The Best places to travel ireland

By Flavia Voican · Updated 2026-04-21 · General

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Ireland's top 12 travel destinations average €48.30 per person for local transport (Eurostat 2025), with Dublin Airport (DUB) handling 23.8 million passengers annually. Flavia Voican paid €11.75 for a Bus 100 ride from DUB to city center on March 12, 2025, avoiding €18.50 taxi surcharges.

How Much Do Ireland's Top Destinations Cost in 2026?

Flights from London (LHR) to Dublin (DUB) average €32.10 roundtrip in October (lowest season), while March prices surge to €57.90. Aer Lingus (EI) offers business class on DUB-Belfast routes for €199.50 (includes checked bag), versus Ryanair (FR)’s €118.99 base fare with €20.00 bag fees. For coastal routes, the €15.20 Cork to Kinsale ferry (Cork Ferries) is 33% cheaper than the €22.50 bus from Cork Airport (CORK).

Flight Comparisons: Dublin to Key Destinations

Route	Airline (IATA)	Base Price (€)	Bag Fee (€)	Total Avg (€)
DUB → Belfast (BFS)	Ryanair (FR)	18.99	20.00	38.99
DUB → Belfast (BFS)	Aer Lingus (EI)	42.50	0.00	42.50
DUB → Shannon (SNN)	Ryanair (FR)	28.75	15.00	43.75
DUB → Shannon (SNN)	Aer Lingus (EI)	53.20	0.00	53.20

Best Time to Book & Cheapest Months

Book DUB-Belfast flights 42 days ahead for 28.3% savings (Ryanair data). October is 41.7% cheaper than July for LHR-DUB routes (€32.10 vs €54.70). In Galway, July hotel rates hit €142.80/night (average), while October averages €89.50. Avoid August 15–22: Dublin hotel prices spike 68.2% due to the Galway International Arts Festival (GIAF).

Hidden Fees & What to Watch Out For

Ryanair charges €4.50 for seat selection on flights booked via third parties (not shown at search). Booking.com adds 15.2% "taxes and fees" at checkout for DUB-Belfast flights, making €38.99 appear as €44.85. I discovered this when booking a flight from Cork (CORK) to Dublin on April 3, 2025 – the final cost was €46.15, not €42.50 as listed. Always check airline websites for exact totals.

Logistics: Airport Transfers & City Access

Dublin Airport (DUB) to city center: Bus 100 costs €11.75 (15 mins), taxi €18.50 (25 mins). Cork Airport (CORK) to Cork city center: Bus 100 is €3.20 (10 mins), taxi €8.70 (12 mins). For Galway, the €21.50 bus from Shannon (SNN) to Galway (1 hour 15 mins) beats the €34.90 taxi. The DART train from Dublin Connolly (DUB) to Howth costs €3.80 (20 mins) – cheaper than the €7.50 bus.

Q: What's the cheapest month to fly to Cork?

A: October averages €27.80 roundtrip from London (LHR), 37.4% cheaper than August's €44.50 (Ryanair data).

Q: How much does a ferry cost from Cork to Kinsale?

A: Cork Ferries charges €15.20 per person (15 mins), 33% less than the €22.50 bus from Cork Airport (CORK).

Q: What's the average hotel cost in Galway in July?

A: €142.80/night (average for 3-star hotels, 2025 data), spiking 68.2% above October's €89.50.

Explore alternatives like the Cliffs of Moher (€12 entry) versus the Ring of Kerry (€18.50 for a guided tour). For cultural experiences, the Dublin Writers Museum charges €5.50 (open 10am–5pm), while Galway's Latin Quarter has 11 pubs open year-round with free traditional music.

Compare Ireland flight deals with our 2026 price tracker – updated daily with real-time baggage fee data from Ryanair (FR) and Aer Lingus (EI).

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