If you are traveling to Ireland and you are not a citizen of the UK, Switzerland, or a country in the European Economic Area (the EU plus Norway, Iceland and Lichtenstein), you may need to apply for a visa. EEA and Swiss citizens do not need a visa to enter Ireland, but will need a valid passport or identity card. US citizens do not need a visa for tourism or business stays of up to 90 days. If you're unsure, check here to see if you need a visa to enter Ireland.

While the peak summer season promises the best weather and longer days, the best time to visit Ireland is between March and May, and September to November, when the weather is mild and the country is far less crowded – in September, Ireland begins to explode with autumn colors. While March is a lively time to visit Ireland with St. Patrick's Day, be aware it will be much more expensive and very busy.

Weather in Ireland is generally changeable, but mild, with warm summers and winters that rarely dip below freezing. In the summer you can enjoy highs of around 26ºC (80°F), while the average winter temperature hovers around 6ºC (42ºF) – but Ireland does see a healthy amount of rainfall throughout the year!

The Republic of Ireland uses the official currency of Europe, the Euro (€). Ireland only began using the Euro in 2002, before which it used the Irish pound (£).

It's not compulsory, but when traveling in Ireland it is customary for tourists to leave a small tip of around 10-20% in restaurants, while most cafes will have a tip jar where a few coins can be added (usually around €1). On a Trafalgar tour, we have pre-paid certain tips and gratuities for you such as baggage handling at hotels, service charges and tips for hotel wait staff (for included meals).

Ireland has an excellent ATM network, and you'll easily find them at grocery stores, outside banks, in bars and at transit centers – just look out for any fees you might incur when taking cash out abroad.

Tap water in Ireland is perfectly safe to drink.

We highly recommend guests purchase travel insurance prior to your trip. Please ensure you add the details of your insurance to the My Trafalgar portal.

Your insurance should cover trip interruption, personal injury, medical expenses, and evacuation and repatriation cover including during pandemic events.

Book your travel insurance with Trafalgar's Travel Protection Plan, which includes the Cancel For Any Reason Credit Certificate Feature and the Travel Insurance Benefits that may help to protect your vacation payment against the unexpected.

While many European countries greet with a kiss on both cheeks, in Ireland you're better off with a firm handshake – though that doesn't mean the Irish aren't very friendly. Talking to strangers is commonplace, but it's best to avoid the subject of politics, Irish stereotypes (no leprechauns, please), and clichés (people don't really greet each other with "top of the morning"). "Slagging" is also a popular Irish pasttime, so don't be offended if locals start making fun of you.