If you are visiting Ireland for the first time and are searching for the best tips to fit in, look no further because we have you covered with these top must-know dos and don’ts for your trip of a lifetime to Ireland.
To ensure an unforgettable experience, follow these simple travel tips about Ireland, (from two Irish experts). By doing so, you’ll not only make the most of your Ireland trip, but also earn the respect and appreciation of the Irish people
Let’s get straight into our must-know dos and don’ts for visiting Ireland.
Dos and Don’ts for Visiting Ireland: The “Dos”
We advise you to embrace the following dos and don’ts for visiting Ireland with an adventurous, open-mind and of course, a sense of humor.
✅Do Embrace Irish Hospitality: Ireland is known for its friendliness and hospitality. If someone offers help or strikes up a conversation, then simply embrace it. This is part of the Irish charm and everyday life in Ireland.
We love a good chat us Irish, and even expect the odd hug – don’t panic, this is also normal!
✅Do Try to Spot the “Craic”: The Irish word “craic” (pronounced “crack”) means fun and entertainment. Keep an eye out for places with lots of “craic” and be ready to join in the fun – usually to involve music, singing, dancing, and of course, pints!
Insider tip: you won’t have to search for long!
✅Do Try Your Hand at the Irish Language: Next up on our list of dos and don’ts for visiting Ireland is to learn a few Irish phrases. Even if you butcher them, the Irish will appreciate your effort.
Cheers, “Sláinte” (pronounced as Slawn Che) is always a good one to start with.
Thank you “go raibh maith agat”, (pronounced as gora mah a gut) is a bit trickier, but will definitely impress the Irish person you are talking too.
For more useful and fun Irish words click on the link above.
✅Do Try Local Foods: When visiting Ireland, don’t miss out on traditional Irish dishes like Irish stew, tasty Irish black pudding with HP sauce, Potato and leak soup with freshly baked soda bread and even more real butter spread onto it, the freshest seafood in the world, and at the end of a night (and after a few pints) a curried chip from SuperMacs!
✅Do Be Prepared For Irish Weather: One of the most important travel tips about Ireland, is that the Irish weather is famously unpredictable. If it’s sunny one minute and raining the next, don’t be surprised. Just embrace the unpredictability and remember where you are!
✅Do embrace local culture. On your Ireland trip, ask about Irish mythology, tales of leprechauns, banshees, or headless horses. Additionally, Learn a few traditional Irish blessings like “May the road rise up to meet you” or “May you be in heaven a half hour before the devil knows you’re dead.”
✅Do explore Ireland By Car: The best way to discover Ireland’s best attractions is by car. Some of the best road trips in the world are in Ireland. Getting to a must-visit site in Ireland is sometimes even better than the attraction itself.
Check out prices for car rental below.
✅Do Ask for Directions with a Smile: If you get lost on your Ireland trip simply ask for directions with a smile and a friendly “Hello.” The Irish will often give you detailed, interesting instructions that might take you on an adventure to places and attractions you didn’t know were in the area..
✅Do Explore Historic Sites: Irish history is some of the most fascinating in the world, with sites like Newgrange, Drumbeg Stone Circle, and the Rock of Cashel offering incredible insights into ancient times.
Do visit these historic sites of Ireland, some of these attractions are even older than the Great Pyramids, and marvel at the creativity of our ancestors.
One important piece of advice we would like to share is to buy your tickets in advance when visiting Ireland. Famous attractions in Ireland such as Kilmainham Jail, The Titanic Experience, The Guinness Warehouse, and Newgrange tend to be booked out well in advance.
View the pricing and reserve your visit to Ireland’s top attractions today!
Read all about the top 10 Megalithic Sites in Ireland.
✅Do Explore the Countryside: While cities like Dublin and Galway are great, the Irish countryside offers stunning landscapes and charming small towns worth visiting. There are endless unofficial road trips in Ireland in counties such as Clare, Kerry, Donegal, and Wicklow
We highly recommend a visit to Kevin’s home county, County Cork, to experience Irish beauty in all it’s glory. While your at it, visit some charming, yet lively, Irish villages in Kate’s home of County Clare.
