Getting There & Away
Virtually all international visitors to Ireland travel via England.
There are flights between Dublin and Belfast and London's four
international airports, as well as flights from British provincial
cities. Several major European cities offer direct flights to
Ireland. Airport departure taxes are built into the cost of your
ticket. Ferry services between Ireland and Britain operate between
Dublin and Holyhead in Wales; Rosslare and Fishguard and Pembroke,
also in Wales; Belfast and Liverpool; and Belfast and Stranraer
in Scotland. Services also link Cork with St Malo, Cherbourg and
Le Havre in France.
Getting Around
The best way to see Ireland is by car, especially as many sights
of interest are not served by public transport. However, car rental
is expensive; in the high season it can often make good sense
to arrange a package deal before you leave home. The Irish, like
the British, drive on the left. Don't be fooled by Ireland's size:
getting around by public transport is not as easy as you might
like to think. Distances may be short, but in Ireland getting
from A to B never follows a straight line. Rail fares are particularly
expensive, there are notable gaps in the routes, and the frequency
of both bus and train services can leave a lot to be desired.
Winter bus schedules are drastically reduced, with many routes
simply disappearing after September. Apart from Ireland's wealth
of walking and hiking opportunities, cycling is a great way to
get around - if you can ignore the hills, poor road surfaces and
wet weather. Tourist offices all have regional cycling maps to
help you plan your tour; West Cork in particular is ideal. |
