Half day · Dublin Bay
The best Howth tours
A boat trip past Ireland’s Eye, guided cliff hikes, a craft beer and seafood walk and a bay cruise to Dún Laoghaire: here is how to spend a day in Howth, with honest advice on getting there and finding the start, what each tour costs on top, and boat trips in bad weather.
See our 6 picks
Howth is an easy half day from Dublin: the DART takes about 25 minutes from Connolly, and tours start in the village from €25. The 50-minute boat trip suits a short visit. The guided hikes suit a morning on the cliffs.
Our 6 picks for Howth
Four tours start in Howth village. The bay cruise sails from Howth to Dún Laoghaire. The last boat trip starts in Dún Laoghaire and sees Howth Head from the water.
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from €25 per person Our top pick 50 minutes 4.7 (1,419) reviews on GetYourGuide
Howth coastal boat trip
A 50-minute boat trip along the cliffs and past the island of Ireland’s Eye. The skipper talks you through it, and you may see seals and seabirds. The listing says small groups. You board at 9 West Pier.
Best for A short visit, and families
Check availability: Howth coastal boat trip on GetYourGuide - from €39 per person
3 hours on foot
Howth Head hike
3 hours 4.9 (182) reviews on GetYourGuide
Howth coastal hike with a local guide
A 3-hour guided hike from the harbour up onto Howth Head. You walk off-road, up and down hills, across heath trails. You meet at a coffee shop on Harbour Road. Food and drinks are not included.
Best for A first walk on Howth Head with a guide
Check availability: Howth coastal hike with a local guide on GetYourGuide - from €59 per person
5 hours on foot
South cliffs hike
5 hours 4.9 (79) reviews on GetYourGuide
Howth safari hike to the south cliffs
A 5-hour hike that starts with scones and tea. It goes to the south-facing cliffs over Dublin Bay, past hidden coves. The minimum age is 12, and it runs in all weather. You meet on Main Street.
Best for Fit walkers aged 12 and up
Check availability: Howth safari hike to the south cliffs on GetYourGuide -
from €89 per person 3 hours 4.9 (103) reviews on GetYourGuide
Howth craft beer and seafood walk
A 3-hour walk through the fishing village with at least five local craft beers and plenty of local seafood. One stop is in Howth’s oldest pub. Guests under 18 get soft drinks. You meet at Howth DART station.
Best for Food and drink lovers
Check availability: Howth craft beer and seafood walk on GetYourGuide -
from €28 per person 60 to 70 minutes 4.1 (70) reviews on GetYourGuide
Dublin Bay cruise from Howth to Dún Laoghaire
A one-way sailing of about 60 to 70 minutes from Howth across the bay to Dún Laoghaire. You pass Ireland’s Eye, Howth Head and the Baily Lighthouse. You get a DART discount voucher for the trip back.
Best for Visitors who want to cross the bay by boat
Check availability: Dublin Bay cruise from Howth to Dún Laoghaire on GetYourGuide -
from €28 per person 1 hour 4.9 (19) reviews on GetYourGuide
Dublin Bay boat tour from Dún Laoghaire
This 1-hour trip starts in Dún Laoghaire, not in Howth. You see Howth Head, Poolbeg Lighthouse and Dalkey Island from the water, with a guide. It is not for people who get seasick.
Best for Visitors staying south of the city
Check availability: Dublin Bay boat tour from Dún Laoghaire on GetYourGuide
Which Howth tour to book
| Tour | From | Duration | Starts at | Who it suits | Why we picked it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Howth coastal boat trip | €25 per person | 50 minutes | 9 West Pier, Howth | A short visit, and families | The most-reviewed Howth tour, with over 1,400 reviews and the lowest price. |
| Howth coastal hike with a local guide | €39 per person | 3 hours | Harbour Road, Howth | A first walk on Howth Head with a guide | The shorter of the two guided hikes, and highly rated. |
| Howth safari hike to the south cliffs | €59 per person | 5 hours | Main Street, Howth | Fit walkers aged 12 and up | The longest hike, for walkers who want the cliffs most visitors miss. |
| Howth craft beer and seafood walk | €89 per person | 3 hours | Howth DART station | Food and drink lovers | The one food tour in Howth, with food and drink in the price. |
| Dublin Bay cruise from Howth to Dún Laoghaire | €28 per person | 60 to 70 minutes | Howth (one way to Dún Laoghaire) | Visitors who want to cross the bay by boat | The only pick that turns the trip home into a cruise. |
| Dublin Bay boat tour from Dún Laoghaire | €28 per person | 1 hour | West Pier, Dún Laoghaire | Visitors staying south of the city | Highly rated, but with few reviews so far (19). |
€25 per person50 minutes 4.7 (1,419)
Details
- Starts at
- 9 West Pier, Howth
- Who it suits
- A short visit, and families
- Why we picked it
- The most-reviewed Howth tour, with over 1,400 reviews and the lowest price.
