5-Day Ireland road trip from Cork to Waterford City Metropolitan District and Dublin

Your road trip adventure in Ireland begins as soon as you reach the incredible city of Cork. You’ll stay in Cork for 2 nights, experiencing all the best things to do and see in the city.

Cork has many popular destinations you can explore. You could visit attractions like the incredible St Patrick's Bridge. This attraction is a bridge and has an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars by 609 visitors.

When you're done sightseeing for the day, you'll check in at one of the best hotels or places to stay in the city. Your stay promises to be a delightful continuation of your exploration, providing comfort and tranquility to recharge for the adventures that lie ahead.

When you’re ready for dinner, we recommend you try one of the best restaurants in the city of Cork, Liberty Grill. The restaurant is rated an average of 4.7 out of 5 stars by 1,609 customers.

Another of the best restaurants in the city of Cork is Elbow Lane Brew and Smoke House. This restaurant is rated an average of 4.8 out of 5 stars by 792 customers.

Locals recommend Izz Cafe as one of the best restaurants in the city of Cork. This restaurant has an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars by 731 customers.

Cork also has several great bars that will fit all travel budgets. One of the best bars in the city of Cork is Sin é. This bar has an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars by 1,654 customers.

Another of the best bars in the city of Cork is The Oliver Plunkett. This bar is rated an average of 4.4 out of 5 stars by 5,192 customers.

Locals also enjoy Muskerry Arms Bar and B&B Blarney. This bar has an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars by 1,575 customers.

Enjoy toasting the start of your 5-day vacation in Ireland!

Day 2 of your road trip through Ireland gives you the opportunity to experience two places in one day. You'll start your day with some exploring in the city of Blarney and end it at a top-rated hotel in the city of Waterford City Metropolitan District. You will stay in Waterford City Metropolitan District for 1 night. Have a hearty breakfast and get excited for a wonderful day ahead!

One of the best places to visit today in Blarney is the amazing Blarney Stone. This attraction is a stone that is rated an average of 4.6 out of 5 stars by 4,651 visitors.

You could also stop at the incredible park, Blarney Castle & Gardens. With an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars by 10,638 visitors, this attraction is one of the top sights in the area.

You can make the most of your new day in Blarney by joining activities and tours that let you discover what else the city has in store for you. There are many top-rated experiences you can include in your travel plan to add flavor to your road trip in Ireland. Browse all of your options and reserve your slot before it's too late.

At the end of the day, you will drive to the city of Waterford City Metropolitan District, where you will access the best hotels and places to stay.

After a long day of driving and exploring, we recommend you try Emiliano's, one of the best restaurants in the city of Waterford City Metropolitan District. This restaurant has an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars by 945 customers.

Locals also recommend Momo Restaurant as one of the best restaurants in the city of Waterford City Metropolitan District. Momo Restaurant is rated an average of 4.7 out of 5 stars by 854 customers.

Another of the best restaurants in the city of Waterford City Metropolitan District is McLeary's Restaurant. This restaurant has been rated an average of 4.7 out of 5 stars by 620 customers.

After dinner, visit Geoff's Cafe Bar, which is considered one of the best bars in the city of Waterford City Metropolitan District. This bar is rated an average of 4.5 out of 5 stars by 1,480 customers.

You can also enjoy drinks at a popular bar like The Reg. This bar has an average rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars by 1,344 customers.

Alternatively, Uluru Bar is one of the best bars that locals recommend in the city of Waterford City Metropolitan District. This bar is rated an average of 4.4 out of 5 stars by 1,037 customers.

Raise your glass in celebration of your incredible road trip adventure through Ireland!

Rise and shine on day 3 of your road trip in Ireland. Today, you'll wake up in Waterford and embark on a scenic drive to Dublin, where you'll stay at one of the best hotels for 1 night. Seize the opportunity to explore spectacular attractions in Waterford and Enniskerry before you reach your end destination for the day.

It’s hard not to feel excited about visiting attractions in a destination as lovely as Waterford. When you’re eager to explore the city and nearby areas, we recommend visiting some local favorites, such as the wonderful Kilkenny Castle. This attraction is a schloss country house museum that has an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars from 10,609 visitors.

You could also stop at the incredible Kilkenny Castle. This attraction, a beloved schloss country house museum, has an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars from 11,284 visitors.

Wave goodbye to Kilkenny and continue your journey by car. If you want to break up today’s drive into two, take the opportunity to stop and discover what the city of Enniskerry has to offer.

One of the most popular attractions you can visit is the remarkable Powerscourt House & Gardens. This attraction is a park that has an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars from 9,337 visitors.

When you're done with your sightseeing in Enniskerry, it's time to continue your drive to the city of Dublin. When you arrive in Dublin you’ll check in at one of the best hotels in the area.

We recommend you end the day with a dinner at a popular restaurant near your accommodation, like FX Buckley Steakhouse Temple Bar. This restaurant offers various delicious and comforting meals and has an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars from 1,660 customers.

