Best of Ireland in 14 Days Tour

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was our first Rick Steves adventure and I absolutely loved it. Our tour guide Lolly was beyond expectations. It was such a luxury to have all of the important details managed. The logistics were something we never had to worry about, leaving lots of room to simply relax and enjoy. Hotels were charming, pubs were fun, the countryside was breathtaking, learning about the history and struggles of the Irish people was humbling

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My wow moment was on the hillside at the sheep farm when a double rainbow spanned from one mountain to another. Beautiful!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Beautifully organized, charming towns and local guides made history come alive for me. We even had to deal with a hurricane, and our guide smoothly rescheduled and redirected us to ensure safety and a great experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many. The rich and turbulent history of Ireland came alive...daily. I'll never forget the sheer beauty of the coastline and the skill of our bus driver!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

One of the best trips we have ever taken and we were pleasantly surprised by the quality and training of the guides, the accommodations and the activity schedule.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Just the sheer beauty of the place especially the National Parks on the Western side of the island. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent tour! From the locations visited to the hotels and the food provided to the fabulous tour guides, this tour was truly outstanding!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Facing my fear of heights... crossing the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was more than I expected. Ireland is beautiful and the tour guide Lolly Spence made our visit and adventures so exciting

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lolly Spence was my favorite wow moment. Every day she shared her vast knowledge of Ireland and added her special joy and humorous quips all along the way. She’s a treasure. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My travel in Europe has always been self curated. I very rarely travel in an organized group setting. A couple of my hesitations were the size of the group and bus travel. I was extremely grateful to be traveling with the group we had in Ireland and loved being on the bus! We had plenty of room and the view from the bus was far better than a car. Our guide, Lolly, was the highlight of the trip. She brought Ireland to life with the history, poems and music she shared on the bus and on walks.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Storm Ashley happened while we were leaving Dingle on our way to Galway. While the storm only lasted a day, the winds left a trail of destruction. While in Cong, visiting the Abbey on our way to The Ireland School of Falconry, the usual short walk was blocked by downed trees. We ventured through the forest on an alternate path only to encounter yet more trees blocking the path. Finally, after a few phone calls to the School and a longer path through the woods we made it to our destination!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was my favorite RS tour!!!! I’ve done 9 total.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The rainbows we saw and the Aran islands. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was an excellent tour of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. It met all expectations. It was a perfect blend of history, culture, landscape, challenging physical activities, traditional music, food and pubs. Lolly and Kaisu were top-notch guides to this wonderful land. I enjoyed the interesting lectures on the bus. With Hurricane Ashley, we experienced changes to the itinerary which were handled smoothly and responsibly. The group was very compatible; no spoilers which is a rarity

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lolly. Charismatic, knowledgeable, funny, poetic, energetic. What a Leader!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide Lolly and her assistant Keisue were the absolute best. We had storm Ashley interrupt our Cliffs of Moher adventure but Lolly was able to pivot on a dime and we ended up having an amazing day at Adare and taking a tour through a castle. Both Lolly and Keisue were so kind and friendly while being so professional and I really can’t stress how much I appreciate and admire them. I hope anyone who is considering taking this trip in the future is lucky enough to have either of them!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite moment was when we went to the Cliffs at the Aran Isles! My aunt and I hung over the side on our stomachs and the sights of the bottle green waves crashing against the rocks will forever be burned into my memory. Every walk or hike that we did was always absolutely amazing and Lolly was so helpful at telling us the best ways to walk or what to see so we would get the best sights or experiences. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I learned so much from my trip to Ireland. From the beauty of the rocky beaches to the warmth and stories of the people, I loved being on a Rick Steves tour in Ireland.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"One of my wow moments had to be standing on the end of the Dingle Peninsula and watching the waves come crashing in. Not living near a large body of water, this was an amazing experience. I loved hearing the waves. I waited for the tallest waves to come crashing into the rocks. The sheer sides of the cliffs were so awe-inspiring. This experience was inspiration for a poem I wrote on the trip."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very good

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Enjoyed everyone in the group. Everyone was always on time."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very enjoyable experience. Joe was a treat! Martin was a fabulous bus driver. He got us through some very sketchy roads through horrible weather. I enjoyed most of the stops. I did not care for the long bus rides, but they were unavoidable. Packing up every night or every other night got old. The hotel selections were great, with the possible exception of the Europa. Glass doors on the bathroom are a deal breaker.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Loved the Titantic museum! The cliffs of Western Ireland were magnificent. The dinner venues were top notch. Our guest hosts were all a pleasure."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent! Fun, engaging, smart, friendly, happy band of travelers. Truly exceptional tour manager. Local tour guides, as always, added rich detail. We played as much as we learned.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Aran Islands (Dún Aonghasa)"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was beautifully organized. Joe Darcy is a fantastic guide; his humor, flexibility, engaging stories, singing and dancing with the musicians….a delight. There were a few things that had to be dealt with on the fly (really bad weather on two days), and Joe as guide and Martin as driver were able to change and incorporate new plans quickly.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"To be in Northern Ireland and understand how people continue to work through differences and live together; it was so important to see and hear that as we head into our election next week. The fragility of peace and the need to work on it in community were lessons for us as Americans and global citizens."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Typical Rick Steves trip -- great guide (Joe) and an extremely capable and fun bus driver (Martin), excellent local guides, very good itinerary and nice hotels all of which had their own unique pubs or bars which was very convenient.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"As usual it is tough to pick just one but our favorite had to be the trip over to Inishmore and the hike up to Dun Aengus. What a spectacular site and we had a gorgeous day to enjoy it."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide Joe was great! This was a fantastic trip!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The whole trip was a "wow" moment! Ireland was absolutely beautiful, a country I fell in love with. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall it was a great experience, great tour guide, very good tour guides at some of the stops

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Giant's Causeway, the views were spectacular!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tour was participant focused. Felt decisions made by guide were based on what would be best for us to see and do. Guide was very knowledgeable. Had many contacts throughout the tour to give us a variety of experiences. Due to weather and other unforeseen reasons, some plans were changed. Plans were always replaced with another good experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Really enjoyed the group planned pub music. Giants Causeway and Inishmore Island were two of my favorite tour stops. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Awesome

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Giant causeway also titanic."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything was fabulous!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We were in the bus and a storm came through lifting water from the lake we were traveling by. Everyone held there breath."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My overall experience was very good. I did not like Dublin, it was a typical big city with a lot of big city problems. I really enjoyed the Irish countryside.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We were on our way to Derry and got caught in a winter storm, I believe it was Louise. We passed a lake on our left and there were white caps and spray coming off of the lake. The sky was dark grey and the water was black. It was really surreal. Out driver, Martin, didn't even break a sweat. He was great!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"After returning from our trip I've begun to read a book written by our guide in Kinsale, Barry Moloney. I had wow moments as I've remembered the stories told about the history of Ireland and connections to Europe and the USA. So many fascinating tales of heroism, bad choices, survival, greed, politics, and origins of many expressions used today. Visits to the pubs, ruined castles and rough beautiful landscape made it all real. What a story!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very very good. We had never visited Ireland before and we feel like we had a well rounded experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The falconry experience was a lot of fun. Hard to pick out wow moments, it was all good. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

it was a very well organized tour, with a friendly, knowledgeable and humorous tour guide that was with us from start to end, along with meeting additional interesting local guides along the way.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"An enchanting cruise along the Wild Atlantic Way gazing out the window at the landscape and seascape, while listening to our guide treating us to poetry readings and Van Morrison tunes. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Beautiful country with very nice people.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Belfast and meeting one of my wife’s cousins."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great overall experience, great pace, informative tour guide. Fourth visit to Ireland, ranks with the other three. Enjoyed some of the “side” tours (e.g. Tom Crean and the South Pole Inn - truly outstanding.) First time in Northern Ireland.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Giants Causeway. Also see Tom Crean and South Pole Adventure."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our 4th trip to Ireland- the first tour and the first to the North. It did not disappoint in any way. Even revisits were seen fresh and the connections with the people were an added bonus

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Giant’s causeway. It was beautiful, it was magical. Loved it!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our group leader Lynne was amazing! So knowledgeable! The places we visited and stayed was everywhere I wanted to go! I brought my 31 year old son and everyone made him fell welcome

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Aaron islands! My mom’s ashes were scattered at beach below Dun Angus 30 years ago and going to that same beach was so special to me. My son packed his wet suit and swam at that beach! It was WOW!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent tour guide, itinerary and tour guides.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was surprised how the people of Ireland were.genuinely kind, polite and friendly"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I loved everything about the tour! Lyn was incredible, the country was beautiful and the "vibe" of the tour was friendly, enjoyable and inviting.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved the coastal scenery - The Cliffs of Moher, The Giant's Causeway and the rope bridge."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Falconry, giant’s causeway "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Couldn’t have been better!

