What's the best season for taking a bus tour starting from Dublin?

The best time to visit is between April and September when temperatures are mild, around 60-70°F (15-21°C). July and August get pretty busy, so if you want to avoid crowds while still enjoying nice weather, try going in spring (March-May) or fall (September-October) when it's about 50-60°F (10-15°C). As one TourRadar traveler puts it: "We went in September and had perfect weather for exploring - warm days, cool nights and manageable crowds at popular sites like the Cliffs of Moher."

What are the most popular routes for bus tours leaving Dublin?

Most tours follow the Wild Atlantic Way coastline. You'll head south to Cork (186 miles from Dublin) and Killarney, then up to Galway and Belfast. Along the way, you'll stop at famous spots like Blarney Castle, the Cliffs of Moher (215 miles from Dublin), and Giant's Causeway. One TourRadar traveler says: "We got to experience the real Ireland, from the bustling streets of Dublin to the dramatic coastal scenery of Dingle Peninsula and the charm of small villages along the way."

What kind of places will I stay in on bus tours from Dublin?

You'll stay in comfortable 3-4 star hotels and guesthouses. Some examples include the Maldron Kevin Street Hotel in Dublin, DoubleTree by Hilton in Belfast, and the International Hotel in Killarney. Here's what one TourRadar traveler shared: "The accommodations were consistently good quality, especially the Grand Central Hotel in Belfast's Cathedral Quarter, which offered great access to local pubs and restaurants."

How long will I be on the bus between stops?

Most drives between major stops take 1-3 hours, though some can be up to 4 hours. For instance, it's about 3 hours from Dublin to Galway (130 miles) and 4 hours from Galway to Killarney (180 miles). Don't worry - you'll get breaks every 2 hours, plus stops for photos along scenic routes like the Ring of Kerry and Wild Atlantic Way.

How much time will I have to explore on my own?

You'll usually get 2-3 hours of free time each day, mostly in the afternoons or evenings after group activities. In Galway, for example, you might have a few hours to wander through the Latin Quarter's shops and pubs. In Killarney, you could spend an evening listening to traditional music at places like Murphy's Bar. One TourRadar traveler mentioned: "We had enough structured activities but also plenty of time to explore on our own, especially in vibrant cities like Dublin and Galway."

How long do these bus tours usually last?

Most tours run between 6-14 days, with 7-12 days being the sweet spot. The Irish Explorer tour is 7 days, while the Irish Odyssey gives you 12 days to see everything. According to TourRadar travelers: "The itinerary was well-planned and not too hectic, covering all major highlights including Trinity College, Cliffs of Moher, and Ring of Kerry." You'll stay in good hotels like the Imperial Hotel Galway and Red Cow Moran Hotel in Dublin.

How often does the bus stop between Dublin and the next big destination?

In the first 4-5 hours after leaving Dublin, you'll typically make 2-3 stops for breaks and sightseeing. Common first-day stops include Wicklow Town (1 hour from Dublin), Kilkenny Castle (1.5 hours from Dublin), and Cashel (2.5 hours from Dublin). A TourRadar traveler noted: "The journey was well-paced with strategic stops at beautiful locations like Glendalough and Waterford, making the distance from Dublin very manageable."

Coach / Bus Tours from Dublin

See the best Coach / Bus trips from Dublin, Ireland. We have 99 adventures that range from 3 days up to 19 days in length. The most popular time for tours leaving Dublin is August.

