the farmer and his furry friend as they gather up their flock of sheep. Cross the border by ferry to County Kerry and leave the west behind. It is time to get excited about your next destination – Dingle.
The evening in Dingle is yours to absorb the town’s renowned atmosphere, from its famous quirky pubs to the restaurants serving mouthwatering dishes. Why not sit in Foxy John’s hardware store, order yourself a drink, and strike up a conversation with a friendly local?
Rest your head at a fantastic guesthouse handpicked by our team before your 7-day driving tour of Ireland resumes in the morning.
Total driving distance & time: 50 km – 2 hour 30 minutes, excluding stops
Today, your morning begins out on Dingle Bay where you will explore caves and inlets by kayak. And if kayaking isn’t your thing, you can enjoy a pleasurable hike up Eask Tower. At the top, you will be rewarded with breathtaking panoramic views of Dingle Bay. If you just want to stroll around Dingle itself, exploring the colorful buildings, cute craft shops, and cafes, go ahead and enjoy yourself! That’s the beauty of our Ireland driving tour for 7 days — you can customize your itinerary as you go!
This is your holiday — do it your way.
In the afternoon, return to your car and take a trip along The Slea Head Drive, one of Ireland’s most scenic and impressive roads. You spend another night in the buzzing town of Dingle, so you’re free to relax and enjoy however you please.
Total driving distance & time: 200 km – 3 hours 30 minutes, excluding stops
Say your fond farewells to Dingle and journey towards the Ring of Kerry. The first leg of this journey takes you to Killarney, the gateway to The Ring of Kerry. This world-famous driving route is the very definition of the word scenic and you will discover many hidden gems along the way, including Moll’s Gap, Torc Waterfall, and Ross Castle, all of which are in Killarney National Park. We will arrange a guided tour of Ross Castle, where you will learn what life was really like behind the stone walls.
Stop for some shopping and lunch in the beautiful heritage town of Kenmare. For your last night on this 7-day self-drive Ireland tour, we are excited to send you to coastal Kinsale, famed for its culinary culture delivered by many award-winning restaurants. The town also has a wonderful tradition for poetry, as well as gold, silver, and glassware manufacturing. You can see the fruits of these throughout Kinsale’s local shops and galleries that boast the works of local talented artists.
Total driving distance & time: 320 km – 3 hours 30 minutes, excluding stops
Wake up refreshed and ready to be taken on a guided walking tour through the narrow streets of Kinsale with one of Ireland’s greatest guides, Barry. Your self-drive app, Paddy, will lead you on to Blarney because you simply cannot leave Cork without visiting Blarney Castle and Gardens and giving the Blarney Stone a big fat kiss!
Your final stop before driving back to Dublin is the Rock of Cashel. This remarkable place is over 1,000 years old and you will explore its medieval round tower, chapel, cathedral, and castle. A fantastic end to your Ireland driving tour for 7 days.
And that’s the end of your unforgettable Irish road trip! Turn off the engine, dry your tears, and reminisce about all the experiences you’ve enjoyed. If you plan to spend some time in Dublin and the surrounding areas before leaving the Emerald Isle, we can share plenty of amazing recommendations for things to do, eat, and keep you entertained.
Or why not link this experience with any of our other self-drive tour packages of Ireland and keep the adventure going?
Due to our tours’ off-the-beaten-path locations, the size of our vehicles, and the fact that we cannot guarantee that all accommodation partners have ramps/elevators, unfortunately, our tours are not wheelchair accessible.
Note: To confirm your booking, you are required to pay a non-refundable deposit of €300 per person for Self-Drive tours.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about this tour or any others we operate. We may have already answered your question on our frequently asked questions page.