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was very educational. I knew just a bit of Irish history; but certainly not in the detail we got from our main tour guide or the several other guides we had in particular cities. The tour was also entertaining since we got to see many very interesting things in the places we visited such as the glass cutting in Dingel and, especially the Titanic Museum in Belfast.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I think the Titanic Museum was my favorite "wow" moment. I hadn't realized that this huge ship was constructed at this major shipyard in Belfast. Then, in the museum we learned of some of the errors that led to it's collision with an iceberg and ultimately sinking. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Paul, provided a comprehensive, thoughtful narrative for our group. He engaged us deeply in the history and culture of Ireland, while keeping things light and entertaining. As a native of Northern Ireland he also did a great job of educating us on the recent history there, and the challenges the residents continue to face. Highly recommended.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Many to choose from -- the scenery, the music, the pubs -- so I would point to the local tours of Derry/Londonderry and Belfast for opening my eyes to the reality of life in the North, and the cautious peace people there are trying to live by."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful, engaging guide. Lovely accomodations. Great food. Good traveling companions.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Dun Aengus"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great gourp and the hotels were superior to those we've had on other RS tours

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hanging over the edge at Dun Aonghasa"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was very well organized to include noteworthy cities, towns, and landmarks in Ireland and a lot of beautiful scenery. There were some strenuous walking experiences, but they were balanced out with times in the bus and free time to choose one's activities.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were several: walking through the Old Library at Trinity College, Dublinand seeing the Brian Boru harp; standing inside the stone Gallarus Oratory of a former Benedictine monastery on the Dingle peninsula; standing at the edge of the cliffs at Dun Aengus; the rock formations of the Giants' Causeway near Portrush."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I loved the sights that we saw, from the small Tidy Towns, to the beautiful natural features, the seacoast, and areas built, then abandoned by previous, often ancient civilizations. We heard wonderful music, tried wonderful beers, and ate wonderful foods at a variety of hotel and restaurant venues. Our guide and bus driver were awesome too!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I have many wow moments, but the one that stands out the most is learning about the history of the Troubles in Belfast. It gives me hope for pockets of peace in the world. Our guide gets the credit for providing information in small pieces to help understand the scary past and the hopeful future of Ireland."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We thoroughly enjoyed every bit of the experience! Our guide, Paul, was extremely knowledgeable, and fun. We were also lucky with Irish weather, which showed the beautiful landscapes to perfection. Boy, did I learn a lot!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Probably exploring the coast out of Dingle!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour of Ireland was amazing! We traveled from Dublin to Belfast and all the beautiful towns in between! The beautiful sites and experiences left me in awe! Our guide, Paul, was simply AMAZING! He made every day spectacular! We saw so many beautiful sites and learned so much about the history of Ireland! Paul made the bus rides so much fun with jokes, having everyone share limericks, music of Ireland both classic and modern! Paul was always upbeat and watching out for all of us!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our bike ride in Dingle! Our surprise Irish singers and dancers, our personalized video of our whole experience! Also, besides our guide, our driver Steven was amazing! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Typical RS trip - great overall strategic plan, well executed, outstanding in all ways.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"One - learning the complex, tragic history of Ireland - and it's evolution Two - the manicured grounds of Ashford Castle. Wow, what hundreds of years of gardening can yield."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very well organized. I appreciated the balance of historical, political and cultural information given both by our tour guide and by the local guides. Staying in one place for more than one night was wonderful- I especially loved having three nights in Dingle, with an entire day to do as we pleased.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Aside from unexpectedly running into one of my cousins at the Cliffs of Moher I’d choose the private concert with singerTeresa and the guitar player in Dingle as a highlight. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful experience on my first Rick Steves Tour. We were well taken care off. Hotels were so nice and comfy…food was delicious…quality of site seeing we did was outstanding. Loved the tours we took.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many it is hard to choose one. Loved the cliffs as well as the falconry. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Pascal is an excellent guide. The scenery was beautiful. Lots of tourists everywhere. Kinsale was a welcome relief from the crowds and was the most enjoyable town we visited. Pubs were crowded and music didn't start until 9:30ish. That was a little too late for this senior traveler. Highly recommend this tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Watching the dogs rounding up the sheep. Those dogs ran fast and far over rough terrain. much different than I expected."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Pascal was an outstanding guide. Knowledgeable and entertaining. Most the hotels were fine and the Elephant Rock Hotel in Portrush was outstanding.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I've come to enjoy experiences more that simply site seeing. So the sheep dogs and the School of Falconry at Ashford Castle were the best. Oh - the Ghost tour in Kinsale was great fun."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first international trip and I could not imagine having had a more enjoyable experience. So well planned and organized. Accommodations were great, tour experiences very memorable, and our tour guide…he was just the best… informative, entertaining, and so personable. I was captivated with Ireland’s beauty, history, and people. A full schedule of amazing experiences with just enough unscheduled free time to explore. A quality adventure in every particular that I will always treasure.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Almost too many wow moments to single one out but maybe our day at Giants Causeway and Carrick-a-rede. So spectacular and beautiful! However, every town was so charming and a favorite as well. I was surprised to find the landscape and feel of Northern Ireland as stunning as the Republic. Also my trip to Newgrange and in particular to Knowth(which I did on my own) was incredible. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Much more than I expected of a small island. This was our 6th tour with Rick Steves, and everything was I expected - great accommodations and our guide was fantastic. But Ireland - the land and people - far exceeded - I absolutely loved it

Favorite "WOW" moment

"favorite Wow moments were the giants causeway, the coastal drive, the aran islands - hard to pick just one; but my favorite moments were sitting in pubs with a pint listening to music with the locals. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was everything I expected it to be. From the venues, the hotels, the tours, the experiences, the meals, and most especially, our guide (Pascal Fitzpatrick) and bus driver (Paul), everything exceeded my expectations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"This is always the hardest question, as there are so many “Wow!” Moments. As I have to choose one, I would say that standing on Carrack-a-Rede Island, looking across the sea and being able to clearly see Islay, Scotland (home of my favorite single malt scotches) just about dislocated my jaw. It was an incredible sight!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This trip was my 3rd bus tour. It was by far the best thanks to Pascal our tour guide and Paul our driver.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We stopped at the Cliffs of Moher and Giant's Causeway on beautiful sunny days!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my second Rick Steves tour and since the first one was so outstanding I was afraid that this one would pale by comparison. I should not have worried as this was another great Rick Steves tour. A great itinerary combined with wonderful tour companions and an absolutely stellar tour guide and bus driver made the experience very special indeed.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There is no way to pick one moment but I would have to say that Irish scenery just kept me mesmerized the whole trip. Each and every destination just kept taking my breath away!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a fabulous experience and I feel we saw as much of Ireland as possible in the two weeks. Our trip guide as well as those others in specific cities were so knowledgeable about the history and people of Ireland. I would recommend this tour even those who’ve visited before(as I have). I learned and experienced so much more than in the previous five.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the changes in Northern Ireland since the last time I visited! Peace is a wonderful thing🙏"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Weather was good when it counted. Tour guide and bus driver were very friendly and knowledgeable. Enjoyed seeing all the historic sites and learning about Ireland's history, both good and not so good.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"No "wow" moment per se, but I really enjoyed all of the old, historic sites and natural beauty. The Rock of Cashel, Glen de Loch (not part of this tour but it should be, we arrived early), The Cliffs of Moher, Giants Causeway"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great tour guide and wonderful first experience of Ireland. Out of the cities, it was enjoyable to see the countryside and western Ireland.

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our wonderful guide Conor shared his love for his country and great trad music! I understand Ireland's history and culture much better, and loved the amazing scenery!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Every time I walked out to see cliffs and coastline"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a wonderful mix of music, food, people and sites to learn about from well spoken guides.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Conor, our group leader, was very serious and informative about the rains, wind and waves we might face on a trip to the Aran Islands. A small group of us chose to go while the rest of the tour stayed and played in Galway. As it turned out, our visit to Inishmore was glorious. This is my 8th RS tour. I finally understood the concept of trusting in the adventure of traveling. Just go with an open mind - there is chance of disappointment BUT it also can dazzle and create lasting memories."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We expected a lot and you delivered.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"When Conor pulled out his accordion and played. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour. Really enjoyed the trip. Just two issues involving the bus that I will get into later.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The live music, both the music provided by the guide and the music I found. The greatest wow moment was when a band at Fibber Magee's played an Irish song I requested that no one else seemed to know."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The best vacation we've ever had! We are so glad we choose a Rick Steves Tour; it took the worry out of planning a trip on our own. We never would have seen or done so much without being on this tour. At every turn, we were in awe of the beauty, history, and scenery of Ireland. We enjoyed getting to know our tour group, some of whom became friends. Our tour guide, Conor, was the very best! Conor planned a lot of surprises for us along the way that made the trip even more exceptional.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The scenery for sure was where we experienced most of our favorite "wow" moments. Just when we thought it couldn't get any better, "Wow!" we were taken to another place that was even more beautiful, such as the Cliffs of Moher, Ashford Castle, and Charles Fort. We were also "wowed" by the authentic Irish music and dance. Our tour guide scheduled special music sessions for us along the way, especially in Dingle. We were "wowed" by the O Se family that played for us at the B&B Heaton's Guesthouse."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was a very good tour experience! And it has interested me to want to return to Ireland and tour on our own (with the Ireland Rick Steve's book in hand). The country is beautiful and the people are so welcoming in conversation. The whole experience was wonderful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I had 2 favorite 'wows' one being the sheep herding and two was the Slea head road drive. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our second Rick Steves tour, and we had a wonderful trip. We saw many wonderful sights and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and others we met on the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Probably the geography of Ireland and the stunning scenery. The Dingle Peninsula and just traveling through the countryside were all stunning. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I have taken many tours and have experienced knowledgeable guides but Lolly was far and away the best ever. A mix of information, humor and the ability to see to each person's needs without missing a beat

