17 Best Day Trips from Dublin by Train, Car or Tour (2026/27 Prices, Times and Accessibility)

Quick answer: the best day trips from Dublin Best half day: Howth – 25–30 minutes on the DART, free cliff walk and harbour. Best overall: Glendalough and the Wicklow Mountains – about 1 hour, free, monastic ruins and lakes. Best for history: Newgrange and the Boyne Valley – 45–60 minutes; pre-book Newgrange (€18). Best by train: Kilkenny (about 1 hr 30–1 hr 45 min) or Belfast (about 2 hr 10 min, hourly). Possible but long (12–13 hr days): Cliffs of Moher, Giant’s Causeway, Blarney Castle, Aran Islands.

Dublin is a brilliant base, but some of the best things about Ireland are just outside it. I’ve lived on this island for years, in Donegal, Bangor and now Portrush on the Causeway Coast, and I’ve visited every corner of both Northern Ireland and the Republic. When I lived in Northern Ireland I was within an hour of Dublin, and from Donegal it was about two hours, so I’ve done most of these day trips from Dublin myself by rental car, by train and on guided day tours.

This guide gives you the honest version: how long each trip really takes, what it costs in 2026, whether you can do it without a car, and what to expect if you or someone you’re travelling with has limited mobility. I highly recommend choosing two or three for a balanced itinerary rather than trying to cram in the long ones.

Fast facts

Trips covered: 17, from 25 minutes to about 4 hours from the city. Car-free options: 10 are easy by public transport and 3 more work with a bus change; the rest need a car or tour. Cheapest: Howth, Dalkey, Glendalough and the Hill of Tara cost little more than your transport. Northern Ireland trips: Belfast, the Mournes and the Giant’s Causeway use pounds sterling and need a UK ETA for most non-Irish, non-British visitors. Best time to go: April to October for long daylight; book Newgrange, Titanic Belfast and Cliffs of Moher tickets online. Prices checked: November 2026. Always confirm on the official site before you travel.

Day Trips from Dublin at a Glance

Use this table to compare travel time, cost and whether you need a car. Distances are approximate road distances from Dublin city centre.

Day trip	Time from Dublin	Distance	Car-free?	Main ticket (2026)	Best for
1. Howth	25–30 min by DART	15 km	Yes – DART	Free (DART fare from about €2 with a Leap card)	Easy half-day, coastal walking, seafood
2. Malahide	25–30 min by DART	17 km	Yes – DART	Castle tour about €16 adult; demesne and parkland free	Castles, families, a gentle half-day
3. Dalkey and Killiney Hill	25–35 min by DART	15 km	Yes – DART	Free (Dalkey Castle tours extra)	Views, village pubs, a short hill walk
4. Powerscourt and Enniskerry	35–45 min by car	22 km	Partly – bus to Enniskerry, then 15 min walk	Gardens from about €11.50; Waterfall from about €7.50 (separate tickets)	Gardens, Ireland’s highest waterfall, an easy half-day
5. Glendalough and the Wicklow Mountains	about 1 hr by car; 1 hr 30 min by St Kevin’s Bus	50 km	Yes – St Kevin’s Bus	Monastic site free; St Kevin’s Bus €23 return	Hiking, monastic ruins, mountain scenery
6. Boyne Valley	45–60 min by car	50 km	Partly – train to Drogheda + Local Link 188, or a tour	Brú na Bóinne tour + Newgrange chamber €18 adult; Tara, Mellifont grounds and Monasterboice free	Ancient Ireland, history lovers
7. Kildare	45–60 min by car or train	55 km	Yes – train from Heuston to Kildare	Stud ticket covers the stud, museum and both gardens (book online to save up to 25%)	Horse lovers, gardens, outlet shopping
8. Carlingford and the Cooley Peninsula	about 1 hr 15 min by car	105 km	Hard – car or tour best	Free to explore (activities extra)	Medieval village, mountains and sea, myths
9. Kilkenny	1 hr 30–1 hr 45 min by train or car	125 km	Yes – train from Heuston	Kilkenny Castle €8 self-guided / €12 guided; parkland free	Castles, medieval streets, food and pubs
10. Belfast	about 2 hr 10 min by Enterprise train	170 km	Yes – Enterprise train or bus	Titanic Belfast £24.95 online (£26.95 walk-up); Enterprise advance fares from about €14 one way	History, food markets, a real city day
11. Mourne Mountains	about 1 hr 45 min by car	150 km	Hard – car or tour best	Free (parking charges at forest parks)	Hiking, Narnia scenery, beaches
12. Rock of Cashel and Cahir	about 1 hr 45 min by car	160 km	Partly – bus, or a Blarney tour that stops here	Rock of Cashel €8 adult; Hore Abbey free; Cahir Castle about €5	Medieval ruins, photographers
13. Galway City	2 hr 20–2 hr 30 min by train	210 km	Yes – train from Heuston or coach	Free to explore	Buskers, pubs, trad music, a lively west-coast city
14. Cliffs of Moher and the Burren	about 3 hr 15 min by car each way; 12–13 hr tour	270 km	Tour only (as a day trip)	Cliffs from €8 online off-peak / €12 peak; €15 at the gate; day tours from about €78	Ireland’s most famous coastline
15. Giant’s Causeway and the Causeway Coast	about 3 hr by car each way; 12–13 hr tour	270 km	Tour, or train to Belfast + local tour	Stones free; Visitor Experience roughly £14–£18; Dunluce £6; tours from Dublin about €80–€88	UNESCO coastline, castles, Game of Thrones
16. Blarney Castle and Cork	2 hr 30–2 hr 45 min by train to Cork	255 km	Yes – train to Cork + bus to Blarney	Blarney Castle and Gardens €24 adult; tours with Cashel about €85	Kissing the Blarney Stone, Cork food
17. Aran Islands	about 4 hr each way via Galway and Rossaveal	245 km to Rossaveal	Yes – train/coach to Galway + ferry bus	Ferry €30 return from Rossaveal (+€10 bus from Galway)	Island life, cliff forts, cycling

