Ireland is a beautiful country. But for some reason, so many travelers choose to spend all their time in Dublin. If you want to get away from the big city in Ireland, I recommend traveling through Northern Ireland with your family. There are plenty of amazing attractions and gorgeous views in this part of the country. Today, I am sharing an itinerary that will have you exploring during a family vacation in Northern Ireland. Your family’s itinerary may look slightly different than this one since I will be personalizing it to include what you want to do. But this itinerary will give you an idea of what is possible during your family’s vacation in Northern Ireland.  

7 Extraordinary Days Exploring During a Family Vacation in Northern Ireland 

Day One: Dublin 

Okay, so if you were nervous you were going to miss all the excitement in Dublin while on vacation in Northern Ireland, don’t worry! You will be landing at the airport in Dublin and have a couple of days to spend there.  

Once you have checked into your hotel, it will be time to head out into the city and experience the best of Dublin. Your first stop will be the Guinness Storehouse. Your family will tour all seven floors of the storehouse, while learning about the history of the Guinness brand. At the end of the tour, you get to drink a pint of Guinness beer.  

Day Two: Dublin 

Hopefully you slept well after your first day in Dublin, because you will hit the streets early today for a walking tour. Your private guide will take you to St. Stephen’s Green, Merrion Square, Dublin Castle, Christchurch, and St. Patrick’s Cathedral.  

Before returning to your hotel, you will stop at Temple Bar and Trinity College. The Book of Kells will be the highlight of your time at the college.  

In the afternoon, it will be time to visit the Jameson Distillery. During your distillery tour, you will learn the history of this whiskey and how it is made.  

Day Three: Dublin to Belfast 

You will be up early on day three of your family vacation in Northern Ireland. This is so your driver can take you to Belfast. During the drive, you will stop at Newgrange and the Mourne Coast.  

Newgrange is a Neolithic passage tomb. This tomb has been around for more than five thousand years. Over at the River Boyne, you will see where the Battle of the Boyne took place. Your family may have time to see some of the other ruins in the area before continuing to County Down.  

That mountainous region is full of ancient history. A stop in Newcastle will allow you to stretch your legs before you reach the town of Downpatrick. This is where Ireland’s patron saint, St. Patrick, was laid to rest.  

Before you know it, you will be in Belfast. After dinner, and a walk around town, you will be more than ready for a good night’s sleep.  

Day Four: Belfast 

If you didn’t manage to walk around when you arrived in Belfast, don’t worry. Your family will have plenty of time to explore this city today. Your day will begin with a guided drive through Belfast. Your guide will take you along Falls Road before heading to the Crumlin Road Jail, Europa Hotel, and the Crown Bar.  

If that doesn’t sound fascinating, you can choose to take a full-day tour of Belfast. During that tour, you will wander through Cathedral Quarter to see St. Anne’s Cathedral, Donegal Place, and the Grand Opera House.  

Before you head back to your hotel, you can stop at the Belfast Castle Estate and the Titanic Museum.  

Day Five: Belfast to Donegal 

It will be another day in the car on day five of your vacation in Northern Ireland. Today, you will be taken to Donegal. But not before you visit the Glens of Antrim. This is a collection of nine verdant valleys.  

After that stop, it will be time to see the Causeway Coast, as well as the Giants Causeway. This is one of the Natural Wonders of the World. You will want to stay there forever, but your guide will convince you to go back in the car to see Dunluce Castle.  

After you have seen all the sights for the day, you will arrive in Donegal, ready to relive all the memories you made throughout the day.  

Day Six: Donegal to Galway 

You won’t be in Donegal for long, as you must head to Galway. During today’s drive, you will stop at the Moycullen Riding Centre. Hop onto the back of a horse and take a ride through the countryside with your family.  

After your exciting ride through the countryside, it will be time to continue to Galway. Spend a couple hours exploring, as you will need to return to Dublin in the morning.  

Day Seven: Galway to Dublin 

Today is your last day of vacation in Northern Ireland. You will need to return to Dublin to catch your flight back home. Thankfully, you will have plenty of memories to talk about during your flight. Unless of course, you are all so tired, you simply sleep the entire time.  

There are so many other things you can do while exploring during a family vacation in Northern Ireland. I can add as many of them as you want to your itinerary when I personalize it for your family’s vacation in Ireland.  

So, are you ready for me to create a personalized family vacation itinerary for your trip to Northern Ireland or another destination?  

If you said yes, I would like to invite you to click here to schedule a personalized family vacation planning session with me. When you click the link, you will be taken directly to my digital calendar to schedule a time that is convenient for you.  

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