Last year, I decided to start making better use of my weekends after spending far too many of them at home. So I came up with a simple plan: head off on day trips from Dublin (where I live) every weekend, regardless of the weather.
During the winter months I kept the trips shorter, as there were fewer daylight hours to work with, exploring places like the Boyne Valley and Wicklow.
When spring rolled around, I headed further afield, taking Dublin day trips to places like Kilkenny, Cashel and the Cooley Peninsula.
Then, during summer weekends, I left the car at home and took a mix of day tours and train trips… mainly so I could have a pint (or 2!) while exploring the likes of Galway. These were my favourites (along with tips and learnings!).
The best day trips from Dublin
There are endless things to do in Dublin, but if you fancy escaping the city, you’re in luck – there are endless places to visit near Dublin by car, tour and train!
Below, you’ll find great 1/2 day trips from Dublin (plenty of good walking/hiking trips) along with handier spins that you can do over a morning/afternoon.
1. Howth, Killiney and Malahide
The easiest Dublin day trips are those within the county’s boundaries, and I’d argue they’re the ones you should tackle first, if you haven’t already, as they’re easily doable via the DART.
I did several of these during the early months of the year, and my favourites were:
- Howth: Get breakfast from the market, do the Howth Cliff Walk, have a seafood lunch and then explore Howth village
- Killiney: Park at Dalkey DART station and then head through the village and up along the Vico Road, past the Vico Baths and do the Killiney Hill Walk followed by lunch in Dalkey
- Malahide: Breakfast in the village followed by a ramble around Malahide Castle. Walk the coast to Portmarnock Beach and get the bus back to Malahide for lunch
2. The Wicklow Mountains and Glendalough
Also known as the ‘Garden of Ireland’, Wicklow is one of the best day trips from Dublin for good reason! The handiest way to get to and around Wicklow is by car.
However, St. Kevin’s Bus leaves from Dublin City, and there are also several organised day tours from Dublin (like this one) that take in many of the main sights.
I did three separate trips to Wicklow over the last year and hands-down my favourite was:
- A: Head to Glendalough, first, as the car park can be a pain later in the day
- B: Pick one of the Glendalough walks, e.g. the Spinc Loop
- C: Get a post-hike lunch at the Wicklow Heather
- D: Do the Sally Gap Drive
- E: Stop at Lough Tay, Ballinastoe Woods and Glenmacnass Waterfall
3. Belfast and the Causeway Coastal Route
Although I tend to drive most places, I decided to take this day tour up north last summer. My dad had done it the year previous and raved about it, so I said I’d give it a lash!
I hadn’t done a day tour of this length (12 hours) in a long time and I was a bit wary, but it turned out to be a handy way to cover a lot of ground without the hassle of driving myself.
This is a full day trip from Dublin that takes in some of the top attractions on the Causeway Coastal Route, like Dunluce Castle, The Dark Hedges and the Giant’s Causeway along with a 1.5-hour stop in Belfast City.
Personally, I wouldn’t do this day trip if I was driving, as it’s a long day. However, letting someone else take the wheel while you relax makes it a very handy way to see a big chunk of Northern Ireland.
4. The Boyne Valley (35-minute drive)
The Boyne Valley (Meath and Louth) is another of the best day trips from Dublin by car. It’ll take you around 35 minutes by car to reach and there’s an endless number of places to visit.
The region is home to the likes of the Hill of Tara, one of the most important archaeological sites in the country, and Trim Castle, the best-preserved of the many Anglo-Norman castles in Ireland.
If you’re looking for a day-out in the Boyne Valley, here’s a mini itinerary to tackle:
- A: Book tickets for Newgrange in advance and do the tour
- B: Grab lunch in nearby Inside Out in Slane
- C: Take a ramble around the trails at Slane Castle
- D: Visit the ancient Old Mellifont Abbey
If you aren’t driving, this Boyne Valley tour takes in Newgrange, along with stops at Monasterboice (home to some magnificent Celtic Crosses), the Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centre.
5. Kilkenny
One of the best day trips from Dublin for those looking to immerse themselves in ancient Ireland is Kilkenny.
Start your day at Dunmore Cave, around 15 minutes outside the city. The guided tour takes you deep underground through one of Ireland’s most impressive limestone caves.
After that, head into Kilkenny City and you’ll have plenty to choose from. You can tour Kilkenny Castle, walk the Medieval Mile, or take a spin through the Smithwick’s Brewery Experience.
Before heading back to Dublin, take the short drive out to Jerpoint Abbey, one of the finest medieval monasteries in Ireland.
If you don’t fancy driving, there’s also an organised day tour from Dublin that combines Glendalough and Kilkenny, along with a sheepdog demonstration.
6. Game of Thrones day trips from Dublin
There are many Game of Thrones filming locations in Northern Ireland but you need to manage your expectations – they are very spread out, and none of the organised Dublin day trips will take you to even half of them.
You have three options:
- By car: Drive to the GoT studio (1.5 hours)
- The easy-going tour: This 1/2 day trip from Dublin takes you to the studio
- The full day tour: This tour takes you to some locations from the show, like the Dark Hedges
7. The Cliffs of Moher and/or Galway
I did this day tour last summer with a friend who was visiting from abroad. It’s a long day (around 13 hours), but it’s a very handy way to see a chunk of Ireland’s west coast if you’re short on time.
The tour leaves Dublin early and heads west before arriving at the Cliffs of Moher, where you’ll have roughly two hours to stroll along the cliff path and take in the views.
