Day Trips from Dublin, Ireland

Is a visit to Dublin, Ireland, in your future? Whether you have an epic two-week trip to see the emerald isle or a quick business trip to the country’s capital, you need to add these excellent side trips outside of Dublin.

Get comfy at a Dublin hotel and explore the city AND some fascinating sights close by. You won’t soon forget these day trips from Dublin, Ireland.

Planning your first trip to Europe? Ireland is a GREAT first stop! Read key tips here: How to Plan Your First Trip to Europe, Part 1.

Howth Cliff Wall

Just a 25-minute train ride away on the DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transit), you can reach a large, wind-swept peninsula sheltering the small town of Howth. Formerly a shipping port for Dublin, it was eventually left behind for nearby Dun Laoghaire. Today it’s a quiet harbor and the perfect place for a dramatic cliff walk.

Take the DART train labeled Howth towards the last stop. Walk toward the city’s two piers and admire today’s catch. If you’re feeling really adventurous, you can book a diving trip to discover sunken vessels off the coast. (in freezing water!) Continue towards town and enjoy a meal along Main Street to fortify you before the hike.

Head toward the eastern end of town along Balscadden Road towards the hiking trail. It’s a three-hour round trip, with gorgeous views of the coast, nearby fishing vessels and seals playing in the surf.

But be prepared for the quickly changing weather. Once I started on a sun-filled afternoon and had to suddenly find shelter when dark clouds marched across the sea and brought cold rain pelting down on me!

The walk has a slight elevation, but it’s an effortless trip. You go towards the Bailey Lighthouse on the peninsula’s southeastern edge and turn around to retrace your steps.

If you don’t want to go the entire way, just head back when you choose. Enjoy a cup of tea in town before getting the light rail back to Dublin.

Get ready for more Euro Trip Details! How to Plan Your First Trip to Europe, Part 2.

Powerscourt Gardens and Glendalough

A mere 45 minutes outside of the city by car, Powerscourt Estate is a must-see destination when visiting Dublin. The Powerscourt family build an impressive mansion with elaborate gardens to rival a royal residence. It’s been rated as one of the top three gardens in the world by National Geographic Magazine.

The estate is located just south of Dublin. Park outside the mansion before heading inside to pay 11.50 euros (adults) or 8.50 euros (students) to peruse the grounds. Other attractions on-site include Ireland’s tallest waterfall, a golf course and additional sights.

Of course, there is a delightful gift shop with quality (and expensive) local crafts and gifts for you to take home with you. Avoca Terrace Cafe serves hungry travelers with a spectacular view of nearby Sugarloaf Mountain.

The gardens are divided into areas where you can see the following and more:

• The Italian Garden-It took 12 years to build the dramatic Italian terraces connecting the house with the grounds. They feature enormous stone vases with flowers, inspired by a villa in Sicily.
• The Japanese Garden and The Grotto: Visit the sunken grotto to enjoy an escape from the rest of the world. Water trickles down its mossy walls, hiding centuries of secret escapes.
• Various Statuary-Accumulated by the Powerscourt family over dozens of trips to continental Europe, gorgeous statues such as the goddess Diana, two white, winged horses that overlook the lake, and dolphins spouting water enchant visitors.
• Pets’ Cemetery-A sweet remembrance of family pets over the years, including several ponies and a cow named Eugenie.
• Tower Valley-my favorite part of the garden! Tower Valley features Pepperpot Tower, modeled after a pepper pot (aka a pepper shaker) that sat on the Lord’s table. Kids especially will enjoy climbing the winding tower steps and pretending to be royalty.

You may recognize some areas from the numerous films and TV shows that have been shot here. Movies include Far and Away, Excalibur and The Count of Monte Cristo. TV shows include Vikings and The Tudors, to name a few.

The nearby area of Glendalough has a famed monastery that was first established in the 6^th century. The site features an ancient granite cross (6^th or 7^th century), two lakes and a Visitor Centre, all nestled in the Wicklow Mountains. You can take a tour of the Monastic City, hike or just enjoy the peaceful atmosphere. The charming backroads between Powerscourt and Glendalough are a treat in itself.

