Category: Western Europe

The Ring of Kerry (175 kms circular route) is a scenic drive around the Iveragh Peninsula in southwest Ireland’s County Kerry.

Whether you choose to cycle it or drive or travel in coach, it is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful scenic routes in Ireland. Fortunately or unfortunately, it rains almost most of the days here in Ireland. So, in case if you reach here on a rainy day, you might not be able to enjoy this place to the full extend.

With this itinerary, you will drive through miles of green, rolling hills, explore colourful and beautiful Irish towns, and see a fantastic stretch of Ireland’s rugged coastline. It is a beautiful scenic drive and it’s no wonder that it makes it into bucket list of many travellers.

There is a always a debate on which direction you should cover this circular route. Some people go in a clockwise direction and some others in the anti-clockwise direction. Most of the guidebooks suggests to go clockwise so that you are going the opposite direction of the tour buses (which go counterclockwise).

The route when done clockwise starts from Killarney following the N71 to Kenmare, then on to the N70 around the Iveragh Peninsula to Killorglin, passing through Sneem, Waterville, Cahersiveen, and finally returning to Killarney via the N72. Without any stops, it would take 2.5 – 3 hours to cover the main route. Please note that this itinerary would still take more hours as we had deviated to another road / location from the main route, in between.

This itinerary will be more suitable for those with their own vehicle or rental vehicle. I strongly believe that the best way to see the Ring of Kerry is to drive your own vehicle / rental vehicle, as you have the flexibility to stop and enjoy the stunning scenery whenever you want.

If you don’t have your own vehicle, there are still plenty of options like the ‘Ring of Kerry coach tours’, to see most of the important sights. Even though you will be confined to the viewpoints or stoppages planned by the tour companies, coach tour is also a good, safe and convenient option. If you get a good tour guide, your coach trip is going to be a great fun.

I know that there are many tour operators (mini and big buses) conducting one / two days tour in this route. I won’t be able to share pros / cons of any operator, as I have not tried any such coach trips in this route.

Keep in mind that daylight hours are much shorter in autumn and winter. We did this trip in July 2024, so the days were long. If you visit in autumn or winter, you could have 8 hours of daylight or less so that will need to be factored into your trip.

This is my second trip to Ring of Kerry. First was a One-day trip from Cork in 2019. This time since we were travelling from Dublin, we had to plan a two days itinerary.

The Ring of Kerry road is much like all the other rural roads in Ireland.  I appreciate that some of the narrow roads can be very challenging, especially for those coming from countries where you are used to much wider roads or where you follow a right hand side driving. Take it slow and take bends cautiously.

There is always another debate within the traveller’s community, if one should choose Dingle Peninsula or Ring of Kerry if you are forced to select one of the two options. In most of the cases, I have seen that Dingle Peninsula wins that debate. There’s definitely no reason not to visit the Ring of Kerry and I would suggest you to visit both these wonderful places, if you get a chance.

If you are a regular reader of my blogs, you would have noticed something special about my travel style/pattern. I tend to cover as much as possible on each day. I know that’s it’s not everyone’s travel style but unfortunately, I somehow cannot change that pattern. This trip is no different.

Enough of intros, now let me get into the details.

We started our journey from Saggart in Dublin.

Day 1:

We visited the following places on day 1.

Saggart, Dublin (started from here)

Torc Waterfall, Torc, Killarney, Co. Kerry

Ladies view, Derrycunihy, Killarney, Co. Kerry

Molls Gap, Eirk, Co. Kerry

Kenmare, Co. Kerry

Sneem, Drimna Beg, Co. Kerry

Caherdaniel, Ballycarnahan, Co. Kerry

Viewpoint of Scarriff Island

Charlie Chaplin Statue, Waterville, Co. Kerry

Ballinskelligs, Co. Kerry

Skellig Ring, Co. Kerry

Coomanaspig, Co. Kerry

Portmagee, Doory, Co. Kerry

Bunnys Pod (EIR Code: V23FD37), Cahersiveen (Stayed here)

1) Torc Waterfall, Torc, Killarney, Co. Kerry:

The waterfall is 20 metres (66 ft) high and 110 metres (360 ft) long and was formed by the nearby Owengarriff River. This is one of the most popular things to do in Killarney.

The parking space is slightly limited in this place. Consider yourself lucky if you manage to get parking in the car park near to the waterfall (just a 5 minutes’ walk). I was told that there is another parking space but it is far away from the waterfalls.

Even though Torc Waterfall isn’t the biggest set of falls we’ve seen, it’s quite impressive in its own way. I think the natural surroundings around the falls make it so pretty. The moss-covered tree branches everywhere makes it look like it is part of some fairytale kingdom.

There are no much shops available but yes there is a Public toilet facility near to the car parking area. You don’t have to pay for the car park or to visit the falls. Nice one, isn’t it?

2) Ladies view, Derrycunihy, Killarney, Co. Kerry:

You will see this viewpoint in the right side of the road. There is also a cafe-restaurant (on left side) here, with panoramic views of the valley. I think there is also a small gift shop here. From this viewpoint, you’ll be able to see the Lakes of Killarney and the surrounding mountains. Unfortunately, it was slightly raining when we reached here. So, we couldn’t get the best views.

A short trail will take you to an even better viewpoint, if you prefer to do so.

3) Molls Gap, Eirk, Co. Kerry:

If you further continue from Ladies’ View, you will reach Moll’s Gap.

Moll’s Gap viewpoint got its name from a woman (named Moll Kissane) who set up an unlicensed pub in the area when the N71 road was newly constructed. While the illegal pub is long gone, Molls gap has a shop (named Avoca), which can be  good place to grab a coffee or food & you could use the toilet facility aswell.

This can also be a good stop for breakfast in case you haven’t been able to before the start of your Ring of Kerry drive.

4) Kenmare, Co. Kerry:

Kenmare is one of the beautiful towns in Ireland known for its colourful houses.

Kenmare offers a great selection of hotels and pubs, and as a result, it gets really lively during the peak season. So this can be another place for a short break or to grab some food or coffee.

5) Sneem, Drimna Beg, Co. Kerry:

Follow the road and enjoy the beautiful scenery until you reach the colourful town of Sneem. This can also be a good stop for food or coffee, if you wanted to.

Surrounded by mountains, the vibrant and colorful town of Sneem is a popular stop on the Ring of Kerry. The traditional Irish pubs get lively during the summer months and often provide live music and not surprisingly, a good selection of refreshing beverages.

6) Caherdaniel, Co. Kerry (Glenbeg Caravan and Camping Park):

Parking space is relatively smaller here, but it is worth stopping here. From the parking area, you can see ‘Glenbeg caravan and camping park’ and a small beach (on the right side). This is a small beach but it’s really magical, especially on a sunny day.

7) Viewpoint of Scarriff Island (Never miss this view point):

Continuing from Caherdaniel, there’s a fantastic viewpoint named ‘Scarriff Island Viewpoint’. One of my personal favourites, this viewing point should never be missed.

From here, you’ll get an epic view of Scarriff Island (and the neighboring Deenish Island). Both of these islands were inhabited in the 1800s, but today they’re deserted and very difficult to reach. On a sunny day, you can capture some breathtaking views from this viewpoint. There is enough parking space available here.

8) Charlie Chaplin Statue, Waterville, Co. Kerry:

Waterville is one of the Ring of Kerry’s more unique towns, which is very near to the coast.

You’re probably wondering why there is a statue of Charlie Chaplin in the Ring of Kerry (I did). Well, basically it’s because he and his family used to love visiting the town of Waterville and the statue was built for his remembrance. They even have the right to hold a Charlie Chaplin themed comedy film festival every year!

There are plenty of great accommodations in Waterville to choose from, and if you decide to stay here overnight, make sure to pay a visit to the beach during the sunset.

9) Ballinskelligs, Co. Kerry (This will be the toughest stretch in this whole trip):

At this point, we took a detour off the main Ring of Kerry route and ventured onto what’s known as the Skellig Ring. If you are in short of time, you could skip this detour, but it’s worth including if you have a option. If you plan to take this route, venture off into R567/R566/R565, else you can stay on N70.

Without any doubt, Skellig Ring is one of the best extensions of the Ring of Kerry, and it was one of the highlights of our road trip. Please note that the roads are quite narrow here in this stretch. You won’t see tour buses as the roads in this area are simply too narrow for them.

10) Skellig Ring, Co. Kerry:

This drive was one of the most spectacular parts of the Ring of Kerry drive for me. The winding roads are much less driven than the main Ring and on a clear day you can see out to the Skellig Islands, which look so dramatic even from a distance.

Ideally the next stop should have been ‘Kerry Cliffs’, but we had to skip this part as we were running short of time. Kerry Sea Cliffs are over 1000ft above the Atlantic Ocean, which are actually taller than the Cliffs of Moher.

11) Coomanaspig, Co. Kerry:

You will pass through Coomanaspig – one of the highest points in Ireland that’s accessible by car.

On a clear day the view as you spin down towards Portmagee is mind-boggling. There’s plenty of parking up at the top but beware – it’s fierce windy up there!

12) Portmagee, Doory, Co. Kerry:

Portmagee is a small colourful town located around 80 km from Killarney.

You have good parking space here. Next to the parking area is the bathroom that was awarded Ireland’s Top Toilet Award in 2002.

Few of the Skellig Island boat tour operators depart from Portmagee.

There are two types of Skellig boat trips. One is a landing trip where you land on Skellig Michael and climb the carved steps to the monastery – although good fitness is required! You’ll also circle the island (if weather allows), to see the famous Gannet colony – one of the largest in the world! Landing tours generally cost around €100 per person.

Alternatively, eco-tours do not land on the islands but instead sail around them with a highly qualified guide providing information about the history of the islands, the monks that lived there from the 6th century and the ecology of the island too. You’ll also see the Gannet colony. Eco boat tours generally cost around €40 per person.

By the time we reached here, the boat service were all finished. Anyway, we never had the intention to visit Skellig Island in this trip.

We had planned our stay at Cahersiveen. So this was a good place to pack some food for our dinner.

We managed to buy some burgers from ‘K’s golden grill’ (an evening mobile food shop). Food was quite tasty and economical.

If interested, you can also plan to visit Valentia Island from here.  Valentia Island is one of Ireland’s most westerly points. It lies off the Iveragh Peninsula in the southwest of County Kerry. It is linked to the mainland by the Maurice O’Neill Memorial Bridge at Portmagee. We did not visit Valentia island in this trip.

13) Bunnys Pod, Cahersiveen, Co. Kerry (Stayed here):

We stayed at Bunny Pod (EIR Code: V23FD37), Cahersiveen. This is a good glamping pod for a family (2 adults + 1 child).

The glamping site is at a great location with excellent views.

Day 2:

We covered the following places on day 2:

Bunnys Pod (EIR Code: V23FD37), Cahersiveen (Stayed here)

Cahersiveen Town, W Main St, Cahersiveen, Co. Kerry

Kellsbeach Pods, Bay, Kells, Co. Kerry

Rossbeigh Beach, Unnamed Road, Faha, Co. Kerry

St. Colman’s Cathedral, Cobh, 5 Cathedral Pl, Kilgarvan, Cobh, Co. Cork

Saggart, Dublin (Final destination)

1) Cahersiveen Town, W Main St, Cahersiveen, Co. Kerry:

As you begin your loop back towards Killarney along the north-facing edge of the Iveragh Peninsula, you’ll pass through the market town of Cahersiveen, whose tall, colourful houses, many with traditional shopfronts is a great view.

2) Kellsbeach Pods, Bay, Kells, Co. Kerry:

Kells Beach (with Blue flag award)  is a lovely sandy beach with a small harbour. It is an idyllic spot for a day out on the northern coastline of the Iveragh Peninsula. There is a caravan park and a small glamping site near to this beach.

3) Rossbeigh Beach, Unnamed Road, Faha, Co. Kerry:

Rossbeigh Beach Car Park is free and there are plenty of spaces plus a cafe and toilet facilities. Overlooked by Rossbeigh mountains, this beach is very long. This is also a blue flag beach. Rossbeigh Beach is perfect for a day by the sea during the warm weather months. You can also drive up to the mountains, to get some panoramic views.

