Upon arrival at Dublin Airport, meet your driver in the arrivals hall for the private transfer to your centrally located hotel. After checking in, the remainder of the day is free to rest or explore on your own. Dublin is the cultural capital of Ireland, offering Trinity College, the Book of Kells, the National Gallery, Number Twenty Nine ( a 1790 Georgian House Museum), Dublin castle, St. Audoen's (the city's only remaining medieval parish church), Abbey Theater, and St. Patrick's Cathedral, the burial site of Jonathan Swift. Also not to be missed are the General Post Office (site of the 1916 Easter uprising), and Kilmainham jail, where leaders of several rebellions from the late 1700's to 1916 were detained, and in some cases executed, including James Connelly and Patrick Pearse. At the Docklands, sits the “Jeanie Johnson Famine ship". Witness the challenges and get a stark insight of the harsh conditions on board during the Atlantic crossing to America. Dinner on your own this evening, and Dublin offers a variety of international cuisine. End the evening taking in some Irish music sessions in the Temple Bar district.

(Accommodations, Dublin)

(Breakfast & Accommodations, Dublin)

(Breakfast & Accommodations, Dublin)

After breakfast, take a taxi to Connolly Rail Station for your 3–hour ride to Belfast. After checking into your hotel, explore some of the sites of this cosmopolitan city on your own. The city boasts a glittering waterfront lined with modern art, and the state–of–the–art Ulster Museum, with artifacts retrieved from the 1588 wreck of the Spanish galleon Girona. Hungry? Why not lunch on a floating restaurant? A ten–minute walk from city center will take you to Holohan's, on board the Belfast Barge. Moored on the River Lagan, this family–owned serves traditional Irish food.

Belfast has dramatically changed since the turbulent clashes between the Catholic and Protestant supporters. During the "Marching season", there are still parades commemorating William of Orange's victory over James II at the Battle of the Boyne, however the sectarian violence has fortunately quieted down. And you will still see the giant murals exhorting the IRA by Falls Road or the the pro–British ones along Shankhill road. One of the best ways to see Belfast's famous wall art is to reserve a Black Taxi Tour. The drivers supply an informative history lesson peppered with local tidbits, which reflects on both the city's intrinsic traditions and tells the story of the "Troubles". Another option is the green oasis in the city; the Botanical Gardens, home to an exotic assortment of plants and trees including geranium, fuchsia, begonia, and a hornbeam–leafed oak planted in the 1880s, and even displaying bananas and orchid plants. In the evening, pop into the Crown Liquor Saloon. It's a National Trust historical monument and Belfast's most famous bar, refurbished by Patrick Flanagan in the late 19th century. Legend has it that Flanagan, a Catholic, argued with his Protestant wife over what the pub's name should be. His wife prevailed and it was named the Crown in honor of the British monarchy. Flanagan took his sneaky revenge by placing the crown mosaic underfoot where customers would tread on it every day!

(Breakfast, Dublin; Accommodations, Belfast)

(Breakfast & Accommodations, Belfast)

A full–day tour awaits you as no visit to Northern Ireland is complete without seeing what is commonly called "The eighth wonder of the world," Giant's Causeway. We'll meet at the Europa Hotel, then travel along the Causeway Coastal Route from Belfast, one of the world's five most spectacular drives! Enjoy the first stop of the day at Carrickfergus Castle, before traveling onward to the world famous Carrick–a–Rede rope bridge. Only the brave will make the terrifying trip across the bridge that was originally erected by salmon fishermen (*weather permitting), or for those who prefer to keep their feet firmly on land, take one of the exhilarating walks and enjoy the stunning views. Take a break from sightseeing when you relax over lunch at Bushmills Distillery. Here you can also browse in the extensive gift shop, or make a visit to the bar to have a swift taste or two of the famous tipple! After your stop at the Distillery, you will re–board the luxury coach to move on to the highlight of the tour, the Giant's Causeway, the island's only UNESCO World Heritage Site.* Spend some time climbing over the ancient stones, snapping some photos, and enjoying the myths and legends that surround this world famous attraction. We then re–board our coach, and make our way to along the coast, for one last short stop at the ancient ruins of Dunluce Castle for a quick photo stop. We'll return to Belfast approximately at 7:00pm.

(Breakfast & Accommodations, Belfast)

*A National Trust fee applies for anyone who wants to cross the rope bridge, or to enter the Visitor Centre at the Giant's Causeway. An exclusive Fast Track Ticket for Carrick–a–Rede rope bridge crossing can be purchased on the coach, on the day of your tour at the discounted price of just 5.00 GBP (Pounds Sterling) per person.

After breakfast, take a taxi to Belfast Station for your return rail trip to Dublin. You'll still have the remainder of the day for independent sightseeing and last–minute shopping for that traditional Irish knit sweater and claddaugh ring. Grafton Street is one the city's main shopping promenade, but also the Central North district over the River Liffey offers many trendy shops. For book lovers, it's the Gutter Shop in Temple Bar, and Knobs & Knockers off Nassau Street offers replica Georgian door–knockers; a great souvenir of your Dublin visit.

On a more somber note is a stop at Glasnevin Cemetery. You needn't be Irish or a historian to appreciate this historic landmark. See the final resting places of those who shaped the course of Irish history like Michael Collins, Eamon De Valera, Charles Parnell, and Daniel O'Connell. There are General History Tours as well as a Genealogy area to trace your ancestry. Take bus 40 or 140 from O'Connell St or use the Hop on–Hop off bus.

(Breakfast, Belfast; Accommodations, Dublin)

After breakfast, meet your driver for your private transfer to Dublin Airport for your return flight home or on to your next Avanti Destination!

(Breakfast, Dublin)