by air
It is very easy to get to Dublin by air, with direct flights from most of the main European cities and some overseas destinations as well. Now there are some very cheap airlines operating out of Dublin, and if you book at the right time, you can get some amazingly low fares. The Dublin airport is about 12 km (7.5 miles) from the city centre, and it is easy to get to the city by taking either a bus or a taxi. A taxi from the airport usually costs between € 15 - 20, and there is always a rank of taxis waiting outside of the arrivals concourse. If you choose to take a bus, there are several different bus services operating out of the airport. These include the regular city buses (with numbers 41, 41A, 41B, and 41C) which reach the city centre in 45 minutes and terminate at Eden Quay. Bus 16A also goes to the city centre, going on to Rathfarnham, and bus 230 services the area north of the airport, going to Portmarnock via Malahide. There is also the Airport Express coach service called Airlink, a more expensive and luxurious service made up of three bus routes. Airlink 746 goes to Dun Laoghaire to the south of the city centre, 747 goes to the central bus station in Dublin, and 748 goes to the Heuston train station. More information on bus lines, including exact routes, can be obtained at www.dublinbus.ie.
More information from Dublin Airport can be found at www.dublinairportauthority.com, or by calling +353 (0)1 8141111. The airport includes several restaurants. a post office, a bank and bureau de change, as well as car rental facilities.
More information from Dublin Airport can be found at www.dublinairportauthority.com, or by calling +353 (0)1 8141111. The airport includes several restaurants. a post office, a bank and bureau de change, as well as car rental facilities.
by train
Ireland’s countrywide rail service, Iarnród Eireann, connects Dublin with Belfast, Sligo, Ballina, Westport, Galway, Limerick, Ennis, Tralee, Cork, Waterford, and Rosslare Europort, and stops at many stations in between. There are two major railway stations in Dublin, Connolly and Heuston, both of which offer long-distance train services. You can buy train tickets in any railway station, and should be bought before you board the train.
by car
Driving is done on the left side of the road in Ireland, and in all cars the driver’s seat is on the right. In order to rent a car in Ireland, you must have had a driving licence in your own country for at least two years, and usually be between the ages of 23 - 70, though this varies from company to company. If you have an EU driving licence, it is considered the same as an Irish licence. Tourists from non-EU countries are often allowed to drive in Ireland with their native licence, but it is helpful to have an International Driving Permit, which you can get from your local driving office/automobile association. Most rental cars in Ireland have manual transmissions, but automatics are usually also available.
The speed limits in the Republic of Ireland are 50 km in populated areas, 80 km on regional and local roads, 100 km on national roads, and 120 km on motorways. Most signs in Ireland now show road distances in kilometres, but there are some old signs still up that show distances in miles, so don’t let this confuse you. The signs in kilometres always have ‘km’ after the number.
The speed limits in the Republic of Ireland are 50 km in populated areas, 80 km on regional and local roads, 100 km on national roads, and 120 km on motorways. Most signs in Ireland now show road distances in kilometres, but there are some old signs still up that show distances in miles, so don’t let this confuse you. The signs in kilometres always have ‘km’ after the number.
by bus
Most of the long-distance bus services in the Republic of Ireland are provided by the state-owned Bus Éireann company. This bus service connects almost all of the cities in Ireland, and it is very easy to use it to go to and from Dublin. You can always buy your ticket on the bus, or from the bus station ticket window before you depart. Bus Éireann has both express coaches and local buses connecting the provincial cities. There are also private bus companies, such as Aircoach which goes to the airport and Scottish Citylink which runs between Dublin and Galway. Bus trips that cross the border of the Republic and Northern Ireland are either Bus Éireann or the northern Ulsterbus.
by water
It is easy to get to Dublin by sea, as it is a port city and easily accessible from England. There are regular ferry services operating between Dublin and the UK, which transport both passengers, cars, and other cargo. Dublin has two main ferry ports, Dublin Port, which is closer to the centre, and Dun Laoghaire, six miles south. If you take a ferry into Dublin Port, you can get into the city centre quickly with bus 53. You can contact the Irish Ferries company for more information and for a schedule at +353 818 300400, or look them up at www.irishferries.com. Most of the ferries from England are operated by Stena Line’s HSS, which has the world’s largest fast ferries, and you can find information and make bookings at www.stenaline.co.uk. Most crossings leave from Holyhead and take about 100 minutes.