Welcome to my ultimate Ireland travel guide for a Castle Crawl! I’ve got the PERFECT 5 day Ireland road trip itinerary around Ireland’s Ancient East visiting some of the most iconic castles, palaces, gardens and estates!
You can’t miss these spots on your next trip!!
We’re covering Ireland’s Ancient East in this blog post – which means your journey will focus on Ireland’s East. We will start in Dublin, doing a big loop (driving time around 11 hours over 5 days) and finish back in Dublin.
As a fan of magical travel – my goal in life is to visit as many magical places as possible. And that ranks castles way up on my list.
This trip will cover EIGHT castles in total! Along with palace estates, beautiful gardens and even a castle to spend the night in! Along with my favourite hotel recommendations too.
Ireland is truly one of my favourite places to visit and we go several times a year. So I am happy to share my favourite tips on where to go, stay, see and do for this 5 Day Ireland Road Trip!
I hope this guide helps with your future adventures!
Here’s the ultimate 5 Day Ireland travel guide and itinerary for visiting castles in Ireland’s Ancient East ⬇️
Day One: Dublin – Co. Meath – Co. Laois – Co. Kilkenny
✈️Fly into Dublin and pick up a hire car
Yay!! You’ve made it to Ireland! Please note at Dublin airport sometimes you will have to get a shuttle bus to the rental car area. Everything is easily sign posted but it can be a little confusing if it’s your first time at the airport. But Dublin airport is pretty easy to navigate and everyone is very helpful!
There is a shuttle that takes you a ways out from the airport to the rental car area. This is either a big bus or a small van you will share with other passengers – don’t be alarmed – you’re going to the right place!
☘️ Drive 40 minutes to Trim Castle
Trim Castle is a castle on the south bank of the River Boyne in Trim, County Meath, Ireland. Over a period of THIRTY years, it was built by Hugh de Lacy and his son Walter as the caput of the Lordship of Meath. It is known as the largest, best-preserved and most impressive Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland.
Trim is a small town but you’ll find parking pretty easily (details below). The Castle Grounds are free of charge to enter but for a guided tour of the Keep an adult ticket is €5.00.
Bonus viewpoint? Head across the river and up the hill for great views of the castle! I think it would be dreamy here at sunrise or sunset too.
Also for those looking for a bathroom break before hitting the road again… Trim Castle Hotel has nice ones!
Remember, not every spot is so centrally located so along the journey stop off at rest points and service stations along the way.
Parking details in Trim: Trim Town Centre has pay and display parking 9:00-18:00 Monday to Saturday with an hourly rate of €1.00.
All-day parking for €3.00 available in Emmet Street Car Park, Trim. Emmet Street Carpark is 3 minutes’ walk from Trim Castle Entrance.
Or €3.00 All day parking Jonathon Swift Car park which is beside a playground and 5 minutes’ walk to Trim Castle Entrance.
⛰️ Drive to Rock of Dunamase
A one hour and 20 minute drive south from Trim Castle is The Rock of Dunamase – a part of Ireland’s Ancient East – and wow it’s so spectacular visiting here! I’m so glad to have this as part of my Ireland travel guide.
They are the ruins of what was once Dunamase Castle. But the first known settlement on the rock was “Dun Masc” or “Masc’s Fort”. It was an early Christian settlement that was pillaged in 842 by the Vikings. That’s right… 842!!!
The castle would come later in the second half of the 12th century. Growing up in the States, I truly can appreciate the vastness and depths of European history and the structures that still stand today – even the ruins! ?
There is no entrance fee to visit here. This would be a great spot for bringing a picnic also! I definitely felt the magic walking around this site.
?Rock of Dunamase, Ireland
Parking details: It’s free parking here but spaces are limited and it’s a narrow road. I’d recommend late afternoon or early morning for a visit.
? Feel like royalty and spend the night at Mount Juliet Estate
One hour and 15 minutes from the Rock of Dunamase is your hotel for the next two nights: Mount Juliet Estate. It is like stepping into a Bridgerton home!