What’s Changed for Day Trips from Dublin in 2026

Several older guides are out of date on these points:

• Trim Castle is closed for works from 1 November 2026 until 1 April 2027. The rest of the Boyne Valley is open as normal.
• The Bray to Greystones Cliff Walk is still closed after landslides and rockfalls. In January 2026 Wicklow County Council said it could stay closed for up to another three years, so don’t plan a day around it.
• The Enterprise train now runs roughly hourly (Monday to Saturday) and arrives at the new Belfast Grand Central station, not Lanyon Place.
• A UK ETA is now mandatory (since 25 February 2026) for most visitors crossing into Northern Ireland, even on a day tour, unless you are a British or Irish citizen or legally resident in Ireland.
• Cliffs of Moher coastal path: the southern section from Hag’s Head is closed in 2026, and adult tickets are €8 off-peak, €12 peak online, or €15 at the gate.

Half-Day Trips from Dublin on the DART (No Car Needed)

These three are under 30 minutes from the city centre on the DART coastal train, cost a couple of euro with a Leap card, and work as a morning or afternoon out on a busy itinerary.

1. Howth: Cliff Walk, Harbour and Fish and Chips

Time: 25–30 min by DART | Car-free: Yes – DART | Cost: Free (DART fare from about €2 with a Leap card)

If you only have half a day, go to Howth. It is the closest proper escape from the city, and you go from Connolly or Tara Street to a working fishing harbour and wild cliffs in under half an hour. The Howth Cliff Path loops around the headland past the Baily Lighthouse, with Ireland’s Eye and Lambay Island out in the bay and seals usually loafing around the harbour wall.

Come back down to the pier for fish and chips or a seafood lunch, and if the weather turns there are pubs and cafés right by the station.

Getting there and timing

• Take the northbound DART to Howth (the last stop). Trains run every 15–20 minutes through most of the day.
• Pay with a TFI Leap card: the €2 TFI 90-minute adult fare applies across the Dublin City zone, and it is cheaper than buying a cash ticket.
• Allow 2–3 hours for the shorter cliff loop and lunch, or a full day if you walk the longer Bog of Frogs loop.

Accessibility notes

The harbour, piers and village are flat and step-free from the DART station. The cliff path itself is narrow, uneven and has steep unfenced drops – it is not suitable for wheelchairs or anyone unsteady on their feet. For views without the climb, the Summit car park gives you the panorama with very little walking.

Local tip: Go on a weekday morning. On sunny weekends the DART and the cliff path are packed with half of Dublin.

2. Malahide Castle and Gardens

Time: 25–30 min by DART | Car-free: Yes – DART | Cost: Castle tour about €16 adult; demesne and parkland free

Malahide Castle was home to the Talbot family for almost 800 years, and the guided tour takes you through rooms that were lived in until the 1970s rather than a ruin. The parkland around it is free to wander, and there is a walled garden, a fairy trail for children and an Avoca café for lunch. Malahide is said to be haunted by have five ghosts – you can read more here: Haunted Places in Ireland.

The village itself is pretty, with a marina and a long seafront walk towards Portmarnock if you want to stretch your legs.

Getting there and timing

• Take the northbound DART or a Northern Commuter train to Malahide. The castle entrance is about a 15–20 minute walk from the station through the demesne.
• Castle entry is by guided tour (around 45 minutes). Book a slot online in summer.
• Easy to combine with Howth on the same day: go back to Howth Junction and change trains.

Accessibility notes

The demesne paths are wide and mostly level. Inside the castle there are stairs between floors; ask the castle in advance about access to the tour route. The walled garden has level paths.

