The Prices of Historical Tours to Ireland
Jump to: Best Tours | Tour Prices
History lovers, prepare for an unforgettable journey through time in Ireland. Historical tours provide an incredible opportunity to immerse yourself in ancient ruins, historic towns, and rich cultural heritage, all guided by experts who make the past feel alive again. In this article, we'll explore the costs of historical tours in Ireland, point out the top options for you to choose from, and recommend the must-see spots where you can uncover the city's storied past.
To help you choose a tour that's both enriching and budget-friendly, we've done the homework for you. We've thoroughly analyzed a wide range of historical tours to find the typical price points and uncover the best values. By comparing cost, quality, destinations around Ireland, and included amenities, we've identified tours that offer the perfect blend of education, exploration, and affordability. Get ready to unlock the secrets of history!
Why does Ireland appeal to history enthusiasts?
Ireland captivates history enthusiasts with its wealth of historical sites, spanning from ancient times through more recent history. Dublin, Cork, and Kilkenny offer plenty of amazing museums and sights to explore. Kinsale is known for its colorful houses, excellent restaurants, and beautiful seaside walks. These regional destinations provide a perfect mix of history, culture, and adventure in an affordable package. Plus, the fun and easy itineraries make for a stress-free adventure while creating lasting memories.
How much do historical tours in Ireland cost?
The average price per day for historical tours in Ireland is $329, based on our analysis of 103 tours. While the overall prices can vary greatly, when we look at the daily price of these tours, the costs range from $138 to $750 per day.
Budget-friendly tours average around $238 per day, while higher-end luxury tours average about $428 per day.
Budget tours will usually provide less luxurious accommodation, have larger group sizes, and visit less expensive destinations. They will also sometimes have you pay for more activities on your own instead of including everything up front.
Mid-range tours often provide a step up in accommodation and transportation, and include more guided activities.
Luxury tours usually provide the highest levels of service, luxury hotels, more gormet food choices, comfortable transportation, and offer more all-inclusive payment options.
We partner with TourRadar because they offer the world's largest selection of multi-day organized tours, offering seamless travel experiences while supporting local businesses. It's the perfect way to explore new destinations with ease and confidence.
The Best Tours in Ireland
Budget-Friendly Tours
Budget-friendly and affordable historical tours in Ireland average $238 per day, with daily prices from $138 to $288. Budget tours usually include hotels, meals, and activities that are not quite as nice as other tours. Often, they might only include transportation, lodging, and some activities, leaving you on your own to pay for meals and other attractions during the tour. This can be a very convenient and economical way to visit France without spending too much money, as it gives you control over the amount you spend on meals and extra services. If you're looking for a really great option, check out Unforgettable Ireland here.
Mid-Range Tours
For typical historical tours in Ireland that fall in the middle range of prices, the average cost is $318 per day. Daily prices range from $290 to $349. Taking this step up in price from the cheaper tours to mid-range will often get you plenty of extra amenities and service for a great price. These tours usually include very comfortable hotels, meals at delicious local restaurants, comfortable transportation, knowledgable guides, and entry to many of the top attractions. One of the best tours is Cliffs of Moher, Connemara & Aran Islands Travel West by Train.
Luxury Tours
Luxury historical tours in Ireland average around $318 per day, with daily costs ranging from $349 to $750. At this price, you'll be very well taken care of and pampered on your journey through the scenic destinations. Knowledgable guides, the best accommodation options, the finest restaurants, comfortable transportation, and quick entry into attractions are all part of the itinerary. Every luxury and detail has been planned and thought about so that you don't have to deal with any hassle, you simple show up and enjoy your vacation. One of the best luxury tours here is Enchanting Ireland (Classic).
Which tour companies offer historical tours?
A number of fantastic tour companies offer historical tours in Ireland. These are a few of the best, because they offer the highest rated service, provide the best overall quality, and have the most five-star guest reviews to prove it.
CIE Tours
CIE Tours is a smaller tour company that offers tours to 5 countries, including Ireland, Great Britain, Iceland, and Italy. The company appeals to travelers of all ages, with many tours focusing on families with children. Many of the tours fall into the mid-range price category.
Collette
Collette is a large international travel company offering tours all over the world. Some of their most popular destinations include the U.S., Italy, Great Britain, and France. The company appeals to travelers of all ages, with many tours focusing on families with children. Many of the tours fall into the mid-range price category. The company's adventures often highlight activities such as wine tasting, island hopping, and camping.
BTOURS
BTOURS is a smaller international tour company with tours to 3 countries, including Great Britain, Greece, and Ireland. Despite being priced a bit higher, the small group sizes create a more personal and unique experience for travelers. Many of the tours fall into the mid-range price category.
