Guides ·Day trips

Why the DART is the right way to do this

The DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transit) is the electric commuter line that runs along the coast north and south of the city, and it is the single most useful piece of transport for a coastal day trip. For this route you want the northbound service towards Howth or Malahide, which passes through Connolly, Clontarf, Raheny, Killester and on towards Sutton, Bayside and the two termini. Trains are frequent on weekdays, roughly every ten to twenty minutes depending on the hour, so you can be relaxed about timing rather than pinned to a single departure.

The line splits after Howth Junction: one branch heads to Howth, the other continues to Malahide. That split is the one thing to understand before you buy anything, because the two places are on different branches. You cannot ride from Howth to Malahide directly — you go back to Howth Junction and change. Plan the order of your day around that, and it all becomes simple.

Tickets: you can buy single or return fares from machines at the station, or use a Leap card if you have one. A day return covering both places is often better value than two separate returns, so ask at a ticket desk or check the fare displays before tapping. Exact fares change, so treat any figure you see online as a guide and expect to pay the going rate on the day. Children’s fares are lower and family rates exist on some products.

Getting to the coast from the city centre

Most visitors start from Connolly Station, which is the main DART interchange and is a short walk from O’Connell Street and the top of Talbot Street. If you are staying around Temple Bar, Grafton Street or St Stephen’s Green, allow fifteen to twenty-five minutes to walk to Connolly, or take the Luas Red Line if you are further west. Connolly has lifts and stairs to the platforms, and screens show the next departures clearly.

Tara Street station is another option and is closer to the south side of the river and Trinity College. It is smaller and can feel cramped at rush hour, but it saves a walk if you are staying near the Liffey’s south bank. From either station, the journey to Howth takes around twenty-five to thirty minutes and to Malahide around thirty to thirty-five, depending on the service.

Avoid the 8-9am and 5-6.30pm weekday windows if you can. These are commuter trains and they fill up, especially between Connolly and Howth Junction. A mid-morning start, say around ten, means you get a seat and arrive with the day ahead of you. Weekends are busier with day-trippers but the atmosphere is more holiday than commute.

Howth: the cliff walk and the harbour

Howth is the one most people come for, and rightly so. From the DART station you are a couple of minutes from the harbour, where fishing boats, a small market on some days and a cluster of seafood pubs and restaurants line the waterfront. The working harbour is the anchor of the village and gives you an easy first stop for coffee or an early lunch before walking.

The cliff walk is the main event. The full loop around the head is roughly ten to twelve kilometres and takes three to four hours at an unhurried pace, with some uneven ground and a few climbs. Shorter options exist: the path out towards the Baily lighthouse viewpoint can be walked partway and turned back, which suits families or anyone short on time. Wear proper shoes — trainers are fine in dry weather, but the path gets muddy and slippery after rain.

Beyond the cliff path there is Howth Castle and its grounds, a short walk inland from the village, and the summit of Howth Hill if you want a longer climb. The village also has a small beach near the station end. Bring a light waterproof layer: coastal weather turns quickly, and the exposed sections of the cliff walk catch wind and rain even when the city is calm.

Malahide: the castle, the estuary and the village

Malahide is quieter than Howth and works well as the second half of the day, or as a gentler alternative if cliff walking is not your thing. The DART station sits a short walk from the village centre, and from there it is maybe ten minutes on foot to Malahide Castle and its surrounding demesne. The castle and gardens are the headline attraction; check opening hours and tour times before you go, as they vary by season.

The castle grounds themselves are free to wander and include woodland paths, a playground and open lawns, which makes them good for families. The walled garden is a pleasant detour. If you want a longer walk, the coastal path along the Malahide estuary heads towards Portmarnock and offers flat, easy going with birdlife and views across the water to the opposite shore.

The village has a decent spread of cafés, pubs and restaurants, and it feels more residential than touristy, which is part of the appeal. There is a marina and a small beach area near the estuary. Malahide suits a slower pace: an hour or two at the castle, a walk by the water and a meal before heading back on the train is a good shape for the afternoon.

A realistic one-day order

The cleanest plan is Howth first, then Malahide, because Howth has more to fill a morning and the cliff walk is better done before you get tired. Take a mid-morning DART from Connolly to Howth, arrive around eleven, walk part or all of the cliff path, and have lunch in the village. Then head back to Howth Junction, change to the Malahide branch, and spend the late afternoon at the castle and by the water.

If the weather is poor or you have young children, reverse it. Do Malahide castle and grounds first while the morning is fresh, have lunch in the village, and then take the train to Howth for the harbour and a short flat walk along the waterfront. That way you skip the exposed cliff sections if rain sets in, but still get both places.

Watch the clock on the return leg. The last trains back to the city run reasonably late, but the service thins out in the evening, and on Sundays it is less frequent than on weekdays. Check the timetable at the station or on a live departures screen before you settle into a long dinner, and leave a buffer so you are not sprinting for the platform with a takeaway cup in hand.

What to eat and where to pause

Howth is known for seafood, and the harbour has a cluster of places doing fish and chips, chowder and simply cooked catches. Prices vary widely, so look at menus before you commit; the pubs near the station and the restaurants along the waterfront serve different budgets. For a cheaper stop, there are cafés and bakeries in the village for sandwiches and coffee.

Malahide is more of a general village centre, with pubs, cafés and a handful of restaurants around the main street and the marina. It is a good place for a relaxed afternoon meal rather than a destination in itself. If you have dietary requirements, it is worth checking ahead, as smaller kitchens can be limited.

Carry water and a snack for the cliff walk in particular — the exposed stretches have nowhere to buy anything once you leave the harbour area. There are public toilets near the Howth DART station and harbour, and in Malahide near the village centre, but do not count on facilities on the paths themselves, especially outside the main season.

Costs, tickets and practical timing

Budget roughly fifteen to twenty euro (about seventeen to twenty-two US dollars) per adult for a day return covering both destinations, though exact fares depend on the ticket type and the station you start from. A Leap card often works out slightly cheaper than a paper single. Children travel at reduced rates, and family tickets may be available — ask at the ticket desk rather than guessing.

Castle entry at Malahide is a separate charge and guided tours cost more than grounds access; check the official website for current prices and tour times, since these change with the season. The Howth cliff walk is free, and so is wandering the village and harbour. A realistic all-in budget for the day, including transport, a casual lunch and a castle tour, sits somewhere around forty to sixty euro (about forty-five to sixty-five US dollars) per person.

Give the day a full eight to nine hours to do both places without rushing. A half-day version works too: pick one destination, do it properly, and save the other for another trip. Trying to squeeze both into four hours means you spend more time on platforms than on the coast, which defeats the purpose of a coastal day out.

Weather, footwear and small print

This is the east coast of Ireland, so plan for changeable weather. A waterproof jacket beats an umbrella on the cliff path, where wind makes umbrellas useless. Layers work better than a single heavy coat, because the walk warms you up and the harbour breeze cools you down. Sunscreen is worth packing in summer, as the exposed sections have little shade.

Footwear matters more than anything else on this trip. The Howth cliff path has roots, loose stones and muddy patches, so wear trainers with grip or walking shoes. Sandals and smooth-soled shoes are a poor choice. If you only plan to stay in the villages, ordinary shoes are fine, but the best of Howth is on the path, so come prepared.

Finally, respect the coastal environment: keep to marked paths on the cliff sections, do not climb over barriers, and take your litter with you. Dogs should be kept under control near the cliff edges. Check tide and weather forecasts if you plan the longer estuary walk at Malahide, and if a path looks closed or eroded, follow the diversion rather than pushing past it.

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