Updated August 2024–Before you come to the island of Ireland, there are some things you should know, including important visitor information, so that your vacation is hassle-free and safe.
Passport/Visa Requirements
Check to make sure that your passport is valid for your entire stay in Ireland. If it is due to expire before you return to your home country, you will obviously need to renew your passport before you leave for Ireland.
All new applications and passport renewals for US citizens can be accessed through this website.
Most people traveling to Ireland do not need to apply for a a tourist visa. However, there are some exceptions.
They include citizens of Bahrain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Montenegro, Oman, People's Republic of China, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Republic of North Macedonia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Thailand, Turkey, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.
More information on the Short Stay ‘C' Tourist Visa program can be found on the Irish government's immigration website.
Whether you are entering Ireland on a visa or not, your total stay should not exceed 90 days. That also includes those coming to Ireland on business.
Currency
Like the other 18 countries in the European Union, Ireland uses the Euro currency and has been doing so since Jan. 1, 2002.
There are eight different denominations of Euro coins. They include the 1-cent, 2-cent, 5-cent, 10-cent, 20-cent, 50-cent, €1 and €2 coins.
The Euro banknotes include the €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200 and €500 notes.
You can exchange your currency at the airport. However, the rates are often higher, which doesn't make this an economical way of getting cash.
You can certainly bring a small amount of Euro with you that you can get from your bank at home, but there is no need to carry large sums of cash on you when traveling to Ireland.
Most banks will only provide you with foreign currency if you have a bank account with them. However, TD Bank is an exception, offering access to 55+ foreign currencies that can be ordered in person or online.
If you are a member of AAA, you can also order foreign cash without incurring a fee. AAA provides access to 80+ foreign currencies, which is delivered within a matter of days depending on the shipping options that you choose.
Monetary transactions in Ireland, like many countries across the world, are largely done by bank card, although you may need cash for certain incidentals and a taxi cab or two if the driver insists on cash.
You'll find ATMs all across the country. I suggest that you use a bank card that will not charge you a foreign transaction fee.
I personally recommend the Charles Schwab debit card, which refunds you any fees that are incurred whether you use it at home or abroad. This is the card that I use here in the U.S. and in Ireland.
In Northern Ireland, the unit of currency is the British Sterling. The denominations of coins in the British pound system include the 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1 and £2 coins.
Notes are available in £5, £10, £20 and £50 denominations.
To check the currency exchange rate before you leave, I suggest you download the XE Currency Converter, which provides live updates on rates and also allows you to store and view them when you're offline.
If you are traveling to Northern Ireland, simply wait until you get there and take money from an ATM. If you must get Sterling while in the Republic of Ireland, go into any post office since banks won't issue foreign currency unless you have an account with them and in that case, you need to order it in advance.
Measuring System
The Republic of Ireland uses the metric system (the measurement of alcohol is still in pints, however) and Northern Ireland, like the remainder of the United Kingdom, uses the British Imperial system for measuring distance, speed, and liquid quantities.
Most of the government agencies, as well as British commerce and other industries, use metric units.
On all of Ireland’s roads, everything is measured in kilometers and speedometers are also measured this way.
In Northern Ireland, distance is measured in miles.
One mile is equal to 1.609 kilometers.
Electricity
In Ireland and Northern Ireland, the standard voltage is 230V on a 50Hz frequency.
This is a piece of key visitor information that you should know especially if you want to use electronic devices while traveling around Ireland.
The average plug has 3 square pins in it and is known as a Type G plug.
If you are coming from the U.K. and other parts of Europe, Australia and indeed most of Asia and Africa, you can use appliances like hairdryers, straighteners and shavers without issue since the voltage is the same as the one in Ireland.
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If you are traveling from North America, you will need either a worldwide plug adaptor or a power or voltage converter depending on the electrical device you want to use.
For example, hairdryers, straighteners and curling irons purchased in the U.S. and in Canada cannot handle 230 volts of electricity, which is why you will need a transformer/converter to ”step down” the voltage and get them to work in Ireland and Northern Ireland.
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Most mobile phones, iPads and other modern devices can handle that voltage. But just to be sure, take a look at the sticker on the product. You should see something like, “100V-240V“ or “110V-220V.“
If your device is compatible with Ireland’s voltage power, then all you need is a worldwide plug adaptor like the one mentioned above and that will fit into an Irish outlet, thereby allowing you to use your devices as you normally would.
Driving in Ireland – Road Signs
Driving in Ireland can be confusing for visitors from North America, mainland Europe and other places where they normally drive on the right side of the road.
In Ireland, as in England, driving takes place on the left.
If you decide to rent a car in Ireland, you'll need to familiarize yourself with Ireland’s many road signs.
Tourist signs are usually brown with white lettering while other signs for various destinations throughout Ireland might be on white signs with black lettering or more recently, on green backgrounds with white lettering.
You will frequently see the names of towns and cities in the Irish language. Don’t fear. They will also be translated into English.
Tourist information signs in Northern Ireland are also brown with white lettering. Regular road signs with the names of towns and cities in Northern Ireland are on green signs with white lettering.
The speed limit in Ireland is measured in kilometers and varies depending on what kind of road you are driving on.
In urban areas, it is 50 kph (31.07 miles per hour); on open roads, it is 80-100 kph (49.71 to 62.14 miles per hour); and on dual carriageways and motorways, it is 120 kph (74.56 miles per hour).