Local tip: Pair Malahide (morning, castle) with Howth (afternoon, cliffs and fish and chips) for one of the best car-free days out of Dublin.

3. Dalkey and Killiney Hill: Dublin’s Prettiest Coast

Time: 25–35 min by DART | Car-free: Yes – DART | Cost: Free (Dalkey Castle tours extra)

South Dublin’s answer to Howth. Dalkey is one of the prettiest places in Ireland it is a small, old-money village with a medieval castle and heritage centre, good pubs, and a harbour at Coliemore where little boats go out to Dalkey Island in summer.

From the village, walk up Vico Road and onto Killiney Hill for one of the best views on the east coast: the sweep of Killiney Bay with the Sugar Loaf mountain behind it. Then walk down to the DART at Killiney station.

Getting there and timing

• Southbound DART to Dalkey. Walk the loop over Killiney Hill and catch the DART home from Killiney.
• Allow a relaxed half day; add Dún Laoghaire’s pier on the way back if you have time.

Accessibility notes

Dalkey village is compact but has some slopes. Killiney Hill has a steep climb to the obelisk, though there is a car park near the top for visitors with limited mobility.

Local tip: This is the best-value day out on this list: the DART fare, a pint, and a view people pay a lot more for elsewhere.

Day Trips Within About an Hour of Dublin

The sweet spot: big-name sights with very little time on the road, so you get a full day there and are back for dinner.

4. Powerscourt Estate and Enniskerry Village

Time: 35–45 min by car | Car-free: Partly – bus to Enniskerry, then 15 min walk | Cost: Gardens from about €11.50; Waterfall from about €7.50 (separate tickets)

I’ve been to Powerscourt several times and the Japanese Garden is still my favourite corner. The formal Italian terraces look straight out at the Sugar Loaf, and the estate’s 47 acres of gardens are regularly ranked among the best in the world.

Powerscourt Waterfall – Ireland’s highest at 121 metres – sits about 6 km away on the same estate with its own ticket. Vikings TV show fans will recognise it. I always finish with lunch at the Avoca café and, inevitably, too much shopping in the Avoca store.

Getting there and timing

• Drive the N11/M11 south and follow signs for Enniskerry; there is a large car park at the house.
• Without a car, take a Dublin Bus or Go-Ahead service to Enniskerry village (check the TFI Journey Planner for the current route), then walk about 15 minutes uphill to the estate. You will need a taxi or car for the waterfall.
• Combine with Glendalough for a full Wicklow day by car.

Accessibility notes

Honestly, I found the grounds a little difficult to get around: the gardens are huge and the terraces are steep in places. The house, café and shop are accessible, and there are accessible routes through parts of the gardens, but plan which areas you want to see before you go. My full Powerscourt guide has a mobility section.

Local tip: Book the gardens online for the best rate, and keep the waterfall for a dry day – the forest paths get muddy.

Read more: Powerscourt Estate guide · Wicklow Mountains road trip

5. Glendalough and the Wicklow Mountains

Time: about 1 hr by car; 1 hr 30 min by St Kevin’s Bus | Car-free: Yes – St Kevin’s Bus | Cost: Monastic site free; St Kevin’s Bus €23 return

Glendalough – the valley of two lakes is where St Kevin founded his monastery in the 6th century. The round tower, St Kevin’s Church and the old graveyard sit at the mouth of a glacial valley, and you can walk from there along the Green Road to the Upper Lake in about 30 minutes.

If you are driving, come in over the Wicklow Mountains Sally Gap and the Military Road. It is bleak, beautiful bogland, and you pass Lough Tay (the ‘Guinness Lake’) on the way.

Getting there and timing

• By car: about an hour via the M50 and N11, or longer over the Sally Gap. Arrive before 10am – the Upper Lake car park fills early and the overflow is a long walk.
• Car-free: St Kevin’s Bus leaves St Stephen’s Green North daily at 11:00 and gives you over three hours in Glendalough. In 2026 the fare is €23 return, paid on the bus.
• Small-group tours from Dublin usually run 8–9 hours and often add Powerscourt or Avoca.

Accessibility notes

The Glendalough Visitor Centre is accessible, and the path from there to the monastic city is fairly level. The Green Road to the Upper Lake is a wide, firm track with gentle gradients. The Spinc and the mountain trails are steep and uneven.

Local tip: Glendalough is free, so it is one of the cheapest big-name day trips from Dublin. Bring a picnic.

