Get a few maps of Ireland, including local ones, and guidebooks. When purchasing a guidebook, be sure to get the most recent edition so you have up-to-date information, such as knowing in advance whether a tourist attraction is closed for repairs or maintenance. Determine how much you can spend while visiting Ireland. Tourists traveling on a budget might consider "Lonely Planet" or Rick Steves' "Europe Through the Back Door." Those for whom money is no object might consider "Fodor's."
Pack warm and waterproof clothing. It rains a lot in Ireland, especially on the west coast, which sees about 225 days of rain every year, according to Ireland's national weather service. The east coast and Dublin see about 150 days of rain every year. Things can get and remain very damp, so be sure to have a raincoat and rain boots. Temperatures rarely reach 70 degrees F -- even in the summertime -- so bring warm clothes no matter when you visit.
Although there is public transportation in Ireland, some travel websites, such as iExplore, strongly recommend you rent a car. If you would like to visit remote areas, it's more convenient if you have a car. Remote areas have intermittent bus service, if any. Visitors from the United States can drive in Ireland with an American license. In Ireland, people drive on the left side of the road. Furthermore, most road signs in Ireland, barring a few signs in Gaeltacht areas (Gaelic-only areas) are written in both Gaelic and English. The Republic of Ireland is switching to the metric system, so green and white road signs are in kilometers and older black and white signs are in miles. In Northern Ireland, most of the road signs are in miles only.
There is extensive bus service in Dublin, run by Dublin Bus. There is also the Dublin Area Rapid Transport, or DART, a fast suburban rail service that travels from Malahide in the north to Greystones in the south. There is also the LUAS in Dublin, which is a high-speed tram system with stops all over the city. There is also taxi service.
Banks are open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Ireland and until 5 p.m. in Dublin. Banks in smaller towns close for lunch from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Most stores in Ireland are open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, with many remaining open until 8 p.m. on Thursdays. Pubs open as early as 10:30 a.m. and close at 12:30 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and at 11:30 p.m. from Sunday through Thursday. Pubs with live music stay open until 2 a.m.
You can change money at Thomas Cook of North Belfast, which is located at the international airport. You can also go to large banks, some post offices and tourist information centers. Make sure to have enough money on you to see you through Sundays and bank holidays, since banks and post offices are closed on those days.
There are many ATMs available in Irish cities, which you can use with a Plus/Visa or Cirrus/Mastercard. However, there are not nearly as many available in more remote locations.
It is customary to tip porters, taxi drivers and so on from 10 to 20 percent. Hotels and restaurants typically add it as a service charge on the bill. Don't tip in pubs unless you have table service.
There are still tensions in some communities in Northern Ireland, but visitors should not shy away from visiting cities such as Derry and Belfast, which both have excellent music scenes.
You should probably leave your pet behind. All pets that enter either the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland are quarantined for at least 6 months and get vaccinated for rabies.
