Getting around Dublin
The best ways to get around Dublin
Airport coaches and taxis, the Leap Visitor Card, Dublin Bus, the Luas and the DART, trains to Galway and Belfast, and a rental car for day trips. Here is how to get around Dublin, with honest advice on paying for buses and trams when your bank card won't work, an airport coach that doesn't turn up on time, and whether you need a car at all.
See our 6 picks
Getting around Dublin is easy: walk the centre and use a Leap card for Dublin Bus, the Luas and the DART. You cannot tap a bank card on them yet, so buy a Leap Visitor Card at the airport: €8 for a day. From the airport, the coach costs from €9 and a taxi about €30 to €45.
The 6 transport tickets we would book
An airport coach, two airport and bus bundles, and the three hop-on hop-off buses. All show free cancellation on GetYourGuide.
- from €11 per person Our top pick
45 minutes
Airport coach
45 minutes 4.6 (4,115) reviews on GetYourGuide
One-way airport bus transfer
A one-way coach seat between Dublin Airport and the city centre, about 45 minutes. There is a toilet on board and a power socket at every seat.
Best for Arrival day, with bags
Check availability: One-way airport bus transfer on GetYourGuide - from €39 per person
24 or 48 h
Airport + city bus
24 or 48 hours 4.4 (321) reviews on GetYourGuide
Airport coach and hop-on hop-off bus
A Dublin Express ticket from the airport plus a 24- or 48-hour DoDublin hop-on hop-off pass. It includes free entry to the Little Museum of Dublin.
Best for Visitors who want to start sightseeing on day one
Check availability: Airport coach and hop-on hop-off bus on GetYourGuide - from €55 per person
48 h + 72 h
Freedom Card
48 h bus, 72 h transport 4.3 (238) reviews on GetYourGuide
DoDublin Freedom Card
A 48-hour hop-on hop-off pass and a 72-hour Leap Visitor Card for Dublin Bus, the Luas and the DART. It does not cover the express airport buses.
Best for Visitors staying 3 days who want a tour too
Check availability: DoDublin Freedom Card on GetYourGuide -
from €29 per person 24, 48 or 72 hours 4.5 (3,533) reviews on GetYourGuide
DoDublin Original hop-on hop-off bus
A 24-, 48- or 72-hour bus pass with a live guide on every bus, free entry to the Little Museum of Dublin and one free child under 15.
Best for First-timers who want a live guide
Check availability: DoDublin Original hop-on hop-off bus on GetYourGuide - from €32 per person
24, 48 or 72 h
Big Bus
24, 48 or 72 hours 4.4 (1,081) reviews on GetYourGuide
Big Bus hop-on hop-off tour
A 24-, 48- or 72-hour pass with live guides. The 48- and 72-hour tickets add a walking tour and a night tour.
Best for Families: one free child ticket with every adult
Check availability: Big Bus hop-on hop-off tour on GetYourGuide -
from €28 per person 24, 48 or 72 hours 4.3 (1,335) reviews on GetYourGuide
City Sightseeing hop-on hop-off bus
A 24-, 48- or 72-hour pass with an app that tracks the buses. The longer tickets add a museum entry.
Best for Budget travellers who like an app
Check availability: City Sightseeing hop-on hop-off bus on GetYourGuide
Airport and bus tickets compared
| Tour | From | Duration | Where it starts | Who it suits | Why we picked it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| One-way airport bus transfer | €11 per person | 45 minutes | Depends on the option | Arrival day, with bags | The most-reviewed airport ticket here. The coach firms' own sites sell it from €9 online. |
| Airport coach and hop-on hop-off bus | €39 per person | 24 or 48 hours | Dublin Airport Terminal 1 | Visitors who want to start sightseeing on day one | The airport ride and the city bus in one booking. |
| DoDublin Freedom Card | €55 per person | 48 h bus, 72 h transport | Dublin Airport | Visitors staying 3 days who want a tour too | Three days of public transport and a guided bus in one card. |
| DoDublin Original hop-on hop-off bus | €29 per person | 24, 48 or 72 hours | Depends on the option | First-timers who want a live guide | The best-rated hop-on hop-off bus: 4.5 from 3,533 reviews. |
| Big Bus hop-on hop-off tour | €32 per person | 24, 48 or 72 hours | 13 O'Connell Street Upper | Families: one free child ticket with every adult | The most extras on the longer tickets. |
| City Sightseeing hop-on hop-off bus | €28 per person | 24, 48 or 72 hours | College Green (Stop 1) | Budget travellers who like an app | The cheapest of the three buses, from €28. |
€11 per person45 minutes 4.6 (4,115)
Details
- Where it starts
- Depends on the option
- Who it suits
- Arrival day, with bags
- Why we picked it
- The most-reviewed airport ticket here. The coach firms' own sites sell it from €9 online.