Read more: Visiting Glendalough · Wicklow Mountains road trip

6. Boyne Valley: Newgrange, Hill of Tara, Mellifont and Monasterboice

Time: 45–60 min by car | Car-free: Partly – train to Drogheda + Local Link 188, or a tour | Cost: Brú na Bóinne tour + Newgrange chamber €18 adult; Tara, Mellifont grounds and Monasterboice free

Newgrange is 5,000 years old older than Stonehenge and the pyramids at Giza and standing in the chamber is one of the most moving experiences I’ve had in Ireland. The place has an aura, a real sense of mystery, and the guides are exceptionally knowledgeable. You feel the weight of time in there, and the old stories of the Tuatha Dé Danann suddenly don’t seem so far away.

Build the rest of the day around it: the Hill of Tara, seat of the High Kings with the Lia Fáil (Stone of Destiny); the Cistercian ruins of Mellifont Abbey; and the towering high crosses at Monasterboice.

Getting there and timing

• You cannot drive to Newgrange itself. Every visit starts at the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre in Donore, and a shuttle takes you to the monument. Tours are timed and sell out in summer, so pre-book on heritageireland.ie.
• Car-free: train from Connolly to Drogheda (about 40 minutes), then the TFI Local Link 188 bus to Brú na Bóinne. Tara and Monasterboice are hard to reach without a car, so a day tour (around €75 including Newgrange entry) makes sense if you don’t drive.
• Driving times: Brú na Bóinne to Mellifont about 25 min; to Tara about 30 min.

Accessibility notes

The Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre and the shuttle bus are wheelchair accessible. The Newgrange passage and chamber are not – the passage is narrow and low. The Hill of Tara is open grassland on uneven ground, and Mellifont and Monasterboice have uneven surfaces and limited facilities.

Local tip: Trim Castle is closed for works from 1 November 2026 until 1 April 2027, so leave it out of a winter Boyne Valley day. From April 2027, its keep tour (€5) is a great add-on.

Read more: Newgrange · Hill of Tara · Mellifont Abbey · Ireland’s Ancient East

7. Kildare: the Irish National Stud, Japanese Gardens and Kildare Village

Time: 45–60 min by car or train | Car-free: Yes – train from Heuston to Kildare | Cost: Stud ticket covers the stud, museum and both gardens (book online to save up to 25%)

Kildare is the heart of Irish horse country. At the Irish National Stud you can walk the paddocks, meet retired champions and learn how a thoroughbred is made, and the same ticket covers the Japanese Gardens laid out in 1906 to tell the journey of life and the quieter St Fiachra’s Garden.

Kildare Village outlet is next door if anyone in your group would rather shop, and St Brigid’s Cathedral and round tower are in the town.

Getting there and timing

• Trains from Heuston to Kildare take under an hour. From the station it is a short taxi ride to the stud and Kildare Village.
• Driving: the M7 south-west, about 45–60 minutes.

Accessibility notes

The stud’s paths are mostly flat, and the Japanese Gardens are accessible with some gravel sections. Kildare Village is level and step-free.

Local tip: Spring is the time to go – cherry blossom in the Japanese Gardens and foals in the paddocks.

Read more: Saints of Ireland · Exploring Kildare · Gardens of Ireland · Ireland’s Ancient East

Day Trips 1.5 to 2.5 Hours from Dublin

Comfortable full days. Leave by 9am and you’ll have five or six hours on the ground. Two of these cross the border into Northern Ireland.

8. Carlingford and the Cooley Peninsula

Time: about 1 hr 15 min by car | Car-free: Hard – car or tour best | Cost: Free to explore (activities extra)

Carlingford is a small medieval village squeezed between Slieve Foy and Carlingford Lough, with King John’s Castle on the shore, narrow lanes, the Tholsel gate and some of the best oysters on the east coast. Across the water are the Mourne Mountains in Northern Ireland. There was a ferry to Carlingford running between Greencastle, County Down and Greenore, County Louth but sadly the ferry is not running in 2026, which is a shame as we enjoyed our trips across the Lough.

The Cooley Peninsula is the setting for the Táin Bó Cúailnge, Ireland’s great epic of Cú Chulainn and Queen Medb, and the drive over the Long Woman’s Grave road is spectacular.

Getting there and timing

• Drive the M1 north and turn off for Dundalk and the R173. Public transport involves a bus change in Dundalk and is slow, so a car or tour is better.
• Combine with the Ring of Gullion just over the border, or with Monasterboice on the way home.

Accessibility notes

The village centre is small but hilly, with some narrow pavements. The lough-side greenway towards Omeath is flat and good for wheelchairs and buggies.

Local tip: Walk or cycle the Carlingford–Omeath Greenway along the lough – flat, easy and full of views.

9. Kilkenny and the Medieval Mile

Time: 1 hr 30–1 hr 45 min by train or car | Car-free: Yes – train from Heuston | Cost: Kilkenny Castle €8 self-guided / €12 guided; parkland free

I’ve visited Kilkenny in every season and it never gets old. Kilkenny Castle, home of the Butlers for centuries, is the anchor: look up at the painted ceiling in the Picture Gallery. Then walk the Medieval Mile to St Canice’s Cathedral – I’ve stood there listening to the organ while light from the stained glass fell across the tombs, and climbed the round tower for the view.