After that, it continues into Galway City, where you’ll get another couple of hours to wander around the Latin Quarter, grab a bite to eat or sneak in a pint before the journey back to Dublin.
Review-wise, this is one of the best day trips from Dublin, with a 4.8/5 review score from a staggering 24,000 reviews.
8. The Ring of Gullion and Carlingford
One of the best places to visit near Dublin that’s very regularly overlooked is the trip that takes in both the Ring of Gullion and a glorious corner of Rostrevor.
Start your road trip with the Slieve Gullion Drive or walk, depending on how you’re feeling (the walk is steep). Head into nearby Gather and Brew after for a bite-to-eat!
When you’re ready, take the spin out to Kilbroney Park – it’s here that you’ll find the Cloughmore Stone and the aptly named Kodak Corner.
The Cooley Peninsula is another of the more overlooked Dublin day trips – here’s an itinerary for you:
- A: Pick a walk (options – Ravensdale Forest Walk, Annaloughan Loop Walk or the Slieve Foye Loop)
- B: Spin into the town for breakfast/lunch (Ruby Ellen’s is hard to beat)
- C: Take a tour of the castle or rent a bike and spin along the Carlingford Greenway)
9. The Rock of Cashel, Cahir and Blarney Castle
The next of my half day trips from Dublin is this one and it’ll appeal to those of you looking to visit some of the most impressive castles in Ireland.
The first stop is the Rock of Cashel, a spectacular collection of medieval buildings perched on a limestone outcrop above the Tipperary countryside. It was once the seat of the Kings of Munster and today it’s one of the most visited historical sites in Ireland.
From there, the tour heads to Blarney Castle, home to the famous Blarney Stone. Legend says that kissing the stone grants the ‘gift of the gab’, and visitors climb to the top of the tower to give it a go.
The final stop is Cahir Castle, one of the best-preserved Norman castles in Ireland. Built in the 12th century on a rocky island in the River Suir, it has appeared in several films and TV series over the years.
10. The Mournes
One of the more impressive places to visit near Dublin by car is the Mourne Mountains in County Down.
Now, you’ll need to do a bit of planning if you opt for this Dublin day trip, as there’ll be a fair bit of walking involved.
If you’re visiting the area for the first time, I’d strongly recommend heading into Tollymore Forest Park and then heading for lunch in Newcastle followed by a stroll on the beach.
Or, if you fancy a hike, there’s heaps of Mourne Mountain walks to tackle, like the tough Slieve Donard hike.
11. Dublin day trips by train
If you don’t fancy taking an organised tour, there are some excellent day trips from Dublin by train.
Here are the highlights:
- A: Kilkenny: 1-hour and 45-minute train journey
- B: Belfast: 2-hour and 15-minute journey
- C: Howth: 45-minute journey
- D: Galway City: 2-hour and 30-minute journey
- E: Dalkey and Killiney: 40-minute journey
- F: Bray: 50-minute journey
FAQs about the best places to visit near Dublin without a car
I get several emails each week asking for info on various day trips from Dublin by car, train and tour.
I’ll do my best to answer the most common questions I get below. If you have one I haven’t answered, feel free to ask in the comments.
What is the best day trip from Dublin?
One of the most popular day trips is the Wicklow Mountains and Glendalough as both are an easy 1-hour from the city. This area is known as the ‘Garden of Ireland’ thanks to its rolling mountains, lakes and forest walks. Visitors can explore the ancient monastic site at Glendalough before heading out to places like the Sally Gap, Lough Tay and Glenmacnass Waterfall.
Can Northern Ireland be visited in a day from Dublin?
Yes and no. You can easily visit Belfast, as the train takes around 2 hours and 15 minutes, making it a very manageable spin. However, if you want to see more of Northern Ireland, like the Giant’s Causeway, Dunluce Castle and the Dark Hedges, you’re better off taking an organised tour, as these stops are spread out along the Antrim coast and would be difficult to fit into one day on your own.
What day trips from Dublin can you do without a car?
There are plenty of day trips that don’t require a car. Coastal spots like Howth, Dalkey, Killiney and Bray are easy to reach on the DART, while cities such as Kilkenny, Belfast and Galway are well connected by train.
Is Galway worth visiting on a day trip from Dublin?
If you’ve exhausted the handier day trips within easy-reach of the capital, then yes – but you need to be comfortable losing a good chunk of the day to travelling. The journey takes around 2.5 hours each way by train or car, so you’ll spend close to five hours getting there and back.
Are the Cliffs of Moher doable as a day trip from Dublin?
Yes, but it’s a long day. The drive takes around 3 to 3.5 hours each way, which is why many visitors opt for an organised tour. In fact, one of the most popular day tours from Dublin has 4.8/5 from more than 24,000 reviews, which gives you a good idea of how well it goes down with visitors. While plenty of Irish people will tell you it’s too far for a day trip, the reality is that most people doing it are tourists with limited time in Ireland, and going by the reviews, the vast majority feel it’s well worth it.
Keith O’Hara has lived in Ireland for 35 years and has spent much of the last 13 creating what is now The Irish Road Trip guide. Over the years, the website has published thousands of meticulously researched Ireland travel guides, welcoming 40 million+ visitors along the way. In 2022, the Irish Road Trip team published the world’s largest collection of Irish Road Trip itineraries. Keith lives in Dublin with his dog Toby and finds writing in the 3rd person minus craic altogether.