Malahide Village is a popular spot for a day trip from Dublin. There are plenty of things to do in Malahide to occupy you and the family for a full day.
Where is Malahide and how to get there
Malahide Village is only 20 km from Dublin City, a short drive or DART ride from the city center. The drive takes about a half-hour and you will find free parking in the main car park below the castle. If you choose the local train system (DART), then take the green line towards Drogheda/Dundalk. The ride takes less than 25 minutes to Malahide station.
It is even closer to Dublin Airport, less than 10 km, so you can also visit Malahide village on your way in or out of Dublin City.
9 Things to do in Malahide Village
Malahide Castle and Gardens
I’ll start with the obvious. The most popular and noteworthy attraction is Malahide Castle. You can take a tour of the castle (for adults or children), discover the fairy trail on the West Lawn, and visit the Botanical Gardens. The castle has been the home of the powerful Talbot family for 800 years. You can read more about its past and present dwellers and take a tour of its grounds in my post about Malahide Castle and Gardens.
Golf in Malahide Village
I never played golf but I’m getting interested in the game and Ireland is certainly the place to try it. There are golf clubs everywhere. And I mean: everywhere!
Of course, Malahide has a Golf Course and Country Club where you can practice your game. It is one of the oldest golf clubs in Ireland and a great place to spend a sunny day. There is also a public golf course right next to the castle.
Cricket & Other Games
A large part of Malahide Demesne (the castle’s domain) is open to the public. It’s a green area, home to a park and a Gaelic Games field. There is also a cricket ground along with 5 tennis courts close to the castle. Plenty of activities to choose from.
Casino Railway Model
Another incredible place in Malahide, fit for children but also for the child in you. There are two stories here, one of the railway models collection, and the other of the building itself.
The Talbots (the family that owned Malahide Castle for centuries) built the Casino about 200 years ago. Before knowing what it is, you will admire the beautiful cottage as you pass by it, on your way up to the castle. After being abandoned for years, the house got another chance with a large donation from a wealthy local farmer.
Today, the Casino cottage hosts an incredible collection of railway models. They were hand-crafted by Cyril Fry, a railway engineer that was so passionate about the trains that he created one of the most impressive railway models collections in the world. Even if you’re not a trains enthusiast, you can’t help being amazed by the beautiful and extremely detailed wagons and carriages of the collection.
The piece of resistance is a room-wide assembly displaying Mallow Station and the Bray Head railway. It’s full of details and the kids forget about everything while chasing the trains around the room. I loved the models, but the best part for me was watching two brothers running along with the trains and waiting for them breathless on the other side of a tunnel.
Stroll through Malahide village
The town center is quite small but enjoyable. There are a couple of streets full of restaurants, pubs, and boutique shops. When the weather is nice, the terraces are full of locals and tourists alike.
After exploring the area, make your way along the sea, either to the estuary or to the beach, towards Howth on the other side.
Have lunch or a beer
As you walk through the village, you will stumble upon a few inviting restaurants and cafes. Fish Shack Cafe has got my attention but it was full at lunchtime (always a good sign). If you want something different, there are Thai and Greek options close to the sea.
In restrictions-free times, the pubs also offer live Irish music along with cold, dark beer.
Malahide Marina
It’s always nice to take a stroll around a marina. On a sunny day, the marina is a great spot for some more Instagram shots, isn’t it?
Water sports
As you look towards the sea, on the left of the Malahide Marina, the estuary is a great place to try your paddling skills. As you might already know, SUP is my recent discovery and favorite water activity. However, the place is great for some kayaking too.
The beach and coastal walk
If you wander to your right as you reach the sea, you will come across a beautiful sandy beach. This is also the start of a spectacular coastal walk. You can walk the 6 km to Portmarnock Beach and admire the sea, Lambay Island, and even Howth Peninsula. Moreover, if you feel up to it, you can reach Howth village in about 3 hours.
Where to stay in Malahide village
The best place to stay in Malahide village is the Grand Hotel. It’s close to everything and it comes with an amazing pool to keep you entertained on a rainy day.
Final Thoughts
Did you find a reason to visit Malahide Village in this post? Let me know if I missed anything in the comments below.
If you want to visit more in a short window, one of the most popular day trips from Dublin includes both Malahide Castle and the picturesque village of Howth.
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Brings back my memories from when living in Dublin. Malahide castle and gardens were really nice to visit!
Cyril Fry seems to have been a bit of a maniac, but probably in a good way (let’s not ask his wife lol).
The village high street looks very colourful and who doesn’t like a good castle.
Ha you aren’t wrong about the golf courses. We have absolutely tons. Even in Dublin there must be 50. And that’s a city. I love the cottage of the model railway museum. I was delighted when they refurbished it recently.
Malahide looks like a great seaside village!
It is that, one of many in Ireland! Thanks for stopping by, Kasia.
It’s great to learn that such a quaint place is so easy to access from Dublin. I love visiting small seaside villages like this.
And Ireland has plenty of those. I have a couple more to write about and a lot more to visit 😀
Malahide looks like a quaint and beautiful village! That fact that it has a castle make it a great destination for me! After seeing the castle I’d enjoy walking along the waterfront and the village before stopping in a pub!
That sounds like a good plan, Vanessa!
This sounds like a really great place to visit and explore — thanks for sharing this as I’ve not heard much about it before.