Stepping Into My 40s: Why I’m Celebrating the Next Decade With a Solo Trip to Ireland
When I turned 30, I took my very first solo trip abroad, an adventure through Greece and Turkey that changed my life forever. Now, as I reach the end of my 30s, I’m celebrating this new decade by taking a solo trip to Ireland, a country that feels like the perfect place to reflect on who I’ve become and who I’m becoming next. That trip changed me. So much so that I wrote about it here: My First Solo Trip to Greece and Turkey.
It was the decade-defining adventure that taught me I can trust myself, that I am capable, and that life expands when I do.
Now, as I approach the end of my 30s and prepare to step into the big 4-0, I felt that same little spark – the one that says, “You need to go. Alone. Again.”
This decade has been full. Beautiful. Chaotic. Transformational. And honestly… a lot. I’ve outgrown jobs, cities, relationships, versions of myself, and expectations I no longer feel obligated to carry. I’ve also grown into deeper confidence, softer boundaries, sharper intuition, and a kind of self-love that didn’t exist ten years ago.
So, in true Solo Travel Woman fashion, I’m honoring the next chapter the same way I honored the last: with a solo adventure.
This time… I’m heading to Ireland.
Why Ireland?
Taking a solo trip to Ireland felt like the natural next chapter in my journey as a solo female traveler.
Ireland is soulful, rugged, warm, and unapologetically real – the perfect place to welcome a decade where authenticity matters more than anything. It’s the kind of destination where you can wander cobblestone streets in Dublin one day, stand on a cliff looking out at the Atlantic the next, sip whiskey beside strangers-turned-friends, and end each evening feeling alive in your bones.
It’s both grounding and invigorating.
Comforting and wildly free.
Soft and adventurous: a lot like the way I want to live my 40s.
My “Stepping Into 40” Solo Itinerary
Here’s what I booked, a blend of city energy, coastal magic, and slow travel, just for me.
📍 Dublin: A Slow Start to the Next Chapter
- Flight: Boston → Dublin
- Hotel: Clayton Hotel Charlemont
- Plan:
- Wander the city without a rigid schedule
- Explore St. Stephen’s Green and Grafton Street
- Cozy pubs with live music (because birthday trips need soundtracks)
- Maybe cry-laugh journal about turning 40 with a pint of Guinness (optional but likely)
Why Dublin first:
Dublin is the ideal first stop when planning a solo trip to Ireland, especially for women traveling alone for the first time.
📍 Cork: Slowing Down & Soaking In
- Train: Dublin → Cork
- Hotel: Isaacs Hotel Cork City
- Plan:
- Explore the English Market
- Day trip options: Cobh, Kinsale, or Blarney Castle
- Walk the river, take photos of colorful streets, and get lost (intentionally)
Why Cork:
Everyone talks about Dublin, but Cork whispers its beauty. I want some quiet, charm, and reflective “me time.”
📍 Galway + Cliffs of Moher: Pure Magic
- Train: Cork → Galway
- Hotel: The Residence Hotel
- Plan:
- Day trip to the Cliffs of Moher
- Wander the Latin Quarter
- Traditional Irish music
- Ocean air therapy
Why Galway:
It’s youthful, artistic, musical, and warm – the perfect place to be reminded that age is just a number and adventure has no timeline.
📍 Return to Dublin + Belfast Day Trip: Ending With Intention
- Train: Galway → Dublin
- Stay again at the Clayton Charlemont
- December 5: Day trip to Belfast
- Final night: A nice dinner, a quiet walk, and a moment to honor the decade ahead
Why finish in Dublin:
To come full circle – back to where this trip began, and symbolically, back to myself.
What This Trip Really Represents
When I look at who I was at 30, standing in the Athens airport with shaky hands and a brave heart, I feel immense pride for her. She didn’t know what she was capable of. She didn’t know she’d spend the next decade building a career she loves, traveling the world, surviving heartbreak, finding herself again (and again), and becoming a woman she genuinely admires.
This Ireland trip is not about checking off cities.
It’s about honoring growth.
It’s about choosing myself – again.
It’s about stepping into 40 with gratitude, courage, softness, and a little untamable fire.
Because solo travel isn’t about being alone.
It’s about being with yourself, fully.
What I Hope Other Women Take From This
1. You don’t need permission to start again.
A new decade, a new chapter, or simply a new week – you can choose differently at any time.
2. Solo travel is not an escape; it’s a return.
Every solo trip has brought me back to who I really am.
3. Your 40s can be fun, wild, intentional, and healing.
Aging is a privilege and an adventure.
4. You will never regret investing in experiences that expand you.
Trips like these stay with you long after the suitcase is unpacked.
Budget Tips From My Planning
- Trains are affordable, scenic, and easy to book through Irish Rail.
- Hotels in Ireland vary widely – booking early saves money (Dublin especially).
- Pubs over restaurants keep food costs lower and vibes higher.
- Group day tours (like Cliffs of Moher) are cost-effective and perfect for meeting fellow travelers.
- Booking flights into Dublin is often cheapest from the U.S., and the city is an easy home base.
Safety Tips for Solo Travelers in Ireland
- Share your itinerary with someone you trust.
- Book accommodations in central, walkable areas.
- Stick to well-reviewed tour companies for day trips.
- At pubs, keep an eye on your drink.
- Trust your gut – always.
Ireland is incredibly welcoming and one of the easiest countries in Europe for solo travel.
If you’re considering a solo trip to Ireland, I can’t recommend it enough – it’s safe, welcoming, easy to navigate, and full of soul.
Closing Thoughts: Turning 40, the Solo Travel Way
If my 30s were about finding myself, my 40s will be about honoring myself.
And I can’t think of a better place to celebrate that than Ireland – with its cliffs, its music, its stories, and its unapologetic soul.
Here’s to stepping into a new decade with courage, clarity, and a passport that’s ready for whatever comes next. ☘️
Happy traveling,
xoxo Sara
