From Dublin: 6-Day All of Ireland Rail Tour

Ireland’s big sights come one after another on this six-day rail and coach tour: Blarney Castle, the Ring of Kerry, the Cliffs of Moher, the Aran Islands, Kylemore Abbey, and Belfast. You cover a remarkable amount without driving on the left or sorting out rural bus connections.

I like the ready-made transport plan, with train seats, transfers, admissions, and local tours arranged for you. I also like the two-night stays in Killarney and Galway, which give you more than a quick photo stop in each region. The drawback is the pace: this is a lot of Ireland in six days, and the final two days can leave you worn out.

Key points at a glance

• Rail travel links the major regions: You travel from Dublin through Cork and Cobh to Killarney, then from Galway back to Dublin.
• Two nights in Killarney and Galway: These longer stays give the tour a better rhythm than a different hotel every night.
• The Ring of Kerry is a full scenic day: Expect Dingle Bay, Moll’s Gap, Ladies View, the Lakes of Killarney, and views toward Carrantuohill.
• The Cliffs of Moher day adds real variety: Bunratty Castle, lunch at Liscannor, the Burren, Galway Bay, and the cliffs all fit into one outing.
• Inis Mór includes Dun Aengus: The largest Aran Island offers stark coastal views and an ancient fort above the sea.
• Belfast is an extra Northern Ireland day: The hop-on, hop-off route covers the Titanic Quarter, Falls and Shankill Roads, and the Peace Wall.

What this six-day Ireland route really feels like

This is not one small group moving together from breakfast to bedtime for six days. It is a chain of connected train journeys, coach excursions, ferries, hotel stays, and local guides. That arrangement lets you meet different guides and see more places, but it also means the experience can feel less personal than a single private tour.

You receive help at key handovers, including train check-in and transfers. That matters if you do not use trains often. The first morning begins at Dublin Heuston Station, where a representative in a yellow jacket checks you in and guides you to your reserved seats.

The tour costs $2,353 per person sharing. That is a serious price, but it covers six days of transport, all listed admissions, guided excursions, two nights in Killarney, two nights in Galway, and two nights in Dublin. You are paying for convenience as much as sightseeing. Independent planning could cost less, but you would need to coordinate Irish Rail, coaches, ferries, local excursions, hotels, and transfers yourself.

Day one: Blarney, Cobh, and the train to Killarney

Your first departure is early. Check-in is at 6:40 AM beside the customer service desk at Dublin Heuston Station, with a 7:00 AM InterCity train to Cork. Breakfast is available, but you will want to arrive ready for a long day.

Cork is not the main focus. Instead, the route heads to Blarney Castle, where the castle grounds and famous stone provide the first major stop. The visit gives you a taste of Ireland’s medieval past without requiring a full day in Cork.

From Blarney, you continue to Cobh for the Queenstown Story. Cobh was the last port of call for many emigrant ships, and the museum adds human stories to the grand scenery that follows. This is a useful stop because the tour is not only about cliffs and castles. It also touches on Ireland’s migration and maritime past.

After Cobh, you return to the railway for Killarney. You spend two nights in a bed-and-breakfast with an en-suite room. That second night is important. It means the Ring of Kerry does not have to be squeezed between a morning checkout and another long transfer.

Day two: the Ring of Kerry from Killarney

The Ring of Kerry day begins at 10:00 AM, a more comfortable start than the first morning. The route brings you past Dingle Bay, the MacGillycuddy’s Reeks, Carrantuohil, Moll’s Gap, Ladies View, and the Lakes of Killarney.

Carrantuohil is Ireland’s highest mountain, and the mountain views help explain why this part of the country is so popular. At Moll’s Gap and Ladies View, the scenery becomes the main event. You are there for broad views, winding roads, water, and changing weather rather than a long list of indoor attractions.

The advantage of a coach tour here is simple: you can watch the view instead of concentrating on narrow roads. The tradeoff is that stops follow a fixed schedule. You will get time for photographs and short walks, but not the freedom to pull over whenever you wish.

This is one of the strongest days for people who want Ireland’s famous scenery without hiring a car. It is also one of the easier days to underestimate. Even with the later start, the road time and multiple stops make it a full outing.

Day three: Bunratty, the Cliffs of Moher, and Galway

Day three begins with a 7:30 AM transfer from Killarney to Limerick. There, you join the Cliffs of Moher tour. The early start is necessary because the route includes several major stops before reaching Galway.

You pass King John’s Castle in Limerick, then visit Bunratty Castle. Bunratty gives the day a strong historical stop before the coast takes over. It also breaks up what would otherwise be a long transfer toward County Clare.

Lunch is scheduled at Liscannor for about an hour. Food is not generally included, so plan to pay for your own lunch and other meals outside the included breakfasts. After lunch comes the Cliffs of Moher, the most famous stop of the day.

The cliffs are impressive because they are not a single viewpoint but a long stretch of high Atlantic edge. Wind and rain are possible, so bring a waterproof layer even if Dublin starts bright. You will want footwear suitable for uneven ground and short walks.

The coach then continues through the Burren for a photo stop. This stony region looks very different from the green fields often associated with Ireland. The stop is brief, but it adds another kind of scenery to an already full day.

You finish in Galway City, where you stay two nights in a three-star hotel with breakfast. Galway is a good base for the next excursions, and the two-night arrangement saves you from packing again after only one evening.

Day four: Inis Mór and Dun Aengus

The Aran Islands day takes you by ferry to Inis Mór, the largest of the three Aran Islands. After arriving in Kilronan, you have lunch and then tour the ancient fort of Dun Aengus.

Dun Aengus is the special reason to make this crossing. The fort sits beside sharp coastal cliffs, with open Atlantic views that feel very different from the inland scenery around Killarney. The setting matters as much as the stonework. You are looking at an ancient site in a place where the edge of the island drops dramatically toward the sea.

