Getting to Drogheda
How to reach Drogheda by Commuter train, bus, taxi, or car.
Train
Drogheda MacBride station sits on the Dublin Road on the south side of the river, on the sharp curve that leads onto the Boyne Viaduct, and it is one of the best-connected stations outside Dublin. The station opened in 1844 and was renamed in 1966 after Major John MacBride, one of the executed leaders of the 1916 Rising. Two quite different services call here. The Northern Commuter runs frequently between Dublin and Drogheda through the day, with many services terminating here, and it is the one most visitors will use: the run to Dublin Connolly takes well under an hour. The Belfast Enterprise also stops at Drogheda in both directions, which makes this the practical rail gateway between Dublin and Belfast if you want to break the journey. This is a through-station, not a terminus, so departure boards show trains in both directions. The station is a fifteen minute walk uphill and east from the town centre, or a short taxi; there is no station on the north side.
- Station
- Drogheda MacBride, Dublin Road, Drogheda (station code DGHDA)
- To Dublin
- Dublin Connolly, on the Northern Commuter and the Belfast Enterprise. Journey time is typically well under an hour
- To Belfast
- Belfast Lanyon Place, on the Enterprise service, which calls at Drogheda in both directions
- Walk To Town
- About 15 minutes on foot from the station to the town centre, across the river; taxis wait outside at busier times
- Ticketing
- Leap Card is accepted on Commuter services; Enterprise tickets are booked separately through Irish Rail
Tips
- •The station is on the south bank; the shops, the shrine and St Laurence's Gate are on the north bank across the river.
- •It is a through-station on the Dublin to Belfast line, so check the direction on the departure board rather than assuming every train is going to Dublin.
- •Some Commuter services terminate at Drogheda rather than continuing north, which is worth checking if you are travelling on to Dundalk.
- •Drogheda is planned as the northern terminus of the DART+ Coastal North electrification project, but that is a future scheme, not a current service.
Useful Links
🚂 Commuter from Drogheda
Northbound and southbound trains
Drogheda station. Updates every minute
Bus
Drogheda Bus Station is on Donore Road on the south side, a few minutes' walk from Scotch Hall and the river. Bus Eireann route 101 is the workhorse: Dublin city centre to Drogheda Bus Station via Drumcondra, Dublin Airport, Swords, Balbriggan and Julianstown, roughly 50km, running every 20 to 30 minutes at peak and hourly off peak, and it has run as a 24-hour service since 2023. Journey time varies a lot with traffic, from about 68 minutes overnight to well over two hours in the worst of the peak. Routes 100X and 101X are the peak express versions, using the Dublin Port Tunnel and the M1, with the 100X running hourly through to Dundalk and calling at Dublin Airport and Drogheda Bus Station. Alongside Bus Eireann, Matthews Coach Hire runs the 900 and 901 between Dundalk, Drogheda and Dublin with several Drogheda stops including North Road, Georges Street and Donore Road, and accepts Leap Card.
- Bus Station
- Drogheda Bus Station, Donore Road, Drogheda
- To Dublin
- Bus Eireann 101 to Dublin city centre via Dublin Airport, 24 hours a day; 100X and 101X peak express via the Port Tunnel and M1
- To Dundalk
- Bus Eireann 100X hourly express, and Matthews 900/901
- Operators
- Bus Eireann and Matthews Coach Hire
- Ticketing
- Leap Card is accepted on Bus Eireann services and by Matthews
Tips
- •The 101 calls at Dublin Airport in both directions, which makes the bus the simplest airport link without a car.
- •The express 100X and 101X use the M1 and the Port Tunnel and are much faster at peak than the all-stops 101.
- •Matthews stops are on-street around Drogheda rather than at the bus station, so check which stop your ticket names.
Taxis
Drogheda has a working taxi trade serving a town of over forty thousand people, with ranks in the town centre and around the station and bus station at busier times. It is the practical way to get from the railway station up to the north side with luggage, or home from an evening on West Street. Book ahead for early morning airport runs rather than expecting to flag one.