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many! The Guinness Experience on our own was a "don't miss", the Cliffs of Moher and the rope bridge were also special. Truly each day competed with the previous day for best experience."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our first tour with your company and we thoroughly enjoyed it.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lolly took us to see the falcons and we all got to hod one as it flew and landed on our arm."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Am excellent, comprehensive tour of Ireland, including geography, history, culture, physical activity, food, music, and interaction with local people. Highly recommended!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The stunning beauty of the Giant Causeway in northern Ireland."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our eight RS tour, and it was great. The tour leader, Lolly, was charming, knowledgeable and an expert storyteller. The people of Ireland and Northern Ireland were gracious.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Stunning beauty of coastline hikes."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Best of Ireland tour was wonderful, very thorough, educational, and fun. Lolly Spence is a very enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide with a great sense of humor. She loves sharing her country with those on the tour. Her background is in history and it shows in the wealth of information she provided on the tour. My husband and I enjoyed our tour companions, who were friendly and upbeat. The food and hotels on the tour were also very good and enjoyable, with lifts at all of the hotels.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I really enjoyed the mix of small towns and larger ones. Dublin is a charming city with its old buildings and cobblestones, Kerry has the amazing and beautiful Guild Hall, Kinsale was colorful, and Dingle had a very entertaining folk concert which we loved! And Belfast is so modern! My wow moments included hiking the Giant Causeway, crossing the rope bridge, and exploring the inside of Derry's Guild Hall, built by a church architect with stained glass windows. It also houses an amazing organ. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My first R S tour. The size of the group was excellent (less than 30) with plenty of room to spread out on the bus and easy to regather the group after an excursion. The tour guide was enthusiastic , knowledgeable, and set the tone for the trip. At times too much talk on the bus by the guide. Hotels were ok, one particularly bad in Portrush that shouldn't be used. Would be nice to have more time in Galway. Overall, a good experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So difficult to pick a favorite! Blasket Island Interpretive Center and Titanic Museum were both superb. The scenery of rolling green hills with stacked stone walls, monastery and castle ruins here and there broke up city time. Cliffs of Moher the burren and Giants Causeway...no way to pick one favorite!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This is the second time we have done this exact tour, the first time was great as well as the second time!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cliffs of Mohr and giants causeway "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide Lolly made the trip extra wonderful. All tour members were great (no grumps). We like the pace of the tour, allowing enough free time while also getting us to the must see locations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Cliffs of Moher"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first experience with an organized tour. We have used Rick's books and shows for years and traveled on our own. This was a great experience. Our tour guide gave us an immersion into the history and culture of Ireland that we wouldn't have experienced on our own. It was great to have the hotels and transportation set up for us. In addition, we got tours of towns with local guides.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved the Giants Causeway area. We had several hours to hike the area and take pictures. We arrived early, before any crowds and were are to get great photos and take in the great views. I also loved the Aran Islands. We spent the entire day exploring and taking in the beautiful views. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Comfortable bus to spread out, great guide, hotels - most were fine, food was above average, activities had a nice mix

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sheep farming and Killarny Natl park"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Lolly was amazing. Truly an incredible guide. The experiences were all enjoyable and Educational. The only minus was the hotel in Port Rush which really wasn’t up to your usual standards (dirty carpet, for example). Otherwise the lodging was fine to excellent.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were several but the Aran Islands really stand out!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our 2nd Ireland tour as we loved it so much! We even requested Lolly again. We love Ireland!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Exploring the causeways and hiking on the trail to capture the incredible views."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tour was great. Guide was outstanding. Had a great group.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Favorite wow moment was our guide, Lolly, who went above and beyond every day in every way. She created a WhatsApp group and posted the music links, poems, history, and films discussed as well as many candid photos of the tour members along the way. Favorite location was the Giant Causeway (it also helped we had a blue sky day). "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Although initially hesitant my fears were alleviated by our tour guide. Lolly brought Ireland alive through stories, historical facts and details, personal experiences with the people and places and finally entertaining local funny stories. She is a wealth of knowledge that was communicated poignantly, inspiringly and humorously. We will return to Ireland just to tour with her.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The island(s) are beautiful. But I have to say the people are the stars. We were greeted with smiled and open arms."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour on all counts was fantastic

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many wow moments, but my personal favorite was the giants causeway and the sheep farm"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Joe was the BEST

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The sheep dogs The Falconry experience"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our Guide Joe set a thought- full tone; his comments and narrations had a depth and breadth that was impressive: history, mindfulness to nature, architecture, philosophers, writers, and customs. The pacing was great: staying several nights in same place, avoiding tourist trap places.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Many physical wow's but underlying "wow" was evolution of understanding the colonalization that Ireland experienced. And be wowed that the country has the capacity to welcome others. We passed many hotels that said "We are closed. We are housing Ukrainian refugees. Pray for them. Pray for us. ""

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour! Great guide, hotels and meals.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Castlewood Hotel in Dingle. Falconry tour."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was very well planned and everything worked out very well. There were no negatives at all. Joe was great and his personal experience and familiarity with Ireland really was helpful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We got to see so much. But the Cliffs of Moher were spectacular as was the Aran Islands and the Antim Coast. We especially enjoyed the music performed for the group at Castlewood House in Dingle."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My husband and I had a wonderful time on our 14 day Ireland tour. The tour guide Joe was perfect for the tour with his personal knowledge and experiences growing up in Ireland. The bus driver Steven was very professional and expert at guiding us through the small winding country roads as well as the big city traffic and highways we encountered. All of the local guides were very good and knowledgeable. The hotels and restraunts were first class. All in all a perfect 14 days in Ireland.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The bed and breakfast in Dingle was amazing. Dingle was a beautiful and perfect town to spend three nights in. The Guinness tour in Dublin was epic. Cliffs of Moher was breathtaking. The School of Falconry at Ashford Castle was fantastic. The Giant's Causeway and Carrick-a-Rede rope footbridge was unbelievable. Bringing in Irish musicians and dancers tour hotel twice for a private show was a special treat. The Titanic experience and Belfast troubles history was enlightening."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This outstanding tour was filled with sights, history and an amazing guide Susie.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The amazing cliffs of Moher."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As always, this RS tour was well planned and thoroughly enjoyed as were the previous 12 that we have taken! From start to finish, every detail was taken care of smoothly and efficiently.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Book of Kells and the visit to the Ireland School of Falconry were so different, but equally memorable."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was great to understand the history and the different perspectives of the Republic and Northern Ireland. So many troubles! Beautiful scenery and we stopped at amazing places.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cliffs of Moher"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our second RS Tour. Before we left for Ireland, we booked your Central Europe Tour. In our two-week trip, we saw just about everything there was to see and learn about in Ireland and Northern Ireland. The attention to detail is what makes RS Tours as fabulous as they are. Susie, our guide through most of the trip was outstanding. Her story about her great grandfather made the Titanic story come alive and personal. So too with the carefully vetted guides in each city.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard to come up with one. There were many. The fact that Belfast is a walled....divided....Berlin-type city was an eye-opener in 2024! Never knew that that was going on. Also, the friendliness of everyone we met. Another "wow" moment was the beauty of Ireland....landscape....architecture....people....history and culture."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Susie was great and the sights outstanding

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking the outline of the Titanic in Belfast"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent guide! The local tour guides in each city added to the overall experience. Great tour tmembers to be with!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There cannot be just one wow moment! We were Wowed daily! The castles, the history, the Crystal etching, the sheep dog trainers!!! I could go on and on!!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Susie was a splendid guide and I learned a great deal about Ireland, its past, its people, and its countryside.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Book of Kells exhibit."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

From the time our tour first met, until we said goodbye, our Irish experience was first rate! We enjoyed the sights and tastes of the beautiful country of Ireland. Our Rick Steves' guides and the local guides were knowledgeable and engaging.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The ratio of planned tour and time to explore a locale on our own was spot on. My favorite "wow" came during a fun hike with new friends through the town of Dingle to a local lighthouse. The scenery, the "craic," and the hospitality of the Irish people made the day magical. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My overall experience was outstanding. Yesterday my wife Cathy and I discussed that it was one of the best vacations we have ever had. The reason, our guide and bus driver were both friendly, knowledgeable and experts in what they do. The sites of both cities and rural communities were explored. The history provided by all the guides was truly amazing.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"When our guide would sing or read poetry fitting to the areas we were travelling through by bus. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Congenial group, fabulous weather. Declan is a knowledgeable and efficient guide. The local guides were entertaining and presented history in an orderly fashion. We learned how Irish historical events had an influence on world history

