More about: Dublin Day Trips
Most travellers visiting Dublin focus their visit on the sights of the Irish capital. However, there are many secrets in and around the city that are off the beaten tourist track. These tours and excursions are for you to discover them:
1. Cliffs of Moher and Galway tour
You've probably heard about the myths of Irish culture on more than one occasion. You may even have read books or watched films on the subject. But nothing compares to the feeling of having a knowledgeable guide tell you all about it on an organised tour to see the sights of Moher and Galway.
A two and a half hour drive from Dublin is the harbour city of Galway, characterised by the charm of its colourful houses and the vibrancy of its streets.
During a walking tour of the city centre your guide will tell you about the importance of this city and then you will have time to visit it at your leisure. Afterwards you will visit the impressive Cliffs of Moher overlooking the Atlantic over 200 metres high, famous all over Ireland.
What's included in this tour
- The services of an English speaking guide
- Round trip transfer from Dublin city centre
- Entrance to the cliffs
What you should know
Food is at your own expense (you will find places to eat on the tour and you can also bring a picnic) and the tour will not be cancelled due to rain (a common occurrence in and around Dublin) so please dress appropriately.
You can book online and can cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before the day you choose. You will receive an email with all the necessary information and details of the departure time and departure point in Dublin.
This tour is for you if
If you want to combine natural scenery with rural landscapes while discovering interesting stories about Irish history and legends.
2. Game of Thrones Location Tours
One of the most popular day trips from Dublin for travellers visiting the Irish capital is a tour of Ireland's Game of Thrones locations.
Whichever tour you choose, I recommend booking it online in advance to reserve a time slot on a day that suits you best. Once you have chosen the day you want to go on the tour, your booking will be confirmed and you will be emailed details of the meeting point in Dublin from which the tour departs and the time you need to be ready to go.
Tour route
The tours covering the Game of Thrones route are similar and all include the services of a knowledgeable guide and transfer from Dublin city centre in a vehicle equipped with all the amenities to make the journey an enjoyable experience. Some of the highlights include:
- Dunluce Castle: in fiction it was the castle of House Grejoy, located in the Iron Islands and also featured in the film The Chronicles of Narnia. In real life, the cliff-side castle has witnessed shipwrecks and bloody assaults that have nothing to envy to the plot of the series.
- Giant's Causeway: When you look at this place, the first thing you think is that it's incredible that its 40,000 stone columns have been shaped by nature, but they have. The site has been declared a World Heritage Site and, regardless of its appearance in the series, it will leave you speechless.
- Belfast: the city is home to the film studios where the series is filmed and also, in keeping with film traditions, the "Titanic Studios".
This tour is for you if
If you are a fan of the series, as many of the anecdotes your guide will tell you will have to do with details of the filming. However, if you simply want to discover breathtaking scenery, I can assure you that you will also come away very satisfied.
3. Excursion to Howth and Malahide
A visit to Malahide Castle and Gardens on the outskirts of Dublin (about half an hour's drive) is a lesson in the history of the city and the country. For over 800 years, this was the residence of the Talbot family and, although it began as a basic fortress, over the years it was extended in the style of medieval fashion.
On this half-day tour of Howth and Malahide a guide will pick you up in Dublin city centre and take you in a bus with a maximum of 30 passengers to visit first the castle, which also has a butterfly and peacock conservatory, and then to the village of Howth where you can enjoy some free time to explore at your leisure.
Transport, guide services and tour fees are included. You can book online.
This tour is for you if
If you are interested in learning more about the history of the country and want to visit one of Ireland's most famous castles in a morning or afternoon.
4. Guided Walking Tour of Dublin's Dark Side
I have to admit that of all the guided walking tours of Dublin city centre this is my favourite. I have always been interested in the stories of ghosts, apparitions, legends and murders that give a city a dark and particular character. Every city has some such story behind its landmarks, but few have as many as Dublin.
This guided walking tour of Dublin's dark side takes place at dusk, is available in English and Spanish and lasts two and a half hours. There is a maximum of 40 people on the tour and children under the age of 13 are excluded.
Points of Interest
- Dublin Castle: the guide will tell you about the history of beheadings and occult practices.
- St Michan's Church: famous for the mummies on display inside and the whispers many visitors claim to hear coming from the crypt.
- The Olympia Theatre: where you will hear a chilling ghost story.
- Smithfield Square: the hub of the city with its wonderful architecture.
This tour is for you if
If you want to get away from the official textbook history and see the highlights of Dublin from a different perspective.
5. Dublin's traditional pub crawl
Irish beer is famous all over the world, but so are its pubs. Of course, in Dublin you can enjoy the most emblematic ones and this guided tour of the traditional pubs gives you the opportunity to discover and enjoy them with a local guide.
Over three and a half hours you will enjoy a tour of Dublin's most traditional pubs and get an introduction to this part of Irish culture that is so popular around the world. The tour is available in English and Spanish and includes discounts on free food and drinks at selected venues.
Once you book online, you will receive an email with details of the itinerary and the meeting point from which the tour will depart at sunset. As well as tasting whisky, craft beer and Guinness, you'll also enjoy live traditional music and chat to the locals as if you were a local and not just a tourist visiting the city.
This tour is for you if
If you're looking for a relaxed time in the company of locals and a taste of the city's nightlife.
6. Guided tour of the Teeling Whisky Distillery
It's not just beer that Ireland is famous for, whisky is also an institution and so one of the most popular activities is a guided tour of the Teeling Whisky Distillery. This is the only working distillery in the city and this tour focuses on how the distillery works.
It lasts one hour and is available in 9 languages including English and Spanish. The tour also includes tasting of whisky and other alcoholic beverages.
This tour is for you if
If you are interested in whisky making, the history of whisky and its importance in the Irish capital.
7. Guided sightseeing bus tour of Dublin
One way to discover the city is to buy a pass for the Dublin sightseeing bus. Why is this activity among the best guided tours? Because it has on-board commentary in several languages that puts the different sights of the capital into context so that, as well as enjoying the panoramic views, the traveller learns along the way.
The Dublin Sightseeing Bus Pass also includes fast, queue-free access to the famous Guinness Storehouse, an iconic landmark of the city. You can use the Dublin Big Bus for 24, 48 or 72 hours depending on which pass you buy. With any of them you can use the free stops.
If you are interested in knowing more about this kind of tours, you can read this article about Dublin Hop-On Hop-Off Buses. You can book online.
This tour is for you if
If you are looking to make the most of your time in the city so you don't miss anything without having to do a lot of walking.
Ana's Traveller Tip
Most tours are not cancelled due to rain, which is a common occurrence in Dublin. Expect this and wear appropriate clothing and footwear.
8. You may also be interested in
If in addition to touring Dublin and its surroundings you want to delve a little deeper into the culture and traditions of the city, you can not miss a visit to the legendary Guinness Brewery, where you can tour inside and learn about the process of creating beer and taste it. Here is all the information you need to know to organise your visit: Guinness Storehouse in Dublin Tickets and Tours.
I also recommend that you consider buying the Dublin Pass to get quick and cheap access to the main attractions of the city. In this article on Dublin Tourist Cards I'll tell you all the details so you can decide whether it's worth it or not.