If you’re planning your first trip to Dublin, Ireland, with your family, you probably have a million logistical questions coming up, like, do I need a visa? What are the best Dublin hotels for families? What are the best times of year to visit Ireland? And, finally, what’s the best way to get around in Dublin while I’m there?
Fear not; Dublin has a robust and easy-to-navigate transportation system, and in today’s post, I’ll cover everything you need to know to navigate the city like a pro.
How to get around in Dublin, Ireland
Do I need to rent a car to get around in Dublin?
If you’re traveling from the U.S., the first question you may ask yourself is: should I rent a car to get around in Dublin? My answer is a resounding NO! Dublin is a small city with more than one million residents; parking is hard to come by, spaces are small, and renting a car will almost surely be more trouble than it’s worth.
It might make sense if you intend to do some sightseeing beyond the city limits (way beyond) but read this post first. I’ve only “needed” a car once in our five trips to Dublin.
How walkable is Dublin, really?
Dublin is very walkable if you’re staying in a hotel anywhere near the city center. In fact, many top tourist spots like the Temple Bar district, Grafton Street, Trinity College, and St. Stephen’s Green are within a 10-15 minute walk of each other.
An active family staying in Dublin for a week will have no problem walking to most of their points of interest over several different days. If your hotel room is centrally located, it’s even more accessible, but what if you’re traveling with younger kiddos or those with mobility issues that make walking long distances difficult?
The Dublin Bus & Hop-On Hop-Off Busses
One option for getting around the city is the Dublin Bus. The bus has many inner-city stops at busy locations and runs regularly. Because the bus is used as a primary means of transportation for locals and tourists alike and operates on public roadways, there may be times when it’s slightly crowded and somewhat slow.
If you plan to travel to specific tourist spots over several days within the city, the Hop-On Hop-Off bus is another alternative for getting around in Dublin. Called Big Bus Tours in Dublin, these double-decker busses have an open-air top and run several colored routes across the city’s points of interest.
You can buy tickets in advance for periods that currently include 24, 48, and 72 hours, making this a more economical option for those planning to travel for sightseeing during their stay.
Our family loves to ride Hop-On Hop-Off busses whenever they’re available when we’re traveling because they take a lot of the guesswork and stress out of finding the right bus stop for the tour you want to do, and the company has very clear visuals to help you find the right cross-over sections between different lines.
You also only need one ticket for the duration of your pass, so you don’t have to worry about downloading or buying something new whenever you want to board.
Another benefit is that these busses provide narration in multiple languages and an open-air top row with seating. This allows you to get a unique view of the city’s landscape and landmarks as you travel between destinations and an insider’s look at the history and people you might not get at a more location-specific tour.
Getting around in Dublin on the Luas
Dublin has three commuter rail services spanning the city and the country. The Luas is the inner city tram, or what we would call a subway/trolley in the U.S., and is a great way to get around in Dublin.
There are two lines for the Luas, the green line, which runs north to south in the city center, and the red line, which moves east to west. Stops tend to be every few blocks, and the trains run roughly every 4-6 minutes during the day/evening, so there’s no need to worry if you miss one or one’s too crowded, catch the next.
Getting around in Dublin on the DART
Another getting around in Dublin is the DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transit). The DART is an electric rail train that runs north to south along the city’s coast. While it doesn’t have as much reach as other modes of transportation, it does offer tourists the ability to see a few things beyond the city proper.
Some examples of popular tourist attractions on the DART line are Malahide Castle and Gardens, an 800-year-old castle with incredible gardens that you can tour inside and out, perfect for a sunny Dublin day, and Killiney Beach, which is this rugged rocky ocean beach perfect for hiking and picking up stones.
Getting around in Dublin and beyond with commuter trains
The commuter rail line is the final mode of public transportation you can use to get around in Dublin and beyond. The commuter lines offer four different lines that traverse the city of Dublin and extend to the rest of the country.
The southeastern commuter line (or Pink Line) goes as south as Wexford and Rosslare. The southwestern commuter line (or Orange Line) will take you all the way to Kildare, Cork, Limerick, and points west with a connection at the Luas’ Heuston Station.
The western commuter line (or Yellow Line) stretches up to Sligo and Longford. And finally, the northern commuter line (or Blue Line) goes all the way up to Drogheda, Dundalk, and Belfast.
The commuter rail is a fantastic option for getting around in Dublin and beyond, and our family has used it several times to visit places like Cork and Belfast. It’s a fast, clean, safe, and effective way to see some sights that are off the beaten path.
Putting all the various public transportation options together, there’s nothing in Dublin or surrounding areas that are genuinely inaccessible without a car for most able-bodied travelers. Public transportation in Europe is also far cheaper than car rentals and paying for gas.
Do I need to buy separate tickets for each train line in Dublin?
No. If you plan to visit Dublin and would like to use the public transportation network, you can get a LEAP Visitor Card. These cards can be purchased online before your trip or through a Dublin agent when you’ve arrived.
Passes can be purchased in 1, 3, and 7-day increments, and the timer begins at the first swipe. Passes can be used on the Dublin Bus, Luas, DART, and Commuter Rail lines, so you will not need to worry about buying and managing separate passes per service.
Using Taxis and Private Cars to get around in Dublin
If public transportation isn’t your thing, or if you need a point-to-point ride within the city, Taxis and Ubers are equally plentiful. Generally affordable, there are two types of taxis within the city, those with meters and those with set prices, so you should do some research before jumping in, especially if the traffic is bad or you’re traveling a far distance.
If you plan to use taxi services to get around in Dublin for your trip, many companies will allow you to pre-book your ride, so do a little research there and pre-book when possible to avoid a long wait during busy times.
One time I do recommend hiring a taxi or private car is to shuttle you from the airport to your hotel and vice versa. While many of the larger hotels offer shuttle service and have Dublin Bus stops right out front (especially if you’re staying downtown on the River Liffey), it’s still a pain to haul your bags from the baggage claim down to the shuttle station.
As you can see, you’ll have no shortage of options for getting around in Dublin without a car rental, and navigating the various lines isn’t going to be a challenge for any English speaker. The infrastructure here is incredible, and the people are friendly and helpful if you do find yourself lost.
Until next time!