Ireland
Best May to September
Ideal length: 8 to 12 days
Castles, villages and the Cliffs of Moher, by road trip, guided tour or a mix. I’ve been myself, and I plan it often.
Plan an Ireland trip
European Getaways
Ireland and Italy are my most-requested trips, but I plan all over Europe, from a week in one country to several countries back to back. Every trip is built around how you like to travel.
Destinations
Seasons and trip lengths are a starting point. I’ll fit the trip to your dates.
Best May to September
Ideal length: 8 to 12 days
Castles, villages and the Cliffs of Moher, by road trip, guided tour or a mix. I’ve been myself, and I plan it often.
Plan an Ireland trip
Best April to June, September to October
Ideal length: 10 to 14 days
Rome, Florence, Tuscany and the Amalfi Coast. A first trip usually combines two or three regions, and pacing makes the difference.
Plan an Italy trip
Best May to June, September to October
Ideal length: 9 to 12 days
Athens, then two or three islands by ferry or ship, with white villages and long sunsets.
Plan a Greece trip
Best May to September
Ideal length: 7 to 10 days
Edinburgh, castles and the Highlands. It pairs easily with Ireland or England.
Plan a Scotland trip
Good year-round
Ideal length: 5 to 8 days
London’s neighborhoods and the countryside around it, by train or with a driver.
Plan an England trip
Best April to June, September to October
Ideal length: 10 to 14 days
Madrid, Seville, Lisbon and Porto, linked by fast trains and short flights.
Plan a Spain or Portugal trip
Best April to May for tulips
Ideal length: 4 to 6 days
Amsterdam’s canals and museums, with the rest of the country a short train ride away.
Plan a Netherlands trip
Late November to December
Ideal length: 7 to 10 days
Mulled wine and lights in old-town squares, by land or by river cruise. I’ve done a Christmas markets trip myself.
Plan a Christmas markets tripSample itineraries
These are starting points. Every one can be shortened, stretched, done with a guide or on your own.
Ireland · 9 days
Dublin · Galway · Killarney
Dublin, then the west coast and the Cliffs of Moher, and the Ring of Kerry.
Ask about this tripItaly · 11 days
Rome · Florence · Venice
The big three by fast train, with time to wander in each.
Ask about this tripItaly · 10 days
Rome · Sorrento · Amalfi Coast
Ancient Rome, then lemon groves, boat days and cliffside towns.
Ask about this tripBritish Isles · 12 days
Dublin · Edinburgh · London
Three countries, linked by short flights and trains.
Ask about this tripCentral Europe · 10 days
Prague · Vienna · Budapest
Grand old cities close together, by train, or by Danube river cruise with a stay in Prague.
Ask about this tripGreece · 10 days
Athens · Santorini · Mykonos or Naxos
Ancient sites first, then island days by ferry.
Ask about this tripAlso ask me about Scandinavia, the Baltic capitals, Switzerland, Croatia, France, Germany and Iceland.
Planning basics
Comparing styles in more detail? See Tours & Packages or Cruises.
Timing
April to May
Mild weather, blooming gardens and fewer crowds. Great for Italy, Spain and the Netherlands.
June to August
Long days and the busiest season. Best for Ireland and Scotland, hot in southern Europe.
September to October
Warm seas and harvest season, with fewer crowds. A great time for Italy and Greece.
November to March
City trips and lower prices, plus Christmas markets from late November.
How I help
Good to know
Your passport should be valid at least 3 months past your return date for most of Europe, and I recommend 6. The U.K., including Northern Ireland, requires an online travel authorization before you go. The EU is introducing its own authorization, called ETIAS. Rules change, so I’ll point you to what to apply for, and you can confirm the details at travel.state.gov.
In Ireland and Scotland, a car (or a driver) opens up the countryside, though you’ll drive on the left. In Italy and most big cities, trains are easier, and a car can be more trouble than it’s worth.
For trips under about four hours, trains usually win: city center to city center, no airport security. For longer hops, a short flight saves time.
Plenty, often on cobblestones and hills. If walking is hard for you, tell me, and I’ll choose hotels, transfers and tours that keep it manageable.
For summer and the most popular places, 6 to 12 months ahead gives you the best choice of hotels and tours. Spring and fall can work closer in. Prices are subject to change until booked.
I recommend it for every international trip. It can cover cancellations, medical care abroad and lost bags, and I can quote a plan with your trip.
IrelandNot sure where to begin?
Ireland, Italy or somewhere you haven’t considered yet? Answer a few questions and the Matchmaker Tool will suggest where to start. Send me your matches and I’ll price them.