Getting to Westport
How to reach Westport by InterCity train, bus, or car.
Train
Westport is the western terminus of the Dublin Heuston to Westport InterCity line, operated by Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail). The station is on Altamont Street, a short walk from the town centre. Direct services run between Dublin Heuston and Westport several times a day, taking a little over three hours. For Ballina you change at Manulla Junction, the small junction station to the east.
- Station
- Westport Railway Station, Altamont Street, Westport
- Line
- Dublin Heuston to Westport
- Journey Time From Dublin
- approx 3 hours 15 minutes direct
- Frequency
- Several direct services daily from Dublin Heuston
- Interchange
- Change at Manulla Junction for the Ballina branch
Tips
- •Book intercity tickets in advance on irishrail.ie for the best fares.
- •Westport is the end of the line, so you cannot overshoot your stop.
- •Castlebar is one stop back east, about 20 minutes away by train.
- •Check live times and timetables on irishrail.ie before you travel.
🚆 InterCity from Westport
Iarnród Éireann InterCity departures
InterCity service from Westport. Updates every minute.
Bus
Bus Éireann serves Westport with regional routes. Route 440 links Athlone and Westport via Ireland West Airport Knock, Castlebar and on to Achill, which makes it the key public-transport link from the airport. Route 456 connects Galway, Westport and Castlebar. Local Link Mayo runs rural feeder services to villages such as Louisburgh and Newport.
- Operator
- Bus Éireann
- Key Routes
- 440 Athlone to Westport and Achill via Ireland West Airport and Castlebar; 456 Galway to Castlebar via Westport
- Local Services
- Local Link Mayo serves surrounding villages including Louisburgh and Newport
Tips
- •Use the Bus Éireann route planner for live times and connections.
- •Route 440 is the bus that calls at Ireland West Airport Knock.
Driving
Westport sits where the N5 from Dublin and Castlebar meets the N59 to Newport, Mulranny and Achill in one direction and Leenane and Connemara in the other, with the R335 running west to Murrisk and Louisburgh. From Dublin allow around three and a quarter hours; Galway is about an hour and a half south, and Castlebar a 20-minute drive east. There is pay-and-display parking around the town centre.
- From Dublin
- approx 3 hours 15 minutes via N5
- From Galway
- approx 1 hour 30 minutes via N84 and N5
- From Castlebar
- approx 20 minutes via N5
- Main Roads
- N5 (Dublin and Castlebar), N59 (Newport, Achill, Connemara), R335 (Murrisk and Louisburgh)
- Parking
- Pay-and-display on-street and town-centre car parks including the Fairgreen
Tips
- •The R335 west is the road to Murrisk for Croagh Patrick and on to the beaches.
- •Town-centre parking fills up on summer weekends and around Reek Sunday.
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.
Ireland West Airport KnockNOC
60 km away- Duration
- ~45-60m
- Cost
- Taxi or fuel
Ireland West Airport Knock is roughly 60 km southeast of Westport by road via the N5 and N17, around 45 to 60 minutes. Car hire is available at the airport.
- Duration
- ~1h-1h30m
- Cost
- Adult single around €12-15
Bus Éireann route 440 calls directly at Ireland West Airport en route between Athlone and Westport, via Castlebar. Frequency is limited through the day, so check the live timetable.
Operator: Bus Éireann
Dublin AirportDUB
260 km away- Duration
- ~3h45m
- Cost
- Fuel, tolls and parking
The most direct route, via the M4 and N5 across the midlands.
- Duration
- ~3h15m plus airport transfer
- Cost
- Adult single from around €25 advance
Airport bus or Luas to Dublin Heuston, then the direct Westport line train, around three and a quarter hours on the train. Book advance fares for the cheapest tickets.
Operator: Iarnród Éireann
EV & Essentials
Practical infrastructure on the ground: charging, water, and accessibility facilities worth knowing about before you arrive.
EV Charging
Fairgreen Car Park Charger
ESB ecars · DC 50kW · 1 stalls · Pay per kWh via the ESB ecars app
Fairgreen Car Park, Westport, Co. Mayo. Rapid charger in the central Fairgreen car park; serves one DC and one AC connection at a time. Check live availability on the ESB ecars charge-point map.. CCS, CHAdeMO
Leisure Centre Car Park Charger
ESB ecars · DC up to 100kW · 2 stalls · Pay per kWh via the ESB ecars app
Leisure Centre Car Park, off James Street, Westport, Co. Mayo. High-power charging hub at the Leisure Centre car park off James Street. Confirm connector types against the live ESB ecars map before relying on them.. CCS
Accessibility Facilities
Westport Garda Station
The Fairgreen, Westport
Wheelchair-accessible station, open 24 hours.
Leap Card
The TFI Leap Card is Ireland's national reusable transport card. It works on Bus Éireann services around Mayo and on Iarnród Éireann InterCity rail at off-peak fares. The Dublin-style daily and weekly fare caps apply only in the Dublin area; outside it, the card simply gives you cashless travel and off-peak rail discounts. Useful if you are combining the train and bus around the west.
- Cost
- €5 for the card plus top-up
- Savings
- Off-peak rail discounts and cheaper-than-cash bus fares
- Where To Get
- Spar, Centra and other agents around town, or online
- Note
- Dublin-area fare caps do not apply in Mayo; the card is for cashless travel and off-peak rail discounts here
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 InterCity train is the best way to get to Westport. You arrive right in the heart of Westport, there’s no parking hassle, and you can enjoy a meal and a drink without worrying about driving home.