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. Westmeath · About 1 hour 20 minutes from DublinAthloneIreland's oldest pub, a castle on the river and a lake full of islands, right in the middle of the country.
Co. Leitrim · About 2 hours from DublinCarrick-on-ShannonBoats, bars and some of the quietest countryside in Ireland, two hours from Dublin.
Co. Clare · About 3 hours 15 minutes from DublinKilkeeA horseshoe bay, a lighthouse you can climb and dolphins in the Shannon estuary.
Co. Galway · About 3 hours to Rossaveal, then a 40-minute ferry from DublinInis Mór, Aran IslandsLeave the car on the mainland, hire a bike and spend a weekend on the edge of Europe.
Co. Cork · About 2 hours 40 minutes from DublinCork CityMarkets, pubs, a harbour full of history and a city that would quite like you to know it's the real capital.
Co. Wicklow · About 1 hour from DublinGlendalough & WicklowAn hour from Dublin, monastic ruins, two glacial lakes and some of the best walking in the east.
Co. Kilkenny · About 1 hour 30 minutes from DublinKilkennyCastle, cathedral, crafts and a pub on every corner: Ireland's most walkable small city.
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. 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. Waterford · About 2 hours 30 minutes from DublinWaterford Greenway & DungarvanIreland's longest greenway, a harbour town at the end of it and a coastline full of coves. The easiest active weekend in the country.
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. Drive times are estimates, so allow extra time for traffic, especially on bank holiday weekends.