A Day in Greystones by DART: The Car-Free Day Out

Greystones is the easy car-free seaside day out from Dublin, because it is the end of the southbound DART line and you cannot overshoot your stop. From Connolly the journey runs roughly 50 to 65 minutes, calling at Bray one stop before. Off-peak there are around two trains an hour, so check the times for the way back. Buy a Leap Card before you go; it is cheaper than singles and works on the DART, the buses, and the Luas.

Step off the train and the harbour and town centre are a short walk away. Start at the rebuilt harbour and the marina, the modern heart of the town, then walk south to South Beach, the sandy Blue Flag stretch, and on along the flat coastal path if you want more open sea air. The pebbly North Beach runs the other way toward Bray Head for a quieter shoreline walk.

For lunch, head into the town centre and the original Happy Pear on Church Road, or a brunch plate at Buoys Kitchen or Three Q's. Finish back at the harbour with a pint at the Beach House and Dann's Bar before the DART home. If you are here on a summer Sunday, the Plaza Market on the harbour is the reason to time it for a weekend. One thing to know: the old Cliff Walk to Bray is closed, so do not plan to walk between the two towns; the DART covers that hop in a few minutes.