Updated February 2025–You’ve finally decided to visit the Emerald Isle. Congratulations! But did you know that there are at least 5 things you should do before your trip to Ireland?
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No doubt it’s been on your bucket list for some time, and having spent months, maybe years researching your family history, you are excited to finally see the land of your ancestors.
But before you set foot on Irish soil, there are some things you must do to ensure that you have the best vacation ever.
Here are the 5 things you should do before your trip to Ireland that will guarantee you have a safe, enjoyable time there.
Keep this list handy as you make your plans.
1. Create an Itinerary
Ireland might be small but there is so much to do. One trip is definitely not enough!
So, in the interest of keeping yourself sane and getting the most out of your time there, I suggest that you create an itinerary.
That means choosing a section of Ireland that you would absolutely love to see and maybe a few areas close to that. You can always go back to see more another time!
Most people who visit Ireland take cues from the big tourism agencies and tour companies that plug the better-known attractions, such as Dublin, the Ring of Kerry, the Blarney Stone, the Cliffs of Moher, and other popular tourist attractions.
While there’s certainly nothing wrong with that, there are other beautiful places to explore in Ireland that are not overrun with tourists.
Ideally, you should create an itinerary that includes a specific region in Ireland, be it the Northwest, the West, the Mideast, the Cork and Kerry region, the Midlands, or any other area of the country that interests you.
You could start jotting down some ideas in this handy notebook.
Read More: Best Tools for Planning a Vacation to Ireland
When creating an itinerary, there are some places that I believe you should include. They include the following regions:
Donegal
Historically referred to as the “forgotten county,” there's lots to explore in County Donegal.
Renting a car is advised in this area of Ireland as the country's national rail system does not extend to Donegal and some of its regions are the remotest in Ireland.
However, it is still worth seeing.
One County Donegal attraction not to be missed is the Slieve League Cliffs, which are actually higher than the Cliffs of Moher. The views are absolutely beautiful from the top.
If you’re into hiking, this is a great place to start your Irish travel adventure!
Sligo
Sligo to its south is most often remembered for its connection to the Irish poet William B. Yeats, but there’s lots more to the county than that.
Did you know that Sligo is a haven for surfers?
If you like to surf or enjoy watching surfers ride the waves, then a small village in West Sligo called Easkey is where you’ll find all the action.
The place has become synonymous with surfing in the West of Ireland in recent years, along with other favorite spots, including Mullaghmore, Enniscrone, a few miles away, and Strandhill, which is closer to Sligo town.
Check out this drone video, courtesy of Dromore West Drones, of the surfing action in Easkey.
The video highlights the beauty of the region, along with historical sites such as Easkey Castle, which was built in 1207 by the O’Dowd chieftains.
Mayo
County Mayo is another county that doesn’t always get the recognition it deserves.
Westport is a lively town and has been a tourism hub for many years, but there are other, equally interesting places to visit in Mayo.
The Great Western Greenway, the longest off-road walking and cycling trail in Ireland, used to be the site of the renowned Westport to Achill railway.
It was opened by the Midland Great Western Railway in 1894 but sadly closed in 1937.
While the tracks no longer exist, the walk is a popular spot for tourists and locals alike and includes some of the most beautiful scenery in Ireland.
Bicycles can be rented from a number of companies listed here.
Other places of interest that you could include on your travel itinerary include The Burren Loop in County Clare, a 160-kilometer (99 miles) around the Burren National Park, the Boyne Valley Scenic Loop, a 190-kilometer (118 miles) that starts in Drogheda, County Louth and ends in Meath, and the Causeway Coastal drive from Belfast to Derry, approximately 250 kilometers long (155 miles).
2. Create a Packing List
I’ve talked about the importance of bringing the right gear on your trip to Ireland in another blog post on packing for your trip to Ireland.
It’s worth mentioning again that Ireland’s weather can be notoriously changeable, even in the summer months, so it’s wise to pack some rain gear and boots.
Hiking boots are a good idea if you plan on walking a lot in hilly areas or up mountains. I would recommend Merrell hiking boots for both men and women. My whole family buy this brand and find the shoes soft and breathable.
