By Worldly Travels Editorial Team · Last verified: October 2026
Quick Answer
Ireland and Scotland itinerary, in short: fly into Dublin, spend six days in Ireland and Northern Ireland, fly from Dublin to Edinburgh (about 1 hour 15 minutes), and spend six days in Scotland before flying home from Edinburgh. Use two separate hire cars, one in each country. Taking one car across the Irish Sea usually costs far more than a short flight.
Our verdict: Worth it if you want both countries in one trip and accept that each gets a highlights tour, not a deep visit. With 10 days, skip Northern Ireland. With 14 days, add the Isle of Skye.
In this guide
Ireland and Scotland Itinerary at a Glance
| Day | Plan | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive in Dublin | Dublin |
| 2 | Dublin | Dublin |
| 3 | Pick up car, drive to Galway | Galway |
| 4 | Cliffs of Moher and the Burren | Galway |
| 5 | Galway to Belfast | Belfast |
| 6 | Causeway Coast and the Giant’s Causeway | Belfast |
| 7 | Drive to Dublin Airport, return car, fly to Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 8 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 9 | Pick up car: Stirling and Glencoe | Glencoe area |
| 10 | Glenfinnan, Fort William, Loch Ness | Inverness |
| 11 | Culloden, the Cairngorms, Pitlochry | Pitlochry |
| 12 | Drive to Edinburgh Airport, fly home |
Book your long-haul flights as an open-jaw ticket: into Dublin, home from Edinburgh. It saves you a day of backtracking.
Before You Book: Three Things That Catch People Out
- You need a UK ETA, even by road. Most visa-exempt visitors, including Americans, need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (£20) to enter Northern Ireland or Scotland. This applies when you drive across the land border from Ireland into Northern Ireland, even though there are no routine checks.
- Two countries, two currencies. Ireland uses the euro. Northern Ireland and Scotland use the pound.
- One car for the whole trip rarely works. Most rental companies in Ireland allow trips into Northern Ireland, often for a cross-border fee, but taking a car between Ireland and Great Britain is either not allowed or comes with large one-way fees. Two rentals and a flight between them is simpler and usually cheaper.
Part 1: Ireland and Northern Ireland (Days 1 to 7)
Days 1 and 2: Dublin
Do not hire a car for Dublin. Spend two days on foot: Trinity College, Temple Bar, St Stephen’s Green and the Georgian squares. Pick up your car on day 3 at Dublin Airport, which avoids city traffic.
Day 3: Dublin to Galway
The drive west to Galway takes around two and a half hours on the motorway. Galway is compact and lively, with a good base of restaurants and pubs, and it puts you within reach of the Atlantic coast.
Day 4: The Cliffs of Moher and the Burren
The Cliffs of Moher are about an hour and a half south of Galway. Admission to the Cliffs of Moher Experience costs €8 per adult online for off-peak visits (before 11am or after 4pm) and €12 at peak times, or €15 at the gate. The ticket includes parking. Arrive early or late for the lower price and fewer people.
In 2026, the southern section of the cliff path, between Hag’s Head and the visitor centre, is closed. Drive back through the Burren, a strange limestone landscape that is worth the slower roads.
Day 5: Galway to Belfast
This is the longest drive in Ireland on this route, roughly four hours. Tell your rental company in advance that you are crossing into Northern Ireland: most allow it, and many charge a cross-border fee, typically around €30 to €60 per rental.
Day 6: The Causeway Coast and the Giant’s Causeway
Drive north from Belfast along the Causeway Coast. Walking access to the Giant’s Causeway itself is free. The National Trust ticket covers the visitor centre and the official car park, which is the practical option if you are driving. Allow two hours to half a day.
Day 7: Belfast to Dublin Airport, Fly to Edinburgh
The drive from Belfast to Dublin Airport takes about two hours. Return the car and fly to Edinburgh: there are more than 200 flights a week on this route, taking about 1 hour 15 minutes, with basic one-way fares from around £30 when booked ahead. Bags cost extra on budget airlines.
Part 2: Scotland (Days 7 to 12)
Day 8: Edinburgh
Spend the day in the Old Town. Edinburgh Castle costs £23.50 online, and summer slots sell out. For a fuller plan, see our 3 days in Scotland guide.
Day 9: Stirling and Glencoe
Collect your second hire car at Edinburgh Airport. Stirling Castle is an hour away (£18.50 online), then drive north through the Trossachs to Glencoe. Read our guide to renting a car in Scotland for the rules on single-track roads and the insurance traps.
Day 10: Glenfinnan, Fort William and Loch Ness
Visit the Glenfinnan Viaduct (car park £5), then follow the Great Glen to Loch Ness. Urquhart Castle costs £14 online. Sleep in Inverness.
