Best day trips from Dublin

Dublin as a base for Ireland

Dublin’s location on Ireland’s east coast makes it an excellent base for day trips in almost every direction. Within a 250 km radius you have the Wicklow Mountains, the ancient passage tombs of the Boyne Valley, the medieval cities of Kilkenny and Waterford, the dramatic west coast at the Cliffs of Moher, the colourful city of Galway, and — across the border — the basalt wonder of Giant’s Causeway and the murals and Titanic history of Belfast.

This guide compares the main options honestly: what you actually see, how long it takes, whether you need a car, and which specific tours to book if you don’t.

The best day trips ranked

1. Cliffs of Moher and Galway — the most dramatic

Round trip: ~13 hours (depart ~07:00, return ~20:00). Distance: ~220 km each way.

The Cliffs of Moher rise 214 metres above the Atlantic and run for 8 kilometres along the Clare coastline. They are the most photographed natural feature in Ireland. Most tours combine them with a drive through the Burren — a karst limestone plateau that feels genuinely otherworldly — and time in Galway City for lunch and a wander.

The Cliffs of Moher full-day tour from Dublin is the most direct option: departs early, reaches the Cliffs mid-morning when the light is best, and returns in the evening. For a combined route, see the Cliffs of Moher day trip guide.

Without a car: All the major operators run this tour. The Galway day trip guide covers the city-focused version.

2. Wicklow Mountains and Glendalough — the easiest scenic trip

Round trip: 8–9 hours. Distance: ~50 km to Glendalough.

The Wicklow Mountains are Dublin’s backyard — a 40-minute drive from the city into a landscape of blanket bog, glacial valleys and silent mountain lakes. Glendalough in the valley below is one of the finest early medieval monastic sites in Europe: a round tower, a cathedral and a cluster of stone churches beside two lakes, founded by St Kevin in the 6th century.

The Wild Wicklow Mountains and Glendalough tour is the award-winning standard; runs 8.5 hours and covers Glendalough, the Sally Gap and often a sheepdog demonstration. About €35.

With a car: Easiest of all day trips — the roads are good, parking is available at Glendalough for a fee, and you can easily add Powerscourt Gardens on the return.

Full details in the Wicklow and Glendalough day trip guide.

3. Giant’s Causeway and Belfast — Northern Ireland in a day

Round trip: ~12 hours. Distance: ~260 km to Giant’s Causeway.

The Giant’s Causeway — 40,000 interlocking basalt columns formed 60 million years ago — is Northern Ireland’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site. Most day tours combine it with the Dark Hedges (a beech-tree avenue used in Game of Thrones), Dunluce Castle on the cliff edge, and time in Belfast.

Important: Northern Ireland uses GBP, not EUR. US, Canadian and Australian passport holders also need a UK ETA (£10, valid 2 years) to enter Northern Ireland — apply in advance at gov.uk/apply-for-an-eta. EU citizens can cross freely.

The Giant’s Causeway, Dark Hedges, Dunluce and Belfast tour is the most comprehensive one-day option. Full details in the Giant’s Causeway day trip guide.

4. Newgrange and the Boyne Valley — the oldest site in Ireland

Round trip: 7–8 hours. Distance: ~50 km north of Dublin.

Newgrange passage tomb was built around 3200 BC — older than Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids. On the winter solstice, a shaft of light penetrates the chamber and illuminates the interior for 17 minutes. The Boyne Valley also includes the Hill of Tara, the ceremonial seat of the High Kings of Ireland.

Admission to the passage tomb is by timed entry ticket booked through the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre; many organised tours include this. The Boyne Valley with Newgrange and Brú na Bóinne entry tour combines transport, guide and visitor centre entry for about €45.

Full details in the Newgrange and Boyne Valley day trip guide.

5. Kilkenny — the best medieval city in Ireland

Round trip: 8–9 hours. Distance: ~120 km south of Dublin.

Kilkenny has the best-preserved medieval streetscape in Ireland: a Norman castle, a cathedral, 12th-century lanes and a craft culture that makes for good browsing. It is walkable in 3–4 hours; the organised day tour includes a guide and return transport.

The Kilkenny day trip guide covers all the details.

6. Galway and the west coast

Round trip: ~13 hours (as a city focus without the Cliffs of Moher).

Galway City — Ireland’s festival capital — is worth a full day on its own. Shop Street, the medieval Latin Quarter, the Spanish Arch and the best fish and chips in Ireland. The Galway day trip guide covers whether to combine it with the Cliffs or see it standalone.

7. Belfast and the Titanic — history and culture

Round trip: ~10 hours. Distance: ~160 km north.

Belfast has changed enormously since the peace process. The Titanic Belfast museum, the Victorian Grand Central Hotel, the Cathedral Quarter and the mural-covered Peace Walls make for a compelling day. See the Belfast day trip guide for details, including the GBP/ETA requirements for non-EU visitors.

8. Cork, Cobh and Blarney Castle

Round trip: ~13 hours. Distance: ~260 km south.

Ireland’s second city, the Titanic’s last port of call and a castle where you can kiss the Blarney Stone — famously overrated, honestly covered in the Cork and Blarney day trip guide.

Day trips without a car

Every destination on this list is reachable on an organised day tour from Dublin. Tours typically depart from a central pickup point (Busáras, Westmoreland Street or O’Connell Street) between 07:00 and 08:30 and return by 20:00–21:00.

For a detailed guide to doing all of these without driving, see day trips without a car from Dublin.

Choosing between destinations

For the comparison guide on which single day trip is best suited to your interests, see best Dublin day trip — which one?.

Planning your day trips

If you have 3–4 days in Dublin, one well-chosen day trip is usually enough. If you have 5–7 days, you can add a second. The 5-day Dublin itinerary and the 7-day Ireland base itinerary show how to sequence the city and the day trips without spending the entire trip on coaches.

Top experiences

Bookable activities with verified prices and instant confirmation on GetYourGuide.

From Dublin: Wild Wicklow Mountains and Glendalough tour

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⏱ 8.5h From €35

From Dublin: Cliffs of Moher full-day tour

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⏱ 12h

From Dublin: Giant's Causeway, Dark Hedges, Dunluce & Belfast tour

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⏱ 12h From €55

Dublin: Boyne Valley with Newgrange and Brú na Bóinne entry

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⏱ 8h From €45