Ireland City Breaks 2024/2025

Top 5 City Break Destinations In Ireland

1. Dublin

From the lively traditional music in Temple Bar, to the great shopping and friendly vibe, there's something special about Dublin, making it a must visit city break, whether you've been before or not.

2. Cork

One of Ireland's oldest cities, a city break in Cork has a much more chilled out feel. When exploring the city, make sure to head out to the surrounding area like Fota Island and Cobh to capture the beautiful countryside too.

3. Limerick

You'll need to fly into Shannon for a short break in Limerick, but there's a direct bus from the airport to Limerick city centre which takes between 35 and 50 minutes. Once in Limerick, make sure to visit King John's Castle as well as explore the riverside walks on offer here too.

4. Galway

For a city break in Galway, you should fly into either Shannon or Knock airport, both offering direct flights from across the UK, including regional airports like East Midlands and Edinburgh. Galway is a much quieter city but is at the heart of Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way, making this a great combo destination for both the city and outdoor adventures.

5. Waterford

Being a small city with just over 50,000 people, Waterford can be a great alternative if you like a more intimate feeling escape. About 120km from Cork, Waterford is a little further out of the way than other Irish cities, but can make for a far less touristy option.

Best Irish Cities For...

Ireland is great for all sorts of breaks, whether you're planning to party with friends, want a chilled out shopping break, or fancy combining a bit of nightlife with the adventurous coastline.

Best City For St Patrick's Day

While Dublin is usually the go to for St Patrick's Day celebrations, it can get very busy and crowded here both with locals and tourists. While that can make a fun and exciting vibe, if you fancy somewhere a little more authentic, head to the likes of the smaller cities such as Waterford to get more of a local feel celebration.

Best City For Nightlife

Dublin is normally the go to for a big night out with loads of bars and restaurants on offer. There are plenty of comedy clubs, live music venues and night clubs here so you're sure to find something to suit your taste.

Best City For Students

While Dublin is often the first city you'd think about, Cork is a fab place for students. Ireland's second largest city is home to the University College Cork, offering a huge range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses from music to archaeology, and that also means some great facilities for students too.

Best City For Families

For first time families to Ireland, Dublin is a perfect option with loads of activities to do like Dublin Zoo and Dublin Castle, but make sure you take a look at Limerick too which has a wealth of history and fun for all the family.

Best City For A Hen Party

Dublin is an ideal city break for a hen party in Ireland. With cheap flights from across the UK, wherever your hens are coming from, it's easy to get to. There's also lots of accommodation options, from budget friendly hotels to luxury spa resorts, as well as apartments and private homes which can be perfect for groups. Lots of restaurant options will help kick start your night out, with a visit to Temple Bar a must for live music and a dance.

Best City For The Outdoors

Galway is a perfect city and outdoors combination. Located in the middle of the Wild Atlantic Way, you can spend a day or two enjoying this smaller city, before heading up or down the coast for hiking, adventurous walks and a range of other fun activities like whale watching or kayaking. Hiring a car from Shannon airport can be one of the best ways to explore this part of the country.