4) Cobh, Co. Cork (St. Colman’s Cathedral, Cobh, 5 Cathedral Pl, Kilgarvan, Cobh, Co. Cork):

We decided to visit Cobh aswell, in these 2 days trip.

Cobh is a gorgeous coastal town situated half an hour from Cork. Cobh in fact is a destination by itself and would need a full day. Due to some time restrictions, we could spend only an hour here.

Cobh was ranked as one of the most beautiful small towns in Europe by Condé Nast Traveler. One of the major transatlantic Irish ports, the town was the departure point for 2.5 million of the six million Irish people who emigrated to North America.

On the 11th April 1912 the newly built Titanic called to the port of Queenstown (now known as Cobh) on her maiden voyage.  From Southampton, she went to Cherbourg, France where 281 passengers boarded. On April 11, Titanic arrived in Cobh Harbor, its final port of call. Eight passengers disembarked and 123 boarded. There is also a visitor centre named ‘Titanic Experience Cobh’.

St. Colman’s Cathedral is a must see in Cobh. The interior of the cathedral is architecturally and visually very beautiful.

If you have more time in Cobh, You could also try a 45 minutes guided boat tour to ‘Spike Island’.

More details here : https://www.spikeislandcork.ie/

After Cobh, we returned back to Saggart in Dublin.

Summary:

There’s no doubt that the Ring of Kerry is worth its status as one of the best places to visit in Ireland.

Many roads on the Ring of Kerry are narrow, two lane roads. If you do not like the idea of driving these narrow, curvy roads it might be better to visit the Ring of Kerry on a tour. The Ring of Kerry is famed for its outstanding natural beauty, historical sites, unique winding roads and charming towns and villages.

A lot of visitors do tend to drive the Ring of Kerry in one day. If you elect to do so and want to do it any sort of justice, plan for a long day of exploring. I’d say anywhere from 7-10 hours would be a fair assessment.

If you will be relying on WiFi and plan on using Google Maps, make sure to download an offline version of the Ring of Kerry area before you set out for the day.

Ireland is popular for rains. A fine day could easily turn to a rainy one so make sure you are prepared for all sorts of weather on your drive. Most importantly, I’d say make sure to have a wind and waterproof jacket.

The nearest airport to Killarney is Kerry Airport, (often called Farranfore airport) which is 17km and a 15-minute drive away from Killarney. Its flight schedule is quite limited – namely to Dublin, London, Manchester, Luton, Faro, Alicante, Normandy, Brittany and Frankfurt-Hahn.

There is a train station in Killarney town that links up with a couple of routes within Ireland. Via Mallow, you can reach both Cork and Limerick Junction stations. From Limerick Junction, you’ll be able to join lines that take you to Limerick city, Galway, Dublin and Waterford.

One of the main appeals of traveling the Ring of Kerry is that the more time you spend there, the more you discover and the more you will enjoy this area.

The Ring of Kerry is technically just a national road, and there is no fee to drive along it.

There are so many great viewpoints that you will just stumble across, lots of which don’t even have names. You have to be okay with the idea that though you want to have a plan, there will be times when you’ll want to stop off and look through a quaint town or see a breathtaking view for a while.

The Ring of Kerry is open all year long, although it is the busiest during the summer months of July and August. In case if you want to avoid busy period, my personal suggestion to you will be to plan your visit on the shoulder seasons or even the off season. In the spring and fall (March to May or September to November), there are fewer crowds and it won’t be too cold.

I hope this itinerary will help you to plan your trip in a better and meaningful way.

In case if you have more days with you, there are still many more interesting places in and around Ring of Kerry. Please find list of some of such places (not in any specific order):

• Valentia Island – Knight’s Town and Skellig Boat tours
• Kerry Cliffs (After Skellig Ring)
• Ross Castle
• Muckross House / Abbey
• Staigue Stone Fort
• Cove Beach
• Derrynane Beach
• Coomakista viewpoint
• Geokaun Mountain and Cliffs
• Killarney National Park
• Staigue Stone Fort
• Skellings Chocolate Factory
• Rossmore Island
• Eightercua Stone Row 
• Ballaghabeama Gap
• Staigue Fort
• Loher Stone Fort
• Eightercua Stones
• Cahergall & Leacanabuaile Stone Forts
• Ballycarbery Castle
• Gap of Dunloe
• Beara Peninsula
• Garnish Island

Monaco, officially the Principality of Monaco, is a sovereign city-state and microstate on the French Riviera a few kilometres west of the Italian region of Liguria, in Western Europe, on the Mediterranean Sea.

World-famous for its prestigious Casino and Grand Prix, the elegant principality of Monaco is one of the most attractive places to visit in Europe. While Monaco is not a part of France, it is located inside France, making it a perfect stop on any French Riviera itinerary.

We did a one-day trip to Monaco from Nice (France) in July 2024.

More details about Monaco here: https://www.visitmonaco.com/en

Few Facts about Monaco:

• With an area of 2.08 km2 , Monaco is second-smallest sovereign state in the world, after Vatican City.
• Less than 40000 people live in Monaco. Over 30% of residents are millionaires.
• Monaco has the world’s shortest coastline: 3.83 kms.
• Although, small in land mass, it’s actually one of the most densely populated countries in the world!
• Monaco uses the euro as its sole currency.
• Monaco has the highest life expectancy in the world in 2023 (Approx: 89.5 years)
• Almost 20% of Monaco city was extended over the sea a few years ago.
• There is no airport in Monaco, The nearest one is Nice Airport.  It does have a heliport.
• Located in French Rivera, Monaco benefits From pretty good weather all year around. January might be the coldest and July been the hottest (It was 32 Degrees in July when we visited).
• The country does not have a military per se. The country’s defense, though, is in the hands of France.
• Unemployment rate is almost zero.
• Monaco is tax haven.
• Real estate in Monaco is considered the most expensive in the world.
• Monaco has more policemen per person than any other country in the world.
• Roman Catholic is the main religion in Monaco.

The best and easiest option to reach Monaco is to travel from Nice in France (either in train or a public transport like Bus). Train would be the fastest public transport option.

Personally, we decided to travel in Bus from Nice to Monaco and the return journey in train. This option is highly recommended as you get a chance to experience both modes of travel.

If you are ok to start your day a bit early, I would strongly suggest to start so. This way you might get some time to explore the Medieval village of Eze enroute Monaco from Nice. You can spend an hour or so in Eze and experience the stunning views.

We were staying in Garibaldi (in Nice). Garibaldi is a great location to move around as we have connectivity to tram lines and bus to Monaco from here.

We took a bus to Monaco (Bus No. 602 – Monte Carlo Casino) from a bus stop named ‘Bavastro’ (in Nice). The Bus ticket from Bavastro to Monaco was quite cheap and comes around 2.10 Euros per person (for a 1-hour journey).

The Bus goes via Eze village. The Bus route is very scenic (especially near to the Eze village and Monaco). Unfortunately, we did not know this early and hence couldn’t get down at Eze but yes could take some snaps of Eze village.

Please note that Bus 602 is not the only option to reach Monaco from Nice. You have options like Bus 110 (Express) from Nice Airport to Monaco. There is also a Bus 100 which is a slower bus compared to 110 and covers more stops enroute.

If you have one more extra day at Monaco, you can try covering ‘Menton’ and ‘Village of Eze’ on that day. Both are around 20-30 Minutes from Monaco.

Other travel options:

• Helicopter from Nice to Monaco is another option.
• You can also use your own vehicle (or rent a car) to reach Monaco, but please note that the parking charges are high at Monaco.
• Also, you can take an Uber or taxi aswell. I was told that the charges would be 60-100 Euros (one side).
• Seems boat is another option to reach Monaco from Nice (https://www.trans-cote-azur.co.uk/departing-nice/cruise-boat-monaco)

Places that we explored were:

a. Monte Carlo Casino:

This would be the obvious first place to start your itinerary. It is one of the most important spots in any Monaco itinerary. This casino has served as a filming location for many top movies and TV shows over the years (ex: James Bond: Golden Eye (1995)). The Casino was constructed after Monaco lost much of its territory to neighbouring France during the 1860s.

In order to continue drawing in crowds, the Prince of Monaco of the time commissioned this Casino. Today,  it’s actually illegal for residents of Monaco to gamble in the Casino. Use of the Casino is only reserved for visitors!

Monaco is what it is today because of the Casino – everything else came after.

Its free to enter till the Atrium (of course you will have to passthrough a security check).

Seems there are some guided audio tours aswell (from 10-2 Pm or so). I have not personally tried those options. If you want to try your hand at gambling at this iconic establishment, you’ll have to dress to impress and there is a admission costs of around €17 or so. You might need a passport to enter.

To one side of Casino Square stands the Café de Paris.  This famous cafe has a large sun terrace and is a popular spot for expensive cups of coffee.  Facing the cafe is the equally opulent Hotel de Paris which boasts fine dining restaurants, bars and a private beach that has featured in several films including James Bond’s Never Say Never and Golden Eye.

There is a Casino on the left side of the Monte Carlo casino. You can enter this casino free of cost but you would need a passport to enter that casino aswell.

b. Car watching in front of Monte Carlo Casino:

Spend some time just outside the Monte Carlo Casino and you will get a chance to see some of the luxurious cars from Bentleys to Lamborghinis to Rolls Royce’s to McLaren’s and what not…

Taking photos of those cars is fine, but don’t try to touch any, unless you want an army of security after you!

Eventhough I have visited many parts of Monaco, I have not seen these much luxurious cars in other parts of Monaco. Am not sure how and from where all these cars reach the road in front of the casino. Whatever it may be, it’s definitely a great sight.

c. Private Car Collection of the Prince of Monaco:

The Classic Car Collection of H.S.H. The Prince of Monaco dates back to the 1950’s when motoring lover Prince Rainier III began his private collection. In 1993, a decision was made to put that collection on display. Recently it was moved to a new location at Port Hercule where visitors can see an impressive array of around 70+ vehicles including Formula 1 racing cars.

Before taking the ticket, make a decision if you will be visiting both the ‘Private Car Collection’ and the ‘Aquarium’. If you plan to do so, please ensure that you buy a ‘Combo’ ticket. It might help you to save some Euros (please see the discount details below).

d. Port Hercule:

Monaco has two ports; Port Hercule and Port Fontvieille. Port Hercule is a natural port located at the base of Le Rocher (the natural elevated rock upon which the old town was built) and is the best port to explore while in the city. This is just a few minutes away from the casino. You can see lots of boats and yachts at the harbour. In the evenings, Monaco’s main hotspot is Port Hercule and the area around the casino.

e. Centre commercial de Fontvieille

It’s one of the largest shopping centres out there. There is also a big Carrefour hypermarket available, from where you can grab some items for your lunch. The hypermarket rates are comparitively lesser. We brought some juices / snacks / fruits / pastry from the hypermarket.

The Serravalle tunnel is just outside the Centre commercial.

f. The Rock (or Le Rocher) and Royal Palace:

The Rock is the oldest part of Monaco. This is a stunning neighbourhood, and a Royal Palace is in this place. The prince of Monaco Albert II (Grimaldi family) still lives with his family in this palace. This would be the best place to get the stunning panorama of the city.

The changing of the guard happens at 11:55 am (lasts for around 8 minutes). The Royal palace is open to public (from April to Mid-October) with a ticket charge. We did not go inside the palace.

NOTE: The Hop on Hop off bus also have a stop near the Royal Palace.

g. Get your passport stamped with a ‘Monaco entry’:

There is only one “real deal” place in Monaco that can officially stamp a passport: the Mairie de Monaco or the townhall, which is found in the Place de la Mairie on ‘The Rock’.  Its just few metres away from Royal Palace. This can be done free of cost and the waiting time to get the stamp is also very less.

h. Monaco old town (Monaco Ville):

Wander through the old town and enjoy the streets / sights. This is one of the busiest parts of the Principality. The Old Town is also where most eateries are located. Officially the Old Town is called Monaco City and is situated on top of a 70-metre-high hill surrounded by water in three directions.

