Travellers who want to cover a difficult route without hiring a car.
day trips IrelandMe tour notes
Howth Coastal Half-Day Bus Tour from Dublin with Live Guide
Four hours from Dublin to Howth by bus - a live-guided cliff walk at the Summit, then free time in the fishing village. Departures at 9.45am or 2pm.
From €40 starting price · live price may vary
Check dates & prices ↗ Free cancellation on most dates · Booked securely with Viator
Duration4 hours
PriceFrom €40
Rating4.6 from 678 reviews
BookingSecurely via Viator
The IrelandMe take
What stands out about this one
Our practical read of the published itinerary, traveller feedback and local context—not the operator’s sales description.
Howth is 30 minutes from Dublin city centre but it feels genuinely different - sea air, fishing boats, cliffs that drop straight into the bay. Getting there is easy enough on your own, but getting to the Summit with someone who actually knows the cliff paths is a different experience.
This 4-hour bus tour leaves O'Connell Street and takes you directly to Howth Summit, where a live guide walks you along the famous coastal cliffs with commentary on what you're looking at. After the guided section, you get free time in Howth Village to do whatever you want - walk the harbour, browse the shops, or sit down for seafood. The fish and chips in Howth are some of the best in the Dublin area and the free time is genuinely enough to enjoy them properly.
The published itinerary is the deciding factor here. Check the current meeting point and stop timings before committing.
One practical detail
The 9.45am departure gives you more flexibility in the village. The afternoon session is good, but if you take the morning tour you have the option to stay on in Howth after the bus returns and make a day of it on your own. The DART runs directly back to Dublin city centre and takes about 30 minutes.
How the experience works
Two departures daily: 9.45am or 2.00pm. The bus brings you back to Dublin at the end. Hotel pick-up and drop-off aren't included - you meet at Big Bus Stop #1 on O'Connell Street.
What the price covers
- Return bus transport from Dublin
- Guided walking tour of the Howth cliffs
- Free time to explore Howth Village
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off
The published itinerary
Use this to judge the pace and where your time actually goes. Operators can adjust stop order for traffic, weather or opening times.
- Bus from Dublin to Howth Summit, then a guided walk along the Howth cliffs. After the walk, free time in Howth Village to explore the harbour, visit local shops, or stop for seafood before the bus returns to Dublin. (240 min total)
Meeting point: Big Bus Stop #1, 13 O'Connell Street Upper, North City, Dublin. Present your booking confirmation to a Big Bus Tours staff member at least 15 minutes before departure.
Local tips that make the day better
Come hungry for the free time. The seafood in Howth is the real thing - the catch comes in fresh to the harbour. The village has a good range of options from takeaway fish and chips eaten on the pier to sit-down restaurants. Give yourself enough of the free time to actually eat rather than rushing back to the bus.
The cliff walk at the Summit is exposed in wind and rain. Bring a layer even in summer - the headland catches the weather in a way the city doesn't. The views are worth it, but the difference between a clear day and a grey one is significant. Your guide will pace the walk based on conditions.
Howth Village is small - one or two hours of free time is enough to cover it well. The harbour area, the main street, and the pier are the core of it. If you've already seen the village before, the free time still works well for eating or walking down to the waterfront.
Good to know before booking
- Wheelchair accessible; bus transport is also wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transport nearby
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off not included
- Two departure options: 9.45am or 2.00pm
- Group size is capped at 75
- Conducted in English
Make more of the area
- Howth - the fishing village and headland this tour is built around, worth a return visit to explore on your own at a slower pace.
- Malahide - a short drive north from Howth, with a castle estate, marina, and a more manicured coastal feel than the rugged Howth headland.
- Dun Laoghaire - on the south side of Dublin Bay, easy on the DART from the city, known for its long pier and Victorian seafront.
Questions before you book
How long is Howth Coastal Half-Day Bus Tour from Dublin with Live Guide?
The published duration is 4 hours. Allow extra time to reach the meeting point and for your onward plans.
How much does Howth Coastal Half-Day Bus Tour from Dublin with Live Guide cost?
The listed starting price is From €40. Live prices can change by date, group size and availability.
What should I know before booking?
The published itinerary is the deciding factor here. Check the current meeting point and stop timings before committing.
Ready to decide?
Check the live times before building the rest of your day.
From €40 · 4 hours Check dates & prices ↗