More must-read info for your trip to Ireland! 8 Secrets to Having a Fantastic First Trip to Europe.

Kilkenny

County Kilkenny, less than 2 hours south of Dublin, has a fantastic castle just waiting to be explored. It was continuously occupied for 800 years and is presented with its Victorian furnishings. You can see 300-year-old tapestries, the impressive family picture gallery and a beautiful terraced rose garden on the grounds. There’s also a playground, so your children can enjoy a break from touring!

After you explore the castle grounds, head into town for a pleasant walk and meal in one of the city’s charming shops, pubs or cafes. Afterward, be sure to tour St. Canice’s Cathedral, the second-largest medieval cathedral in Ireland, after St. Patrick’s in Dublin.

A wooden church was built on this site in 1087, but it burned down, and the stone walls were erected in the early 1200s. A 9^th century round tower stands watch beside it, one of only two towers in Ireland you’re allowed to climb.

If you are more interested in modern history, George Clooney can trace his family roots back to Kilkenny.

Be sure to check out How to Save Money So You Can Travel More to be able to cross off that travel bucket list!

Trim Castle

Approximately 50 minutes northeast of Dublin is Trim Castle. In a land brimming with castles and history, this is one of the best. Trim castle is enormous! It was built over 30 years as a sturdy fortification against invaders in Norman times. It’s the largest Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland.

Today, although it’s a shell of its former self, visitors can climb up inside the three-story keep and look across the lawns, where the moat used to protect against invaders.

Trim castle overlooks the River Boyne, in the small town of Trim. The castle is also famous for its Hollywood connections. Trim was used as a set location for several movies, most notably for Braveheart, where it served as different locales in multiple scenes.

If you’re visiting Dublin, you MUST make a quick visit here!

Are you traveling with kids? Read this to make the most of your trip: Top Tips for Taking Your Kids to Europe!

Brú na Bóinne

Mystery and magic truly reside at the Valley of the Boyne. The Stone Age passage tombs of Newgrange and Knowth were built in 3,200 B.C.-before the Great Pyramids at Giza or Stonehenge! Along with a nearby tomb at Dowth, the ancient structures have been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Newgrange is a circular building, 279 ft. across and 43 ft. high. Its key feature is a fascinating stone passageway inside, where the sun perfectly illuminates an interior chamber only on the Winter Solstice. There are 35 passage tombs in the Valley of the Boyne. However, Newgrange is now considered to be more of a temple as well.

Archeologists believe the society that built Newgrange was well-organized, wealthy and highly resourceful. Building materials came from as far as the Wicklow Mountains, which is 70 miles away! Transporting stone at that time was a tremendous feat, especially considering some stones weighed as much as a ton.

You must reserve a tour at the Brú na Bóinne Visitors Centre to visit Newgrange, and, if you want to go during the Winter Solstice, be prepared for a lottery drawing. But touring the interior chamber at any time is eerie and wonderous. What else have we misunderstood about our ancient ancestors?

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Driving in Ireland

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the issue of driving in Ireland. Driving in Dublin versus the rest of Ireland is two completely different experiences. Dublin is busy, compact, full of traffic and extremely challenging for drivers.

(A taxi driver told me the Vikings planned Dublin’s roads, that’s why it’s confusing!) The rest of Ireland has wide open roads, safe roundabouts and is very easy to navigate.

So, if you desire to explore Ireland by car (YES! Please do!), just rent your car on Dublin’s outskirts. For example, there are many rental car companies at the airport. Take a taxi or city bus (7 euros a ticket) from downtown Dublin to the airport, and make your life MUCH easier by skipping the city center.

Seriously, the first time we went to Ireland, one of my husband’s coworkers had a wreck just getting from the airport into the city. (Remember, they drive on the left side of the road.) And navigating the tiny, winding one-way streets of Dublin is quite a nightmare. Believe me!

A visit to Dublin is an incredible experience. You’ll be happy to know it’s one of the friendliest and easiest destinations in the world for US travelers. In a country full of history and charm, Dublin is the star. But don’t forget these fantastic sites just outside the city’s reach.

Do you have any favorite trips from Dublin that I missed? Let me know in the comments below!