Grand Tour of Ireland - Birmingham

Day 1

We fly to Belfast airport and are transferred to our hotel in the city, our base for the next two nights.

Day 2 – Belfast & Titanic Belfast

Today our tour manager takes us on a guided tour of Belfast, Northern Ireland’s most famous city, and now a thriving, modern metropolis with a colourful history – as a key player in the Industrial Revolution; it was the centre for the Irish linen and tobacco industries. We take in the highlights before visiting Titanic Belfast, a fantastic exhibition located on the site of the original shipyard in which the famous liner was built. The exhibition brings the maiden voyage of the Titanic to life in the place where it all began.

Day 3 – Giant’s Causeway, Derry~Londonderry & Donegal

We make our way to the Giant’s Causeway, named for the enormous volcanic columns that make this National Trust-owned site such an incredible place to visit. From here we head to Derry~Londonderry – the only completely walled city in Ireland. We enjoy a guided walking tour with our tour manager where highlights include the gleaming Peace Bridge across the River Foyle and St Columb’s cathedral. Later, we check in to our Donegal hotel where we spend the night.

Day 4 – Sligo & Galway

Leaving Donegal, we travel to the pretty coastal town of Sligo. Surrounded by rugged landscapes, Sligo boasts a castle, medieval abbey, traditional pubs and plenty of shopping opportunities.

Next stop is Galway where we enjoy a guided tour with our tour manager. This thriving, cosmopolitan destination was named European Capital of Culture in 2020. It may be the fastest growing city in Ireland but it has managed to retain its friendly atmosphere. We continue on to our hotel.

Day 5 – Limerick & Tralee

We head for Limerick where we enjoy a guided city tour with our tour manager. Set on the River Shannon, Limerick is overlooked by the 13^th-century King John’s Castle and has a rich history, which we learn about on our tour. From here we travel to our hotel in Tralee, the county town of County Kerry, where we spend the next two nights.

Day 6 – The Ring of Kerry & Killarney

Our tour manager takes us on a scenic guided tour of the Ring of Kerry, journeying through an untouched landscape of tranquil lakes and rolling hills, passing through charming towns such as Killorglin, Waterville and Kenmare. We then head to pretty Killarney, famed for its jaunting cars (horse-drawn carts) operated by the local jarvies that take visitors on guided tours of the town.

Day 7 – Dublin

Finally, we head to Dublin and enjoy a guided tour with our tour manager. With its fascinating past, iconic landmarks and plethora of convivial pubs serving up the perfect pint of Guinness, Dublin never fails to charm its visitors. After our guided tour we enjoy free time in the city before spending the night in our hotel in the Dublin area.

Day 8

We transfer to Dublin airport for our return flight home.

Due to ferry times, coach pickup times may be very early in the morning.

The bucket list-worthy Giant’s Causeway is incredible and should be seen by everyone at least once. Formed 60 million years ago by volcanic activity, the formation of 38,000 hexagonal basalt columns stretch far into the sea, some standing as tall as 12m high! Standing watchfully between the craggy cliffs and dramatic ocean waves, a trip to Northern Ireland’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site is set to be a brilliantly atmospheric excursion.

Vibrant Belfast is a cosmopolitan city rich in art, culture and history. Once the home of the Irish linen industry, tobacco production, rope making and shipbuilding, these days the Queens Quarter is alive with shops, cafés, bars, live venues and the Botanical Gardens. We’ll find out all about the city’s fascinating history and brilliant transformation during our guided city tour.

We couldn’t visit Belfast without exploring the recently redeveloped Titanic quarter; home to the spectacular Titanic Belfast exhibition. Find all about the ship’s construction and tragic loss, as we soak up the haunting atmosphere of a bygone era with original vintage photos, recordings, newsreels, music and more.

The picturesque coastal town of Sligo is surrounded by dramatic landscapes and stands in the shadow of Knocknarea and Benbulben Mountains. This relaxed, yet bustling town offers an array of shops, cafés and bars alongside the river banks, and there are plenty of historic sights to discover, including a castle and medieval abbey. 

The delightful town of Galway is the ancient capital of West Ireland and is the only city along the Wild Atlantic Way. Offering vibrantly-coloured alleys dotted with an array of museums, the famous Spanish Arch and a unique Cathedral, it is easy to see why the city was named as the European Capital of Culture for 2020! The winding cobbled streets are also packed with independent shops and traditional Irish pubs to enjoy.