MAJOR Tourist Mistakes in Ireland (& What Locals Wish You Knew)
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Let this be your ultimate cheat sheet to Ireland!
Whether you're planning your first trip or returning for another adventure, there are always questions that pop up when visiting the country I am lucky to call home.
Today, I'm going to dive into some of the most frequently asked questions by tourists to hopefully make your vacation as care free as possible.
Plus, I'll break down some of the most common Tourist Mistakes in Ireland , so you can avoid the pitfalls and focus on enjoying the beautiful Irish landscapes and culture without a worry.
QUICK TIPS for IRELAND
AVOID HIGH ROAMING CHARGES
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AIRPORT TRANSFER MADE EASY
Welcome Pickups is my go-to for reliable rides from the airport straight to your accommodation. I'd advise booking in advance for peace of mind.
DISCOVER UNIQUE activities
Check out GetYourGuide & Viator for unique things to do, like a DIY Claddagh Ring Workshop or a street food walking tour with a local.
DON’T SKIP INSURANCE!!
I can't stress this enough, but travel insurance is an absolute must! Thankfully, VisitorsCoverage is great for comparing affordable, trusted insurance plans to find one that actually suits your needs.
AVOID OVERPAYING FOR CAR RENTALS
Before booking your rental, I'd advise checking out comparison tools like DiscoverCars to ensure you're getting the best deal on the market.
EXPLORE IRELAND
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1. Being Scared to Drive on Irish Roads
The first mistake I want to talk about is being scared to drive on Irish roads.
Honestly, I get it. We drive on the left here, which already puts most people slightly on edge before they’ve even picked up the car.
On top of that, the Republic of Ireland uses kilometres per hour, Northern Ireland uses miles, and speed limits can feel fast if you’re not used to narrow rural roads.
That said, if you take your time and get familiar with the basics, most people are surprised by how quickly it clicks.
You also don’t have to drive like the locals. Drive at a pace you’re comfortable with, and if someone comes up behind you, just pull in when it’s safe and let them pass.
Another mistake to be mindful of when driving in Ireland is assuming all rental cars are automatic. Most cars here are manual, so if you do drive an automatic, it’s worth booking your rental car in advance to avoid higher prices or limited availability.
I always recommend using comparison tools like Discover Cars to see what’s actually out there price-wise. That way, you end up with the rental that is right for you rather than just taking whatever’s left at the last minute.
And if driving still feels overwhelming, you may be interested in my Ireland Driving Toolkit, which walks through the rules of the road, common road signs, speed limits, mishaps, and the things that tend to make people nervous.
🚗 PLANNING ON RENTING A CAR IN IRELAND? Then I highly recommend keeping an eye on the rental prices ahead of time by using comparison tools like Discover Cars to find the best prices on the market.
2. Misjudging the pub culture in Ireland…
The next mistake I want to address is misjudging the pub culture in Ireland.
It can be easy to presume that Irish pubs are just about drinking. When honestly that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Pubs are quite literally public houses, somewhere you can actually go with family for an evening out. Yes, children are allowed in pubs in Ireland until 9 pm.
They are seen as a place to celebrate our music, our sports, our culture, and our love for having the ‘craic', aka fun. Not the substance…promise.
Yes, you can buy alcohol, but you don’t have to in order to have a good time.
There are so many ways to experience Irish pubs, and there are two experiences in Dublin that I usually recommend.
The first is a walking pub tour run by Kevin, a local who will leave you feeling immersed in the stories, history, and culture behind Irish pubs. (He also offers a brilliant food tour, if that’s more up your street.)
Or, if you’d rather get out of the city, I recommend considering a tour of the Dublin Mountain pubs, see where the locals actually go for drinks after their weekend hikes. Views, music, and homemade food, what more could you ask for?
So, the moral of this point is, don’t skip the pubs just because you’re not a big drinker. Or, equally, visit the pubs with the pure purpose of getting drunk,
Pubs are sometimes where the best memories are made, and let's be real, it's a bit of a rite of passage when it comes to visiting Ireland.
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3. Misunderstanding the use of Cash in Ireland…
The next mistake I want to address is misunderstanding the use of cash in Ireland.
