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Key takeaways
Ireland is a safe and peaceful destination, ideal for solo travelers seeking a welcoming environment.
Budget-friendly transportation options like buses, trains, and taxis make exploring Ireland hassle-free.
Solo travelers can enjoy Ireland year-round, with late autumn (November to mid-December) providing a unique experience.
Table of Contents
Why choose Ireland for solo travel?
Ireland is a magical land offering respite from cosmopolitan cacophony with a pleasant temperature all year round that sets the mood for an epic adventure.
Book cheap flight to Ireland
Safety
Ireland has been consistently ranked as one of the world’s safest and most peaceful places in the Global Peace Index (GPI), making it an ideal destination for solo travelers. The social culture and nature of the Irish people place a strong emphasis on integrity and respect.
Ireland also ranks as one of the top 15 countries in the Women, Peace, and Security Index Score (2023/24) list by Georgetown University (WPS). A high rank on the WPS Index means that people also rank high in human development, governance, and more. This mutual trust and respect among the Irish people gives solo travelers a sense of ease and security, ensuring their journey to the Emerald Isle will be fulfilling.
Culture & nature
When it comes to the Emerald Isle, nature cannot be separated from the culture. Whether your first introduction to Ireland was with the Vikings or the tales of naughty little leprechauns and witty faes, or modern Netflix rom-coms set in Ireland or Game of Thrones—the Republic of Ireland has magic peppered all over for everyone and then some.
Irish people will welcome you with open arms, tell you about their lores and tales, and leave you with an essence of Erin go Bragh till the end of time.
Every element of nature, from the sea to the trees, influences the Irish culture. The traditional Aran sweaters that were once a mere Irish fisherman’s staple are now considered to be the ideal example of cozy knitwear à la Chris Evans in the movie Knives Out. When in Ireland, you can buy these comfortable knitwear from brands like Westend Knitwear or Ireland’s Eye at any Galway Market.
If Northern Ireland epitomizes the environment being knitted into lifestyle, then the Republic of Ireland presents an ideal paradigm of how people have immortalized nature and the environment to live on forevermore in art, literature and Guinness.
W.B. Yeats once said, “There are no strangers here, only friends you haven’t met yet. …” The cozy sense of familiarity and community usually attested to in pubs is a testament to the Irish congeniality you can be a part of by visiting any pub in Dublin.
How to plan your solo travel to Ireland?
Visa and travel requirements
Ireland offers visa exemptions for countries like the EU, EEA countries, and Switzerland. The first step of your solo travel prep will be to check if your passport falls within these categories. If not, you can apply for a short-stay ‘C’ visa, that is, the Ireland tourist visa, to pursue your solo travel to Ireland.
When packing for your trip, make sure all your travel documents are complete. Check that your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay in Ireland. Print out your proof of accommodations, and keep your departure and return tickets handy to show upon arrival in Ireland.
Budget and transportation options
Expenses on solo traveling across Ireland vary depending on your transportation and lifestyle choices. Ireland has buses, taxis, trains and ferries connecting the big cities with the small towns and bucolic villages.
With a prepaid bus card like Leap Visitor Prepaid Card, you can avail all Dublin Bus and Airlink 747 buses and Dublin’s Luas and DART for 72 hours (3 days) from its first use at EUR 2 for a 90-minute journey and EUR 1.50 for less than 90 minutes. Irish Citylink offers coach bus service from the airport to within the city of Dublin and from Dublin to other cities and towns.
Trains can help you easily travel between cities and towns. For instance, you can pre-book Irish Rail trains to commute from Belfast to small towns like Kildare—with a standard class train ticket starting from EUR 28. You can also use Belfast Translink metro trains to travel to and from Belfast—tickets start from EUR 16.
Cabs give you the ultimate privacy and comfort. There are 2 types of cab services in Ireland, including hackneys, Small Public Service Vehicles (SPSV) that you can hail from in front of your place of accommodation, and taxis you can pre-book using the FREENOW app.
As for budgeting related to accommodation and lodging, Ireland has hotels in various price ranges, from luxurious resorts and 5-star hotels to budget hostels and aparthotels. For instance, comfortable hotel prices in Dublin start at approximately USD150 /night, County Meath at approximately USD 85/night, and Belfast at USD 102/night. If you stay back in Kildare, plush rooms are available in the quaint little town starting from USD 112.
When in Ireland, you will be able to enjoy a meal at any small restaurant, café or bistro with a budget of USD 150 or EUR 143 each day.
Top destinations for solo travel in Ireland
Considered one of the most ideal places for solo travel, Ireland has a catalog of places to visit on their solo trip to the Green Isle.
Vibrant cities
Dublin
The fair Irish city of Dublin is braced with so much character that just a flight of fancy to this place will make you want to scrapbook your way to the ol’ Dubs.
