Winter is a time when many travelers from all around the world like to go to Ireland in order to see the beautiful architecture and landscapes of this country. As a tourist, especially if you are not from Europe, you need to have a good understanding of the country you’re going to in order to make the right budget. Luckily, Ireland is not a very expensive country in comparison to states like Switzerland or Norway, so you can have a great time there even if you’re short on cash. In this article, we’re going to give you an inside look into the state and help you understand how much money you need to spend a vacation there.
In order to calculate your trip expenses, there are some things you need to sort out. How many people are going on the trip? Do you plan to have a romantic week with your partner or a group holiday with your friends? Or maybe you want to go solo backpacking? Where do you plan on staying? Would you like a hotel, a hostel, an Airbnb, or maybe you have some friends or relatives in Ireland at whose place you can sleep for a few nights? When exactly do you plan on visiting it, since prices can differ from season to season? Do you plan on eating at restaurants, cafes, or maybe some street food would be within your budget? As you can see, there are many questions that you need to answer before deciding to go to a foreign country. But don’t be alarmed, we’re not here to discourage you, but rather to help you better understand how you should prepare for Ireland.
Now, let’s do a little math. We make up a scenario in which you travel alone for a week. If you don’t do so, simply multiply the number by the amount of people you’ll be taking with you and add any additional expenses you believe you’ll spend. First of all, in order to enter the country, you need to be fully vaccinated or to have a PCR test. However, if you have a PCR test, you still need to stay in quarantine for 14 days and then take another test, so you should definitely take this into account. In addition, remember that Ireland uses euro as its national currency and you’ll have to exchange your money at an ATM or a bank. A night at a three star hotel in the city center of Dublin will cost you around €80 for a single room, but you can also opt for an Airbnb or some similar sites where you can get a nice room for about €40-50. A meal at an inexpensive restaurant costs about €15, and it can go up to €60 at a mid-range restaurant. If you are looking for street food, there are tons of small restaurants that sell authentic food from all over the world like Chinese steamed buns, Italian Pizza, or even Fish and Chips. You can have a great, diverse meal for less than €10. As for the attractions and museums, some of them, such as the National Gallery of Ireland, are completely free, while others can cost you up to 20. For example, you can get a ticket to the Irish Whiskey Museum for €18 that includes tasting or at the Dublin Castle for €10 with a guided tour. The bus is the most common type of public transportation, and a ticket costs €0.6 in the city center or you can get a five day pass for €33. If you want to go outside Dublin and see the Emerald Isle’s landscapes, it can cost you around €32 for a tour at the Ring of Kerry and €36 to visit the Gap of Dunloe.
Overall, a day in Ireland will cost you on average somewhere between €65 and €120 per person, which means that for a week-long trip you should expect to pay from €455 to €840, so it is safe to say that you need somewhere around €1000 just in case anything happens. Prices can differ depending on the trips you go to, the attractions that you visit, and the accommodation. If you want to bring back souvenirs and you’re short on cash, Irish chocolate is delicious and affordable, and you can get some for a few euros. If you can afford to spend more, Irish sweaters are obviously the go-to choice, since they are not only traditional, but also beautiful and really practical. The best ones can obviously be purchased on the Aran Islands where they originated from, but you can also find good stores in Dublin or even online, at Tara Irish Clothing. Also, let’s not forget about the famous Guinness and Trinity College merchandise, as well as Irish tea, cheese, and books, so that everyone can choose something within their budget.
We hope we could help you figure out how much money you’ll need for your vacation and we wish you a happy and safe trip to Ireland!