In between there’s the Black Abbey, Rothe House, Kyteler’s Inn and enough good restaurants and pubs to make it the best ‘city break in a day’ from Dublin.

Getting there and timing

• Trains run from Heuston to Kilkenny (MacDonagh Station) in about 1 hr 30–1 hr 45 min. The station is a 10-minute walk from the High Street, and everything is walkable.
• Driving: the M9, about 1 hr 45 min.

Accessibility notes

Parts of Kilkenny Castle’s ground floor are step-free, and the OPW admits people with disabilities and their carers free of charge. Upper floors involve stairs. Some lanes and slips in town are steep and cobbled. The round tower climb at St Canice’s is ladders only.

Local tip: Kilkenny Castle was the most visited ticketed OPW site in Ireland in 2023, so book a guided slot online for summer weekends. In the Medieval Centre you can visit the home of one of Ireland’s famous witches at Kyteler’s Inn.

Read more: Kilkenny itinerary · Visiting Kilkenny Castle · Visiting Kilkenny · St Canice’s Cathedral

10. Belfast: Titanic, Murals and St George’s Market (Northern Ireland)

Time: about 2 hr 10 min by Enterprise train | Car-free: Yes – Enterprise train or bus | Cost: Titanic Belfast £24.95 online (£26.95 walk-up); Enterprise advance fares from about €14 one way

I lived in Bangor for six months and have spent a lot of time in Belfast since, including the 2026 Fleadh, which was a roaring success and far busier than the organisers expected. Belfast is a city you can genuinely do in a day from Dublin now that the train runs hourly.

Titanic Belfast stands on the slipways where the ship was built, and the ticket includes SS Nomadic, the tender that ferried Titanic’s passengers. Then take a black taxi tour of the murals and peace walls, walk through City Hall, and eat your way around St George’s Market (Friday to Sunday).

Getting there and timing

• The Enterprise now runs about every hour Monday to Saturday (8 trains on Sundays) from Dublin Connolly to Belfast Grand Central, in about 2 hours 10 minutes. Note: it no longer stops at Lanyon Place, which older guides still mention.
• Buses (the X1 and Aircoach) also run frequently from Dublin city and the airport.
• Northern Ireland uses pounds sterling, not euros. Most places take cards.

Accessibility notes

Titanic Belfast is fully accessible, and the city centre is flat and compact. Belfast Grand Central is a new, step-free station. My Accessible Northern Ireland guide covers more.

Local tip: Since 25 February 2026, visitors who are not British or Irish citizens need a UK ETA to cross into Northern Ireland, even on a day trip by train or tour. Legal residents of Ireland are exempt. There are no border checks, but you are still legally required to have one – apply online before you go.

Read more: Things to do in Belfast · Northern Ireland Travel Guide · Accessible Northern Ireland

11. The Mourne Mountains and Newcastle (Northern Ireland)

Time: about 1 hr 45 min by car | Car-free: Hard – car or tour best | Cost: Free (parking charges at forest parks)

The Mournes are where the mountains really do sweep down to the sea. C.S. Lewis said they inspired his idea of Narnia, and the Mourne Wall runs for 22 miles (35 km) across 15 summits including Slieve Donard, the highest peak in Northern Ireland.

Base the day in the seaside town of Newcastle, walk in Tollymore Forest Park (a Game of Thrones location), or drive up to the Silent Valley Reservoir.

Getting there and timing

• Drive the M1/A1 north to Newry, then the A25 to Newcastle. Public transport means changing buses in Newry or Belfast and burns most of the day.
• Combine with Carlingford on the southern side of the lough.

Accessibility notes

Newcastle’s promenade is flat and step-free. Tollymore has some firmer, more level paths near the car park, but mountain trails are rough and steep.

Local tip: Like Belfast, this is in the UK – pounds sterling, and an ETA if you need one.

Read more: Northern Ireland Travel Guide

12. Rock of Cashel, Hore Abbey and Cahir Castle

Time: about 1 hr 45 min by car | Car-free: Partly – bus, or a Blarney tour that stops here | Cost: Rock of Cashel €8 adult; Hore Abbey free; Cahir Castle about €5

The Rock of Cashel rises out of the Golden Vale in Tipperary like an Irish acropolis: a round tower, a roofless Gothic cathedral and Cormac’s Chapel, the finest Romanesque church in Ireland, all on one limestone outcrop that was the seat of the Kings of Munster. I felt real ancient vibes standing up there.

Walk down through the field to Hore Abbey, an abandoned Cistercian ruin that’s free and often empty, then carry on 20 minutes south to Cahir Castle, one of Ireland’s best-preserved medieval castles.