Airport coach and hop-on hop-off bus
€39 per person24 or 48 hours 4.4 (321)
Details
- Where it starts
- Dublin Airport Terminal 1
- Who it suits
- Visitors who want to start sightseeing on day one
- Why we picked it
- The airport ride and the city bus in one booking.
€55 per person48 h bus, 72 h transport 4.3 (238)
Details
- Where it starts
- Dublin Airport
- Who it suits
- Visitors staying 3 days who want a tour too
- Why we picked it
- Three days of public transport and a guided bus in one card.
DoDublin Original hop-on hop-off bus
€29 per person24, 48 or 72 hours 4.5 (3,533)
Details
- Where it starts
- Depends on the option
- Who it suits
- First-timers who want a live guide
- Why we picked it
- The best-rated hop-on hop-off bus: 4.5 from 3,533 reviews.
€32 per person24, 48 or 72 hours 4.4 (1,081)
Details
- Where it starts
- 13 O'Connell Street Upper
- Who it suits
- Families: one free child ticket with every adult
- Why we picked it
- The most extras on the longer tickets.
City Sightseeing hop-on hop-off bus
€28 per person24, 48 or 72 hours 4.3 (1,335)
Details
- Where it starts
- College Green (Stop 1)
- Who it suits
- Budget travellers who like an app
- Why we picked it
- The cheapest of the three buses, from €28.
- None of these listings states a group size.
- None of the 6 includes hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point.
- All 6 offer free cancellation.
- Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 25 October 2026. Prices are “from” prices in euros and can change; the booking page shows the live price.
Dublin Airport to the city: bus, taxi or transfer
- from €9
- airport coach, online
- €30–45
- taxi to the city
The airport coach is the cheapest direct way into Dublin. Dublin Express and Aircoach both sell tickets from €9 one way online.
Dublin Express stops at more than 15 places in the city, including Temple Bar, Trinity College, O'Connell Street and Heuston. Its fastest trip takes 14 minutes, and two 20 kg bags are included.
The coach stops by the river, so our guide to Dublin's Aston Quay, O'Connell Bridge and Temple Bar is a good first walk.
Aircoach route 700 runs up to every 15 minutes. Slower city buses, such as routes 16, 41 and 102, also serve the airport and are cheapest with a Leap card.
If your coach is late or you miss it
Both coach firms let you ride standby up to 12 hours either side of your booked time. If you miss your coach, take the next one.
Taxis from the airport
A taxi to the city centre costs about €30 to €45, as the airport's own page says. Taxis wait outside both terminals 24 hours a day.
The airport itself is open 24/7 and closes only on Christmas Day. To be near a coach stop, see where to stay in Dublin.
Hop-on hop-off and transport passes compared
For plain transport, the Leap Visitor Card is the best value: €8 for 1 day or €18 for 3 days. It covers Dublin Bus, the Luas and the DART, but not the tour buses.
The tour buses cost more but add a guide or audio and extras such as museum entry. The Freedom Card bundles both, from €55.
To pick between DoDublin, Big Bus and City Sightseeing, compare the three buses on our hop-on hop-off bus page.
Big Bus also sells its bus with Storehouse entry. For the Storehouse on its own, see our Guinness Storehouse Dublin tour guide.
