Getting to Skerries
How to reach Skerries by DART, bus, or car.
Commuter Rail
Skerries is on the Northern Commuter line between Dublin and Drogheda, not the DART. Iarnród Éireann Commuter trains run from Dublin Connolly, Pearse and Grand Canal Dock north to Skerries, Balbriggan, Drogheda and Dundalk. The trip from Connolly takes about half an hour, and the station is a ten-minute walk from the harbour. The train is the easiest way to reach Skerries, and parking in the town, while free, fills up on fine days.
- From
- Dublin Connolly Station
- Duration
- About 30-35 minutes
- Frequency
- Roughly every 30-60 minutes through the day, more frequent at peak; lighter on Sundays
- Fare
- Adult single around €5 cash; cheaper with a Leap Card, daily cap applies
- Station
- Skerries Station, a 10-minute walk from the harbour
- Note
- This is the Commuter line, not the DART. Trains run both ways from Skerries: south to Dublin and north to Balbriggan, Drogheda and Dundalk.
Tips
- •Leap Card is cheaper than cash and works on Commuter rail, DART, Dublin Bus and Luas.
- •Check live departures at irishrail.ie; the station code is SKRES.
- •Skerries is a through-station, so both Dublin-bound and Drogheda-bound trains stop here.
- •The station is about ten minutes on foot from the harbour and the main streets.
🚂 Commuter from Skerries
Northbound and southbound trains
Skerries station. Updates every minute
Bus
Skerries is served by the 33 group of bus routes, run by Dublin Bus and Go-Ahead Ireland, linking the town with Swords, the city centre and the north Fingal villages. The 33, 33A, 33D and 33X variants run along the corridor at different times and stops; the train is usually faster from the city, but the bus is useful for hopping between Skerries, Rush, Lusk and Balbriggan.
- From Dublin
- Dublin Bus / Go-Ahead 33 from the city centre (around 70-90 minutes)
- City Services
- Routes 33, 33A, 33D, 33X serve Skerries and the north Fingal corridor
- City Fare
- Adult single from around €2.00-€3.50 on Leap, depending on stages
Tips
- •Leap Card works on Dublin Bus and Go-Ahead and is cheaper than cash.
- •The Commuter train is faster than the bus from the city centre.
- •The 33 routes are handy for getting between Skerries, Rush, Lusk and Balbriggan.
Useful Links
Driving
Skerries is about 30 km north of Dublin city, reached via the M1 and the R132 then the R127 into the town, or along the older coast road through Rush and Lusk. Driving takes 35-45 minutes off-peak. Parking in Skerries is free, unusual for a Dublin seaside town, with harbour and South Strand car parks, but they fill early on fine summer days and during the Skerries 100.
- From Dublin
- ~35-45 minutes off-peak via the M1 and R132
- From Airport
- ~25-30 minutes via the M1 and R132
- From Drogheda
- ~25 minutes south on the M1 / coast road
- Parking
- Free parking at the harbour, South Strand and on-street; fills early on fine days and race weekends
Tips
- •Parking is free but fills early on sunny days; arrive early or take the train.
- •The M1 toll is north of Skerries near Drogheda, so the airport-to-Skerries run is toll-free.
- •The harbour and South Strand car parks are the most convenient for the beaches and walk.
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
25 km away- Duration
- ~25-30 minutes
- Cost
- €40-€55 depending on time
The quickest door-to-door option. Skerries is a straight run north on the M1 and R132 from the airport, with no toll on this stretch.
Operator: Dublin Airport taxi rank or FreeNow app
- Duration
- ~25-30 minutes
- Cost
- Car hire from ~€35/day; no toll on the airport-to-Skerries stretch
North on the M1 then the R132 and R127 into Skerries. The M1 barrier-free toll is further north near Drogheda, so this run is toll-free. Parking in Skerries is free.
Operator: Car hire desks in airport arrivals
- Duration
- ~90-110 minutes
- Cost
- Airport bus fare + around €5 Commuter rail (cheaper on Leap)
There is no direct rail link from the airport. Take a bus into the city to Connolly Station, then the Northern Commuter train out to Skerries. A taxi is far quicker for the airport leg.
Operator: Airlink/city bus + Iarnród Éireann
EV & Essentials
Practical infrastructure on the ground: charging, water, and accessibility facilities worth knowing about before you arrive.
Accessibility Facilities
South Strand esplanade
South Strand, Skerries
Long, level seafront promenade running the length of South Strand, the easiest accessible coastal viewpoint in the town, with parking and public toilets alongside.
Leap Card
Ireland's national reusable transport card. Works on Commuter rail, the DART, Dublin Bus, Go-Ahead and Luas. Cheaper than cash on every Dublin-area journey and the only practical way to use the 90-minute multi-mode fare cap.
- Cost
- €5 for the card plus credit top-up
- Savings
- Cheaper than cash on Commuter rail and bus; daily and weekly caps apply
- Purchase
- Newsagents across Dublin and Skerries; online at leapcard.ie
Parking
Parking options in and around Skerries. On busy weekends, arriving early or taking the DART is recommended.
Harbour and Strand Street parking
Free, untimed in most bays. Skerries has free on-street and harbour-side parking, unusual for a Dublin seaside town. The harbour and South Strand car parks fill early on fine summer days and during the Skerries 100; arriving by train avoids the problem.
South Strand car park
Free car park behind the South Strand esplanade, the easiest access for the beach and the start of the coastal walk.
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 DART is the best way to get to Skerries. You arrive right in the heart of Skerries, there’s no parking hassle, and you can enjoy a meal and a drink without worrying about driving home.