Getting there and timing

• Drive the M8, about 1 hr 45 min. There is a pay car park at the foot of the Rock.
• Many Blarney Castle day tours from Dublin stop at Cashel on the way, which is the easiest way to see both without a car.

Accessibility notes

There is a steep hill from the car park up to the Rock, and the site itself is uneven grass and stone. Contact the site ahead about access arrangements. Hore Abbey is across a field. Like other OPW sites, people with disabilities and their carers are admitted free.

Local tip: Go late in the afternoon – the light on the Rock from Hore Abbey is beautiful.

Read more: Rock of Cashel & Hore Abbey · Cahir Castle · Accessible Northern Ireland

Long Day Trips from Dublin (Worth an Overnight)

These are possible as day trips and thousands of people do them on coach tours, but expect 12–13 hour days with over six hours in transit. I’ve marked where I’d honestly recommend staying the night instead.

13. Galway City

Time: 2 hr 20–2 hr 30 min by train | Car-free: Yes – train from Heuston or coach | Cost: Free to explore

I’ve been to Galway more times than I can count. Find a seat on Shop Street with a coffee and watch the buskers, walk down to the Spanish Arch and along the Long Walk, and pop into the Claddagh shop, I bought my Claddagh ring there.

Galway works as a day trip on its own by train, but most people use it as the gateway to the Cliffs of Moher, Connemara and the Aran Islands, which is when you really should stay a night. I usually stay in a B&B in Salthill.

Getting there and timing

• Trains run from Heuston to Galway Ceannt in about 2 hr 20–2 hr 30 min; the station is right in the city centre beside Eyre Square.
• Coaches (Citylink, GoBus) run from Dublin city and the airport in a similar time.

Accessibility notes

The city centre is flat, and Shop Street and Quay Street are pedestrianised, though some are cobbled. Some historic pubs and shops have steps.

Local tip: Go in late July for the Galway Arts Festival or the Galway Races, but book far ahead.

Read more: 2 days in Galway · Wild Atlantic Way · Exploring Connemara · County Galway

14. Cliffs of Moher and the Burren

Time: about 3 hr 15 min by car each way; 12–13 hr tour | Car-free: Tour only (as a day trip) | Cost: Cliffs from €8 online off-peak / €12 peak; €15 at the gate; day tours from about €78

I’ve been to the Cliffs of Moher many times and walked the cliff path. They are every bit as dramatic as the photos 8 km of sheer sea cliffs, but as a day trip from Dublin you will spend over six hours on the road, so be sure it’s worth it to you.

Most tours also cross the Burren, the strange limestone landscape I’ve driven through many times with friends and family. Stop for the high crosses and cairns, Poulnabrone dolmen, and the Burren Smokehouse in Lisdoonvarna – their smoked salmon is delicious.

Getting there and timing

• A guided tour (around €78 in 2026, usually including Galway and the Burren) is the realistic option. Days run 12–13 hours.
• Self-drive is about 3 hr 15 min each way via the M6 and M18. Leave by 7am.
• Book Cliffs tickets online: €8 before 11am or after 4pm, €12 between 11am and 4pm, €15 at the gate. Children under 12 go free, and parking is included.

Accessibility notes

The Visitor Centre is fully accessible and the paved viewing area by O’Brien’s Tower is step-free. The coastal path beyond is uneven and exposed. In 2026 the southern 6 km section from Hag’s Head to the visitor centre is closed, so you can’t walk in from Liscannor.

Local tip: Honestly? Stay overnight in Galway, Doolin or Ennis instead. You’ll see the cliffs early, without the tour buses, and enjoy the drive.

Read more: Cliffs of Moher guide · Exploring the Burren · Kilkee Cliffs (a quieter alternative)

15. Giant’s Causeway, Dunluce Castle and the Causeway Coast (Northern Ireland)

Time: about 3 hr by car each way; 12–13 hr tour | Car-free: Tour, or train to Belfast + local tour | Cost: Stones free; Visitor Experience roughly £14–£18; Dunluce £6; tours from Dublin about €80–€88

This is my home patch now. I live in Portrush, just above East Strand, and I can hear the surf every night, so I’ve been to Dunluce Castle and Mussenden Temple more times than I can count. Dunluce clings to a basalt cliff with a sheer drop to the sea – honestly, it’s scary looking down.

The Giant’s Causeway is about 40,000 basalt columns stepping into the sea, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the source of the Finn McCool legend. Most tours add Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge and the Dark Hedges a Game of Thrones Site.

Getting there and timing

• From Dublin this is a 12–13 hour coach tour, usually €80–€88 with fast-track Causeway entry.
• Better: take the Enterprise to Belfast and join a Causeway day tour from there, or spend a night on the coast – Portrush, Portballintrae and Bushmills are all close.
• Walking down to the stones is free. The National Trust Visitor Experience ticket (roughly £14–£18 depending on the date) covers the exhibition, audio guide and the main car park. Book online.

