Travellers who want to cover a difficult route without hiring a car.
day trips IrelandMe tour notes
Private Dublin (Dun Laoghaire) Top-Rated Coastal Walking Tour
A 3.5-hour private coastal walk from Dun Laoghaire to Dalkey with Dublin native Marina. Harbours, castles, the Forty Foot, seals, and Viking history included.
From €95 starting price · live price may vary
Check dates & prices ↗ Free cancellation on most dates · Booked securely with Viator
Duration3 hours 30 minutes
PriceFrom €95
Rating5.0 from 80 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.
Most visitors to Dublin spend their time in the city centre and never make it south along the coast - which means they miss some of the genuinely best scenery and some of the most interesting stories the county has to offer. This tour changes that.
Your guide Marina is a Dublin native, and she knows this stretch of coastline the way you only can if you've grown up with it. She'll take you and your group from Dun Laoghaire harbour all the way through to Dalkey over about three and a half hours, covering the history, the landscape, and the characters that make this part of the world worth knowing.
The published itinerary is the deciding factor here. Check the current meeting point and stop timings before committing.
One practical detail
The DART is one of the great pleasures of a visit to Dublin, and this tour makes good use of it. The DART line runs along the coast from Malahide in the north all the way to Greystones in the south, with Dun Laoghaire and Dalkey both on the route. If you want to extend your day, you could take the DART further south to Bray after the tour finishes - it's a short ride and a beautiful coastal town in its own right.
How the experience works
You'll pass the Forty Foot - Dublin's famous open-air sea-swimming spot, open year-round regardless of weather - go inside the James Joyce Tower and Museum, which features in the opening pages of Ulysses, and finish up in Dalkey, a village with Viking roots that now has a well-earned reputation for good food and a lively atmosphere. Seals are often spotted at Colliemore Harbour, and you'll see three of Dalkey's famous seven castles on the walk.
This is a private tour for your group only. The pace is relaxed, with plenty of time for photos and questions. A moderate level of fitness is needed since you're walking for most of the day. If you're coming off a cruise, the meeting point is a two-minute walk from Dun Laoghaire port.
What the price covers
- Local guide (Marina or a member of her team)
- All fees and taxes
- Snacks
- Train fare
- Transport to and from the meeting point
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.
- Dun Laoghaire Pier and Harbour - The tour begins here. Marina covers the history of the pier and harbour, which has its own interesting story. (10 min)
- Dun Laoghaire Maritime Museum - Hear about Dublin's maritime history from outside this well-regarded local museum. (pass by)
- Moran Park - A lovely local park. On Sundays, the group spends extra time here to take in the farmer's market. (10 min)
- The Metals - The historic laneway that follows the old Dun Laoghaire railway line. Marina explains the railway history of the area as you walk through. (5 min)
- Sandycove - A classic Irish coastal village. (pass by)
- The Forty Foot - Dublin's most famous outdoor sea-swimming spot, open year-round. (pass by)
- James Joyce Tower and Museum - You'll go inside, hear the history, and climb the spiral staircase to the rooftop viewing point. The tower features in the opening of Ulysses. (20 min)
- Colliemore Harbour, Dalkey - A beautiful small harbour with an industrial past and active use today. Seals are often spotted here, either in the water or on the rocks. (10 min)
- Archbold's Castle - A medieval ruin that gives you a sense of why Dalkey was once one of the most important ports on the east coast of Ireland - the town had seven castles at one time, and you'll see three of them on the tour. (5 min)
- Dalkey village - The most affluent village in Dublin, with a fascinating Viking history. Marina will point you towards the best spots for food and nightlife. (10 min)
- Goat Castle (Dalkey Castle and Heritage Centre) - One of the seven castles of Dalkey, now a heritage centre, seen from outside. (pass by)
- Dalkey Island - Visible from the railway section of the tour. Marina covers its Viking history and its significance as a Catholic pilgrimage site. (pass by)
Meeting point: Outside Hartley's Restaurant, part of Dun Laoghaire DART Station. For cruise passengers, this is a two-minute walk from the port.
Local tips that make the day better
The Forty Foot is a serious swimming spot, not just a tourist curiosity. Year-round swimmers go in every single morning, and there are people in the water on Christmas Day. The water is cold by most standards - around 8-10 degrees Celsius in winter and up to 16-17 degrees in a warm summer. If you want to take a dip, bring a towel and a swimming layer; Marina can factor in a few minutes for it.
Dalkey village is worth staying in for a meal after the tour ends. The village has a good selection of restaurants and pubs, several of which are genuinely excellent. It's the kind of place where locals eat rather than just tourists, which tells you something. Marina will point you toward the right spots.
The James Joyce Tower was actually a Martello tower, one of many built along the Irish coast in the early 1800s. They were constructed as a defensive measure against a potential Napoleonic invasion that never came. Joyce stayed in the Sandycove tower for a short time in 1904 and used it as the setting for the opening scene of Ulysses. It's now a museum dedicated to his life and work, and the view from the roof is one of the best along this stretch of coast.
Sunday mornings are a particularly good time for this tour. Moran Park has a farmer's market on Sundays, and Marina builds in extra time there for the group. It's a nice slice of local life - a good mix of food stalls, plants, and the kind of neighbourly atmosphere that makes the coastal suburbs of Dublin feel like a different world from the city centre.
Good to know before booking
- Prams and strollers can be accommodated
- Service animals permitted
- Public transport (DART) is available throughout the route
- A moderate level of fitness is required for this walking tour
- The tour is private and can be customised on request
- Conducted in English
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Questions before you book
How long is Private Dublin (Dun Laoghaire) Top-Rated Coastal Walking Tour?
The published duration is 3 hours 30 minutes. Allow extra time to reach the meeting point and for your onward plans.
How much does Private Dublin (Dun Laoghaire) Top-Rated Coastal Walking Tour cost?
The listed starting price is From €95. 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 €95 · 3 hours 30 minutes Check dates & prices ↗