Locals also recommend PHX Bistro, another of the best restaurants in Dublin. PHX Bistro is rated an average of 4.7 out of 5 stars by 1,038 customers.

If you feel like having something else, check out the menu at The Vintage Kitchen. This restaurant has been rated an average of 4.7 out of 5 stars by 911 customers and is a great place to enjoy a lovely meal.

After dinner, visit Shouk to enjoy a couple of drinks and relax. This bar is one of the best in Dublin, with an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars by 1,608 customers.

You can also enjoy drinks at a popular bar like The Temple Bar Pub. This bar is a great spot to meet new friends and celebrate your vacation. The Temple Bar Pub has an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars by 25,491 customers.

The Brazen Head is another bar locals often recommend. This bar offers a great variety of snacks and drinks and is rated an average of 4.6 out of 5 stars by 11,980 customers.

End your day by raising your glass in celebration of your incredible road trip adventure in Ireland, and look forward to more great days to come!

As you rise to greet the dawn on day 4 of your epic road trip in Ireland, you'll awaken to the bustling city of Dublin. Today, you'll hit the road once again, setting off on a journey towards the stunning city of Cork. You’ll stay in Cork for 1 night. But before you begin your drive, we recommend taking the time to explore some of Dublin’s must-see attractions and local hotspots.

If you’re curious to see more of Dublin, start your day with a visit to the amazing Dublin Castle. This much-appreciated best-rated sightseeing destination and attraction is rated 4.3 out of 5 stars by 31,135 visitors.

You could also stop at another of the best local travel destinations in the area, the fascinating St Stephen's Green. This park and spectacular attraction has an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars from 29,325 visitors.

We also recommend you spend some time at the popular Guinness Storehouse to make the most of your road trip across Ireland. The spectacular Guinness Storehouse is a tourist attraction that has been rated an average of 4.4 out of 5 stars by 18,823 visitors.

The lovely National Botanic Gardens is yet another attraction you could pay a visit. Around 15,536 visitors have left this botanical garden average ratings of 4.8 out of 5 stars.

If you feel like visiting another type of sight or don’t want to jump into the car quite yet, spend some time at the spectacular Phoenix Park. This attraction is a park rated an average of 4.7 out of 5 stars in 37,056 reviews.

After soaking up all the sights and sounds that Dublin has to offer, you'll be ready to hit the open road and continue your unforgettable road trip towards the city of Cork. Cork offers plenty of options for top-rated hotels and other places to stay that fit all travel budgets.

After you’ve settled into your accommodation, we recommend a dinner at the popular Market Lane. This popular restaurant is one of the locals’ most recommended restaurants in the city, with ratings of 4.6 out of 5 stars in 2,609 reviews.

The remarkable The SpitJack Cork is another top restaurant in Cork we recommend. This restaurant offers an unforgettable dining experience and is rated an average of 4.6 out of 5 stars by 1,934 customers.

If you would rather go somewhere else, the famous Luigi Malones Cork is also an excellent choice. This well-loved restaurant is rated an average of 4.4 out of 5 stars by 2,073 customers.

After your meal, we recommend you drink at one of the best bars in Cork, the fantastic The Old Town Whiskey Bar at Bodega. This bar has an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars by 1,534 customers.

To end your night the best way possible, we recommend going to the wonderful Cornstore Cork. This bar offers a great variety of drinks and has been rated an average of 4.4 out of 5 stars by 1,516 customers.

Another bar with a great atmosphere is A Bróg Bar + Kitchen. This bar is rated an average of 4.3 out of 5 stars by 1,592 customers, so don’t forget to check this one out as well!

Celebrate another amazing vacation day filled with adventure in Ireland!

Day 5 of your road trip in Ireland is your departure day. This is your chance to catch one last glimpse of Cork before saying goodbye to this wonderful destination. When you have time to explore the area before you make your way home, we recommend visiting some of the following attractions.

Triskel Arts Centre is an extraordinary attraction you could visit to enjoy your last day in Cork. This venue and popular site of interest has an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars by 502 visitors.

Take a stroll along the main shopping streets of Cork and find some souvenirs to remind you of your road trip in Ireland.

You could then enjoy your last meal in the city of Cork at Hayfield Manor Hotel before you travel home. This popular restaurant is rated an average of 4.7 out of 5 stars by 1,427 customers.

Alternatively, we also recommend Quinlans Seafood Bar Cork for your last chance at a meal in the city of Cork. The Quinlans Seafood Bar Cork restaurant has an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars by 1,527 customers.

If you'd prefer a popular restaurant that locals enjoy, try Silver Key Bar and Restaurant. This restaurant has an average rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars by 1,491 customers.

You’ll then say farewell to Cork. We wish you a pleasant journey home, with many wonderful memories of your unforgettable vacation in Ireland!