10 best Coach / Bus tour packages from Dublin

View Map
In-depth Cultural
Irish Adventure - 8 Days/7 Nights
4.7 (418 traveler reviews)
"We saw a lot, we enjoyed the food and hotels."
Ms., traveled in August
Duration
8 days
Destinations
Dublin, Glendalough, Wicklow, Waterford, Cobh, Blarney,Ring of Kerry,Killarney,Cliffs of Moher,Galway,Burren,Donegal,Londonderry,Belfast+8 more
Age Range
Ages 8+
Country Region
Southern Ireland
Operated in
English
Operator
CIE Tours
From
US$2,295per person
Price based on Private Double Room
View tour
View Map
In-depth Cultural
Wild Atlantic Experience
4.7 (9 traveler reviews)
"Great tour. Highly recommend."
Kerri, traveled in May
Duration
10 days
Destinations
Dublin, Galway, Doolin, Aran Islands, Killarney, Blarney,Cashel,Belfast,Giants Causeway,Londonderry,Donegal,Kells+6 more
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Operated in
English
Operator
Royal Irish Tours
From
US$3,232per person
Price based on Private Double Room
View tour
View Map
In-depth Cultural
Irish Discovery
5.0 (593 traveler reviews)
"Hotels and routes arranged for the trip is very good too."
Mei, traveled in September
Duration
9 days
Destinations
Dublin, Downpatrick, Belfast, Giants Causeway, Londonderry,Donegal,Sligo,Knock,Galway,Cliffs of Moher,Ennis,Adare,Dingle,Killarney,Blarney,Youghal,Dungarvan,Waterford,Enniscorthy,Glendalough+15 more
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Operated in
English
Operator
Cosmos
7% Off
From $2,149
US$1,999per person
Price based on Private Double Room
View tour
View Map
In-depth Cultural
Wild Grande - Multi Day - Small Group Tour of Ireland
4.3 (3 traveler reviews)
"The accommodation in the larger cities wasn't central but the view from the hotel in Cork made up for the hike up the hill."
Jean, traveled in October
Duration
13 days
Destinations
Dublin, Cork, Skibbereen, Kenmare, Killarney, Ring of Kerry,Dingle,Slea Head,Lahinch,Cliffs of Moher,Burren,Galway,Connemara National Park,Westport,Ballycroy National Park,Donegal,Glenveagh National Park,Malin,Giants Causeway,Ballycastle,Belfast+15 more
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Country Region
Ireland Wild Atlantic Way
Operated in
English
Operator
Wild N' Happy
10% Off
From $4,187
US$3,769per person
Price based on Private Double Room
View tour
View Map
Explorer
Land of Saints & Scholars (Hotel) - 7 days
4.0 (1 traveler review)
"Interesting tour all round."
Winifred, traveled in May
Duration
7 days
Destinations
Dublin, Galway, Burren, Kilfenora, Cliffs of Moher, Shannon,Killarney,Dingle,Blarney,Kinsale,Cobh,Waterford,Kilkenny,Wicklow+8 more
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Country Region
Southern IrelandIreland Wild Atlantic WayMunster+2 more
Operated in
English
Operator
On The Go Tours
20% Off
From $3,860
US$3,088per person
Price based on Private Double Room
View tour
View Map
In-depth Cultural
Wild North - Multi-Day - Small Group Tour of Ireland
5.0 (3 traveler reviews)
"Im glad I opted for b&b accommodation...it was always of a comfortable standard."
Gail, traveled in May
Duration
7 days
Destinations
Dublin, Galway, Croagh Patrick Mountain, Westport, Sligo,Donegal,Slieve League Mountain,Glenveagh National Park,Ballycastle,Giants Causeway,Belfast+6 more
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Operated in
English
Operator
Wild N' Happy
10% Off
From $2,559
US$2,303per person
Price based on Private Double Room
View tour
View Map
Explorer
Best of West Ireland - 3 days
5.0 (1 traveler review)
"3 days is plenty of time for sight seeing. He went above and beyond to help us sort out our schedule."
Charlene, traveled in September
Duration
3 days
Destinations
Dublin, Kinvarra, Burren, Cliffs of Moher, Galway, Cong,Connemara National Park,Clonmacnoise+2 more
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Country Region
Southern IrelandIreland Wild Atlantic Way+1 more
Operated in
English
Operator
On The Go Tours
20% Off
From $1,310
US$1,048per person
Price based on Private Double Room
View tour
View Map
Explorer
Dublin, Northern Ireland & Galway (Hotel) - 5 days
5.0 (1 traveler review)
"Greatly enjoyed our trip."