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I enjoyed our free day in Dingle, especially the easy hike along the coastline to the lighthouse. As a landlocked person, I found the tides endlessly fascinating, The B&B in Dingle was luxurious; I felt like royalty with the excellent service and meals."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We saw a lot and heard much about Ireland history and culture

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Kinsale was a lovely colorful town. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my 8th RS tour, and it now ranks at the top of my list. From our tour guide Declan to our bus driver Mark, and our city guides these folks made this a fantastic tour. Declan was on top over everything from our hotels, our meals, and our tours. Mark did a great job in maneuvering the bus through some tight places and the city guides providing a deeper understanding of rich culture heritage Ireland has to offer.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Having worked with birds of prey I found the Falconry experience at Ashford Castle my WOW moment. Everyone in the group had an opportunity to fly Yoda a Harris Hawk. The grounds of the Castle were lovely, and the Yoda made for a fantastic experience. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my 8th RS tour and one of the top ones. Declan was a superb guide, which made it so good. Also, we had an amazing bus driver. And our two weeks of uncharacteristically great weather didn’t hurt!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So hard to pick one! I really enjoyed the falconry school. Also really special was having Irish coffee in a snug in the famous Crown pub, across from the famous Europa hotel in Belfast, where we got to stay. Oh, can’t forget listening to Declan tell us the legend of the Giants Causeway! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well organized. Fun. Gorgeous. Perfect balance of city and countryside. Wonderful travel partners. Declan was a gem.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Renting e-bikes and riding Slea Head Drive on the Dingle Peninsula. Ha, and having to buy sunscreen in Ireland in September."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our group was kind, interesting, inclusive and fun. Our guide was terrific! He brought Ireland alive; the people, history, landscape and music.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was questioning the visit to Kilmainham Goal when we arrived. However, the guide presented a truly compelling picture of its importance in Irish history and allowed me to begin knitting together pieces of the history I’d heard but had not yet fit together. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was an excellent tour. We visited sites of incredible beauty and sites with cultural and historical significance. Our tour guide was outstanding and the local guides were full of fascinating information. Our travel on the bus was efficient, safe and friendly.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our visit to Belfast with historical background, insight into "the troubles", and the Titanic museum."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Where to start, I had 2 weeks of fun, doing things that I had never seen or done in my life up until this Rick Steves tour of Ireland. My favorites. I had a hawk land on my arm at the Falconry Academy, I watched sheep being herded by a dog and then shorn for their wool. I visited the Cliffs of Moher, the Giants Causeway, crossed the Carrick-a-rede rope bridge. I visited the Island of Inishmore, saw Lusitania artifacts in Kinsale and the Titanic Museum in Belfast. I highly recommend this tour!

Favorite "WOW" moment

" Can't give you 1 wow moment, I had 2. The first was the crossing of the Carrick-a rede rope bridge. It was hard because I don't like heights but I made up my mind that I was going to do it and now I have the certificate of my crossing to prove it. What a thrill. My second wow moment is an easy one, it was my visit to the Titanic Museum in Belfast. It was a real treat for a member of the U. S. Titanic Historical Society. I spent 2 hours there, a lot to see, I could have easily spent a week."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a great experience on our tour. Our tour guide, Joe Darcy is amazing and very knowledgable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Cliffs of Moher is a spectacular sight. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I enjoyed not visiting tourist spots!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The hawk landing on my gloved hand!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

From the moment we gathered in Dublin I knew this was going to be a great trip. Our leader, Joe, was experienced, delightful, knowledgeable, engaging, and a tuned to the nuances of group leadership. I continue to appreciate the mix of exposure to history, culture, politics, MUSIC, humor, geology, food, local color. And really--we had the best group ever!! Great leader, great driver, great people all around.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It's a toss up: the rugged beauty of the Giants Causeway or the intimate fun music and dancing with family musicians in Dingle (An Daingean). Slàinte!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Amazing

Favorite "WOW" moment

"School of Falconry "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Out of 21 days in Ireland, only one day had rain! Even Joe the guide said he had never seen such great weather for a late-September tour. Speaking of the guide, Joe was unbelievably good and provided an entertaining mix of history, song, poem and comedy!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My wife (an organist) got to play the Grand Organ at the Guild Hall in Derry. That aside, because of the great weather, all the outdoor sites our our loop around Ireland were memorable. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our recent trip to Ireland far exceeded all of our expectations. We could not be happier, in fact, we are having a hard time believing that it was even real.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"How could we possibly choose? Ireland itself is truly the Emerald Isle, so beautiful. Our time in the picturesque town of Kinsale has to be close to the top."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour guide, Robert, was so knowledgeable and able to deliver the historical and cultural information for the entire Emerald Island! He was the reason our tour was outstanding!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The history of Northern Ireland and the Presbyterian Church- along with beauty of Antrim and the coastline. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Once again, Rick Steves Tours proves they are the company to travel with! A great balance of educational and pleasurable experiences, and personal time. Tour guides are the best, both our RS guide and each of the many local guides. Accommodations keep getting better and better with each tour we have taken.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Giants Causeway and Cliffs of Moher"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Beautiful country with a perfect blend of visiting cities and small towns. Robert was a wonderful tour guide!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cliffs of Moher - awesome!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Fabulous scenery in Ireland so even if we were on the bus more on a particular day, it was still great.. Other members of our group were fun and friendly. Food and accommadations were above our expectations. We'd love to return at some point.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite WOW was the Giant Causeway, an UNESCO World Heritage site. The rock formations and the fun myths that have developed around it were other-worldly. The tour also brought to life the history of Ireland (and Northern Ireland) and hopefully the healing of the countries over the next generation. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a great tour. Robert is a very good guide, the group was very congenial, and the itinerary included some really outstanding places. Even the weather cooperated.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The day on the Aran island (Inishmore) was the highlight for me. The hike up to the ruins was exhilarating. The Irish coffee lesson was great, too."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I thoroughly enjoyed the culture, history and beauty of Ireland, augmented by a great lead guide and usually topnotch local guides. The rolling green terrain, even in late summer, was amazing.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"While I relished urban Dublin and Belfast and several smallwr towns, my favorite times were along Ireland’s southern and western coasts: Slea Head Drive, Cliffs of Moher, Burren, the Fort at the Aran Islands, the Giant Causeway and the not so scary Carrick-a-Rede."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very well planned trip, every stop was worthwhile

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Dingle area, so much to see and do"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Despite poor weather, the tour was well worthwhile. Pascal an all local guides were top notch. Almost all activities were exciting and informative. Lots of Irish history and culture were revealed in a pleasant manner every day. Plenty of bang for your buck.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"At the School of Falconry at Ashford Castle tour members got to learn about and interact with a trained hawk This was a first and a "wow" moment for all of us.. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A marvelous two weeks on a most beautiful island. An immersive lesson in history, food, gracious hospitality, and culture. It helped that our guide Paschal seemed to know everyone. Everyone. He made each day something to look forward to.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Giant’s Causeway is a miracle of nature. David’s wow moment was Kilmainham Gaol. Poets, musicians, and artists went there for protesting, knowing they would never leave alive. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We were very impressed by how efficient everything was. We didn’t wait once for the bus, for tour guides or to check in at a hotel.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved the visit to the sheep farm where we got to see a border collie in action taking commands from the herder via his whistle as he rounded up the sheep and got them all into a pen. My other “wow” moment was at Ashford Castle having the falcon swoop down and land on the glove - on my left hand!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Far exceeded our expectation in all areas.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Five mile round trip walk to Dingle Lighthouse"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was my first tour as well as my first time to Europe. Overall, I was very pleased. I enjoyed having a lot of the itinerary planned out for us. There were many activities I would have missed out on had I been doing the planning myself. Our tour guide, Pascal was fantastic! He seemed to know a little bit of everything from politics, education, history, sports, etc. Our bus driver, Paul was great as well. He was also very knowledgeable. All the guides were great. I had a wonderful time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My absolute favorite moment was going to Ireland's School of Falconry at Ashford Castle! It was awesome! Kilmainham Gaol, Kissane Sheep Farm, Dun Aengus, Inis Mor, Aran Islands, Dingle Crystal workshop tour, Cliffs of Moher and Giant's Causeway were great! I really loved Kinsale, Dingle and Galway. I wish we had more time in these cities. I preferred the smaller cities versus the larger ones such as Dublin and Belfast. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We very much enjoyed our Ireland tour. There was a good camaraderie among the members of the tour and good amount of sharing on the bus, on outings, and at the meals. The pace of information was well balanced with activity.. Bus time was broken up well.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I enjoyed the Blasket Island Center. The tour guide communicated wonderfully and the information displayed was inspirational "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Loved first trip to Ireland - beautiful country and tour hit wonderful quieter towns, great hotels, terrific guide. Loved his and other guides’ proud sense of Ireland’s hard history and independence. We had great weather so lucked out there. The people are great/ friendly, funny and like Americans! Group dinner menus left something to be desired but ok. Great recommendations for other restaurants.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The lighthouse hike and beyond in Dingle, along the cliff side shore down to the beach to mingle with the local cold water swimmers. Or stage front at the Dingle Pub session. Hell yeah."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour of Ireland was filled with Irish history and insights into the current political and cultural state. Our guide, Pascal Fitzpatrick, was organized and made sure our access to various sites was early - before hordes of other tourists arrived.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Titanic museum in Belfast."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Rick Steves 14 day tour of Ireland was a very well organized tour which I thoroughly enjoyed. Joe, our guide, was very knowledgable, an eloquent speaker and looked after us very well. All the arrangements for hotels, local guides, bus transportation (Mark our driver was fabulous) all worked out seamlessly. I am particularly grateful to Joe for his very speedy and helpful replies to every text. The other guests on the tour were from various areas of US all friendly and interesting.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My wow moment, border collies and falconry experience."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very good guide, nice lodging, and a good group.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Three days in Dingle"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very knowledgeable tour guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to just pick one."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Really enjoyed the tour. Hotels were great. Joe was a great guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Dingle Crystal Factory, Giants Causeway"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very good tour. Allowed us to experience a variety of places in Ireland.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cliffs of Mohar, Giants Causeway"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We loved that everything was arranged for us.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Touring Aran's island"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was amazing. Great group of people, the guide and bus driver were as well, and the places we stayed were great. I was coming off of a really disappointing Rick Steves tour and was about done with them, when I did this tour. All I can say is that this restored my belief in RS tours being the best. Ireland is beautiful and diverse and we got to experience so much of it

