Ireland Travel Guide

• Dublin & East: Pub sessions and literary tours in Dublin, coastal walks in Howth and day trips to Glendalough and Wicklow.
• Wild Atlantic Way & West: Drive dramatic coastal routes, watch sunsets at the Cliffs of Moher, surf or walk beaches, and enjoy trad music in Galway and Dingle.
• Southwest - Kerry & Cork: Tour the Ring of Kerry, hike in Killarney National Park, taste seafood in Kinsale and visit markets in Cork.
• North & Border Country: Explore Donegal’s coastline, visit Gaeltacht music hubs like Gweedore, and drive scenic northern headlands.

Most international travellers arrive via Dublin Airport (DUB); other international gateways include Shannon (SNN) and Cork (ORK). Dublin and Shannon have US preclearance, so flights home to the United States clear American immigration before take-off and arrive as domestic flights. Ferries sail from Holyhead and Liverpool to Dublin, from Fishguard and Pembroke to Rosslare, and from Cherbourg in France to Rosslare and (in summer) Cork. From Northern Ireland, the Enterprise train links Belfast and Dublin about hourly in just over two hours, and frequent coaches run Belfast-Dublin Airport-Dublin.

Typical daily spend is about $80-180 (higher in Dublin, Cork and tourist hotspots; cheaper in rural west), with midrange dinners and B&Bs as common costs.

• Hostel dorm bed: €18-35
• Basic guesthouse room: €60-120
• Mid-range hotel: €100-180
• Upscale hotel: €160-310
• Cheap pub meal: €8-15
• Bottle of local beer: €5-7
• Organised tour or activity: €20-60
• Local bus or tram ride: €2-4

For current prices on hundreds of everyday items, see Numbeo’s Ireland cost of living, a crowd-sourced database that is updated often.

Ways to save

• Use public transport: Intercity buses and regional trains are cheaper than driving and reduce parking costs in towns.
• Eat like a local: Choose lunchtime pub menus, markets and simple seafood or stews for good value.
• Book accommodation early: Reserve B&Bs or hostels well ahead for May-Sep to avoid premium prices in popular towns.

Full trip budgets are in Ireland Itineraries.

Cards are widely accepted across Ireland and cash use is declining; ATMs are easy to find in towns and cities. Service charges may be included in bills at some restaurants, so check before tipping.

• Tipping: Tipping is discretionary. At table-service restaurants about 10% is normal if no service charge appears on the bill; many places add 10-12.5% automatically for groups of six or more, so check first. Don't tip for drinks ordered at the bar; round up taxi fares if you like.
• Cards & Cash: Visa and MasterCard (including contactless) are accepted nearly everywhere; cash is useful for small purchases or rural markets. American Express acceptance varies by business.
• ATMs & Mobile Payments: ATMs (cash machines) are common in urban and rural areas; your bank and ATM operator may charge withdrawal and foreign-transaction fees. Mobile payments (Apple Pay, Google Pay) are broadly supported; transport in cities often uses local travel cards (e.g., Leap card).
• Banknotes: €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200, €500
• Coins: €0.01, €0.02, €0.05, €0.10, €0.20, €0.50, €1, €2

Pub culture, storytelling and informal niceties shape daily interactions; expect friendly banter and polite queuing. Locals are generally forgiving of visitors but buying a round or joining conversations respectfully is appreciated.

Ireland has solid mobile coverage in urban areas and improving fixed broadband through ongoing fibre rollout. Major operators supply competitive prepaid and postpaid plans; expect best performance in Dublin and other cities, with slower service in more remote counties.

• Electricity: 230V, 50 Hz; plug types G.

Yes - for most visitors; violent crime is uncommon, but the real risks are narrow wet roads, coastal hazards and occasional alcohol-related incidents in nightlife districts.

Staying healthy in Ireland is straightforward; main issues are ticks in grassy areas, variable weather and routine travel vaccinations or insurance for unexpected care.

Ireland is shaped by a Gaelic cultural core, marked by literature, music and a lively pub culture, with a long history of emigration and political change. Its regional accents, traditions and festivals give the island a strong sense of local identity.

Pubs are the backbone of eating out in small towns. Most serve food at lunch and in the early evening, but kitchens often stop taking orders around 8pm or 9pm even when the bar stays open, and in rural areas a late arrival can mean crisps for dinner. Restaurants usually book up on Friday and Saturday nights, so reserve ahead in Dublin, Galway, Kinsale and Dingle.

