The Biggest Transportation Mistake Tourists Keep Making In Ireland

What should you see on your first trip to Ireland? Dublin, for starters, where you can have a pint in a famous writer's favorite pub. You should gaze at the primal sandstone walls of the Cliffs of Moher. You're basically obliged to kiss the Blarney Stone (and explore the rest of Blarney Castle). Hear endless stories and live music in Galway. Scramble through the medieval ruins at the Rock of Cashel. You should also ... well, there's too much to summarize here. Just take a gander at all the must-visit places in Ireland that Rick Steves recommends, and then expect to come back in a couple of years to see more. Ireland is addictive.

How do you get to all these places? Well, probably a car — and because Ireland is an island, it'll probably be a rental car. This may surprise you; isn't Ireland part of Europe? Isn't Europe famous for its car-free travel, where you can ride effortlessly across the continent using Eurail Pass? Why should you have to shell out all that money and adjust to left-lane driving?

In short, Ireland does have passenger trains, which connect major towns across the country. Ireland also has a comprehensive public bus service, Bus Éireann, which is also a great option. But taking Ireland's public transportation could be considered a mistake by some. That's because driving a car in Ireland comes with tremendous benefits, and many visitors will thanks themselves for splurging on a rental. 

In short, Ireland is a great place for road trips. The counties are crisscrossed with narrow country roads, which rise and fall over the undulating terrain and cut through a checkerboard of farms and villages. The Emerald Isle is famous for its rural heritage, which is difficult to take in from the window of a passing bus. Drivers can stop wherever they like, savor a shepherd's pie in a local eatery, and take photos with roving herds of sheep. The heartland and coasts are thick with scenic drives, and the biggest challenge you'll face is deciding which routes to take.

There's another reason driving is a good idea: shelter. Ireland is a rainy country — to put it mildly — with an average of 48 inches of precipitation per year, and the downpour is heaviest in the scenic west and at higher elevations. An umbrella will only protect you so much, and you probably don't want to buy a mug or tea or spot of Guinness every time you seek shelter. A car provides protection during storms, and you can still safely enjoy those legendary landscapes from the comfort of a driver's seat.

Major companies like Hertz, Payless, and Europcar all operate in Ireland, and you can rent a vehicle right at Dublin Airport. Prices are comparable to the rest of Western Europe, and motorways are generally in great condition, so any car should do. Before you sign that agreement, though, here are some things to know about paying for a rental car.