Day Trips from Dublin — Howth, Glendalough, and Beyond

Ireland Is Bigger Than Dublin — Here's How to See It

Dublin is where most students are based, but some of the best experiences of any Irish exchange happen an hour or two outside the city. Ireland is small enough that dramatic coastline, ancient ruins, and mountain wilderness are all reachable by public transport on a weekend morning — without a car and without missing school. Here are the most worthwhile day trips and how to actually do them.

Howth — 30 Minutes on the DART, No Planning Required

Howth is a fishing village on a rocky headland at the northern tip of Dublin Bay. It is the most accessible day trip from the city and consistently one of the ones students look back on most fondly.

Take the DART from Pearse or Connolly Station to Howth terminus — the journey takes around 30 minutes and costs approximately €2.10 with a Leap Card. Trains run every 15–20 minutes throughout the day.

What to do when you get there:

• The Cliff Walk: A loop of roughly 7–8 km around the headland with uninterrupted views of Dublin Bay, the Wicklow Mountains to the south, and on a clear day the Welsh coast across the Irish Sea. Takes 2–3 hours at a relaxed pace. No guide, no entry fee — well-maintained trails with some steep and rocky sections. Wear waterproof shoes, not runners.
• Howth Harbour and the East Pier: Walk the pier while seals lounge on the rocks below. The harbour is full of working fishing boats and the view back across the bay toward Dublin's waterfront is excellent. Worth doing even if you don't do the cliff walk.
• Fish and chips: Howth is famous for fresh seafood. Beshoff Bros on West Pier is the most recommended — fish sourced locally, proper Irish chip shop, usually queued on weekends but consistently good. Budget €8–12 for a full portion.
• Howth Market (weekends only): A morning market at the harbour selling food, crafts, and local produce. Arrive before noon for the best of it.

Glendalough — Wicklow's Ancient Monastic Valley

Glendalough ('Glen of Two Lakes') is one of Ireland's most significant heritage sites and, once you're there, one of the most atmospheric. Founded by St Kevin in the 6th century, the site includes a near-perfect 30-metre round tower, stone churches from the 10th and 12th centuries, and two glacial lakes in a valley carved through the Wicklow Mountains. It does not look like something you'd find in a textbook — it looks like it actually happened.

Getting there without a car:

• St Kevin's Bus: A dedicated service from St. Stephen's Green West in Dublin city centre to Glendalough, run by Bus Éireann. Departs twice daily on weekdays, three times on weekends. Journey time: around 1 hour 20 minutes. Book at buseireann.ie — tickets cost around €15 return and sell out on summer and bank holiday weekends. Book the day before at minimum.
• Day tour operators: Companies including Paddywagon Tours and Overland Ireland run day trips from Dublin city for roughly €25–35. These typically combine Glendalough with other Wicklow stops — the Sally Gap, the Powerscourt Waterfall, or Avoca — and pick up from central Dublin. Good if you want context and a guide; less good if you want to spend three hours hiking.

The visitor centre and monastery grounds are free to enter. The two lakes and surrounding trails range from a 30-minute flat loop to a full-day hike. The Spinc ridge walk — 2.5 to 3 hours, well-marked, extraordinary views over the upper lake — is one of the best introductory mountain hikes in Ireland. Do it if your fitness allows.

Malahide — A Quieter DART Alternative

If Howth is crowded on a sunny weekend, Malahide is 20 minutes further north on the same DART line. A coastal village with a 12th-century castle, a large estuary perfect for walking, and a small marina. Quieter than Howth, good on a weekday when you want to be outside without crowds. The castle and gardens charge around €10 for entry; the estuary walks are free.

Practical Tips for All Day Trips

• Check the weather the night before. Irish weather is genuinely unpredictable. Coastal and mountain walks are significantly less enjoyable in low cloud and heavy rain — if the forecast is bad, reschedule rather than push through.
• Dress in layers and bring something waterproof. Even on a warm day, the wind on the Howth cliff walk or the Wicklow hillsides is colder than Dublin city. A light waterproof jacket takes up no space and changes everything if the weather turns.
• Book St Kevin's Bus in advance for Glendalough — it sells out regularly on weekends. Don't assume you can show up on the day.
• Start early. The DART to Howth is 30 minutes from the city, but the cliff walk plus lunch takes most of a day. Aim to be on the platform by 9am for the full experience without feeling rushed.