From museums, galleries, cathedrals, old campuses, theatres, and parks to actual castles and their gardens and eateries, every corner of the city has a tale to tell to anyone willing to listen.
Belfast
Heart of Northern Ireland, a neighbor of scenes that have graced our screens, busting with a vivacious music scene, possessing an equally rich history as the fair city, Linenopolis or Belfast will charm you and give you portals to travel to a world older than time itself.
Charming landscape
If you have ever found solace in an escape a fantasy book provides, the north of Ireland will bring you serenity.
Brú na Bóinne
A World Heritage Property, Brú na Bóinne is one of Ireland’s oldest and richest landscapes. The moment you are within the reach of the Bend of the River Boyne, it will feel as if this area is contributing to the Emerald in Ireland’s nickname.
Take in the eminence of space as you meander through some of its most famous prehistoric passage tombs that have been a part of Earth since 3200 BC.
Cliffs of Moher
No travel to Ireland can be complete without a visit to the Aillte an Mhothair. Take a photograph, paint a picture, write an essay, but also remember to unplug from the world when you finally reach the Geosite or the real-life Horcrux Cave.
What is an itinerary for solo travel in Ireland like?
Day 1: Arrival in Dublin
We start our journey in The Fair City or the good ol’ Dubs. After landing at Dublin Airport, you can take the bus or local taxi to the city center.
After checking into your hotel, we recommend freshening up and viewing one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Whether you have been blessed with your first Dublin daylight or evening, breathe in the moment and, perhaps, smell the coffee.
The travel plan for the first day entirely depends on you. Do you want to meet other soulful people also on a solo trip on this great UNESCO Heritage land or go head first fearlessly into the landmarks?
If you felt a thrill when Dublin was announced as the UNESCO City of Literature, we recommend finding your way to The Book of Kells and Trinity College in the Old Library of Trinity College Dublin, one of the oldest and most magnificent libraries in the world – housing over 200,000 books.
Once you have your fill of the old world and its monks and Vikings, make your way to the Front Square and Campanile to visit the modern Science Gallery and the Douglas Hyde Gallery. Engage with the exhibitions for an enriching time on your first day in Dublin. You can book your pass before your visit from the official website of Trinity College Dublin.
Alternatively, if Ireland is synonymous with a pint of Guinness in your book, then a visit to The Guinness Storehouse is a must to learn all about the man, the legend of Guines and raise a toast to Arthur Guinness at the EUR 45 brewery that started it all.
Book prior tickets to the Storehouse from the official website to ensure a smooth, perhaps even fun, STOUTie moment. Tickets start at EUR 20 for a standard experience and EUR 95 for a premium experience.
Day 2: Exploring Dublin
We start our second day in Dublin as a solo traveler promenading through the lush green of Phoenix Park—once a royal hunting ground in the 1600s and a Viking burial ground and is the largest Viking cemetery outside Scandinavia, is now open for the public on all day and at almost all hours. However, before you visit, please make sure to check the official webpage for more details on gates enclosure.
Continue your story with the Vikings at the Dublin Castle, which stands on the grounds of a Danish Viking fortress from 930AD and where the essence of Dracula was born. Take your time to enjoy a leisurely thrill through the grounds or take a guided tour of the state apartments, medieval undercroft, and the Chapel Royal.
Exploration of big castles-esque monuments continues at St Patrick’s Cathedral, dating back to the 13th century and Christ Church Cathedral Dublin, which is almost one thousand years old and attracts visitors from all over the world for its medieval appearance.
End the day on a serendipitous note by walking along the cobblestone streets of Merrion Square. Literary greats like Daniel O’Connell and W.B. Yeats once found their muses in the Georgian aura that prevails in the park and still retains much of its character to this day.
Day 3: Tracing Neolithic charm at County Meath
From the modern heart, we next move to the former seat of the High Kings of Ireland—County Meath in the North East. Trace your steps back to the roads that have been traversed by souls from a time before the pyramids at Bend of the Boyne.
Take the day to soak in the aura of the old world and experience the legacy of Brú na Bóinne, a UNESCO World Heritage Site—safeguarding Europe’s largest collection of megalithic art dotted across over 90 Neolithic monuments.
Plant the seeds of the vale’s three most spectacular Neolithic passage tomb sites in your memory garden— Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth, each with their individual folklore that will live on with you the way you experience them.
Day 4: Foraying along the edges of Northern Ireland in Belfast
Since it is simply not possible to savor Northern Ireland in all its magnificence in one trip, we are going to visit the biggest city in Northern Ireland as the penultimate destination for our trip—Béal Feirste or Belfast.
To find muses for a lifetime, travel half an hour from the heart of the city to the Antrim Castle Gardens and Clotworthy House.
