Spoiler alert: This wasn’t the trip I originally planned—but it turned out to be everything I didn’t know I needed.
✈️ A Last-Minute Detour
This trip to Ireland came out of nowhere. Originally, I was supposed to spend a few dreamy days in Paris. But just a week before my 22-day European adventure, Paris was rocked by a terrorist attack. So my friends and I changed course, grabbed a rental car, and road-tripped through the land of a thousand welcomes instead.
Let me tell you—Ireland did not disappoint.
🍀 Day 1: Hello, Dublin
We landed in Dublin on a Saturday and headed straight to Temple Bar. Our room wasn’t ready yet, so we did the only logical thing: dropped our bags and went for a full Irish breakfast. Priorities.
After that, we bought tickets for one of those hop-on-hop-off city tours. It was November (aka freezing), but we bundled up and sat on the top deck like champs. We soaked up the city’s history and charm with chattering teeth.
That day we managed to:
- Go to mass
- Do a little whiskey tasting at the Jameson Distillery
- Visit the bakery with the best name ever: Queen of Tarts
🧁 Queen of Farts? A Night to Remember
So here’s what happened…
We weren’t sure if the bakery was walkable, so we hailed a cab. We told the driver, “Take us to Queen of Tarts,” and he looked at us like we were crazy.
Then my friend Lizzy—tired and not fully awake—says, “I’m the Queen of Farts.”
The cab driver, completely straight-faced, grabs her hand and says, “Where have you been all my life?”
Meanwhile, I’m in the back seat crying from laughing so hard. He drives us literally one block and drops us off. Worth every euro.
🚗 Day 2: Belfast Bound
Bright and early Monday morning, we hit the road. Lizzy took the wheel (on the “wrong” side of the road, mind you), and we headed to Belfast.
🖤 Classic Black Cab Tour
This was a must. Our driver took us around both Catholic and Protestant neighborhoods, showing us Belfast’s iconic murals and peace walls. He said he wouldn’t tell us his religion—but it didn’t take long to figure it out.
Even if you’re not a history buff, this tour is seriously fascinating.
🚢 Titanic Museum
You can’t go to Belfast and skip the Titanic Museum. No, Jack and Rose weren’t there—but it was wild to see where the infamous ship was actually built.
🌊 Day 3: Giant’s Causeway & Castle Goals
From Belfast, we drove to the Giant’s Causeway. It was chilly and rainy, but the views were surreal. There’s something magical about standing where legends say a giant once walked.
That night, we lived our castle fantasy and stayed at Castle Leslie.
Highlights:
- Gorgeous holiday decor
- Giant soaking tub 🛁
- A next-level dinner in the castle restaurant
- Pretending we were royalty (obviously)
🎄 Day 4: Galway Nights
Next stop: Galway, just in time for the holiday market! We wandered through twinkly stalls, grabbed drinks and dinner, and just soaked up the festive energy.
🌫️ Day 5: Fogged-In Cliffs of Moher
We saved the Cliffs of Moher (aka Cliffs of Insanity) for last. Sadly, they were completely fogged in—like, couldn’t-see-a-thing level fog.
Not gonna lie, I was bummed. But now I just have an excuse to go back! We cruised the countryside, stopped in cute towns, and ended the night with a cozy bowl of beef stew at The Irish Arms.
🐑 Final Thoughts
From castles and crepes to whiskey and wild cliffs, Ireland was full of surprises. But my favorite moments weren’t planned:
- Getting lost on winding roads
- Laughing so hard it hurt
- Stopping to take 87 photos of sheep
Travel is about those unexpected detours—the inside jokes, the near-misses, the “remember when” moments you’ll talk about for years. Ireland, you were everything. I’ll be back.
xoxo
Travel.Beach.Love.
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