The Emerald Isle might not be your first thought of a "quick getaway" but if you're ambitious, it's entirely possible! My final spring break during college, instead of going somewhere warm and sunny, I decided to fly off to the cold, grey, & wet climates of jolly ol' England & The Republic of Ireland. We won't touch on England in this guide but that's the back story of how I pulled off my three day sprint. 

Three Days in Ireland

Day One - Explore Dublin

Breakfast

You can do this at your hotel if it's included or find yourself a cute little cafe or convenience store.

Journey to the City Center

We stayed outside of the city center at Maldron Hotel, which I highly recommend! The rooms were quite nice! We were also able to take buses from here into downtown. You'll want to buy a Leap Visitor Card for unlimited rides if you decided to take public transit rather than renting a car. These can be purchased at the airport or pre-ordered if you have enough time.

Lunch at Harkins

This is an adorable restaurant & pub right by the Guinness Storehouse! They have classic Irish dishes which are incredibly comforting. I had their cottage pie & I continue to rave about it to this day!

Guinness Storehouse Tour

Head here after your lunch for an amazing tour of the Guinness Storehouse! Even if you're not a stout person, this is a huge part of the city you can't miss. Take a photo with the Guinness wall, see the legendary 9000 year lease, & enjoy a complimentary Guinness (with the cost of your ticket) in the sky bar! You get a great view of Dublin from up there and did you know that dark stout isn't the only thing Guinness makes? There's actually many other beers to try, but I do recommend getting the stout, it's so smooth! If you don't drink, you can also get a non-alcoholic beverage.

Jameson Distillery Tour

The main Jameson Distillery I learned is actually in Cork, but Dublin still has a location where you can learn all about this triple distilled whiskey! The tour guide here was very knowledgeable and friendly and the tour was quite interactive. They sell a special bottle you can only buy at this location, if that's up your alley, otherwise you do get a complimentary drink after your tour!

Dinner at Temple Bar

I'm fully aware how cliche this is, but with only three days we're hitting the tourist hot spots! This place was packed, but it was a great experience. I ordered the Irish Christmas Classic sandwich with a Guinness, and was very content. They also played an Irish folk version of "Country Road" and it was magical. Don't forget to get a picture in front of the building!

Day Two - Day Trip to the West Coast

We booked a day trip through TripAdvisor with Wild Rover Tours & I can't recommend it enough!

Grab Breakfast & Hit the Road

We took a large tour bus on a four-hour drive to the other side of the country! It left around 7am, so be prepared for an early morning! 

The Cliffs of Moher

These are some of the most beautiful, natural landscapes I've ever seen in my life! You can walk all along the edge to take in the breath taking sights. There's a section specially gated off, so you won't literally fall off the edge of the cliff. However, there's also an area where there aren't guards up, which you can go to, but there's a safety warning if you make that trek. I did go beyond and recommend it, just do be careful! There's also a visitor center so don't worry if you need the bathroom at any point.

Walking Tour of Galway

Since we booked a tour, our guides took us around the city, but if you do this solo, just pop around & take in the views! This is a beautiful little town and if you're a fan of Ed Sheeran, he actually filmed his music video for "Galway Girl" here!

Lunch at Finnegan's

This restaurant was suggested to us by our tour guides, but of course go where it looks good to you! I ordered the Traditional Irish Stew and quite liked it, they were also very generous with their portions.

Back to Dublin

Hop back on the bus or drive back to Dublin! We were dropped off back in downtown Dublin at the end of our day.

Dinner at The Celt

This restaurant was also recommended to us by our tour guides as we departed & I'm glad it was! This place was bustling with people and music and was a really great time. I ordered the Half Roast Chicken and a Guinness to finish off my last full day! 

Day Three - Last Minute Stops

Breakfast

Grab one last bite at your hotel or somewhere local.

Final Exploring in Dublin

Personally, I had a 10am flight to catch so I took the Airport Express bus first thing in the morning. However, if you have more time, check out any last minute places you want to see but keep an eye on the clock so you don't miss your flight!

Fly Home

Get to the airport on time so you don't miss your flight home! Look back at all your pictures and reminisce about a crazy packed few days in the Emerald Isle!