Guides on getting around Dublin
- Dublin Airport to the city centre: bus, taxi or transfer
- Dublin to Galway by train and bus
- Howth and Malahide from Dublin by DART
- Ferries between Dublin and Britain: Holyhead and Liverpool
- Dublin to Belfast by train, bus or car
- Glendalough and Powerscourt from Dublin by bus or car
- Dublin public transport: Luas, DART, buses and the Leap Visitor Card
- Trains and buses from Dublin to the rest of Ireland
Getting around the city: walking, bus, Luas, DART and bikes
Most visitors walk the centre and take a bus, the Luas tram or the DART train for longer trips. EPIC, for example, is about 8 minutes' walk from O'Connell Street.
On the bus, you tap your Leap card once when you get on. On the Luas and the DART, you tap on before you ride and tap off when you leave. If you forget on the Luas, you can be fined €100.
Without a Leap card, you pay cash on the bus: €2.00 for a short trip or €2.60 for a long one.
Dublin trains: the DART and commuter rail
The DART is the coastal train. Howth is about 25 minutes on it from Connolly.
Your Leap card works on the DART and commuter trains in Zone 1, with the same 90-minute fare as the buses.
Dublin Bikes
The city bike scheme has 1-day and 3-day tickets for visitors. The first 30 minutes of each ride are free. Bikes run from 05:00 to 00:30, and you can return them any time.
Leap Card, Leap Visitor Card and which pass to buy
- €8
- Leap Visitor Card, 1 day
- €18
- Leap Visitor Card, 3 days
- €6
- daily cap, standard Leap
Buy a Leap Visitor Card if you are staying 3 days or more. For one or two days, a standard Leap card can cost less.
The Leap Visitor Card costs €8 for 1 day, €18 for 3 days or €24 for 7 days. Its time starts when you first use it.
A standard Leap card needs a €5 deposit. A 90-minute fare costs €2.00, and you never pay more than €6.00 a day or €24.00 a week.
Which one to buy
For one or two days, a standard Leap caps at €6 a day, less than the €8 Visitor Card, but you pay the €5 deposit. Over 3 days, the Visitor Card works out at €6 a day with no deposit.
Where to buy it
At the airport, buy it at WHSmith in Terminal 1 or Spar in Terminal 2. In town, Leap agents include Spar on O'Connell Street and Dublin Bus at 59 Upper O'Connell Street.
Where it does not work
The Visitor Card does not work on hop-on hop-off buses or Bus Éireann. The Leap pages do not list the Dublin Express or Aircoach coaches either, so expect to pay for those separately.
You cannot tap a bank card on Dublin Bus, the Luas or the DART today. Bank-card tap is coming to some Local Link buses first.
Dublin taxis, taxi apps and Uber
Dublin taxis use a meter, and the National Transport Authority sets the most they may charge. By day, a trip starts at €4.40 and then costs €1.32 a kilometre.
Nights, Sundays and public holidays cost more: €5.40 to start and €1.81 a kilometre. From the airport to the city, expect about €30 to €45.
You can hail a taxi, find one at a rank or book through an app such as FREENOW.
Uber in Dublin
Uber works in Dublin for licensed taxis: Uber's Ireland page links to Taxi Dublin. It does not say whether private-car rides run here, so expect a metered taxi.
Route by route: how to get there without a tour
The table shows the cheapest, fastest and easiest way to each place. The cheapest way to Glendalough is St Kevin's Bus, at €23 return.
The fastest trip to Howth is the DART, about 25 minutes from Connolly. The easiest trip to the Cliffs of Moher is a tour, as the train and bus take a full day.
