Visas & entry
Ireland is outside the Schengen Area, so neither a Schengen visa nor ordinarily a UK visa authorizes entry. Irish and British citizens and EU/EEA/Swiss nationals do not need Irish entry visas; US, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand and many other passport holders are visa-exempt for ordinary short visits, generally up to 90 days subject to immigration control. Visa-required visitors need a Short Stay “C” visa; verify rules with the Irish Immigration Service before booking.
Getting in
- Dublin Airport: The overwhelmingly practical gateway for Leinster, with Ireland’s broadest international network and extensive North American service. It works for every part of the province, but has no rail station: use airport bus, taxi or a rental car.
- Rosslare Europort, County Wexford: The useful arrival point for travelers bringing a car from Britain, France or Spain, with ferry links including Fishguard, Pembroke, Cherbourg and Bilbao. It is particularly convenient for Wexford and the southeast, not for a Dublin-first trip.
Getting around
Dublin works best on foot plus Luas, bus and DART; a Leap Visitor Card covers much of the local network but not intercity Bus Éireann services or tours. Rail is good for the Dublin–Kilkenny–Waterford spine and the Dublin–Wexford/Rosslare route, but it does not solve rural Leinster. Rent a car for Wicklow, Brú na Bóinne, Hook Peninsula, beaches and multi-stop routes; collect it when leaving Dublin, not for driving around the city, and expect narrow, slow left-driving country roads. Domestic flights are pointless.
Money
Ireland uses the euro. Cards are widely accepted in Dublin and most towns, but carry some cash for small rural purchases and occasional service gaps; tipping is discretionary rather than automatic, with roughly 10% reasonable for good table service.
Book before you land
Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre access to Newgrange and Knowth, where visitor-centre-controlled tickets are limited
- Do not assume a Schengen visa covers Ireland; it does not.
- Dublin Airport is not connected to rail, so factor in an airport bus, taxi or car pickup.
- A rental car changes what is possible outside the cities, especially in Wicklow, the Boyne Valley and Wexford; do not rent one just to keep it parked in central Dublin.
- Mountain weather in Wicklow can be wet, windy and low-visibility even when Dublin is dry; pack waterproof layers year-round.
- Book Dublin accommodation around St Patrick’s Festival, Bloomsday, major concerts and rugby internationals well ahead.
- Check live rail timetables and book early for better intercity fares; rural connections can be far slower than map distances suggest.
Entry rules change — verify visa requirements for your passport before booking this region.