Travelling Ireland without a car: what visitors wish they'd known

Book Irish Rail and intercity coaches online ahead

13 visitors said this

Cheaper fares and a guaranteed seat.

• "Book Irish Rail tickets online for a guaranteed seat; your name shows above it. Dublin to Belfast from Galway needs a station change." (TripAdvisor, 2023)
• "Trains were all on time; the Belfast to Dublin run takes about two hours. Pre-book buses and private tours since they sell out." (Rick Steves forum, 2025)

No car? Base in Dublin, Galway or Killarney

11 visitors said this

Use day tours for the big sights.

• "Book day tours via GetYourGuide from Killarney (Gap of Dunloe, Dingle, Ring of Kerry) and Galway (Cliffs of Moher, Aran Islands)." (TripAdvisor, 2023)
• "Book a full-day guided tour for Connemara, Kylemore Abbey and Killary Harbour, since public transport barely serves them." (Blog, 2025)

From Dublin Airport take Dublin Express, Aircoach or the 16 bus

10 visitors said this

Much cheaper than a €30–40 (~$32–43) taxi.

• "Take the Dublin Airport Express bus (about 10 euro, ~$11) to Wellington Quay and use a visitor Leap card for city buses and trams." (Blog, 2026)
• "Airport city bus is about 2 euro (~$2) but slow with little luggage room; the express coach, about 16 euro (~$17), is more comfortable." (TripAdvisor, 2026)

Buy a Leap Visitor Card (1, 3 or 7 days)

9 visitors said this

It covers Dublin buses, Luas and DART.

• "Leap Visitor Card from a shop outside departures came preloaded for 24 hours, no top-up needed; check whether it covers outer zones." (TripAdvisor, 2026)
• "Buy Leap cards before travelling; they work on city buses and trains in Dublin and elsewhere, saving fumbling with change." (Blog, 2025)

Day-trip from Dublin to Glendalough, Powerscourt or Newgrange

8 visitors said this

It's easy by tour or public bus.

• "Base in Dublin and make easy day trips to Glendalough, Avoca and Newgrange, with museums and tours as wet-day backup." (Rick Steves forum)
• "Take the 8:15am Paddywagon Glendalough half-day from the Molly Malone statue; back by about 12:45." (TripAdvisor, 2022)

Use trains between cities

7 visitors said this

Dublin to Galway, Cork, Killarney and Belfast are easy.

• "Dublin to Galway or Belfast by train or bus costs about 20 euro (~$22), so no car is needed between cities." (Blog, 2023)
• "Train beat bus for Galway to Dublin. Dunne's was the favourite supermarket." (TripAdvisor, 2022)

No car? Take a Causeway Coast day tour from Belfast or Dublin

7 visitors said this

• "Reach the Giant's Causeway, Dunluce and Dark Hedges from Dublin on a budget day bus tour rather than renting a car." (Blog, 2025)
• "Book an all-day bus tour from Belfast that follows the coast, stopping at the Dark Hedges and Giant's Causeway." (Blog, 2023)

Base in Galway without a car

7 visitors said this

Day-trip to Connemara, Aran and the Cliffs.

• "Book the Cliffs of Moher bus tour the day before; it left from a stop ten minutes from the hostel and included Doolin Cave." (Blog)
• "Use a guided tour for Cliffs of Moher, Burren and Doonagore Castle; DIY bus 350 can't combine them in a day." (Blog, 2026)

Take the DART for easy coastal day trips

6 visitors said this

Howth, Malahide, Dalkey and Bray.

• "Use DART to Greystones, Dalkey and Sandycove; the Martello Tower has a Joyce-focused volunteer guide. Catch trad at the Cobblestone." (TripAdvisor, 2023)
• "Use Dublin's rail for day trips to Dun Laoghaire, Bray (Bray Head cliff walk), Greystones, Howth and Malahide." (Fodor's)

Take intercity coaches to towns the railway doesn't reach

5 visitors said this

Expressway, Citylink and Dublin Coach cover them.

• "Buses reached Clifden, Donegal and Lisdoonvarna cheaply; download timetables and watch for special fares." (Blog, 2022)
• "Take a direct bus from Dublin Airport to Galway, then Galway to Ennis for County Clare tours." (Rick Steves forum)

Hire a local driver-guide for Kerry or Dingle

5 visitors said this

Worth it if you don't want to drive the narrow roads.

• "If you fear heights, hire a driver for Slea Head and Conor Pass; the cliff-edge section lasts only 10-15 minutes." (Rick Steves forum, 2026)
• "Hire Brown's Taxi and Tours in Kenmare for a two-day private tour of Kerry and Beara; a splurge but recommended." (TripAdvisor, 2022)

Hire the car only for the countryside leg

5 visitors said this

Cities are easier on foot and public transport.

• "Pick the car up in Galway on day four and drop it at Dublin Airport; it cost little more than a same-city return." (Blog, 2022)
• "Rent a car for only part of the trip: she picked up in Galway and dropped in Cork, then took the bus to Dublin." (Blog, 2024)

Use the FreeNow app for taxis

5 visitors said this

Uber is scarce and only books licensed cabs.

