The Howth cliffs are some of the only cliffs near Dublin that are 1, easily accessible via public transport and 2, so close to the capital.
You can get to the famous Dublin cliffs via a 30-minute DART (train) ride and they are magnificent at any time of year.
Arguably one of the best day trips from Dublin, here’s all you need-to-know.
How to get to the Howth Cliffs from Dublin City Centre
You’ll need to take the DART from Connolly Station to get to the Howth Cliffs.
You can buy tickets in the station and you have to take the DART 9 stops to Howth (NOTE: don’t get off at Howth Junction!).
The journey generally takes 30 minutes but do note that disruptions to the DART schedule are frequent.
The DART will drop you off right in the centre of the town.
Tourist tip: If you’re visiting Ireland for a short period, getting around Dublin with a Leap Visitor Card will save you money
Explore Howth village first
Photos on the left courtesy Fionn McCann via Fáilte Ireland
Grab a coffee from Howth Market (right across from the DART station) and then head for a saunter through the village.
You’ll pass a plethora of colourful pubs, excellent seafood restaurants and plenty of ice cream shops, chippers and cafes.
Make your way towards the end of the village and you’ll reach the harbour. You can walk down to the end of the pier from here.
Tourist tip: There are public toilets at the end of the pier here on Google Maps (this area is also the start of the Howth Cliffs Walk)
Then do the Howth Cliffs Walk
As you can see from the map above, the Howth Cliff Walk begins from just past the pier.
A moderate level of fitness is needed for this trail as there is plenty of incline and the path is very rough in places.
There are a number of different trails on offer here, ranging from 2 hours to 4+.
The version in the map above takes you to the famous cliffs near Dublin before looping back, past the Summit Inn and down into the village.
Getting back to the City from Howth
After seeing the Howth Cliffs, you have a few different options:
- Grab a bite to eat in one of the Howth restaurants
- Enjoy a pint in one of the cosy pubs in Howth
- Or take the DART right back to the city centre
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.