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5 Day Ireland's South−East Including Admission from Dublin
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From €1627 per person
Most visitors head straight for the west coast and leave the southeast to the locals - which means you get places like the Rock of Cashel and the Viking city of Waterford pretty much to yourself. This five-day small-group tour does the region justice, with a driver guide who actually knows the area and groups capped at 16 people so it never feels like you’re shuffling through a crowd.
You’ll travel by air-conditioned mini-coach and sleep four nights in en-suite accommodation, with breakfast included each morning. The admission to the Jameson Midleton Whiskey Distillery tour and tasting is built into the price - you get to see the whole production process and then taste what you’ve just learned about, which is a very satisfying way to spend an afternoon in Cork.
Your meeting point is opposite the Kilkenny Shop on Nassau Street in Dublin, an easy spot to find on foot or by public transport.
Meeting point: Opposite the Kilkenny Shop, Nassau Street, Dublin
Groups are capped at 16 passengers. This tour runs in English. Children under 5 can’t be accommodated - if this rule isn’t followed, the operator will refuse travel without a refund. Luggage is restricted to 20 kg (44 lbs) per person, which you can split between a small onboard bag and a larger suitcase or rucksack. Public transport runs close to the meeting point. Suitable for all fitness levels.
The southeast is best explored slowly. The temptation is to tick off sites and move on, but the towns here reward a wander. Kilkenny’s medieval mile - the stretch from the cathedral down to the castle - is genuinely one of the finest historic streetscapes in Ireland, and it’s easy to miss half of it if you’re rushing.
Book the Rock of Cashel for the morning. The light on the limestone buildings is best in the first few hours after opening, and the tour groups thin out as the day goes on. If you get there early, you’ll often find you have whole sections of the ruins to yourself.
Midleton is more than the distillery. The town itself has a good farmers’ market on Saturdays and some excellent cafes tucked around the main square. If you have any flexibility after the distillery tour, it’s worth a slow walk around.
Waterford moves at its own pace. It’s Ireland’s oldest city and it wears that history comfortably rather than making a fuss of it. The Medieval Museum on Cathedral Square is excellent and often overlooked - the collection includes a 15th-century mayoral sword and fragments of the city’s original Viking defences.
Pack layers even in summer. The southeast is Ireland’s sunniest region, but that doesn’t mean warm. Mornings on the coast can be brisk and afternoons changeable. A light waterproof takes up almost no room in a bag and you’ll be glad of it at least once.