After your first 24 hours in Dublin, you might want to explore the area around Dublin too. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of things to do in Dublin to keep you occupied for a few days. However, there is more to discover close to Dublin city, so you might find some easy day trips from Dublin, Ireland to tempt you below.
7 Easy day trips from Dublin Ireland
I selected 7 amazing day trips from Dublin, all within one hour from the city. Most of them are easily accessible by public transport. However, renting a car from Dublin would come in handy for a couple of them. So, here they are, in no particular order.
Malahide Village – Day Trips from Dublin
Malahide is a village by the sea, less than 12 km north of Dublin. You can spend a great day out in Malahide village. The star of the place is Malahide Castle and Gardens, but there are a few other things to do in Malahide village. Sports, a stroll through the marina, a coastal walk, or just sipping a coffee in the colorful village will make your day.
You can get to Malahide on the regional train (DART) in less than 25 minutes from Connolly station in Dublin.
Howth Village – Easy day trip close to Dublin
Again by the sea, Howth is a picturesque fishing village on the Howth peninsula. You can visit Howth Castle and gardens, hike one of the beautiful trails around Howth Head, or stroll through the village and admire the sea. The best time for a day trip to Howth is from late May to July – when the rhododendrons are in bloom in the castle’s gardens.
Another reason to visit Howth is the food. If you like seafood, head to Howth in time for lunch and enjoy the day’s catch at one of the restaurants close to the marina.
The DART ride from Dublin to Howth takes about 25 minutes from Connolly station.
Bray and the coastal walk
Bray is a pleasant town south of Dublin, in County Wicklow. It has one of the best coastal walks in Ireland (and Ireland has plenty of amazing walks). You can walk by the coast to the nearby Greystones town, a total of about 7km. If that’s too much, you can always stick closer to Bray and do the Bray Head loop walk of about 5km.
Bray can also make a great family day out. Visit the Sea Life Aquarium in the town’s center, then go straight to the next destination on the list-Killruddery Estate.
Killruddery Estate – A beautiful day out
Killruddery House and Gardens is a beautiful estate close to Bray. You can walk the 3km from Bray Dart Station or take bus 45A for part of the trip. As opposed to other old Irish Estates, Killruddery has a living soul. The family still lives there, making it their life mission to preserve the estate and keep it open to the public.
You can visit the house on a guided tour or just wander around the gardens. It’s easy to spend the day here if the weather allows. Bring a blanket and some games to keep all the family entertained. There are picnic areas on the estate. If you don’t bring one, taste the local products at the Tea Room or at the Grain Store Restaurant.
From Dublin, take the DART green line to Bray. The ride will take about 50 minutes.
Airfield Farm – Best family day trips from Dublin City
A visit to Airfield Estate is one of the best family day trips from Dublin, Ireland. It’s a short, 40-minutes drive from Dublin City. Airfield Farm is also accessible by Luas (Dublin’s tram). Take the green line from Trinity and get off at Ballaly station. The children will love the farm, and the adults will appreciate the beautiful gardens at Airfield.
Check out their website for daily activities and events, and plan your visit to include what you’re interested in. For instance, kids can participate in the egg collection at 10:00 AM every morning.
Dun Laoghaire – Day trips to the sea
Another charming sea town near Dublin, Dun Laoghaire is another must-do day trip in Ireland. You can take a short trip to take a walk by the sea and have lunch, or even spend a romantic weekend away from home.
You can easily get to Dun Laoghaire by Dart from Connolly station in less than 30 minutes. That means you can have a relaxing afternoon in Dun Laoghaire if you don’t have the whole day. If time allows, take the DART further to Dalkey Castle nearby.
Wicklow County – Exploring the green of Ireland
Wicklow is a county in Ireland, south of Dublin. It is known as the garden of Ireland, and it has some incredible landscapes to explore. I won’t be very specific here – my suggestion is to rent a car and drive around. Co Wicklow has its share of gardens, lakes, and walks. It’s just green, as far as the eye can see.
If hiking is your thing you can do the Miners’ Way Walk. It’s a difficult, 17 km trail, and you need to organize your transport to the start and from the endpoint. A much easier option is the Miners’Road Walk, with less than 6 km to walk there and back. The scenery is beautiful whichever you choose, especially if it’s a sunny day.
Another convenient option is to join an organized tour and visit the Wicklow Mountains without worries about organizing the day trip.
Final thoughts – Day trips out of Dublin City
Dublin is a great city to spend a few nights in, but Ireland is a lot more than what you can see in Dublin City. So, if you only have a few days in Ireland, my suggestion is to base yourself in Dublin and explore as much as you can of the surrounding area as well. Luckily, there are a lot of day trips you can take from Dublin to make the most of your trip to Ireland.
Have you been to any of these places? Tell me all about it in the comments below. I will also appreciate any suggestions for my next trip to Ireland!
Disclosure
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