Bus Tours in Ireland

The allure and mystique of the Emerald Isle has generated its fair share of tourist interest in recent decades. Stepping up to accommodate these culture-seeking travelers are a slew of bus companies providing bus and coach tours of the island's historic and geographic highlights. From private one-day trips to Blarney Castle and the Cliffs of Moher to all-inclusive 10-day journeys, Ireland's bus tours can now accommodate virtually any travel itinerary of the Emerald Isle.

Paddywagon Tours

Perhaps the most visible and commercially successful of the bus tour companies, Paddywagon Tours picks up and drops travelers off from a variety of airports, visitor centers, hotels and hostels. Begun in 1997 by a band of tour guides and cultural enthusiasts, Paddywagon Tours has since grown to provide a roster of nearly 50 select tours. These range from the three-day Ring of Kerry tour that weaves travelers through small towns on the Iveragh Peninsula, to the deluxe 10-day Ireland Adventure, including a wide sweep of the island's most famous and culturally rich vistas while accommodating travelers in luxurious bed-and-breakfasts along the way. Whether you are looking for a day trip from Cork to see the Blarney Castle, or are looking for a fully guided Irish experience, Paddywagon Tours has become a staple in Irish bus travel.

Catering less to backpackers than the more mature traveler, Authentic Ireland tours cover a wide range of locations and topics. Independently guided and luxuriously designed, Authentic Ireland bus tours range from the Mystical Ireland tour, emphasizing sacred pre-Christian and monastic sites such as abbey ruins and standing stones, to the Scots-Irish tour, which includes a ferry ride over to Scotland to experience the majesties of Edinburgh and the Scottish highlands. Excelling in multiday packages and trips, Authentic Ireland tours provide the unique option for travelers and groups to create a "custom package" tour: The company offers a more personalized experience for an extra price.

Endorsed by the travel hub IrishTourism.com, CIE Escorted Bus Tours provides packages for travelers seeking to see Ireland by bus on routes lasting six days or more. CIE Escorted Bus Tour packages include 20 tours chosen and customized to emphasis specific elements and geographic areas. Options include the 13-day Irish Tradition Tour, which includes prepaid walking tours of historic Derry and Ennis, as well as nightly dinner performances in historic Irish pubs. Visit the company website to see which tour best resembles your desired itinerary or includes more of your "must see" locations. As with any bus tour company, your chances of an excellent well-rounded trip are increased by some prior research and a list of the places you want to visit most. CIE Escorted Bus Tours has also recently introduced honeymoon and romantic occasion tours to their considerable roster.