Ireland
Every trip has a story, but this one?
This one was a complete roller-coaster from start to finish.
Between limited visa time, waiting for holidays to get approved, and constantly checking flight prices, this Ireland trip felt like it would fall apart at any moment. But somehow and that’s how most good travel stories begin, everything aligned just in time.
Since time was limited, I took charge of planning everything hostels, transport, car rental, and itinerary. Ireland is one of those destinations where planning ahead saves you money and stress, especially if you’re trying to cover multiple places.
The day finally arrived.
I reached the airport early morning, slightly nervous but excited. My friend’s flight was earlier than mine, and he landed in Dublin before me. As planned, he went straight to the hostel we had booked and checked in. My flight was scheduled for two hours, but the actual flying time? Barely one hour. It was a small propeller aircraft, the kind that reminds you how close you are to the clouds. Not the most luxurious experience, but safe, smooth, and strangely thrilling.
Landing at Dublin Airport, I mentally prepared myself for immigration. If you’ve traveled enough, you know that moment replaying answers in your head, wondering what questions will be asked. Surprisingly, the officer asked just five simple questions.
Purpose of visit.
Duration of stay.
Where I was staying.
Return ticket.
What I do?
That was it. Stamp.
Welcome to Ireland. Sometimes, travel reminds you that not every worry deserves your energy.
After collecting my bag, I boarded a bus from Dublin Airport to the city center affordable, frequent, and easy to navigate. The bus stop was conveniently located just a short walk from our hostel. Since check-in was only at 3 PM, I stored my luggage in the hostel locker a lifesaver when traveling early. I stepped out of the hostel and walked toward a nearby café where my friend was already having lunch. That moment meeting in a new country after separate journeys always feels special.
Our first stop was Trinity College Dublin, and this wasn’t just another tourist attraction for me. When I first decided to study abroad, Dublin was my first choice, and Trinity College was my top university preference. I had watched countless videos, campus tours, and student vlogs. Seeing it all on a screen is one thing, but standing there in person is something else entirely. The moment I walked through the gates, the feeling was surreal. Calm, historic, and powerful all at once. We first visited the Sphere Within Sphere sculpture, which immediately caught my attention. The waiting time for The Book of Kells was extremely long, so we decided to skip it and instead spent our time walking through the university grounds, exploring different buildings, courtyards, and soaking in the atmosphere. It was unplanned, slow, and honestly perfect.
📍 Location: Trinity College Dublin, College Green, Dublin 2, Ireland
Our next stop was the National Library of Ireland. The architecture alone makes it worth visiting. The silence, the wooden interiors, and the sense of history make you slow down without even realizing it.
📍 Location: National Library of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2, Ireland
Just a short walk away was the National Museum of Ireland on Kildare Street, and this place genuinely impressed me. The entrance itself is stunning, and once inside, the exhibits are thoughtfully displayed. It didn’t feel rushed or overwhelming. I found myself actually reading, observing, and appreciating Irish history. While browsing the souvenir shop, I had a conversation with one of the staff members. These are the moments I love about traveling. He casually suggested that we visit the National Gallery of Ireland, saying the paintings there were unmissable. I’m glad we listened.
📍 Location: National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2, Ireland
The National Gallery of Ireland completely blew me away. Some of the paintings were literally room-sized, and what amazed me most was that nearly 90 percent of them were hand-painted. The level of detail, emotion, and effort in each artwork was incredible. This wasn’t just a gallery visit. It felt like walking through centuries of human expression. We clicked a few photos, stood silently in front of some paintings longer than expected, and eventually realized how hungry we were.
📍 Location: National Gallery of Ireland, Merrion Square West, Dublin 2, Ireland
Walking toward the Dublin city center, we stumbled upon a pizza place called BAMBINO. What caught our attention was that they sold pizza by the slice, which was exactly what we needed. Fresh, filling, and satisfying. Sometimes the best food experiences come from places you don’t plan for.
