Believe this, in Ireland, they say if you don’t like the weather, just wait a minute. And honestly, that about sums up the weather 365 days a year. It will be raining one moment and an endless rainbow could be glistening in the afternoon sunshine the next. It could be blowing a wicked gale in the morning and still as a locked church in the afternoon. It is an island and as with most island weather, it blows in and out somewhat quickly. That being said, there are some times of year that are more welcoming for tours of Ireland and walking out of doors in the Irish countrysides and cities.

From a weather perspective, the summer months June – August are the warmest and driest months to travel to the auld sod. Due to Ireland’s northern latitude, it stays light out well into the evening (past 10 p.m. in June and July). So for touring, you have very long days indeed. Keep in mind, however, that Ireland, while generally mild in temperature compared to the northern reaches of the United States, can drop in temperature when the wind blows and the rain falls. Even summer temperatures can range in the 50s during the day and even down into the high 30s or low 40s at night. An Irish head wave will see temperatures rise desperately close to 80 or 85 degrees, but rarely any higher. Remember to dress in layers since Ireland gets some strong wind and weather being bordered on the West and North by the North Atlantic and North Sea.

Tour books advise traveling during the “shoulder seasons” of April and May or September and October. You’ll see fewer tourist crowds and probably save a bit of budget on off season fares, but the weather tends to be a bit more questionable. The Irish Tourist Board (see Resources) is a wonderful, friendly and helpful resource.

Though visitors often seek larger Irish cities like Dublin as a tourist hot spot, throughout the small country of Ireland there are a number of tranquil destinations past the flashy cities. Connemara in the west and the glens of Wicklow in the southeast are just two of many rural areas that attract visitors looking for a genuine Irish vacation.

Those seeking a rural Ireland vacation can fly into a major city in Ireland from outside countries. There are four major international airports–Dublin, Shannon (Galway), Cork and Belfast. Ferries are also available from Great Britain and France to Belfast, Dublin and Rosslare in the southeast in the County of Wexford. From Dublin, Cork or other cities, one must take another form of transportation to smaller towns.

Bus Éireann is Ireland’s main bus company (similar to Greyhound). This bus line offers a number of routes to rural Irish cities such as from Waterford to Longford, Carrigallen to Enniskillen and Scariff to Feakle and Gort. Bus transportation is the most reliable form of transportation to rural towns in Ireland. Past the main stretches of road in the towns there is little to no public transportation. This means one must rely on car travel.

Northern Ireland is a beautiful holiday destination. Within Ireland, any other part of the country can be reached within two hours, and there are dozens of places to see and things to do at each stop you make. Accommodations,dining, sight-seeing and local events are an important part of any vacationer’s itinerary. The country is rich in history, and has dozens of castles, ancient religious sites and cultural attractions. To fully experience all of the charms and beauty of Northern Ireland, you will need to plan ahead.

Reserve accommodations. Northern Ireland offers a wide range of accommodations depending on your price range and the type of vacation you plan to have. You could stay at any number of modern hotels or motels with per-night room prices ranging from USD$100 to $700, depending on your needs. For a more romantic feel, Northern Ireland a number of bed and breakfasts available, and they’re usually cheaper, usually in the USD$100-$200 range. If you are going on the cheap, the country has dozens of hostels and caravan parks located throughout. Belfast and Londonderry are particularly popular cities in which to stay, due to their metropolitan nature and numerous attractions. The farther you station yourself outside of major cities, the cheaper accommodations tend to be. If you are traveling in from outside of the country, keep in mind you’ll need to have your passport on you at all times. Additionally, a passport is often required when checking into hotels or hostels.