- Ranks
- Town centre ranks, with cars at the railway station and bus station at busy times
- Typical Use
- Station to the north side of the town, and evening journeys home from the centre
- Booking
- Book ahead for early-morning airport runs and on festival weekends
Driving and parking
Drogheda sits directly on the M1 between Dublin and Belfast, with junctions on both sides of the town, and it is about 50km from Dublin and around 45 minutes from the city in normal traffic. The M1 crosses the Boyne west of the town on the Mary McAleese Boyne Valley Bridge, the cable-stayed bridge that opened on 9 June 2003 and is the longest of its kind in Ireland; the toll plaza is on that stretch. Inside the town, the thing to understand is the river. There are only a handful of crossings, they funnel traffic, and the town centre streets are narrow and one-way in places. Park once and walk: the multi-storey at Scotch Hall on the south bank and the car park at Laurence Shopping Centre on the north are the two obvious options, with pay and display on street around the centre.
- From Dublin
- About 50km, roughly 45 minutes on the M1 in normal traffic, with a toll on the Boyne Valley Bridge section
- From Belfast
- About 130km on the A1 and M1, roughly 1 hour 30 minutes
- Parking
- Multi-storey parking at Scotch Hall on the south bank and at Laurence Shopping Centre on the north, plus pay and display on street
- Crossings
- A small number of river crossings in the town centre; expect queues at peak
Tips
- •Decide which bank you are parking on before you arrive; crossing the river by car at peak is slower than walking it.
- •The M1 toll applies on the Boyne Valley Bridge section, so keep change or a tag if you are passing through.
- •Millmount is uphill from the south quays and the streets around it are tight; park at Scotch Hall and walk up.
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
45 km away- Duration
- Roughly 50 to 75 minutes depending on the service and traffic
- Cost
- Single bus fare; Leap Card accepted
Both the all-stops 101 and the hourly 100X express call at Dublin Airport and at Drogheda Bus Station. The 101 runs 24 hours a day, which covers early and late flights.
Operator: Bus Eireann
- Duration
- About 30 to 40 minutes in normal traffic
- Cost
- Fuel, M1 toll and airport parking or car hire
Drogheda is a straight run down the M1 from the airport. The Boyne Valley Bridge toll applies on the way.
- Duration
- About 35 to 45 minutes
- Cost
- Metered or fixed fare; agree the price with the operator when booking
Worth pre-booking for early departures, when the bus timetable is thinner even on a 24-hour route.
Belfast International AirportBFS
150 km away- Duration
- About 1 hour 45 minutes
- Cost
- Fuel and tolls
The northern alternative if the fare works out better. There is no direct public transport link, so this is a driving option in practice.
- Duration
- Around 1 hour 20 minutes on the Enterprise to Belfast, plus the airport connection
- Cost
- Enterprise fare plus the Belfast airport bus
The Enterprise calls at Drogheda in both directions. Note that fares and services north of the border are priced in a different currency, so check before travelling.
Operator: Irish Rail and Translink
Leap Card
Leap Card works on Bus Eireann services to and from Drogheda and on Irish Rail Commuter services, and Matthews Coach Hire accepts it as well. It is cheaper than cash single fares and saves fumbling for change on a busy 101. Buy or top up in newsagents around the town and at the usual outlets in Dublin. Leap does not cover the Belfast Enterprise, which is booked separately through Irish Rail.
- Where It Works
- Bus Eireann services, Irish Rail Commuter services, and Matthews Coach Hire
- Where It Does Not
- The Belfast Enterprise, which is ticketed separately
- Top Up
- Newsagents and convenience shops around Drogheda, and the Leap app
Parking
Parking options in and around Drogheda. On busy weekends, arriving early or taking the Commuter train is recommended.
Scotch Hall Shopping Centre car park
The main covered parking on the south bank, at Marsh Road beside the d hotel and the Boyne boardwalk. The obvious choice if you are arriving by car and walking the town; charges apply and were not confirmed to publication standard in this pass.
Laurence Shopping Centre car park
The main parking on the north bank, closest to St Laurence Street, Highlanes Gallery and the shops. Recommended by Highlanes Gallery itself as the parking for the gallery.
On-street pay and display, town centre
Pay and display operates on streets around the town centre on both banks. Rates and hours were not confirmed to publication standard in this pass; check the machine.
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 Commuter train is the best way to get to Drogheda. You arrive right in the heart of Drogheda, there’s no parking hassle, and you can enjoy a meal and a drink without worrying about driving home.