7 Days/6 Nights

Departs Daily Mar.-Oct. from Dublin

The island of Ireland is home to the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. While the Republic of Ireland is independent and its currency is the Euro, Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom and its currency is the British Pound. If you're flying into Dublin, Belfast is just 2 hours to the north. The border crossing is seamless, without border control, and is only noted by a small sign. Enjoy these two Celtic capitals, then use them as a base for exploring several natural and man-made wonders of the “Emerald Isle.”

ACCOMMODATIONS

  • 3 Nights Dublin
  • 3 Nights Belfast

INCLUSIONS

  • 2-Day Dublin Pass
  • Dublin City Kayaking Tour
  • Croke Park Stadium Skyline Tour
  • Admission to Titanic Belfast Experience
  • Giant's Causeway Tour
  • Admission to The Gobbins Visitor Centre & Coastal Pathway
  • 3-Day Compact Manual Car Rental
  • Ireland Road Map
  • Daily Breakfast

Itinerary

Day 1 - ARRIVE DUBLIN:

Arrive in lively Dublin to experience the energy of this vibrant, cosmopolitan city, home to Guinness and the Book of Kells. Ireland's capital brims with the banter of Irish culture, further energized by its many talented buskers and street performers. Add to this a compelling history and rich heritage, and Dublin provides you with an abundance of opportunities to experience and explore.

(Accommodations, Dublin)

Day 2 - DUBLIN:

Use your 2-Day Dublin Pass to explore this cosmopolitan city. The Pass includes a Hop-On/Hop-Off city bus tour, plus free admission to over 25 Dublin attractions including Christ Church Cathedral, the Guinness Storehouse, the Dublin Writers' Museum, and many more. The Pass also gives discounts on many other museums and attractions. Spend a whole day exploring the riches of this city on the Liffey River, then find a pub to rub elbows with the famously friendly locals.

(Breakfast, Accommodations, Dublin)

Day 3 - DUBLIN:

Today you'll get two unique perspectives on the city. First, take a Two-Hour Kayaking Tour with a professional guide on the Liffey River, right through the middle of the city. You'll see the city from a different angle!

In the afternoon, get another new perspective on the city via the Skyline Tour and GAA Museum at Croke Park Stadium. From the top of this famous stadium get a birds-eye view across the city skyline. Then visit the Gaelic Athletic Association Museum at the stadium to learn the history of Gaelic football, hurling, and other traditional sports. Interactive technology allows you to test your skills in these sports against Irish players. Later, find another pub or restaurant to sample traditional Irish fare or nouvelle cuisine, according to your taste.

(Breakfast, Accommodations, Dublin)

Day 4 - DUBLIN TO BELFAST:

Pick up the rental car and head north towards Belfast, capital of Northern Ireland. The drive takes a little under two hours, but you may linger along the way as you pass through picturesque Irish countryside. Your included Ireland Road Map will show you the way. Head for the city center to find your hotel. In the afternoon, head on foot or by car to Queens Island at the Belfast Docks, for The Titanic Belfast Experience. This new museum won the award for 2016 as the World's Top Tourist Attraction. In nine galleries, learn the history of the Titanic, from her design in the early 1900s, through her construction, to her tragic maiden voyage. (Self-guided audio tour.)

(Breakfast, Dublin; Accommodations, Belfast)

Day 5 - BELFAST:

Today is reserved for a full-day Giants Causeway Tour by motor coach. Join the tour at 9:15 a.m. at the nearby Europa Hotel. With photo stops along the way, the tour bus travels along the Causeway Coastal Route—one of the world's most scenic drives—before stopping for lunch at the famous Bushmills Distillery (lunch and drinks on your own). Then it's on to Northern Ireland's first UNESCO World Heritage Site – the Giants Causeway, a spectacular group of 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, formed (so scientists say) by an ancient volcanic eruption. However, many Irish legends give alternative explanations for this site! After this visit, the coach returns to Belfast, making a brief photo stop at the ruins of Dunluce Castle.

(Breakfast, Accommodations, Belfast)

Day 6 - BELFAST:

Visit the Gobbins Visitor Centre and Coastal Pathway, about a half-hour north from Belfast. The pathway includes narrow pathway, several flights of stairs, bridges that carry you above crashing waves, tunnels, and caves. Comfortable walking shoes and weather appropriate attire are advised for this unforgettable adventure!

Return on your own to Belfast, and turn in your rental car at the end of the day.

(Breakfast, Accommodations, Belfast)

Day 7 - DEPART BELFAST:

After breakfast, transfer to the airport and continue on to your next Avanti destination!

(Breakfast, Belfast)