In Northern Ireland, the speed limit is measured in miles per hour.
In towns and cities, it is 30 miles per hour (45 km); on open roads, it is 60 miles per hour (95 km) and on motorways, it is 70 miles per hour (110 km).
Getting Around Ireland on Public Transportation
If you are not renting a car or using the services of a private tour company, you'll want to look into Ireland's train and bus systems.
To get around by bus, you should become familiar with the bus routes operated by Bus Eireann.
To view bus journeys across the country, I recommend you get the TFI Live app. Once you know the route, you can purchase the appropriate tickets on the TFI Go app or you can buy a ticket at most bus stations or even on the bus.
TFI stands for Transport for Ireland.
If traveling by train, Irish Rail (in the Republic) will be your go-to service.
In Northern Ireland, the bus and train services are managed by Translink.
WiFi in Ireland
Accessing WiFi in Ireland is an important facet of visitor information that you should know about.
While it’s possible to get free WiFi in Ireland, such as in Irish airports, restaurants, coffee shops and pubs across the country, having continuous WiFi while you travel isn’t possible unless you purchase an international usage plan from your mobile phone carrier or you rent a personal WiFi device like the one that a company like Wificandy provides.
You can rent a WiFicandy device for as little as three days or for as long as two weeks.
In addition to the device, you can also purchase the Powercandy add-on and product protection that comes with a 20,000 mAh powerbank, a car charger, a universal travel adapter and a USB cable. The additional cost is €25.10 for the entire length of your rental.
At Dublin Airport, you can pick up your WiFicandy device at the SPAR store right outside the Terminal 2 Arrivals Hall.
Immediately after leaving the baggage area and upon entering the Arrivals Hall, you will see the Spar store to your left, as indicated in this video.
When you’re leaving Ireland, simply put the device in the packaging that’s provided and drop it in the collection box in Dublin Airport's Terminal 2 (between Cafe Nero and the Arrivals Gate located at Level 1). You should do this before heading to the departure gates.
WiFicandy is easy to use and syncs well with either an iPhone or Android device. It can also be connected with up to 8 phones and other devices where you can get Internet access, and it can be used in Northern Ireland and beyond.
The company also offers a new eSIM service that can be used in 135+ countries.
In Northern Ireland, you’ll find a free public WiFi service in Belfast, part of the city's Super Connected Belfast scheme.
The network is available at 109 hotspots, including visitor attractions, community and leisure centers, and other public buildings.
Additional information on accessing WiFi in Ireland can be found in this blog post.
Emergency Situations
While most people visiting the island of Ireland do not encounter emergency situations, it is always good to know what to do in case of such an event.
It is wise to keep this sort of visitor information handy and accessible while you're vacationing in Ireland.
If you need an ambulance, police or the local fire department while you traveling in the Republic of Ireland, dial 999 or 112. If in Northern Ireland, dial 999 only.
The agency in charge of maintaining law and order in the Republic is called An Garda Siochana.
In Northern Ireland, the PSNI is in charge.
Tourists who are victims of a crime can also contact the Irish Tourist Assistance Service.
Support and assistance is available 7 days a week. Call 01-666-9354 or email [email protected] if you find yourself in need of help.
If your passport is stolen, you need to reach out to your country's consular office in Ireland.
For US citizens, that office is the US Embassy in Dublin, which is located at 42 Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, D04 TP03.
It’s important to realize that the US Embassy cannot assist in all situations, however.
If there is a natural disaster or a terrorist attack, God forbid, it may be able to help US citizens, but only if there are no local emergency services to help first or if there is no available transportation back home – not common given the regularity of transatlantic flights to and from Ireland on a daily basis on several carriers.
If you become ill or you are injured on Ireland’s roads or elsewhere, the US Consular Office may help find local hospitals, doctors or other medical services for you, as well as informing your family back home.
But largely, it will be up to you and those traveling with you to get the help you need.
In that case, there are a few things you can do, such as calling the emergency numbers available if you are urgently in need of care.
If you use Medicare here in the US for medical coverage, it’s important to know that, in most cases, it will not cover you in Ireland or in most foreign countries.
Some exceptions are provided on the official Medicare website.
More information on getting assistance during an emergency can be found on the US State Dept. website.
All of this is a good reminder that you should consider purchasing travel insurance when planning a vacation to Ireland.
I recommend Travel Insurance Master, a small company based in Boston that works with some of the country’s top travel insurance providers.
Safety Tips While Traveling Around Ireland
While Ireland is relatively safe, visitors should watch their belongings, especially in places like Dublin where crime is higher than in other parts of Ireland.
Here are some safety/visitor information tips to keep in mind as you travel throughout Ireland.
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- Be sure to tell your bank that you are traveling so that they can put safety measures in place when using your bank card.
- It goes without saying that you should not carry valuables on you while sightseeing. That applies to visiting any destination, not just Ireland.
- Crossbody bags are recommended when sightseeing or even in a pub or restaurant. They make ideal daypacks because pickpockets can’t snatch them or get access to your belongings as they can with over-the-shoulder bags.
- Make copies of your passport and any other important documents in the event they are stolen or lost. Store them online in Google Drive, Dropbox or another file hosting service.
- Do not walk around with your mobile phone in your back pocket or anyplace else that is visible to pickpockets.
- If your phone is stolen, having the make, model and IMEI number of your phone is useful. To obtain the number, simply dial *#06# and the number will appear on your screen. You do not have to use the call feature.