We are quite a modern country, 99.9% of the things you can purchase can be purchased using a credit or debit card.
However, in saying that, I don’t fully advise not having any cash on you at all because there are still some circumstances where you may still need it.
For example, Dublin Bus (at the time of writing) still requires coins, never mind notes… you’ll need exact change to ride or you can purchase a Leap Card online before your visit.
Another place you might need cash is for parking, especially in more rural towns. Although I must admit that this is becoming less common as the years go by, with card options on parking metres or mobile apps being introduced.
A lot of Irish attractions are located on private land, and on the odd occasion, you may be asked to pay a small fee, normally a euro or two to help the owner with the upkeep of the land.
This is normally paid using an honesty box system, which will be left at the entrance to the walk or attraction. The owner is pretty much hoping everyone will be nice and pay for access. However, it's not uncommon for the owner to be nearby or at the entrance.
Another time it is nice to have cash is when tipping. While you can tip by card (for the most part), I prefer leaving cash. I personally spent years working in the service industry in Ireland and only saw a fraction of my card tips. So, I leave cash when I have it.
My Ireland Travel Guides are free to access. If they’ve helped you plan your trip, a virtual tip goes a long way in helping me continue to create them.
4. Tipping in Ireland
Speaking of tips, tipping in Ireland is NOT like the US.
Yes, it is becoming more common. I think to is due to the high number of US visitors we get each year. However, in saying that, it is very unlikely you will see an Irish person tipping 25% of the bill. It’s more common to leave around 10% or to round up the bill.
We also don’t tip in as many places as they do in America. I go into more detail about this in my Tipping in Ireland guide, but as a rule of thumb, a restaurant is the main place you will see more Irish people tip.
I saw more because tipping is by no means required or expected in Ireland. It really comes down to personal preference. No one will judge you if you choose not to tip.
A little bit of a shameless plug here, but 99% of my online content is provided for free, so if you did want to leave a little thank you tip, it goes a long way in helping me to continue to make these guides on Ireland.
5. Don't Just Visit Dublin…
I wish this weren’t true, but the number of times I’ve been told by people ‘I've been to Ireland' only to find that they just spent a couple of days in our capital city.
And don’t get me wrong, Dublin is great to visit but the real beauty of Ireland lies on the West Coast…I may get a bit of hate for saying that…but personally, I think you can't beat it.
That’s where you are going to see the dramatic landscapes, the real raw culture and stunning hidden gems.
Now, I also know not everyone has loads of time. If you’re short on days, using Dublin as a base can work surprisingly well, even if you only have one free day to spare.
And the nice thing about organised day trips is you don’t have to deal with long drives or the planning logistics all by yourself.
When it comes to day trips from Dublin, it really comes down to how much travel time you’re happy with. Some places are big, iconic days out. Others give you that wild Atlantic feel with far less effort.
The famous options like the Cliffs of Moher or the Giant’s Causeway are possible from Dublin, but they’re long days. You’re committing to early starts and a lot of time on the road, which is fine if you know that going in.
A really good middle ground is a day trip to Wicklow National Park. It’s close enough to feel relaxed, but scenic enough that it doesn’t feel like a compromise.
And some tour options, like this one, also pair Wicklow with a stop off in Kilkenny which is a really nice contrast, wild scenery in the morning, then a compact medieval city with a castle, cosy streets, and a great food scene in the afternoon.
If you want the closest thing to West Coast vibes without a long journey, Howth is hard to beat. It’s about 40 minutes from the city by DART, and once you’re there, you’ve got options. You can hike with a local, walk the pier, or take a boat along the coastline.
Or, my personal favourite is a landing experience on Ireland’s Eye. That’s where you really see the raw, rugged side of Ireland that people expect. Seabirds, ocean breeze, and no feeling of being anywhere near a city.
Explore Dublin
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It’s the kind of information you don’t realise you need… until you do.
6. Don't forget to pre-book Travel Medical Insurance
The next mistake I want to talk about is travel medical insurance…
One thing is certain, Ireland’s landscapes are breathtaking, but they’re also unpredictable. Think rugged cliffs, windy coastlines, uneven ground, and hikes that look straightforward until the weather turns.
