If you are short of time and want to take in all the major sights of Dublin in a day, a city bus tour may be the option for you.
Two of the most popular tours are the Dublin Bus City Tour and the Hop On Hop Off tour. Both will take you to all the major attractions around Dublin City and you can get on or off anywhere you choose if you wish to explore further.
Both tours start in the city centre and cover all the famous sights, such as the Writer’s Museum, Trinity College, the National Museum, the National Gallery, the National History Museum, St Stephen’s Green, Temple Bar, Dublin Castle, Christ Church Cathedral, St Patrick’s Cathedral, the Guinness Storehouse, the Museum of Modern Art, Dublin Zoo, Phoenix Park, the National Museum of Ireland and the Old Jameson Distillery.
Tours take about 90 minutes in total but your pass is valid for 24 hours, giving you time to visit attractions and explore further. Tours include live commentary and a free map.
If you are feeling adventurous, Dublin Bus also offers a North Coast & Castle tour, and a South Coast & Garden tour. The North Coast tour takes in Malahide Castle, Portmarnock, Howth, Clontarf and North Bull Island. The South Tour takes in Dun Laoghaire, Sandycove, Dalkey, Enniskerry, the beautiful Powerscourt Gardens, and Bray.
Dublin Bus also offers a macabre night tour called the Ghost Bus, an eerie tour that takes in sights like St Kevin’s Park and Grave Yard, and other spooky sights.
Bus tours offer a quick and easy way to see all the main sights. However, if you want more freedom to explore Dublin and its surroundings you should rent a car. There are countless car rental in Dublin options. Check out Thrifty Car Rentals’ locations at Dublin Airport and Dublin city centre for good choice and competitive rates.
Howth is situated 16km from Dublin City Center and is accessed easily by numerous public transport modes including bus and DART.