Howth Day Trip from Dublin: The Complete Guide

Howth is 25 minutes from Dublin city centre by DART, and it's one of those rare day trips where you genuinely don't need a car, a tour guide, or a plan beyond "walk, eat fish, come home happy." Here's how to do it properly.

Getting There

By DART (Recommended)

The DART runs from Connolly Station to Howth every 20–30 minutes. Journey time is about 25–35 minutes depending on which station you board at. A return ticket costs around five euro from the city centre, making it one of the best-value day trips in Ireland.

The Howth DART station is the end of the line. You literally cannot miss your stop. Step off and you're 50 metres from the harbour, with the sea right in front of you. Howth Market is directly opposite the station if it's a weekend.

By Bus

The H3 runs from Abbey Street Lower to Howth Summit every 7–8 minutes (it interlaces with the H1 and H2 routes along the corridor). This is particularly useful if you want to start a cliff walk from the top. Skip the steep climb and walk downhill instead. "Bus up, DART back" is the standard local advice.

By Car

If you're driving, the Summit car park is free and gives you direct access to the cliff walks from the top. The harbour area has some free and metered spaces, but on a sunny weekend, you'll be circling. Public transport is genuinely easier.

The Ideal Howth Day

This assumes you arrive mid-morning and want to see the highlights without rushing. Adjust based on your fitness level and how long you linger over lunch.

9:30 AM: Arrive and Walk

Take the H3 bus to Howth Summit and start the Green Route cliff walk (1.5–2 hours) or the Purple Route (3+ hours) if you're feeling ambitious. Starting from the top means the hardest part, the uphill, is done for you. The morning light on the cliffs is beautiful, and you'll beat the afternoon crowds.

12:00 PM: Lunch at the Harbour

Walk down to the harbour for lunch. If the weather's good and you want fish and chips, Beshoff Bros on the harbour road is the local pick. Order at the counter, eat looking out at the fishing boats. For a sit-down meal, Octopussy's does excellent seafood tapas sourced from the fishing boats you can see from the window. Aqua is the fine-dining option if you want to make lunch an event.

1:30 PM: Explore the Harbour and Piers

Walk the West Pier. It's where the fishing fleet ties up and you'll see the catch being landed if you time it right. The East Pier is quieter and offers a different angle of the harbour. Both piers have seals lounging around at the waterline, especially near the fish shops.

2:30 PM: Ireland's Eye (Optional)

If you've got time, the ferry to Ireland's Eye departs from the West Pier and takes about 15 minutes across. The boat tour is 50 minutes with a live guide and costs around 25 euro for adults, 15 for kids. Boats return hourly, so you can hop across and back without losing the whole afternoon. It's particularly good for birdwatchers, since the island is a nesting site for gannets, guillemots, and razorbills.

3:30 PM: Howth Castle and Market

Howth Castle grounds are free to wander and worth 30–45 minutes, especially in May and June when the rhododendron gardens are in full bloom. The colours are genuinely spectacular. If it's a Saturday, Sunday, or bank holiday, Howth Market (opposite the DART station) runs until 6pm with food stalls, baked goods, and local crafts.

4:30 PM: Head Home

Walk to the DART station (5 minutes from the harbour) and take the train back to Connolly. If you're staying in the south side of Dublin, you can stay on the DART all the way through to Pearse, Lansdowne, or beyond.

Tips from Locals

Go early. Howth gets busy after midday in summer, especially the Green Route cliff walk. A 9:30am start means you'll have the path mostly to yourself.

Check the weather, but go anyway. Howth in light rain is atmospheric, not miserable. The cliffs with mist rolling in are actually more dramatic than full sunshine. Just dress for it.

Don't skip the piers. Most visitors do the cliff walk and eat, then leave. The piers are where you see the real Howth: the working fishing harbour, the seals, the boat activity. Five minutes' walk and a completely different perspective.

Weekday beats weekend. If you have flexibility, go on a Tuesday or Wednesday. The cliff walks are quieter, the restaurants have tables, and you can actually find parking.