✅Do Follow Road Rules: This is maybe the most important of travel tips about Ireland. Follow the road rules and remember they drive on the left side of the road in Ireland. Every year there are car accidents due to tourists driving on the wrong side of the road.
The next tip when visiting Ireland by car is that the speed limits are given in kilometers, not in miles. When a sign shows the speed limit, this doesn’t mean you must drive at that speed, it is the allowed maximum, and not a recommendation!
Be aware of sheep on the road when driving in Ireland. When we say “road”, we are sometimes talking narrow, winding, grass-in-the-middle-of-the-road kind of roads. Sheep have their own schedules and they’re not in a hurry, just go with it.
When you are driving on country roads in Ireland and a car is right behind you and up your arse, just pull in and let any other drivers pass you until it is clear to move on again! Irish drivers do get impatient sometimes!
✅Do Enjoy the Pubs: The pubs in Ireland are an important cornerstone of the Irish culture. Feel free to enjoy a pint of Guinness or try a local whiskey. Remember, it’s about the atmosphere and socializing (the craic!) as much as the drink so prepare with some Irish pub etiquette tips.
The quickest way to making friends in Ireland is to buy a round!
✅Do Find the “Best Guinness”: Guinness is not just a refreshing drink to be savored, but a masterpiece of craftsmanship. To find the best pint of Guinness in Ireland, ask for recommendations, compare notes, and document your findings. It’s a delicious Irish journey!
✅Do Master the Art of the “Irish Nod”: When embracing delicious pints of Guinness, learn the subtle art of the Irish nod — a slight tilt of the head and a knowing smile. We’ll let the video below do the explaining:
✅Do Engage in Friendly Banter: If someone is having a bit of banter with you then do, tease back in good humor. The Irish love a bit of playful banter, we refer to this as “slaggin” or a “bit of craic” but remember to keep it friendly, it’s nothing personal, just a bit of a laugh in a good-hearted manner.
✅Do Join in a “Ceilí” Dance: If you find yourself at a traditional Irish dance event, dive in and give it a whirl. Even if you have two left feet, the locals will cheer you on.
✅Do Master the Art of the “Irish Goodbye”: When you want to leave a social gathering, a party, or a pub in Ireland, but the pressure is too high for you to leave yet, then try the classic “Irish goodbye”
An Irish goodbye is when you quietly slip away without making a fuss. Not only do you avoid all the people that will make you stay for “one more”, but you will also avoid spending an hour saying goodbye to a room full of people.
Don’t worry this is not rude, it’s a subtle art form that even the locals in Ireland appreciate!
If you need some expert inspiration for the perfect Ireland holiday, make sure to check out our ultimate 2-week Ireland road-trip.
Dos and Don’ts for Visiting Ireland: The “Don’ts”
How are you finding these Dos and Don’ts for visiting Ireland so far? All pretty straightforward and doable right?
We started off easy with the top dos for visiting Ireland, now lets get to the serious part – the don’ts for visiting Ireland. This is where a lot of first-time visitors to Ireland go wrong and can be met with nothing but an awkward silence during encounters with Irish people.
Let us help you with that and show to certain things to avoid doing and saying during your visit to Ireland.
🚫Don’t Overdo the Irish Accent: While it’s fun to try out an Irish accent, don’t overdo it. It can come across as a bit over-the-top, especially if it’s not authentic. No, we do not say “top of the morning” and fiddle dee dee….,
🚫Don’t start saying “Potato“: We can put up with bad Irish accents that sometimes sound more Jamaican than Irish. But, what really gets on our nerves is when someone starts saying the word Potato randomly (In a really bad Irish accent) thinking we Irish find that funny.
We guarantee you, that not one Irish person has ever found this to be funny, and you will be seen as an annoying and irritating person who nobody will want to engage with.
🚫Don’t say Ireland is part of the UK. Yes it is in the same area of the world, but it is definitely not part of the UK.
It is like saying the United States and Canada are the same country, Australia and New Zealand, the Dutch and German, the list is endless, but you get the drift!
But hang on one minute I hear you saying….Yes, Northern Ireland is part of the UK, and we don’t like that either!