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Running on the beach in Portrush in the rain and wind. What a beautiful thing, "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a great trip with Lynn as our leader. We visited so many great places and stayed in beautiful hotels.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Watching the sheep herding with Jep. also the Falcon experience was unforgettable. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I enjoyed the tour very much and a had a blast with friends. I learned a lot of Irish history and culture that I wouldn't have without this tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The visit to the Cliffs of Moher"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was above my expectations! Leadership and directions were precise and clear. Good weather was lucky and grateful. Lovely scenery and people.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Beautiful scenery at every turn."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Absolutely fantastic!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The shepherding dog demonstration was a real standout event."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Guides were very accommodating and informative. Learned a lot of history of Ireland, but also saw and hiked the wonderful sights.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many “wow” moments. But for me, the Falconry experience. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Eighteen months ago I'd never heard of Rick Steves. This was my first group tour experience and will absolutely be the metric by which all others are judged. My overall tour experience was amazing. So much so that I would gladly have turned up in Dublin at 5 PM on Sunday to start the tour all over again.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite "wow" moment was the Irish Coffee making class in Westport. I'm not a coffee drinker (or much of a whiskey drinker) so heading in to the activity I was pretty ambivalent. Darrin was so engaging and so passionate in his instruction that I couldn't help but have a fabulous time. Turns out I do like coffee. It just has to have sugar, Irish whiskey, and cream."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very nice tour. Always wanted to see Ireland. Few small things- skip the lunch (just soup and stale sandwich), skip Derry, would be nice to offer a bus ride back to Dublin airport from Belfast (half the tour was going back there on the last day.) Otherwise great tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cliffs of Mohar. Boat ride round Dingle. Guinness."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first trip to Ireland in over 40 years. I had the most amazing time. Lynn, our guide, was well informed and shared her knowledge regarding the history, geography and politics while ensuring we had fun. Pamela, our driver, deserves a raise for taking our buses to some incredible places.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many but I would have to say the visit to the falconry was my favourite "wow" moment. I still can't believe I had that amazing bird on my arm."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tour guide and bus driver were excellent. Visited many great locations

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cliffs of Moher and Titanic memorial "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great sights. Great tour guide. Well planned out.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The sights and beauty of Ireland. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

A wonderful two weeks. Our guide, Declan and all of the local tour guides were excellent -- friendly, knowledgeable and very open about their personal connections to the information they shared. Every stop was a highlight, but I think the best part of the trip was simply looking out the bus window at a remarkably beautiful country. Just a spectacular place.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Every stop was a highlight, but I think the best part of the trip was simply looking out the bus window at a remarkably beautiful country. My "wow" moments: navigating the Slea Head Drive to the Great Blasket Centre; circling the Ring of Kerry; and driving along the Antrim Coast to the Giant's Causeway and the Carrick-a-Rede rope footbridge."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Declan, and bus driver, Steve, were amazing with great personalities! Our group of 28 people all got along beautifully. Learning about the history of Ireland and seeing the beauty of the country will remain with us always. Experiencing the wonders of places like Kinsale, Dingle and Aran Islands confirmed our love for the people and their country.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We had several “WOW” moments during our 14 day tour. The Celtic fortress, Dun Aengus, in the Aran Islands was a spectacular site and the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge was a fantastic experience. Both places opened our eyes to the struggles of the Irish people."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Amazing guides, driver. Locales, accomdations, scenery, events, demonstrations!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beauty of the Dingle Peninsula"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Ireland is such a beautiful country with a variety of harbors, rugged mountains, and green pastures. I was surprised to see such varied topography. I always pictured Ireland to mostly be rolling hills with lots of sheep.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My “wow” moment was walking the Antrim Coast and walking on the unique basalt columns. Walking across the rope footbridge was exhilarating and the cliff top views were spectacular!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was very well paced. We never felt rushed, but also thought we had sufficient time to continue our private explorations of our areas of interest. Our guide, Declan was exceptional; both informed and informative and he went above and beyond to enhance our experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our Irish music night in our hotel in Dingle. An intimate performance for our group."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I must begin with complementing our two amazing guides: Pascal and Adrian, for organizing such an amazing tour! Beth and I were so impressed with their knowledge of Irish history and culture, and how meaningful every place and experience was made because of their pride and passion for their homeland. We were so impressed with the itinerary, so many places we visited, but perfectly spaced down time to explore on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Having time to explore the natural beauty of Ireland created unforgettable memories for us! The magic of this country is truly in the landscape, harbor views, and people. The Giant's Causeway was an absolute marvel! The hike down to the site and the hike back to the center had such spectacular vistas. The island of Inishmore with Dun Aegus fort was powerful as was the Blasket Center displays and history."

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

It was good. It was the first time I ever took an organized tour and it covered a lot of ground.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I liked both of our guides Pascal and Adrian. They have a lot of insight into local life in Ireland and the history you may not have read about. They also had a great sense of humour."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We had two guides who split time on the tour because of a family emergency…both were very good and very different. We learned a lot Irish history and a lot of Irish myth and culture.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"At the Blasket Center, we learned about the sturdy people who inhabited the remote islands until the 1960’s"

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Pascal, Adrien and Paul were wonderful and so knowlegable. We explored every last bit of Ireland.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Driving along Slea Head Drive"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I went on the 14 day tour of Ireland.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Humm. That is hard. The tour group, the guides. The beauty everywhere in Ireland."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our two guides, Pascal and Adrian, were outstanding. Our primary guides, Pascal, had a family emergency and had to leave the tour early. Adrian stepped in on our tour and didn't miss a beat. Pascal returned near the end of the tour. We were happy to have him back but also sad to see Adrian leave. Paul the driver was also excellent. The hotels were excellent except for one, the Portrush Atlantic Hotel, which should not be used again.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Listening to Irish music in the pubs. Spectacular! The sheep herding and shearing were fascinating. The scenery was as beautiful as promised."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything was well organized

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Row boat races in Westport"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I was not sure how I would feel about a tour where I had few choices. I should not have worried. The itinerary and local guides were excellent and made the trip something I could not have experienced without our tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Irish step dancers in Dingle were my "wow" moment because our daughter competed several years ago. It was a wonderful blast from the past. They were wonderful. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent from start to finish. The guide Conor did an outstanding job of accommodating everyone's needs, and also provided great musical experiences. The hotels, activities, and meals were all great. This trip gave me the opportunity of learning about the history of Ireland while enjoying all the country had to offer.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Ashford Castle and the school of falconry was one of my favorites, but there were so many. The Aran Islands and Galway were a close second. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We had a great group. Conor our tour guide and Mark our driver are an outstanding team. I’m glad we did the 14 day as we got to see the entire Wild Atlantic Hwy and really get a feel for Ireland, the people, music, food and weather. Everyone in the group were punctual and got along extremely well. It’s a very active tour and you do move hotels frequently and cover over 1K miles. It never felt that long on the bus however as we stopped along the way and Conor played local music.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Although it’s hard to choose just one I think seeing the Cliffs Of Moher for the first time. We do see many Cliffs after that but seeing them the first time was breathtaking."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great tour, covered so many wonderful sites. Our guide Conner added so much history in additional to his musical background.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"In Dingel, at the Heaton Inn, having Irish musicians and Irish dancers perform for our group! Awesome!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our guide, Conor, and our bus driver, Mark, were wonderful. The green beauty of the landscape was gorgeous. We enjoyed the small towns, but August was not the time to go, with too many tourists. Without Conor, we would not have been able to enjoy pub music with the crowds. The history was fascinating, and Belfast was sad with the continued political/religious rift. Our group members were tight knit, creating friends for life. Overall, we had a great time with lots of variety.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Carrick-a-Rede bridge and the surrounding cliffs and view. The hike in/out was daunting, but the reward was stunning. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I was blown away by how much history I learned about Ireland and it made the whole experience richer and more meaningful. Every guide that we had was so amazing and the people of Ireland are so welcoming and kind! I would recommend it to everyone I know. 10/10 experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There are honestly too many WOW moments to try and pick one. Was it Tomas, a Riverdance dancer himself dancing for us in our B&B? Was it Darren in Westport giving us the history of Whiskey or Sean in Dingle showing us his unbelievable crystal cutting skills or David at Heaton's giving us the best dinner and breakfasts ever? This isn't even counting the sites themselves. I loved the Blasket Center, the Aran Islands, the weather cooperating at the Cliffs or Moher and the water on Antrim coast!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Had such an amazing experience. Met many lovely people and our tour guide and bus driver were just the best ever. Loved all the sights and places we went.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I really can't pick any one thing. The whole experience was a wow for me. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our Guide Connor was superior, knowledgeable, considerate of 28 of us tourist, and very talented with a sharp wit!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Great Causeway, Dingle and Belfast. The Castlewood hotel in Dingle was a 5 star!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Best of Ireland was a great educational and sight seeing experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Belfast History and Titanic museum. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The beautiful coastline and our tour guide, Connor. Connor is the best guide I have had on these and other tours. He is so knowledgeable and passionate about Ireland- he made it come alive. I have already told friends to make sure they have him as the tour guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The coastline- Cliffs of Moher, Adrean Island, and the Great Causeway!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very well organized and informative