You can also get some Souvenirs like the Fridge magnets and so on (Ex: 4 Euros for a decent fridge magnet) from the Monaco old town area.

i. Oceanographique Museum:

The Oceanographique Museum of Monaco is located on the Monaco Rock, just behind Monaco’s Old Town. This complex has a museum and an aquarium. The building itself is very impressive overlooking the sea and surrounded by beautiful gardens. Single ticket gives you option to visit both Museum and Aquarium. The Museum is renowned throughout the world for its expertise and has more than 6,000 specimens on display. As mentioned earlier, in case if you plan to visit both ‘Aquarium’ and ‘Private Car Collection’, please ensure that you buy a ‘Combo’ ticket. It might help you to save some Euros.

If you are not a museum lover and intend to visit only the aquarium, I would not recommend this attraction. The Aquarium is relatively smaller and the ticket price is not justifiable if you plan to cover aquarium only.

Note: We were running short of time and hence had to skip the Museum.

You can find more details here: https://musee.oceano.org/en/

NOTE: Monaco Tours operates a little train for the city guided tour. You will find their office just outside the aquarium. Peronally, I did not try this train tour and hence cannot comment much about their service.

j. Metropole Shopping Centre:

This high-end Metropole Shopping Centre is near to the Casino.  It has a luxurious interior with its glittering chandeliers and designer stores.

After exploring all the above places, we went to the Monaco Monte Carlo train station and took a train back to Nice Ville (around 25 minutes journey and approximately 4 Euros ticket). There are ticket vending machines available inside the station.

NOTE: We spend aorund 7 hours to cover the above places.

Points to note:

• I had tough time with Mobile data services within Monaco. Mine was a Vodafone Irish network connection but not sure if it’s a common problem that others also face.

• I have seen many people mentioning that we can easily cover Monaco by foot as the place is relatively smaller. In my experience it is not that easy: Ex: walking to the old town from Port Hercule on a hot summer day is going to really test your fitness levels (not sure if I missed some elevators). My personal suggestion is get to a ‘Full Day pass (at  accost of 5.5 Euros)’ or something similar if you plan to cover more attractions in the limited time. This website has more details: https://www.cam.mc/en/tarifs. The official website says that you can directly get the full day pass from the bus driver itself. I had tried this option 2 options but unfortunately on both occasions, drivers did not understand what I was asking for.  So I had to swipe my bank card (2 Euros) even for a shorter distance.

• Monaco Grand Prix happens yearly at the end of May. It’s the busiest time in Monaco, with lots of parties and attractions.

• Monaco is not only a country in its own right, but also a city-state, meaning that the entirety of the autonomous state also lies within the city limits. Monaco is technically a principality, meaning that the head of State is a Prince.

• Official language of Monaco is French.

• Monte Carlo is not the capital of Monaco but a government district. The country is divided into four areas: Monaco-Ville (the old city), the Condamine (port quarter), Monte-Carlo (business and recreation), and Fontvieille (recreation and light industry).

Other places and options:

• The Cathedral of Monaco
• Monaco Grand Prix (One of the most prestigious car races in the world)
• Walk around the port of Fontvieille
• Jardin Exotique (https://www.jardin-exotique.mc/) (Eze Village)
• Japanese Garden
• La Mala Beach
• Helicopter Ride
• Princess Grace Rose Garden
• Larvotto Beach
• Opera de Monte Carlo
• Old Monaco Museum
• Fort Antoine / Princess Antoinette Park
• Condamine market
• Naval Museum
• Museum of stamps and coins

Summary: 

One day is good enough to cover the important spots in Monaco and to experience the richness of this place. You can plan this trip by yourself and wont need help from any guided tour /  tour companies.

Despite the flash and luxury of this tiny country, Monaco is an affordable place to visit for a day and an easy trip that can be managed from most places in the French Riviera.

County Donegal is a county of Ireland, in the province of Ulster.

Located in the northwest corner of Ireland, Donegal is the island’s northernmost county. In terms of size and area, it is the largest county in Ulster and the fourth-largest county in all of Ireland.

In this blog, I would like to share my experience around a two days trip that we did in July 2024 to County Donegal.

The Wild Atlantic Way is a breathtaking coastal route over 2,500 kms from Donegal to Cork, showcasing some of Ireland’s most stunning scenery. There are around 39 discovery stops in county Donegal.

Day 1:

We started our journey from Saggart around 9AM (1st day google map route is shown below)

NOTES:

1. In this road trip, you will be passing through some of the roads in the Northern Ireland. As the region is under UK, the speed limits will be marked in Miles.
2. It will be always beneficial to carry some snacks or light food with you, as you might not see a lot of food points of your interest in this road trip. Also, the number of towns (small/big) are relatively lesser.

The following places were covered on Day 1.

1. Portsalon Beach and Ballymastocker Strand Viewpoint:

This is a very extensive sandy beach (approximately 1 Km long) located on the western side of Lough Swilly between Rathmullan and Fanad Head and has fabulous views towards the Inishowen Peninsula. Portsalon Beach is also known as Ballymastocker Bay.

This is a Blue flag beach.  It’s an exceptionally clean beach and you can swim in these waters. Lifeguards are available during summertime (June-September). There is a limited parking available near the beach. The car park can get crowded here during the warmer summer months, so make sure to arrive earlier to secure a spot. Toilet facility is available, but seems like it’s an old building and not well maintained (not to Irish standards atleast).

There is also a small mobile coffee shop near the parking, in case if you wish to take some hot drinks, light snacks and so on.

American pop singer Taylor Swift had visited this beach in summer 2021. Her Instagram post from the beach made this beach even more popular among the tourists. You can also drive upto the hill to reach the Ballymastocker Strand Viewpoint.

NOTE: We didn’t go until the Ballymastocker Strand Viewpoint, as we were slightly behind our planned schedule.

2.Fanad Head light house:

Fanad Lighthouse is an iconic working lighthouse at the mouth of Lough Swilly. It was voted as one of the most beautiful lighthouses in the world. Fanad Head Lighthouse is one of 70 lighthouses operated by the commissioners of Irish lights around the coast of Ireland and plays a vital role in maritime safety.

Accommodation at Fanad Lighthouse is available all year round in three charming former lighthouse keeper’s homes, all with stunning sea views.  House 1 can sleep 2 people, House 2 can sleep 2-4 people and House 3 can sleep 2 people.

There are guided tours available. This tour will help you to learn lives of the lighthouse keepers and their families who were stationed there. You can also climb to the top of the tower for spectacular 360 views of North Donegal, the Atlantic and Lough Swilly. Please note that there are around 76 steps to reach to the top. My parents were with me in this trip. As it was difficult for them to climb that many steps, we had to skip the guided tour.

There is a dedicated parking facility available near the light house. A proper coffee cum souvenir shop is available near the parking bay. A very clean toilet facility is also available near the coffee shop. You will have to take the guided tour ticket from the coffee shop and then proceed towards the main gate to enter into the lighthouse premise. Please note that there is a very small parking facility (may be 4-5 cars) near the main gate aswell (Even if you park your car here, you will have to still get the tickets from the coffee shop mentioned earlier).

More details here : https://fanadlighthouse.com/

3.Boyeeghter Bay, aka Murder Hole Beach, aka Sheephaven Bay:

Please note that google map will take you till the car parking. It’s a flat 5 Euros (only cards) parking charge. I understand that there are 2 options to reach the beach.

A) You will have to take a trail (near to the car park) to reach the beach. I have read a lot of negative reviews (mainly in trip advisor) about the trail and the landowner who owns the property. I have not experienced it personally, so would be difficult to further comment on the same. Also, please note that the trail might test your fitness levels and it’s not ideal for people with walking difficulties or people who have buggies. There are restrictions for dogs aswell, since you need to pass through a working farm.

B) Another option to park your car in the parking area and walk backwards to the same direction from where you came in. There are clear sign boards showing the beach entrance.

I think there are more routes to the beach nearer to the car parking area, but seems like they are restricted, and access is only for the caravan homeowners who owns a holiday home in that site (Melmore Holiday Park).

I have read that one of the highlights of the beach is the quiet deep cave known as Murder Hole, which offers a fantastic view of the water. Visitors can find the cave by walking along the cliffs at the back of the beach.

The route to reach this place itself is very scenic. I would suggest to skip going to this beach if you are not particular about doing so. Instead, you can go until the car parking area to experience the scenic route and further take a U turn and return back (5 Euros saved😊)

4.Killahoey Beach:

In the county that boasts the highest number of Blue Flag beaches and the longest coastline in the country; you are never too far from a beach. Killahoey Beach (Tra na Cille), also known as Dunfanaghy Beach, is located close to the town of Dunfanaghy (Dun Fionnachaidh) on the northern coast of County Donegal. It is a sandy beach just over 1km long. There is a large car park with portable toilet facility aswell.

When you enter to the beach road from the main road, you will soon find a car parking,  its for the people who visit the golf club nearby. You can further drive to find the actual car park for the beach visitors.

Beach Lifeguards will be on duty on this beach – from June until September. The beach has spectacular panoramic views of the surrounding mountainous countryside.

5.Dunfanaghy Town:

Dunfanaghy is a small town, former fishing port, and commercial centre on the north coast of County Donegal, Ireland. We spend some time at this beautiful small town. The main intention was to take a parcel for our dinner.

We had taken food from ‘Megabites Chipper’ (a small mobile shop operating during evenings). The chicken burger and chicken wings (dips) were very tasty.

6.Wild Atlantic Way Discovery Point @Magherroarty Pier, Magheraroarty:

Magherroarty Pier is a great hub for both locals and tourists.  The pier is the departure point for ferries to Tory Island and Inishbofin Island (a remote and rugged island off the coast of Donegal). In case if you plan for a ferry to Tory island, check with the staff as sailings are subject to tidal conditions, and cancellations are very common. There is also a long stretch of beach (Magheraroarty beach) near to the pier.

The pier is relatively small. It has a parking facility, toilet facility and a bar/restaurant. The journey time to and from Tory Island is approximately 45 minutes. It’s a passenger only ferry (no vehicles).

More details around Tory ferry here: https://www.toryferry.com/

The journey time to and from Inishbofin Islands is approximately 10 minutes.

7.Stay at Machaire Rabhartaigh Glamping:

We reached our destination (glamping site) around 7 PM.

There are around 10 pods here. Pods No. 1-6 and No. 10 are more family friendly and have bunkbeds in them. Pods No. 7,8 & 9 are more for couples or singles. The road towards the glamping site was not completed yet but you can easily drive through the gravel route. We had stayed in Pod 1. The view from the Pod was beyond words. You can experience beautiful views of the Seven Sisters Mountain Range, Magheraroarty Beach, Inis Bó Finne, Tory Island and even Horn Head in the distance.

Definitely, this is one of the best glamping sites that I have ever visited. Highly recommend without a second thought. Owner (Edward) was very kind. He visited each pods in the evening, to meet the guests in person. He also shared few useful tips about that region.

For booking, you can check this website : https://www.mrglamping.ie/.

NOTE: Please note that towels are not provided in the pods. You will have to bring one.

Day 2:

The following places were covered on Day 2 (2nd day google map route is shown below)

We started our journey around 8AM, as we had to cover a lot of places on day 2.

1.Errigal Mountains:

Standing at 751 meters high, Errigal is the tallest in the county and is one of the Seven Sisters. Errigal is now of huge importance to hikers and walkers. There is a slight deviation from the main road to reach the base of Errigal mountains. As my parents were not interested in hiking, we just took snaps of the mountain from the main road and skipped the hiking part.

NOTE: If you want to complete the trip as per the itinerary mentioned here, you will also have to skip the hiking part. Generally, this hiking route is considered as a challenging one and might take around 2-3 hours (around 4.5 kms I presume) to complete.

2.Carrickfinn Beach (and Donegal airport enroute):

Carrickfinn Beach is situated in the beautiful Gweedore Bay right behind Donegal Airport, which has been voted as the most scenic landing strip in the world in 2020 (https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/scenic-airport-landings-2020/index.html).

The beach is a long stretch of white sand beach backed by sand dunes. The beach currently has Blue Flag status. It is also known as Dunmore Strand. Beach Lifeguards will be on duty on this beach – from June until September.

Aer Lingus operates direct flight in Dublin – Donegal route (around 50 minutes).

3.Col Glengesh, Leamagowra / Glengesh pass:

Glengesh Pass is a fabulous mountain pass in County Donegal, near the Irish town of Ardara.

