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. 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.
Co. Louth · About 1 hour 15 minutes from DublinCarlingford & the Cooley PeninsulaMedieval lanes, oysters straight from the lough, a greenway with mountain views and the Mournes across the water. Carlingford packs a lot into a small village.
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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Galway · About 3 hours 30 minutes from DublinConnemaraMountains, bog, lakes and white beaches, with Kylemore Abbey, Diamond Hill and the Sky Road all within half an hour of Clifden. Connemara is the wild west at its best.
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. 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. Drive times are estimates, so allow extra time for traffic, especially on bank holiday weekends.