Want to visit Ireland without blowing your entire vacation budget on airfare?
You don’t need insider connections or complicated travel hacks – just two easy-to-use (and totally free) tools: Kayak Explore and Google Flights. These platforms make it simple to find the best airfare, whether you’re ready to book or searching for the best deal.

These tools are especially handy if you're using my flight monitoring strategy and haven't seen prices drop. When you're willing to be flexible with travel dates you open yourself to the kind of deals most travelers miss.

Ireland Family Vacations is an ad-free resource, supported through partnerships with trusted travel brands. We may earn income from purchases made via affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn commission from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support. ​See why this is important.

Try These Two Tools to Find Cheaper Ireland Flights

Let’s break down how to use both Kayak and Google Flights to find the best fares to Ireland (and beyond).

Sunrise over clouds as my flight approaches Ireland Kayak Explore: Dream Big, Spend Less

One of the most powerful tools for finding unexpected travel deals is Kayak Explore. This tool maps out low fares from your chosen departure airport to anywhere in the world—including Ireland.

Instead of entering a specific destination, just plug in your home airport and let Kayak show you what’s possible.

How to Use It:

• Head to kayak.com/explore
• Type in your departure airport (say, Chicago O’Hare or JFK)
• Leave the destination blank
• You can search “Anytime” or narrow it by month or trip length (perfect if you’re planning for school holidays or work breaks)
• Set your maximum budget on the left sidebar – this filters out anything over your limit

Pro tip: Slide the map over to Europe to see where the best transatlantic deals are, including Dublin, Shannon, and maybe even Belfast. You might even spot surprising deals to nearby cities like London or Paris where you can hop on a budget flight to Ireland.

Why Kayak Explore Works So Well

• Often shows lower fares than Google Flights
• Built-in flexibility for travel dates (up to ±3 days)
• Easily browse entire continents for inspiration

But there are a few trade-offs:

• The prices listed are for economy only – but armed with this information you can visit the airline website to see if there are deals in the other flight classes
• You’ll need to travel when the deal is available, not necessarily on your ideal dates

If you're dreaming of Ireland but your calendar is open, this tool is unbeatable.

Aer Lingus flight over Ireland Google Flights “Anywhere”: Best for Specific Needs

If you want a bit more control over dates, stops, and flight class – but still want the flexibility to discover deals – Google Flights is your friend.

There are two easy ways to use the “Anywhere” search:

• After entering your home airport, leave the destination blank and click “Search”
• OR click the “Explore” tab and select your preferences from there

Once you’re in, choose Flexible Dates instead of putting in a strict travel window. You can search weekends, 1-week trips, or 2-week trips, across one month—or up to six months out.

Want to fly business class? Only looking for nonstop flights? Traveling with kids? You can fine-tune it all.

Why Google Flights Might Be the Better Fit

• Perfect for travelers with fixed schedules (like school breaks or time-off windows)
• Lets you select flight class, stops, number of passengers, etc.
• Easy to compare multiple airlines and booking platforms

Keep in mind:

• You won’t always see the rock-bottom fares that Kayak uncovers
• The more restrictions you place, the less likely you’ll see a jaw-dropping deal

But if you’re planning a summer trip to Ireland and need specific dates or flight types, Google Flights gives you the best of both flexibility and precision.

Which Tool is Best for You?

Use Kayak Explore if:

• You’re flexible on your travel dates
• You’re browsing for fun or trip inspiration
• You want to build your trip around the best fare

Use Google Flights “Anywhere” if:

• You need to travel on specific dates
• You want a specific cabin class
• You want to track prices for specific routes

Final Tip: Let the Fare Lead the Trip

If you can be open about when you go (and even which airport you fly into or out of), you may find fares that are hundreds of dollars cheaper than what you'd expect. Sometimes you’ll find Dublin cheaper than Shannon, or vice versa – so be sure to check both if you’re renting a car or planning a circular route.

Even once-a-year flexibility – like planning next summer’s Ireland trip now based on today’s low fares – can make your trip much more affordable.

Traveling in Ireland podcast episode 283

The post Two Free Tools to Help You Find the Best Airfare to Ireland appeared first on Ireland Family Vacations.