Country guide
Flights to Ireland
The closest European country to the US, and a car you probably do need
Ireland is the closest European country to the United States, with flights from Boston coming in around six and a half hours. Combined with no language barrier, that makes it one of the gentlest introductions to European travel available.
It is also the country where the standard advice about not renting a car does not apply. The cities are small and the reason most people come — the coast, the countryside, the west — is not well served by public transport.
Cities we have guides for
Where to go beyond the obvious
The west coast
Galway, the Cliffs of Moher, Connemara and the Ring of Kerry. This is what most visitors picture and it genuinely needs a car. Allow several days rather than a rushed loop.
Cork and the south
Ireland's second city, with Kinsale and the coast beyond it. About two and a half hours from Dublin by train, and a good base for the south-west.
Northern Ireland
Belfast and the Causeway Coast. Note this is part of the UK with a different currency, though the border itself is open and unmarked.
The Boyne Valley and the east
Newgrange and the prehistoric sites, less than an hour from Dublin and older than the pyramids. An easy day trip that most itineraries skip.
When to go
May, June and September give the longest days and the driest weather such as it is, with lighter crowds than peak summer. Late spring is genuinely the best window.
July and August are busiest and most expensive, and the weather is not reliably better. Mid-March around St Patrick's Day is its own spike and books out early.
November to February is wet, windy and dark by mid-afternoon. The cities and the pubs hold up well; the coastal driving that is the point of an Irish trip does not.
Getting around
A car is close to essential for the west and the coastal routes. Roads are narrow, driving is on the left, and the rural lanes are tighter than most American drivers expect.
Trains connect Dublin with Cork, Galway and Belfast reasonably well, but they do not reach the scenery in between.
Coaches fill some gaps and organised day tours are a genuine option if you would rather not drive on the left.
The basics
- Currency
- Euro (EUR); Northern Ireland uses pounds sterling
- Language
- English and Irish
- Time zone
- GMT, or IST from late March to late October
- Power
- Type G plug, 230V
- Driving
- On the left, on roads narrower than most visitors expect
- Entry for US passports
- Short visits are visa-free. Ireland is not in the Schengen area, so entry is separate from continental Europe. Confirm current requirements with Irish immigration.
Before you book
Allow much more time for the flight home
Dublin has US preclearance, so you clear American immigration and customs before boarding. It is a full process and the usual airport arrival time is not enough.
You probably do want a car
Unusually for a European trip. The west coast and the countryside are the reason to come and public transport does not reach them properly.
Ireland is outside Schengen
Entry is handled separately from continental Europe, which matters on a multi-country itinerary and for any assumption about a single European entry.
Two currencies on one island
The Republic uses euros and Northern Ireland uses pounds. A trip combining Dublin and Belfast needs both.
Routes to Ireland
Flight times are non-stop estimates from great-circle distance. Actual schedules and whether a non-stop exists on your dates come from a live search.
Airport guides
FAQ
Flights to Ireland — common questions
If yours isn't here, just call — we're happy to explain.
Do I need a car in Ireland?
For most trips, yes — which is unusual for a European destination. The west coast, Connemara, the Ring of Kerry and the countryside generally are the reason most people visit, and public transport does not serve them well. If you would rather not drive on the left on narrow rural roads, organised day tours from Dublin or Galway are a genuine alternative.
What is US preclearance at Dublin?
On flights from Dublin to the United States you clear US immigration and customs at Dublin Airport before boarding, then land at a domestic gate with no arrival queue. It is a real convenience at the American end, but you must be at Dublin considerably earlier than for an ordinary international departure because the process sits inside your departure.
Is Northern Ireland part of the same trip?
It can be, and the border is open and unmarked so crossing is straightforward. But Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom, uses pounds sterling rather than euros, and falls under UK entry rules. Check your rental car agreement covers cross-border driving, as not all do.
Still have a question? We're happy to explain — just call.
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