• Ordering: In pubs, order and pay at the bar, food included, unless staff tell you otherwise; give your table number. In restaurants it’s table service as usual.
• Rounds: If locals include you in a round of drinks, you are expected to buy one back when it’s your turn.
• Breakfast: A full Irish (rashers, sausages, black and white pudding, eggs, beans, toast) is included at most B&Bs. Lighter options are always available if you ask.
• Seafood: The west and southwest coasts serve excellent oysters, mussels, chowder and smoked salmon; Galway’s oyster season peaks in September.
• Water and diet: Tap water is safe and free; ask for a jug. Menus must flag the main allergens, and vegetarian and gluten-free options are now standard in towns.
• Must-try: Seafood chowder with brown soda bread, Irish stew, boxty, a spice bag from a Chinese takeaway, and farmhouse cheeses from West Cork.

Ireland’s lowland, bog and coastal ecosystems and strong local culture require considerate visitors-following outdoor etiquette and supporting local musicians and businesses protects landscapes and traditions.

• Outdoor access & Leave No Trace: When walking the Wild Atlantic Way or upland trails, follow gates-as-found, keep dogs under control around livestock, and follow Leave No Trace principles-see guidance from Fáilte Ireland and local conservation groups.
• Respect rural communities and music culture: When visiting pubs for live traditional music, support performers by buying food/drinks and avoid filming without permission; be mindful of noise late at night in villages.
• Driving & narrow roads: Drive cautiously on single‑track country roads, give way at passing places, and be prepared for livestock and walkers on rural routes-leave gates as you found them.
• Protect peatlands and habitats: Avoid walking across fragile bogs and turflands which store carbon and host rare species; follow boardwalks where provided and stick to marked paths to prevent erosion.

Long‑term living in Ireland attracts professionals in tech, pharma and finance, especially English‑speakers and EU citizens. Dublin is the primary draw for jobs and nightlife but is expensive; Cork and Galway offer lower costs and strong regional cultures. Immigration relies on employment permits or entrepreneur routes for non‑EU nationals.

Long-Term Visas: Critical Skills and General Employment Permits, entrepreneur supports, family reunification rules.

Working There: English‑language economy with strong tech, pharma and finance presence, many multinational HQs.

Cost of Living: Dublin is expensive - expect €2,000+ monthly for a single person including rent.

Health & Wellness: Public HSE for residents, private health insurance common for quicker specialist access.

Banking & Finance: Eurozone, SEPA/IBAN banking, major banks AIB and Bank of Ireland, good fintech presence.

Taxes: progressive system with standard 20% and higher 40% rates, plus USC and PRSI, residency after 183 days.

Popular Places to Live in Ireland

Deciding where to live usually comes down to work and lifestyle priorities: Dublin for jobs and flights, Cork and Galway for lower costs and local culture, and scenic counties for outdoors. Each choice trades accessibility and job options for cost and pace of life.

• Dublin - Capital and business centre, best for jobs and flights, significantly higher cost of living.
• Cork - Lively regional city with growing tech scene, food culture, cheaper rents than Dublin.
• Galway - Bohemian coastal city, strong arts and café culture, vibrant summer scene and good community.
• Killarney - Gateway to outdoor activities, tourist town with beautiful landscapes, quieter outside peak season.

Ireland supports remote workers with strong connectivity, plentiful coworking and active startup hubs, especially in Dublin. There is no dedicated digital‑nomad visa, so most non‑EU nomads rely on employment permits, start‑up routes or company transfers. High living costs in Dublin are balanced by higher salaries in certain sectors.

Nomad Visa: none exists, usual workaround is employment permits, start‑up programmes, or employer transfers.

Long Term Rentals: Dublin one‑bed city centre ~€1,700-2,400/month, outside cities significantly cheaper.

Internet: fibre and high‑speed mobile widely available in cities, typical 100-500 Mbps in urban areas.

Monthly Cost: expect €2,000-3,000/month in Dublin for a moderate single lifestyle including rent.

Coworking: many options in Dublin, plus hubs in Cork and Galway, memberships €150-400/month depending on location.

Fitness & Wellness: plentiful gyms, gyms often pricier, excellent outdoor activities along coast and countryside.

Community: concentrated expat and remote‑work meetups in Dublin and Galway, smaller groups in Cork and regional towns.

Time Zone: GMT (UTC+0) in winter, Irish Standard Time (UTC+1) in summer daylight saving.

Popular Nomad Hubs in Ireland

Most digital nomads gravitate to Dublin for jobs, community and connectivity, while Galway and Cork offer smaller but active scenes. Choose Dublin for networking and flights, Galway for culture and lifestyle, Cork for a balance of city amenities and lower rents.

• Dublin - Business centre and flight hub, plentiful coworking, high rents and active expat scene.
• Galway - Creative and artsy, strong café culture, cheaper than Dublin, lively summer season.
• Cork - Smaller city with growing tech cluster, good food scene, more affordable than the capital.
• Killarney - Tourist town with outdoor options, scenic living, quieter outside peak tourist months.