What to expect on a Howth day trip from Dublin
Howth is a coastal village with cliff walks, seafood and a working harbour, about 30 minutes from Dublin. The trips we describe range from a ferry across to Ireland's Eye to a guided cliff walk with free time in the village. We list 8 day trips on this page. Travellers have left more than 3,941 reviews on the trips we list here, with an average rating of 4.5 out of 5. The trips on this page run from 2 to 8 hours. Of the trips shown here, the one with the most reviews is "From Dublin: Half-Day Guided Coastal Tour to Howth Village", with more than 2,995 reviews and a rating of 4.5 out of 5.
Which Howth day trip to choose from Dublin
Guided walks and coastal tours around Howth
The guided trips run from 2.5 to 6 hours around Howth. The shortest walks the Howth Castle Estate grounds and the fishing village with a local guide; the longest is a cliff walk with free time for seafood, with transport from and to Dublin included. A half-day coastal tour adds the medieval ruins of St. Mary's Abbey, and a five-hour hiking tour includes train tickets between Dublin and Howth.
Ferry to Ireland's Eye
Ferry crossings to Ireland's Eye make up the one boat trip described here, and it lasts about 2 hours with a return journey included. "Disembarkation on Ireland's Eye", one listing notes, so you step ashore on an island home to puffins and cormorants. Rated 4.6, it also offers a look at an early 19th-century Martello tower.
Howth day trips from Dublin side by side
| Type of day trip |
★ |
Duration |
Includes |
| Guided half-day coastal tour |
4.5 |
~4h |
Free time in Howth + guide + half-day coastal tour |
| Ferry to Ireland's Eye |
4.6 |
~2h |
Captain + disembarkation on Ireland's Eye + return ferry |
| Guided tour with a pub stop |
5.0 |
~3.5h |
Complimentary pint of beer in a local Irish pub + guided tour |
The guided trips we describe vary in length, and some include train tickets or transport from Dublin.
Table data is indicative and comes from the GuruWalk catalogue. Each activity's current details, including availability, are the ones shown on its listing when you book.
Good to know before a Howth day trip from Dublin
Transport to and from Howth
Check what each trip covers before you set out. The hiking tour includes train tickets between Dublin and Howth, and the cliff walk includes transport from and to Dublin; for the others, check the listing for how to reach the start. If you need to reach Howth yourself, the DART from Connolly or Tara Street runs every 10 to 20 minutes and takes about 30 minutes to Howth harbour, and the H3 bus also goes there.
Cliff walk loops and distances
Howth's Cliff Walk has colour-coded loops starting near the DART station. The Green Route runs about 6 to 8 km in around 2 hours, with views of Lambay Island, Ireland's Eye and the Baily Lighthouse; the Purple Route runs 12 to 14 km. Use those distances as a yardstick when you compare the walking trips we describe.
Puffins, seals and market days
Puffins nest on Ireland's Eye between May and September, so plan the ferry for those months if you want to see them. Grey seals often swim up to the piers, and Howth Market runs Friday to Sunday, so a weekend visit lines up with both.
Howth day trips from Dublin: frequently asked questions
What should I know before a Howth day trip from Dublin in 2026?
Start with the format: the ferry reaches Ireland's Eye, while the guided trips we describe are tours and walks in and around Howth. Then check the listing for what transport is included and for the cancellation terms before you book.
Can I cancel a Howth day trip from Dublin?
Most of the trips we describe note free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start; the hiking tour notes up to 48 hours. Check the terms on the listing before you book.
Do the guided Howth trips leave free time in the village?
Yes, on two of them: the half-day coastal tour and the six-hour cliff walk both list free time to explore Howth. The cliff walk mentions seafood, shopping or a harbour walk as ways to use it.