Day 11: Culloden, the Cairngorms and Pitlochry
Visit Culloden Battlefield, then drive south through the Cairngorms National Park to Pitlochry.
Day 12: Home From Edinburgh
Pitlochry to Edinburgh Airport takes about an hour and a half.
The Scotland half of this route follows our 10-day Scotland itinerary , shortened. That guide has more detail on each stop.
10 or 14 Days? How to Adjust the Route
Ireland and Scotland in 10 Days
Drop Northern Ireland. Spend four days in Ireland (Dublin, Galway and the Cliffs of Moher), return the car at Dublin Airport and fly to Edinburgh on day 5. In Scotland, follow days 8 to 12 above, cutting one Highland day.
Ireland and Scotland in 14 Days (Self-Drive)
Add the Isle of Skye. After Glencoe, drive to Skye for two nights, then continue to Inverness via Loch Ness. Skye is the busiest and most expensive stop in summer, so book it first.
Can I Take the Ferry Instead of Flying?
Yes. Stena Line sails between Belfast and Cairnryan in south-west Scotland in about 2 hours 15 minutes, with around six sailings a day. With a car, comparison sites show average prices of roughly €400 to €450 one way. As a foot passenger it is much cheaper, but Cairnryan is remote, so you would need onward transport. For most trips, flying from Dublin to Edinburgh is faster and cheaper.
Real Costs for an Ireland and Scotland Trip
Per person, October 2026 prices, not including long-haul flights, accommodation and food.
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| UK ETA | £20 | Needed for Northern Ireland and Scotland |
| Flight Dublin to Edinburgh | from about £30 | Basic fare, booked ahead. Bags extra. |
| Cliffs of Moher | €8 to €12 online | €15 at the gate. Parking included. |
| Cross-border fee (Ireland car into Northern Ireland) | about €30 to €60 per rental | Shared between passengers in the car |
| Edinburgh, Stirling and Urquhart castles | £56 online | Or the £48 Historic Scotland Explorer Pass |
| Scotland hire car | about £35 to £60 a day | Small car, plus fuel |
For accommodation, food and fuel in Scotland, see our Scotland trip cost guide.
Staying Connected Across Both Countries
Ireland is in the EU and the UK is not, so check that your eSIM or roaming plan covers both. A Europe eSIM that includes the UK is the simplest option.
Get a Europe eSIM that covers both Ireland and the UK.
The Honest Part
- This is a highlights trip. Twelve days across two countries means more packing and driving than a single-country trip. If you can only do one, Scotland alone in 10 days or Ireland alone in 10 days gives you more depth.
- Do not try to keep one hire car. International one-way fees between the UK and Ireland can reach hundreds of pounds, and many companies do not allow it at all.
- The ETA applies at the land border. There is no passport control between Ireland and Northern Ireland, but the rule still applies, so apply before you travel.
- Budget airline fares are not the full price. A £30 Dublin to Edinburgh flight can double once you add a checked bag.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to travel between Ireland and Scotland? For most visitors, a flight from Dublin to Edinburgh: about 1 hour 15 minutes, with frequent departures. The Belfast to Cairnryan ferry works if you want to keep driving, but taking a car on it is expensive.
Can I rent a car in Ireland and drop it off in Scotland? It is rarely possible, and when it is, international one-way fees are high. Rent one car in Ireland and a second in Scotland.
Do I need a UK ETA to visit Northern Ireland from Dublin? Yes, if you are a visa-exempt visitor who is not British or Irish. The requirement applies even when crossing the land border.
Is 10 days enough for Ireland and Scotland? It is enough for Dublin, the west of Ireland, Edinburgh and one taste of the Highlands. Skip Northern Ireland and Skye to avoid rushing.
How many days should I spend in each country? Split evenly, or give an extra day to the country you are most excited about. Six and six is a good balance on a 12-day trip.
Related guides: 10-day Scotland itinerary · Renting a Car in Scotland · Scotland trip cost · 3 days in Scotland
Sources
- Visit Belfast: Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)
- Ireland.com: Electronic Travel Authorisation
- VisasNews: UK ETA fee rises to £20
- Direct Ferries: Belfast to Cairnryan
- Direct Ferries: Cairnryan to Belfast
- Enterprise Ireland: Driving across borders
- My Irish Cousin: Driving from Ireland to Northern Ireland in a rental car
- DriveAway: One-way rentals between the UK and Ireland
- The Better Vacation: Cliffs of Moher tickets 2026
- Go to Ireland: Cliffs of Moher
- Go to Ireland: Giant’s Causeway
- Skyscanner: Dublin to Edinburgh flights
- lastminute.com: Edinburgh to Dublin flights
- Edinburgh Castle: Tickets
- Historic Environment Scotland: Explorer Pass
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