The road is a succession of twists and turns. For sure, this will be the most scenic stretch in this 2 days trip. So, try not to skip this route even if you are slightly behind the schedule. Once you’ve reached the highest point, you can park your car and take some beautiful snaps.

Often referred to as the ‘Donegal Pass’, the road at Glengesh snakes through the valley and provides a very unique experience, regardless of whether you’re driving or on foot.

NOTE: In this itinerary, you will be climbing up the mountain. So be extremely cautious when taking the bends as they’re extremely tight, so take your time and drive safely. The total stretch is around 15 kms.

4.Glencolumbkille Folk Village:

The Glencolmcille Folk Village Museum, in Glencolmcille County Donegal, is a cluster of seven small cottages, called a “clachán,” perched on a hillside overlooking a sandy curve of nearby Glenbay beach.

This thatched-roof replica of a rural village in Ireland’s most north westerly county offers a glimpse into daily life as it was during past centuries. Each cottage is an exact replica of a dwelling used by the local people in each of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries and is equipped with the furniture, artifacts and utensils of its particular period. Visitors may wander at leisure through the Village, or join one of the guided tours.

More details here: https://www.glenfolkvillage.com/

(NOTE:  There is also a small beach nearby, beyond the car park)

5.Malin Beg Pier:

From the old watchtower situated on the headland close to Malin Beg, you have a spectacular view over Malin Bay and the island Rathlin O’Birne. The watchtower can be reached by foot from Malin Beg Pier.

6.Silver Strand Beach :

Located at the tip of the Slieve League Peninsula, just past Glencolmcille, it’s one of the best beaches in the county.

As you arrive at the car park (using google maps), you will not see the beach immediately. It is hidden between the rocks, but that makes it more special. The beach is accessible via a staircase with about 170 steps. The beach is relatively small, but the formations of nature here is simply beyond words.

Silver Strand is a popular spot for a swimmers, when conditions are safe. However, please note that there are no lifeguards on duty here, so you should only enter the water if you’re a capable swimmer.

7.Sliabh Liag Cliff Experience & Visitor Centre (& Bus to Sliabh Liag Cliffs):

As of my understanding, Sliabh Liag Cliffs is the second largest cliffs in Ireland (after Croaghaun Cliffs on Achill Island in County Mayo). The famous Cliffs of Moher is around 214 meters and Sliabh Liag Cliffs is around 600 meters.

The Sliabh Liag Visitor Centre officially opened in May 2019. The Centre is part of the overall development of Sliabh Liag Mountain and the Sliabh Liag Cliff Experience. There is a visitor information service, Public Toilets, a small café and a large parking facility here.

There is also a relatively new building next to the visitor centre. It is a cafe and shop with some nice items.

There are 2 options to reach Sliabh Liag cliffs:

1. Park your car near the visitor centre (lower car park) , take a shuttle bus (to and fro journey is 6 euros / person). Only the approved coaches can go upto the cliff.  We went with this option as it was risk free. Bus operates every 30 minutes in a normal scenario and every 10 minutes during the busy hours. The shuttle buses are well maintained.
2. You can drive your car to some distance further ahead from the visitor centre. There is another parking (upper car park) facility available. You can park the car in that parking area and walk upto the hill. Please note that you would still need to walk for around 30-45 minutes to reach the top of the cliffs from that parking area.

A visit to the cliffs and the surrounding region is a must on your Wild Atlantic Way adventure. There are also few small mobile coffee and Souvenir shops at the top of the cliffs. The views that your can experience on a clear day is simply beyond words.

More details here: https://www.sliabhliag.com/visitor-centre/

8.Killybegs:

Killybegs is a town in County Donegal, Ireland. It is the largest fishing port in the country and on the island of Ireland. It is located on the south coast of the county, north of Donegal Bay, near Donegal Town.

It was a great experience walking around the town and the fishing port. With its shimmering waters and glorious coastline, this area is famous for its maritime culture.

We also tried food at the ‘Sea food Shack’ (a famous fish and chips shop in this region). The ambience was great. We tried Battered Haddock. It was tasty and quantity was also good.

9.Donegal Town Centre:

Since we had gone all the way till Donegal, we thought to just drive through the Donegal Town centre before proceeding back to our home in Saggart. The town is finely situated at the head of busy Donegal Bay, along the River Eske.

10.Bundoran Beach and the Fairy Bridges / Wishing Chair:

On our way back from County Donegal to Dublin, we spend some time at Bundoran Beach and the Fairy Bridges. This was the last destination in our itinerary.

Bundoran Beach is located in County Donegal, just 250 metres off Bundoran town’s Main Street. Bundoran boasts not one but two great beaches – Main Beach and Tullan Strand. I was surprised to see the number of fixed caravans in the neighbour caravan park. This area of the coast is popular with experienced surfers. There is also a lot of parking space available here.

The Fairy Bridges and Wishing Chair are two enchanting features situated beside the sea at Bundoran, County Donegal. Due to the peculiar rock formations in the area, a series of natural “blow” or “puffing” holes exist (and still do to this day) which causes the seawater, when tidal conditions dictate, to crash through and blow water upwards.

The Wishing Chair is also very popular with visitors, who take advantage of the magical powers of the natural stone chair.

Now its time to return back home. On your way back aswell, you will pass through some of the roads in the Northern Ireland. As the region is under UK, the speed limits will be marked in Miles. We reached back our final destination ‘Saggart’ by around 7PM.

Please note that I have only tried to cover some important and most visited places in Donegal. There are still maaaannyyyy moooorrrrre places that you can explore in Donegal.  If you have more time and budget, I would definitely recommend 3-4 days to cover Donegal.

Also the itinerary presented here is a tight one with very less time for relaxation. If you want to see get a high level idea about county Donegal and if you are OK to drive around 800+ kms in different terrains within 2 days, this would be a great itinerary for you.

Some other places of interest (not in any specific order):

• Aphort Beach
• Ardara Beach
• Ards Forest Park
• Arranmore Island
• Assaranca waterfall outside Ardara
• Ballymastocker Bay // Ballymastocker Beach Viewpoint
• Bristí Sea Arch of Crohy Head
• Buncrana
• Carrigan Head Signal Tower
• Crohy
• Culdaff Blue Flag Beach (Located on Inishowen Peninsula)
• Derryveagh Mountains and Glenveagh National Park
• Doagh Famine Village
• Donegal Bay Waterbus
• Donegal’s ‘Hidden’ Waterfall (Secret Waterfall)
• Doon Fort
• Dunlewey Church
• Dunfanaghy Beach
• Fintra Beach
• Five Fingers Strand  (near to Malin Head)
• Fort Denree (Dungranenen Fort)
• Glen of Granny
• Glen Loop Walk
• Glencolmciile
• Glenevin Waterfall
• Glenlough bay
• Glenveagh National Park and Castle
• Gola Island
• Greencastle
• Grianan of Aileach (Grianán Ailigh) (entrance to the Inishowen Peninsula)
• Horn Head
• Inishowen 100 (160km scenic drive that loops around the windswept Inishowen Peninsula)
• Killahoey Beach
• Killybegs
• Kinnagoe Bay
• Knockamany Bens
• Lough Salt
• Magherclogher Beach (Eddie’s Boat)
• Maghera and Maghera Strand and Caves
• Malin Head (Wild Atlantic Way)
• Mamore Gap
• Marble Hill
• Muckross Head, Kilcar
• Narin Beach / Portnoo Beach
• LetterKenny
• Lough Derg (seperate small island)
• Oileán Ruaidh (Island Roy)
• Pool of Light (boating in caves)
• Rosguill Peninsula
• Rossnowlagh Blue Flag Beach
• Sliabh Liag (Boat Ride)
• Stroove beach and Lighthouse
• Sunset at Malin Head
• The Rosses
• Tory island (cannot go in Car) (Take Ferry from Magheraroarty)

 Points to Note:

• The best time to visit Donegal, and Ireland in general is between the months of May, June, July, August and September. As you would have heard or read, Irish rains are hard to predict. So it will all depend on your luck.
• Donegal claimed the top spot on National Geographic Traveller’s “Cool List” of recommendations for people who love to travel (back in 2017).
• The best way to get around Donegal in my opinion in via your own transport (own or rented cars, for example). If you don’t have access to your own form of transport, then you can use tours to get across to the best tourist attractions Donegal has to offer.
• Lonely Planet have named Donegal in their Best in Travel Awards 2024.
• Donegal is in Republic of Ireland and not in Northern Ireland. Donegal is blessed with everything the traveller could wish for. Look forward to gorgeous scenery, delicious fresh food, a rich history and authentic Irish cultural experiences.

Summary:

County Donegal is one of the most rural places in all of Ireland with very remote locations. This would be a great option if you are looking for a truly unspoiled natural beauty.

I have got a chance to do a lot of road trips here in Ireland. I can undoubtfully say that this was the best one I ever did. Try this itinerary and let me know your thoughts in the comments section.

We did this day tour during a trip to Italy in April 2022.

This was a day trip from Milan, Italy. This is one of the most popular day trips to Swiss alps from Milan. The fascinating journey takes you along the UNESCO World Heritage route of the RhB (Rhaetian Railway).”

We had booked this trip in advance (few weeks before), through Viator.

For 2 adults and 1child (10 years old), we paid 302.5 Euros. The Tour commentary was in English and Spanish.

This was one of the beautiful day trips that we had ever done.

Milan to St. Moritz in Air-conditioned coach:

The trip was conducted by Zani Group. The trip started from Milan Visitor Centre – Zani Viaggi (Largo Cairoli, 18, 20121) around 7.15 AM (we had not opted for Hotel pickup/drop option).

The Zani Group is a collection of multiple companies operating in the tourism and transport sector. It has 2 tourist centres in Milan. You can check out in their website to book directly aswell.

https://www.zaniviaggi.com/tour/swiss-alps-bernina-red-train-and-st-moritz-full-day-trip/

We were staying in Novotel Milano Linate Aeroporto which was a bit far from the pickup point. As the start time was 7.15 AM, we took a taxi from the hotel to Milan Visitor Centre and paid around 30 Euros.

As it was a fully packed day trip (almost 13 hours trip), the tour company started the trip on time. One family lost the bus as they reached the pickup point 5 minutes late. They had to ideally hire a taxi and chase the bus and managed to onboard the bus later after a few kilometres. So, ensure to reach on time.

Route plan: Milan Visitor Centre (Milan, Italy) to St. Moritz (Switzerland) in air-conditioned bus. Journey time is approximately 3 hours (around 170 kms)

St. Moritz to Tirano (Italy) in Bernina Express (the most thrilling part of the journey)

Tirano station to Milano in Bus (same bus in which we went to St. Moritz).

We had a tour guide who accompanied us throughout the trip. An audio unit was also provided during the start of the journey and the same had to be given back upon return.

Enroute, the bus to St. Moritz from Milan, the bus stopped at a cafeteria named ‘Moreschi’ (https://www.moreschichiavenna.it/) for some time in order for the tourists to have some refreshments. Clean restrooms were also available within the building complex.

The route towards St. Moritz is very scenic with lot of photography options. They don’t have any other stops before St. Moritz. There was no cross broder checking (immigration check) during the trip.

Enroute you can also see the St. Moritz lake.

Just as the mountains above St. Moritz draw skiers in the winter, the lake below is the focus of attention for many summer visitors.

After reaching St. Moritz, the guide gave clear instructions around:

1. Places to see
2. Restaurant options for having lunch
3. Return trip details like where and when to come back and so on.

Then, we were left alone to explore the beautiful city of St. Moritz at our own pace.

St. Moritz, Switzerland:

St. Moritz is a luxury resort town with a small lake in the middle of the Alps, with cableways to viewpoints and glaciers. It has hosted the Winter Olympics twice.

The magnificent view from St. Moritz embraces the mountains from Piz Languard in the east to Piz Julier in the west.

There are plenty of places to see and visit around St. Moritz.

In a day trip like this, you will get around 3-3.5 hours and that is more than enough time to stroll through the streets, have a lunch from some restaurant, take some beautiful photographs and grab some Swiss souvenirs and chocolates.

After seeing a few places within the city, we went to the following places:

a) Laderach to buy some chocolates:

b) Wega to buy some souvenirs

c) Galleria Caspar Badrutt to do some shopping

d) Coop to buy some snacks

Return Journey –> St. Moritz to Tirano in Bernina Express (Train Start time :13:48)

We were asked to be back at Railway station at 1:30 PM. The station is sightly at a lower elavation compared to city. There is a series of escalator that will help you to reach station easily.

