Ireland
Today we’ll travel to the British Isles and explore the beautiful country of Ireland!
Ireland is one of to major islands of the British Isles. It contains Northern Ireland and the separate country of Ireland. Ireland's climate is influenced most by the Atlantic Ocean. As a result, it doesn't have the extreme temperatures that other countries at similar latitude would have. The average temperature is a mild 50°F. A major warm ocean current called the North Atlantic Drift keeps sea temperatures mild too.
Some vendors that offer escorted and unescorted land tours of Ireland include Abercrombie & Kent, Brendan Vacations, Collete Vacations, Cosmos, Europe Express, Globus, Insight Vacations, Sita World Tours, and Tauk. Highlights to include in your tour of Ireland should include Belfast, Dublin, and Foynes.
Belfast
A busy and bustling city, Belfast is thriving with Irish history. Visit the Ulster Museum with its items from the Spanish Armada wreck anda fine collection of traditional houses at the Ulster Folk Museum. Lose yourself in the awesome beauty of the Antrim Coast. Or hail a taxi and make a run for the Catholic Falls Road and the Protestant Shankill Road, site of "the Troubles."
Dublin
Most of Dublin’s 18th century buildings have been restored, taking you back to bygone days. Explore monastic ruins and estates and shop for woolens and other local wares. For a closer look at Ireland's most famous export, visit Irish Whiskey Corner. This 90-year-old warehouse flat has been converted into a museum, featuring a presentation about the making of Irish Whiskey. Visitors receive a complimentary tasting. Click here to see a great video about visiting Dublin.
Foynes
Foynes is a small town and major port in County Limerick in the midwest of Ireland, located at the edge of hilly land on the southern bank of the Shannon Estuary. The city is near to Adare, a famous heritage town, and the city of Limerick. The main gateway to the region is Shannon Airport.
Cruising to Ireland
Many cruise lines include Irish ports of call in their European itineraries. They include Azamara, Celebrity, Cunard, Crystal Cruises, Disney Cruise Lines, Holland America, MSC Cruises, Norwegian, Oceania Cruises, Princess Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Seabourn, Silversea, Winstar Cruises. If you want to be more exclusive, you can also sail on the Compagnie du Ponant mega Yacht, which features only 132 cabins.
WHEN YOU GO...
The Euro (EUR), the currency of the European Union, is the official currency of Ireland. Many stores and restaurants also accept major credit cards, which usually offer you a good exchange rate. When shopping, remember there is a Value-Added Tax added to most purchases. Use our Trip Planner tool to help you prepare for your trip.
