Home exchange and house swaps in Ireland

Home exchange in Ireland, from Dublin to Connemara and from Kinsale to the Dingle Peninsula: with Homeforswap, swap your home and go to Ireland without paying for the night, between Atlantic cliffs and stone villages.

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Ireland is best discovered without hurrying: a narrow road between two stone walls, a village where Irish is spoken, a pub where traditional music is played. For a stay of two weeks or more, living in a local home changes everything: a proper kitchen, neighbours who give advice, and all the time in the world to wait for a clear spell over the Atlantic.

With Homeforswap, you choose the format that suits you: simultaneous swap, deferred swap at different dates, or non-reciprocal swap if you can’t host. This page presents the most popular regions for a home exchange in Ireland, and our advice for preparing yours.

Why Ireland is so well suited to a home exchange

🏡 A country you explore from base to base

The most beautiful landscapes are scattered: the Kerry peninsulas, Connemara, the Clare coast. A home in the middle of a region lets you fan out by car without changing beds every evening.

🌧️ A climate that makes you want a proper home

It can rain in any season, according to Met Éireann. Having a living room, heating and a kitchen for rainy days makes the stay far more pleasant than a room for a single night.

🍀 Advice from locals, not a brochure

The pub with traditional music, the beach sheltered from the wind, the road to avoid in a large vehicle: your Irish hosts know their patch, and a welcome guide puts it on paper.

Where to swap your home in Ireland

From the Atlantic coast to the Wicklow Mountains, here are eight swap areas to guide your search.

🏙️ Dublin and its bay

Trinity College and the Book of Kells, Phoenix Park, then the DART to Howth or Dalkey for a walk facing the sea. A human-sized capital, well connected.

🥾 Wicklow and its mountains

The only national park in the east of the country, the monastic site of Glendalough, founded by St Kevin, and the gardens of Powerscourt. Hiking south of Dublin.

🏰 Kilkenny and the east of Ireland

Kilkenny Castle and the Medieval Mile to St Canice’s Cathedral. Further north, the Neolithic tombs of Newgrange, in County Meath, can be visited with a guide.

🍽️ Cork and West Cork

Cork’s English Market, the harbour of Kinsale known for its food, Cobh and its quays. Further west, the rugged, wild Mizen Head and Beara peninsulas.

🏞️ Kerry: Killarney, Ring of Kerry, Dingle

Lakes and forests of Killarney, the loop of the Iveragh Peninsula, the Slea Head road at Dingle. Two areas where Irish is heard daily: Corca Dhuibhne and Uíbh Ráthach.

🎶 Galway and Connemara

The Latin Quarter and Spanish Arch in Galway, then Kylemore Abbey, Connemara National Park and the Sky Road at Clifden. A region of lakes, bogs and music.

🌊 Clare: Cliffs of Moher and the Burren

The Cliffs of Moher, 214 metres high, seen from the coast or from the sea setting out from Doolin. The village is also known for its traditional music pubs.

⛰️ The North-West: Mayo, Sligo, Donegal

Croagh Patrick and the greenway to Achill Island, Ben Bulben, so dear to Yeats, at Sligo, the cliffs of Slieve League and Glenveagh National Park in Donegal.

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Making your first home exchange in Ireland a success with Homeforswap

Choose the season with the rain in mind — According to Met Éireann, February to June is often the driest period, while autumn and early winter are wetter. Pack waterproof clothing, whatever the date.
Sort out the car question — People drive on the left, often on narrow roads. Agree with your hosts whether a vehicle is part of the swap; insurance is yours to arrange. Ferries serve Dublin and Rosslare.
Focus on a single area — Distances look short on the map but the roads are slow. It is better to explore Kerry or Connemara in depth than to rush from one to the other in a week.
Write a welcome guide — Heating, drying laundry, the nearest small shop, bus times, the pub where the music starts early: these details matter more than a tourist map. A written exchange contract completes the picture.

Frequently asked questions

It depends on your nationality. Check the entry requirements, including the travel document needed, on the official website of the Irish authorities and in the travel advice from your own country’s foreign ministry before you book.

It can rain all year round. According to Met Éireann, February to June is often the driest period, and summers are fairly mild. For a walking or sightseeing stay, spring and early summer give you a good chance of fine days.

In cities it is unnecessary: Dublin, Cork or Galway can be covered on foot or by bus, and the DART runs along the Dublin coast. For the countryside, the peninsulas and the cliffs, a car is useful. People drive on the left; agree with your hosts whether their vehicle is included.

Between members there is no rent and no commission. Transport (plane, or ferry if you bring your own car), meals, end-of-stay cleaning and insurance remain to pay. A Homeforswap subscription lets you publish your listing and swap without limit.

No. Irish is the first official language and English the second, according to the Constitution, and English is enough to get by everywhere. In Gaeltacht areas, such as Donegal or the Dingle Peninsula, Irish remains the everyday language: a few words are appreciated.

Each member can confirm their identity, every stay relies on the reviews left by the community, and an exchange agreement frames the deal. Homeforswap remains reachable if you have any questions.

All home exchange destinations in Ireland

Explore the island county by county, or go straight to the most sought-after cities.

Regions of Ireland

Cities in Ireland

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Also worth a look: what is home exchange · how it works · all our destinations