12 Day Ireland Road Trip

On a self-drive tour, Nordic Visitor supplies you with a quality rental car and a detailed personal itinerary. You act as your own tour guide and driver, and you get to pick the road trip music!

All your services will be pre-booked by your personal travel consultant at Nordic Visitor. This includes your rental car and accommodation in the UK and Ireland, along with planned activities, as specified in the itinerary.

As this is a self-guided tour, you’re welcome to stop whenever and wherever you wish along the way. Except for accommodation and booked activities, other highlights we’ve listed in the itinerary are suggestions based on Nordic Visitor favourites.

And rest assured that we’re with you every step of the way. Upon your arrival, you’ll receive personalised information, including an itinerary, hand-annotated map and our very own regional Travel Guides. Plus, you’ll have access to our 24/7 helpline during your trip should you need to contact us.

Yes, you can customise this tour online. During the booking process, you can add extra nights to your itinerary as well as optional day trips, excursions and upgrades. 

If you have something specific in mind, please let your travel consultant know at the time of booking. They'll see what they can do to accommodate you. 

Yes, we highly recommend adding optional activities and extra nights to enhance your tour. This way you can customise your trip with what you want to see and do most.

We recommend adding them now to secure your spot, as popular excursions often sell out. And we suggest booking no more than one additional activity per day for the best experience. You can also add up to 3 extra nights at the beginning or end of your tour.

You can add optional activities and extra nights to your tour in the booking steps.

If you’d prefer extra nights in the countryside or other locations, please speak with one of our Travel Consultants who can recommend the best itinerary to suit your needs.

To find out which dates you can start your trip on, navigate to the "Find your price" section on the tour's page. Under "Tour start date", you'll see a calendar symbol. Select this and you'll see all the available dates to start your tour.

If you can't select a certain day, this means there are no departures available then. In that situation, please get in touch and one of our travel consultants will look into the options for you.

So when do you check in? And what can you expect upon landing in Ireland?

After picking up your luggage, make your way to your accommodation in the Dublin city centre. We recommend one of the airport buses or to hop in a taxi.

For a smooth and easy journey, we’ll be happy to arrange a private transfer to your accommodation for an additional fee. This means a driver will be waiting for you at the airport when you land to take you directly to your hotel. Just let your travel consultant know if you’d like to add this service.

Check-in times vary between hotels and guesthouses, but it normally starts between 2–4 PM.

You are welcome to request an early check-in for an additional fee. Although this isn’t always available, you’ll be able to store your luggage at the hotel if you have to wait. Please contact your travel consultant well in advance of your arrival if you’d like an early check-in.

You’ll pick up your rental car in Dublin city centre. You’ll also return it to the same place.

Transfers between your hotel and the rental car office are not included in your package, so you’ll need to organise these yourself. A taxi is the quickest and easiest option, but you could also take public transport or walk. Whichever route you take, hotel reception will be able to guide you.

There is no maximum age, but our car rental partner has some requests for those 75 and older.

If you are between 75 and 79, you should be driving regularly. You will also need to provide 2 letters:

1. One from your doctor to state that you have been in good health for at least the last 12 months.
2. One from your insurance provider stating that you have not had an accident in 5 years. It should also confirm that you hold a car insurance policy and are currently driving.

If you are 80 or older, please contact us directly. We’ll look at alternatives for you.

This applies to all those who want to drive on your self-drive trip.

The roads in both the UK and Ireland are usually in good condition all year long and are renowned for their road trip worthiness.

Please be aware that in these 2 countries motorists drive on the left side of the road (and on the right side of the car). If you are not used to driving on the left, we highly recommend choosing a vehicle with automatic transmission for your self-drive tour.

If you want a manual transmission vehicle, keep in mind that you will need to shift gears with your left hand (floor pedals are the same).

Drivers will need to get used to the narrower roads of the UK and Ireland as well as the rural single-track roads. If you meet another driver on one of these single-track roads, one of you needs to tuck into a passing place, which might be behind you. In these areas, you should also be careful of animals on the road.

It’s also a good idea to plan how you will navigate around ahead of time. Your travel consultant will prepare a detailed hand-annotated map of your route to help you stay on track.

