If you are planning a 7 day trip to Scotland and Ireland, you have come to the right place! If you have a limited amount of travel time, whether you are working full time or on a budget (the struggles of a travel addict!), this itinerary will show what to do for 7 days in Scotland and Ireland.
What to do in 7 days in Scotland and Ireland
I based most of my time in Scotland, since there was more that I wanted to do there. However, I will need to go back to Ireland explore more of the countryside! Both countries are great for solo female travelers – they are SO safe, and not once was I ever uncomfortable or approached by anyone.
- 1st day: Travel Day. Arrived in Edinburgh at about 2pm.
- 2nd day: Edinburgh all day.
- 3rd day: Went on a 2 day overnight group tour to explore the highlands and ride the Jacobite Steam Train! (aka the Hogwarts Express).
- 4th day: Returned from my group tour and back in Edinburgh at 8pm.
- 5th day: Another full day in Edinburgh!
- 6th day: Fly to Dublin
- 7th day: All day in Dublin
- 8th day: fly home
Where to Stay in Scotland and Ireland
Edinburgh, Scotland: I stayed at the Safestay Edinburgh Hostel. It was located right off the Royal Mile and felt very safe. The beds had all-female dorms and curtains for added privacy. For $25 CAD per night it was a good deal!
Dublin, Ireland: I had made plans to stay at the Ashfield Hostel, which is right by Trinity College in Dublin and only $50 per night. A very central and busy location, which is perfect if you only have a short amount of time in Dublin. However, a friend graciously let me stay in her flat, located by the 3 Arena (about a 30 minute walk away from Trinity College). Both areas felt safe, although staying near Trinity College would mean you are closer to the main attractions.
How to get Around Scotland and Ireland in 7 days
Scotland and Ireland’s infrastructure is very easy for tourists. I used the airport buses to get into the center of town. I mostly walked around the cities – and sometimes used the Hop-on-Hop-off buses as well!
To explore the countryside, I went on day trips. As a solo traveler, going on a group tour is a nice way to avoid loneliness and meet other travelers. I didn’t rent a car because in Scotland and Dublin they drive on the left, and I am used to driving on the right. If you feel comfortable driving on either side of the road, then this could be an option for you.
7 days in Scotland and Ireland: Itinerary Details
Day 1: Travel day
I flew from Canada, and it was SO much cheaper for me to do a self-connecting flight. What does this mean? Well, I booked a direct round-trip flight from Canada to Dublin, Ireland. Then, I booked a separate round-trip flight from Dublin to Edinburgh, Scotland.
Self-connecting saved me a lot of money (literally hundreds of dollars), but it is more of a hassle. I had to leave to secured area after got through customs in Dublin, and then go back through security. Self-connecting is also risky because if there are any delays and you miss your connecting flight, there is little the airline can do for you.
It was my first time self-connecting, so if anyone has any experiences about this, let me know in the comments below!
To reduce the risk of anything happening, I arrived in Dublin at 7:30am, then flew onward to Edinburgh at 12:35pm. This gave me plenty of time to get through customs, go through security again, and then eat.
Evening: Walking Tour
Since I had all evening free to explore, I ate at the first place I could find, and then went on a free Harry Potter walking tour!
Walking tours are a great thing to do when you first arrive somewhere new, because they help orient you. If someone shows me where to go, it’s harder for me to get lost later!
Day 2: Free day in Edinburgh
Today I had the entire day to explore Edinburgh. Since I hadn’t planned a lot of activities that day, I actually ended up doing a lot more than expected.
Morning: Edinburgh Castle
I went to Edinburgh Castle. I had pre-booked my tickets online for entry first thing in the morning to try and beat the crowds. This activity takes a couple of hours. I recommend getting the audio guide too, so that you can have the exhibits and areas explained to you.
Afternoon: Princes Gardens and Calton Hill
After lunch at Greyfriar’s Bobby Bar, I did a hop on hop off bus tour (tickets can be purchased near Waverley Bridge. This is the first stop of the tour, and there will be sales people there to sell you a ticket if you don’t have one).
I also wandered through Princes Street Gardens, and walked up Calton Hill for beautiful views of Edinburgh (I took the hop on hop off bus to get to Calton Hill to save my feet from walking).
Read about what to do in 2 days in Edinburgh here.
Day 3 and 4: Group tour to the Highlands
If there is a group tour that you want to do, check which days they leave. The group tour I did only left on Tuesdays, so your itinerary may shift a little to accommodate for this.
There are LOTS of options for day or overnight trips from Edinburgh to suit your schedule and interests. Since I wanted to have 2 full days in Edinburgh, I only had time for a 2 day tour.
The tour that I went on was the Jacobite Experience: 2 Day Tour with Hogwarts Express. I went on this tour because I really wanted to see the Scottish Highlands, and also ride the Harry Potter train (I am a huuuuuge Harry Potter fan). Read more about my experiencing riding the Jacobite Steam Train here.