The ferry adds weather and timing to the day. If the sea crossing or a road transfer runs late, the schedule can become tight. A bus breakdown and a late pickup have caused major delays on at least one outing, so you should not expect a leisurely island day with unlimited time at each stop.

The guide quality can vary from one part of the tour to another. Brendan is specifically praised for explaining the history and keeping people informed during the earlier portion. By contrast, one Aran Islands guide was described as abrupt, and the pace was too quick for some people in the group. That does not cancel the value of Inis Mór, but it is worth knowing if you prefer slow walks and plenty of free time.

Day five: Connemara, Kylemore Abbey, and the late train

The fifth day starts with a tour of Connemara, followed by Kylemore Abbey. This is another big scenic day, with mountains, water, and open country leading to one of Ireland’s best-known estates.

Kylemore Abbey gives you a change of pace after the cliffs and island. The building and grounds provide a clear destination within the Connemara outing, while the surrounding region supplies the views between stops.

After the Connemara tour, you board a train from Galway to Dublin Heuston, arriving at about 8:45 PM. A tram transfer takes you to your three-star Dublin hotel, where the room is provided on a room-only basis for these nights.

This timing is the tour’s main pressure point. You have already spent several days on roads, ferries, and trains, and you still have Belfast the next day. If you like early mornings and full schedules, the plan works. If you want evenings in Galway or Dublin, it does not leave much room.

Day six: Belfast, the Peace Wall, and back to Dublin

The final day adds Northern Ireland to the route. Check-in is at Dublin Connolly Station, with the Belfast train departing at 10:50 AM according to the day-six schedule. The general meeting information also refers to early morning check-in at a Dublin station, so you should confirm the exact departure and meeting time on your final documents.

After arriving at Belfast Central Station at about 12:58 PM, a short transfer takes you into the city centre. You then join a Belfast hop-on, hop-off tour covering the city centre, Titanic Quarter, Falls Road, Shankill Road, and the Peace Wall.

This is a useful overview rather than a deep visit to Belfast. The route gives you a look at the city’s major districts and the visible reminders of its divided past. The Titanic Quarter adds a different side of the city, while the Falls, Shankill, and Peace Wall offer important political and social context.

You have free time for shopping before taking any scheduled train back to Dublin. You make your own way to the Dublin hotel afterward. The return trip can make this an exhausting finish, especially after the late arrival from Galway the night before. Some people may choose to skip the final excursion simply to rest, though doing so means giving up the Northern Ireland portion of the tour.

Hotels, meals, and the value of the package

The accommodation is practical rather than luxurious. You receive two nights in a Killarney bed-and-breakfast, two nights with breakfast in a three-star Galway hotel, and two nights in a three-star Dublin hotel. The Dublin stay is room only, although a full Irish breakfast is included on the final day according to the schedule.

Breakfast is included on days two through five, but other meals are not. Set aside money for lunches, dinners, snacks, and drinks. The Liscannor lunch stop gives you time to eat, but the meal itself is not part of the package.

The strongest value comes from the number of moving parts already handled. Railtours Ireland First Class arranges the admissions, transfers, train travel, coaches, ferry connection, local excursions, and hotels. If you are uneasy about Irish rail connections or do not want to drive, that support can justify the price.

The weaker value is the limited free time. You are paying for access to many places, but not for long, relaxed visits. A self-planned eight to ten-day trip could give you more time in Galway, Killarney, Belfast, and Dublin, though it would require more work and possibly a rental car.

Who will enjoy this tour most

I would choose this tour for a first visit to Ireland if my goal were to see the country’s major sights without driving. It suits you if you value reserved seats, clear transfers, guided history, and a packed route.

It also works well for people with limited train experience. The yellow-jacketed representatives and arranged handovers reduce the stress of finding the right platform or coach.

I would think twice if you need a slow pace, long meals, flexible photo stops, or independent wandering. The Aran Islands and final Belfast days are especially demanding. Anyone with mobility limitations should read the restrictions carefully: mobility scooters, non-folding wheelchairs, walking frames, and electric wheelchairs are not allowed.

The tour is conducted in English. Cancellation is available for a full refund up to seven days before departure, which gives you some useful planning flexibility.

Should you book the six-day Ireland rail tour?

Book it if you want a high-impact first look at Ireland and accept that the days will be long. The route reaches an impressive number of major sites, and the included transport removes much of the planning burden.

Skip it in favor of a longer independent trip if you want time to linger. Six days is enough to see Ireland’s headline sights, but not enough to experience each region at an easy pace.

My practical advice is to pack light, wear reliable walking shoes, carry rain gear, and treat the schedule as a series of connected excursions rather than one continuous guided group. If you can handle early starts, ferry timing, and a very full final stretch, this is a useful way to cover Ireland’s biggest sights in one booking.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts six days and includes stops in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Where does the tour begin?

The first morning begins at Dublin Heuston Station, beside the customer service desk. A representative in a yellow jacket checks you in and directs you to the train seats.

Which places are included?

The route includes Cork, Blarney Castle, Cobh, Killarney, the Ring of Kerry, Limerick, Bunratty Castle, Liscannor, the Cliffs of Moher, the Burren, Galway, the Aran Islands, Kylemore Abbey, Belfast, and Dublin.

Where do you stay?

You stay two nights in a bed-and-breakfast in Killarney, two nights in a three-star hotel in Galway, and two nights in a three-star hotel in Dublin.

Are meals included?

Breakfast is included on days two, three, four, and five. A full Irish breakfast is also listed for day six. Other meals are not included.

Is the tour conducted in English?

Yes. The tour includes English-speaking guides.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

You can cancel up to seven days in advance for a full refund.