9 Best Day Trips from Dublin by Train (2024)

This guide contains itineraries for those of you looking to take day trips from Dublin by train.

Each itinerary is mapped out to ensure that you:

1. Know where to get the train from
2. Have a doable itinerary for the day (i.e. all suggestions will be a walkable distance)
3. Don’t have to worry about any planning

We’ve included day trips outside of the county (e.g. Kilkenny) along with day trips outside of the city (e.g. Howth).

The best day trips from Dublin by train

There’s endless things to do in Dublin, but if you fancy escaping the city for a bit, you’re in luck – there’s plenty of places to visit for a day trip.

Below, you’ll find a mix of Dublin day trips by train that range from 30 minutes to 2 hours and 42 minute journey times.

1. Kilkenny (1 hr 28 min journey)

The first of our day trips from Dublin by train is the ancient city of Kilkenny. It’ll take you around 1.5 hours to get there.

You need to head to Heuston Station, so either take a taxi, walk, or take the Luas Red line, which stops right outside Heuston.

Where you’ll arrive

You’re getting the Waterford Train and hopping off at Kilkenny (MacDonagh) Station.

This is a nice, central station located right in the city which means you don’t have to worry about getting buses/taxis.

Your itinerary for the day

• Stop 1: Kilkenny Castle
• Stop 2: Medieval Mile Museum
• Stop 3: Lunch (Petronella is a great lunch spot)
• Stop 4: Butterslip Lane
• Stop 5: Smithwick’s Experience
• Stop 6: The Black Abbey
• Stop 7: The train back to Dublin

2. Belfast (2 hr 15 min journey)

The next of our day trips from Dublin by train is Belfast City in County Antrim.

The train from Dublin to Belfast leaves from Conolly Station, a short walk from O’Connell Street.

There are several ways to get there, you can take a taxi, walk, or take the Luas Red line, which has a stop right out of the front.

Where you’ll arrive

The train to Belfast arrives into Belfast Lanyon Train Station, which is right in the heart of the city centre.

This is a good starting point as many of the best things to do in Belfast are nearby.

Belfast is a walkable city if you have a clear itinerary, like the one below. However, if it’s raining, it’s worth taking the hop-on-hop-off bus.

Your itinerary for the day

• Stop 1: St George’s Market (short stroll from the train)
• Stop 2: Belfast Black Cab tour (book in advance – get them to drop you to stop 3 after)
• Stop 3: The Cathedral Quarter for lunch
• Stop 4: St Anne’s Cathedral
• Stop 5: Titanic Belfast (25-minutes from stop 4)
• Stop 6: The train back to Dublin

3. Howth (45 min journey)

Next up is the first of our day trips from Dublin by train that doesn’t take you out of the county.

The busy fishing town of Howth is home to plenty to see and do along with a bustling restaurant and pub scene.

To get to Howth, take the train from Connolly Station. It’s a handy 30-45-minute journey.

Where you’ll arrive

Howth train station is finely plonked right in the town centre, so you’ll arrive right into the thick of things.

When you arrive, leave the station and head across to Howth Market to start your day trip.

Your itinerary for the day

• Stop 1: Howth Market
• Stop 2: The Howth Cliff Walk
• Stop 3: Lunch in one of the many restaurants in Howth
• Stop 4: Ye Olde Hurdy Gurdy Museum Of Vintage Radio
• Stop 5: Howth Pier
• Stop 6: The train back to the city

4. Galway City (2 hr 30 min journey)

The forth of our day trips from Dublin by train takes us to Galway. The train from Dublin to Galway leaves from Heuston.

There are several ways to get there, you can take a taxi, walk, or take the Luas Red line, which has a stop right out of the front.

The trip to Galway takes about 2.5 hours. There are plenty of shops inside the station where you can grab snacks for the train and get some breakfast.

Where you’ll arrive

The train to Galway arrives into Ceannt Station – right in the heart of Galway City.

This is a great arrival point as you’re within easy walking distance of all the main attractions.

Galway is a very walkable city, but if it’s raining or if you fancy getting dropped to the ‘main’ attractions the hop-on/hop-off bus tour is well worth buying.

Your itinerary for the day

• Stop 1: Lunch (there’s some great restaurants in Galway. Blake’s is a good lunch option).
• Stop 2: Galway Cathedral (the jewel in the Galway City skyline)
• Stop 3: Quay Street and the Latin Quarter
• Stop 4: The Hall of the Red Earl (ruins dating to the 13th century – one of the more unique places to visit in Galway)
• Stop 5: Galway City Museum (tells the story of prehistoric Galway)
• Stops 6 + 7:  The Spanish Arch and the Long Walk
• Stop 8: Back to the train station

5. Waterford City (2 hr 32 min journey)

The next of our day trips from Dublin by train takes us to the ancient city of Waterford, down the coast from Dublin.