Howth coastal hike with a local guide
€39 per person3 hours 4.9 (182)
Details
- Starts at
- Harbour Road, Howth
- Who it suits
- A first walk on Howth Head with a guide
- Why we picked it
- The shorter of the two guided hikes, and highly rated.
Howth safari hike to the south cliffs
€59 per person5 hours 4.9 (79)
Details
- Starts at
- Main Street, Howth
- Who it suits
- Fit walkers aged 12 and up
- Why we picked it
- The longest hike, for walkers who want the cliffs most visitors miss.
Howth craft beer and seafood walk
€89 per person3 hours 4.9 (103)
Details
- Starts at
- Howth DART station
- Who it suits
- Food and drink lovers
- Why we picked it
- The one food tour in Howth, with food and drink in the price.
Dublin Bay cruise from Howth to Dún Laoghaire
€28 per person60 to 70 minutes 4.1 (70)
Details
- Starts at
- Howth (one way to Dún Laoghaire)
- Who it suits
- Visitors who want to cross the bay by boat
- Why we picked it
- The only pick that turns the trip home into a cruise.
Dublin Bay boat tour from Dún Laoghaire
€28 per person1 hour 4.9 (19)
Details
- Starts at
- West Pier, Dún Laoghaire
- Who it suits
- Visitors staying south of the city
- Why we picked it
- Highly rated, but with few reviews so far (19).
- Small group: Howth safari hike to the south cliffs takes up to 13 people.
- 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.
Things to do in Howth
In Howth you can walk the harbour, take a boat out to Ireland’s Eye, hike the cliffs and eat seafood. One tour listing says you can see seals on the shore. The boat trip takes 50 minutes, so it fits a short visit.
For a full morning, join a guided hike on Howth Head. For the afternoon, the beer and seafood walk starts at the DART station.
Want a full day further out? See our daily tours from Dublin.
The Howth Cliff Walk with a guide
Two of our picks take you on the cliff paths with a local guide. The 3-hour hike starts at the harbour and climbs onto Howth Head across heath trails. The 5-hour hike goes on to the south-facing cliffs over Dublin Bay.
Wear good shoes and bring rain gear and water. Both hikes go off-road and up and down hills. Neither suits people with walking problems.
Getting to Howth from Dublin: the DART timetable
The DART to Howth takes about 25 minutes from Dublin Connolly. At peak times, several trains an hour reach Howth. Check the Irish Rail timetable for your day.
You cannot tap a bank card on the DART today. Use a Leap card, or buy a ticket from the machine at the station. One tour listing also names the H3 bus from Lower Abbey Street. For another half day out of the city, try Malahide.
Tips before you book in Howth
Find your start point
Each Howth tour meets in a different spot: West Pier, Harbour Road, Main Street or the DART station. One boat trip starts in Dún Laoghaire. Check the listing before you leave.
Boat trips and the weather
If the operator cancels a boat trip for bad weather, GetYourGuide gives you your money back. Bring a warm, waterproof layer for the water.
Check the cancellation cut-off
All six picks show free cancellation on GetYourGuide. Check the exact cut-off on the listing before you book.
Check the DART fare
A Leap Visitor Card covers the DART in Zone 1. Check that your card covers Howth before you rely on it.
Budget for food on the hikes
Food and drinks are not included on the two hikes. The beer and seafood walk is the one tour with food in the price.
Howth: questions and answers
What is there to do in Howth?
How do I get to Howth from Dublin city centre?
How do I get to the Howth Cliff Walk from Dublin?
More Howth tours, 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 GetYourGuideMore day trips from Dublin
Sources (4), facts checked on 25 October 2026
Written by the Things to Do in Dublin editorial team.