| Route | Option | Time | Cost | How often | Hassle | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dublin Airport to the city centre | Bus (Dublin Express) | fastest 14 min | from €9 one way online | about 102 coaches a day, first 03:05, last 00:35 | direct to Temple Bar, Trinity College, O'Connell Street and Heuston stops; 2 × 20 kg bags included | Dublin Express |
| Bus (Aircoach 700) | not stated on the pages read | from €9 one way | up to every 15 min | direct city-centre coach; standby 12 hours either side of the booked time | Aircoach | |
| Bus transfer ticket (GetYourGuide) | 45 min | from €11 | check the listing | toilet on board and a power socket at every seat | GetYourGuide listing | |
| Bus (TFI city routes 16, 41, 102 and others) | not stated on the pages read | €2.00 with a Leap card (90-minute fare), if the route is eligible | several routes; times on the TFI journey planner | slower stopping buses; Leap card for the lowest fare | Dublin Airport | |
| Taxi | not stated | about €30–45 to Dublin City (airport estimate) | on demand, 24/7 outside both terminals | metered, door to door; fare for the whole car | Dublin Airport | |
| Dublin Port to the city centre | Bus (Dublin Bus 53) | not stated | standard fares | not stated on the page read | Talbot Street to Ferry Terminal 1 | Irish Ferries |
| Bus (Nolan Coaches express) | not stated | €3 each way | not stated on the page read | cashless: pay by card on the bus | Irish Ferries | |
| Tram (Luas Red Line) | not stated | Leap or ticket machine fares | not stated on the page read | The Point stop is opposite the port entrance on East Wall Road | Irish Ferries | |
| Dublin to Howth | Train (DART) | about 25 min from Connolly | Leap 90-minute fare €2.00 within Zone 1; exact Howth fare not read | several trains an hour at peak | tap on and off with Leap; no bank-card tap | Irish Rail DART timetable (valid to 12 Dec 2026) |
| Dublin to Glendalough | Bus (St Kevin's) | about 65–80 min (11:00 departure) | €14 single / €23 return | winter: 11:00 and 18:00 from St Stephen's Green North; check the live timetable | pay on the bus (card, cash or Leap, not Leap Visitor); runs all year except Christmas Day | St Kevin's Bus Service |
| Tour | 9 hours | from €45 | daily departures | includes Kilkenny; Kilkenny Castle entry and lunch not included | GetYourGuide listing | |
| Tour | 10.5 hours | from €38 per person | daily departures | Kilkenny, Wicklow and Glendalough with a sheepdog show; Glendalough site entry included | GetYourGuide listing | |
| Dublin to the Cliffs of Moher | Train + bus (Galway, then Bus Éireann 350) | train about 2 h 20–2 h 50, bus time not stated | train fare not read; Cliffs entry from €15 online | about 13 trains a day Mon–Sat; route 350 up to ten services a day | change at Galway Ceannt station; plan a full day | Irish Rail / Cliffs of Moher |
| Tour | 13 hours | from €69 per person | daily departures | coach and guide, Galway and Burren stops; Cliffs, visitor centre and O'Brien's Tower entry included | GetYourGuide listing | |
| Tour | 13 hours | from €78 per person | daily departures | Cliffs, Burren and Galway City; Cliffs entry included | GetYourGuide listing | |
| Dublin to the Giant's Causeway | Train (Enterprise to Belfast only) | about 2 h 8 min to Belfast Grand Central | fare not listed on the page | hourly; 15 services Mon–Sat, 8 on Sunday | gets you to Belfast; the onward bus to the Causeway was not read; an ETA may be needed | Irish Rail |
| Tour | 12 hours | from €65 per person | daily departures | crosses into Northern Ireland: bring sterling; the Causeway visitor centre may close in high winds | GetYourGuide listing | |
| Dublin to Newgrange | Train + bus (Enterprise to Drogheda, then Local Link 163) | train about 38 min, bus about 35 min | fares not read | 6 buses a day Mon–Sun (Sept 2025 timetable); Enterprise hourly | Newgrange needs a pre-booked timed ticket from the Heritage Ireland site | TFI Local Link Louth Meath Fingal |
| Tour | 8 hours | from €85 | daily departures | listing says Newgrange and Brú na Bóinne entry is included | GetYourGuide listing | |
| Dublin to Kilkenny | Train (Heuston to Kilkenny MacDonagh) | about 1 h 27–1 h 52 | fare not read | 11 trains a day Mon–Sat, about 5 on Sunday | direct, no change | Irish Rail timetable (valid from 14 Dec 2025) |
| Tour | 9 hours | from €45 | daily departures | with Glendalough; Kilkenny Castle entry not included | GetYourGuide listing | |
| Dublin to Galway and Cork | Train (Heuston to Galway) | about 2 h 20–2 h 50 | fare not read | about 13 trains a day Mon–Sat | direct | Irish Rail timetable (valid from 14 Dec 2025) |
| Train (Heuston to Cork) | about 2 h 30 | fare not read | hourly Mon–Sat | direct | Irish Rail timetable (valid from 14 Dec 2025) |
Read from the operators' own pages on 25 October 2026. Fares and timetables change; check before you travel.
