Updated December 2024–Some of the best tools for planning a vacation to Ireland can be found on your smartphone.
No matter when you’re thinking of taking a vacation in Ireland or anywhere else for that matter, the success of that vacation often comes down to successful planning.
These days, planning includes more than just deciding what to wear.
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It almost always includes using some digital tools to help with airfare, checking out the weather, researching the best and cheapest accommodation, and generally scoping out the places you intend to visit in advance.
Here are some of the best tools for planning a vacation to Ireland in 2025 that you should know about.
Apps to Help You Save Money on Flights and Accommodation
Since the cost of your flight is often the most expensive part of your trip abroad, including one to Ireland, you should do your due diligence beforehand.
You'll find some useful apps below that are worth checking out.
Hopper
Hopper is an app that can be used for both airline and hotel searches and is among one of the best tools for planning a vacation to Ireland.
It recently added the ability to search for rental cars as well.
The sustainable-friendly company searches by looking through years of historical flight pricing data and then determines whether buying now or, say, three months down the road, is likely to be the best use of your money.
The way it works is that you tell the app when and where you want to go and it then shows you a calendar with price breakdowns of round-trip fares to your preferred destinations (or hotel rooms if that's what you're looking for).
You can either book the flight right there and then or you can watch it.
Hopper will keep you informed if it goes up.
If you are flexible with your travel dates, this is definitely a good app to use.
The app currently has data on over 2 million properties worldwide, according to its website, so it is definitely something you should check out if you are looking for hotels in Ireland.
If you’ve already booked your fare to Ireland but you are still in the planning stages, you’ll obviously want to check out accommodation at your destination.
To check out potential hotels in a city such as Dublin, all you need to do is input your arrival and departure dates into the Hopper app.
It will then ask you to choose a “star rating” hotel so that it can give you the hotels that best match your budget.
Once it has loaded the details, you can browse from the many options available and then choose to watch and unlock potential hidden rates.
Some of those hidden rates include package deals, member rates, pre-purchased inventory blocks, and more.
You can also get an immediate discount on a hotel stay with “carrot cash.”
The app allows you to not only search by city, but also by neighborhoods within a city and by inputting your specific interests.
Take $25 off your hotel reservation when you sign up with Hopper. Click on the link below to get the special Ireland on a Budget savings code.
Sign up for Hopper
Kiwi
While this app is most frequently used for researching/booking flights, it can also be used to book accommodation through its partnership with Booking.com.
Based in the Czech Republic, Kiwi's claim to fame is that they can combine flights and other forms of transportation into a single booking, all for a low price.
It's definitely worth looking into since it has a large database of different flight, bus and train schedules.
Other apps to use when searching for airfares include Skyscanner, Kayak, Momondo, Expedia, Agoda, WayWay and others.
Read More: Plan Your Ireland Itinerary with these 10 Locations in Mind
Hotel Tonight
Looking for accommodation at the last minute in popular cities like Dublin is not something I recommend since many hotels may not be available, and they tend to be more expensive.
However, if you are stuck and are desperately seeking accommodation at the last minute, using the Hotel Tonight app is worth a look since it’s geared primarily to last-minute travelers.
Owned by Airbnb, the app categorizes hotel rooms into basic, luxe, hip, charming and solid.
Be sure to take advantage of the app’s “daily drop feature,” where you will find specially priced deals that are only valid for 15 minutes after they’re unlocked.
The app also includes access to the Hotel Tonight loyalty program, HT Perks.
Booking.com
There's really no shortage of booking apps online, but perhaps the most familiar one to most travelers is Booking.com.
What's nice about Booking.com — either on desktop or for our purposes here, the app, is that you can find a wide range of accommodation, everything from camping sites to 5-star luxury hotels.
According to the Booking.com website, it has a reported 28 million listings worldwide, so there's definitely lots to choose from.
While the website or app interface may seem a bit overwhelming at first, it's best to take your time while researching accommodation.
You won't be able to see any results until you add your travel dates first.
Be sure, also, to apply specific filters to your search efforts such as health and safety, star ratings, distance from major cities, amenities, and more.
So many people book accommodation online after seeing glossy photos of hotels and B&Bs, but they can be deceiving.
This is why it's also important to read reviews of the properties you are considering before purchasing.
Hotels.com
Hotels.com might be considered another one of the best tools for planning a vacation to Ireland, thanks to its mobile app.
You can even get a free night's accommodation after 10 stays, so if you've used it in your home country, perhaps an award is waiting for you in an Irish hotel.
Click Here for the Best Dublin Hotel Deals with Hotels.com
What's more, even if you stayed at a more expensive accommodation before, your free night will cover the price of a mid-range to expensive accommodation.
However, if you've stayed at less expensive hotels in the past and you want to avail of swankier digs in, say, Dublin, you may have to pay the difference. I suggest reading the fine print before booking.