The train took approximately 2 hrs 15 minutes to reach Tirano station.

(NOTE: The second-class train ticket was already booked by the tour agency, So we just had to follow the guide to the right coach (remember to reach back the station on time that is specified by the guide, else you will loose the train). There were no specific seat numbers. We could sit in any of the available seats in that coach)

Operated by Rhaetian Railway (launched in 1920), the Bernina Express, passes through the Bernina Alps of Switzerland and down into northern Italy. This is a narrow gauge train.

On the highest railway tracks in Europe and the steepest in the world, the Bernina Express takes its passengers on a unique journey through a large number of tunnels and bridges.  

(The actual train route is Chur (Swiss city) –> St. Moritz (Swiss city) –> Torino (Italian city). The overall journey is 4 hours (144 Kms) one way, which has 55 tunnels and 196 bridges)

The Bernina Express train winds up the mountain from an altitude of 2253 to 429. The views were very scenic. You will certainly love this train journey.

Between St. Moritz  and Tirano the train runs round the famous Brusio Spiral Viaduct (single track viaduct), where most of the classic Bernina Express publicity photos are taken. It consists of a 360-degree spiral that enables the train to change the elavation. However, the viaduct is not a feat of engineering only, but an object of beauty. Nine elegant arches with a span of 10 meters made using local stones blend in seamlessly with the surroundings.

Bernina train is a voyage through nature;  from the palm trees and apple orchards of Tirano, passing chestnut trees and forests of fir and larch on the way.

Tirano Railway station to Milan in Air-conditioned coach:

The same bus in which we went to St. Moritz was waiting for us at the Tirano station to take us back to Milan.

The journey time was approximately 2 hrs 15 min (167 Kms).

Enroute, they stop at a restaurant ‘Bracere Tirano’ (https://www.labrace.it/en/)  for refreshments. Clean restrooms were also available within the building complex.

We reached back Milan city centre late evening (around 7PM).  Had our dinner from a restaurant in city centre and went back to our hotel Novotel Milano Linate Aeroporto in a cab (paid 30 Euros)

The trip mentioned above was operated by the tour company Zani Viaggi.

The service provided by Viator / Zani Group was excellent and well orgaized.

In some other companies itinerary, you might find them going from Tirano to St. Moritz in Bernina express and return back by air conditioned coach.

In case if you want to avoid all these tour companies and plan the trip by your own, that is also a possibility and might work out cheaper aswell.

How to book this entire trip by yourself.

(NOTE: You MUST confirm and obtain any visa requirements prior to border crossing. All visa requirements are the sole responsibility of the traveller)

It’s better to book the train tickets well in advance.

Always look out for the related railway websites to get a clarity on the timings and rates.

Onward Journey:

You can book Milan to Tirano train here –> https://www.trenord.it/

Book the 06:20 -09:05 Train

Have your breakfast at/near Tirano station

Leave the Tirano train station and walk across the square to the Bernina station.

And book the Tirano to St. Moritz here –> https://shop.rhb.ch/en/bernina-express

Book the 10:06-12:35 Train (33 Euros)

NOTES:

1) The Bernina express train coaches are designed in a way that you get great views, as they have large panoramic windows. So please feel free to book any seat.

2) You can plan for a second class ticket one direction and a first class ticket in the opposite direction.  (First class tickets are costlier).

In second class, there are 4 seats (2+2) in a row and in the first class, there are only 3 seats (1+2). The seats are more comfortable (leather) and bigger in first class and there are chances that the first class will be less crowded.

The first-class coach is at the last. So, you get to enjoy seeing the train itself traveling through the mountain.

3) There are rest rooms available within the coaches

4) Seat Reservation is mandatory in Bernina express.

5) Children under 6 can travel free. Children aged 6 to 16 pay half the fare.

6) There are special seats available on the Bernina Express for passengers with impaired mobility who cannot leave their wheelchair

7) Dogs are allowed on the Bernina Express and do not require a reservation. Depending on the size of the dog, a dog ticket is required. Please check their website for details.

8) On the Bernina Express, you can use the InfoT(r)ainment free of charge on your own smartphone.

9) There is also a Bernina express bus available from Tirano to Lugano. It’s a 3 hours / 90kms journey and does not operate in Winter. Please check the company website to know more details.

You can spend 3 – 3.5 hours in St. Moritz.

Have your lunch at St. Moritz. Multiple restaurants and café shops are available.

Return Journey:

You can book Tirano to St. Moritz here –> https://shop.rhb.ch/en/bernina-express

Book the 16:14 – 18:39 Train (33 Euros)

Have your dinner at/near Tirano station

And book the Tirano to Milan train here –> https://www.trenord.it/

Book the 19:56 – 22:40 Train (remember that there is another train at 18:56 aswell)

Total train ticket cost for one side per person is around  : 12 + 33 = 45 Euros

Both sides might come around 90 Euros (45+45)

Whereas tour operators might charge you around 139 Euros.

So, you can easily save around 49 Euros per person for the entire trip.

Other things that you might miss when you plan the above train trips are:

1. Commentary by the guide (& audio device)
2. One side journey in Bus (the route is also scenic)
3. Refreshment options (as Bus stops at proper restaurants in both journeys)

Summary:

Bernina Express is without doubt one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world. You can certainly include this 1-day trip into your itinerary, if your budget and time permits. Ofcourse this will be a time bound tight full day journey, but it is worth the money and time.

If you have more days in hand,  please try out the entire Chur to Tirano via St. Moritz and think about staying one night at St. Moritz.

There is also another popular route operated by Glacier express, which is a direct train connecting railway stations of the two major mountain resorts of Zermatt and St. Moritz via Andermatt in the central Swiss Alps.

Clare is a county in western Ireland with terrain ranging from rolling countryside to craggy Atlantic coastline. Clare is the seventh largest of Ireland’s 32 traditional counties in area and the 19th largest in terms of population.

In this blog, I would like to cover a one-day trip that we did in June 2023, to County Clare.

We started our journey from Saggart, Dublin Ireland around 7:30 AM and returned by around 9:00 PM.

We took the following route. Its approximately 6.5 hour’s drive and 550 Kms.

[Apart from the driving time, you would also need time for sightseeing, refreshments and so on. So, you should certainly consider minimum around 13 hours for the entire journey].

Now let’s get into more details about the various stop overs:

1.Kinvarra: (Google map : Harbour House, The Quay, Dungory West, Kinvarra, County Galway)

From Saggart we started at 7:30 AM, it took around 2 hrs 15 minutes to reach Kinvarra.

Kinvara or Kinvarra is a sea port village in the southwest of County Galway, Ireland. Its a picturesque coastal village on the shores of Galway Bay.

You can also visit Dunguaire Castle enroute (not marked in the above map).  It was told that this castle was build in 16^th Century.

Another place that can be covered is Traught Beach. Its not mentioned in the above map and we have not visited aswell.

Approximate time that you can set aside for this destination: 30 minutes

2. Linnalla Irish Ice cream parlour: (Café Linnala):

Kinvarra to Linnalla –> 15 Minutes

This was a surprise stop over in this trip. I managed to see people mentioning about this place, when I was searching in internet to prepare an itinerary for county Clare.

Situated on the stunning Flaggy Shore along Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way, Bríd Fahy and her husband Roger run Linnalla Ice Cream is one of the few farmer owned and operated ice cream parlours in Ireland.

I would certainly recommend this place. The route to the cafe is quite scenic with tonnes of photography options. You should certainly visit this place to experience the beauty of the place and of course to have few scoops of ice creams aswell.

In google map, this is shown as a ‘unnamed road’ and we will get confused if we are on the correct route. But you can blindly follow google maps and it will take you to the correct destination.

There are enough parking space available near the café and there is also a very clean restroom available within this café.

If you have time, there is a nice walkway near to the café and there are few slides and swings for the little ones aswell.

Visit their website for more details (like opening times and so on)

Approximate time that you can set aside for this destination: 45 minutes (includes time for having ice cream aswell, the time doesn’t include the walking trail)

3. Fanore Beach:

Linnalla to Fanore –> 45 Minutes

The route from Linnalla to Fanore is quite scenic (will cover a lot of costal route aswell)

The small coastal village of Fanore is located where the Caher River enters the Atlantic Ocean on the edge of the world-famous Burren region.

Fanore Beach (holds a blue flag status) is a stunning sandy beach. There is a good view of the Burren from the beach.

During the summer months, the beach is lifeguarded. Don’t forget to check out the beach’s noticeboard for more information. This beach is popular for walkers, swimmers and surfers.

There is a surfing school available with equipment for hire at a reasonable cost.

There’s a large car park right next to Fanore Beach, however, it can be easy to miss when you’re driving the coast road (the scenery is incredible), so make sure to keep an eye out for the parking signs.

Was told that there are Jellyfish in this beach, but we never saw one. Its good to be a bit careful especially if you have dogs or kids with you.

There seems to be laws in place which needs to be taken care of:

• Dog-owners are required to clean up their dog poops in a public place such as public roads, footpaths, parks and beaches. Failure to do so can result in an on-the-spot fine of €150.
• Horse riding and dogs are prohibited between 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. during the summer season.
• Motorised watercraft, surfing and the use of canoes and kayaks is prohibited in close proximity to swimmers.

Approximate time that you can set aside for this destination: 30 minutes

4. Doolin Pier Point:

Fanore to Doolin pier –> 30 Minutes

NOTE: Its better to have lunch enroute or near to Doolin Pier. We brought lunch from Home and had the same at the car parking.

Doolin Pier (also known as Ballaghaline Quay) is situated in the Wild Atlantic Way. Doolin is the home of traditional Irish music. Its a nice walk down to the pier, but they’re not great for getting down to the sea itself as there’s no seashore here. Its more like a rocky beach here.

This is not a beach for swimming. But it is a beach for amazing views, listening and watching the waves crash, enjoying the sun, and admiring the dazzling geology of the coastline.

I believe the Sunset view from here will be excellent. There are high chances that you will find some Dolphins here. The pier has well maintained restrooms.

There is also lot of parking space available, and the rates are nominal (1 Euro for 0 – 2 Hours).

You have Ferry Services (operated by Doolin Ferry) from here to Aran Islands and Cliffs of Moher (closed during winter). Check their website for more details –> https://www.doolinferry.com/

We took the cliffs of Moher Ferry (2 PM). The total ferry travel time was around 45 – 50 minutes. Its better to book this ticket in advance (few days or week) so that you can avoid last minute surprises like tickets sold out and so on.

Ticket Rates: Adults (28 Euros), Senior Citizens (26 Euros) , Children 5-15 years (15 Euros).

The Cliffs of Moher is one of Ireland’s most popular visitor attractions. People say that until you see them from the ferry, you haven’t really seen them at all. I would also agree to that statement. Its indeed a great view of the cliffs from the ferry.

It is hard to take in their magnificent heights until you see them from sea level. The people walking along the trail high above appear no larger than ants!

The ferry has 2 decks. The upper deck is open and the lower deck is a closed one (except few seats at the back of the ferry). If its raining, you will get exposed to rain if you are sitting in the upper deck or at the back side of the ferry (in the lower deck) as they are open to sky.

One other issue with the open part in the lower deck is that water will splash on your face and head during high tide. There is a commentary available in the ferry, but sometimes (no, most of the times) it is not clear.

The entry route to the ferries is clearly marked. You will have to wait in a queue before boarding the ferry. If you are behind in the queue, there are chances that you might not get a seat in the upper deck. Please note that the ferry has toilet facilities aswell.

There is no requirement to wear life jackets as the ferry is large and high off the sea.  You are allowed to take your own refreshments.

Approximate time that you can set aside for this destination (Doolin Pier) for photography and lunch: 45 minutes.

Also, you would need another 50 minutes to 1 hour for the ferry trip.

5. Cliffs of Moher:

The initial 2 km or so from Doolin Pier to Cliffs is a challenging one with very narrow and steeper roads. It might take 15 minutes to reach the cliffs from the pier.

