Updated January 2026 –While Dublin is the capital of Ireland, it’s nowhere near the size of other world capitals, which means that getting around Dublin by public transportation and even taxi is easier than you think.
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Many of the city’s attractions, such as the Guinness Storehouse, the Old Jameson Distillery, the Spire on O’Connell Street, Dublin Castle, and the Ha’Penny Bridge can often be accessed by foot.
But there are other places in Dublin’s suburbs and on its coastline that will require you to get either a bus, train, or taxi.
There is no underground system in Dublin.
There are several other options, however.
The Visitor Leap Card
The easiest way to use the transportation system in Dublin, be it on trains, buses or the Luas tram, is to get the Visitor Leap Card.
The reloadable travel card can be purchased at Dublin Airport (either at Wright’s airport convenience store in T1 Arrivals or at the Spar shop in Terminal 2), as well as from several retail outlets throughout the city, including the following places listed below.
- Dublin Bus, 59 Upper O’Connell Street, Dublin 1
- Spar, 63 Upper O’Connell Street, Dublin 1
- Mullins Newsagent, Unit 1B Heuston Station, Dublin 8
- Spar, 50 Talbot Street, Dublin 1
- Spar, 70/72 Talbot Street, Dublin 1
- Easons, Unit 2, Connolly Station, Dublin 1
- Trinity College Dublin Student Union, 6 Trinity College, Dublin 2
- GPO, O’Connell Street, Dublin
You can top up the card by using the TFI Leap app, which is available on Apple and Android devices.
It can also be mailed to your home address prior to travel.
When using the card, be sure to tap on and off after each journey.
Dublin Bus
Dublin has a pretty extensive bus network, making it easy to navigate the city’s outer suburbs on its many double-decker buses.
This map will give you an idea of how many routes there are and how to get around the city by bus. If you want to examine the routes on your phone or plan a journey, it’s best to use the Transportation for Ireland TFI Live app.
If you choose not to get the Leap Visitor Card, you can purchase a ticket on the bus. When you get on, tell the driver where you want to go and he or she will give you the appropriate fare information.
You must use Euro coins only as no bills are accepted and no change is given. The coins are dropped into a machine next to the driver.
The price of a ticket is calculated according to the number of stages (stops) you complete while traveling on a particular bus.
The current fares (in cash and by using the Visitor Leap Card) for an adult are as follows:
- €2 which covers about 3 stops (Short Fare). With the Visitor Leap Card, that fare drops to €1.50.
- €2.60 for traveling on a bus with over 13 stops (Long Fare). With the Visitor Leap Card, the fare is €2.
- €3.10 for traveling on an express bus (Xpresso). By using the Visitor Leap Card, you’ll only spend €2.40.
Children under 5 travel free with a paying adult on Dublin Bus provided that he or she does not take someone else’s seat during peak hours.
See Dublin’s Most Popular Attractions on a Big Bus Tour
Getting from Dublin Airport to the City Center
Dublin Bus
If you use Dublin Bus to get from the airport to the city center, you can get to the city center via Routes 16 and 41. Both buses pick up passengers from Zone 15, Stop #7347, which can be found across from the Terminal 1 exit (see the Dublin Airport bus stop map for more information).
Route 16 picks up passengers at the airport every 10-15 minutes. It operates between 6 a.m. and 11:30 pm Monday to Friday, from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m on Saturdays, and from 8 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Sundays.
Route 41 picks up passengers every 15 to 30 minutes and operates pretty much around the clock Monday through Sunday.
Both buses have limited capacity for luggage storage.
In addition, you’ll need to know where your hotel is in relation to the stops in the city. The disadvantage of using Dublin Bus is that there are more stops than the other, more express options.
The standard fare on Dublin Bus from the airport is €2. As mentioned above, payment must be made in coins (exact fare only) to the driver on the bus or by using the Visitor Leap Card.
Private bus companies that transport passengers from the airport to the city center include those listed below.
While you can purchase tickets on each company’s website, it is also possible to make your reservation from the Dublin Airport website.
Aircoach
Aircoach stops at or close to many of Dublin’s popular hotels, as well as other popular tourist sites. It operates on a 24-hour basis except for Christmas Day.
The pick-up point is Terminal 2, Zone 20.
Three of its routes, including 700, 700X and 702 go into the city center, with some going beyond that to Dublin’s outer suburbs.
They generally operate from 12:20 a.m. to 11:50 p.m.
I suggest that you pre-book your ticket, although you can purchase a ticket on the bus from the driver by using a bank card or by using Apple or Google Pay (the total must not exceed €50).
If by chance, you miss your ticketed bus, you can use the same ticket to get another bus. You will just have to wait until ticket holders for that particular bus are seated.
If you do not purchase a ticket beforehand, you will have to wait until all ticketed riders are seated.
Cash is also accepted on all routes except for the 705X (which runs a cashless service).
The Aircoach Ticket app is available on iPhone and Android devices. Fares to the city center are €9 each. Adult fares apply to customers 13 and over. Children under 5 travel free on Aircoach.
