I've pulled together the 25 best, grouped by what you're in the mood for: dramatic scenery, history, coast and quick escapes. For each one you'll get the distance, roughly how long the day takes, and whether you can do it without a car — plus the best-rated tour from Dublin where one exists. And if you only have time for one, I'll tell you which I'd pick.
Short on time? My one-trip answer: the Cliffs of Moher is the day trip most people remember most — wild Atlantic cliffs, the Burren, and usually Galway in the same loop. Jump to it below, or read the full Cliffs of Moher from Dublin guide.
At a glance: the 10 most popular
| Day trip | Distance | Day length | Without a car? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cliffs of Moher & the Burren | ≈ 265 km | 12–13 hrs | Easy (guided tour) |
| Galway City | ≈ 210 km | 10–12 hrs | Train or tour |
| Glendalough & Wicklow | ≈ 50 km | 6–8 hrs | Tour |
| Giant's Causeway (NI) | ≈ 260 km | 12–13 hrs | Tour |
| Howth | ≈ 15 km | Half day | DART train |
| Kilkenny | ≈ 130 km | 8–10 hrs | Train or tour |
| Belfast & Titanic | ≈ 165 km | 11–12 hrs | Train or tour |
| Newgrange & Boyne Valley | ≈ 50 km | 6–8 hrs | Tour |
| Powerscourt & Gardens | ≈ 30 km | Half day | Tour |
| Connemara & Kylemore | ≈ 250 km | 12–13 hrs | Tour |
The best scenery day trips from Dublin
1. Cliffs of Moher (the one to book first)
If you do one day trip from Dublin, make it this one. The Cliffs of Moher rise to around 214 metres straight out of the Atlantic on Ireland's west coast — the view most people picture when they think of Ireland. Because the cliffs sit on the opposite coast from Dublin, it's a full day (roughly 12–13 hours), but a good tour fills that day properly: the cliffs themselves, the lunar limestone of the Burren, and usually time in Galway on the way back.
Distance: ≈ 265 km · Day length: 12–13 hrs · Without a car: Easy by guided tour · Best for: first-time visitors, scenery, that one photo you came for
New here? Start with the full Cliffs of Moher from Dublin guide, or compare every route on our best tours from Dublin page.
2. Connemara & Kylemore Abbey
Wild bog, mountains and the storybook Kylemore Abbey on a lake. Connemara is the rugged, Irish-speaking heart of the west — a longer day, but a beautiful one, often paired with Galway.
Distance: ≈ 250 km · Day length: 12–13 hrs · Without a car: Tour
3. Glendalough & the Wicklow Mountains
The closest big scenery to the city. Glendalough is a glacial valley with two lakes and a 6th-century monastic site, set in the Wicklow Mountains National Park. Easy to combine with a mountain drive.
Distance: ≈ 50 km · Day length: 6–8 hrs · Without a car: Tour
4. The Giant's Causeway (Northern Ireland)
Forty thousand hexagonal basalt columns stepping into the sea — a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It's a long day across the border, usually combined with the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge and the Antrim coast.
Distance: ≈ 260 km · Day length: 12–13 hrs · Without a car: Tour
5. Powerscourt Estate & Waterfall
A grand house with Italian and Japanese gardens, plus Ireland's highest waterfall nearby. An easy half-day in Wicklow, gentle on the legs.
Distance: ≈ 30 km · Day length: Half day · Without a car: Tour
The best history & culture day trips
6. Newgrange & the Boyne Valley
A 5,000-year-old passage tomb — older than the pyramids and Stonehenge — famous for the winter-solstice light that fills its chamber. The Boyne Valley is dense with ancient sites.
Distance: ≈ 50 km · Day length: 6–8 hrs · Without a car: Tour
7. Kilkenny (the medieval city)
A walkable medieval city with a riverside castle, narrow lanes and a strong craft and food scene. Quick by train and a relaxed change of pace from Dublin.
Distance: ≈ 130 km · Day length: 8–10 hrs · Without a car: Train or tour
8. Belfast & the Titanic Quarter
Northern Ireland's capital, with the superb Titanic Belfast museum on the slipways where the ship was built. Often paired with a black-cab political tour.
Distance: ≈ 165 km · Day length: 11–12 hrs · Without a car: Train or tour
9. Rock of Cashel
A dramatic cluster of medieval buildings on a limestone outcrop in County Tipperary — one of Ireland's most striking historic sites.
Distance: ≈ 165 km · Day length: 9–11 hrs · Without a car: Tour
10. Trim Castle & the Boyne
Ireland's largest Anglo-Norman castle (you may recognise it from Braveheart), an easy half-day in County Meath — usually visited as part of a Boyne Valley and ancient-sites loop.
Distance: ≈ 50 km · Day length: Half day · Without a car: Tour
The best coast & seaside day trips
11. Howth
A fishing village on a peninsula just north of the city, with a cliff walk, seafood, and seals in the harbour. The easiest "escape" of all.
