While Dublin is a wonderful, vibrant, fascinating city, there’s a lot more to Ireland than just our capital city. Luckily for you, you can go from the city to just about anywhere in Ireland and back again in a day.
So, if you’d like to go exploring, here are the best day trips from Dublin:
1. Wicklow Mountains
Just south of Dublin lies Wicklow, the ‘Garden of Ireland’.
Wicklow is also the playground of Dublin with gorgeous scenery, mountains, lakes, beaches and lots and lots to see and do. Explore by bus, car, train or bike by yourself or on an organised tour. Go trekking, horse riding, cycling, swimming, shopping, adventure sporting, fishing, kayaking and just about anything else you can think of in the Wicklow mountains.
2. Cliffs Of Moher
At the very edge of Europe lie the stunning Cliffs of Moher which soar 700 feet above the untamed Atlantic Ocean. Take a day out to experience the breathtaking beauty of the cliffs, the Wild Atlantic Way, Galway City and the wild limestone Burren National Park on Galway Bay.
It’s one of the biggest and most popular attractions, not just in Ireland, but in Europe and well worth the effort.
3. Blarney Castle & Cork
Blarney Castle is probably the most famous castle in Ireland.
Legend has it that if you lie on your back and lean over the parapet to kiss the Blarney Stone you’ll get the ‘Gift Of The Gab’. That means you’ll never stop taking and will drive your friends and family mad. That’s the perfect reason to put a Blarney Castle and Cork day trip on your itinerary.
4. Kilkenny Castle & City
Kilkenny castle is one of the finest examples of a 12th century Norman castle in the world.
Go see it and, while you’re there, explore quaint Kilkenny City. In the Middle Ages, this was the capital of Ireland. As you will see, today its narrow streets are full of colourful shops and buildings and makes Kilkenny City and Castle the perfect destination for a day trip from Dublin.
5. Giant’s Causeway & Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge
The Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland is one of the natural wonders of the world.
It is made up of 37,000 basalt rock columns – near perfect volcanic hexagonal tubes. According to legend, the tops of these columns made stepping stones along which our ancient heroic giant Finn McCool walked all the way to Staffa Island in Scotland (the stones are still there too). You’ll also see the amazing rope bridge nearby if you choose the Giant’s Causeway and Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge day trip.
6. Belfast Day Trip & Titanic Experience
Lonely Planet lauds Belfast as one of the top 10 ‘must-see’ destinations in the world.
Go up for the day and see this fantastic city, rich in history (good and bad) and birthplace of the ill-fated luxury Titanic liner. The Titanic Experience will let you see and feel that luxury for yourself and tell you all of the stories associated with this, the most famous ship in history.
7. Connemara & Galway City
Every year, tens of thousands of people come to Ireland to see the wild beauty of Connemara in the West of Ireland. You can feel the history here. The pain of the farms devastated by the potato famine in 1847. The natural beauty of the greenest place on Earth, the lakes, valleys, the stone walls, thatched cottages and bleak castles.
While you’re there, spend some time in the wonderful Galway City too.
8. Kerry
Ok, so Kerry is about as far from Dublin as you can get but, trust us, it’s worth going there.
You’ll soon see why this is one of the best-loved destinations for Dubliners and others from all over the island. It’s unique, with it’s own microclimate, mountainous beauty, culture and, it seems, language. It’s also got some of the most spectacular coastal scenery in Europe – make sure you see the Ring of Kerry, the Dingle Peninsula and Killarney on your Kerry day trip.
There’s plenty of choice here with some pretty amazing Dublin day trips to show you Ireland at its best. From the Antrim coast in the very north to the Ring Of Kerry in the very south west, tour operators like Gray Line and Wild Wicklow Tours have all of the Irish day tours you need.
Make sure you get to know our city better too by exploring some of the many Dublin walks.
