Dublin & Belfast - A Tale of Two Cities

Friday 20th August

We depart Leeds and travel across North Wales to Holyhead, where we board the ferry for our crossing to Dublin. Sit back and enjoy the relaxing journey across the Irish Sea before arriving in the Irish capital. We continue to the elegant 4-star Talbot Hotel Stillorgan, our base for the first two nights. Settle into the hotel and enjoy dinner before relaxing after the day's journey.

Saturday

After breakfast, our local guide joins us for a fascinating guided tour of Dublin. Discover the city's rich history and famous landmarks as we travel through the heart of the capital, seeing the highlights of Dublin. Our guide will bring the city's history and characters to life as we discover what makes Dublin such a memorable city. We then visit the world-famous Guinness Storehouse, one of Dublin's most popular attractions. Discover the story of Guinness, from its beginnings at St James's Gate to its worldwide reputation today. Explore the interactive exhibitions before heading to the Gravity Bar, where you can enjoy panoramic views across Dublin.

Sunday

Today we leave Dublin behind and travel through some of Ireland's beautiful countryside to Powerscourt Gardens, widely regarded as one of Ireland's finest gardens. Set against the spectacular backdrop of the Great Sugar Loaf Mountain, the gardens feature beautifully landscaped terraces, ornamental lakes, woodland walks and impressive views. After our visit, we continue northwards towards Belfast, crossing the border into Northern Ireland. On arrival in Belfast, we check into the 4-star Stormont Hotel for our next three nights, beautifully situated close to Stormont Estate. Enjoy dinner at the hotel before relaxing and enjoying your surroundings.

Monday

This morning our local guide joins us on the coach for a fascinating guided tour of Belfast. Discover the city's remarkable history and see many of its best-known landmarks, including its impressive Victorian architecture and famous shipbuilding heritage. Hear stories of the people and events that have shaped this fascinating city. This afternoon we visit Titanic Belfast, the award-winning attraction built on the site where the famous RMS Titanic was designed and constructed. Through interactive galleries and fascinating displays, discover the story of Titanic, from its conception and construction in Belfast to its ill-fated maiden voyage. We return to the Stormont Hotel for dinner and our evening at leisure.

Tuesday

Today we enjoy one of the highlights of our Irish adventure as we travel along the spectacular Causeway Coastal Route to the Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland's only UNESCO World Heritage Site. Marvel at the extraordinary landscape of around 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, formed millions of years ago by ancient volcanic activity. Take time to explore this spectacular coastline and hear the famous legend of the giant Finn McCool. The journey itself is a delight, with breathtaking coastal scenery along the way, before returning to Belfast and the comfort of the Stormont Hotel.

Wednesday

After breakfast we leave Belfast and travel to the port for our return ferry crossing to Cairnryan. Enjoy the scenic sailing across the Irish Sea before continuing our journey through Scotland and onwards to Leeds. We arrive home after a memorable six-day adventure discovering the contrasting cities, fascinating heritage and spectacular scenery of Ireland.