Distance: ≈ 15 km · Day length: Half day · Without a car: DART train
12. Bray to Greystones cliff walk
A scenic coastal path between two seaside towns, reachable by DART. Walk one way, train back — no tour or car needed.
Distance: ≈ 25 km · Day length: Half day · Without a car: DART train
13. Malahide Castle & village
A handsome castle with gardens plus a pretty coastal village and marina, a short hop north on the train. Easy to pair with Howth on a single coastal day.
Distance: ≈ 15 km · Day length: Half day · Without a car: Train
14. Dún Laoghaire & Dalkey
Victorian seafront, a long pier walk, and the "Irish Riviera" village of Dalkey just beyond. Or see the coast from the water on a Dublin Bay cruise.
Distance: ≈ 12 km · Day length: Half day · Without a car: DART train
15. Skerries
A quieter north-coast town with windmills, beaches and harbour walks — a local favourite that most visitors miss. An easy car-free trip on the train.
Distance: ≈ 30 km · Day length: Half day · Without a car: Train
More day trips worth your time
These round out the 25 — great if you've already ticked off the headliners:
- 16. Galway City — the cultural capital of the west; lively streets, music and the bay. (≈ 210 km · train or tour)
- 17. Aran Islands — windswept islands off Galway, reachable via a longer combined trip. (Tour)
- 18. Wexford & the Hook Peninsula — beaches and one of the world's oldest working lighthouses. (≈ 140 km · tour)
- 19. Cork City & Blarney Castle — kiss the Blarney Stone; a long but doable southern day. (≈ 250 km · train or tour)
- 20. The Burren — a strange limestone moonscape in Clare, usually paired with the cliffs. (≈ 250 km · tour)
- 21. Mourne Mountains (NI) — granite peaks that inspired Narnia, near Newcastle. (≈ 130 km · tour)
- 22. Athlone & Clonmacnoise — a riverside town and an atmospheric monastic ruin on the Shannon. (≈ 125 km · tour)
- 23. Brú na Bóinne + Hill of Tara — ancient seat of the High Kings, paired with Newgrange. (≈ 45 km · tour)
- 24. Carlingford — a medieval village on a lough with mountains behind it. (≈ 90 km · tour)
- 25. Causey Farm — hands-on Irish farm and culture experience for families. (≈ 50 km · tour)
Day trips from Dublin without a car
You don't need to hire a car to see the best of Ireland from Dublin. Two routes work well:
- By train (DART & Irish Rail): the coastal spots — Howth, Malahide, Bray, Dún Laoghaire, Greystones — are all on the DART. Galway, Kilkenny, Cork and Belfast are reachable on intercity trains.
- By guided tour: for the big scenery that public transport can't reach in a day — the Cliffs of Moher, Giant's Causeway, Connemara, Glendalough — a tour is the practical choice. You're collected in the city centre and everything is handled.
The no-car classic: the Cliffs of Moher is the top day trip you genuinely can't do well by public transport in a single day — which is exactly why a tour makes sense. See the featured tour above.
How to choose your day trip from Dublin
A few quick rules of thumb:
- Only one day, first visit? Go west to the Cliffs of Moher — it's the most "Ireland" of all the options.
- Want history? Newgrange or Kilkenny.
- Half a day or tired legs? Howth, Malahide or Powerscourt.
- No car? Stick to the DART coast or book a guided tour for the far-flung scenery.
- Two days to spare? Pair a western trip (cliffs + Galway) with a closer one (Glendalough or Newgrange).
Make it the cliffs
Of every day trip from Dublin, the Cliffs of Moher is the one we hear visitors rave about most. Compare tours and lock in your date.
Find your Cliffs of Moher tour →FAQ: Day trips from Dublin
What is the best day trip from Dublin?
For most first-time visitors it's the Cliffs of Moher — dramatic Atlantic cliffs, usually combined with the Burren and Galway. If you'd rather stay close, Glendalough in the Wicklow Mountains is the best short option.
Can you do day trips from Dublin without a car?
Yes. Coastal spots like Howth, Malahide and Bray are on the DART train, and cities like Galway, Kilkenny and Belfast are reachable by intercity rail. For far-off scenery such as the Cliffs of Moher or the Giant's Causeway, a guided tour is the easiest car-free option.
How long is a typical day trip from Dublin?
It varies a lot. Coastal escapes are half-day trips; nearby sites like Glendalough or Newgrange run 6–8 hours; and the big western or northern trips (Cliffs of Moher, Giant's Causeway, Connemara) are full 12–13 hour days because of the distance.
What's the farthest worthwhile day trip from Dublin?
The Cliffs of Moher and the Giant's Causeway are both around 260 km away and make excellent — if long — day trips. Cork and Connemara are similar in distance.
Which day trip is best for families?
Powerscourt, Malahide Castle, Howth and Causey Farm are gentle, shorter options that work well with children. The very long western tours can be tiring for young kids.
When is the best time for day trips from Dublin?
Late spring and early autumn offer the best balance of mild weather, longer daylight and smaller crowds. Pack layers and a waterproof whatever the season — Irish weather changes fast.