Southern Ireland Tours & Holidays

Everyone travelling on an Intrepid trip must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of carriage. 

All travellers are required to produce: 

• Proof of COVID-19 vaccination
• All children aged 5 to 17 years old must provide proof of vaccination (if eligible), proof of recovery or a negative COVID-19 test.
• If you are unable to be vaccinated for medical reasons, you may apply for an exemption. Exemptions will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. To apply, you must provide a medical certificate from a medical professional. 

In all cases, you must be fully inoculated. This means you must receive the full dosage of the COVID-19 vaccine and allow enough time for immunity to take effect. Each COVID-19 vaccine has different dosages and timeframes for inoculation, so please check the relevant medical advice associated with your vaccine.

Learn more about Intrepid's COVID-19 proof of vaccination policy

If you’re travelling by air, the easiest airport to fly into is Dublin Airport. The ferry is a good option if you’re travelling from Scotland or England and want to take your car. If you’re coming from Northern Ireland, you can take the TransLink cross-border train from Belfast Central Station to Dublin. Driving in Southern Ireland is easy provided you don't mind the occasional narrow, winding country road. 

Click to read more about how to get to Southern Ireland

The easiest way to get around Southern Ireland is by car or by joining a group tour. If you have your own bicycle, you can get around Southern Ireland by bike. A limited train service links Dublin to major towns like Belfast in the north but if you want to make the most of Southern Ireland's charming smaller towns, you're out of luck when it comes to train travel. The same goes for bus transport with services available between some major towns but limited (or no) buses available between smaller villages, even the popular tourist spots. 

The weather in Southern Ireland is similar to Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom with mild summers and winters. It is renowned for being changeable so don't be surprised if you experience all four seasons in one day. The weather seldom reaches extremes but it tends to be a bit wetter and chillier than Britain when that sharp wind blows in from the Atlantic. Spring and autumn can be cool, wet and windy, but the days are long and it’s sometimes surprisingly sunny and warm.

Click to read about the best time to visit Southern Ireland

What to pack for your trip to Southern Ireland largely depends on what time of the year you choose to visit and what type of holiday you want to have. If you're going to be doing a lot of hiking or other outdoor activities, it's recommended you pack a sturdy, comfortable pair of boots or shoes, as well as long trousers and a waterproof jacket. If you're travelling in winter remember to pack scarves, beanies, gloves, long shirts, and jumpers. When you head out for a walk in Southern Ireland's countryside, always bring a jumper and wet weather gear. If you are visiting Southern Ireland in summer, you will need to pack clothes suitable for warmer weather such as t-shirts, shorts, dresses, and a light cardigan or jumper for chilly evenings. Wet weather gear is essential, no matter what time of the year you're visiting as the weather in Southern Ireland can be changeable. 

Southern Ireland generally has good internet coverage but you may experience brief periods of time with no signal in remote parts of the countryside. 

Intrepid is committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. That’s why we do our best to help as many people see the world as possible, regardless of any physical or mental limitations they might have. However, we’re always happy to talk to travellers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them towards the most suitable itinerary for their needs and where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries.

Learn more about Accessible Travel with Intrepid