Accessibility notes

The Visitor Experience has a shuttle bus down to the stones, and ticket holders can use motorised scooters and wheelchairs. The stones themselves are uneven and slippery. Dunluce is partly accessible, with cobbles, uneven ground and steps; the Magheracross viewpoint gives you the classic view from the car park.

Local tip: Remember this is in the UK – pounds sterling, and a UK ETA if you need one. Stay a night if you can; the coast at sunset is something else.

Read more: Giant’s Causeway tour · Causeway Coastal Route itinerary · Dunluce Castle · Accessible Northern Ireland · Mussenden Temple

16. Blarney Castle and Cork City

Time: 2 hr 30–2 hr 45 min by train to Cork | Car-free: Yes – train to Cork + bus to Blarney | Cost: Blarney Castle and Gardens €24 adult; tours with Cashel about €85

Blarney Castle is a 15th-century tower house, and kissing the Blarney Stone (leaning backwards over the battlements) is meant to give you the gift of the gab. Don’t skip the gardens – the Poison Garden and the Rock Close are the best part.

In Cork, head straight for the English Market, one of Europe’s great covered food markets, then walk the Shandon area.

Getting there and timing

• Trains from Heuston to Cork Kent take about 2 hr 30–2 hr 45 min. Local buses run from Cork to Blarney in 20–30 minutes.
• Day tours from Dublin (around €85) usually stop at the Rock of Cashel on the way down.

Accessibility notes

The castle keep is not accessible: 127 narrow spiral steps to the top. Much of the garden has step-free paths. The English Market is level.

Local tip: Only do this from Dublin if Blarney is a must-see. Otherwise give Cork a night of its own.

Read more: Best things to do in Cork · English Market, Cork

17. Aran Islands: Inis Mór and Dún Aonghasa

Time: about 4 hr each way via Galway and Rossaveal | Car-free: Yes – train/coach to Galway + ferry bus | Cost: Ferry €30 return from Rossaveal (+€10 bus from Galway)

I’ve been to the Aran Islands and they feel like another world: stone walls criss-crossing the fields, Irish spoken in the shops, and Dún Aonghasa, a prehistoric stone fort on the edge of a sheer Atlantic cliff nearly 100 metres high.

It’s possible as a summer day trip from Dublin with a very early start, but it’s ambitious. Honestly, it’s much better with a night in Galway.

Getting there and timing

• Train or coach to Galway (about 2 hr 30 min), then the ferry bus to Rossaveal (45–60 min) and the ferry to Inis Mór (about 40 minutes).
• Aran Island Ferries charge about €30 return plus €10 for the bus transfer from Galway.
• Ferries depend on the weather. Keep your plans flexible.

Accessibility notes

The piers are step-free and minibus tours suit people with reduced mobility better than bike hire. The path up to Dún Aonghasa is uneven, sloped limestone.

Local tip: Hire a bike at Kilronan pier – Inis Mór is made for cycling.

Read more: Aran Islands ferries and flights

Train, Car or Day Tour: Which Is Best?

By train or DART

Best for Howth, Malahide, Dalkey, Kilkenny, Kildare, Galway, Cork and Belfast. Trains leave from three stations: Connolly (Belfast, Drogheda and the northern DART), Heuston (Kilkenny, Kildare, Galway, Cork) and Pearse or Tara Street (DART). Use a TFI Leap card for the DART and book Intercity tickets online in advance for the lowest fares.

I always recommend the Hop On Hop Off bus when visiting a city for the first time – they give you the lay of the area so you know which places you want to visit fully and they certainly are a boon to those of us who have mobility issues.

My guide to public transport in Ireland has the details.

By rental car

Best for the Boyne Valley, Wicklow, Carlingford, the Mournes and the Rock of Cashel, where the sights are spread out and buses are infrequent. If you’re crossing into Northern Ireland, tell your rental company most allow it but some charge a cross-border fee.

See my guide to renting a car in Ireland, North and South.

By guided day tour

Best for the long trips – the Cliffs of Moher, the Giant’s Causeway and Blarney – where someone else does six hours of driving. Expect to pay about €75–€90 in 2026, and check whether entry fees are included, here are a few tours you might want to take advantage of from Dublin:

Cliffs of Moher, the Burren and Galway City

Giant’s Causeway, Dark Hedges, Dunluce & Belfast Tour

Blarney Castle, Rock of Cashel & Cahir Castle

Boyne Valley with Newgrange and Bru Na Boinne Entry and Monasterboice

Half-Day Guided Coastal Tour to Howth Village

Which Day Trips Should You Choose?