One of the important things to be noted is that we need to take tickets to visit the cliffs. The price varies based on the time of the day. Its 7-10 Euros (For adults). For Children up to 12 years, it’s a free ticket.

Admission includes secure car parking, wi-fi, access to all areas including O’Brien’s Tower and the interactive Cliffs exhibition.

If you book online (at least one day in advance), you will get tickets at the discounted price.

Its always better to look into their website https://www.cliffsofmoher.ie/ to see more details like opening hours.

This is one of the most famous destination in the entire scenic wild Atlantic way. The cliffs run for around 14 kms and at some places, it rise to a maximum height of 214 metres (702 feet) above the Atlantic Ocean. It ranks one among the most visited tourist sites in Ireland, with around 1.5 million visits per annum.

You can also visit the Cliffs of Moher visitor’s center (opened in 2007).  This state-of-the-art underground visitor centre features various interactive exhibits, images and displays that can be enjoyed by people of all age groups. There are some restaurants and public toilets available within this center.

There’s also a observatory tower called O’Briens Tower.

The parking area is huge. But you will have to walk a long distance to reach the cliffs from the parking area (Private vehicles).

There are safety barriers which prevents visitors from going near the cliff. However, if you keep walking away from the Visitor’s center, the barrier ends. So be a little careful and dare not to go near the edge. Already many have lost their life here.

Being one of the busiest attractions in Ireland, you are bound to find visitors all year round, however July and August are the peak months.

Approximate time that you can set aside for this destination: 2 hours

NOTE: If you have time limitations and can cover Cliffs of Moher only through one of the two options (land or sea), My personal recommendation would be to see it from Land as it gives you to real beauty of this wonderful and ginormous landscape. However if you have people with mobility/walking issues in your group, its good to opt for the sea option as they can sit back and see the cliffs from a ferry (without much walking).

6. Lahinch Beach:

This is the last stop over in this trip

Cliffs to Lahinch Beach : 15 Minutes

This is also a sandy beach will stretches around 1Km or so.

This beach (Lifeguarded) is known for surfing, sea kayaking, kite surfing and so on.

There are also several surf schools in the area, so whether you’re a seasoned pro or a beginner, you can grab a board and catch a wave.

There seems to be laws in place which needs to be taken care of:

• Dog-owners are required to clean up their dog poops in a public place such as public roads, footpaths, parks and beaches. Failure to do so can result in an on-the-spot fine of €150.
• Horse riding and dogs are prohibited between 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. during the summer season.
• Motorised watercraft, surfing and the use of canoes and kayaks is prohibited in close proximity to swimmers

Approximate time that you can set aside for this destination: 30 minutes

Further before heading to Dublin, in  case if you would like to have a dinner, this can be a ideal place as there are many restaurants in this locality.

This concludes the various stops in this trip.  We returned to Saggart, Dublin which was approximately 250 Kms and 2 hours 45 minutes (reached back around 9PM)

I had to do the trip to county Clare in a day and hence had to purposefully avoid few other interesting places in County Clare.

If you have time, I will strongly recommend spending minimum 2 days (&1 night) in County Clare. There are plenty of accommodation options available within the county.

Few other places that you could explore are:

The Burren National Park

Kilfenora Cathedral

Doolin Cave

Poulnabrone Dolmen

Aillwee Cave // Birds of Prey centre

Doonagore Castle

Caherconnell Stone Fort

Leamaneh Castle

Lough Inchiquin

Clare Heritage Centre

Cliffs of Kilkee

Corkscrew Hill

Loophead cliffs/peninsula

Aran Islands

Black Head cliffs

Bridges of Ross

Corcomroe Abbey (Sunset)

Scattery islands

Shannon ferry from Clare to Kerry

There are many walking trails aswell, within county Clare.

Hope you enjoyed reading my blog. I would like you to try out this itinerary and let me know your comments!

Waterford is a county in Ireland. It is in the province of Munster and is part of the Southern Region.

From its vibrant city life to its rural charm and stunning coastline, County Waterford have something for everyone.

In this blog, I would like to cover a one-day trip that we did in July 2023, to County Waterford.

We started our journey from Saggart, Dublin Ireland around 8:30 AM and returned by around 8:30 PM.

We took the following route. Its approximately 6 hour’s drive and 450 Kms.

[Apart from the driving time, you would also need time for sightseeing, refreshments and so on. So, you should certainly consider around 12 hours for the entire journey].

Now let’s get into more details about the various stop overs:

1. Kilkenny Castle (Kilkenny, Ireland’s Medieval City):

This castle has been rebuilt, extended, and adapted to suit changing circumstances over a period of 800 years. Kilkenny Castle is open to visitors all year round.

If you wish to see the castle in detail, its better to book a tour (self-guided or guided) in advance. Tickets can be found in https://heritageireland.ie/visit/places-to-visit/kilkenny-castle/

The adult ticket price is around 12 Euros and student price is around 6 Euros.

Other features include 50 acres of rolling parkland with mature trees, a formal terraced rose garden, woodlands, and a man-made lake, which were added in the nineteenth century.

The toughest challenge you will face with this first destination is ‘Parking’.

There is parking exactly in front of the castle, but slots are limited.

In case if you find something even 400-500 meters away from the castle, grab that without a further second thought.

As this is old city, you should certainly spend some time walking around the streets to explore more.

(NOTE: We did not go inside the castle but saw it from outside and explored few streets within the city centre)

Approximate time that you can set aside for this destination: 45 min

2. Mahon Falls:

If you follow the above route, you would ideally be passing through the various sections of Comeragh Drive and Nire valley drive.

The Comeragh Mountains stretch from the coast near Dungarvan as far as Clonmel and this is one route that has spectacular views.

During the Comeragh Drive, you must stop at the ‘MAGIC ROAD’. The magic road is located close to Mahon Falls. A small road, located off the beaten track, where if you stop the car and let the handbrake off, the vehicle will magically roll uphill.

NOTE: Not sure why, I could not figure out this magic road enroute Mahon Falls.

Also, we did not take the walking trail to reach near Mahon Falls.

Mahon Falls is an 80m waterfall situated in the Comeragh Mountains near Lemybrien, Co. Waterford.  The waterfall can be seen from far, but you might have to walk around 20+ minutes (from car park) if you really want to see it from near.

There is a very nice restaurant (Cooney’s Yard) enroute the Mahon Falls. On your way back from the falls, you can have lunch from this restaurant (please note that there are not many restaurants available in this route). We just had coffee and hot chocolate and the rate seems to be nominal. There is enough parking space aswell.

There are clean toilets available, so getting down here for a lunch would be a right time for a biological break aswell.

As the route is quite scenic, you might love to have short breaks for capturing some moments in your Camera. Approximate time that you can set aside for this destination and enroute photography: 1 hour.

As per this itinerary, you can spend around 45 Min for Lunch time.

3. Bunmahon Beach:

Bunmahon Beach is a stretch of sandy beach located on the southeast coast of Ireland in Bunmahon, County Waterford. This beach is slightly off the R675 (one of the most scenic coastal routes in Ireland)

It is backed by sand dunes and is popular with surfers and for canoeing and kayaking.

Swimming at Bunmahon Beach is only suitable for experienced swimmers. The high waves are dangerous. In fact, Bunmahon Beach can be one of the most dangerous beaches on this part of the coast.

The beach is manned by lifeguards during the summer months and has been awarded Blue Flag status. 

There is a caravan park, modern outdoor play park and basketball court located directly behind the beach.

The dedicated parking space is quite limited, but I have seen people parking on both sides of the different nearby roads.

COPPER COAST UNESCO Global geopark (one of the 3 Geoparks in Ireland) is few meters away from this beach. You can also explore the park if you wish to do so.

The area used to be mined for copper and this section of the coast being known as the “Copper Coast”.

NOTE: We have not gone to the Geopark.

Approximate time that you can set aside for this destination: 20 min

NOTE: We took lunch from home and had that near the parking area in Bunmahon Beach.

4. Kilmurrin Cove / Beach:

This is a nice viewpoint over this beach, with a decent parking lot facility.

For extra picturesque views walk a bit uphill on the farmland and enjoy the view from there! 

Kilmurrin Beach is an expansive stretch of golden sand that’s perfect for a day out with friends and family. The beach was the location for a stunning piece of sand art created by environmental artist Sean Corcoran, measuring 120ft in height and 200ft wide, higher than Dublin’s Liberty Hall. The artwork was created to encourage people around Ireland to ‘Keep Discovering’ as the country reopens once again.

Kilmurrin Beach is surrounded by two rocky headlands that shelter the soft, powdery sand, leaving the water still and clear, creating perfect swimming conditions.

Approximate time that you can set aside for this destination: 20 min

R675 Route is one of the most scenic coastal routes in Ireland.

5. Annestown Beach:

This place is not mentioned in the above map.

There are many beaches in the R675 route. The one that we visited after Kilmurrin was Annestown beach.

Annestown Strand is in Annestown, County Waterford and is an attractive bathing place. It is popular with surfers and swimmers alike.

There is a dedicated parking space available but there is a height clearance restriction to enter the car park.

Approximate time that you can set aside for this destination: 10 min

6. Newtown Cove / Beach:

Newtown is a small, sheltered cove with a stony beach, with easy access for swimmers by the slipway or ladder.

The water is very clean generally with good visibility. This place is popular during summertime. There is a lot of parking space available, and this place is nearby metal man statue.

The Metal Man statue stands on one of three pillars near Newtown Cove.

It was constructed as a maritime beacon after the tragic loss of over 350 lives after HMS Seahorse sank back in 1816.

Dressed in traditional British sailor clothing, the Metal Man is on private land with the entrance to the monument blocked due to dangerous cliffs. However, you can see the figure from various points along the coast. 

Approximate time that you can set aside for this destination: 20 min

7. Station House, Kilmeadan  (WSV Railway):

The Waterford Suir Valley Railway starts from this station and ends at this station (journey time is approximately 50 minutes).

This is a heritage narrow gauge railway whihc runs along 10 kilometres of the abandoned Waterford Dungarvan line. We were told that this is Ireland’s longest narrow-gauge railway.

I had my son with me during the trip and hence this place was picked as one of the destinations in this trip. Kids would love this train journey.

There is enough car parking space available in front of this station. The car park and train’s starting point (Kilmeadan) are very near to each other (just a few metres).

There is also a toilet facility and a café shop (Whistlestop Cáfe) available within the station.

Try to book online in advance, if you plan to visit this place as sometimes the seats get filled faster.

I had done an online booking in the WSV website ( https://www.wsvrailway.ie/) a day prior and have opted for the 4PM trip (last trip of the day). By picking 4PM slot, you will get enough time to cover all the places mentioned above in the route map.

Enroute, the train stops at a station for a minute or so. On the left side, watch out for the cormorants resting on the ruins of Kilmeadan Castle and get a glimpse into Mount Congreve Gardens . Make a wish when you see the fairies in the Magic Wood.

NOTE:

1. There are different slots available like 11 AM, 12 Noon, 1 PM, 2 PM, 3PM and 4 PM (last slot)
2. There are 8 small compartments available. Enclosed compartments can hold 12 people and partially open compartments can hold 8 people.
3. You will get better views (River Suir) if you sit on the left-hand side. The right side has view only to the walking track (part of Waterford greenway)
4. If you plan to take photos/videos, I suggest booking a partially open compartment as its quite open (the enclosed ones have fully closed windows).
5. The carriages are wheelchair accessible.

8. Dunmore East / Dunmore Harbour:

Dunmore East is a popular tourist and fishing village in County Waterford, Ireland.

The harbour is one of the five designated National Fishery Harbours and has the second highest figure for fish landings after Killybegs.

Tourism in Dunmore East is supported by boating and sailing facilities, holiday homes, traditional pubs, a golf course, and several hotels.

This place can potentially be a good place for you to have your Dinner.

We tried some Fish and Chips from ‘Fish shop’.  The food was economical and good (taste wise and Quantity wise)

Approximate time that you can set aside for this destination (including Dinner):  1 Hour

9. Waterford City Centre:

This place is not mentioned in the above map.

If you are following the above map, you will be passing through Waterford city centre enroute Dublin.

Waterford is the oldest and the fifth most populous city in the Republic of Ireland.

Waterford, Ireland’s oldest city is believed to have been established by the Viking Ragnall (the grandson of Ivar the Boneless) in 914 AD.

