Planning a trip to Ireland? Check out these five travel hacks you’ll need to know while travelling to the Emerald Isle.
Ireland is one of the most popular tourist attractions around the world. Millions of people flock to the Emerald Isle for the intriguing culture, natural landscape, friendly people, and so much more.
Now, there are certain things you’ll want to know about that they don’t talk about in the travel guides!
So, check out these five helpful travel hacks you’ll need to know while travelling to Ireland.
5. Pack light
When embarking on a trip to Ireland, there’s no need to pack a huge suitcase or a heavy bag. Bring a comfortable rucksack with all the essentials, and you can buy everything else when you arrive.
You can wash your clothes at hotels or Airbnb’, so there’s no need to overload your suitcase with 100 outfits!
If you’re backpacking around Ireland, a lightweight and comfortable bag will be the perfect vessel for everything you need.
Having said this, be sure to pack a good quality raincoat for your trip, even in the summer. You never know when it’s going to start bucketing down in Ireland.
This way, you can save room to bring home a bunch of souvenirs from your trip, too.
4. Rent a car
Ireland is a small country compared to a lot of other popular travel destinations around the world, but a lot of the country is very rural.
As such, the best way to get around is by renting a car. Public transport in the main cities is pretty reliable, but when you rent a car, you have the freedom to travel between counties and different cities with ease and on your own schedule.
This will cut out a lot of time waiting around and will mean you get to see everything you wanted to see during your trip without having to cut anything out because of time restraints.
If you do decide to rent a car, be sure to get rental car insurance. As the roads in Ireland are very rural, tight, and bumpy, cars can take quite the beating when on the move constantly.
3. Travel outside the guides
While the top 10 and top 20 articles and guides of the best things to do and see are always great for the key attractions and sites to see in any country, be sure to travel off the beaten path on your trip to Ireland.
For example, while the travel guides suggest visiting the Cliffs of Moher, have you considered checking out the Slieve League Cliffs in Donegal?
They are actually much bigger, less crowded, and in our opinion, much more impressive than the famous Cliffs of Moher!
When you’re in Dublin, of course, have a pint in the Temple Bar, but there are tons of other, better bars to check out, too!
2. Talk to the locals
On the same note as travelling off the beaten path, chat to the locals in whatever city you’re visiting. Firstly, they’ll most likely be very friendly and bend your ear with some interesting chit-chat.
Secondly, they’ll probably give you some fantastic hidden gem recommendations for bars, restaurants and sites to see that tourists wouldn’t usually hear about!
And thirdly, you might make a friend or two for life when you chat to a local person on your visit to the Emerald Isle.
Irish people are renowned for being friendly and welcoming, so don’t be afraid to approach someone and strike up a conversation wherever you may be!
1. Don’t forget about the north
While the north and south are two different countries, don’t skip out on Northern Ireland while visiting the Emerald Isle!
The northern counties have some of the most outstanding natural beauty Ireland has to offer, like the towering intrigue of the Glens of Antrim, the mythology of the Giant’s Causeway, and some of the most stunning beaches you’ve ever seen!
If you’re planning on visiting Dublin, Belfast is only a one-hour and 30-minute drive away, so it’s well worth heading to for a day or two while voyaging through Ireland.