We also recommend using navigation apps on your phone, such as Google Maps. Make sure to download the routes ahead of time, in case you don’t have signal in the more rural areas.

For inexperienced drivers who still want to explore and discover the UK and Ireland, we recommend one of our small guided group tours or private tours. On these tours you’ll have a local, experienced driver at the wheel.

During your tour, you’ll spend some time in Northern Ireland. This is a separate region from Ireland, and in fact is one of the 4 nations that make up the United Kingdom. This means that UK law applies here, and their currency is the British Pound.

Just like their Celtic neighbours, the official language of Northern Ireland is English, though you may hear Irish Gaelic or other dialects spoken here. The capital of Northern Ireland is Belfast, a port city with plenty of its own history and culture.

When you depart may depend on the time of your return flight. Check out early if you’re heading to the airport for a morning flight. On the other hand, if you’re flying home later in the day, you might like to enjoy a leisurely day or visit one more attraction.

You will need to check out from your room, but will be able to store your luggage at the hotel reception. Simply return later to collect your bags before catching public transport or a taxi to the airport.

During your UK and Ireland tour, you’ll stay in accommodation hand-picked by our local travel experts. We’ve partnered with local businesses and selected hotels, B&Bs and guesthouses based on excellent ratings, comfort and our personal experience.

For this package, you can choose from single or double rooms. Twin, triple and family rooms are not commonly available in the UK and Ireland. Please also note that local room types are based on European standard sizes, which means they are smaller than in North America.

For example, a double room often consists of 2 single beds pushed together. And single rooms are often smaller than the standard double.

Due to the historic nature of the properties we usually select, most of the rooms are only accessible by stairs. Lifts are not always common in British and Irish hotels. Please let us know as soon as possible if you are not able to walk up stairs.

Air conditioning is less of a given here than in many other parts of the world. Our summers are usually mild enough that most places don’t need it.

Some hotels do offer air-conditioned rooms, but many of our partners are historic properties and smaller guesthouses. They keep things comfortable the traditional way: with fans and windows that open to let the breeze in.

Good news for the road: your touring vehicle, transfers, and rental car (whichever is relevant to your tour) all come with air conditioning or climate control. So however warm it gets outside, the journey itself stays comfortable.

Between June and September, you might catch the odd warmer spell, and some accommodation may feel a little cosier than you’re used to on those days. But fear not, evenings almost always bring things back down to a comfortable level. Pack a few layers, embrace the occasional sunny surprise, and you’ll be all set.

On your road trip around the UK and Ireland, you should budget for petrol costs of around £1.40–£1.70 per litre in the UK. In Ireland, it will be closer to €1.70–€2 per litre.

Your breakfast is included at all your accommodation in the UK and Ireland. For the rest of your food, your spending money will depend on the standard of restaurants you decide to go to.

In the UK, we recommend budgeting between £15–£20 per person for each day’s lunch.You can expect to pay a similar range in Euros for Ireland. Dinners at casual restaurants here might cost between £30–£40. In Ireland, this will be around €20–€25. 

Meanwhile at upscale restaurants, you can expect to pay £50–£80 (€50–€100) or more. This does not include the cost of alcoholic beverages.

Whether or not you need a visa to visit the UK and Ireland depends on your nationality.

From 2025, you need either a visa or an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to enter the UK. This also applies to citizens from countries such as the USA, Canada, Australia and the EU.

This does not apply to Ireland, but if you’re staying in Northern Ireland (which is part of the UK) or transferring via a UK airport, you’ll also need an ETA.

You can find the complete list of countries whose nationals require a visa to enter each country on the website of the UK government and the website of Ireland’s Citizens Information Board.

Your passport must also be valid for at least 6 months after the date of your departure (the end of your tour). It’s a good idea to check your passport expiry date early in case you need to renew it.

There are limited laundry facilities in the UK and Ireland’s countryside. You will find some laundrettes in cities like London, Dublin and Edinburgh. Some hotels do offer dry cleaning for an additional cost.

