Flights from Barcelona to Ireland from 23EUR*

Flights to Ireland from Barcelona

Vueling flies direct from Barcelona to Dublin in just under 3 hours. It is the only gateway to the country on the Vueling network, and a practical one, because the city is just over 10 km from the airport and everything else fans out from there: the west coast, the cliffs, Galway.

A long weekend covers the capital plus one trip out. Give it a week and you can cross the island from coast to coast.

What documents you need to travel to Ireland

Ireland is a member of the European Union but is not part of the Schengen Area, so there is a document check on arrival. Even so, Spanish and other EU citizens can travel with a valid national ID card, the Spanish ID card (DNI) included, and no passport is required. A passport is also accepted if you would rather carry one.

Minors need their own valid identity document, on the same terms. Check the expiry date of whichever document you are taking before you book, and if you hold another nationality, check your situation on the travel documents page.

What to know when you land in Ireland

From the airport into the city. Dublin Airport sits north of the city, just over 10 km out. There is no train or metro: you get in by bus, with several routes leaving from the terminals and taking around half an hour to reach the centre. A taxi is the quicker alternative.

Rain. The reputation is deserved, and the weather changes several times in a single day, whatever the season. Temperatures barely move: they rarely drop below 0°C in winter or climb above 20 in summer. A light waterproof jacket covers the whole trip, even if you set off in sunshine.

Plug sockets. Ireland uses type G plugs, with three rectangular pins, at 230V.

Driving. To get out of Dublin, a hire car is the most practical option, but traffic keeps to the left and the roads in the west are narrow. If that does not appeal, intercity buses link the main cities well.

Ireland uses the euro, and English is the language of everyday life. Irish has official status and shows up mostly on road signs, but you will not need it.

What to do in Ireland

Dublin

Dublin is better explored on foot than by public transport. EPIC, the museum of Irish emigration, and the Chester Beatty Library are better museums than their reputation suggests, and Trinity College keeps the Book of Kells in its Long Room. Phoenix Park, one of the largest in Europe, lies west of the centre. At night, Temple Bar soaks up the noise, while the streets around it, with Grafton Street and the Portobello neighbourhood close by, hold the live music that is genuinely worth your time. The old Guinness brewery at St James’s Gate is the most visited attraction in the city.

Galway and Connemara

Just over 2 hours by road from Dublin, right across the island. Galway is a small university city with music going on all the time. To the west, Connemara National Park opens out into bogs, lakes and mountains with very few people around, and Kylemore Abbey is its best-known image. Put the two together and you can see why so many people come back.

The Cliffs of Moher

Around 3 hours from Dublin, or a good half hour from Galway, which makes them the obvious day out if you are already in the west. They drop more than 200 metres into the Atlantic. The wind never lets up and visibility decides everything. In fog you see nothing, so leave yourself some leeway to choose your day.

The Ring of Kerry

In the south-west, about 4 hours from Dublin. It is a loop of bays, peninsulas and stone villages that needs 2 days if you want to take it slowly. Here the road matters as much as any stop along it.

Luggage for your flight to Ireland

What you can take depends on the fare you choose when booking. The simplest fare includes a personal item that fits under the seat in front, and from there you can add cabin or checked luggage.

For Ireland, bear in mind that warm clothes and a waterproof take up more room than you expect, even in summer. Sorting out your luggage when you book avoids surprises at the check-in desk. Check the current conditions in Vueling’s luggage policy.