Getting around Dublin: complete transport guide

Walking: almost always the best option in the centre

Dublin’s city centre is genuinely compact. Trinity College to the Guinness Storehouse is 2.5km, about a 30-minute walk. Kilmainham Gaol to St Patrick’s Cathedral is 1.5km. St Stephen’s Green to O’Connell Street is less than 1km. Unless you’re crossing the city or heading to a suburban attraction, walking is almost always faster than waiting for a bus and cheaper than a taxi.

The Ha’penny Bridge, O’Connell Bridge, and the Millennium Bridge all link the Northside and Southside across the Liffey. The Liffey boardwalk (Merchant’s Quay to O’Connell Bridge) is a pleasant riverside walk. For a comprehensive self-guided route of the centre, see self-guided Dublin walk.

The Leap card: the only transport card you need

The Leap card is the foundation of Dublin’s public transport. It works on Dublin Bus, Luas (both lines), the DART suburban railway, commuter rail services, and the Airlink airport bus. It’s significantly cheaper than buying individual fares.

Leap Visitor Card (tourist version):

• 1-day: €12 (unlimited travel on all covered services)
• 3-day: €22
• 7-day: €40

Where to buy: Dublin Airport (arrival hall), Dublin Bus HQ (59 O’Connell Street), Spar stores with a Transport for Ireland sticker in the window, or online in advance.

Regular Leap card: €5 deposit, then top up as needed. Single adult fares with Leap card are cheaper than cash: Dublin Bus ~€1.60–€2.40, Luas ~€1.80–€2.50, DART ~€2–4 depending on zones.

For full details on using the card, buying it, and what it covers, see the Leap card guide.

Luas trams

Dublin has two Luas tram lines:

Red Line: Runs from The Point (Docklands/3Arena) through the city centre (Jervis, Abbey Street, Busáras, Connolly) west to Saggart and Tallaght. Key tourist stops: Smithfield (Generator Hostel, Old Jameson Distillery area), Four Courts, Jervis (for Henry Street shopping), The Point (EPIC Museum, 3Arena).

Green Line: Runs from St Stephen’s Green south through Ranelagh, Beechwood, Milltown and out to Sandyford and Bride’s Glen. Key tourist stops: St Stephen’s Green (city centre hub), Harcourt (for Iveagh Gardens and gig venues), Ranelagh (residential suburb).

The two lines do not currently connect underground — to transfer between them, you change at Abbey Street/O’Connell (Red) to St Stephen’s Green or Dawson (Green), a short walk between.

Trams run approximately every 5–10 minutes in peak hours, every 12–15 minutes off-peak. The DART and Luas guide covers timetables and interchanges in more detail.

Note for Luas: all Luas stations have ticket machines and validators; you cannot pay on board. Tap your Leap card at the validator on the platform before boarding. Inspectors check tickets regularly.

DART: the coastal railway

The DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transit) is an electric suburban railway running along Dublin Bay from Malahide and Howth in the north to Bray and Greystones in the south. It’s one of the most scenic urban railways in Europe and connects tourists to several popular destinations.

Key tourist routes:

• Connolly or Tara Street → Howth: 30 minutes (change at Clontarf Road or direct from Connolly). For the Howth cliff walk.
• Connolly or Tara Street → Dún Laoghaire: 25 minutes. For the harbour, seafood, Dalkey.
• Connolly → Bray: 35 minutes. For Bray Head walk and Greystones.
• Connolly → Malahide: 25 minutes. For Malahide Castle.

See the DART and Luas guide for station maps, fares and timetables.

Dublin Bus

Dublin’s bus network is dense and covers every part of the city, but the routes are complex and the real-time information is not always reliable. For tourists, the Leap card eliminates fare confusion (tap on, tap off on the bus door reader).

Useful tourist routes:

• Route 15: Clongriffin → St Stephen’s Green (via O’Connell Street) → Ballycullen
• Route 25/X: Merrion Square area → Lucan (passes near Phoenix Park)
• Route 51/51B: Aston Quay → Kilmainham → Islandbridge (for Kilmainham Gaol and Phoenix Park)

The TFI Live app (Transport for Ireland) shows real-time departures and route maps for Dublin Bus.

Hop-on hop-off buses: For tourist sightseeing with commentary, the dedicated tour buses are a better option than the regular bus network. They loop past all major attractions on a fixed route with recorded or live commentary. The Dublin original hop-on hop-off green bus is the most popular option — 24–48 hour tickets from €22. Useful for Day 1 orientation or for getting between Kilmainham, the Storehouse and Phoenix Park without navigating multiple bus numbers.

Taxis

Dublin taxis are metered, regulated and plentiful. You can hail them on the street, find them at ranks outside major hotels, or book via the FreeNow app (which gives a price estimate before booking).

Useful taxi apps in Dublin:

• FreeNow (formerly MyTaxi): most widely used, metered journeys
• Uber: operates in Dublin; prices typically similar to metered taxis
• Lynk: another regulated operator

Typical fares: city-centre to city-centre €10–15. Southside to Northside €12–18. Airport from the centre €25–40 (higher in rush hour and at night).

Avoid: unofficial drivers who approach you inside the airport arrivals hall. Use only the official taxi rank. See Dublin airport to city for full airport transfer options.

Cycling

Dublin has a public bike-share scheme called Dublin Bikes (An Rothar Poiblí). A 3-day pass costs €1, then €0.50 per 30 minutes. Stations are concentrated in the city centre (over 100 stations). Bikes must be docked back at a station; they’re designed for short hops, not full-day touring.

Private bike and e-bike hire is available from several operators near the city centre. The Dublin bike tours guide covers guided cycling options.

Day trips: transport from Dublin

Getting out of the city to Wicklow, the Cliffs of Moher, Kilkenny, Belfast and Galway can be done by:

• Organised tour coach: the most convenient no-car option; drops off and picks up at a central Dublin point. All logistics handled.
• Bus Éireann/GoBus/Citylink: public and private express coaches to most cities (Belfast, Galway, Cork, Kilkenny). Cheap but fixed schedule.
• Irish Rail: train services to Cork, Galway, Belfast (Enterprise), Kilkenny (with connection). Comfortable but slower than coaches on some routes.
• Rental car: from ~€40/day. Good for Wicklow, Glendalough and routes where bus services are infrequent.

See day trips without a car from Dublin for the specific options for each destination.