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing The cliffs of Moher and giant’s causeway… spectacular!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Ireland was everything and more. I loved every adventure/outing.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Are you kidding...hard to pick one! School of Falconry, Cliffs of Moher, Giants Causeway....were the biggest wows... but the whole trip was fabulous."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent way to see all of Ireland. The amount of information and number of locations visited would be difficult to attain unless on a tour. And this tour was very well done!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cliffs of Moher, but there were many others."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was great to have so much time to see the different parts of Ireland. Enjoyed each stop, but felt the city walking tours were a bit rushed in Dublin & in Dingle. In Dublin in particular the guide was excellent but was trying to cover so much material. Would suggest doing an hour/hour and a half, then stop for coffee, then do another hour so we can digest more of the fascinating information. Then do the Book of Kells in the afternoon & tour members would still have a free evening.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cliffs of Mohr and having the special trad music and dance presentation in Dingle."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful tour, many unique experiences and terrific “like minded” fellow tour members.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cliffs of Moher."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The sights were great. The tour guide and information he provided was outstanding. He made sure we all had a good time and provided his insight into good places to eat and drink.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The cliff's of Mohr. They were spectacular."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I enjoyed the trip very much, its organization and non-commercialized nature was outstanding and hardly could be any better. Every detail of the trip was well thought through to maximize the enjoyment and the learning. My understanding of Ireland's history and present has been much improved by this trip, which in general was very conducive to learning and experiencing new things. Thank you!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many "wow" moments on this trip, fro the imposing cliff, to the velvety softness of the grass, and quaint little towns, with the seemingly impossible variety of bright colors, lots and lots of such moments. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Ireland speaks for herself! What a beautiful country where it’s impossible to take a bad photo. Joe made the tour extra nice in his low key way of guiding us. Everything ran seamlessly, or so it appeared. We were impressed with the cleanliness of Ireland and the magnificent scenery

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the wild ocean crashing on the rocks, and the unspoiled coastline "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Good experience, however weather was not always kind to our trip

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Dingle, cliffs of Mohr, Giants Causeway"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Interesting, well planned and organized.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many… the natural scenic beauty was the best…"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was our first tour with Rick Steves. I commend Joe for keeping our group on track, as I'm sure it is not easy nor comfortable to be the bad timing guy. At times I wish we had more time at locations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Osce really enjoyed the falconery and Betty really enjoyed the little town that had the wishing tree."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We loved the entire Ireland tour. It is absolutely beautiful and we feel so blessed to have been able to have this experience. Our tour guide, Joe and driver, Stephen, were both fantastic. We learned so much about Ireland and their history and culture. We felt very safe there. We enjoyed all the different towns that we visited and they were each beautiful and Great unique.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We scheduled a tour boat ride to the Great Blasket Island on our free day with 2 other couples and this was one of our favorite hikes. It was beautiful, peaceful and we loved that our Captain was the great grandson of one of the owners of the Island, My husband and I both loved the walking tours with our guides to experience each new town. We loved seeing the Rock of Cashel ruins, the visit to the local sheep farm, the Inishmore Island, Dun Aengus ruins, and the Titanic museum. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We thoroughly enjoyed the tour, the only negative that we had was not enough down time before dinner. We were busy from 7am to 7pm and with 1 exception, when we were given the day off to do our own thing.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The tour of the grounds of Ashford Castle and the Falconry demonstration"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Rick Steves tour was a very comprehensive insight to Ireland, it's history, it's demographics, it's geography and more. The tour guide and the bus driver shared so much information during the two week program. We covered a lot of territory during this trip, from Dublin to Kinsale, several western seaboard villages and up to Belfast. The separate guides for each of the cities visited also offered a wealth of information pertinent to their area.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I think the favorite for many of us was the visit to the Falconry at Asheford Castle. This was a very private tour for the Rick Steves group and everyone in the group had the opportunity to 'hold' the falcon for a brief moment. The Falconry is a wonderful facility, well maintained and well run. To know that this facility is not open to the public and must be pre-arranged made it very special. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I really enjoyed the Ireland tour with Lolly Spence, although due to a knee issue, I was unable to participate in some of the more challenging activities. The weather was also a challenge in places like the Giant's Causeway and the Cliffs of Moher. My partner and I had started this tour in September 2023, but were unable to complete the tour due to COVID. So, we tried again this year, and were able to finish it with Lolly's wonderful support and encouragement.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Slea Head Drive was beautiful, and I loved the stunning Blasket Centre, where I learned about the traditional Gaelic Blasket community that no longer lives on the island. I have a huge reading list to tackle from that visit!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Lolly, was amazing. She made our tour exciting, fun and very informative. In addition to providing historical information, she included antecdotes, which brought the history alive. She is very animated and has a wonderful sense of humor. The places that we visited were fabulous and interesting. Plus the schedules were well planned out. They gave us plenty of time to do activities on our own. Also, the fellow tourists were so friendly. We all got along like a family.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Everything!!! I enjoyed this trip so much."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tour and guides were so amazing we would do the same tour again!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Felt like I was coming home"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Despite an unusually wintry August, rain wind cold, it was very fun! Lots of activities. Luckily, we had Ireland's best tour guide, Lolly; you're fortunate to have her on your team. I was under the weather 3 to 4 days and she and all the other tour members showed so much concern for my wellbeing.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were a few. Flying with Jabba the Harris hawk at Ashford Castle. Finally getting to walk across Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge. The free day in Dingle, I was able to get over to Inch Beach for the 5K ParkRun; there were 126 runners, the most in a very long time. I befriended two other runners who were staying in Dingle and they gave me a ride back to town, saving me a 40 Euro taxi fare. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our entire trip was curated with the utmost consideration for creating an awesome tour of Ireland. Our tour guide, Lolly, was beyond wonderful! Her funny jokes and ever present smile made us feel special. Each day had the right amount of activity and the two weeks flew by.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We enjoyed the falconry experience a great deal."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall the tour was well planned, executed, and memorable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It is difficult to select just one "wow" because we experienced such a variety of sites, from the natural world to the manmade world, however, seeing the Titanic Museum in Belfast would have to be it."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my eighth Rick Steves tour and it did not disappoint! Lolly our guide was great and Ireland has so much beauty and history! I was with my granddaughter and we had a wonderful time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many! Peat bog jumping, limerick contest and Irish coffee demo, Dublin archaeology museum, Slea Head drive and Great Blasket centre, monks; oratory, sheep dog farm, and the special Irish dancers the last night. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first experience with Rick Steves' tours and we are totally open to taking future tours. We chose Rick Steve's after looking at other tour companies and were not disappointed in any way. From the hotels, itinerary and people it was a fabulous first impression of this beautiful country - Ireland. But the absolute crowning star on our trip was our top notch guide-Lolly. If you are seeing Ireland, doing it w/anyone other than Lolly is a miss. Cannot say enough good about her!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It is so hard to select one moment in a 2wk trip as a WOW moment, but if one has to be chosen it has to be a constant and that is the beautiful people of Ireland. What fun, joyful and welcoming people they are. They have a spectacular country, culture and history and they willingly share all with visitors. I was so impressed with this country."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was my first tour and it was very enjoyable. A nice group of people, local tour guides were excellent, a nice balance of scheduled activities and free time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cliffs of Moher "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Enjoyable tour with lots of information about what we were seeing and congenial people to travel with.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Slea Head Drive"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Comfortable bus, good accommodations. Our tour guide Kelli was fabulous as was our driver.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The cliffs of Mohr"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The trip was very well organized. Kelly, our tour guide, was wonderful and very knowledgeable. Mark, our driver, was friendly and managed the narrow roads with ease. We visited many interesting and beautiful places.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to list. Even though we were tired at the end of the day, I could not think of any stop that I would have bypassed. The scenery was incredible, especially because we were not driving."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I really enjoyed our tour through Ireland. Our tour leader, Kelli was INCREDIBLY knowledgeable about EVERYTHING Ireland. You could ask her anything, and she'd have something interesting to share.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Giants Causeway and the Five Farms Irish Creme tasting on the Burren. Discovering the amazing cuisine. The food in Ireland is GREAT! I learned so much just eating there."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Ireland is all about small towns, outdoor experiences and interesting activities - falconry, glass etching, music, dancing, sheep sheering, sheep dogs. I enjoyed the food and beer. The weather was close to perfect - only 3 days of real rain. Our guide Pascal was excellent and really made Ireland come alive with history, politics and fun anecdotes about growing up in Ireland (or as he would say, "the best place in the world."