Incase if you didn’t have your dinner from Dunmore, this place would be another great option.

Parking can be a problem if you decide to park your car and explore the city by foot.

Waterford is renowned for its exciting festivals and events such as the West Waterford Festival of Food.

This concludes the destinations in this trip.  We returned to Saggart, Dublin which was approximately 150Kms and 1.5 hours.

I had to do the trip to Waterford in a day and hence had to purposefully avoid few other interesting places in Waterford.

If you have time, I will strongly recommend spending 2 days (&1 night) in County Waterford.  There are plenty of accommodation options available within the county.

Few other places that you could explore are:

Waterford crystal Factory, Medieval Museum, Bishops’ Palace

COPPER COAST UNESCO Global geopark

Dungarvan (Davitts Quay),

Tramore Beach

Lismore castle garden

Ardmore Beach

Ardmore farm & Mini Zoo

Goat Island, Ballynamona

Copper Coast Sea Kayaking

Hook Lighhouse

There are many walking trails within county Waterford:

Waterford Greenway

The Mahon Falls Walk

The Coumshingaun Loop Walk

The Ardmore Cliff Walk

The Ballysaggartmore Towers Walk

The Anne Valley Walk

The Dunmore East Cliff Walk

There are also different surfing schools within Waterford that offer lessons for novice surfers and first timers, so don’t worry if you’ve never tried surfing before. If you fancy trying your hand at a bit of surfing, this is an ideal place.     

Hope you enjoyed reading my blog. I would like you to try out this itinerary and let me know your comments!

Victor’s way is an Indian Sculpture Park located in County Wicklow, near Dublin, Ireland. It is a 22-acre park surrounded by lush green forest and typical Irish countryside. The park also has some open green fields, ponds and several small lakes.

We followed the below route:

The entire route is quite scenic.

We had spent some time at the Cloghleagh Bridge and at the Lough Tay Viewing point (and Guinness Lake) before reaching Victor’s way.

Cloghleagh Bridge:

This lovely Single arch bridge (over Shankill River) is surrounded by woodland and is adjacent to a quaint church. It’s a beautiful quiet place surrounded by shady trees, with small waterfalls and large flat rocks. There is also a Walking Trail available here.

Lough Tay Viewing point (and Guinness Lake):

The lake is located along the Sally Gap drive and you’ll be treated to magnificent views of its inky black water. The Guinness Lake, as it’s known, is situated within a private estate, but it can be viewed from above from several viewing points along the Sally Gap.

Victor’s way:

You can either book online or pay as cash (10 Euros for Adults) for the tickets. I have not seen any ticket counter as such. There is a small slot where you deposit the money. When we visited, there was a person available near the car park to collect the cash. I don’t remember them giving us any printed tickets or so.

There is enough parking space available within the park.

The entry to the Victor’s Way is an unusual opening, with two ladies on either side. It is known as Victoria’s Gate and the opening represents the birth canal. The birth canal in other words is the one through which we came through into this world. It’s the first journey we ever make in life, and at this point our world becomes so much bigger.

The birth canal here represents being born again and entering into the park, with all the worries of the world left behind on the other side.

The park was known as Victoria’s Way until 2015, when it was closed by the owner who felt that too many day-trippers were coming into the park for fun activities (for parents & children). It was reopened in 2016 as Victor’s Way with new age restrictions as it was designed as a garden for over 28’s year old only.

Although the park won’t suit everyone’s taste, it’s one of the unique things to discover in Ireland. If you’re looking to escape from your busy daily life, then a trip to the peaceful Victor’s Way Park might just be what you need. In addition, it was created for those between the ages of 28 to 60 years old.

It is indeed a great place for a relaxing walk. You can easily spent a good hour or two, walking around the sculpture gardens and it’s best to follow the arrows to guide you through the different areas. There are lot of sculptures (lot of Indian/Hindu deities aswell) within the campus. Some statues appear stunningly beautiful in their black granite.

Seems that many of the sculptures here were directly carved in Mahabalipuram, India.

Please note that this place is not intended for Family Fun (like other parks). This is more of a meditation park.

There is a lot of walk around. So please plan accordingly if you have small kids or elderly people within your group.

Its always better to check their website for the opening season/timings. Please note that this is not open throughout the year. Also, I believe they don’t encourage pets.

Website: https://victorsway.eu/

The Irishman Victor Langheld designed and created the park. Victor also stays within the campus. So there are high chances that you might see him somewhere within in the park.

One of the most famous sculpture here is The Ferryman’s End.

The Ferryman’s End represents the icon of burnout, is set in algae covered waters.

     The ferryman ferries himself and others from ‘this shore’ to the ‘other shore’ (and where the grass is always greener). In other words, he/she ferries from here (meaning sameness) to there (meaning difference) and so from death to life. (Courtesy: https://victorsway.eu/sculptures/ferryman.htm)

(Note: One personal comment. Don’t underestimate the size of this sculpture after seeing the images in Internet. It is relatively small and is set in algae covered waters)

There is a craft shop onsite selling Indian made products. The interesting thing is that there is nobody available within the shop for selling the items. All items have the amount details mentioned in that. If you liked any item, just check the price, and deposit the money in a small box (Honesty Box) kept at the entrance.

We visited Howth in August 2021.

Howth is in the outer suburb of Dublin, Ireland. The district as a whole occupies the greater part of the peninsula of Howth Head, which forms the northern boundary of Dublin Bay, and includes the island of Ireland’s Eye.

Its stunning location surrounded on three sides by the Irish Sea makes it a favourite with tourists.

One of Dublin’s oldest working harbours, Howth has been a fishing village and port since at least the 14th century.

We took the Public transport (Luas) from Saggart to Connolly (Last stop of the red line)

Other Travel Options:

1. You can get the 31 number bus that will take you to the Howth Harbour. Or you can take the 31A number bus which goes through Howth Village to Howth Summit. Both buses leave from the same location, Eden Quay (just off O’Connell Street).
2. If you are coming from downtown Dublin, follow the R807 road along the coastline. This road will turn into R105 and this will lead you to downtown Howth. It is about 18km and might take about 30 minutes depending on traffic.

Connolly luas (Tram) and the dart (train) stations are quite near to each other.

The Dart station is in the first floor and you can take lift/escalator from the Luas Platform to reach there.

If you are interested, you can use Leap Travel Card. More detail about Leap Visitor card can be found here:

https://about.leapcard.ie/leap-visitor-card

If atall you don’t have leap cards, you can buy it from the shops within or nearby the Luas/Dart stations.

You can touch off your leap card in the machine provided at the entry. Don’t forget to do that at the exit aswell.

Connolly station:

There are around 7 platforms in Connolly (+ 2 Platform for Luas).

The train timing and Platforms are clearly marked in the boards. So you don’t have to panic and there are even sign boards clearly indicating the platform number.

The dart train from Connolly to Howth would take around 30 minutes. Trains are available at regular intervals.

If you are visiting Howth using you own car, there ae plenty of parking space available near to the dart station.

There are multiple trails available in Howth. It’s worth to note that many of these trails get busy over the Weekends / Public holidays.

In the beginning of the cliff paths, there are clear indications of the various paths like Green, Blue, Red, Purple and so on. But there are high chances that you miss the actual path (as colour codes are missing at many places, enroute)

All Trails website will give you a rough idea about the various options.

https://www.alltrails.com/ireland/county-dublin/howth

We had gone with the Cliff walk from the dart Station towards the Howth Summit (Howth head Cliff Walk-lower cliff walk). The distance is around 6 Kms (walking time of 1.5-2 Hours approx)

NOTE: If you have more time, you can try Black Linn Loop Walk that goes through Ben of Howth (highest peak of the peninsula). From the summit, you might get a full 360 degree view overlooking the entire peninsula, Howth Castle, Howth village and so on.

Another option is the Bog of Frogs Loop Walk, which follows the coastline for 12km.

If you are taking the Howth Summit route, the best way is to take Google search option to look for Howth summit (as the destination) . The good thing with that destination is that you can take a Return Bus either to Dublin city centre or back to the ‘Howth’ Dart station.

 The beginning of the cliff walk is relatively very steep.

But you have some parking space available at the end of the steep.

Enroute the way to  the cliff parking, you can also visit Balscadden Bay Beach.

NOTE: When you walk past the village towards Howth Head, walk up the hill until you reach a little gate, behind which there is a set of quite steep steps, that lead you down to this beach.

Please note that the path is quite narrow there is no fence available throughout the cliff walk. So please be careful if there are small children in your group.

The view throughout the cliff walk is excellent. There are tonnes of photography options throughout the walk.

Near to the Summit, you can also see a path going down to the Baily Lighthouse (the last lighthouse in Ireland to be automated). This cottage-style, 13-metre tall lighthouse sits out on the cliffs with a stunning view over the Irish Sea. Baily (built in 1917) is one of Ireland’s most photographed lighthouses on the eastern coastline.

In this trip, we did not go to the Lighthouse.

NOTE: If you really dont have the energy / time for a 6Km walk, you can drive till the Howth Summit and walk down the Baily lighthouse.

Just check out for sign bus board (near the summit) from where you can get the return bus (H3) back to Howth beach or the Dublin City Centre.

There is also enough Car parking space available near the summit.

Compared to the Main Howth City centre, the summit has relatively less number of restaurants/shops.

After the cliff walk, we took the bus back to the Howth beach (Bus H3, which goes to city center via Howth Beach), got down the bus at Howth beach stop and went to the Ferry / Bay area to take a boat service to Ireland’s Eye.

Currently uninhabited, Ireland’s Eye was once home to a monastery, established around 700 AD.

Ireland’s Eye can be visited every day during the summer months and on weekends / bank holidays only during the rest of the year.

There are different companies that are operating ferries here.

A 45 minutes TO and FRO trip to the Ireland’s eye will cost around 25 Euros/person.

We had taken the service of a company named ‘Howth Cliff Cruises’. (http://howthcliffcruises.ie/)

NOTE: I have read in many places that we can get down at the Ireland’s eye and walk around. You can visit the Martello Tower aswell. Landing on the island is at the discretion of the captain depending on weather conditions. Since we had take a evening ferry, such an option was not available for us.

This is a great boat trip, something that should not missed during your journey to Howth. You will see a lot of birds and probably seals, during this journey.

During the return journey in boat, you would also get a chance to see the Howth Harbour Lighthouse from different angles.

NOTE: There are options available to walk down the Howth Pier to see the Lighthouse at a closer distance.

After the boat trip, we returned back to the Howth Dart station and further to the Dublin city centre.

Howth is a very safe destination. Coast guard security is also present at important points.

If you are looking for some food options, there are multiple options available.

We had tried ‘The Bloody Stream’ and the service/food quality/menu items were really good.

Also there are a few Indian restaurants like ‘Okra Green’ in Howth. Due to a tight schedule with a limited time, Personally I did not try any items from Okra.

You need to spend around 6-7 hours to complete the itinerary/places , that I mentioned here.

NOTES:

1.Please note that there are many other places to see like Howth Castle, St. Mary’s Abbey, Howth Market, Howth Village, National Transport Museum, Hurdy Gurdy Vintage Radio Museum and so on.

2.There are some limited accomodation options available like ‘King Sitric’.

Dunluce Castle is a medieval Irish Castle located on a clifftop along the Causeway Coast in County Antrim and is quite near to the Giant’s Causeway UNESCO site. It is about 1 hour drive from Belfast.

Address: 87 Dunluce Road, Bushmills, Co. Antrim, BT57 8UY, Ireland

The scenery in this part of County Antrim is simply spectacular, and Dunluce may be ONE of the most photographed castles on the island of Ireland.

We happened to visit Dunluce castle as a part of the day drip from Dublin to Northern Ireland. The Tour was organised by Wild Rover Tours, which is a Dublin-based family business who arrange tours throughout Ireland.
The normal itinerary for this tour includes Giants causeway, Belfast City and Carrick A Rede Rope Bridge. Carrick A Rede Rope Bridge was closed for maintenance and wildrover group arranged Dunluce castle as an alternative. Entry tickets to Dunluce castle was also included in the package.
We highly recommend this day trip with Wild Rover Tours. They tried everything possible to make this trip a memorable one. The guide and the pilot were very friendly and supportive.

