5-Day South of Ireland Tour: Cork, Killarney & Galway

Ring of Kerry, Cliffs of Moher and Connemara in one loop with a guide who knows every stop.

A 5-day private guided tour of southern and western Ireland covering Cork, Killarney, Galway and the regions between them. You arrange your own accommodation in those three cities beforehand. The tour handles transportation, guiding and all driving. The itinerary includes Blarney Castle, the Ring of Kerry, Ladies View, Cliffs of Moher, Kylemore Abbey, Connemara and a whiskey tasting at Midleton Distillery. A private guide drives and narrates throughout. The vehicle includes WiFi, mineral water and air conditioning.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Dublin to Cork

• Visit Kilkenny Castle and medieval town
• Visit Waterford Crystal (ticket not included)
• Visit Midleton Distillery and sample whiskey
• Panoramic tour of Cork City

Day 2: Cork to Killarney

• Visit Blarney Castle and Gardens
• Comfort stop at Macroom
• Short stop at a charming village
• View Molls Gap of the Ring of Kerry
• Drive through Killarney National Park
• View Lakes of Killarney at Ladies View
• Walk grounds of Muckross House and Gardens

Day 3: Ring of Dingle

• View Inch Beach
• Visit Sean Daly's crystal workshop
• View Blasket Island from headland
• View site with Spanish Armada history
• Visit Gallarus Oratory early church
• Explore Dingle fishing village and shops
• View Conor Pass on return to Killarney

Day 4: Killarney to Galway

• View original Kangaroo court in Tarbert
• Cross River Shannon on car ferry
• View Cliffs of Moher
• View Galway Bay from coast road
• Visit Hazel Mountain Chocolate Factory
• View Kinvarra Bay and Galway Hooker boats
• Enjoy evening in Galway city

Day 5: Galway to Dublin

• View Connemara region
• Visit Kylemore Abbey and Victorian Garden
• Visit oldest pub in Ireland
• Arrive in Dublin

The experience

Kilkenny Castle and the medieval town open the first day on the drive south from Dublin to Cork, followed by a stop at Midleton Distillery where you sample Irish whiskey. A panoramic tour of Cork City itself closes the afternoon. From there, the route climbs toward Killarney through Blarney Castle and its gardens, then cuts through Killarney National Park to reach Ladies View: the 19th-century vantage point where Queen Victoria's ladies in waiting stood to see the Lakes of Killarney spread below. Muckross House and its grounds come next, a country estate where you can walk the gardens and traditional farms.

Day three circles the Ring of Dingle: Inch Beach, a working crystal studio run by a craftsman trained at Waterford, views of the Blasket Islands from the headland where the storyteller Peig Sayers lived, Gallarus Oratory (an early Christian church that has survived since the ancient church era), and the village of Dingle itself for craft shopping and seafood. The return crosses Connor Pass, a dramatic mountain route unless weather closes it. Day four heads west toward Galway, crossing the River Shannon by car ferry, dolphins sometimes swim alongside, and stopping at the Cliffs of Moher, the second-tallest sea cliffs in Europe. Hazel Mountain Chocolate Factory (bean-to-bar, ethical production) and Kinvarra Bay, home of the traditional Galway Hooker boats, break the journey. Galway itself is a bohemian city known for pubs and restaurants. You spend the night there. The final day returns through Connemara and Kylemore Abbey, a castle-turned-convent with a Victorian walled garden, before heading back to Dublin. A stop at Ireland's oldest pub, in continuous use since 900, rounds out the route.

The guide is a professional driver who speaks English and knows each site. The vehicle is air-conditioned and equipped with WiFi and complimentary mineral water. Tolls, taxes and parking are included. Accommodation in Cork, Killarney and Galway must be booked separately before the tour begins. Entrance fees to attractions and meals are your own cost. The tour suits travelers with moderate fitness who want to see multiple regions without arranging their own transport or navigating unfamiliar roads.

What’s included

• Private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• professional English-speaking guide.
• tolls, taxes and parking fees.
• onboard WiFi and complimentary mineral water.
• whiskey tasting at Midleton Distillery.

Options for this experience

2 options

Five-Day South of Ireland TourGuide in English · 09:00Pickup is included

Vehicle ChoiceGuide in English · 09:00Choose a Mercedes Sedan or a 7-seater, with pickup included

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to12h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 15 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Killarney Town Cars

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to see Cork, Killarney, Galway and the regions between them without driving yourself or planning the route. The private guide and fixed itinerary mean you move through five days of sites at a set pace with someone who knows each stop. You handle only accommodation and meals, and you choose which cities to stay in before you arrive.

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Top questions

What is the Cliffs of Moher and why does this tour stop there?

The Cliffs of Moher are the second-tallest sea cliffs in Europe and among the most dramatic in the world, dropping sheer to the Atlantic. The tour includes them on day four as a UNESCO-listed landmark on the route to Galway.

Do I need to book accommodation before the tour starts?

Yes. Accommodation is not included in the tour price. You must arrange and book your own lodging in Cork, Killarney and Galway before arrival. The operator can help you make those arrangements if you contact them in advance.

What happens on the Ring of Dingle day?

Day three covers Inch Beach, a working crystal studio, views of the Blasket Islands, Gallarus Oratory (an early Christian church), the village of Dingle for shopping and dining, and the return over Connor Pass. A scenic mountain route that may close in bad weather.

Is there a whiskey tasting included?

Yes. On day one, you stop at Midleton Distillery and sample Irish whiskey as part of the guided experience.

Can I travel with a disability or mobility limitation?

The vehicles are not wheelchair accessible, but the guide welcomes travelers with disabilities and will do their best to accommodate specific needs. Contact them before booking to discuss your requirements.

What's included in the price and what costs extra?

The tour includes private transportation, the professional guide, tolls, taxes, parking, onboard WiFi and mineral water. Accommodation, entrance fees to attractions (Blarney Castle, Muckross House, Kylemore Abbey, Cliffs of Moher visitor center, etc.), food and drink are not included and are your own cost.