Irish and Scottish Sampler

Overview
Itinerary
Hotels
The Experience
Reviews

4.6

Get a taste of two spectacular countries

This short-and-sweet combination Ireland and Scotland tour visits all the top highlights, mixing in historic cities with iconic sights.

Trip details

Tour start Dublin

Tour end Edinburgh

Days

Nights

Meals

Available Promotions for this tour

Highlights

Blair Athol Distillery

Sip a wee dram of Scotch whisky after discovering how it is crafted.

St Andrews

See the birthplace of golf, and Scotland's oldest university.

Nine Glens of Antrim

Savor the varied landscapes of this collection of forests, that served as a backdrop for Game of Thrones.

Edinburgh Castle

Tour the iconic castle at the heart of the capital, which boasts the Crown Jewels of Scotland.

Giant's Causeway

Created by volcanic activity 60 million years ago – or, according to Gaelic legend, by a giant – mammoth hexagonal stone columns rise from earth in a striking formation.

Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo

Our August 1st to August 15th departures get to enjoy the precision and performance of pipe and drum corps from around the world.

Crosskeys Inn – CIE Tours Exclusive

Enjoy dinner with your group as you listen to traditional music at the oldest thatched pub in Ireland – the Crosskeys Inn. It's a special CIE Tours Exclusive venue.

Dalkey Castle

Let costumed guides catch you up on 500 years of history in this grand castle.

Itinerary

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Day 1Dublin Arrival | Dalkey Castle | Dalkey Village

Your tour departs at 2:00 PM from your Dublin hotel. Visit Dalkey Castle, built in 1390, where 500 years of history are brought to life with costumed actors in a fun and interactive tour. Your leisurely stroll in this heritage town will follow in the footsteps of international best-selling writer Maeve Binchy to the Memorial Garden in her honor and past the favorite pub of U2's Bono, a local resident. Enjoy a welcome drink at your hotel with your group before some free time for dining independently.

Day 2Dublin City Tour | Taylors Three Rock Pub

Take a panoramic tour of Dublin, seeing the stateliness of its Georgian buildings and the lively buzz of its shop-lined streets. Visit Dublin's spiritual heart: the 1,000-year-old Christ Church Cathedral. See its magnificent interior, filled with treasures reflecting Ireland's history. Enjoy an afternoon of independent exploring in Dublin before heading out for an Irish night at Taylors Three Rock, where you'll be entertained by a lively show over dinner. (B, D)

Day 3Listoke Distillery | Hillsborough Castle | Belfast City Tour

Visit Listoke Distillery for a tour of this gin producer, followed by a drink. Visit the stately Hillsborough Castle, the home of the King when he visits Northern Ireland. Embark on a panoramic tour of Belfast to see Victorian buildings, the imposing City Hall in Donegall Square, and the shipyards where RMS Titanic was built. (B, D)

Day 4Nine Glens of Antrim | Giant's Causeway | Crosskeys Inn

Travel along part of the Nine Glens of Antrim, a scenic region with lovely views of mountains, valleys, and coastline. Discover the Giant's Causeway, a natural wonder formed over 60 million years ago by cooling lava that has given rise to many legends. Enjoy lunch with your group in Ireland's oldest thatched roof pub, the Crosskeys Inn - a CIE Tours Exclusive. (B, L)

Day 5Crumlin Road Gaol |Ferry to Scotland | Pitlochry

Discover 150 years of history at Crumlin Road Gaol, a Victorian-era prison, and hear stories of some of the 25,000 people who served time there. Next, board the ferry to Scotland, and then continue your journey northwards into the magnificent scenery of the Scottish Highlands to your historic hotel in Pitlochry. The hotel still retains many original features, with unique guest rooms and spacious grounds. (B, D)

Day 6Whisky Tasting | St Andrews

Tour Blair Athol Distillery to see how whisky is distilled and sample a wee dram. Continue to St Andrews on the east coast. This town is renowned as the “Home of Golf” and for its university, Scotland's oldest. Take a short walking tour and spend some time exploring on your own. July 31 - August 14 departures attend the spectacular Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo on the Castle Esplanade. (B)

Day 7Edinburgh Tour, Edinburgh Castle | Independent Sightseeing | Scottish Evening

Take a panoramic tour of Edinburgh. See the wide streets and elegant mansions of the 200-year-old Georgian New Town, and walk along the Royal Mile, with its closely clustered medieval houses. Tour the imposing Edinburgh Castle, where the Crown Jewels of Scotland are housed. Spend some free time exploring independently, before enjoying a traditional Scottish dinner with lively entertainment. July 31 - August 14 departures enjoy a free evening. (B, D)

Day 8Tour Ends in Edinburgh

Your tour ends after breakfast. (B) B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner *Meal counts vary on Tattoo departures, as the Scottish Evening is replaced with the Tattoo and an independent dinner. >