Short escapes in Ireland
Long weekends, close to home
From an hour down the road to a proper west-coast adventure. Pick where you're travelling from to see drive times, or filter by county.
Co. Cork · About 3 hours from DublinKinsale & West CorkPainted streets, a star fort above the harbour, the best seafood in Cork and the whole of West Cork on the doorstep. Kinsale is a weekend made for eating and walking.
Co. Kerry · About 4 hours 30 minutes from DublinDingle PeninsulaColourful harbour town, trad music every night and the most famous coast road in Kerry.
Co. Donegal · About 4 hours from DublinDonegalThe highest sea cliffs you can easily see in Ireland, a national park with a castle, empty beaches and Irish-speaking villages. Pick a corner of Donegal and take it slowly.
Co. Kerry · About 3 hours 45 minutes from DublinKillarneyIreland's original tourist town, with a national park on the doorstep and a station in the middle.
Co. Galway · About 2 hours 30 minutes from DublinGalway CitySmall, loud, creative and walkable, with the Aran Islands, Connemara and the Burren on the doorstep. Galway is the west's favourite city for a weekend.
Co. Mayo · About 3 hours from DublinWestport & AchillA lively music town on Clew Bay, a greenway to one of Ireland's best islands and a holy mountain to climb. Westport has it all, and you can get there by train.
Co. Clare · About 3 hours 15 minutes from DublinThe Burren & Cliffs of MoherBare limestone hills full of wildflowers, cliffs 200 metres above the Atlantic, caves to explore and music in Doolin every night. The Burren is one of Ireland's great weekends.
Co. Meath · About 45 minutes from DublinThe Boyne ValleyFive thousand years of history under an hour from Dublin: Newgrange, the Hill of Tara, a Braveheart castle and a distillery in a castle stable yard.
Co. Sligo · About 2 hours 45 minutes from DublinSligo & StrandhillSurf lessons, seaweed baths, a mountain with a queen on top and Yeats country on the doorstep. Sligo is the west coast with a bit of everything. Drive times are estimates, so allow extra time for traffic, especially on bank holiday weekends.