Dun Laoghaire (Dublin) - Ireland, Cruise Port
Visiting Dublin, the vibrant capital of Ireland, is an exciting adventure, especially when arriving by cruise ship. The problem is, you are not arriving on Dublin exactly. You are arriving on a tender at Dun Laoghaire. Here’s how to navigate your way to this bustling city efficiently.
Getting There
Tender to Shore
Tender Port: Your ship anchors offshore, requiring a tender ride to the small town of Dun Laoghaire, which takes about 20 minutes.
Walking to the Train Station: After arriving, expect a 10 to 15-minute walk to the train station through a terminal and shaded tunnel. Keep an umbrella handy for unpredictable weather!
Train to Dublin
Train Ride: The train to Dublin takes roughly 30 minutes and costs about €5 for a round trip. It’s clean and offers picturesque views along the way.
Exploring Dublin
Hop On Hop Off Bus
We booked a DoDublin hop-on hop-off bus in advance, which included train tickets. Our son traveled for free, but we still needed a train ticket for him. One thing to note: local TFI (Transport for Ireland) buses look quite similar to the hop-on hop-off buses, so pay attention!
The tour starts at O’Connell Street. At the end of the route, everyone must leave the bus before it restarts at the first stop. The full route has 25 stops and takes about two hours.
A few things to keep in mind:
Seat comfort varies—it’s tighter downstairs, but the upper deck is roomier.
Popular stops get crowded, so if you find a good seat, consider staying put for a full circuit before hopping off.
The best views? Sit in the front row on the top deck.
Expect some waiting—buses often get delayed by traffic and passengers negotiating with drivers. Scheduled stop times are more like estimates.
Tips:
Use the restroom before leaving the platform, as facilities are located only on the ticketed track side.
Tips:
There are 2 kinds of HOHO bus on schedule.
One with live commentary from the drivers who are often sharp, knowledgeable and often quite funny.
Another one that comes with disposable earbud with recorded commentary available in various languages.
Making the Most of Your Visit
Given the time constraints, aim for a full rotation on the bus, then choose one area to explore. We opted for a casual stroll and lunch at a local pub—sometimes, simplicity is best! While we did not get to visit Guinness brewery, we get to try their 0 alcohol product nevertheless.
Time Management
Travel Time: Account for about one hour each way for the tender and train, plus the two hours for the bus tour.
Return Planning: We nearly missed our train back, so plan to return early, especially since many passengers will be heading back to the ship around the same time.
Final Thought
Dublin is a fantastic city, absolutely worth visiting. But for cruise passengers, it’s a tight schedule. The best advice? Be the early bird. Pick one or two must-see places and give yourself extra time to get back.
Would we do it again? Absolutely. Just with a little more time and maybe another pint of Guinness. Cheers to Dublin!
