Classic Ireland - 8 Days / 7 Nights

**Day 1. Dublin**
Arrival in Dublin and transfer from the airport to the tour hotel. Accommodation and breakfast at the Maldron Hotel Parnell Square, Academy Plaza, Hampton by Hilton Dublin Hotel, Camden Court Hotel or similar.

**Day 2. Dublin**
In the morning, after breakfast, we will take a roughly two-hour walking tour, setting out directly from the hotel, as our first introduction to the city of Dublin. Along the way we will pass O'Connell Street, one of the capital's main thoroughfares, home to the General Post Office (GPO), a symbol of the 1916 Easter Rising, and the Spire, an emblem of contemporary Dublin, as well as the nearby Garden of Remembrance. The walk continues towards the historic centre, crossing the famous Ha'penny Bridge and passing through the traditional Moore Street market, a reflection of everyday local life. We will also explore the lively Temple Bar area, known for its atmosphere, cobbled streets and traditional pubs. During the visit we will pass by the surroundings of Trinity College, Ireland's oldest university, and by some of the city's main historic monuments, such as Dublin Castle and the cathedrals of St Patrick's Cathedral and Christ Church Cathedral, all viewed from the outside. Before finishing, we will admire the elegant Custom House, one of the finest examples of 18th-century neoclassical architecture. The tour ends in the city centre, leaving free time to keep exploring Dublin at your own pace. Accommodation and breakfast at the Maldron Hotel Parnell Square, Academy Plaza, Hampton by Hilton Dublin Hotel, Camden Court Hotel or similar.

**Day 3. Dublin – Athlone – Galway**
After breakfast, we will begin with a brief panoramic tour as we leave Dublin, allowing us to take in different parts of the city and the contrast between its historic areas and more modern neighbourhoods. We will leave the capital to head west across Ireland. Our first stop will be Athlone, located practically at the geographic centre of Ireland and crossed by the River Shannon, the longest in the country. This strategic location has made the town an important connecting point between east and west since the Middle Ages. Athlone Castle stands out, originally built in the 13th century by the Normans and rebuilt several times throughout its history, especially after the 1691 siege during the Williamite wars. We will also be able to enjoy a lively stroll along the river and the local atmosphere, characteristic of a town with a commercial and river-trading tradition. We will continue on to Galway, known as the "City of the Tribes", a reference to the fourteen Anglo-Norman merchant families who dominated its political and economic life between the 14th and 17th centuries. Located on the west coast, on the shores of the Atlantic, Galway is today an important cultural centre, famous for its festivals, traditional music and young, lively atmosphere. Dinner, accommodation and breakfast at the Hotel Connacht, Shannon Spring Hotel, Lough Rea Hotel & Spa or similar.

**Day 4. Galway – Westport – Connemara – Galway**
After breakfast, we will cross some of the country's most characteristic landscapes to reach Westport, one of the region's most attractive and lively towns, with views over the River Carrowbeg, where we will have time to stroll through its well-kept centre, enjoy the local atmosphere and go shopping, as well as pick up food for lunch to be enjoyed later on. We will continue on to the region of Connemara, an area of great natural beauty, famous for its lakes, valleys, mountains and small villages, which has inspired poets and painters for centuries. Through these landscapes we will reach the spectacular Kylemore Abbey, a former Victorian castle built on the shore of a lake and surrounded by an incomparable natural setting, originally the residence of the Mitchell Henry family and later turned into a convent by Benedictine nuns. In the afternoon, we will return to Galway, where we will take a walking tour of this lively university city, getting to know the Catholic cathedral, the Spanish Arch and its central High Street, famous for its vibrant atmosphere, shops and traditional Irish pubs, where there will be time to enjoy live music and sample local beers. Dinner, accommodation and breakfast at the Hotel Connacht, Shannon Spring Hotel, Lough Rea Hotel & Spa or similar.

**Day 5. Galway – Cliffs of Moher – Limerick – Cork**
This morning we will set off for the Cliffs of Moher, crossing The Burren, whose Gaelic name means "rocky place". The cliffs, an imposing stretch of limestone facing the Atlantic, are a UNESCO-protected site. They offer incomparable views over the ocean, rising up to 200 metres above sea level and stretching along 8 kilometres. We will take time to admire them and visit the visitor centre, as they are one of Ireland's main postcard images. We will then head to Limerick, where we will take a panoramic tour of the city, Ireland's fourth largest, founded by the Vikings on the banks of the River Shannon. We will have free time in Limerick for lunch. We will continue on to Cork, where we will enjoy a walk through the English Market, an iconic market in the city centre. We will also see St Anne's Church in Shandon, the clock known as the "Four-Faced Liar" and the Protestant St Fin Barre's Cathedral. Cork is a city built on water and home to an important commercial port, from which countless ships set sail for the New World during the Great Irish Famine. We will have free time to stroll through its streets. Dinner, accommodation and breakfast at the Hotel Cork International, Radisson Blu Cork, Garryvoe Hotel, Acton Hotel Kinsale or similar.

**Day 6. Cork – Killarney and the Ring of Kerry – Cork**
Today we will dedicate the day to exploring the Ring of Kerry, one of Ireland's most famous and spectacular scenic routes. It is a circular route of around 170 kilometres crossing the Iveragh Peninsula, offering some of the most impressive landscapes in the west of the country. Along the way we will pass inland lakes, pale sandy beaches, green hills and coastal cliffs, a natural setting shaped by the last ice age over a million years ago. The landscape changes constantly, alternating views of the Atlantic Ocean with quiet valleys and gentle mountains, creating one of Ireland's most recognisable postcard images. Along the route we will pass through charming coastal and rural villages such as Waterville, Sneem and Cahersiveen, each with its own character and strong ties to local traditions. At some of these points we will have free time, ideal for strolling, buying Irish crafts and, weather permitting, having lunch at one of the region's traditional pubs, where you can experience authentic local life. After completing this unforgettable tour of the Ring of Kerry, we will begin the return to the city of Cork, once again crossing the ever-changing landscapes of southwest Ireland. Dinner, accommodation and breakfast at the Hotel Cork International, Radisson Blu Cork, Garryvoe Hotel, Acton Hotel Kinsale or similar.

**Day 7. Cork – Rock of Cashel – Kilkenny – Dublin**
After breakfast, we will leave the city of Cork behind to head back to Dublin, travelling through the country's interior and making a stop to visit the impressive Rock of Cashel. This emblematic fortified complex, predating the Norman invasion, was for centuries the seat of royal power in Munster before being handed over to the Church. The site is closely linked to the legends of Saint Patrick, patron saint of Ireland, and also to one of the most tragic episodes in the country's history, the 1647 massacre, in which around 3,000 people lost their lives at the hands of Oliver Cromwell's troops. We will continue our journey to the city of Kilkenny, where we will have free time for lunch and a brief visit. We can stroll through its charming streets and take photographs of the imposing Kilkenny Castle, a medieval fortress that belonged to the influential Butler family until 1935. Finally, we will head to Dublin, where we will have the rest of the afternoon free to enjoy the city, stroll around or do some last-minute shopping on Irish soil. Accommodation and breakfast at the Maldron Hotel Parnell Square, Academy Plaza, Hampton by Hilton Dublin Hotel, Camden Court Hotel or similar.

**Day 8. Dublin**
Free day in Dublin until the time of your transfer back to the airport for your departure flight.