Luxury Gold
Luxury Gold is a large international travel company offering tours all over the world. A number of their tours visit destinations in Asia and Europe. Some of their most popular destinations include India, Great Britain, Vietnam, and South Africa. The company appeals to travelers of all ages, with many tours focusing on families with children. The tours offered by Luxury Gold are usually luxurious, high-end, and provide a top-tier level of service.
See All Tours from Luxury Gold
Historical Destinations in Ireland
Wondering where historical tours visit in Ireland? With a variety of stops and destinations along the way, there's something for everyone.
Dublin
Dublin is the capital city of Ireland. It's filled with historic buildings and a laid back atmosphere. There are several nice parks and many good museums around town. Staying true to reputation, the residents in Dublin are friendly and welcoming. It's the perfect city to find a local pub and enjoy a Guinness with a group of locals.
Killarney
Killarney is a town that is right by Killarney National Park. It's also part of the Ring of Kerry scenic drive and the starting and ending point for the 200 kilometer Kerry Way walking trail. The area offers wonderful natural beauty and many great walking trails.
Galway
Galway is a cultural city that's located on Ireland's western shores. It offers a mix of history and culture in town, with natural beauty in the surrounding countryside. The population is friendly and welcoming and visitors will quickly fall in love with the city's hospitality and energy.
Kilkenny
Kilkenny is home to the Kilkenny Castle. The town dates back 1,500 years and it has a medieval old town that is filled with churches, alleyways, and old city walls. There's also a number of outdoor adventures that make for a fun visit for kids and adults alike.
More
Other popular destinations for historical tours through Ireland include Blarney, Waterford, Shannon, Donegal, and Kenmare.
Historical Tours vs. Independent Travel: Pros and Cons
If you're torn between arranging your own trip and booking a guided tour, take a moment to weigh the differences between the two approaches.
Organized Tours
Pros- Learn detailed stories and context from expert guides.
- Visit significant landmarks efficiently.
- Access exclusive areas not open to the public.
- Guides bring history to life with engaging narratives.
- Save time on researching destinations.
- Enjoy a curated itinerary of top historical sites.
- Guides answer questions for deeper understanding.
- Group tours can provide a social learning experience.
- Avoid logistical challenges like tickets or reservations.
- Guides help connect the dots between events and eras.
- Less flexibility in the itinerary.
- Group size might impact the experience.
Independent Travel
Pros- Full control over your itinerary and pace.
- Focus on sites that interest you most.
- Flexibility to spend more time at certain locations.
- Explore at unconventional hours to avoid crowds.
- Customize your trip around niche historical themes.
- Requires time-consuming research to plan.
- Risk of missing key details without a guide.
- May overlook important or lesser-known sites.
- Difficult to understand the full historical context.
- Navigation and logistics can be more complex.
- No expert to answer questions during your visit.
- Potential for long waits without pre-booking tickets.
- Self-guided tours may lack the interactive element.
Which is cheaper?
Is traveling independently less expensive than taking guided historical tours? The answer isn't straightforward. Guided tours often include services like hotels, transportation, meals, entry tickets, guides, and activities, all of which you would need to arrange and pay for individually if traveling on your own. To determine the cost difference, you'd need to compare the total cost of the tour package with the cost of booking everything separately. You may prefer a less expensive hotel or splurge on dining, so the cost of a tour could either save you money or cost you more. Be sure to review what's included in the tour package before making your comparison.
Also, before booking a tour, make sure you know exactly what is included as tour companies sometimes change their itineraries or included amenities to keep them updated with seasonal changes and customer interests.
More Tour Options
See also The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ireland, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Ireland, The Best 10-Day Tours in Ireland, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Ireland, The Best 3-Day Tours in Ireland, The Best 2-Week Tours in Ireland, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Ireland, The Best Christmas & New Years Tours in Ireland, The Best Coach Bus Tours in Ireland, The Best Adventure Tours to Ireland, The Best Eco Tours in Ireland, The Best Train & Rail Tours in Ireland, The Best Art History, Museums, and Cultural Tours Tours in Ireland, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Ireland, The Best Cultural Tours in Ireland, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Ireland, The Best Photography Tours in Ireland, The Best Educational Tours in Ireland, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Ireland, The Best Self Drive Tours in Ireland, The Best Nightlife Tours in Ireland, The Best Religious Tours in Ireland, The Best Walking Tours in Ireland, The Best Tours Under $1000 in Ireland, The Best Luxury Tours to Ireland, The Best Budget Tours to Ireland, The Best Tours for Seniors to Ireland, or The Best Contiki Tours to Ireland for more tour ideas. With so many options, there's a guided tour or vacation package for every type of traveler.
Also, if you're departing from a specific destination, see The Best 3-Day Tours from Dublin, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Dublin, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Killarney, The Best 10-Day Tours from Dublin, or The Best 2-Week Tours from Dublin for more package tour options.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.
Some of the links on this website are sponsored or affiliate links which help to financially support this site. By clicking the link and making a purchase, we may receive a small commission, but this does not affect the price of your purchase.