Chances are, you’ll spend a good chunk of your trip outdoors, walking, exploring, and climbing in and out of places that don’t come with railings or warning signs. Most trips go perfectly fine… but small accidents do happen.
That’s why I always recommend sorting travel medical insurance before you arrive. Something like VisitorCoverage makes it easy to compare policies and make sure you’re actually covered if something goes wrong while you’re out exploring.
🚨 DON'T SKIP INSURANCE: I can't stress this enough, but travel insurance is an absolute must! Thankfully, VisitorCoverage is a great tool when comparing affordable plan options.
7. Trying to do too much…
This is one I see all the time, trying to squeeze too much into one trip.
I get it. There’s a lot to see in Ireland, and choosing what to leave out can feel harder than choosing what to include. I also hear people say, ‘I’m used to long drives, my country is much bigger.’ But it’s not the distance that catches people out here.
It’s the time. Narrow roads, small towns, scenic detours, and the fact that you’ll want to stop constantly. Four hours in the car is four hours you’re not actually experiencing Ireland.
Instead of racing between places, you’ll get far more out of your trip by choosing locations that are closer together. You’ll see more, do more, and feel far less wrecked at the end of the day.
If you want to see a lot without constantly packing up and moving on, my 7 days in Ireland itinerary is built around realistic driving times and places that actually make sense together.
When you’re driving in Ireland, the best approach is to pick one or two places a day that really matter to you. Treat those as your non-negotiables. Anything else you see along the way is a bonus.
Honestly, some of the best moments happen when you take a wrong turn, follow a brown sign you weren’t expecting, or stop somewhere that wasn’t on the plan at all.
That’s exactly why I share my personal Google Maps pins. They’re full of places I’ve saved over the years, so when you do have time to wander, you’re not always relying on guesswork to find those hidden gems.
I will say though, driving in Ireland can feel daunting at first. Narrow roads, different signs, toll routes, and the constant question of ‘am I actually allowed drive down here?’
If that’s already on your mind, my Ireland Driving Toolkit is designed to put you at ease before you ever get behind the wheel.
Drive in Ireland
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Plus, the small local details most guides skip, but make all the difference once you’re here.
8. Don't Just stick to the highlights…
Which brings us to the next mistake, ‘Don’t just stick to the highlights’. It's always a good idea to have a few hidden gems pinned on Google Maps before your trip.
It can be easy to visit places like the Ring of Kerry and forget about other drives that aren’t too far away, but see a fraction of the crowds.
Take the Beara Peninsula in West Cork as an example. It’s one of the most scenic drives in the country, with quiet coastal roads and a real sense of being off the main tourist trail.
It’s also home to Ireland’s only cable car, which brings you across to Dursey Island. There’s very little on the island itself, it’s just you, the Wild Atlantic, and some of the most dramatic scenery in the country. Oh, 10 times more sheep than people 😂
If you decide to visit, I highly recommend taking the sea safari boat trip around the coastline. They take you underneath the cable car, along the cliffs, and out to explore sea stacks and hidden corners you’d never see from land.
Speaking of islands in West Cork, another experience most people don’t realise they can do is a trip out to Cape Clear Island, an Irish-speaking island that feels peaceful yet wild all at the same time.
The journey can be combined with a trip out to Fastnet, otherwise known as Ireland’s teardrop, the most south-westerly lighthouse in the country and a powerful place to see from the water.
Experiences like this are a good reminder that Ireland isn’t just about ticking off famous locations, I mean, the highlights are highlights for a reason, but some of the most memorable moments happen in places you haven’t ever heard of before.
☘️ DISCOVER UNIQUE ACTIVITIES WHILE IN IRELAND: Check out GetYourGuide & Viator for unique things to do, like a DIY Claddagh Ring Workshop in Dublin or a street food walking tour with a local.
9. Misunderstanding the weather…
Another common mistake I see is misunderstanding the weather in Ireland.
Don’t get me wrong, it does rain. It’s the reason the country is so green. But it doesn’t rain all the time, and the bigger issue isn’t rain, it’s unpredictability.
You can genuinely get four seasons in one day. Torrential rain one minute, blue skies and sunshine the next.