• Only one day, no car: Howth in the morning, Malahide in the afternoon.
• Ireland’s Ancient East: Newgrange, the Hill of Tara and Monasterboice, then the Rock of Cashel on another day.
• Castles: Kilkenny Castle, Malahide Castle, Dunluce, Blarney, Cahir (and Trim from April 2027).
• Hiking and scenery: Glendalough, the Mournes, Killiney Hill and the Howth cliff path.
• Families: Malahide (fairy trail and playground), the Irish National Stud, Titanic Belfast.
• Rainy day: Titanic Belfast, Kilkenny, Malahide Castle.
• Wheelchair users: Titanic Belfast, Kildare, Malahide’s parkland and the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre. See my Accessible Ireland and Accessible Northern Ireland guides.

Day Trips from Dublin: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best day trip from Dublin?

For most first-time visitors, the best day trip from Dublin is Glendalough and the Wicklow Mountains: about an hour away, free to visit, and a mix of monastic ruins, lakes and mountain scenery. If history is your thing, Newgrange in the Boyne Valley is the most remarkable site within an hour of the city. For a half day without a car, take the DART to Howth.

What day trips from Dublin can you do without a car?

Howth, Malahide and Dalkey are all under 30 minutes by DART. Kilkenny, Kildare, Galway and Cork have direct trains from Heuston, and Belfast has an Enterprise train from Connolly about every hour, Monday to Saturday. St Kevin’s Bus runs daily to Glendalough from St Stephen’s Green, and Newgrange is reachable by train to Drogheda plus the Local Link 188 bus.

Can you visit the Cliffs of Moher in a day from Dublin?

Yes, but it is a long day. The cliffs are about 270 km from Dublin, roughly 3 hours 15 minutes each way by car, and coach tours run 12–13 hours. Tickets cost from €8 online off-peak, €12 at peak times and €15 at the gate in 2026. If you can, stay a night in Galway, Doolin or Ennis instead.

Can you do the Giant’s Causeway as a day trip from Dublin?

Yes. Coach tours from Dublin take 12–13 hours and cost around €80–€88 in 2026. A more relaxed option is to take the Enterprise train to Belfast and join a Causeway tour from there, or stay a night on the Causeway Coast. Walking to the stones is free; the National Trust Visitor Experience costs roughly £14–£18.

Do I need a passport or ETA to visit Belfast from Dublin?

There are no border checks between Ireland and Northern Ireland. However, since 25 February 2026 anyone who is not a British or Irish citizen needs a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to enter Northern Ireland, even on a day trip, unless they are legally resident in Ireland. Carry photo ID, and remember Northern Ireland uses pounds sterling.

How long is the train from Dublin to Belfast?

The Enterprise train takes about 2 hours 10 minutes from Dublin Connolly to Belfast Grand Central. It runs about every hour Monday to Saturday and 8 times on Sundays. Advance fares start from around €14 one way.

How much does a day tour from Dublin cost?

In 2026, typical coach day tours from Dublin cost about €75 for the Boyne Valley with Newgrange entry, €78 for the Cliffs of Moher and Galway, €80–€88 for the Giant’s Causeway, and €85 for Blarney Castle with the Rock of Cashel. Check whether entry fees are included.

Which day trips from Dublin are best for wheelchair users?

Titanic Belfast, Kildare’s Irish National Stud and Kildare Village, Malahide’s parkland, and the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre with its step-free viewing area are the most accessible. The Giant’s Causeway has an accessible shuttle and scooters for ticket holders. Avoid the Newgrange chamber, Blarney Castle’s keep, the Howth cliff path and Trim Castle’s keep, which all involve steep or narrow climbs. OPW sites such as Kilkenny Castle admit people with disabilities and their carers free.

Do you need to book Newgrange in advance?

Yes. All visits to Newgrange start at the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre, and timed tours sell out in summer. In 2026 the Brú na Bóinne tour with the Newgrange chamber costs €18 for adults, €16 for seniors, €12 for ages 12–17 and students, and is free for children under 12. Book on heritageireland.ie.

What is the best day trip from Dublin in winter?

Choose trips with indoor highlights and short travel times: Kilkenny (castle, cathedral and pubs), Belfast (Titanic Belfast and St George’s Market) or Malahide Castle. Daylight is short, mountain roads in Wicklow can ice over, and Trim Castle is closed for works from 1 November 2026 to 1 April 2027.

More Ireland Trip Planning

• Dublin Travel Guide: things to do in Dublin
• Free things to do in Dublin
• Ireland itineraries (5, 7, 10 and 14 days)
• Ireland’s Ancient East
• The Wild Atlantic Way
• Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands
• Northern Ireland Travel Guide
• Best time to visit Ireland
• Getting around Ireland
• Where to stay in Ireland
• Hidden gems in Ireland
• Ireland travel tips

Planning more of Ireland? Join my Facebook group, Ireland Uncovered: Hidden Gems & Local Tips, and subscribe to my newsletter for new guides.