2026 The Irish Pub Tour- 8 Days/7 Nights
Day 1: Dublin City Tour & Canal Cruise Dinner
Your tour departs from your hotel at 2:00 PM. A local guide will bring you on a panoramic tour of central Dublin, a friendly city famed for its wit and sense of fun. Board a barge, once used for transporting Guinness, for a cruise down the centuries-old Grand Canal as you sip a welcome drink and enjoy dinner while listening to live music. (D)
Day 2: Kilkenny Tour & Sullivan’s Taproom
Explore historic Kilkenny on a guided walking tour of its Medieval Mile, stretching from cathedral to castle. Discover the city’s rich heritage, narrow streetscapes, and picturesque merchants’ houses. Next, soak up the atmosphere and savor the ancient craft of artisan brewing with a private tasting at Sullivan’s Taproom. Explore on your own before dinner at your hotel. (B, D)
Day 3: Blarney Castle & Killarney
Visit the Marine Bar in Dungarvan (a CIE Tours Exclusive) and enjoy a drink with some traditional music in this centuries-old, family-run pub. Travel to Blarney Castle to explore the beautiful gardens or to kiss the famous stone, which legend promises will bestow the “Gift of Gab”. Pass through County Cork to the lively town of Killarney – a draw for visitors to Ireland since the 18th century. Dine in Hannigan’s Bar and Restaurant at your hotel, and then after dinner take free time to explore some of Killarney’s friendly pubs, many with live music. (B, D)
Day 4: Dingle Peninsula & Celtic Whiskey Bar Experience
Visit Moriarty’s in the Gap of Dunloe, a CIE Tours preferred shopping partner, before heading out to the Dingle Peninsula. Visit a farm for an immersion into traditional rural life and watch skilled sheepdogs demonstrate their talents at herding. Enjoy free time to explore the charms of Dingle town. In the evening, head to the Celtic Whiskey Bar in Killarney for a tasting, chocolate pairing, and dinner. (B, D)
Day 5: Cliffs of Moher & Galway
Ferry across the River Shannon Estuary. Take in the spectacular beauty of the Cliffs of Moher, soaring 700 feet above the Atlantic surf. Walk along the top of the cliffs for views across Galway Bay to Connemara and the Aran Islands. Continue on to Galway for a short walking tour and some free time in the city before dinner in your hotel. (B, D)
Day 6: Sean’s Bar & Lough Ree Cruise
Spend a leisurely morning exploring vibrant, artistic Galway as you please. Travel to Athlone, where you’ll enjoy an Irish Coffee or whiskey as you cruise Lough Ree in a replica Viking longship. Next, raise a pint at Sean’s Bar. This pub is not only the oldest in Ireland; dating back to 900 AD, it’s the oldest in Europe, according to the Guinness Book of Records. The sloped floors (often covered with sawdust), candlelight, and turf fire pay nostalgic tribute to this pub’s rich history. Enjoy dinner at the Athlone hotel this evening. (B, D)
Day 7: Guinness Storehouse & The Merry Ploughboy
Enjoy the scenery of central Ireland as you travel to Dublin. Visit the Guinness Storehouse in the heart of the city – one of Ireland’s most popular attractions – and sample Ireland’s iconic brew as you take in the panoramic view from the seventh-floor Gravity Bar. In the evening, visit The Merry Ploughboy for a hearty dinner and an evening of traditional Irish entertainment. (B, D)
Day 8: Tour Ends in Dublin
Your tour ends after breakfast. (B)
CIE Tours Exclusives:
- Treat your ears to the lively sounds of Irish music at the historic Marine Bar in Dungarvan.
- Take a fun ride down Dublin's historic Grand Canal in a barge once used for transporting Guinness
Trip Highlights:
-
Blarney Castle
Cliffs of Moher
Guinness Storehouse Tour
Celtic Whiskey Bar in Killarney
Marine Bar in Dungarvan - CIE Tours Exclusive
Celtic Whiskey Bar in Killarney
Beer Tasting in Kilkenny
Sean's Bar in Athlone
Dingle Peninsula
Sheepdog Demonstration
Dining Experiences:
- 7 Breakfasts (B) and 7 Dinners (D)
Hotels:
- Croke Park Hotel | Dublin (1)
- Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel | Kilkenny (1)
- International Hotel | Killarney (2)
- Galway Bay Hotel | Salthill | Galway (1)
- Sheraton Athlone Hotel | Athlone (1)
- Ashling Hotel | Dublin (1)