Around Ireland Without a Car

Touring the Emerald Isle by Public Transport

(By Bernd Biege, About.com Guide)

The best way to travel around Ireland is by car - no contest. But what if a visitor does not want or simply cannot use a car? There are alternatives available, none of them perfect, but a combination of road and rail travel is an interesting option.

By far the most sensible, budget-friendly and convenient way to travel Ireland without a rental car is ... using the bus. Cross country services are numerous and a variety of ticket options, though at times confusing, can make bus travel very economical. Connections between the major towns are generally fast, frequent and reliable.

Local services tend to be more patchy and require some planning if used for touring. Even major attractions might not get serviced more than once or twice a day - this is the curse on the tourism industry being geared towards independent car users. If you plan on visiting a number of attractions in any area enquire about organized tours at your hotel or local tourist office. In most tourist areas these are provided by Bus Éireann or local companies.

While it is not impossible to travel Ireland by rail, the choice of places to visit will be limited. Generally the railway will bring you to a central destination and from there you will have to rely on other modes of transport. More than likely buses. Add the fact that Irish railways are not known for either cheap fares or luxury and bus travel becomes a sensible option in many cases.

But on longer journeys the train may be better value for money - travel times are usually shorter than on a bus, there are toilets on board and you can stretch your legs by walking about a bit.

Note that there are also organized railtours from Dublin to main Irish attractions available, these sometimes include accommodation and can be an alternative to a self-guided tour.

Travelling Ireland on a bicycle is an interesting proposition and has been a preferred mode of transport for touring students in the 1970s and 1980s. Then the "Celtic Tiger" roared, "no-frills-airlines" brought a massive influx of visitors and suddenly road traffic exploded, making riding a bicycle on many roads definitely an adventure sport.

If you stick to the main roads you will have to share these with enthusiastic (but not necessarily competent) other drivers and (even in the remotest areas) 18-wheelers. If you leave the main roads you will find winding lanes with high hedges on both sides and sizeable potholes to navigate. And wherever you ride you will have to face strong winds, frequent rain and some long and steep inclines.

Gipsy Caravans were long touted as the "typical Irish holiday" (though most Irish people would not agree) and acquired an air of ethnic ecotourism. Generally a very unique way to see a small part of the island. Temporary "gipsies" will have to stick to a certain area and a selection of roads. Consider this mode of transport only if you want to spend lots of quality time with your travelling companions!

P.S. Isn't that just great being able to travel the country without a car? Not only Ireland but any country in the world. It gives you an opportunity to see more, to hear more, to spend more time studying the culture and life of people who actually live there. Such an exiting experience, isn't it?