Ireland: Before You Go Guide (Printable + iPad)

Ireland is two jurisdictions on one island: two currencies, driving on the left, a UK entry permit for the north, timed tickets and Atlantic storms that can close roads and cliffs, plus sights that shorten their hours from 1 November.

This printable guide puts everything you should know before a trip to Ireland in one place, in short plain-English points, checked in October 2026 with links to the official sites so you can double-check anything.

WHAT'S INSIDE

• Conditions right now: the UK ETA for Northern Ireland, EES and ETIAS, Skellig Michael (closed for 2026), winter hours from 1 November, the Cliffs of Moher coastal walk, Book of Kells ticketing, Dublin Castle, storms and strike notices
• Entry, customs and rules: the Republic (not in Schengen), the Common Travel Area and the open land border, customs allowances, drones, driving licences and car hire insurance
• Getting there: Dublin, Shannon, Cork, Kerry and Belfast airports, ferries from Britain and France, and crossing the border
• Getting around: Irish Rail, Bus Eireann, Translink, Dublin Bus, Luas and DART, the Leap card, driving on the left, roundabouts, narrow roads, the M50 toll and island ferries
• Money, phone and tax: euros in the Republic, pounds in Northern Ireland, card versus cash, VAT refunds, eSIM and ATMs
• Weather, cliffs, sea and roads: Atlantic storms, cliff edges, rip currents, hiking safety, sheep, midges, pickpockets and the 112 and 999 numbers
• Culture and etiquette: pubs and rounds, the craic, the Gaeltacht, GAA, music sessions and neutral wording in Northern Ireland
• Eating Irish, six regions at a glance, festivals and seasons, and 14 mistakes first-timers make
• What things cost: 19 everyday prices in euros and pounds, from a pint to a Titanic Belfast ticket
• A month-by-month calendar, a pre-trip countdown, a tick-box packing list and a first-day checklist
• Irish basics with pronunciation, plus place names (Gaeltacht, Garda, Dun Laoghaire, Inis Mor and more)
• Emergency numbers, including 112, 999 and 101
• Two editions: a printable PDF and an iPad edition with a tappable contents page

PERFECT FOR

• First-time visitors to Ireland and Northern Ireland
• Anyone planning a road trip around the island
• Travellers who like to arrive prepared
• A thoughtful gift for someone with an Ireland trip booked

PAIRS WELL WITH

The Ireland in 10 Days itinerary.

DIGITAL DOWNLOAD

You'll receive 2 PDFs. No physical item will be shipped.

• Print edition (20 pages): US Letter, prints fine on A4
• iPad edition (28 pages): tappable contents, room to write

This guide is general travel information, not legal, medical or immigration advice. Rules (including entry, ETA, drone and customs rules) depend on your situation: always confirm with the official sites before you travel.

PLEASE NOTE

Rules and prices were checked in October 2026 and are subject to change: fees, fares, menus, hotel rates and taxes can change without notice, and ferry timetables, closures and weather change daily. Please confirm important details with the official sites before you travel. Photos are illustrative. Cover photo: JoachimKohler-HB, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Researched and written with the help of AI tools.

Made by Global Trip Insight. For personal use only.