Otherwise, sneakers are great for day-to-day sightseeing. A light rain jacket is ideal during the summer months.
If you’re going in the winter, be sure to bring a warm coat, scarf, and gloves, similar to what you would wear here in the northern climes of the U.S. Snow is generally not a big issue in Ireland, but it is damp during the winter. Layering is also a good idea.
Use the Ireland on a Budget packing list to get you organized before your trip.
The kind of airline tickets you purchase will determine your choice of luggage. Many of the airlines offer discounted fares, which in turn will restrict you from bringing luggage that is over a specific weight.
This handy guide details the various requirements when it comes to carry-on baggage allowances.
Choose a suitcase that has fully-lined compartments with plenty of pockets. Bags that have space for laptops or tablets are also useful.
Younger travelers often prefer to backpack it, and I can’t blame them.
Traveling with a backpack allows you to be hands-free and most backpacks are good enough that you can wear them for several hours at a time.
3. Research Your Ancestors
In recent years, both the Irish government and the authorities in Northern Ireland have made it much easier to access ancestry records for the millions of Americans and others across the world who claim a connection to Ireland.
Many people can research their family lineage back to at least the mid-19th century without having to pay a fee, thanks to sites like Irish Genealogy, Ireland Reaching Out, The National Archives of Ireland, Ask About Ireland, the Dublin City Heritage Databases, and the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland.
Of course, talking to family members will help with your search, but these sites will undoubtedly speed it up.
The Irish Family History Centre, an affordable membership ancestry group located in Dublin, helped Tom Cruise find his Irish ancestors, as well as contributing to the search of former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, as well as Bruce Springsteen.
There is a free subscription model but you will get limited results from it.
Other paying ancestry sites include Ancestry and Find My Past.
No matter how much information you have, you can quite likely find out more once you’re on the ground in Ireland. In many cases, locals can fill in some of the blanks, and many Irish natives are more than happy to help Americans discover their heritage.
If your Irish ancestry is important to you, be sure to make this one of the 5 things you should do before your trip to Ireland.
4. Use a No-Fee Credit Card for Purchases in Ireland
Many credit card companies charge on average a foreign transaction fee of about 3 percent every time a charge is processed outside the United States.
Most consumers believe there’s nothing they can do about it and so they chalk it up to the disadvantage of purchasing goods in a foreign country.
What many people don’t realize, however, is that you can get a credit card specifically for situations like these.
Before you go to Ireland, be sure to bring a no-fee bank card. Examples include the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, the Capitol One Ventures Reward Card and the Bank of America Premium Rewards card.
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5. Tips on Adapters, GPS, and WiFi Coverage
Adapters – be prepared for Ireland’s different voltage requirements by bringing the appropriate adapter that will fit into an Irish electrical outlet. Ireland’s wall outlets deliver 230 volts/50Hz, whereas, in the U.S. and Canada, it is 110v. Plugs and sockets in Ireland have three prongs, so you’ll have to plug your devices into that adapter first since they simply won’t fit into the Irish sockets.
Most people will only need an adapter.
The only time you might need to use a converter in Ireland is if you are bringing outdated electronics or a hairdryer or curling iron that does not have dual voltage capabilities. Most new electronics are dual- or multi-voltage, meaning that they work with more than one type of electrical voltage and therefore, only require an adapter.
Navigation – some people like to use maps, while others rely on GPS to guide them. If it’s your first time driving in Ireland, I suggest you use Google Maps or Waze.
Without access to Wifi, you'll need to download various routes beforehand. In my opinion, it's easier to find your way around Ireland using a Wifi-enabled navigation tool.
WiFi Coverage – if you're ok without Wifi while in Ireland, simply turn off the cellular data option on your phone to avoid roaming fees. However, that means you won't have access to the Internet until you get to a place that offers free WiFi, such as your accommodation or in pubs and restaurants across Ireland.
Various options are available if you just can't life without being digitally connected, and you'll find all of them in a blog post about ways to get Wifi in Ireland.
Let me know in the comments section if these 5 tips were helpful as you plan your vacation to Ireland in 2025 and beyond.
