Getting to Howth
How to reach Howth by DART, bus, taxi, car, or bicycle.
DART Train
The easiest way to reach Howth from Dublin. Howth is the northern terminus of one DART line, so you can't miss your stop. Trains run from Dublin Connolly, Tara Street, and Pearse stations.
- From
- Dublin Connolly Station
- Duration
- 28-35 minutes
- Frequency
- Every 10-20 minutes (peak), every 20-30 minutes (off-peak)
- Fare
- Adult single €2 (Leap Card, TFI 90-minute fare since 28 April 2025); cash tickets are higher and being phased out
- First Train
- ~05:30 from Connolly (check timetable for exact times)
- Last Train
- ~23:30 from Connolly (Fri/Sat later services)
Tips
- •Buy a Leap Card before your trip. It's cheaper than single tickets and works on DART, buses, and Luas.
- •Sit on the left side of the train heading to Howth for sea views along the coast from Clontarf onwards.
- •Howth is the last stop, so you can relax and not worry about missing it.
🚂 DART from Howth
All trains towards Dublin
Howth is a DART terminus. Updates every minute
Bus
Dublin Bus route H3 runs from Lower Abbey Street through Fairview and Raheny to Howth Summit. It replaced the old Route 31 as part of BusConnects. Slower than the DART but useful if you're coming from areas not on the DART line.
- From
- Lower Abbey Street, Dublin
- Duration
- About 60 minutes (depending on traffic)
- Route
- Route H3 (part of the H-Spine, BusConnects)
- Fare
- Adult single ~€2.00 (Leap Card)
Tips
- •The bus can be slow in rush hour traffic. The DART is faster and more reliable.
- •Leap Card fares are significantly cheaper than cash on Dublin Bus.
- •The H3 runs all the way to Howth Summit, handy if you want to start the cliff walk from the top.
- •The H1 and H2 routes serve Baldoyle and Sutton if you need those areas.
Taxi
A taxi from Dublin city centre to Howth costs roughly €25-35. From Dublin Airport it's around €30-40. Book via an app for a fixed fare estimate, or hail one at the many taxi ranks in the city.
- From City
- ~€25-35 from Dublin city centre
- From Airport
- ~€30-40 from Dublin Airport
- Tip
- Airport taxis have fixed fare zones. Confirm the price before you get in.
Tips
- •FreeNow and Lynk are the two main taxi apps in Dublin. Both show fare estimates upfront.
- •There's no permanent taxi rank in Howth. Book via app or call for return trips.
- •Uber operates in Dublin but uses licensed taxi drivers, same as FreeNow.
Useful Links
Driving
Howth is about 30 minutes from Dublin city centre and 20 minutes from Dublin Airport via the M1/M50. Parking is free but limited on sunny weekends.
- From City
- ~30 minutes from Dublin city centre (via Clontarf Road or M1)
- From Airport
- ~20 minutes from Dublin Airport (M1 south, exit at Howth)
- Parking
- Free parking near the harbour, DART station, and village streets
Tips
- •Arrive before 10am on summer weekends. Harbour parking fills fast.
- •The DART station car park has spaces, but it's mainly for commuters on weekdays.
- •If harbour parking is full, try the residential streets south of the village.
Useful Links
Cycling
There's a pleasant cycle route from Dublin city centre along the coast road through Clontarf and Sutton to Howth. It's mostly flat until the final approach. About 16km from O'Connell Bridge.
- Distance
- ~16km from Dublin city centre
- Duration
- 45-60 minutes cycling
- Route
- Coastal route via Clontarf, Bull Island, Sutton
- Terrain
- Mostly flat, slight climb into Howth village
Tips
- •The Clontarf to Sutton coastal road is one of the best urban cycle routes in Dublin.
- •Dublin Bikes stations don't extend to Howth, but Bleeper e-bikes sometimes do.
- •Bring a lock. There are bike racks near the DART station and harbour.
Useful Links
From the Airport
Live options for reaching the village from the nearest airports. Times and fares are a guide and can change with traffic or operator schedules.
Dublin AirportDUB
20 km away- Duration
- 20-25 minutes
- Cost
- €30-40
Airport taxi fares are zoned. Confirm the fare before leaving, or book via FreeNow for an upfront price.
- Duration
- 20 minutes
- Cost
- Car hire from ~€35/day
M1 south, exit for Howth via Clontarf or Sutton. Free parking near the harbour and DART station.
Operator: Car hire desks in airport arrivals
- Duration
- 60-70 minutes
- Cost
- ~€3.90 with Leap Card (TFI 90-minute fare across Zone 1 and Zone 2 since 28 April 2025)
Route 102 runs Dublin Airport to Sutton (about 35 minutes). Change at Sutton for the DART (4 minutes to Howth) or the H3 bus to Howth Summit.
Operator: Go-Ahead Ireland
EV & Essentials
Practical infrastructure on the ground: charging, water, and accessibility facilities worth knowing about before you arrive.
EV Charging
ESB ecars rapid charger at SuperValu Sutton
ESB ecars · Rapid (150 kW + 100 kW CCS, 50 kW CHAdeMO) · 3 stalls · €0.27/kWh PAYG, €0.23/kWh with ESB ecars membership
Howth Road, Sutton, Dublin 13. Closest rapid charger to Howth village; about 5 minutes by car from the harbour. Located in the SuperValu car park at Sutton Cross. Verified 2026-04-28 against esb.ie/ecars charge-point map.. CCS, CHAdeMO
Water Refill
Howth Village Bottle Filling Station
Junction of Harbour Road and Abbey Road, Howth · outdoor
Contactless Ecofil bottle filling station operated by Fingal County Council, free to use during daylight hours. Part of the 2020 Fingal rollout of Europe's first contactless filling stations. Verified 2026-04-28 against fingal.ie.
Accessibility Facilities
Howth Harbour Public Toilets
Accessible toilet · East Pier, Howth Harbour
Accessible stall available during daylight hours. Flat tarmac approach from the harbour car park.
Howth DART Station
Ramp access · Howth DART Station, Harbour Road
Step-free access throughout the station. All DART trains have wheelchair spaces; staff can assist with boarding if requested in advance via Iarnrod Eireann.
Leap Card
The Leap Card is Dublin's reusable transport card. It works on DART, Dublin Bus, Luas (tram), and commuter rail. Fares are 20-30% cheaper than cash tickets, and you can buy one at any Spar, Centra, or Londis shop.
- Cost
- €5 for the card + credit top-up
- Savings
- 20-30% cheaper than single cash tickets
- Where To Get
- Spar, Centra, Londis, DART stations, or online
- Visitor Option
- Leap Visitor Card: €8 (24hr) / €16 (72hr) unlimited travel
Parking
Parking options in and around Howth. On busy weekends, arriving early or taking the DART is recommended.
Howth Harbour Car Park
€2/hour, max €10/day. Fills up by 10am on summer weekends. Arrive early or take the DART.
DART Station Car Park
Small, usually full by 9am on weekdays (commuters). Better availability on weekends.
Planning the wider trip?
Our country-level primer covers national rail, intercity buses, airports, the Leap Card, and whether you actually need a hire car for your trip around Ireland.
Getting Around Ireland →Top Tip
The DART is the best way to get to Howth. You arrive right in the village centre, there’s no parking hassle, and you can enjoy a meal and a drink without worrying about driving home.