📍 Location: BAMBINO Pizza, Stephen Street Lower, Dublin 2, Ireland
After eating, we spent some time simply exploring Dublin city center. Streets full of life, music, and history. One thing that puzzled us was seeing three flags everywhere. The USA flag, the Ireland flag, and the EU flag. We discussed it among ourselves, tried to make sense of it, but never really reached a conclusion. Sometimes travel leaves you with questions, and that’s okay.
We headed back to the hostel, our bodies needed it, especially knowing that the next day involved a lot of travel.
For dinner, we picked up an all-you-can-eat Indian takeaway box from Govinda’s Restaurant. Only after ordering did we realize it was a pure vegetarian restaurant. We took the food back to the hostel, had dinner peacefully, and went to bed early.
📍 Location: Govinda’s Restaurant, Middle Abbey Street, Dublin 1, Ireland
Day one in Dublin was a mix of dreams, history, art, and simple moments. From standing inside a university I once imagined studying in, to discovering world-class art and ending the day with comfort food, it felt complete.
And the best part was yet to come.
The next morning started early. We knew this was going to be a long driving day, so we got ready quickly and stepped out with excitement and just a little nervous energy. Before picking up our rental car, we made a quick stop for food. Trust me, this decision turned out to be one of the smartest of the day. We stopped at SuperValu Aston Quay store, and honestly, this place was perfect for travelers. They had fresh hot food like chicken wings and ready meals, so we decided to pack takeaway boxes for breakfast and lunch. Affordable, filling, and convenient. Completely worth it.
📍 Location: SuperValu Aston Quay, Dublin City Centre, Dublin, Ireland
After food was sorted, we picked up our rental car. It was a Peugeot 2008 hatchback, more than enough for the two of us and perfect for Irish roads. Our first destination was Limerick City, roughly 200 kilometers away and about two hours of driving. Once on the motorway, the speed limit was 120 kilometers per hour, and soon light drizzle started. With Hindi and Punjabi songs playing in the background, the drive felt peaceful and almost cinematic. Most of the route was motorway, so scenic views were limited, but the calm rhythm of driving made up for it.
We reached Limerick, parked the car in a city car park, and explored on foot. Since time was limited, we focused only on a few spots. We visited the Terry Wogan Memorial, walked around the museum area, and explored the city center. It was relaxed, quiet, and a nice break before heading toward something much bigger.
📍 Location: Limerick City Centre, Limerick, Ireland
After Limerick, we headed toward the place we had been waiting for since planning this trip Cliffs of Moher Aillte an Mhothair. The countryside roads leading there were beautiful. Rolling landscapes, narrow roads, light rain, and sudden ups and downs that felt like a roller coaster. When we reached the car park, something felt off. Only a few cars were parked. No ticket machines. No staff. No fees.
As we walked ahead, we noticed that all the stores were closed. A quick online search revealed the reason, there was a one off major storm, one of the strongest in that region, and everything was officially closed for safety. But we were already there. As we moved forward, a sudden gust of wind hit us so hard that it literally pushed us backward. It was unreal. Holding onto the railing tightly, we slowly made our way up. The wind kept fighting us at every step, rain started falling harder, and the cold began to set in. Photos do not even come close to showing how intense it was. And then we saw it.
The Cliffs of Moher, standing tall at around 214 meters above the Atlantic Ocean, with massive waves crashing violently below. The force of the ocean was so strong that water from the sea was being pushed upward, almost reaching the top of the cliffs. It was raw. Powerful. Humbling.
📍 Location: Cliffs of Moher, County Clare, Ireland
Normally, you can hike along the cliffs, but given the conditions, that was completely out of the question. Safety came first. Freezing cold and soaked, we rushed back to the car. Even the car was shaking due to the wind. Heater on. Deep breath. Moving on. Normally, you can hike along the cliffs, but given the conditions, that was completely out of the question. Safety came first. Freezing cold and soaked, we rushed back to the car. Even the car was shaking due to the wind. Heater on. Deep breath. Moving on.
We started driving toward Galway, and once again, the roads were a joy to drive on. Smooth, scenic, and peaceful despite the weather. We had no concrete plan for Galway, so we did what travelers do best. We searched online on the go and decided to start with the University of Galway.
📍 Location: University of Galway, Galway City, Ireland