On the estate you have options overnight in the main house, Mount Juliet, or at Hunters Yard which is slightly more casual but still beautiful.
There are plenty of food options here. A casual restaurant at Hunters Yard called The Hound, along with several bars to visit. And the more formal Lady Helen’s restaurant is located in the main house with some stylish bars as well.
And for golf lovers, this is the perfect place to spend a night or two. It’s a very famous course that my husband Joe was very excited about.
Guests can meander across both properties and in fact, I’d highly recommend doing so.
We ate in The Hound the first night and the food was so incredible!
I’m aware that Mount Juliet Estate may be a splurge – we’re on a Castle Crawl – so these hotels are little bit bougie.
But if you are looking for some budget options, below our Ireland travel guide gives you some amazing picks in Kilkenny…
Day Two: Co. Kilkenny – Co. Carlow – Co. Kilkenny
? Drive 15 minutes to Kilkenny Castle
Wake up to a delicious breakfast at Mount Juliet Estate before driving 15 minutes to Kilkenny Castle. Built in 1260 to control a fording-point of the River Nore and the junction of several routeways.
Tickets cost €8.00 for entry but the gardens are free to roam and explore.
I wish I could share more from Kilkenny Castle however a fire alarm was going off when we arrived! While we waited about an hour in the gardens having a wander around – in the end, we decided to move to our next location.
I look forward to going back – the inside of the castle looks incredible!
Also! We also walked across St John’s Bridge for great views too. And this area around here is super cute, so there are some fun little shops or places to grab a bite to eat.
Parking details: There is a parking garage nearby called Ormonde Street Car Park which is less than 5 minutes walking to Kilkenny Castle.
⚔️ Drive 48 minutes to Huntington Castle
Huntington Castle is a super cool privately owned castle in Ireland. It is such a beautiful estate and it’s definitely one of the quieter places to visit!
But I think that’s part of the charm – the castle owners actually still live in the castle today – it’s their residence! So when you tour the castle there are rooms to the public and rooms that are theirs.
You can even stay here overnight!
It’s a pretty interesting place! Also highly recommend grabbing some pastries and treats from their tea shop before you go – yum.
Tickets for adults – €13.50
Parking details: There is free parking on site – yay!
? Drive back to Kilkenny and spend the night at Mount Juliet Estate
Our second night at Mount Juliet Estate we decided to try the 8 course Michelin tasting menu in Lady Helen’s which was a really fun experience.
Day Three: Co. Cork – Co. Tipperary
? You can’t miss Blarney Castle and you HAVE to kiss the stone!
Check out of the hotel and hit the road for day 3 of our 5 day Ireland road trip. It’s a 2 hour 10 minute drive south to Blarney Castle from Kilkenny but so worth it. This is a key part of my Ireland travel guide. You have to go!
Now… would you kiss a stone that MILLIONS of people have kissed before?!?!
You’ve probably heard of the Blarney Stone before – but did you know the reason why people kiss the stone? Kissing the Castle stone is said to grant the kisser the gift of the gab!
There are several legends as to how Blarney Castle’s stone holds its magical origins but if you kiss the stone, you are said to be bestowed with the gift of eloquence and persuasion. You know that I will do anything and everything related to all things magic, so bring on the kiss!
?️ Entry tickets to Blarney Castle are €22 – which gives you access to the castle as well as the grounds – there is SO much to see here!
Huge gardens, a café for lunch and whatever you do… do not miss the poison garden!
Parking details: There is parking on site and it’s a €2 flat fee to park. It’s a pretty big car park too!
? Rock of Cashel
This is our big driving day for our 5 day Ireland road trip. Drive 1 hour and 20 minutes north from Blarney to Rock of Cashel.
Depending on the time – head into Rock of Cashel – if not, there’s always time in the morning! Tickets for entry are €8 for adults.
Parking details: Rock of Cashel Car Park – Rock Ln, St. Patricksrock, Cashel, Co. Tipperary, Ireland. €4.50 to park for the day.