With heritage and beauty that have passed the test of time for almost half a millennium, this castle and its garden present themselves like the beginning of a fairytale, along with Anglo-Dutch style canals, ponds and avenues dating back to the 17th century, 12th Century motte, Victorian Pleasure Garden, Large Parterre Gardens and the Platinum Jubilee Clockwork Garden.
If Cliffs of Moher has always been on your bucket list, we recommend moving on to the itinerary for Day 6 after your first day in Belfast to truly enmesh yourself with the otherworldly beauty.
Day 5: Relish in the irresistible allure of Belfast
For your second day in Belfast, you are free to explore what aligns with your special interest. If you are a melomaniac and an art enthusiast, you can join the Belfast Music Walking Tour that explores the city’s oldest church, pub, streets and how music has impacted the culture over time. If you are a foodie, you can join the Belfast Food Tour with Taste & Tour to experience local Irish cuisine from the best of Belfast and Edinburgh.
If you are a true history buff and want to soak in the magic of Ireland solo, then North Down Museum is a must-visit to experience the history of the area from the Bronze Age to the present day.
Walking a mere stone’s throw distance from the museum will lead you to the most charming Castle Park and the Bangor Castle Walled Garden. Once a secret garden, it is now open to the public for peaceful walks along the flowers, plants, fruit and vegetables laced with sculptures and a unique fountain.
We have all heard about City Halls and read about them in our books, but rarely do we get to see a City Hall that is also a castle. The Bangor Castle, a few steps from the North Down Museum, presents a postcard-perfect backdrop for pictures before leaving the city. Entry to the City Hall, Castle Park and the Museum are all free of charge.
Day 6: Revel in the magic of Cliffs of Moher
Board the Irish Rail from Belfast Grand Central Station to Ennis and from the Ennis bus station of Bus Éireann—board the bus from Ennis Station to Cliffs of Moher (coach park) to journey towards the last destination of this solo Irish trip—Aillte an Mhothair or the Cliffs of Moher.
Formed millions of years ago, part of the UNESCO International Geoscience and Geoparks Programme along with Burren—the Cliff of Moher Geo Park is an exquisite sight to behold.
The sea cliffs, the lakes, the caves, and the sky above all collaborate to perform the most dramatic scene you can witness outside of a Shakespearean play to remind you that Mother Nature is the original artist.
Day 7: Back to Dublin
If you have time and are a popular culture fan, we recommend taking the bus or train to Kildare to dip your toes in pop culture history before leaving the Emerald Isle.
The Museum of Style Icons in Kildare Town is one of the pop culture fanatics. Glace through an exclusive collection of authentic fashion items worn by Marilyn Monroe (black Givenchy dress—Charade), Princess Grace, Princess Diana, The Beatles, outfits worn by characters in Banshees of Inisherin, Vikings, and more.
If you want to venture through the scenes you have once watched onscreen on HBO’s Game of Thrones, we recommend checking out our dedicated article on the UK Game of Thrones filming locations.
Tips for navigating Ireland as a solo traveler
Some tips for navigating Ireland as a solo traveler from the locals of Ireland:
Cultural etiquettes
Irish people are known for their hospitality, so as fellow travelers, we must take it upon ourselves to present our best feet forward.
Remember that handshakes are a common part of greetings. Always say please and thank you whenever necessary. Keep your voice at a respectful volume when speaking on the phone. Instead of saying “what,” say “pardon, please” if you didn’t hear something.
Language barrier and useful phrases
English and Irish (Gaeilge) are the official languages in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The English spoken in Ireland is a mix of English and Irish-Hiberno-English.
If you are familiar with Irish media like Derry Girls or Vikings, you may have heard some of it before, like “c’mere till I tell you” (Could you come within an audible distance? I have something to tell you) or “You never asked if I’d a mouth on me” (You did not ask whether I was hungry).
Download a free language learning app like Duolingo at least 21 days before your travel to learn basic Gaelic. To help you get going and navigate the streets, here are some elementary Gaelic phrases you might come across when in Emerald Isle:
- Dia duit!: hello!
- Nach bhfuil an aimsir go breá?: Isn’t the weather gorgeous?
- Conas tá tú?: How are you?
- Sláinte!: cheers/good health
- Go raibh maith agat: thank you
- Brón: sorry
When is the best time to travel solo to Ireland?
A visit to Ireland right before the Winter Solstice in the late Autumn months (November to mid-December) is unparalleled by any other.
Book cheap flight to Ireland
The Geminid Meteor Shower lights up the Irish skies like ten million fireflies between mid-November and mid-late December. The golden iridescence of Brú na Bóinne during the Winter Solstice in December will show you a new face of the day star that you can forever cherish in your memory lane.