Details : https://wildrovertours.com/activity/giants-causeway-belfast-city-carrick-a-rede-rope-bridge/

Ideally, there are multiple ways to reach this place:

• Train:

You can get trains (Derry Direction) from Belfast Lanyon or Great Victoria Street Train station. You will reach a station (around 1.45 hours) named Coleraine. From there you can hire a taxi (around 15 min)

• Bus:

You can get bus 218a from Great Victoria Bus station to Coleraine Bus Stand. From there you can hire a taxi (around 15 min)

• Car:

This might be the most preferred means of travel as the route is very scenic. (around 1.25 Hours)

Take the M2 motorway / A26 Combination from Belfast.

The route towards Dunluce Castle from Belfast city is quite scenic.

Please note that there are very less parking (means really less 😊) options available near Dunluce castle.

The castle stands mostly in ruins today, but the walls and remains of some of the buildings can still be seen. This castle was mainly built out of local basalt stone, known for its strength and durability.

There is a path beside the castle which takes you down towards the sea. As the title says there are 109 steps which was fine going down a little challenging on the way back.

Dunluce Castle has been a location for many movies like Game of Thrones.

Its also said that the castle was once owned by Winston Churchill.

This castle is a great place to enjoy the history of Ireland and to take in the beautiful scenery of the land.

There is a huge history behind this place. So its worth spending some time in google (Key word 😊 : MacQuillan family ) , if you are really interested to know that.

Points worth to note:

• Opening hours:
  • February to November : Daily 9.30am to 5pm.
  • December/January : Daily 9.30am to 4pm.
  • Last admission 30 minutes before closing.
  • Adult 18+ Years – £6 per ticket
  • Child 5-17 Years – £4 per ticket
  • Child Under 5 – Free

• It is excellent for visitors of all ages.
• Restrooms are available.
• There is a little gift shop available.

The closest town is Bushmills, home to the world-famous Old Bushmills Distillery.

The tour company had guided us for lunch to a restaurant named ‘The Giants Barn’, which was just 8 minutes drive from the Dunluce Castle.  

This restaurant is also located in a very scenic location.

Some places nearby:

• Bushmills Distillery (around 10 minutes’ drive)

This is the oldest whiskey distillery in the world.

• Few of the Antrim coast attractions like Giants Causeway, Carrick-a-rede, Ballintoy Harbour and so on

• Portrush Beach

SUMMARY : Dunluce castle is a great tourist destination and you should never miss this place if you are preparing a Northern Ireland or County Antrim itinerary.

“Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.”– Andre Gide.

Luxembourg also known as the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is a country in the western part of Europe. Its bordered by Belgium, France and Germany. Languages like French and German are spoken in addition to its native language Luxembourgish.

The capital city named as Luxembourg City is one of three official capital cities of the European Union (along with Brussels and Strasbourg).

Some Facts about Luxembourg:

1) Second richest country in the world (After Qatar).

2) One of the safest nations in the world.

3) Many of the restaurants here have the largest variety of wine in their menu.

4) Half of the residents of Luxembourg are foreigners.

5) UNESCO certified the city of Luxembourg, a world heritage site.

6) June 23 is one of the most important days in the Luxembourgish Calendar (Grand Duke of Luxembourg’s birthday).

7) It’s one of the founding members of the European Union.

We visited Luxembourg in August 2019 from Dublin (in Ryanair) and it was a short trip of 2 days.

You can also check some popular websites like ‘TRAINLINE’ for your travel needs. Its one of the top destination for Train and Bus tickets. Check the link here, for more details: https://www.thetrainline.com/en-us/trains/europe

I would certainly recommend you to take a 1 day ‘Luxembourg Card’ (2/3 days card is also available). I had taken a Family card which is valid for around 2-5 Persons and costs around 28 Euros. I managed to buy this card from the Hotel that I stayed. Many of the museums and other places are free with this card. You get access to around 60 places free of cost with this card. You are also entitled to get a free booklet along with this card which provides all the details about the attractions. Another advantage of this card is that you can travel in the public transport (inside city and outskirts).

I would also recommend the hotel ‘Park inn by Radisson’.

It is conveniently located in the city centre (near to Main Bus terminal/Railway station).

The public transportation is excellent. Bus ticket costs around 2euros /Hour.

Bus 16 would take you from Airport (Findel Airport) to the city center (Gare de Luxembourg). You can take the bus directly from the main entrance of the airport. Normally you will have to take the bus ticket from the ticket vending machine which is available in all the main stops. Seems you can’t get the ticket directly from the bus driver.

I would like to provide you a one-day full itinerary that would help you to cover most of the important places here. We covered this place on the second day which was mostly a walking tour and the Starting point was ‘Parkin inn By Radisson’ hotel (around 9:30-9:45 AM).

1) La Passerellee Bridge:

This bridge is a great spot to get your first view of Luxembourg City. The city is really two levels. The upper level is the old town, a maze of pretty streets, restaurants, museums, and great places to go shopping. In the lower part of the city you will find more restaurants and bars, houses, plus gardens and canals that are very picturesque.

2) Luxembourg National Museum of National History: (Free entry with Luxembourg card) (Opens @10AM)

If you are interested in Natural history and so on, this would be a good place for you.

This Museum covers all traditional subjects through its collections from the fields of botany, zoology, Biology and so on.

More details here  → https://www.visitluxembourg.com/en/place/museum/national-museum-of-natural-history-natur-musee-luxembourg

3) Neumünster Abbey:

This is a public meeting place and cultural centre and is very near to the Natural History museum. This wonderful historic Abbey has been beautifully renovated and is now used as a cultural center, hosting musical events, a charming cafe, and a gallery that has excellent art exhibitions of local and international artists.

4) Grund:

This is a must-see place /surrounding in Luxembourg. The Grund is in the valley below the centre of Luxembourg City on the banks of the Alzette River.

This place really is a photographer’s dream as it can be photographed from above as well as from below once you get to explore its beautiful streets.

The Grund is one of the oldest parts of the city, and arguably one of the prettiest.

5) Bock Casemates: (Entry free with Luxembourg Card)

The Bock Casemates is a fortification that protected the city for many centuries. Its rocky cliffs stand on the bank of the river Alzette. There are complex underground tunnels in the Bock called Casemates. With the total length of 23km, they were used for protection and housed military personnel and supplies during the war. It’s a UNESCO’s world heritage site since 1994. The Casemates are open to the public from March to October.

There is also a city Train ride available in this place. Personally, I have not explored this, so not sure about it.

6) Chemin de la Corniche:

Also known as the “most beautiful balcony of Europe”. From here you can see the image found in most postcards of the city. The view is simply spectacular!

7) Musée national d’histoire et d’art Luxembourg: (Free entry for all)

The National Museum of History and Art, abbreviated to MNHA, is a museum located in Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg. It is dedicated to displaying artworks and artefacts from all epochs of Luxembourg history.

The museum has a large archaeological collection, particularly of objects discovered during the various excavations.

More details here –> https://www.mnha.lu/

8) Lëtzebuerg City Museum: (Free entry with Luxembourg Card)

This place can be skipped if you are running short of time.

The Luxembourg City History Museum illustrates the thousand-year history of the City of Luxembourg with both permanent and temporary exhibits.

The museum consists of two parts: the floors below the entrance level illustrate the city’s evolution from an economic, social, political, architectural and town planning point of view, whereas the upper levels are reserved for temporary exhibitions.

9) Grand Ducal Palace:

This is the official residence of Grand Duke of Luxembourg and where he performs most of his duties as head of state.

More details here –> https://www.visitluxembourg.com/en/place/castle/palace-of-the-grand-dukes

There is also a Chocolate house just opposite to Grand Ducal Place.

10) Cathédrale Notre-Dame:

The cathedral’s one-of-a-kind ceiling is one of the most characteristic images of the capital. The bells have a special sound that is played as a song. It’s worth being close to the cathedral to listen to the bells/song

11) Place de la Constitution:

This is a memorial to the Luxembourgers who died during world war 1. Now it symbolizes freedom for the Luxembourg people.

More details here –> https://www.luxembourg-city.com/en/place/monuments/place-de-la-constitution

12) Adolphe Bridge:

The Adolphe Bridge is a double-decked arch bridge in Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg. The bridge provides a one-way route for road traffis. Its upper deck carries two lanes of road traffic, and two pedestrian footpaths. Its lower deck, opened in 2018, suspended beneath the upper deck carries a dedicated bidirectional bicycle path, with access provided for pedestrian use.

13) Place d’Armes:

The Place d’Armes is a square in the center of town. The square is lined by restaurants, hotels, and small shops. You will also find common chains like ‘Mc Donald’s’ in this square.

By now you would have covered 5+ Kms by walk. Obviously, you will be tired as well.

From here, you have a couple of options.

1) If you are ready for a shorter walk again, you can proceed to Pfaffenthal Lift

Pfaffenthal Lift:

The new glass elevator connects the “Pescatore” park located in the city centre to the Pfaffenthal area at the bottom of the Alzette valley. The ride in the glass elevator features sweeping views (71m high) for pedestrians and cyclists alike. Using the elevator is free of charge.

The elevator is running every day from 6 in the morning until 1 o’ clock at night.

More details here: https://www.luxembourg-city.com/en/place/monuments/panoramic-elevator-of-the-pfaffenthal

Some nearby places that you can check are:

Villa Vauban – Museum of Art of the City of Luxemburg,

Grand Theatre of the City of Luxembourg

Casino Luxembourg

Or else, you can also explore the other attractions which are slightly away from the city center and can easily be accessed using Public Transport (free of cost with the Luxembourg card)

One suggestion here will be the Luxembourg American Cemetery Memorial:

The cemetery consists of 17 acres of manicured lawn surrounded by 33.5 acres of woods.

Or probably you can try visiting Place de l’Europe /European Convention Center Luxembourg (ECCL).

Ideally you should plan for a 2-3 days itinerary for Luxembourg (one day can be planned for a trip to Trier, Germany)

Another day, you can plan some trip outside the city like:

Mullerthal:

This is also called as Luxembourg’s ‘Little Switzerland’, which hides some of the best places to visit in Luxembourg. First stop should be charming Echternach, the oldest city in Luxembourg.

Mullerthal is more of a walking trail. Be prepared to walk a lot.

More details here –> https://www.visitluxembourg.com/en/what-to-do/nature-tours/hiking-luxembourg/mullerthal-trail

Please note that there is no direct bus from Luxembourg city center to Mullerthal and one side journey will be around 1 hour by bus.

Nature and Castle Line (Hop on Hop off):

During the trip you will discover the beautiful nature of Luxembourg with its impressive rocks and castles.

The ticket price is around 24Euors/Adult

More details –> https://www.viator.com/tours/Luxembourg-City/Sightseeing-Hop-on-Hop-off-Nature-and-Castle-Line/d36689-174227P1

PARC Merveilleux:

This is around 40 Minutes in Bus from the main city centre.

It is an amusement park just east of Bettembourg in the south of Luxembourg. Designed above all for children, the park has a wide range of attractions including exotic birds, animals in their natural habitats, a pony ranch, a miniature railway, children’s self-drive cars, adventure playgrounds, scenes from fairy tales, a restaurant and a cafeteria. The park is open every day from Easter to early October.

Schueberfouer:

We also got a chance to see the Luxembourg Carnival.

The big traditional fair in Luxembourg, called ‘Schueberfouer’ in Luxembourgish, attracts around two million visitors every year, making it one of the largest events in the region and a much-anticipated occasion to meet with friends and family

In 2019, it was the 679^th edition of this event. (23^rd Aug – 11^th Sep)

Details Here –> https://www.visitluxembourg.com/en/facts-about-the-schueberfouer

Additional Tips:

1) The souvenir shops are little less in Luxembourg city, so grab the one which you like and don’t wait till the last day expecting that you might find better shops with cheaper rates.

2) Some bus stops won’t show long distance bus details/timings in the display board, but these long-distance bus numbers will be marked clearly somewhere inside the Bus stop itself.

3) People are very friendly, and you can always take their help if you need some directions. Most of the people also speak English.

4) There are some tourist office available near few main attractions, from where you can get all the required information.

5)There are chains like Burger King available in the city centre. There are also some other options like the kebab shops from where you can manage to have your food.