Ireland · HALF-DAY
Consider this the shortlist a local would hand you: 15 half-day tours that are worth the outlay, with the cost, the verdict and the one detail worth knowing before you pay.
Escape Dublin for Glendalough’s lakes, ruins, wildlife, and Wicklow scenery on a practical five-hour guided coach trip.
“It’s a half day tour that allows you to meet beautiful mountains and lakes near Dublin. We went through the trail (around 4km) and it was an easy experience, I highly recommend it!”
Review of Dublin’s half-day Howth tour, with cliff views, village free time, seafood tips, guide quality, timing, value, and practical advice.
“The tour itself was great, so was our guide. However, we had a group of drunk guys and the driver let them on with alcohol. Couldn’t hear anything related to the tour. However, once we told the driver he attempted to get the men to settle. No alcohol should be allowed on the bus.”
Review of Paddywagon’s half-day Glendalough and Wicklow tour from Dublin, with scenic stops, hiking time, price advice, and practical tips.
“We arrived at the meeting point on time, 8h00. Nobody there. I called the operator and they said we were late. They said 1-2 minutes late is late, so everybody had left! That never happened to me. Normally the guide would try to whatsapps the missing person(s). Or in other tours I could see : waiting for 4-5 minutes is normal, as a tourist new to the city may lost his/ her way a little bit. Other tours I booked in Ireland later proved that only Paddywagon Tour treats customers differently in such a bad manner. They refused my proposal for a refund just within minutes I sent my requests.…”
Review the Galway to Cliffs of Moher express coach trip, with timing, value, scenic roads, visitor center tips, and honest drawbacks.
“The driver didn’t talk at all. For the money, it would be nice to have a bit more than just a ride, even if it’s just some history of the area. He was an excellent driver and I was so happy to not be driving myself!”
Review of the Howth coastal half-day bus tour from Dublin, with cliff walks, village time, guide tips, weather advice, and value details.
“I went on a cold day, I read other reviews which said to get there early, to sit inside the bus which I did. However, the bus isn’t heated so for fours hours the entire group sat frozen inside the bus, except for when we were outside and also freezing. It ruined the whole experience. It really was awful. Also, with no heat, the windows fogged up inside the bus, so you couldn’t even see what the driver was talking about on the outside. The driver was excellent: warm, friendly, knowledgeable. But the whole thing was miserable with no heat.”
Review of the independent Cliffs of Moher trip from Galway, with coach details, timing, value, crowds, motion sickness tips, and booking advice.
“I couldn’t recommend this experience enough. Neither me nor my girlfriend like traveling in groups so having the option to get transported to the Cliffs without having to be in a large tour was appealing. The bus was comfortable, punctual, and the driver was kind. We had about 2 hours to explore the Cliffs which was the right amount of time to take in the views, take photos, and learn about the regions natural history in the cultural center. The cows were also a very cute surprise. We did the noon trip which allowed us to sleep in, see the Cliffs, and get back to Galway in time to enjoy…”
Review of Dingle’s self-guided eBike tour, with Slea Head views, Gallarus Oratory, practical tips, costs, timing, and honest drawbacks.
“We could not have been more delighted with our WeWheel e-bike experience in Dingle. Check-in to check-out was smooth and very well organized. The audio guide was very good, sometimes hard to hear in the wind. The bikes were immaculate and were so easy to ride. Makes a 26 mile ride a breeze! We took about 4 hours to ride the loop which included a lunch stop and lots of pull overs to see the amazing views.”
Review of a private Boyne Valley tour from Dublin, with Newgrange, Tara, flexible sightseeing, guide advice, pricing, and booking tips.
“Miriam is an absolute gem! We had such a pleasant time exploring the Boyne Valley with her. This tour is incredibly informative and is great if you'd like a more one on one experience. I learned far more taking this tour than some of the other tours I was on just because it was more personal and I didn't have to try to hear a guide over a group of people chatting. It's also a great option if you'd like to beat the crowds to explore the area. All in all, the next time I come to the country, I will be reaching out to Miriam for another tour she…”
Explore Slea Head, ancient huts, beaches, Blasket views, and Conor Pass with local guide Billy on a flexible private Dingle tour.
“We went for the Slea Head tour after reading about it in Rick Steve’s travel book as it was highly recommended. It was incredibly beautiful annd some of the most breath taking views I’ve seen yet in Ireland. Billy was a great tour guide- local and very knowledgeable about the area. He flexed some for our schedule which was great. Having a private driver was totally worth it!”
Explore Donegal by fat-tire e-bike, from Bunbeg Harbour to Poisoned Glen, Dunlewey and Bád Eddie on a scenic half-day ride.
“We rode on paved roads, dirt/gravel trails and beach area. Stops included views of the lake, an abandoned village, old church, waterfall and ocean beachside.”
Review of a private Connemara tour from Galway, with Kylemore Abbey, Sky Road, flexible pickup, local guides, pricing, and practical tips.
“It was fantastic to see the countryside in the comfort of private van. We stopped at several locations and picture taking was great. Only downside was the driver, although professional was too quiet(only talked about views if we asked) and his primary language was Romanian, therefore there was miscommunication. We wanted to be back to cruise port by 4 pm, boat was leaving at 6 pm. At 4:15, we asked how close we were to the port and we were still an hour out. He thought we wanted to be back at 6 PM. We had a very quick ride back, and did make it at 5:15. It would have…”
Review of Dublin’s private three-hour walking tour, with flexible themes, local guides, attraction discounts, family appeal, and practical booking advice.
“Julian was a great guide, not only giving us detailed and interesting history of the sights, but also helping us with ideas for lunch, and where to find Irish music. He was responsive to our requests and a delightful companion for the morning!”
Explore Donegal by e-bike from Bunbeg Harbour, passing famine cottages, Poison Glen, Bád Eddie, and dramatic coastal scenery.
“We had so much fun biking the Irish countryside. I’m 57 and in terrible shape, but the electric assistance helped me keep up with my husband. Best day ever!”
Review of Dublin’s private half-day tour, with custom sightseeing, local guides, practical costs, itinerary tips, and honest drawbacks.
“This tour touted a local guide to take us around the town and introduce us to Dublin and Ireland by a LOCAL tour guide. Our guide, Jose Louis, may have lived in Ireland for the past 10 years, but he was definitely not a Local. We were expecting someone who was Irish and had lived in Dublin for a long time. This took a lot from the whole “Irish” experience. He was from Uruguay, and had a very heavy accent that was difficult to understand. He didn’t really have much planned, and on a cold night in Ireland it would have been nice to have a few stops where we…”
Explore Galway by electric bike in three hours, from its cathedral and university to Salthill beaches, with GPS audio and easy cycling.
“It was amazing. If you are in Galway for only a short stay (we had a morning to explore), this is the way to get it all in. We signed up for a self-guided tour but were pleasantly surprised when Evon (sorry if I spelled it wrong) offered to take us himself! An unexpected and awesome experience! Thank you so much!! We highly recommend this tour.”
Pick a coast road, a castle or a counter.