However, you will need to be a member of its loyalty program to qualify.
Airbnb
Airbnb is a popular choice for many people looking to vacation in Ireland. While you can book accommodation on a desktop computer, the Airbnb app is a convenient way to look for places to stay.
The app is particularly useful when you’re on the road in between stays as you can access your bookings under the “Trips” tab, where you can view your reservation, contact your host, or even change it if you have to.
The app also gives you access to local experiences at each destination, including tours, shows, concerts and more.
Read More: 8 Heritage Hotels in Ireland that have Unique Stories to Tell
Hostelworld
If you're really looking to see Ireland on the cheap, staying in a hostel is as good as it gets.
This type of accommodation is most suited to travelers in their 20s who don't mind sharing a living space with others.
You'll find a wide variety of choices on the Hostelworld site. However, be sure to read the individual hostel reviews before you book.
You can also download the Hostelworld app on your iPhone and Android devices.
Vrbo
Some people dream of staying in a little cottage in the West of Ireland for the duration of their Ireland vacation stay.
However, you'll find more than just cottages on the Vrbo app. There's an assortment of rental properties from farmhouses to castles.
Other apps to consider when looking for accommodation in Ireland include the Travelocity, Expedia, and Hilton Honors apps.
Get Wifi in Ireland – take 10% off with code IOB10
Itinerary Planning Tools to Consider
GPSMYCITY
If you're someone who loves to plan your vacation down to the last detail, perhaps you'd like the GPSMYCITY app, which is available for download worldwide on Apple and Android devices.
If you're planning to stay in Dublin for a few days and you'd rather do a self-guided walk rather than a guided one, then this app is ideal for that and, I believe, one of the best tools for planning a vacation to Ireland.
In Ireland, you can use the app in Belfast, Cobh, Cork, Dingle, Dublin, Galway, Kilkenny, Limerick, Sligo, and Waterford.
The app includes detailed tour route maps and great navigation features that will guide you from one attraction to the next.
You can choose to follow the app's expert guides or take their suggestions and create your own custom walking tour.
Tripomatic
Another great itinerary planner that will give you free information on the city you're visiting is Tripomatic, which is available on Android and Apple platforms.
This free app is really great if you are doing a multi-city tour of Ireland and you want to plan your activities ahead of time.
Visit a City
Visit a City is another great free app if you're planning a vacation to Ireland and you want to do it on a budget.
The app, available on iOS and Android devices, is completely free to use. It features over 7,000 destinations worldwide, too.
All you have to do is type in the name of the city you plan to visit and you'll be provided with a list of popular attractions in that city, as well as day tours and trips you can take from there.
Think of this app as your personal travel guide!
TripIt
TripIt helps keep your itineraries and documents all in one place. That includes travel confirmations, flight itineraries, tickets, hotel and car rental reservations, ferry tickets, and more.
You can also share your trip plans with others, including those who may be picking you up at an airport or train station or in fact anyone else who wants to coordinate with you.
TripIt is free although you can pay $49 per year for a pro subscription, which includes perks like real-time flight alerts, security wait times, and baggage claim information.
Wanderlog
If you want to map out a day-to-day itinerary with start and end times, you might want to consider Wanderlog.
A neat feature of thef app is that you can add your own notes and any links you find elsewhere to your plan. Everything is stored offline so you can access it even when you don’t have WiFi in Ireland.
For road trips, Wanderlog estimates the time and distance it will take to get from place to place, although you should always take into consideration Ireland’s smaller roads that will take more time to navigate when planning.
You can also collaborate with friends and family as you plan your vacation itinerary with Wanderlog. It is available on the IOS and Android platforms.
Google Maps
Google Maps has been a popular navigation assistant for many years and offers not just driving directions but help finding local restaurants, accommodation and more.
However, Google Maps can also be a great free trip planning tool. You will need to use Google My Maps for that and then “Create a New Map.”
The process of creating your own map/itinerary will involve creating layers within the Google My Maps program and then adding attractions and such underneath those layers.
Here is an example of a map that I created that features distilleries in Northern Ireland.
Other Digital Tools to Consider
While Ireland’s weather can be notoriously changeable and rain will no doubt make its appearance during your vacation any time of year, it’s always good to check it ahead of time.
Checking Ireland's Weather
There are tons of weather apps out there, but I recommend you download the Met Eireann weather app before you travel.
It is available for iOS and Android devices.
It will give you the most accurate reading of the weather ahead of your vacation and of course local readings wherever you might be in Ireland.
Other apps to use when checking the Irish weather include the Google Weather App, Windy.com, and Windfinder.com.
AllTrails Hiking App
AllTrails is the most popular of the hiking apps, with 50 million users and over 450,000 trails, making it ideal for walkers, runners and cyclists.
