Getting to Carlow
How to reach Carlow by InterCity train, bus, taxi, car, or bicycle.
By train
Carlow is on the Dublin Heuston to Waterford line, and it is a through-station: most trains carry on south to Muine Bheag, Kilkenny, Thomastown and Waterford, though on weekdays two of the morning and midday trains from Dublin finish at Carlow. The station is on Railway Road on the north-east side of town, about 750 metres from the Potato Market and five minutes on foot from VISUAL and College Street. Trains run roughly every one to two hours rather than on a regular clock-face pattern, so check the time before you walk down. Leave from Heuston, not Connolly; Heuston is on the Luas Red Line.
- Line
- Dublin Heuston to Waterford (Plunkett)
- Station code
- CRLOW
- Frequency from Dublin Heuston
- 10 trains Monday to Thursday, 11 on Friday, 8 on Saturday, 5 on Sunday
- Frequency to Dublin Heuston
- 11 trains Monday to Thursday, 12 on Friday, 9 on Saturday, 5 on Sunday
- Journey time from Dublin Heuston
- About 1 hour 5 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes
- Journey time to Kilkenny
- About 40 minutes
- Journey time to Waterford
- About 1 hour 20 minutes
- First train to Dublin, Mon- Fri
- 06:30, arriving Heuston 07:44
- Last train from Dublin, Mon- Sat
- 20:20 from Heuston, arriving Carlow 21:40
- Station location
- Railway Road, about 750 m from the Potato Market
Tips
- •Two weekday trains from Heuston terminate at Carlow; if you are going on to Kilkenny or Waterford, check the destination
- •Times quoted are from the Irish Rail timetable valid from 14 December 2025; check irishrail.ie before you travel
- •Buy in advance online for the cheapest fares
- •Public holidays run a different timetable from the Monday to Saturday one
🚆 InterCity from Carlow
Iarnród Éireann InterCity departures
InterCity service from Carlow. Updates every minute.
By bus
JJ Kavanagh's route 736 runs between Waterford and Dublin Airport by way of Carlow and Dublin city, and it is the simplest way to get from a flight to Carlow without changing. Seats have to be booked in advance on the operator's journey planner. Wexford Bus route 376 links Carlow with Ballon, Bunclody, Enniscorthy and Wexford. In town, Bus Éireann runs a local town service, and TFI Local Link Carlow Kilkenny Wicklow covers the rural routes into the county's villages; those run to school and shopping patterns rather than to visitor hours. Carlow's bus park is off Barrack Street, ten minutes' walk from VISUAL.
- Dublin Airport and Dublin city
- JJ Kavanagh route 736, Waterford to Dublin Airport via Carlow; pre-booking required
- Wexford
- Wexford Bus route 376, via Ballon, Bunclody and Enniscorthy
- Town service
- Bus Éireann Carlow town routes
- Rural services
- TFI Local Link Carlow Kilkenny Wicklow
- Town bus stop
- Carlow bus park, off Barrack Street
Tips
- •Book the JJ Kavanagh 736 online; the operator says a seat is only guaranteed with a pre-booked ticket
- •Local Link timetables follow school and shopping patterns, so do not plan an evening return on them
By taxi
Taxis in Carlow are best booked by phone rather than hailed. You will want one for Duckett's Grove if you have no car, for the Woodford Dolmen and Talbot hotels after a night on Tullow Street, and for the run from the station with heavy luggage. Carlow Tourism keeps a list of local taxi and minibus operators on its travel pages.
- How it works
- Phone a local operator; book ahead for late weekend nights
- Typical use
- Duckett's Grove, the out-of-town hotels, late nights on Tullow Street
Tips
- •Book a return pick-up from Duckett's Grove when you book the outward trip
- •Carlow Tourism lists local taxi and coach hire firms
Useful Links
By car
Carlow sits just off the M9 Dublin to Waterford motorway; VISUAL's directions use junction 4, then straight through three roundabouts towards the town. The town centre is compact and most of what a visitor wants is inside a ten-minute walk, so park once. The two sights you will want a car for are Brownshill Dolmen, a little over three kilometres east on the R726 Hacketstown road, and Duckett's Grove, north-east of town towards Castledermot. Bagenalstown, for the brewery, is about sixteen kilometres south as the crow flies.
- Main road
- M9 Dublin to Waterford, junction 4
- Town parking
- Town-centre car park beside the Potato Market; pay parking inside the VISUAL gate on the Old Dublin Road
- Brownshill Dolmen
- R726 Hacketstown road, small council car park
- Duckett's Grove
- Signposted from M9 junction 4 towards Castledermot; car and coach park on site
Tips
- •Park once and walk; the castle, Tullow Street and College Street are all within about ten minutes of each other
- •The Brownshill car park is small and easy to miss
- •Pay and display applies in the VISUAL car park during the day
By bike
Carlow is flat and the town centre is small, so a bike is more use for getting out along the river than for getting around. The Barrow Way towpath runs north towards Athy and south towards Milford, Leighlinbridge and Bagenalstown. It is a towpath rather than a built cycleway, shared with walkers, so ride it at walking-friendly speeds.
- Main route
- Barrow Way towpath, north to Athy and south to Milford and Bagenalstown
- Terrain
- Flat river valley
Tips
- •The towpath is shared with walkers
- •Waterways Ireland publishes the Barrow Way by stage, with distances
Useful Links
From the Airport
Live options for reaching the village from the nearest airports. Times and fares are a guide and can change with traffic or operator schedules.
Dublin AirportDUB
78 km away- Duration
- Check the operator's journey planner
- Cost
- Check current fares with the operator
Route 736 runs Dublin Airport to Waterford via Dublin city and Carlow. Pre-book to guarantee a seat.
Operator: JJ Kavanagh & Sons
- Duration
- Allow 2 hours or more including the transfer
- Cost
- Airport transfer plus the rail fare
Trains to Carlow leave from Dublin Heuston, not Connolly. Heuston is on the Luas Red Line.
Operator: Iarnród Éireann
- Duration
- Plan your own route: the M50 and M7 out of Dublin, then the M9 south to junction 4
- Cost
- Car hire plus fuel and tolls
The practical choice if you also want Brownshill Dolmen and Duckett's Grove.
EV & Essentials
Practical infrastructure on the ground: charging, water, and accessibility facilities worth knowing about before you arrive.
Accessibility Facilities
Delta Sensory Gardens
Ramp access · Strawhall Estate, off Cannery Road, Carlow
The gardens and Cafe Thyme are described by the operator as fully wheelchair accessible.
Parking
Parking options in and around Carlow. On busy weekends, arriving early or taking the InterCity train is recommended.
Town-centre car park beside the Potato Market
The main town-centre car park, next to the Saturday farmers' market.
VISUAL and Carlow College, Old Dublin Road entrance
Council pay parking inside the gate, including disabled spaces; free for VISUAL events after 18:30, but limited.
Planning the wider trip?
Our country-level primer covers national rail, intercity buses, airports, the Leap Card, and whether you actually need a hire car for your trip around Ireland.
Getting Around Ireland →Top Tip
The InterCity train is the best way to get to Carlow. You arrive right in the heart of Carlow, there’s no parking hassle, and you can enjoy a meal and a drink without worrying about driving home.