The train from Dublin to Waterford leaves from Heuston. There are several ways to get there, you can take a taxi, walk, or take the Luas Red line, which has a stop right out of the front.

Where you’ll arrive

The train will take you to Waterford (Plunkett), which is just over the bridge from the city centre.

It’ll only take you around 10 minutes to stroll into our first stop, however, you need to make a choice.

If you’re after an active day, it’s worth considering the Waterford Greenway walk/cycle, which starts from the city and will take you a good 4-6 hours.

Your itinerary for the day

• Stop 1: The Clock Tower
• Stop 2: Reginald’s Tower
• Stop 3: Lunch
• Stop 4: Medieval Museum
• Stop 5: The Bishop’s Palace
• Stop 6: King of the Vikings
• Stop 7: The train back to Dublin

6. Dalkey + Killiney (40 min journey)

The second of our day trips from Dublin by train that doesn’t leave the county takes us out to the affluent areas of Dalkey and Killiney.

You can get the train from Connolly Station (the one heading to Greystones) and you’ll arrive in around 40 minutes.

Where you’ll arrive

The train to Dalkey stops at Dalkey DART Station which is a short ramble from the centre of the town.

The town itself is lovely to stroll around and it’ll feel a world apart from the hustle and bustle of Dublin City.

Your itinerary for the day

• Stop 1: Dalkey Castle
• Stop 2: Lunch in the town
• Stop 3: Sorrento Park
• Stop 4: The Vico Baths
• Stop 5: The Killiney Hill Walk
• Stop 6: Killiney Beach
• Stop 7: The train back to the city

7. Cork City (2 hr 42 min journey)

The next of our day trips from Dublin by public transport requires the most travelling and it’ll arguably only work if you take an early train.

The train from Dublin to Cork City leaves from Heuston. There are several ways to get there, you can take a taxi, walk, or take the Luas Red line, which has a stop right out of the front.

Where you’ll arrive

The train from Dublin to Cork takes you into Cork (Kent) Station. Now, unlike some of the day trips from Dublin above, getting from the station to the various attractions isn’t as easy.

Cork City’s attractions are fairly spread out so, unless you fancy doing a lot of walking, it’s worth booking the hop-on-hop-off bus or a bike tour.

Your itinerary for the day

As Cork City’s attractions are fairly spread out, it’s worth taking one of the tours below as they’ll make getting around much handier:

• The hop-on-hop-off bus (stops at Crawford Art Gallery, UCC, St. Anne’s Church, Cork City Gaol and The English Market)
• The Cork City Cycle Tour (you’ll spin along Cork’s cycle lanes and riverside pathways and see Fitzgerald’s Park, St. Finbarr’s Cathedral and more)

8. Malahide (30 min journey)

One of the handier day trips from Dublin by public transport is to head out along the coast to the lively little town of Malahide.

It’s a short, 30-minute or so train journey and it takes you to an area packed with history, coastal walks, great food and more.

Where you’ll arrive

The train to Malahide drops you right in the town, next to the church and a short walk from the castle grounds.

If you’re visiting during the busy summer months, it’s worth getting to the town early as it receives its fair share of tourist footfall.

Your itinerary for the day

• Stop 1: Malahide Castle Park
• Stop 2: Malahide Castle
• Stop 3: Lunch in the town
• Stop 4: Malahide harbour
• Stop 5: Malahide Beach
• Stop 6: The coastal walk to Portmarnock Beach
• Stop 7: The train station in Portmarnock is a good 40-minute walk so it might be easier to get the bus

9. Bray (50 min journey)

The last of our Dublin day trips by train takes us into County Wicklow to the buzzy coastal town of Bray.

You can get the train from Connolly Station (the one heading to Greystones) and you’ll arrive in around 45 minutes.

Where you’ll arrive

The train station in Bray is nice and central. It’s located right across from the Promenade in the town centre.

Hop out and head across to the pathway that follows the coast and gulp down some fresh ocean air.

Your itinerary for the day

• Stop 1: Bray Prom
• Stop 2: The Bray Head Walk
• Stop 3: Lunch in the town
• Stop 4: SEA LIFE Bray Aquarium
• Stop 5: The train back to the city

What day trips from Dublin by public transport have we missed?

I’ve no doubt that we’ve unintentionally left out some brilliant Dublin day trips by train from the guide above.

If you have a place that you’d like to recommend, let me know in the comments below and I’ll check it out!

FAQs about the best day trips from Dublin by train

We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from ‘What are the cheapest Dublin day trips by train?’ to ‘Which are the nearest?’.

In the section below, we’ve popped in the most FAQs that we’ve received. If you have a question that we haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments section below.