Aircoach also operates direct bus services from the airport to Cork, Belfast and Derry.
Dublin Express
You’ll find Dublin Express buses at Zone 1 at Dublin Airport’s Terminal 1 and at Zone 21 at the airport’s Terminal 2.
It is perhaps the fastest way to get to the city center.
There are three buses that will take you to the city center, including Routes 782, 783 and 784.
All operate between the hours of approximately4:30 a.m. and 11:30 p.m. and run every 15 minutes.
Buses make many stops across the heart of the city center, including Temple Bar, Trinity College, O’Connell Street and Heuston Station. See the schedule for all of them here
Enjoy free Wifi, USB charging points and an onboard toilet (available for longer journeys only).
Purchase tickets online or on the bus using your bank card, or Apple or Google Pay. Cash is not accepted.
The fare is €9 one-way. A refund can be obtained free of charge on all tickets canceled 24 hours prior to your outward departure.
Just like Aircoach, you have a 12 hour-window either side of the scheduled time of your ticket at which time you can get on the bus via standby.
You cannot use the Visitor Leap Card on Dublin Express buses.
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Using the Luas Tram Network
Initially known as the Dublin Light Rail System, the Luas is a tram that connects passengers in the city center to the suburbs.
It consists of two lines, the Red Line (goes to destinations west of the city) and the Green Line (serves South Dublin).
You can purchase tickets at street-side vending machines or purchase them on the Luas app for Apple and Android phones. You can also use your Visitor Leap Card on the Luas.
Depending on the number of zones you are traveling through on the Luas, an adult will pay a maximum of €2.60 for a single fare, with a return fare being €5.20.
You can get cheaper fares with the Visitor Leap Card.
Children 4 and under travel for free.
Seeing Dublin’s Coastal Areas on the DART
The Dublin Area Rapid Transit system runs from north to south along Dublin’s coastline and extends to the west of the city into County Kildare as well.
If you are interested in exploring Dublin’s coastal communities, the DART will get you there.
You can purchase tickets on the Irish Rail website or buy a ticket from the machines at the various DART stations.
Getting Around Dublin by Taxi
While Uber has been banned from using private cars in Dublin, you can still use the Uber app to order a taxi but your driver will be a licensed taxi/limousine driver.
If you don’t have the Uber app, no worries. Taxis can be found throughout the city, including at Dublin Airport by using the Free Now app.
Free Now is also available in Cork, Galway, and Limerick. Companies that provide regular taxi services in Dublin include Lynx and Better Taxi.
While the average fare from Dublin Airport to the city center is about €30, you may be wondering how much a taxi will cost you to other parts of the city, including from your hotel.
Ireland’s National Transport Authority is responsible for setting the maximum fare that taxi drivers can charge across the country.
In fact, those rates are are actually based on legislation passed by the Irish government.
Transport for Ireland (TFI) created a taxi fare estimator that will give you an idea of the prices you can expect to pay.
If you get into a taxi from Monday through Saturday in Dublin (8 a.m. to 8 p.m.), an initial charge of €4.40 will be displayed on the meter and will remain so for 85 seconds or up to 0.5 kilometers. Additional charges can be found in the graphic below.
In addition, one child travels for free in a Dublin taxi. After that, one euro is added to the metered fare for every two children under 12. If you use an app like Uber or FreeNow, a €2 booking fee is added to the metered fare.
You can find more information on taxi fares on the Transport for Ireland website.
Other Ways of Getting Around Dublin
See the City on a Tour Bus
If you want to see the city’s main attractions in a short amount of time, you might want to opt for a day tour.
There is plenty on offer in Dublin, but the DoDublin hop on hop off bus tours seem to be the most popular.
DoDublin also offers a Freedom Ticket that is valid for 72 hours and includes the hop on hop off option as well as access to all of the transportation choices already mentioned in this blog post.
Navigating City Streets on a Bicycle
If you’re up for it, cycling in Dublin will give you a great feel for the city. There are approximately 120 kilometers (approximately 74 miles) of bicycle lanes in Dublin at present.
You can rent one by using the Dublin Bikes scheme, which is run by Dublin City Council.
The self-service bike rental system is open to everyone from 14 years of age and up.
Bikes are available for rental at specific areas throughout the city, from 5 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. This map shows you how many bikes are available at any time and where.
You can also rent a bike at the following train stations at Connolly Station, Bike Station 22; Tara Street Station, Bike Station 24; Pearse Street Station, Bike Station 7, and Heuston Station, Bike Station 25.
A ticket for a 24-hour period costs an affordable €3.50. However, you must create a subscription before you can rent a bike.
If taking a guided bicycle tour is something you’d be interested in doing, there are a few that are available, including this small group tour.
If you’re interested in seeing Dublin by foot and with a guide, take a look at this recently updated article on Dublin’s Top 10 tours and more.
Are you planning to use public transportation in Dublin when you visit? Let me know in the comments below.