• "Use Freenow for taxis; some bus stops lack shelters, so weather matters." (Forum, 2025)
• "Uber in Cork books licensed taxis; it works for getting around cities." (Rick Steves forum)

Wave buses down and confirm the stop and route with the driver

4 visitors said this

Stop signs are vague.

• "Check which bus stop serves Croke Park and leave a generous buffer; they arrived with only 10 minutes to spare." (Blog)
• "Wave down buses even at marked stops or they may not stop; short Dublin taxi rides cost about 11 to 20 euro (~$12–22)." (Blog, 2025)

Pick small-group tours over big coaches

4 visitors said this

More stops, less rushing and free evenings.

• "Kerry coach tours rush: roadside lunch of about 30 minutes and 20 minutes in Sneem. The Dingle tour allowed more stops and was slightly better." (Fodor's, 2018)
• "Big coach tours mean one-night stops, set 9am departures and shopping-town stops; the group did not gel. Consider small-group or DIY." (TripAdvisor, 2023)

Ride the hop-on hop-off bus once for orientation

4 visitors said this

Don't plan around its timetable.

• "Hop-on buses ignore the printed timetable; expect long waits when quiet and full buses when busy, so do not plan a tight schedule around them." (TripAdvisor, 2026)
• "Ride the whole hop-on hop-off loop on arrival afternoon when quiet; it shows outlying areas you would not otherwise reach." (TripAdvisor, 2026)

Rent a car to reach remote areas

4 visitors said this

Stop when you like, which buses and tours can't.

• "A Galway tour bus left them tied to a timetable at the Cliffs of Moher, so drive if you want flexibility." (Blog, 2024)
• "Rent a car to reach remote areas that buses and trains miss, accepting the extra cost." (Rick Steves forum, 2023)

Going car-free works

4 visitors said this

Trains and buses link the main cities and the coast.

• "Trains Dublin to Belfast, Dublin to Galway and Cork to Dublin worked well; connections elsewhere meant backtracking and sparse services." (Rick Steves forum, 2024)

After a long flight with luggage, take a taxi or pre-booked car

4 visitors said this

It beats the bus.

• "Taxi from airport about 40 euro (~$43); easier than bus with luggage." (TripAdvisor, 2026)

Using a ride app? Check the fare quote and match the plate

4 visitors said this

Screenshot it to dispute overcharges.

• "Check the Uber fare estimate before confirming a short Dublin ride; his was far higher than expected and only partly refunded after three days." (TripAdvisor)
• "After a concert she got into the wrong cab; the app then charged a 5 pound cancellation fee, so match plate and driver name first." (TripAdvisor, 2026)

Don't count on rural buses

3 visitors said this

Services are sparse, so check the last bus before you go.

• "Without a car, Southeast, Connemara and Sligo are hard to reach; allow more time or add a tour." (TripAdvisor, 2023)
• "Check rural bus schedules carefully; day trips by bus proved unreliable." (Fodor's)

Do Belfast as a day trip from Dublin by train

3 visitors said this

It's about two hours each way.

• "Take the early train from Dublin Connolly, about 2.5 hours, to arrive near 10am; a Belfast bus day pass is about 5 pounds." (Blog, 2025)
• "Take the train from Dublin to Belfast for a weekend; Belfast City Hall and Christmas Market are lit up in November." (Blog, 2023)

Take a Ring of Kerry day tour from Killarney (about €40, ~$43)

3 visitors said this

Easier than driving it yourself.

• "Take a Killarney day tour of the Ring of Kerry for about 40 euro (~$43) instead of renting a car." (Blog, 2025)
• "A guided Ring of Kerry day tour was highly worthwhile." (TripAdvisor)

Take the DART to Howth for the cliff walk

3 visitors said this

Then fish and chips on the pier.

• "Do the Howth coastal hike by DART from Dublin, about four hours, then fish and chips on the pier watching seals." (Blog, 2025)
• "Take the DART to Howth (about 30 minutes) and walk the windy but beautiful Cliff Trail." (Rick Steves forum, 2026)

Book Newgrange (Brú na Bóinne) about a month ahead

3 visitors said this

Or go with a Mary Gibbons tour.

• "Take the Mary Gibbons tour for Tara, Knowth and Newgrange; pickup is at the Shelbourne on St Stephen's Green." (TripAdvisor, 2023)
• "Book Mary Gibbons for Tara, Knowth and Newgrange; very popular and she is a walking encyclopedia." (TripAdvisor, 2022)

Take the train from Cork to Cobh

3 visitors said this

For the Titanic Experience and Spike Island.

• "Cobh is a 26-minute train from Cork; the climb to the Deck of Cards houses and cathedral is steep and weekends get busy." (Blog, 2022)
• "Walk the Titanic Trail in Cobh." (Blog, 2017)

Plan with the TFI Go and Journey Planner apps

3 visitors said this

Not Rome2Rio.

• "TFI Go and TFI Journey Planner apps worked well; Bus Eireann's own planner failed. Dublin Express tickets work within 12 hours." (TripAdvisor, 2022)
• "Rome2Rio was inaccurate; use Irish Rail and Bus Eireann sites, and travel early morning or evening to save daylight." (Rick Steves forum)

Insist on the meter or agree the taxi fare first

3 visitors said this

Several visitors were overcharged.