Stay overnight at Cashel Palace✨?☘️
It is so DREAMY! This is one of my favourite hotels from the trip. I would have loved to stay here longer! You can see Rock of Cashel from the gardens below.
This is a very luxury hotel and wow – we felt like royalty staying here. It’s also exactly how I’d decorate a grand house if I ever won the lottery. The decor is stunning!
We spent our evening in the drawing room with the log fire roaring pretending it was our very own home… at least for the night anyways.
You can book a night here.
Day Four: Co. Wexford – Co Waterford
? Spend an afternoon at Johnstown Castle
Check out of Cashel Palace and it’s just under a two hour drive to get to Johnstown Castle. This is another super cool castle in Ireland.
I love how welcoming and friendly everywhere is to visit when we are in Ireland – we have the best time. And Johnstown Castle continues to impress! You arrive and go through the welcome centre before entering to explore the Castle and grounds.
Tickets to enter the museum and gardens are €10.50 and a guided castle tour is an additional €5.50. I do think it’s worth a visit into the castle!
My goal in life is being INSIDE as many castles as possible so I assume everyone else shares this goal too.
Parking details: Plenty of parking on site – also free!
? Stay at the Waterford Castle Hotel – you’ll take a 5 minute ferry ride to get here!
Have you ever wanted to spend the night in a castle? Of course you have!! ???
I know we’ve been staying in some beautiful places so far but this is an ACTUAL CASTLE.
Welcome to Waterford Castle Hotel! It’s an hour and a half drive from Johnstown Castle. But once again, very worth the drive!!
This is such a unique hotel, located in Waterford, Ireland. This castle is situated on an actual island ?️.
You have to get a ferry across to get to the hotel. So the ferry might not be the most glamorous transportation but the ferry is free and runs every 15 minutes. And it transports you to a super unique experience and such a dreamy place to stay.
Rooms start from €189 per night and it’s definitely a bucket list kind of experience when visiting Ireland!
Day Five: Co. Wicklow – Dublin
? Powerscourt Estate and Gardens
Enjoy your morning in Waterford before embarking on your last big day along Ireland’s Ancient East!
It’s a big driving day again but it’s our last big day to enjoy! From Waterford Castle Hotel we embark on a 2 hour and 25 minute journey to Powerscourt Estate and Gardens. But this is only an hour away from Dublin for those who may be travelling from there.
Powerscourt Estate and Gardens which was voted Number 3 in the World’s Top 10 Gardens by National Geographic and you’ll be able to see why instantly – it’s pretty incredible!
Do you think this the prettiest garden in Ireland? It certainly looks like it to me!
It’s giving SUCH Spring Court Vibes to me – fantasy readers will know! ??
What to know before you go ⬇️
?️ Tickets are €13.50 per adult
? Parking is free and easily available on site.
? The gardens were designed from 1731 and stretches over 47 acres!
? PS there’s also Powerscourt Waterfall nearby – but you’ll need a separate ticket for visiting there! I wish we’d had more time to visit as it looks amazing!
Ballinastoe Woods
This is a bit of a bonus stop of the day! But this is one of my favourite magical spots to visit in Ireland.
We had a little spare time so drove 20 minutes to Ballinastoe Woods to explore this magical pathway. I’m usually only here during the autumn so it was fun with the greenery surrounding us!
Parking details: Lough Tay Car Park
? Stay at Grand Hotel Malahide – only 15 minutes from Dublin airport – perfect for your last night!
Our last spot to rest our heads for the night was the Grand Hotel Malahide! And this was such a lovely end to our stay. You overlook a gorgeous bay!
There was one last castle on our list that we didn’t make it to… Castle Roche. I found out that they are currently undergoing some restorations here so we decided not to drive the extra hour up. After a full week of castles and travel – sometimes you just can’t do it all!
I know I’ll be back again someday and I so look forward to it!
This is truly the perfect sweet spot Ireland travel guide of seeing so much while also enjoying and taking your time to soak in each destination.
Save this post for your future magical adventures in Ireland and check out my Instagram Ireland Highlight stories for even more!
Thanks so much for coming along with me!
Love, Kelly xoxo