Head south towards County Wicklow, for a rich and diverse alternative to the urban atmosphere of Ireland’s capital. You’ll see that the County’s reputation as the "Garden of Ireland" is well deserved. Continue with your scenic drive as you head to Powerscourt, one of the world’s great gardens situated at the foot of the Sugar Loaf Mountain.

The splendid gardens are maintained with meticulous care. You may stroll nearby at your leisure admiring the open views, or venture further into the landscaped gardens. What makes the gardens at Powerscourt so remarkable is their grandeur of scale, combined with great delicacy and refinement of detail. The 18th century house, which was gutted by fire in 1974, has an innovative new use, incorporating an array of specialty shops selling fine Irish sourced articles and a terrace restaurant overlooking the garden. You’ll have time to browse in the excellent range of small quality gift shops or enjoy a cup of coffee and sample the delicious food, freshly prepared in-house each day.

You'll then head back towards the capital for an orientation drive and the opportunity to explore part of the city at your own pace or shop in Dublin’s city center. Ireland is known the world over for its hand made products and fine craftsmanship and Dublin is a one-stop source for the country’s best wares. As the city is so compact, most of the shopping areas are located within about a 20 minute walk. Lunch is not included on this tour, but there will be ample opportunity for you to grab a bite either at Powerscourt or back in Dublin. Why not enjoy a typical pub meal and a pint of Guinness at an old, charming pub?

OVERVIEW

Ride a double-decker bus through Dublin, hopping on and off at the destinations that interest you the most. The beauty of this tour is that it allows you to linger at the attractions that sound most intriguing, so you will never feel rushed or compelled to leave. The buses operate throughout the day and make continuous loops around Dublin, taking you to the must-see landmarks. Once onboard, you will receive a route map that explains the two dozen destinations on the Red Loop, making it easy to choose your favorite ones. You might hop off at the National Gallery of Ireland, the Irish Whiskey Museum, Dublin Castle, Christ Church Cathedral and Trinity College, home to the priceless Book of Kells. The offerings are so diverse that whatever your interests, you will surely find attractions that match them. You also have the option of staying on the bus the entire time it loops through Dublin.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Ride a bus around Dublin, stopping at the attractions that you find most appealing.
• Stay as long as you like in each attraction to enhance your understanding of it.
• Hop on another bus whenever you please and ride it to another intriguing destination.
• Use the provided route map and headphones to easily plan your exploration of the city.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Explore the city center of Ireland’s capital on your own with no schedule to follow, which will allow you the freedom to visit the attractions that sound most intriguing. You will be dropped off in the heart of Dublin, a wonderfully compact and historical area where most of the buildings are a mix of 18th-century Georgian and 19th-century Victorian styles. You will be free to meander wherever you wish, but you might consider landmarks such as Dublin Castle and Trinity College, whose library holds the medieval Book of Kells, the hand-illuminated manuscript of the Gospels that is more than 1,000 years old. You may also wish to see Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, the largest church in Ireland. It was constructed in the 13th century on a site where Saint Patrick supposedly baptized converts. Art lovers will surely be enamored by the extraordinary collection of works in the National Gallery of Ireland.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Spend 2.5 hours exploring Dublin independently and at your own pace.
• Maximize your time by focusing on the attractions most suited to your interests.
• Explore landmarks such as Dublin Castle or ask a local for suggestions off the beaten path.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Travel to the outskirts of Dublin and enjoy the delightful rural countryside taking you south to the Powerscourt Estate, a haven of peace and quiet. Upon arrival, you’ll drive along the elegant avenue of stately beech trees. In 1974 a traumatic fire destroyed the interior of Powerscourt House and today the building is partially restored. You can take an independent stroll around the small exhibition which traces the evolution of the estate and its owners. The gardens here are probably the finest in Ireland, both for their design and dramatic setting, at the foot of Great Sugar Loaf Mountain.

Though the house was gutted by a fire, the splendid gardens, maintained with meticulous care, can still be enjoyed. You may stroll nearby at your leisure admiring the open views, or venture further into the landscaped gardens. What makes the gardens at Powerscourt so remarkable is their grandeur of scale, combined with great delicacy and refinement of detail. It's a magnificent example of an aristocratic garden planned with taste, knowledge and imagination. You’ll have time to browse in the excellent range of small quality gift shops here. Your return drive will take you through the Dublin suburbs.

Take the undeniably, charming capital city of Dublin, the serenity of the Irish countryside and combine them with the picturesque setting of Glendalough’s monastic ruins for an extraordinary introduction into Ireland’s many faces. After a scenic drive through the city, you’ll head south, traveling into the green and uncrowded Wicklow Mountains with their rounded healthy summits, pretty valleys and the impressive monastic remains of Glendalough. You’ll then travel further into County Wicklow, which richly deserves the title "Garden of Ireland."

