Proceed to Athlone for a visit to Sean’s Bar, Ireland’s oldest pub dating back to 900 AD. Choose a creamy Irish coffee or another drink and raise your glass as visitors have for centuries. Travel on to Galway and join a local guide for a walking tour of this buzzing city on the River Corrib. There’s much to see in the city that was chosen the European Capital of Culture for 2020: the medieval streetscape, Eyre Square, the Spanish Arch. Take some time to explore on your own – listen to the buskers (street musicians), stop into a pub, or explore the many small shops that line the main street. Dine independently this evening. (B)

Travel on to County Sligo to view an amazing demonstration of highly-skilled dogs herding sheep at their owner’s command. Journey on through rugged scenery and arrive in Donegal, a town established around a Viking harbor and today known for handcrafted tweeds and woolens. Visit our CIE Tours preferred shopping partner Triona Design with free time to discover the charm of this lively town. This evening, dine at your hotel in Letterkenny. (B, D)

Join a local guide for a walking tour of historic Derry, viewing the Old City, with its fortification walls dating back to the 17th century. Proceed on to the Giant’s Causeway, impressive sea cliffs and hexagonal basalt column formations along the Atlantic, which folklore says was built by the legendary Finn MacCool. Experience this awe-inspiring natural spectacle and take in an exhibition about its history. Enjoy dinner with your group at the oldest thatched pub in Ireland dating to 1654, the Crosskeys Inn. A CIE Tours exclusive venue, it’s one of Ireland’s most famous traditional music pubs. (B, D)

Take a panoramic tour of Belfast, a port city rich in history, with a dynamic arts scene. Its wealth of architectural heritage includes the imposing City Hall, built in 1906 in a classical Renaissance style, and the Parliament Buildings at Stormont, home of the Northern Ireland Assembly, which arose out of the 1990s peace process. Visit Titanic Belfast to discover the role Belfast ship-builders played in the history of the ill-fated ocean-liner. (B)

Travel to the charming historic town of Carlingford on the Cooley Peninsula, famous for its beautiful views, oyster farms, and medieval church. Explore the town independently, with time to see some of the historic sites and browse the shops. Return to Dublin for a lively evening of dinner and traditional Irish entertainment at the Merry Ploughboy pub. (B, D)

Your tour ends in Dublin after breakfast. (B) B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner >