Northern Ireland & Ireland in 5 days

If you drop the zoo from your Dublin list and start at the Guinness factory I think it is doable. It would look like Guinness factory to St Pat's (include its neighbour Marsh's Library), Dublin Castle, Chester Beatty Library, Trinity College and Kildare St National Museum (and if there is time then add National Gallery or the Dead Zoo. The real zoo adds another two hours-plus to this and I think that would blow it out. Overnight in Dublin.

Hire a car and overnight in Bushmills to do Giants Causeway etc, then overnight in Belfast to do Titanic and into this mix throw the GoT stuff.

Drive to Galway. IMO the best way to do this is to drive to Dublin, jump onto the M50 and then jump off on the N4 to head to Galway. It is about a five hour drive but the alternative is to head west and south and that is small roads and more risk of delays.

If five days is five nights then two nights in Galway and then head to Dublin or if five days is four nights then one night in Galway. You won't have much time in Galway to be honest if you only have four nights and I might suggest dumping Galway and adding another night to Dublin because there is easily two days worth of stuff to do in Dublin.

I think a crucial question ishow much time you wish to spend travelling whrther driving or by public transport?

For instance it is possible to go by bus to Galway from Belfast albeit with interconnecting changes at Enniskillen and Sligo but you will spend the better part of the day on the coach. http://www.buseireann.ie/pdf/1360942462-065sum.pdf

I would probably skip Galway though. For a lively city try Derry / Londonderry instead and for coastal scenery include a trip to Rathlin Island from Ballycastle while you are on the Antrim coast.

I would fly into Belfast. Early flights should have you in the city centre by 9.30 or earlier with last return flights at say 8pm or later or even in via Belfast and return via Dublin. The choices are there from most of the London airports.

R

http://www.dublinsightseeing.ie/citytour.aspx This is an excellent tour. It brings you everywhere and only when you want to see somewhere eg. Trinity College-Book of Kells or Guinness etc. do you need to get off and then when you are ready another bus is waiting for you to go wherever you want to go to next. It's also good with the budget as it means you get around the city for the day without paying any extras for taxis here, which are extremely expensive. As above post, the visit to the zoo left out will really free you up. It's a lovely zoo & I love going there myself to sketch, but its much the same as all other European zoos. The above bus does take you through the Phoenix Park, Europe's largest and at any time of year, but especially now it's beautiful. You will pass by Aras an Uachtarain , ie. the President's home. The US Ambassador's home and the tea rooms where it would be lovely for you to visit for 30 mins and get on the next bus to continue your tour. These are just so much fun and I'd really advise you to go. They are such an experience.: http://www.dublinsightseeing.ie/GhostBus/index.aspx and http://www.vikingsplash.com/the-tour/ If you wanted to still stay in Dublin and keep it as your base there are 1 day tours that go on these and the great thing is of course is the fact that you have a tour guide. http://www.cliffsofmohertours.ie/ Very early start but if you search you will get others that start a bit later. I did this last year and it is such a wonderful memory to have forever more: http://www.shannonheritage.com/BunrattyCastleAndFolkPark/ And I think I might do this one myself: http://www.viator.com/tours/Dublin/2-Day-Northern-Ireland-Tour-from-Dublin-by-Train-Belfast-and-Giants-Causeway/d503-3310DC10AN Doing it this way may save you a few quid also. And there are always great deals on the deals sites for hotels. Just be sure to read the T&Cs on them before you purchase and book immediately in case your dates don't match up for you. And always tell them you want to book with a voucher before you get there. And of course, check that they aren't miles from everything. There's always good ones for Cork, Wexford and Killarney = livingsocial.ie , deals.ie, grabone.ie, groupon.ie, foffit.ie and pigsback.ie.They often have good offers for dinners, but again check out the T&Cs of the deal. I know you didn't ask for any meal suggestions but if you are down near the Convention Centre(shaped like a pint of Guinness!!) and the famine ship ( http://www.jeaniejohnston.ie/ ), The Harbourmaster is excellent. Good sized portions, very tasty and reasonably priced. If you are in the city centre, shopping or sightseeing, you have just got to go to FOAM. (Strand Street) You can do your ordinary restaurants any day of the week. The second you walk in here you are just blown away by the décor. Your food is only cooked while you wait, with fresh and wholesome ingredients. I refuse to talk the whole time I'm there because it is so good, I want to enjoy every second I have it. If you are going for just a coffee and cake, again you will be spoilt for choice. The portion size is big enough to be split between two people so you could each enjoy half and half of a lemon meringue or black forest gateaux that I have never tasted so good. If you go here, you will remember it forever more. (I know this doesn't look correct in the Preview but I've already lost one, so I'm just posting in case I lose this one. You can still figure out all I'm trying to convey though)