Day trips on your own: train, bus or car by area
Many day trips from Dublin work without a tour. Howth is the easiest: about 25 minutes on the DART from Connolly.
Glendalough is a bus ride. St Kevin's Bus leaves St Stephen's Green North and costs €23 return. In winter it leaves at 11:00 and reaches Glendalough at about 12:05 to 12:20, but times change, so check the live timetable.
The Cliffs of Moher take a train to Galway, then Bus Éireann route 350. If the train-and-bus day looks long, a Cliffs of Moher tour from Dublin does the driving.
Kilkenny is a direct train from Heuston, about 1 hour 30 minutes. For Newgrange, take the train to Drogheda, then Local Link bus 163. You must book a Newgrange tour ticket ahead.
Belfast is about 2 hours 8 minutes on the Enterprise train from Connolly. It is in the UK, so bring pounds and check if you need an ETA.
Tours that do the driving are compared on our day trips from Dublin page.
Intercity trains, buses and arriving by ferry
Ireland's main cities are direct trains from Dublin. Galway is about 2 hours 20 to 2 hours 50 from Heuston, and Cork about 2 hours 30.
Aircoach also runs from the airport to Cork (704X) and to Belfast (705X).
From the ferry port
Dublin Bus route 53 links Talbot Street with Ferry Terminal 1. Nolan Coaches runs an express for €3 each way, paid by card on the bus.
Stena Line's Terminal 2 has its own bus to George's Quay. The Luas Red Line stop The Point is opposite the port entrance.
When a rental car makes sense, and when it does not
You don't need a car in Dublin itself: buses, the Luas and the DART cover the city. A car helps for Wicklow, the west coast or a group sharing the cost.
The M50 ring road has a toll with no barrier. A car pays €2.60 to €3.80, and you must pay by 20:00 the next day. Your rental firm may bill the toll to you.
Published average prices for a rental car at Dublin Airport and in Ireland ran from €46 to €64 a day across 3 price sites, as gathered for the 2026 Dublin Travel Cost Study on 25 October 2026.
Parking in Dublin city centre
We found no official city-wide parking price, so check each car park. Kilmainham Gaol has no car park. The Guinness Storehouse has accessible spaces at the Crane Street car park.
If you'll drive to Wicklow or the west coast, compare prices before you land:
Tips for getting around Dublin
Buy your Leap card at the airport
WHSmith in Terminal 1 and Spar in Terminal 2 sell the Leap Visitor Card. You need it from your first bus.
Tap off on the Luas and the DART
On trams and trains, tap your Leap card on and off. On buses, tap on only.
Missed your coach? Take the next one
Dublin Express and Aircoach tickets work standby up to 12 hours either side of the booked time.
Pay the M50 toll by 20:00 the next day
There is no barrier and no cash. Pay online at eflow.ie, at a Payzone shop or by phone.
Getting around Dublin: questions and answers
Is there Uber in Dublin?
Can I tap my bank card on Dublin buses, the Luas or the DART?
Is the Leap Visitor Card worth it?
How do I get a taxi in Dublin?
How do I get from Dublin to Galway?
How do I get from Dublin to Belfast?
Does Dublin Airport close at night?
How do I get from the ferry port into Dublin?
More Dublin transfers and bus passes, live
More options with live prices and availability, straight from GetYourGuide.
See every tour with today's prices and open dates on GetYourGuide.
Browse all on GetYourGuideSources (20), facts checked on 25 October 2026
- Dublin Airport: by bus
- Dublin Airport: by taxi
- Dublin Airport: FAQs
- Dublin Express
- Aircoach: timetables
- Leap Visitor Card
- Leap: TFI 90 Minute Fare
- TFI: bus fares
- TFI: Luas fares
- TFI: taxi fares
- TFI: contactless on Local Link
- Uber: Ireland
- Dublin Bikes
- Irish Rail: timetables by route
- St Kevin's Bus Service
- Cliffs of Moher: how to get here
- Heritage Ireland: Brú na Bóinne
- Irish Ferries: Dublin bus times
- TII: M50 tolling
- UK Home Office: ETA factsheet
Written by the Things to Do in Dublin editorial team.