Best of Ireland South (Tour A) - 8 Days/7 Nights

Your tour begins at 2:00 PM at your hotel in Stillorgan, a suburban village of Dublin. Take a guided panoramic tour of Dublin to see elegant Georgian townhouses with brightly painted doors and the wide thoroughfare of O’Connell Street. Tour Glasnevin Cemetery Museum, Ireland’s national necropolis, a “Who’s Who” of modern Irish history. In the evening, enjoy a welcome drink with your group before enjoying dinner on your own at the hotel or in the nearby coastal town of Dun Laoghaire

Spend some time touring Dublin independently with tickets for the Hop-On, Hop-Off bus tour and choose one of four of Ireland's most popular attractions: Guinness Storehouse, GPO Witness History, EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, or Teeling Distillery. In the evening, enjoy a meal of Irish specialties and a traditional show at the Merry Ploughboy Pub. (B, D)

Travel to Athlone in County Westmeath to enjoy a CIE Tours’ Exclusive, a visit to Sean’s Bar. Founded in 900 AD, it is featured in the Guinness Book of Records as Europe’s oldest pub; raise a glass there as thirsty patrons have done for centuries. Journey on to beautiful Galway where you’ll have lunch on your own before taking a walking tour of this vibrant harbor city. Proceed to the charming coastal town of Westport for a dinner at your hotel this evening. (B, D)

Start the day with a walking tour of Westport. Travel around Clew Bay, which is reputed to have 365 islands, to access Achill Island by bridge. Follow the Atlantic Drive, part of the Wild Atlantic Way, to capture wonderful views of steeply sloped mountains plunging into the shimmering Atlantic Ocean. Near Slievemore, see the Deserted Village and stop in Keel for a casual lunch. Return to Westport and take a tour around the stately Westport House, which contains a wealth of interesting portraits, furniture, silver, and porcelain. Enjoy a glass of beer or wine there. The evening is free for independent exploration and dining in Westport. (B, L)

Enjoy a scenic drive to County Sligo, where you’ll stop for lunch. Proceed on for a visit to Atlantic Sheepdogs Farm to see a demonstration of trained sheepdogs herding sheep. Travel through rugged countryside and stop in Donegal for some free time to explore. Continue to Derry, where you’ll have time relax or explore before dinner at your hotel. (B, D)

Travel around the Inishowen Peninsula, a 100-mile scenic route. Drive alongside Lough Foyle, to Banba's Crown on Malin Head, the most northerly point of the Irish mainland, to admire stunning seascapes. Enjoy tea and scones with your fellow travelers at the Seaview Tavern before continuing towards Buncrana. Upon returning to Derry, join a local guide for a short walk around Derry’s medieval city walls that completely encircle the old city center. Learn about the city’s turbulent history through the centuries. Take a walk across the Peace Bridge and complete your tour at the Walled City Brewery Restaurant for dinner with a flight of 4 beers and a bottle of CIE Tours' signature beer to take away. (B, D)

See the natural wonder that is the Giant’s Causeway, hexagonal columns formed by volcanic activity over 60 million years ago. Take some time at the Causeway Coast Discovery Centre for a talk and turf-cutting presentation before enjoying tea and scones. Drive south along the Glens of Antrim, one of Ireland’s popular scenic routes to discover lovely views of mountains, valleys, and coastline. This area is where many scenes from “Game of Thrones” were filmed. Travel on to Belfast where you will have some leisure time to explore independently before dinner at your hotel. (B, D)

Discover Belfast and see the prominent buildings, political murals, and the docks where the RMS Titanic was built in 1912. Visit the magnificent Titanic Belfast, a state-of-the-art attraction that will immerse you in the story of this iconic liner.Visit Long Meadow Cider in Co. Armagh in a CIE Tours Exclusive. Enjoy a tour of this family-run farm and a tasting of their award-winning ciders and apple pie. Take home a sample of their apple cider vinegar, bottled onsite. Depart for dinner at your castle hotel in Dunboyne. (B, D)

Your program ends after breakfast. (B) B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner   >