Kinsale Hotel & Spa

Travel to Ireland

We know an international trip can feel like a lot—especially from the West Coast—so we’ve gathered the basics here to make planning as smooth as possible.

Passports & Timing

A passport that is valid for at least 6 months is required for US travelers. You do not need a visa.

We recommend arriving at least one day before the wedding to allow time to settle in (and adjust to the time difference)

Visas

US citizens do not need a visa to travel to the Republic of Ireland for tourism or business stays of up to 90 days A valid U.S. passport is required for entry.

*If you want to travel to *Northern Ireland*

US citizens will need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to visit Northern Ireland. While there are no immigration controls on the Republic of Ireland/Northern Ireland land border, the ETA is mandatory for everyone arriving into, or travelling through, the UK, including Northern Ireland.

Flying to Ireland ✈️

Most guests traveling from Seattle or California will find the easiest route is flying into Dublin Airport (DUB). Dublin has the most frequent transatlantic flights and best onward connections.

Cork Airport (ORK) is the closest airport to Kinsale, but flights are more limited and often connect through London, Amsterdam or Paris. For anyone looking to explore Europe, Cork has some great connecting options.

Getting to Kinsale

Kinsale is located in County Cork, on Ireland’s south coast. It's a 20 minute drive or 30 minute bus from Cork Airport.

From Dublin Airport:

Drive 🚗: 3–3.5 hours

Bus 🚌: The AirCoach will go from Dublin Airport or Dublin City direct to Cork City. It takes 3-3.5 hours. We recommend booking tickets in advance. It's a popular service.

Train 🚆: Dublin → Cork (approx. 2.5 hours). The train station is a bit of a pain so would recommend the AirCoach.

From Cork Airport:

Drive 🚗 or taxi 🚕: ~25 minutes

There are also multiple buses a day that go from Cork City to Kinsale via Cork Airport and take ~25 mins.

Driving in Ireland

🔹In Ireland we drive on the left side of the road.

🔹Vehicles are right-hand drive, meaning the driver sits on the right side of the car.

🔹Roundabouts are navigated clockwise.

🔹You should always check your position, particularly on narrow, rural roads.

🔹The ‘turn right on red’ rule does not exist in Ireland.

🔹It is unlikely you would need an international driver’s license for Ireland but it might be worth getting one just in case - https://www.usa.gov/international-drivers-license

🔹In Ireland, cars use petrol (also called unleaded) or diesel. We don’t use "gas." If you are renting a car, double check if it is petrol or diesel. If the car is petrol, use the green🟢pump. If the car is diesel, use the black⚫pump. It's better to ask if you're unsure than break down using the wrong fuel!

Taxis and other transportation

The major cities and towns will usually have plenty of taxis and public transportation. If you are travelling to smaller towns (including Kinsale), there are usually taxis available but they are limited. You might want to book ahead.

You can use Uber in Ireland (but not Lyft) or download the Freenow App - its more widely used.