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Giant's Causeway was the most interesting - being able to climb over the site and learn about the geology of the area. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tour exceeded my expectations. Awesome tour guide and bus driver. Good group of people on the tour. Great locations, hotels, etc.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"too many to count. every day was a wow moment"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Best of Ireland tour exceeded our expectations. Our tour guide, Pascal, was outstanding with his passion, high level of energy and knowledge of Ireland. He made the tour fantastic! The supplemental tour guides were also very good. Stpehen, the bus driver, was a consummate professional. The locations visited and hotels were awesome.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There are so many wow moments from the sites we visited - School of Falconry, Kinsale, Dingle, Blasket Cente, Cliffs of Moher, Aran Islands, Giant's Causeway, Carrick-a-Rede footbridge and Titanic Museum. The private Irish Music and Dance entertainers were so talented and added such a special touch to our day. It seems like every day there was a new wow moment!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Enjoyed it very much. Loved the natural beauty of the country. Tour guide was funny and easy to listen to.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"the Cliffs of Moher"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Giants Causeway was my favorite sight. Great story, great views and wonderfully challenging hike "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was my first Rick Steves tour. I did not know if I would like this kind of travel, but it was well paced. Sites were interesting and we had an outstanding guide (Pascal).

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The experience with the Falcons was a highlight of the tour, of which there were several. It is probably not the cheapest for your company to include, but it was unique and everyone really enjoyed it. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour moved along like clock work. Pascal was very adept at explaining the history of Ireland. He also had a great sense of humor.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My bike ride on the Dingle peninsula. I was a bit apprehensive about attempting the ride due to the narrow, twisty road but the scenery was beautiful and the traffic was very courteous."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was educational and I learned a lot about Ireland. There were great sites visited with great views. The food was good. The bars were fun and the music in them was good.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The first thing that comes to mind is the stop at the falcon school. Seeing the falcon fly and then having it land on your hand wasn't something I ever expected to do."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Pascal, was a fantastic and engaging guide. He had a wealth of knowledge and was able to communicate with wonderful stories both historic and personal. We enjoyed the spectacular scenery and cultural connections.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many wow moments…from the school of falconry to peering off the edge of the cliffs of Dun Aengus to the giants causeway."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour guide and perfectly paced tour. I have mobility issues due to bone cancer and I was able to keep up and do everything!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cliffs of Moher. Amazing views!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour is so well organized yet doesn’t feel prescribed. All the behind the scenes work makes things feel more spontaneous.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard to pick one but the Giants Causeway day was very special. The unique scenery and beautiful hike was very memorable. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was my first guided tour ever- I normally go it alone. I really enjoyed the background stories you can't get from doing it solo.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So much of it was amazing so it is hard to pick, however, the trad music at local pubs and the special shows set up by Pascal was my favorite."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I broke my foot before I was able to go on the tour. Our tour guide Paschal was very kind and understanding. He helped us discuss options and was flexible when I decided to return to the US because of physical limitations. I wish I could have gone on the tour!

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our first Rick Steves tour was well done from beginning to end. From the guides, the hotels, the tours and the meals everything was well planned and thought out. We had a great group of people and the guides were exceptional.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Ashford Castle and the Falconry school was a win for me. The castle and the grounds were amazing and working with the birds was a once in a lifetime treat."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was perfect. Just the right amount of tours and free time

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I’m not sure I had a wow moment. I just relaxed and enjoyed the experience."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful tour! Great guide! Had a taste of the bigger cities and also the smaller towns. The little pubs with their music and shops in Dingle won't disappoint.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Giant's Causeway! I had heard and saw pictures of it but seeing it in person was truly awesome!!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a fantastic time. The sights, the food and the music were all great.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite wow moment was when I was able to see the house where my Grandmother grew up. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very well organized. I loved all of the cities and towns. Everyone was so inviting. I was very happy to learn so much about the Irish history. Our guide Conor was great!!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to list. The Cliffs of Moher, Giant's Causeway, Aran Islands were amazing. Traveling around the countryside was beautiful."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

exceeded expectations in every way!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"traditional music sessions in Dingle"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide, Conor, was knowledgeable in all of the areas that we visited and presented all of the information in an interesting,understandable way. The local tour guides were also outstanding, although the tour guide for the Rock of Cashel was a little hard to follow, because he spoke so quickly. The Hotels, except for one , were very clean, comfortable, and inviting. The food that we had at our group dinners was very good. The whole itinerary of places that we visited was very good!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many "wow" moments, but the one that immediately comes to mind, happened at the Blasket Center. After we had our tour of the center and the informative video, we walked down the pathway to the ocean. The landscape and the ocean were breathtaking. There was such beauty in the different colors of the landscape and the ocean. The sound of the crashing waves was music to my ears and the air was so clear, clean and crisp."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first trip to Ireland and it was amazing. As an Irish native, our guide Conchubhair generously offered his expertise to this beautiful island. He made liberal use of his connections across the two countries to make the "through the back door" experience come to life. I could not be more pleased with my tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"As we settled into Kinsale, Conchubhair played some Irish music with his button box. This was the first of many concerts we had the privilege to hear."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Ireland really is a magical place. I had been to many countries in Europe, but never to Ireland and I fell in love with the Emerald Isle.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Every day of the tour felt like a new "Wow!" moment. When I returned home and my friends & family ask what was the best part of the tour, my answer has been, "All of it!""

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

First time in Ireland, and this tour was a fabulous introduction to a beautiful country. My 13th RS tour, and it was top-notch, just like all the others: excellent itinerary, hotels, meals, guides, transportation. RS tours are the best value around!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"All of Ireland was a "wow", but seeing the Book of Kells from the 800's was incredible."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our first Rick Steves tour, and it was a wonderful experience!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Falconry at Ashford Castle."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well worth the cost

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Spending time with my daughter"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My tour of Ireland was everything I hoped for and more. I’ve only been on one Rick Steves tour before - Greece in 2023. It was a great experience, also. I thoroughly enjoyed the two weeks spent with our guide, Joe, and my fellow travelers. Ireland is such a beautiful country, it’s people were warmly friendly and our local guides enriched my knowledge of local history and culture every day.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were amazing “WOW” moments nearly every day! If I must choose one, I’d say our visit to Ashford Castle and the School of Falconry was so unique, stunningly beautiful, and so much fun! I’d never dreamed of actually handling a falcon! Near seconds were wandering over the incredible geological feature that is The Giant’s Causeway, and learning about that famous ship's history in the Titanic Belfast Museum."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Lovely group of people and the tour guide was very informative and organized.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Irish dancing dinner with the group. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I felt acquainted with a country that I thought I knew. That re-connection made real those pictures and ideas I had shaped from afar. Dublin became a livable city, Kinsale entered my field of perception, Dingle became a favorite, Belfast a more realistic picture. Guide Joe was excellent, Velcro-ing snippets together with big ideas. The food routine - satisfying. The hotels - better than I remembered. The promised attractions delivered but it was the unexpected visits that glued the experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Realizing why Ireland is so green. Mid 60s for highs, little freezing or snow, steady moisture – and standing in it made me say – Of Course! The rugged west, with the Slea Head drive making the senses work overtime. Throw in history and the Blaskets and it was so memorable. St Stephen’s Green beckoned so strongly, so relaxedly. The color of Kinsale was a delight. The tensions of Ireland – Northern Ireland is so profound – so much anger amidst so much bucolic countryside, and more. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic tour guide and driver. We really enjoyed being with and meeting others, the history that was shared and the unique experience

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The sheep dog demonstration was one of my favorites!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