We’re here to help make sure your trip goes well – and that includes eating well. Just let us know your dietary requirements when you book and your travel consultant will factor them in from the start. Whether that’s an allergy, intolerance, lifestyle choice, or anything else. Breakfast is included at your accommodation each day, and we’ll make sure your needs are flagged in advance. Typical breakfast spreads include baked goods, cheese, jam, yoghurt, cereal, fresh fruit, juice, and coffee, so there’s usually a good range to work with. For lunches and dinners, most places are used to accommodating different requirements. Just let the waiting staff know when you arrive.

Vegetarian options are widely available, and gluten-free awareness has grown significantly in recent years. Vegans may find it more of a patchwork depending on the destination, but easier in cities and larger towns, patchier in rural areas. If you have a severe allergy, it’s always worth communicating this clearly and, where relevant, having a short written note explaining your needs in the local language. We’re happy to help you put one together before you travel.

Yes, we highly recommend getting travel insurance for your trip.

There are numerous insurance providers online, offering policies with varying levels of coverage. These will protect your finances in the event of illness or other medical emergencies, lost or damaged luggage, flight cancellation, trip curtailment, theft and much more.

All packages starting in Ireland are billed in Euros (EUR), the local currency.

Prices displayed in other currencies are indicative only and based on the daily exchange rate. This means conversions from EUR to other currencies will fluctuate from day to day.

When you book this tour, we’ll ask for a 10% deposit to secure your spot. Then you’ve got plenty of time – the rest is due 30 days before you arrive.

Here’s a tip: if you pay a 20% deposit instead, we’ll include our cancellation protection at no extra cost. It's there to give you breathing room if your plans need to change.

Booking last minute? If it’s less than 30 days until your trip, we’ll need the full payment upfront.

Want to know more? Check out our payment and cancellation terms or just get in touch – we’re here to help.

Your remaining balance is due 30 days before your arrival date. Apart from the deposit, all remaining payments are managed through our Customer Portal. On this portal, you also have the option to split your payments if preferred.

It’s best to book as soon as you can to secure your preferred travel dates. Once you have picked your tour, check the availability calendar to see which months are open for booking. Then, select the date you want and complete your booking. 

Nordic Visitor offers 10–20% deposits so you can reserve your trip as early as it’s convenient for you. The remaining balance is due 30 days before you travel. 

Many tours are also open for the following year if you like to plan well ahead. And if you have any questions or need advice, you can always contact us. 

After booking your tour package online, you will be contacted within 2 business days by your own dedicated travel consultant. They will be your point of contact for all your travel needs before, during and even after your trip. 

We aim to complete bookings within a few weeks. During this time we take care of booking your accommodation, activities, and transport, confirming all parts of your journey. Once this is done, your travel consultant will provide you with all the details of your trip. 

When we get back to you might depend slightly on how far ahead you’ve booked your travels and other tours running at the time. 

You can get in touch with our UK and Ireland travel experts ahead of your trip if you have any questions. The live chat option is useful for getting a quick reply as someone answers live every day during office opening hours.

Once you’ve booked, we’ll provide you with travel guides packed full of local tips and top attractions for your visit. You can also check out our online regional Travel Guides where we’ve compiled useful information about topics, including:

• Which credit cards are widely accepted in the UK and Ireland
• What kind of electric adapters or converters you’ll need in the UK and Ireland
• The native languages of Ireland and Scotland that you might hear alongside English
• As well as tipping, local news sources and other useful information

Once your tour is confirmed, we’ll get to work. Over the following weeks, we’ll put together your itinerary, reserve your accommodation and lock in all your services.

When everything is in place, we’ll send your travel documents by email – so you can read, plan, and get excited for your trip.

Then, when you arrive at your destination, a welcome bag will be waiting for you. Inside: hard copies of your personalised itinerary, our exclusive Travel Guide, and all your service vouchers. Everything you need, right when you need it.

By booking with Nordic Visitor, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that there’s always someone there for you throughout your trip.

For support and advice during the day, you can call our office. And if anything unexpected happens outside working hours, you can reach us on our 24/7 helpline. 

During your tour, there will always be a travel expert on call to handle any unforeseen situations, such as unusual weather or events.

No need! Nordic Visitor is already working on offsetting the estimated carbon footprint of your package. We’ve partnered with an environmental fund in Iceland to carbon offset all our tours.

Carbon offsetting your international flights is not included, but we highly recommend you look into possibilities with your airline or directly through a local environment fund.