Malahide: How to Visit From Dublin

Malahide is a small seaside town with a large castle, and you can see the main parts in one relaxed visit. This guide covers how to get there, what to do and how to fit in Howth.

Step 1: Get to Malahide from Dublin

The easiest way to get there is the DART, the coastal commuter train, from Dublin city centre. Irish Rail lists one service called "DART (Greystones - Malahide and Howth)", so one line serves both towns. The current timetable is valid until 12 December 2026, and Irish Rail says to use its Journey Planner for the latest times, so check the time on the day. In that timetable, DART trains from Dublin Connolly reach Malahide in about 25 minutes. No official page gives the distance in kilometres or the DART fare to Malahide, so this guide does not state them. The castle publishes car times only: about 25 minutes from the city centre and about 10 minutes from the airport. On Monday to Friday, the last DART leaves Malahide at 23:40 and reaches Dublin Connolly at 00:06, so plan your ride home before an evening out. No official page covers evening safety in the village. Irish Rail's timetables page has the PDF.

You cannot tap a bank card on Dublin Bus, Luas or DART at the moment. Use a Leap card, or buy a ticket at the station machine. On the DART you tap on before boarding and tap off when you leave. If you want to compare other ways around the city, see getting around Dublin.

The castle's own site lists two other ways. Buses 32 and 42 run from the city centre to the village, and route 102 runs from Dublin Airport. By car it takes about 25 minutes from the city centre and about 10 minutes from the airport, and there is free parking on site. Coach tours of the wider region exist, and you can browse tours from Dublin, but none of them is a tour of this town.

If you plan to ride the DART and buses several times, a pass can be cheaper than single fares. The DoDublin Freedom Card covers 72 hours of Dublin public transport plus a hop-on hop-off bus pass. It costs from €55 per person and has free cancellation. Its GetYourGuide page names a coastal day out here as one use. It does not cover express airport buses.

Pro Tip From the airport, route 102 goes straight to the village, so a morning arrival can start with the castle before you head into the city.

Step 2: Visit the castle and gardens

The castle and gardens are open daily from 9.30am to 5.30pm, as the castle's plan your visit page states. The Talbot family lived here for over 800 years. The site asks you to allow at least two hours for the castle and the grounds together.

The grounds hold botanic gardens, a Butterfly House that the site calls Ireland's only exotic one, and a woodland Fairy Trail for young children. The castle site advises booking tickets in advance, especially in peak seasons, and tickets are sold by the castle itself. That page does not list prices, so check them when you book. Wheelchair-accessible routes exist through most of the castle and gardens, although some areas can be hard to reach.

One closing rule matters this month. The castle's site says the gardens are completely closed to regular visitors during its Haunted Trail event, with entry only for Haunted Trail ticket holders. Look for the dates on the castle's notice before you travel.

Key Takeaway Book the castle tour ahead, allow two hours, and check for the Haunted Trail closure before you go.

A good day trip leaves you with time to wander.

Step 3: Walk the village and the shore

The village is small, so a short walk covers most of it. The castle is about a 10 minute walk from the village. Plan on two to three hours in total, because the castle alone needs two.

Here is how the half day can run, from the DART station to the castle and back.

There is a limit to what the town offers. It is a calm place, not a full-day sightseeing stop like central Dublin. If you want a busy day with several sights, it may feel short.

Step 4: Pair Malahide with Howth

The two towns go well together because both sit on the same DART line, which Irish Rail lists as "Greystones - Malahide and Howth". They are on different branches of it, so plan one town in the morning and the other after lunch. The DART from Dublin Connolly to Howth takes about 25 to 26 minutes in the Irish Rail timetable.

The village has no tour you can book on GetYourGuide, so Howth is the bookable half. In Things to Do in Dublin's count of GetYourGuide listings on 25 October 2026, 0 listings name Malahide in their title or description, against 6 that name Howth in their title. For a first look at the options, see Howth and its tours.

Two picks fit this day. The Howth coastal boat tour is run by Howth Adventures, lasts 50 minutes and starts at West Pier. It costs from €25 per person, rated 4.7 from 1,419 reviews, with free cancellation. For something longer, the Howth craft beer and seafood tour is run by Hidden Howth Experiences, lasts 3 hours and starts at Howth DART station. It costs from €89 per person, rated 4.9 from 103 reviews, with free cancellation. Ratings come from GetYourGuide traveller reviews, and the site gives no check of them, so treat them as one guide. The boat tour includes the guide, live commentary from your skipper and a view of the coast and Ireland's Eye. The food tour includes at least five local craft beers and local seafood. The boat tour includes the guide and skipper, and the food tour includes the beer and seafood tastings. Neither lists a group size, and neither includes hotel pickup or your DART fare. The Freedom Card costs from €55 per person and covers 72 hours of public transport plus a hop-on hop-off bus pass.

Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 25 October 2026.