After you land at the international airport, pick up your car and drive to the city center. Check in to The Merrion. Comprising four exactingly restored Georgian townhouses, this sophisticated property offers an elegant and refined atmosphere, thoughtful service and fine-dining options. Close to both Trinity College and St. Stephen’s Green, the hotel is an easy walk from most of the city’s leading shops, restaurants, galleries, museums and other cultural venues.

Be sure to make advance reservations for Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud, The Merrion’s Michelin two-star venue helmed by its eponymous chef. The service is the epitome of French decorum, and the food is a finely balanced fusion of French and Irish cuisine.

Spend time exploring Ireland’s capital, which showcases numerous historical treasures, a dining scene on the upswing and several worthwhile live-music bars and concert halls. Highlights of our time downtown included a tour of Dublin Castle and a visit to Trinity College to admire the Book of Kells, an illuminated manuscript of the four gospels of the Christian New Testament dating from A.D. 800, and the Long Room, filled with more than 200,000 of the university’s ancient books.

If the hustle-bustle of the city begins to feel tiresome after a few days, drive to Farmleigh House and Estate, set within verdant Phoenix Park. Originally owned by the Guinness family, the property is now an official state guesthouse. The exceptional Benjamin Iveagh Library showcases first editions of Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels and James Joyce’s Ulysses. Another convenient half-day excursion is the pretty seaside town of Malahide. The high point of our visit was the time spent exploring the gardens surrounding Malahide Castle; regal peacocks roam the property, and there are hidden nooks ideal for relaxation. You could also consider booking a culinary class at the cooking school housed within the charming town of Howth’s eponymous castle on the coast.

Wake up early and head four hours west, in the direction of Cashel House Hotel in Ireland’s West Country. This is your longest day on the road, but the drive is peaceful, well marked and straight. We recommend stopping for lunch in the quiet coastal fishing town of Roundstone, a few miles past the hotel. O’Dowd’s Seafood Bar and Restaurant faces the town’s eponymous bay and Inishnee island beyond. Be sure to order the signature seafood chowder and, if available, the crab claws accompanied by an herbed butter sauce.

From here, Cashel House Hotel is just 15 minutes away. The drive up to the Old World-style white manor is bordered by flawlessly manicured lawns and tall woodlands. Owned by the McEvilly family since 1968, the property feels like a private home. Amenities are limited to a bar and dining room, but the hotel’s detailed book of hikes in the area is incredibly helpful. We spent the rest of our day exploring the Connemara region’s magnificent trails.

Cashel House Hotel is perfectly suited to complete studied indolence — relaxing in the gardens and appreciating the scenic bay views is really the whole point of the place — but those wanting to be more active can book a trip to Inishmore, the largest of the three Aran Islands. The 40-minute boat ride from Rossaveal, managed by Aran Island Ferries, offers magnificent water views, but the wind whips ferociously, so be sure to bring layers. The rugged beauty, the multitude of historic churches and hill forts, the majestic sheer cliffs facing the Atlantic and the austere charm of the Aran Islands make this a mandatory stop on any itinerary in Ireland’s West Country.

Enjoy a final breakfast at the hotel and drive to Adare, voted “the tidiest village in Limerick,” which is located a two-and-a-half-hour drive south of Cashel House. Just a short walk from town lies Adare Manor, a regal resort of the highest order set within a fairy-tale Gothic revival-style mansion bedecked with gargoyles and surrounded by box-patterned formal gardens and a golf course.

A minimum stay of three days is recommended, as the resort offers myriad activities and amenities. Outdoor pursuits range from clay pigeon shooting and fly-fishing in the River Mague, which runs through the grounds, to signature activities including handling sessions with gun dogs and falconry. The acclaimed Tom Fazio-designed golf course will play host to the 2027 Ryder Cup. There is also a first-class spa and a health club encompassing two padel courts (a sport that blends aspects of tennis and squash), a glamorous indoor infinity pool, a hot tub and a state-of-the-art fitness center.

The genuine warmth of the staff, the unapologetically grandiose design of the castle and the aristocratic yet unpretentious ambiance at Adare combine to create a distinguished hotel worthy of returning to often.

Tearing yourself away from this estate is difficult, but it is almost time to head home. Drive two and a half hours to Dublin and check into The Westbury. The location of the hotel, on a small street just off the main pedestrian thoroughfare of Grafton Street, is ideal. Although this property lacks the traditional charm of The Merrion, it is nonetheless a fine hotel and highly recommended.

Dine tonight in the hotel or at one of our recommended restaurants in town. Maybe finish with a nightcap at one of our favorite pubs, The Duke. With a welcoming interior and long bar, this Dublin mainstay since 1822 is a superb spot to sit and engage others in conversation.

Head to the airport for your return flight home.