The Ireland Edit is a luxury Ireland travel guide written by American expats living here. We test every hotel, restaurant and experience we recommend. For most American first-timers we suggest seven to ten days, basing in Dublin and Kerry, with a private driver for the west coast. Start with our 7-day itinerary, then layer in golf, castles or honeymoon stops as needed.
Best window: late May to early June, or all of September
Minimum trip length we recommend: 7 nights
Top hotel base outside Dublin: Adare Manor, Ashford Castle or Ballyfin
Private driver beats a rental car for most luxury travelers
The essays we send to friends before their first trip to Ireland.
Ireland rewards attention more than movement. Before you choose a hotel, book an itinerary, or start planning your route, begin with the ideas that shape how we travel this country ourselves.
