Ireland Travel Tips: 16 Useful Things To Know Before Visiting Ireland

If you’re visiting Ireland and you’re looking for some handy Ireland travel tips, the ones below are based on my 34 years of living here.

Many guide with tips for traveling to Ireland consist of telling you to ‘Make sure to have the craic’….

You’ll have the craic (Irish slang for fun!), don’t worry about that – however, there’s some extremely useful travel tips for Ireland that some tend to miss (like how and when to tip).

Below, you’ll discover a load of handy info for visiting Ireland – dive on in!

Handy Ireland travel trips worth taking note of

Below, you’ll find some handy Ireland travel tips. I’ve put these together based on the thousands of emails from tourists that we reply to (and receive) each year.

I strongly believe that, if you take note of the below, you’ll place yourself in a better position to have a more enjoyable trip.

1. Taking time to carefully map out your Irish road trip is worth its weight in gold

We speak to people traveling to Ireland frequently. It might surprise you how many visit without any real plan of action (it surprised me, anyway).

Mapping out an Ireland itinerary that you have confidence in is worth it’s weight in gold and it ensures that you make the most of the time that you have here.

Hate planning? Don’t worry – we’ve done all the hard work for you. Hop into our Irish road trip library (the largest available anywhere) and you can choose your trip length, start point and much more.

2. Deciding when to visit is a tricky but hugely important task

The trickiest part of planning a trip to Ireland is often deciding on the best time to visit Ireland – each month has its pros and cons.

Personally, I like traveling during the ‘shoulder season’ – September, October, April and May, as its quieter and you generally get better deals on accommodation and flights.

However, you need to weigh up the pros and cons and determine the best time for you.

This can be a pain, but if you take note of one of our tips for traveling to Ireland, make sure it’s this one, as when you visit will have a direct impact on your overall experience.

3. We frequently get four seasons in one day

Yes, you heard correctly – the weather in Ireland is mental. If you’re thinking, ‘Sure, I’m visiting in June – I’ll just pack shorts and t-shirts – it’ll be grand’, think again.

Summer in Ireland can go from dry and toasty one minute to cold, wet and windy the next. One of the best travel tips that I can give you if you’re visiting Ireland is to pack for every kind of weather.

If you’re traveling to Ireland during the summer months, make sure to bring summery clothes, but also pack a light rain jacket and a warm hoody or cardigan.

4. We don’t have a ‘US Style’ tipping culture in Ireland

Many guides on Ireland travel tips spread misinformation about tipping in Ireland, stating that it’s seen as rude if you don’t tip everyone from the bartender to the staff in your hotel.

In Ireland, aside from in places that serve you food (table service only), tipping isn’t customary. Is it appreciated? Sure! However, there isn’t a tipping culture in Ireland like there is in the USA and Canada.

In our guide to tipping in Ireland, you’ll find out where to tip and when along with how much to tip and when you really don’t have to.

5. You don’t have to use a car to get around Ireland – you can use a combination of tours and public transport

Yes, getting around Ireland without a car is very possible (in fact, we have lots of Irish road trip itineraries that only use public transport).

You can easily combine buses, trains and day tours to get around Ireland, you just need to be a bit more astute with your planning.

The advantage of not renting a car is it’s cheaper. The disadvantage is that you don’t have as much flexibility.

Note: Public transportation in Ireland is notoriously bad in places like Donegal

6. Renting a car in Ireland can be a pain for several reasons

This is one of the Ireland travel tips I tend to pass on most frequently.

We published the world’s most useful guide to renting a car in Ireland recently. If you nip into it, you’ll see me rant… quite a bit.

Personally, I believe that the car rental industry makes renting a car as confusing as possible.

I’m not the only one to think this, either. There has been a number of consumer reports outlining the shady practices of the car rental industry in Ireland.

7. If you plan on driving in Ireland, take time to prepare before you arrive

Many people driving in Ireland for the first time do absolutely zero preparation in advance of arriving.

Then they get here and panic. Especially when they reach the likes of Conor Pass (a narrow mountain road on the Dingle Peninsula) or sections of the Ring of Kerry.

I’d strongly recommend taking time to understand the rules of the road in Ireland along with how to navigate roundabouts.

Yes, it’s a boring task, but it’s only you’ll thank yourself for when you get behind the wheel. Few Ireland travel tips are as useful as this one.

8. Don’t be fooled into thinking the only airport in Ireland is in Dublin

Yep, there are several airports in Ireland that you can fly into, depending on your departure point.

Now, you’ll remember that the first of our tips for traveling to Ireland was to plan your itinerary before booking anything.

One of the reasons for this is that picking what airport you fly into will have a massive effect on your itinerary.

For example, if you fly into Shannon (Clare) you’ll be finely placed to tackle the Wild Atlantic Way from the moment you leave arrivals.

If you land in Belfast, you can get onto the Antrim Coast Road in under an hour. This is another of the Ireland travel tips I find myself repeating over and over.

9. Be aware of the various laws in Ireland before you arrive

Unsurprisingly enough, there are numerous laws in Ireland that you need to be aware of in advance of your visit.

Now, most of them are common sense. However, others, like the smoking ban, can catch people out.

That and the fact that there are many Irish drinking laws, from not drinking in public to the age that you can legally drink from.

Related read: We’ve published the world’s largest free collection of self guided driving tours of Ireland

10. It’s possible to do Ireland on a budget, but you may need to leave out certain places

The cost of a trip to Ireland has been going up-and-up in recent years. However, doing Ireland on a budget is still possible – it just requires a lot of advanced planning.

