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Ireland's Ancient East: 4-Day Plan You Can Actually Drive
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The 4-day version for June: every day fits real transit, opening hours and daylight. Prefer more or fewer days? 3-day plan · 4-day plan · 5-day plan · best time to go.
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4
days
205 km
distance
9.2 h
driving
25
curated stops
💡 Good to know for this plan
- ~16.7 hours of daylight in June — the plan keeps days inside a realistic window.
- Wicklow's gorse blazes yellow, monastic sites stay open late, and the Newgrange tour queue is a stroll rather than a siege.
Day 1 Drogheda & the Boyne Valley → Dublin
- Transit
- 2h26
- Finish
- ~17:40
- Temperature
- 10.8°C–16.4°C
- Rainy days
- ~11
- Daylight
- 16.7h
09:00
10:35
12:00
12:50
Salthouse Brasserie facebook.com
Savor European dishes in a lively atmosphere in the heart of the town.
60 min · Drogheda & the Boyne Valley
open: M-Th 8:30AM-3PM, F Sa 9AM-5PM, Su 10AM-5PM
14:50
Echoes of history resonate through medieval stone and grand rooms.
50 min · Dublin · Guided tour €12, apartments alone €8
open: Daily 10AM-5:15PM
15:50
Viking roots and soaring architecture define this ancient site.
50 min · Dublin · Adult €11.50, conc €10, child €4
open: Apr-Sep M-Sa 9:30AM-7PM, Su 12:30-14:30PM & 4:30-7PM; Oct-Mar M-Sa 9:30AM-5PM, Su 12:30-2:30PM
16:50
Lions, tigers, and native species roam in habitats for all ages.
50 min · Dublin · Adult €24, conc or child €18
open: Daily 9:30AM-6PM
Overnight: Dublin
e.g. Camac Valley Caravan and Camping Park · Ashling House
Day 2 Around Dublin
- Transit
- 0h36
- Finish
- ~16:20
- Temperature
- 10.8°C–16.4°C
- Rainy days
- ~11
- Daylight
- 16.7h
09:30
Stone walls hold the weight of Ireland’s turbulent past.
50 min · Dublin · Adult €8, senior €6, child or student €4
open: Daily 9:30AM-5:30PM
10:30
11:30
12:30
Walk through the historic headquarters where rebels read the 1916 Proclamation.
50 min · Dublin · Adult €17, conc €15, child €8.50
open: M-Sa 10AM-5PM
13:30
Visit Dublin's Catholic cathedral, built after centuries of forbidden practice.
50 min · Dublin
open: Daily 9AM-5PM
14:30
Wander through a lush cemetery filled with history and iconic graves.
50 min · Dublin · Tour adult €14, conc or child €12
open: Daily 9AM-5PM
15:20
Bewley's Café bewleys.com map ↗
Savor classic coffee in a stylish, iconic Dublin café frequented by celebrities.
60 min · Dublin
open: M–F 8AM–6:30PM, Sa–Su 9AM–6:30PM
Overnight here
e.g. Camac Valley Caravan and Camping Park · Ashling House
Day 3 Glendalough & Wicklow
- Transit
- 2h29
- Finish
- ~17:25
- Temperature
- 10.4°C–16.1°C
- Rainy days
- ~11
- Daylight
- 16.7h
10:30
Clara Lara Funpark claralara.ie map ↗
Enjoy tree houses, rope bridges, and water slides in a lively outdoor park.
90 min · Glendalough & Wicklow · Adult €22, child €30
open: May Sa Su 10:30AM-6PM, Jun-Aug daily 10:30AM-6PM
12:20
13:20
14:20
15:20
16:35
Overnight here
e.g. Lynhams of Laragh · Glendalough Glamping
Day 4 Kilkenny
- Transit
- 3h43
- Finish
- ~17:30
- Temperature
- 9.6°C–17.8°C
- Rainy days
- ~12
- Daylight
- 16.6h
11:05
Kilkenny Castle kilkennycastle.ie read more
Admire splendid Norman architecture and Victorian interiors in this restored castle.
50 min · Kilkenny · Self-tour adult €8, conc €6, child €4
open: Daily 9:30AM-5PM
12:10
13:35
15:35
16:40
Callan read more
Visit the Norman Motte-and-bailey and the ruins of an Augustinian Friary.
50 min · Kilkenny
🔍 Check before you book
Every stop is a real, sourced place, but opening hours change, roads close and businesses move. Check anything you're paying for before you book.