Terence, traveled in August
Duration
5 days
Destinations
Dublin, Belfast, Portrush, Londonderry, Donegal, Sligo,Achill Island,Westport,Connemara National Park,Cong,Galway+5 more
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Country Region
Ireland Wild Atlantic Way
Operated in
English
Operator
On The Go Tours
20% Off
From $2,345
US$1,876per person
Price based on Private Double Room
View tour
View Map
Explorer
Wild Ireland Express - 3 days
3.0 (1 traveler review)
Duration
3 days
Destinations
Dublin, Glendalough, Dingle, Slea Head,Killarney National Park,Cashel+2 more
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Country Region
Southern IrelandMunster+1 more
Operated in
English
Operator
On The Go Tours
20% Off
From $1,010
US$808per person
Price based on Private Double Room
View tour
View Map
In-depth Cultural
Amazing Ireland
3.9 (11 traveler reviews)
"Great trip by Trafalgar."
Mark, traveled in August
Duration
14 days
Destinations
Dublin, Belfast, Giants Causeway, Londonderry, Donegal,Belleek,Knock,Galway,Connemara National Park,Cliffs of Moher,Killarney,Ring of Kerry,Blarney,Cork,Waterford,Kilkenny,Wexford+12 more
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Operated in
English
Operator
Trafalgar
10% Off
From $4,595
US$4,136per person
Price based on Shared Room
View tour
View Map
Explorer
Irish Explorer
4.6 (213 traveler reviews)
"The itinerary was busy, we had long days but got to see a lot so that was great. The hotels were clean with comfortable beds."
Judy, traveled in August
Duration
7 days
Destinations
Dublin, Belfast, Giants Causeway, Londonderry, Sligo,Galway,Cliffs of Moher,Killarney,Ring of Kerry,Blarney,Kilkenny+6 more
Age Range
Ages 10+
Operated in
English
Operator
Expat Explore Travel
10% Off
From
US$1,545per person
Price based on Shared Room
View tour
View Map
In-depth Cultural
Wild South - Multi-Day - Small Group Tour of Ireland
4.7 (102 traveler reviews)
"Great personality. Good driver - organised our Group chat which bonded us well."
Beth, traveled in May
Duration
7 days
Destinations
Dublin, Cork, Kenmare, Killarney, Tralee, Slea Head, Dingle,Annascaul,Ring of Kerry,Cahersiveen,Valentia Island,Sneem,Lahinch,Cliffs of Moher,Burren,Galway+9 more
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Country Region
Southern IrelandIreland Wild Atlantic WayMunster+2 more
Operated in
English
Operator
Wild N' Happy
10% Off
From $2,105
US$1,894per person
Price based on Private Double Room
View tour
View Map
Explorer
Ireland in Low Season
4.8 (45 traveler reviews)
"He snoothes out any hiccups, is always cheerful and very knowledgeable."
Belinda, traveled in April
Duration
7 days
Destinations
Dublin, Kilkenny, Waterford, Cork, Blarney, Killarney,Ring of Kerry,Adare,Limerick,Cliffs of Moher,Galway,Connemara National Park,Athlone+7 more
Age Range
Ages 10+
Country Region
Southern IrelandIreland Wild Atlantic Way+1 more
Operated in
English
Operator
Expat Explore Travel
10% Off
From
US$1,305per person
Price based on Shared Room
View tour
View Map
In-depth Cultural
The Celtic Voyage - Multi-Day - Small Group Tour of Ireland
4.6 (77 traveler reviews)
"The tour was very well organised, the tour leaders were very well informed and helpful."
Sharyn, traveled in June
Duration
6 days
Destinations
Dublin, Killarney, Tralee, Annascaul, Slea Head, Dingle,Ring of Kerry,Cahersiveen,Valentia Island,Sneem,Lahinch,Cliffs of Moher,Burren,Galway+8 more
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Country Region
Southern IrelandIreland Wild Atlantic WayMunster+2 more
Operated in
English
Operator
Wild N' Happy
10% Off
From $1,802
US$1,622per person
Price based on Private Double Room
View tour
View Map
In-depth Cultural
Highlights of Ireland & Scotland
4.9 (331 traveler reviews)
"The tour provides great value for the price. To take it all in, the pace is anything but slow."
David, traveled in August
Duration
12 days
Destinations
Ireland Northern Ireland Scotland
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Operated in
English
Operator
Cosmos
13% Off
From $3,069
US$2,669per person
Price based on Private Double Room
View tour