One of the more useful tips for traveling to Ireland on a budget is to use the likes of Skyscanner to track the price of flights. Then, when they reach a price you’re comfortable with, pounce!

You’ll also likely need to dodge some of the cities in Ireland, like Dublin, as that’s where accommodation prices have reached unreasonable levels.

11. Make a copy of your passport and bring it with you

This is one of the more basic Ireland travel tips, and you likely won’t need to use it. However, if you ever do, you’ll thank yourself for it.

Personally, I have a digital copy of my passport stored on my phone and I have a folder with three copies of my passport that I leave in my backpack.

That way, if anything were to happen, you’ll make life an awful lot easier.

12. Currency converting ‘stores’ generally have the worst rates

This is one of the more obvious visiting Ireland travel tips – if you convert money via currency exchange providers you’ll be hit with a hefty fee.

You’re generally better off just leaving the Dollars in your bank account and then withdrawing for an ATM when you arrive (there are plenty of them).

Or, if you’re using something like a Revolut or Wise credit/debit card, they tend to get you a good rate.

13. Some visitors can shop VAT-free

If you’re traveling to Ireland from a non-EU country, you’re entitled to a VAT refund on eligible purchases made during your visit. Now, it’s worth noting that this doesn’t apply to things like hotels, food or car hire.

In fact, it’s intended to only apply to items that you can carry home in your hand luggage. In our guide to claiming a VAT refund after traveling to Ireland, you’ll find out everything you need to know.

14. Irish slang and humour can be tricky to get your head around

Irish slang words and Irish curses are part of everyday life in Ireland. The tricky thing is, however, that different parts of the country have different slang terms.

There’s obvious ones, like ‘the Craic’ (i.e. ‘fun’) but there’s less obvious terms, like referring to ‘Yer one’ and ‘Yer man’.

If you’re confused during a conversation, ask the person to clarify what it is they said – it’s rare you’ll meet someone that won’t help you understand a bit of slang.

Related read: In need of a giggle? See our guide to the funniest Irish jokes

15. Understand the differences between Ireland and Northern Ireland before arriving

One of our final tips for traveling to Ireland relates to the differences between the Republic of Ireland vs Northern Ireland. In a nutshell, the 6 counties of Northern Ireland are part of the United Kingdom.

The remaining 26 are part of the Republic of Ireland. Now, there’s no ‘hard’ border between Ireland and Northern Ireland – you can drive from one to the other without noticing.

The things you need to be aware of are that the currency in Ireland is Euro and the currency in Northern Ireland is Pound Sterling.

16. Always opt to visit traditional-style pubs over modern cafe bars

There’s endless pubs in Ireland, however, not all are equal.

There’s traditional pubs and there are modern pubs and you’ll always, in our opinion, want to opt for traditional.

Traditional Irish pubs are ones that have stood the test of time and that boast a charm and character that you won’t encounter anywhere else in the world.

17. Limit the time you spend in Dublin to 2-3 days max

Although there’s plenty of things to do in Dublin, don’t spend more than 2-3 days max there (see our guides to 2 days in Dublin and 24 hours in Dublin).

Many people fly into Dublin and then spend 5 days to a week there, but it’s far too much (unless you’re doing day trips to Wicklow, Meath and Kilkenny).

When visiting Dublin it’s worth using the likes of the Dublin Pass, which will save you cash if you’re visiting the main attractions, like the Guinness Storehouse and the Jameson Distillery.

Related Ireland travel tips: The Heritage Card is similar to the Dublin Pass in that it’ll get you into multiple fee-paying attractions for a single fee

19. Don’t just stick to the main tourist track

Go and visit the Cliffs of Moher, the Giant’s Causeway and all of the other tourist favourites (if you want to, that is) – but make a conscious effort to step off the beaten path.

It’s only when you do this that you really start to discover how mighty our little island really is. Places like the Beara Peninsula in Cork, the North Mayo coast and the Mourne Mountains in Down tend to get left off of many Ireland itineraries.

Which is a shame. As it’s in these lesser-known/visited corners of Ireland that you’ll discover how powerful the combination of natural beauty and peace and quiet can be.

19. There’s more to Irish culture than drink (and there’s more to tradition than Paddy’s Day)

Many people looking for tips for traveling to Ireland never really ask about Irish culture or Irish traditions.

Ireland’s culture has benefited from sport, music, literature, art, language, storytelling (see our section on Irish mythology), farming and food and you should try and experience as much of it as you can during your visit.

Similarly, traditions stem far beyond St. Patrick’s Day – there’s countless ancient festivals in Ireland, many of which take place outside of the busy summer months, that are worth a visit.

20. Pack layers – lots of layers

Many people visiting Ireland make the mistake of packing for the season, e.g. bringing only shorts and t-shirts during summer in Ireland.

One of the more useful what not to do in Ireland travel tips is to assumer that Irish seasons act as they should.

In our guide on what to wear in Ireland, you’ll find info on what you should bring for each season – in a nutshell, layers are always needed.

What travel tips for Ireland have we missed?

Although we’ve spent a lot of time putting our visiting Ireland travel tips guide together, I’m sure there’s som handy tips and tricks that we’ve missed.

If you have any travel tips for Ireland that you’d like to recommend, feel free to shout in the comments below.

FAQs about tips for traveling to Ireland

We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from ‘Do I need cash?’ to ‘What are no-go areas?’.

In the section below, we’ve popped in the most FAQs that we’ve received. If you have a question that we haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments section below.