Ireland on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Ireland on a budget is possible at about €115 per person per day sharing a room and a rental car, though it is never a cheap country. Hostels, B&Bs outside Dublin, free museums and the scenery itself make the difference.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | €50 | €95 | €180 |
| Food & drink | €30 | €55 | €95 |
| Sights & tickets | €15 | €30 | €55 |
| Local transport | €20 | €35 | €55 |
| Per person, per day | €115 | €215 | €385 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Ireland day-cost table.
Free things to do
- National Museum of Ireland and the National Gallery in Dublin
- Chester Beatty library at Dublin Castle
- Glendalough monastic site and lakes in the Wicklow Mountains
- The Howth Cliff Path near Dublin
- Killarney National Park and Muckross gardens
- Traditional music sessions in pubs (buy a drink)
Cheap eats
- Sausage roll or chicken fillet roll from a deli: about €4–7
- Soup and brown bread in a pub: about €6–9
- Fish and chips: about €12–16
- Pub carvery lunch: about €14–18
- Full Irish breakfast at a B&B (often included)
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in Dublin hostels near O'Connell Street (dorm beds roughly €30–50) and in family B&Bs in Kerry, Clare and the west, where doubles cost about €90–140 (around €50 per person sharing), often with breakfast.
Getting around cheaply
Use the Airlink or Dublin Express buses from the airport (about €8–10) and Leap Card fares in Dublin. Outside Dublin, Bus Éireann and private coaches are cheaper than car hire for solo travellers; a shared rental car is cheapest for groups.
A sample budget day
- Morning: National Museum of Ireland (free) and St Stephen's Green
- Lunch: chicken fillet roll from a deli (about €6)
- Afternoon: DART to Howth (about €4–5 return) and the cliff walk
- Evening: fish and chips on the pier, then a trad session
- Total: about €115 including a shared budget room and transport
More ways to save
- Choose B&Bs that include a full breakfast and skip lunch.
- Travel in the shoulder season, April–May or September–October.
- Self-cater with supermarket food (Aldi, Lidl, Tesco).
- Prioritise free national museums.
- Pick one or two paid big sights rather than all of them.
- Fill up on fuel outside the most remote areas, where it costs more.
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Common questions
Can you visit Ireland on a budget?
Yes, at about €115 a day per person sharing a room and car, using hostels, B&Bs and free museums.
Do I need a car in Ireland?
Not in Dublin, but a car makes the west and south much easier. Buses link the main towns.
What is free in Dublin?
The National Museum, National Gallery, Chester Beatty library, parks and many church exteriors.