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lernidee.de · Escorted rail journey

Glanzlichter Irlands

8-day escorted rail circle through Ireland from Dublin to Westport

Illustration of Glanzlichter Irlands

Lernidee.de's Glanzlichter Irlands is an 8-day escorted rail tour departing from Frankfurt with return flights included. The journey unfolds across Ireland using four regional Irish Rail services, beginning in Dublin, touching Cork and its port town Cobh, passing through Killarney for the famous Ring of Kerry drive, continuing to Limerick, Galway, and ending in Westport before returning to Dublin for the flight home. A German-speaking guide leads the group through daily itineraries that blend train travel with coach excursions to attractions beyond the rail network. Days move at a balanced pace, with stays of one to two nights in mid-range hotels in each city. The itinerary weaves in cultural highlights: St. Patrick's Cathedral and the Book of Kells in Dublin, Jameson whiskey and Guinness brewery tastings, a formal five-o'clock tea, the 200-metre Cliffs of Moher, a sheep herding demonstration on a working farm, and a boat excursion on Killary Harbour. This structure suits first-time rail travellers seeking a structured introduction to Irish geography and culture, as well as couples and food-focused travellers attracted by included meals and tastings.

What to know before you look closer

  • Groups can number up to 26 people, reducing the intimacy of smaller journeys.
  • Hotel accommodations in Galway are described as mid-range, while other cities are comfort-class, creating some variation in standard.
  • A coach carries most luggage during train segments and transports the group to many attractions off the rail route; this is a mixed-transport experience rather than a pure rail journey.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Dublin

    Willkommen in Dublin!

    Flug von Frankfurt nach Dublin, Besichtigung der Guinness-Brauerei mit Verkostung, gemeinsames Abendessen mit den Mitreisenden.

  2. Day 2overnight: Dublin

    Dublin

    Geführte Stadtbesichtigung: St. Patrick, größte Kathedrale des Landes, Trinity College mit dem Book of Kells, Georgianische Epoche, stilvoller Fünf-Uhr-Tee.

  3. Day 3overnight: Cork

    Cork und Cobh

    Linienzug von Dublin nach Cork, Besuch des Städtchens Cobh (Auswanderungsgeschichte, Titanic/RMS Lusitania), Führung und Verkostung bei Jameson Whiskey.

  4. Day 4overnight: Killarney

    Traumstraße Ring of Kerry

    Zugfahrt von Cork nach Killarney, Busrundfahrt über den 180 km langen Ring of Kerry.

  5. Day 5overnight: Limerick

    Limerick

    Historisches Zentrum auf King's Island, Besuch von Bunratty Castle und Folk Park.

  6. Day 6overnight: Galway

    Cliffs of Moher

    Besuch der bis zu 200 m hohen Cliffs of Moher und des Besucherzentrums, Marktstädtchen Ennis, Besuch bei einem Schäfer mit Hütehund-Vorführung, abends Zug nach Galway.

  7. Day 7overnight: Westport

    Killary-Fjord

    Busfahrt durch Connemara, Besuch von Kylemore Abbey, Bootsfahrt auf dem 14 km langen Killary Harbour, Weiterfahrt nach Westport.

  8. Day 8

    Abschied von der Grünen Insel

    Zugfahrt quer durch das Land zurück nach Dublin, Rückflug nach Frankfurt.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1Day 1: arrival in Dublin followed by a Guinness brewery visit and tasting with a shared evening dinner.
  • Day 2Day 2: guided Dublin city tour visiting St. Patrick's Cathedral, Trinity College and the Book of Kells, and a formal five-o'clock tea.
  • Day 3Day 3: Irish Rail train from Dublin to Cork, then a visit to the port town of Cobh with its emigration history and Jameson whiskey tasting.
  • Day 4Day 4: train journey to Killarney followed by a 180-kilometre coach circuit of the Ring of Kerry along Ireland's southwest coast.
  • Day 6Day 6: visit to the 200-metre-high Cliffs of Moher and the visitor centre, a sheep herding demonstration, and an evening train to Galway.

Included

  • Flüge Frankfurt – Dublin und zurück in der Economy Class
  • Fahrten im Linienzug Dublin – Cork, Cork – Killarney, Ennis – Galway und Westport – Dublin in der Standard-Klasse
  • Separater Gepäcktransport im Begleitfahrzeug während der Linienzugfahrten
  • 6 Hotelübernachtungen in Komfort-Hotels in Dublin, Cork, Killarney, Limerick und Westport
  • 1 Hotelübernachtung im Mittelklasse-Hotel in Galway
  • Mahlzeiten laut Reiseverlauf (F = Frühstück, M = Mittagessen, T = Fünf-Uhr-Tee, A = Abendessen)
  • Führung und Kostprobe bei Jameson Whiskey und in der Guinness-Brauerei
  • Stilvoller Fünf-Uhr-Tee
  • Deutsch sprechende Reiseleitung ab/bis Dublin
  • Ausflüge, Besichtigungen und Eintrittsgelder laut Reiseverlauf
  • Bootsfahrt im Killary Harbour
  • Besuch bei einem Schäfer und Demonstration des Einsatzes seiner Hütehunde

Not included

  • Trinkgelder
  • Wunsch-Ausflüge

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included in the price?
Yes. The from-price of EUR 4,530 includes four Irish Rail routes (Dublin to Cork, Cork to Killarney, Ennis to Galway, and Westport to Dublin in standard class), plus return flights from Frankfurt, hotels, meals, entrance fees, and all guided excursions.
Is this trip escorted or independent?
It is fully escorted. A German-speaking guide accompanies the group from Dublin arrival through departure; all transport, meals, and activities are organized.
Which trains are used?
Lernidee.de books Irish Rail regional trains (Iarnród Éireann Linienzug) in standard class for the four rail legs connecting Dublin, Cork, Killarney, Galway, and Westport.
What hotels are included?
The tour includes the Iveagh Garden Hotel in Dublin (2 nights), The Address Cork (1 night), The Gleneagle Hotel in Killarney (1 night), Absolute Hotel Limerick (1 night), Nox Hotel in Galway (1 night), and Westport Coast Hotel (1 night).
When does it depart?
Three departures are scheduled: August 2026, May 2027, and August 2027. All are priced at EUR 4,530.
How much walking is involved?
The operator notes the trip is generally not suitable for people with restricted mobility. Activities include city walking tours, visits to attractions accessible on foot, and boat excursions; specific daily walking distances are not detailed.

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