Travelling to Ireland

Getting to Ireland is easier than ever with direct flights to major and regional airports and ferries arriving at several ports of entry.

Always make sure your passport is in date well in advance of travelling.

Since 6 March 2022, there are no COVID-19 restrictions for travel to Ireland.

You should follow public health advice if you develop symptoms of COVID-19.

You can find out about what documents you will need to travel Ireland.

You may need to apply for a visa if you are travelling 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 can check to see if you need a visa.

You must keep to the specific allowances if you want to bring alcohol, tobacco, or other goods into Ireland. If you are from a non-EU country, you must complete a cash declaration if you intend to bring over €10,000 in cash into the country. More information is available on customs regulations for travellers to Ireland.

It is easy to get around, whether you use public transport or rent a car in Ireland.

Public transport includes buses, rail, the Luas tram system, taxis, hackneys, and limousines.

You can also find out how to get to and from Dublin Airport.

Renting a car in Ireland can be a useful way to travel. You must have a valid driving licence to drive in Ireland. If you have a valid full foreign driving licence, you can use this for up to 12 months while visiting Ireland.

Read more information about getting around in Ireland.

It is always advisable to take out travel insurance before travelling.

If you are visiting Ireland, you may be entitled to health services that are free or subsidised, depending on your circumstances. Read more about health services for visitors to Ireland.

If you are visiting Ireland from the EU/EEA and Switzerland, you can use a valid European Health Insurance Card from your home country to access healthcare.

Currency

Ireland uses the Euro. Credit cards and debit cards are widely accepted, but carrying some smaller amounts of cash is advisable.

Language

Irish and English are the official languages. You can most often hear Irish in rural Gaeltacht areas.

Things to do in Ireland

You can get more information about things to do in Ireland from discoverireland.ie. You can find out about the walking trails in our page on walking and rambling.

Driving in Ireland

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has helpful advice for tourists driving on the roads in Ireland.

Travelling with pets

You can get information about bringing your pet to Ireland.

Contact details for the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)

The Irish government website DFA.ie has information about visas, passports and contact details for embassies.

Emergency services

The emergency services telephone number is 999 or 112.

Reporting a crime

Information is available about reporting a crime. There is also help available from the Irish Tourist Assistance service if you are a victim of a crime.

Irish weather

You can check the Irish weather forecast on MET éireann, the Irish meteorological service.