Hiking trails in Ireland are searchable by simply inputting the name of a trail.
To get the most out of the app, however, you must create an account.
You can choose to use the free version, which is actually pretty good and gives you information like the distance and elevation of a trail, its difficulty level as well as user ratings.
The advantage of getting the paid version is that you can use the AllTrails app even if you don’t have cell service because it allows you to download trails for offline use.
Get a free trial of the app for 1 week and then only pay $39.99 for the year
Making Restaurant Reservations in Ireland
While you’re in Ireland, you’ll need to eat of course.
And while you’ll no doubt get local recommendations and other suggestions from this website, I suggest that you consider downloading the Open Table app that will help you find quality restaurants in Ireland.
Read More: The Best Food in Ireland: What's Available in Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim
Checking Currency Rates
If you want to get a handle on how much money you'll need while in Ireland the XE Currency Converter is a great app and one of the best tools for planning a vacation to Ireland.
All you need to do is plug in the currency you want to be converted and viola!
If you expect to spend approximately $150 a day in Ireland, just type that amount in the app and it will convert it into Euros for you.
You can also convert your restaurant bills and shopping expenses so you can get a grasp on your spending abroad.
The app works with all currencies and all quotes are based on the current exchange rate.
In addition to the currency exchange app, you might want to consider opening a Revolut account, which is similar to Venmo and commonly used in Ireland.
Revolut allows you to spend and transfer money in 27 currencies with no hidden fees, all at the real exchange rate rather than the marked-up rate that most banks charge.
PackPoint
If packing for a trip is stressful for you, why not take the stress out of it with the app PackPoint?
By inputting your destination, the app will tell you what to bring based on the length of your vacation, the weather in that destination and any activities that you’re planning.
PackPoint will also tell you if laundry facilities are available.
Getting Around Ireland
If you plan on using public transportation in Dublin and elsewhere in Ireland, the Transport for Ireland apps are worth downloading to your mobile device.
The TFI Live app will give you information on live Luas, and DART times in the Dublin metro area, as well as transportation options for the rest of the country. The TFI Go app can be used to purchase tickets.
Individual apps are also available for the Luas and DART networks.
If you’re taking the train anywhere in Ireland, it’s also a good idea to download the Irish Rail app, and if you are interested in getting to Belfast from Dublin, it’s useful to have the Translink app as well.
Translink is the official transportation network across Northern Ireland.
Read More: Using Public Transportation to See Ireland in 14 Days
The Leap Visitor Card
Have you heard of the Leap Visitor Card?
It's a prepaid travel card that will get you around Dublin and its suburbs without having to use cash (otherwise a requirement on buses in Dublin).
You can purchase it online or at specific locations around Dublin. If you order online, the card is delivered by regular mail. You can also decide to have the card delivered to your accommodation in Ireland before you arrive.
Fares can be up to 31% cheaper using this card.
You can also download the Leap Card Top-Up app, which can be used on an iPhone or Android device to make it easier when traveling across the city on Dublin Bus, the Luas, and the DART light train system.
If you love traveling by train, you'll want to check out The Man in Seat Sixty One, a comprehensive guide to traveling throughout Europe (and anywhere in fact) by train.
The website was created by Mark Smith merely as a hobby to showcase train travel in his native England.
Finding Taxis
While Uber is not available in Ireland, many visitors can still use the app (expect a regular taxi driver to pick you up though). However, there is another alternative called Free Now that is routinely used in cities like Dublin, Galway, Cork, and Limerick.
Simply enter a destination, choose a licensed taxi, and then tap to book.
You can pre-book a taxi with the app up to four days in advance. Pay with a pre-registered debit/credit card.
The FreeNow app is available for iPhone and Android users.
Taxis can be found without an app, too.
You'll see plenty of them at Ireland's airports, in addition to taxi ranks in large cities like Dublin.
Tipping is not necessary, but if you wish to tip, a 10 to 15 percent add-on to your fare is appropriate.
Rome2Rio
Rome2Rio is a popular search aggregator that a lot of tourists use to find public transportation routes across Ireland, although it can also be used to plan journeys by plane, ferry and car.
What’s neat about this app is that it can compare the time and cost of traveling to a destination by various modes of transportation.
If you are using this tool, I suggest that you take whatever information it gives you and then go to the proper Irish transportation websites to book your ticket, be it Bus Eireann, Irish Rail or any one of the other private bus companies in Ireland.
Additional Ireland Travel Tips
If you're renting a car in Ireland, be sure to read my blog posts on that and consider Discover Cars to compare prices.
Information on guided one-day tours of Ireland is required reading if that is the option you'll be choosing while in Ireland. Additional short tours are available on Viator, GetYourGuide and TripAdvisor.
Have you found your own best tools for planning a vacation to Ireland? Let me come know in the comments below.
