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Know before you go

Road trips, driving tips, and insider knowledge from a team that has driven every road on the island.

All Destinations & Attractions Road Trips & Itineraries Things to Do & Experiences Travel Tips & Advice

Colourful houses along the waterfront of Kinsale harbour in County Cork, with sailing boats and green hills behind

Kinsale by Car: Parking, Harbour Walks and the Old Head

Kinsale is the Cork harbour town that coach passengers photograph from the bridge. Here's how to see it properly by car: where to park, how to walk the village, the drive to the Old Head, and where to eat the best seafood chowder.

A winding coastal road along the Ring of Kerry with green cliffs above the Atlantic Ocean

Road Trips & Itineraries

Ring of Kerry by Car: The Self-Drive Guide That Goes Beyond the Coach Bus Stops

Plan a Ring of Kerry self-drive with the right direction, the best stops, and detailed guides for Killarney, Kenmare, Skellig, Valentia, Gap of Dunloe and Dingle.

A dramatic coastal road winding along steep green cliffs above the Atlantic Ocean on the Dingle Peninsula.

Road Trips & Itineraries

Slea Head Drive by Car: The Best Dingle Peninsula Coastal Loop

Slea Head Drive is the best coastal loop on the Dingle Peninsula, but the coaches, narrow bends and changeable weather can spoil it if you are not prepared. Here is how to drive it the right way, from Dingle town to Coumeenoole and back.

The Skellig Islands rising from the Atlantic Ocean off the County Kerry coast

Things to Do & Experiences

Skellig Michael by Car: Driving to the Boat from the Ring of Kerry

A practical guide to driving to the Skellig Michael boat departure points at Portmagee and Ballinskelligs, what the crossing is really like, and how to decide if the island landing is worth it.

A scenic coastal road curving along the cliffs of Valentia Island in County Kerry, Ireland

Destinations & Attractions

Valentia Island by Car: Ferry, Bridge and the Skellig View

A self-drive guide to Valentia Island off the Ring of Kerry: the ferry from Reenard Point, the bridge at Portmagee, the Skellig view from Bray Head, and what to know before you cross.

Colourful houses along the tidal estuary of Sneem village on the Ring of Kerry, with green hills behind

Destinations & Attractions

Sneem by Car: A Ring of Kerry Village Stop

Sneem is the Ring of Kerry village most coach passengers photograph in passing. Here's how to stop properly, park without stress, see the sculptures and waterfront, and use it as a base for Derrynane and the Skellig coast.

Kenmare Bay at golden hour with calm water reflecting green hills and a small harbour.

Destinations & Attractions

Kenmare by Car: The Ring of Kerry's Southern Gateway

Kenmare is the southern gateway to the Ring of Kerry, but most coach passengers only see it through a window. Here's how to explore the town, park sensibly, eat well, and use it as a base for the best drives in Kerry.

A narrow single-track mountain road through the Gap of Dunloe in County Kerry, with steep rocky peaks and grazing sheep.

Road Trips & Itineraries

Gap of Dunloe by Car: Driving the Mountain Pass from Killarney

A frank guide to driving the Gap of Dunloe in County Kerry — when the narrow mountain pass is worth taking by car, what to expect, how to avoid the crowds, and the alternatives many visitors prefer.

Torc Waterfall cascading through moss-covered rocks and ancient oak woodland in Killarney National Park

Destinations & Attractions

Torc Waterfall by Car: Parking, Timing and the Short Walk

Torc Waterfall is one of the easiest waterfalls to reach by car in Killarney National Park. Learn where to park, when to visit, the short woodland walk in, and how to link it with Muckross House and the Ring of Kerry.