Getting around · Dublin · Ireland
Getting around Dublin
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Andreas F. Borchert, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Central Dublin is compact and flat, and most sights are within a 20–25 minute walk of O'Connell Bridge. Dublin Bus, the two Luas tram lines and the DART coastal railway cover the rest, all payable with a TFI Leap Card. No.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Walking
- Airports
- DUB
- Need a car?
- No
- Travel pass
- TFI Leap Card
Ways to get around
Walking
From Trinity College you can walk to Temple Bar, Grafton Street, the national museums, Dublin Castle and Christ Church in under 15 minutes; the Guinness Storehouse and Kilmainham are 25–40 minutes west.
Tram
The Luas Red Line runs east–west along the north quays from the Docklands past Smithfield to Heuston station, and the Green Line runs north–south through O'Connell Street and St Stephen's Green to Ranelagh and beyond.
Buy a ticket from the platform machine or tag on with a Leap Card before boarding.
Bus
Dublin Bus covers the whole city and is the main way to reach Kilmainham, Glasnevin and the coast beyond the DART line.
Drivers do not give change for cash fares, so use a Leap Card or the TFI app.
Train
The DART electric railway follows the coast from Howth and Malahide in the north through Connolly, Tara Street and Pearse stations to Dún Laoghaire, Dalkey and Bray in the south.
Taxi
Licensed taxis run on the meter and can be hailed in the street, found at ranks or booked through ride apps.
Cycling
Dublinbikes is the city-centre bike-share scheme, and cycle lanes include routes along the Grand Canal and the coastal path towards Sandymount.
Tickets and passes
TFI Leap Card
A rechargeable smart card for Dublin Bus, Luas, DART and commuter rail with lower fares than cash and daily and weekly fare caps.
Leap Visitor Card
Unlimited travel on Dublin Bus, Luas and DART for one, three or seven days, sold at the airport and at city-centre outlets.
From the airport
Dublin Airport is about 10 km north of the centre and has no rail link. Dublin Express and Aircoach coaches reach O'Connell Street and other central stops in about 30–45 minutes, Dublin Bus routes are cheaper but slower, and a taxi takes 25–40 minutes depending on traffic.
Do you need a car?
No. Parking in Dublin is expensive and traffic is slow, and public transport and walking cover the city and the coast. Hire a car or join a tour for Glendalough, the Wicklow Mountains or the west of Ireland.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Howth | About 30 minutes by DART | DART from Connolly, Tara Street or Pearse |
| Glendalough | About 1–1.5 hours by car or bus | St Kevin's Bus from the city centre, a tour or hire car |
| Newgrange and Brú na Bóinne | About 1 hour by car or tour | Hire car or tour; entry only via the visitor centre |
| Malahide Castle | About 25 minutes by train | DART or commuter train from Connolly |
| Powerscourt Estate | About 40 minutes by car | Hire car or tour; bus to Enniskerry, then a walk |
| Kilkenny | About 1 hour 40 minutes by train | Train from Heuston station |
| Belfast | About 2 hours 10 minutes by train | Enterprise train from Connolly |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Dublin?
No. Parking in Dublin is expensive and traffic is slow, and public transport and walking cover the city and the coast. Hire a car or join a tour for Glendalough, the Wicklow Mountains or the west of Ireland.
+How do you get from the airport to Dublin?
Dublin Airport is about 10 km north of the centre and has no rail link. Dublin Express and Aircoach coaches reach O'Connell Street and other central stops in about 30–45 minutes, Dublin Bus routes are cheaper but slower, and a taxi takes 25–40 minutes depending on traffic.
+What is the best way to get around Dublin?
Walking: From Trinity College you can walk to Temple Bar, Grafton Street, the national museums, Dublin Castle and Christ Church in under 15 minutes; the Guinness Storehouse and Kilmainham are 25–40 minutes west.