A short stop is made at the Avoca Woolen Mill, where the colors in the woven products reflect the beauty of the area and where you’ll have some time for shopping. You'll then travel to the important, early Christian site of Glendalough, which has overwhelmed people with its peace and isolation for many centuries. This most romantic of monastic sites was one of Ireland’s greatest pilgrimage centers up to the middle of the 19th century. You’ll then enjoy lunch served at a small country hotel situated amidst the delightful countryside. Return through the Wicklow Hills, with more magnificent scenery to enjoy as you head back towards Dublin.

Ireland’s capital has a wealth of attractions, most within easy distance of each other. This walking tour will show you the highlights of an area, which remained virtually undeveloped until the founding of Trinity College in 1592. The mid-18th century saw the beginnings of a construction boom. During this time, magnificent public buildings such as, the Old Library at Trinity College, Leinster House and the Bank of Ireland were built. However, as you’ll see, the most conspicuous reminders of Georgian Dublin are the beautiful squares and terraces around Merrion Square.

Arriving to the city center, you’ll start your walk from Merrion Square. For generations Dublin’s pubs have been at the center of its social life, and the meeting place for some of its greatest writers and wits. They are famous the world over for their friendly spirit of ‘craic’ – the Irish word for a good time. One of its charms is that each pub has a very special character. Following your walk, you’ll stop off at one of the city center’s typical pubs to enjoy a drink in the companionable dark of the historic snug, or in the brassy mirrored brilliance of the public bar. At the end of the pub visit, you may have some free time to venture out for a brief walk through the grounds of Trinity College before returning to your coach.

Visit The Guinness Storehouse located at the St. James’s Gate Brewery, the birthplace of the world’s most famous creamy stout. Upon arrival, set off on a self-guided tour of this vast Museum for everything Guinness. You’ll be `introduced` to Arthur Guinness, and as your visit progresses, you will find out how the drink that carries his name has travelled around the world. In the brewing section, you see, hear and smell the ingredients as they make their way through a series of vast machines and fascinating processes.

Another section of the museum will describe how Guinness has been advertised over the years and you’ll `visit` this famous drink at home and abroad. Just about every type of transport has been used to carry Guinness around the world and getting the product to market. Your self-guided tour ends in the circular panoramic bar from where you can enjoy splendid views out across the city of Dublin whilst enjoying a sample of the `black stuff`. Here, you’ll taste the drink at its best, just a few hundred yards from where it is actually made. Making your way to the ground floor, there is time to browse in the shop where you’ll find an exciting and wide variety of Guinness designed gifts.

Take a brief panoramic drive through the charming capital city of Dublin, then enjoy the serenity of the Irish countryside, combining them with the picturesque setting of Glendalough’s monastic ruins. You'll head south to the green Wicklow Mountains, and into County Wicklow, which richly deserves the title "Garden of Ireland." The county has everything that is thought Irish, in its landscape and rich history and culture. In the middle of this peaceful countryside you'll come to magical Glendalough.

Famed for its beautiful scenery and historic monuments, it has been a center for pilgrims and visitors from the time of the founding of its monastery by St. Kevin in the 6th century. The monastic settlement expanded and flourished for many years before being destroyed in the 16th century. The buildings which survived probably date from between the 8th and 12th centuries. Upon arrival, you’ll watch an introductory video which sets the story of this unique monastic site. It’s an enclave of holiness set amongst the wilderness. Following your visit to Glendalough, you'll return through the Wicklow Hills, with more magnificent scenery to enjoy as you head back towards Dublin.

Dublin, Ireland's capital, has a wealth of attractions. It is a city steeped in history, tragic and glorious, with haunting memories of great patriots, statesmen, scientists and scholars. There are spacious streets, fine buildings and friendly people. Few capitals are so beautifully situated. Dublin Bay forms a sweeping crescent from the Hill of Howth to Dalkey. A salt wind blows into the heart of the city, and the slopes of the Wicklow Hills seem to rise at the end of every street in the southern suburbs.

Dublin is so compact a city it has been described as a capital in miniature. The most conspicuous reminders of Georgian Dublin are the beautiful squares and terraces. Many of the buildings still have their original features, including doorknockers, fanlights and wrought iron balconies, which you’ll see. Your panoramic sightseeing tour will show you the many faces of Dublin.

You will stop to visit St. Patrick's Cathedral. Built in honor of Ireland's patron saint in 1190, it is not only the largest church in Ireland, but is also said to be one of the earliest Christian sites in Ireland where St. Patrick baptized converts. Buried inside is Jonathan Swift, author and former dean of the cathedral.