7 Days Exploring Ireland

Arrive in Dublin and collect your rental car. Travel as far as County Meath to visit some of Ireland's most important historical and mythical sites. First stop is The Hill of Tara, then Trim Castle for lunch at Jules Restaurant. From here it's on to the passage graves of Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth at the Bru na Boinne center. Continue on towards Belfast, passing the famous Mourne Mountains in County Down. Arrive in Belfast and check into The Fitzwilliam Hotel Belfast. The Restaurant at The Fitzwilliam is ideal for dinner. Don't skip the trout and herb buttered potatoes.

Spend today exploring Belfast City. Be sure to visit the Titanic Exhibition. The Exhibition is located on the docks where the Titanic was built. City Tours Belfast has a hop on hop off bus that is an excellent option for exploring the city, but the charm of wandering Belfast is not to be missed. Afternoon Tea is the experience of a lifetime at The Merchant Hotel's The Great Room Restaurant. Make sure to hit The Vintage Kitchen for a dinner of modernized Irish dishes that is easily one of the best dinner spots in Belfast.

Travel along the Antrim Coast - this route will take you past such iconic attractions as The Dark Hedges, the Carrick a Rede rope bridge, the infamous Giant's Causeway and Dunluce Castle. You will also pass through the village of Bushmills, home of the Bushmills distillery. The Bushmills Restaurant and Bar is the perfect gastropub to grab the wild mushroom risotto for lunch. If time allows spend some time exploring the historic walled city of Derry. End your day at the magnificent Lough Eske Castle in County Donegal with dinner at Cedar's Restaurant.

The Restaurant at Harvey's Point is the perfect place to start your day with a good Irish Breakfast. Visit the fishing port of Killybegs. Just beyond the town are the Slieve League Cliffs. Returning to Killybegs you can spend the day touring the Grand Atlantic Coast taking the circular route along the coast of Donegal, through Glenveagh National Park and back via Letterkenny. For dinner, the Father Browne Bar is not to be missed not only for the stone floors and leather booths but for the great cocktails and delicious Irish beef stew.

Leaving Donegal and Lough Eske, continue down the Donegal coast stopping to visit the village and beach of Bundoran. Nearer to Sligo stop at Drumcliffe and grab lunch at the Davis Restaurant and Yeats Tavern and then visit the churchyard where William Butler Yeats is buried. Enjoy the picturesque drive looking out at Ben Bulben. Your destination is the famous Ashford Castle. Enjoy a bistro style dinner at The Dungeon at Ashford Castle.

Begin with breakfast at The George V. The breakfast was awarded a Sustainability Award for its use of local ingredients. Enjoy the host of activities Ashford Castle has to offer. Falconry, horseback riding, golf, fly fishing, kayaking, archery, lake cruising and cycling — the options are far from limited. Unwind at the world class spa before dinner at Wilde's at the Lodge on Ashford Castle grounds.

Get an early start this morning, travel to Dublin and check into The Westbury, Conde Naste's #1 ranked hotel in Ireland in their Reader's Choice Awards. Take the rest of the day to explore Ireland's Capital City. Some recommended attractions include National Museum of Archaeology, the Jameson Distillery, the Guinness Storehouse, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Trinity College and the Book of Kells. Hop on/ Hop off bus tours are a great way to get around. For dinner, opt for Patrick Guilbaud's, a two Michelin star restaurant. The Temple bar has live traditional Irish music to close out your trip of a lifetime.