And that’s where a lightweight waterproof jacket, like this, earns its keep, something you can throw on quickly when the weather turns, without feeling like you’re gearing up for a storm.
And then there are waterproof trousers, far from fashionable, but you’d be surprised how often they save the day. You don’t need an expensive pair, just something, like this, that stops you ending up wet and miserable because the forecast promised sunshine.
Oh, and don’t skip comfortable walking shoes, ideally waterproof ones. I pretty much live in my hiking boots when exploring Ireland. And they have saved me more times than I can count.
Once you’re warm and dry, the weather stops feeling like a problem and just becomes… well, Ireland.
10. Don't pack incorrectly for Ireland
Once you understand how the weather works here, packing for Ireland becomes a lot less stressful.
The biggest mistake people make is packing for one version of the day. In reality, you’ll feel far more comfortable if you think in layers rather than full outfits. Layers you can add, take off, and shove back into a bag as things change.
This way, you’re not constantly adjusting your plans based on how warm, cold, or windy it feels. You just adapt as you go, which makes everything from sightseeing to longer walks much more enjoyable.
If you are feeling a little overwhelmed on what to pack for Ireland, I have listed the essentials in my Amazon Storefront to make things that tad bit easier.
Or, if you’d rather hear from other travellers, my free Ireland Facebook community is a great place to ask questions and see what’s worked for people who’ve already been here.
💡NEED A QUICK PACKING FIX? I’ve put together an easy-to-use list of Ireland packing essentials perfect for those last-minute “oh no, I forgot that!” moments.
11. Assuming all castles are open to the public…
This one catches people out all the time.
Those beautiful castles you see all over Instagram look like obvious stops, but a lot of them are private homes or exterior-only landmarks. You can admire them, photograph them, and then… that’s it.
Places like Lismore Castle, Doonagore Castle, and Classiebawn Castle are stunning from the outside, but you won’t be wandering through halls or climbing towers.
And honestly, this is where expectations matter. If you’ve driven an hour out of your way thinking you’re getting a full castle experience, it can feel a bit deflating when it turns into a five-minute photo stop.
This is something I flag early in my Ireland Travel Planning Calls because it genuinely changes how you plan your days.
If going inside historic buildings matters to you, it’s worth choosing castles that actually welcome visitors, rather than building your route around ones you can only look at.
12. Don't ignore the scenic routes…
This is a quiet one, and it happens more than people realise.
Ireland looks small on a map, so it’s tempting to just follow the fastest route and get where you’re going. Job done. But sometimes the direct drive skips the very landscapes people fly across the world to see.
So, when you’re renting a car, having a rough sense of distances, realistic routes, and a few hidden gems pinned ahead of time can really make a big difference to your experience.
Let me give you an example, if you’re finishing up in Connemara around Clifden and heading to Westport, Google Maps will happily send you on a drive that takes just over an hour. It’s fine. It works. But if you add roughly 30 minutes and take the long way, you’ll pass through Doolough Valley, one of the most quietly beautiful drives in the country.
This is exactly why I always say to sanity-check your route before you set off. Not to over-plan, just to make sure you’re not racing past something special without realising it. Sometimes the best part of the day isn’t the stop you planned, it’s the stretch of road you nearly skipped.
13. Don't use your home roaming plan while in Ireland
Another mistake I see international visitors make all the time is using their home mobile phone plan.
This catches people out all the time, especially US visitors. Roaming charges rack up fast here, and it’s usually one of those expenses people don’t realise until they’re already home.
It’s going to be far more affordable to get yourself a local sim or eSim for that matter.
I normally use Airalo, and I even rely on it in my van around Ireland. My regular plan only connects me to one network, whereas Airalo taps into the main providers, so I’m far more likely to have signal even in more remote spots.
Airalo is also very straightforward to set up. You can activate it in minutes, without hunting down a shop or dealing with a physical SIM card. And, I do have a cheeky discount for you, use IRELAND10 at checkout for 10% off.
Having reliable data makes a bigger difference than people expect, especially for navigation, checking opening times, or adjusting plans on the fly.
One thing to be mindful of if your trip crosses into Northern Ireland as well, you’ll need this Airalo plan instead to cover both.
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