Together, the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland make up the Island of Ireland. The Republic is a independent state and part of the EU. Northern Ireland is part of the UK, and some Northern Irish may refer themselves as British.
🚫Don’t mention the IRA randomly: The Island of Ireland has experienced a lot of dark history. It is OK to ask questions and get a better understanding of the troubles and bloodshed that happened in Ireland, but don’t become an IRA enthusiast without having any real knowledge to make yourself sound cool…..
Most Irish people condone the IRA and their activities, and we actually get on with the English.
🚫Don’t Try to Outdrink the Irish: The Irish are legendary for their drinking ability. Challenge accepted? Maybe. Victory? Probably not. Just enjoy the drinks and the company, and pace yourself. Don’t be an eejit!
🚫Don’t Expect to Find a Four-Leaf Clover Every Time: While they’re a symbol of good luck, finding a four-leaf clover is rarer than you might think. But don’t let that stop you from enjoying the beautiful green landscapes!
🚫Don’t Confuse Irish People with Leprechauns: Please take note of this tip in our “dos and don’ts for visiting Ireland” list.
Don’t ask the locals if they have a pot of gold or if they know any leprechauns personally. It’s a bit clichéd and they’ve heard it all before. Trust us, we will not be amused and you will more than likely be met with a heavy sigh and an eye roll.
🚫Don’t Assume All Irish Folk Have Red Hair: The Irish have a variety of hair colors, so avoid making jokes about red hair or freckles. It’s a fun stereotype, but not universally true.
Yes, Kate from Happy Irish Wanderers has red hair and freckles!
Start your own Ireland Bucket List today.
🚫Don’t Try to Dance Like Michael Flatley: While Riverdance is amazing, don’t assume you can master the steps instantly. Attempting an Irish dance in public might result in more laughter than applause.
But, again, we invite you to give it a go!
🚫Don’t Always Trust Your GPS. When driving in Ireland, it’s highly recommended to use a GPS/Google MAPS to navigate the roads. However, it’s essential to keep in mind that the GPS may not always provide the most efficient or practical route.
In some cases, the GPS may take you off the main road and onto a smaller route, only to bring you back onto the main road a short time later. This can result in a longer and more frustrating journey, even if the GPS claims it’s taking a shorter route.
Always double-check to see where the GPS is actually bringing you. Go over the suggested route and use your own judgment and consider the road conditions, traffic, and other factors before following the GPS’s suggested route.
Take a moment to review the suggested route and consider all factors such as road conditions coming off the main road, and whether it makes sense before following the GPS’s guidance.
🚫Don’t Discuss Politics: Ireland has a complex political landscape, and discussions can sometimes become heated. It’s best to avoid political topics unless you’re with close friends who are comfortable discussing them.
🚫Don’t Use Stereotypes: I know this may seem like we are repeating ourselves with this one, but if you take anything away from the dos and don’ts for visiting Ireland it is to avoid making assumptions based on Irish stereotypes in general. We are not all 3 foot tall, whiskey-drinking, red-headed IRA members.
🚫Don’t Be Late: Punctuality is appreciated in Ireland, so try to be on time for appointments or social gatherings.
Enjoy Your Ireland Holiday!
There you have it, our must-know dos and don’ts for visiting Ireland. With these top expert tips we feel that you are ready to dive into the heart of Ireland.
Remember: the key to fitting in is to embrace the quirks, savor the craic, and maybe avoid any serious debates about leprechauns.
With these Ireland dos and don’ts in your back pocket, you’ll be dodging sheep, mastering the art of the Irish Goodbye, and maybe even out-drinking the locals in no time.
So grab your raincoat, perfect your “Irish nod,” and get ready to enjoy a visit to Ireland filled with laughter, good company, and plenty of pints.
Sláinte to your first visit to Ireland—may it be as enjoyable as a perfectly poured Guinness!
We hope you learned some new dos and don’ts for visiting Ireland, or at least, had a giggle or two!
What are your favorite dos and don’ts for visiting Ireland? Are there any other travel tips about Ireland you would add to the list?
If we have left anything out please let us know. We would love to hear from you.
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Slán go fóil
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