Day 5: Another full day in Edinburgh
Another full day in Edinburgh! I will admit, during my trip I was debating on whether I should spend the day in Edinburgh or last-minute book a day trip to explore more of the Highlands. I decided to stay in Edinburgh, and I’m glad I did!
Morning: Deans Village and a scenic walk
I spent the entire morning going on a scenic walk around Edinburgh. I went to Deans Village. It feels like you go back in time in Deans Village. Old buildings, narrow cobblestone lanes, and a river gently flowing through with a walkway next to it. It’s a photographers dream!
Afternoon: Royal Mile & Hiking Arthur’s Seat
After having Afternoon Tea at Eteaket, a cute and quirky tea shop, I then walked down the Royal Mile. I know, I was staying right off the Royal Mile but hadn’t walked down the whole thing yet! I started at the very top (near Edinburgh Castle) and then walked all the way down to the bottom at Holyrood Palace.
Since the start of Arthur’s Seat is very close to the palace, it was an easy decision to make the hike. Totally worth it! The views over Edinburgh were amazing. Read about my experience here.
In the evening (at 6:30pm) I had reservations to go on a 1 hour tour of Mary’s King Close. This tour starts right off the Royal Mile, and takes you underground to see the hidden streets and houses that are under the Royal Mile. It’s not scary (just a little claustrophobic because, well, you’re underground), so don’t be worried about going alone. You will be with a group the whole time!
Day 6: Fly to Dublin
Today I had a flight at 2:10pm to Dublin, Ireland. There are multiple flights during the day, so pick a time that best fits with your schedule. My recommendation for your 7 days in Scotland and Ireland is to catch an early flight from Edinburgh to maximize your time in Dublin. I spent the morning aimlessly wandering around Edinburgh until it was time for my flight. If I could do it again, I would have chosen an earlier flight.
The original plan (aka: the expectation): I had planned to do a full loop on the Hop on Hop Off bus tour when I arrived in Dublin. The bus stop for the airport and 1st stop on the Hop on Hop Off tour are right next to each other, so it would have been easy to do.
My apartment was near the 6th stop on the bus tour too. I originally planned to get off on the 6th stop after doing a full loop.
My reality (aka: what really happened): Unfortunately my flight was delayed! (Thanks, Ryanair…). So by the time I got into Dublin, it was closer to 5:30pm. The last loop of the day leaves the first bus stop at 7pm, and an entire loop take 2 hours. So I didn’t have enough time. So, I instead went to my apartment for the evening and ate dinner. If you are staying right in the City Centre (near Trinity College), you will be able to fit more in since it’s so close to everything.
Day 7: Full day in Dublin
Today I had the entire day in Dublin. Thanks to my late flight, it was my ONLY day in Dublin, so I had to make the most of it! For full details of what I did in Dublin, read my post here.
I decided to get a Hop on Hop off bus ticket for Dublin so that I wouldn’t have to try and find my way to each attraction (I get lost easily) – the bus would do it for me! . I started off my day by doing the full loop of Dublin (it was raining in the morning, so this was a nice way to protect myself from the rain!).
The sights that I saw in Dublin were:
- The full bus loop around Dublin
- Ha’Penny Bridge
- Trinity College
- Book of Kells
- Dublin Castle
- Christchurch Cathedral
- Trinity Bar
- Grafton Street
- St. Patrick’s Park
- Little Museum of Dublin
Day 8: Fly Home
I had to leave Dublin really early in the morning for my flight back home. I didn’t want to wait at a bus stop alone in the dark and really early/late at night, so I decided to take a taxi.
I’m sure the bus stop would have been completely fine, but I personally don’t like walking around alone when it’s dark. Especially when I am carrying my passport, money, etc. and look like I’m headed for the airport (aka: a tourist)!
My motto is “don’t skimp on your safety”, so instead of taking public transportation I booked a taxi with FreeNow. It is similar to Uber, and was recommended to me by my local Irish friend.
7 days in Scotland and Ireland: Final Thoughts
Overall this trip was great for exploring Scotland and getting a taste of Ireland. If you have more time in Ireland, I would highly recommend getting out of the city and seeing the countryside.
Have you traveled to either Scotland or Ireland? Let me know what your favourite thing was to do!
This is so helpful. Flying to Dublin early next year and now inspired by this, I am going to try and check for flights to Scotland too.
What a wonderful itinerary. I always wanted to visit Scotland or Ireland. I actually had a whole trip planned for Scotland back in 2018 but we had to cancel it completely because my husband got sick. 🙁
Love that you did the Jacobite Steam Train! I visited Scotland over the summer and covered a lot of ground from Edinburgh to the isles, but didn’t have time to do the train. Guess that means I have to go back a second time 😉
I lived in Edinburgh for 16 years, so it’s funny to see what tourists to the city choose to visit. I adore Dean Village and the Water of Leith walkway – and often walked sections of it (it goes all the way from Balerno to Leith) with my dog. So glad you got a taste of Edinburgh & Dublin – you must come back for longer next time!
Love that you laid this out by day! Just what i need