From the initial communications, booking process, touring, hotels, transportation, tour guides and sights to behold, Rick Steves’ Best of Ireland-14 day was one of the best vacations I have ever had. Professional, well managed and a First Class experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Aran Islands & Dun Aengus"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic whirlwind tour of Ireland. So many things to see and do, and Rick Steves gets you to all of it!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard to say: Kilmainham Gaol, Falconry, Titanic museum, Slea Head Drive, Inishmore. The "wows" kept coming."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was well organized and jam packed with historical and cultural experiences. I loved staying in small, family run hotels that were near the town centers. There was a perfect balance of group activities and personal time to explore the different towns and cities we visited.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It's so hard to pick just one favorite moment, but I'd have to choose the tour of Slea Head Drive in Kerry, including the visit to the Blasket Island Interpretive Center. Seeing the beauty, contrasted with the ruggedness of the terrain helped to further my understanding of the history and psyche of the Irish people."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour experience exceeded our wildest expectations. Our tour guide, Pascal, was absolutely devoted to ensuring that everyone in our group was well taken care of and had a great time. Pascal provided historical information, background stories and music on the bus for each destination we visited. His sense of humor added to the experience. Our bus driver Pamela kept us safe as she expertly maneuvered around the narrow coast roads. Her cheery attitude started every day in a positive way.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Participating at a falconry school at a castle having hawks land on our raised leather glove. The beautiful coastline, mountains, and many shades of green of Ireland. Gaining a better understanding of the history of the people of Ireland."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great guide, Pascal Fitzpatrick. Nice hotels. Experiences.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Titanic Museum in Belfast."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Much more than we expected! The depth of immersion into Ireland’s culture and history gripped us. We are changed because of it.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sorry but I can not list only one. Each day truly had Wow moments. We were Wowed by how European's of all ages gather in public areas daily. The Tiny Towns competition turned each village into an idyllic Fairyland. The Sheepdog herding demonstration and falconry time on the Ashford Castle grounds! Each local guides interpersonal thoughts. Our own guide’s personal and historical insights between our stops. Go ahead and pick one if you like!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Good experience overall. Everything went very smoothly. Good guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Giants causeway"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We loved all of it. The places we went to, the history explained to us, the restaurants we ate at were all great.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Having the falcon land on my arm."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I missed seeing ancient graves as well as abbey and castle ruins. I would have liked to spend more time at The Burren. I found the falcon show a total waste of time. I very much enjoyed Dingle and the peninsula. The history of Ireland is fascinating, but it seemed every guide repeated the information. Galway and Aran Island were great.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hike along coast in Dingle on free day"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent mix of city and country travel. Great combination of structured and down time. Terrific tour guide (knowledgeable and caring); Guest tour guides superb

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many. Best were Aran Islands and The Titanic Museum was MY favorite"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Loved Ireland. The history, the scenery, the music, the people.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Rope bridge, the Titanic museum. Loved Kinsale, Dingle."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was my first international tour experience and it far exceeded my expectations. The beauty and history of Ireland should be a must for any traveler. Our guide, Connor, I call him the gentle giant was excellent! Soft spoken, even tempered, with great sense of humor made the experience family like. His pride toward Ireland and in particular the Dingle Peninsula made the visit extra special. He provided a real appreciation for Ireland's love for music with local artists.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Giant's Causeway, The rope bridge experience. The visit to the Aran Islands"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I can't possibly say enough good things. Every aspect of the tour was wonderful. The places visited, the group dinners, the outings, too much to list. I'd do this tour over in a couple years. It would be wonderful to tour Ireland with Conor again. Next time, I'll use the free day in Dingle to visit Blasket island.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Dublin city tour, Belfast city tour, Dingle boat ride, Falconry in Cong, the sheep dog exhibition at the sheep farm was a real wow moment! Seeing the Wall in Belfast and learning about the Troubles was an enlightenment moment. Visiting the northern Irish coast at Giant's Staircase & that rope bridge hike were cool. I loved Kinsale and Galway. So much! Many wow moments!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very much enjoyed it. It met and exceeded our expectations. This was our second tour with Rick Steves.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many "wow" moments. Excellent itinerary with a good variety of cities, hotels, points of interest."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

VERY WELL ORGANIZED, GOOD MEALS, EXCELLENT GUIDE AND BUS DRIVER

Favorite "WOW" moment

"KILLARNEY NATIONAL PARK"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Enjoyed the trip very much. Ireland is a beautiful country and the people are very welcoming.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The breathtaking cliff side views while traveling Slea Head Drive and the Wild Atlantic Way, holding the hawk at Ashford Castle, the Giants Causeway and crossing the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a wonderful dream trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It is a tie between the group toast at the Cliffs of Moher and the view from Dún Aonghasa once you manage to hike yourself up there."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This is our fifth Rick Steves' Europe tour. We absolutely love RS Tours. The intimate experience, outstanding tour guides and seamless logistics make the experience so wonderful. We enjoyed our guide, Declan. He was a wealth of information and was extremely passionate about Ireland, and its history and culture. We did have very unseasonably cold weather, and it was very rainy. This put a bit of a damper on the trip, but luckily; we were blessed with good weather for the Cliffs of Moher!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We were lucky to be blessed with bright and sunny days on the days it mattered. The "wow" moments were experiencing the stunning topographic sights, including the Cliffs of Moher and the GIant's Causeway. We were able to experience crossing the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge in Antrum County. Declan also led us on a longer "red trail" at the Giant's Causeway, and it was neat to see the grounds in more detail. We also loved visiting Belfast. The Titanic Museum was incredible - so much information"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very enjoyable trip as it went to beautiful areas and was well organized

Favorite "WOW" moment

"When I realized how great our guide was. Declan was very professional, talented, organized and caring. He played or sang songs that pertained to the areas we drove thru. He was extremely funny when he told us how the people in the south and north talked and his "giant" story was hilarious. He kept us on time and on task yet did it in a very nice manner."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Declan, was amazing. He filled us full of Irish history, music and stories and made even the longest bus rides interesting and enjoyable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It’s hard to come up with just one! We loved the smaller towns, Kinsale, Dingle and Westport. But how can I not mention the Cliffs of Mohrer and the Giant’s Causeway as WOW moments! And the Titanic Museum in Belfast was amazing. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I fell in love with Ireland.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I spent the evening with friends at Matt Malloy’s and listened to Irish music for several hours."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Thoroughly enjoyed all aspects of the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"In Dingle, as we relaxed in Milltown House, a rainbow formed over the town across the bay. That image will be the cover for our Ireland scrapbook. We will also feature the kindness of Sean from Dingle Crystal as he went out of his way to provide free transportation from downtown to our B&B. Thanks Sean!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Outstanding.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Cliffs. Declan. Declan’s stories and singing. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour delivers a great mix of city, small town, and outdoor experiences to show the natural beauty and history of Ireland and its people. Our tour guide Joe was a wealth of knowledge on history as well as contemporary Irish culture.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Falconry at Ashford Castle was a great experience, learning about the birds, how they are trained, and getting to have the hawk land and take off from my outstretched gloved hand."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Joe our guide was amazing. The hotel in portrush was awful to the point I think we should all be reimbursed. Otherwise awesome trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Dingle crystals, sheep herding and hawk experience "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was just a great group of people and our Tour Guide Joe had us all in such a thoughtful mood that we seemed to go from one good experience to another.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Maybe the moment I put out my arm with the falconer's glove on it and the beautiful hawk flew from a tree to my arm. Or maybe it was sitting at the precipice of the ring fort on Aran, or finally making it back across the Carick-a-rede rope bridge."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A beautiful tour with an excellent guide

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Dramatic coastal scenery, the sublime beauty of Ashford Castle grounds, and interesting but tragic lessons in recent history from the Troubles in Belfast."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was outstanding with visits to many wonderful sites. We learned a great deal about Ireland and our guide, Joe, was fantastic!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Slea Head Drive and the Blasket Experience were my favorite experiences on the tour (though honestly, everything was pretty amazing and beautiful)"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had an outstanding overall tour guide that worked with the local guides in Ireland to describe significant aspects of the history, geography, and people.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We had a number of wow moments such as our time hiking and discorvering Kinsale, the Aden Islands, and the Titanic exhibt in Belfast."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was excellent! Our tour guide Pascal is such a personable man with great stories, a rich Irish history and a quick wit and sense of humor that he made everyone feel quite relaxed and comfortable and therefore made the group dynamics very fun. Even though I arrived a day early I wish I had more time in Dublin to really enjoy the museums and other attractions. I personally didn't care for Galway (dirty and not much of an Irish feel). Group meals were great except for Hotel Europa.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking alone in the cold early morning mist to the Dingle Lighthouse I met an elderly gentleman collecting Kerry stones along the shore. I said good morning and he asked if I had come out for a swim. I laughed and said no, just a walk. We ended up talking about many things over the next 20 minutes, about his family and Ireland's history, how his great grandfather died in Andersonville prison and the state of world affairs. He was a very kind man I felt then that I made a real Irish connection."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Already loved the country. Loved our guide and a different lens on a country over a decade after my first visit.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"No one moment. Too many moments, and the Irish people are part of the wonderful experience. My wife and I debated favorite places to return for our next visit and every tour stop was mentioned. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

First time in Ireland. The people are conspicuously friendly and the natural wonders are second only to ours. The hotels on this tour were much nicer than the Best of Italy. The food was surprisingly good. I read the Rick Steves book and thought I was prepared, but the history lessons on the tour were unforgettable. They were exactly what I needed, when I needed it. The tour guide and tour guide were a fantastic team. Enjoyed Italy, but I love Ireland and plan to return with the RS book.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Waited to have my first vacation Guinness until I visited Currans in Dingle. Could hardly wait for my proper pour. When it finally came to me I took a massive blue collar gulp and experienced “Aretha Franklin Chills” head to toe and subsequently came to life! "