Essential tips on how to get to Dublin city center from Dublin Airport. Connections between the airport and Dublin city center. Shuttles, buses and taxis.
How to get to Dublin: connections with Dublin airport
Dublin International Airport is located approximately 12 kilometers north of Dublin City , close to a large suburban area called Swords .
With around 23 million passengers passing through each year, this airport is one of the busiest airports in Europe. Dublin Airport is served by several airlines, including Air France , British Airways , Bmi , Flybe.com , as well as being the operational headquarters of the Irish national carrier Aer Lingus and the low-cost airline Ryanair .
Connections to and from Dublin Airport: How to get from Dublin Airport to Dublin city center by bus and shuttle
Dublin airport is well connected both with the center of Dublin and with other Irish cities with many bus and shuttle lines.
Find the bus stop outside the arrivals terminal: the different lines will take you directly from the airport to the center of Dublin or to the main neighboring towns. It is usually convenient to buy tickets online before departure.
Airlink express bus
Airlink – also known by its route number, 747 – is an express bus service operated by Dublin Bus , who also operate the city's public bus service. The Airlink is an express service which runs from the airport to Dublin's main bus station, Busaras, then to O'Connell Street in the city center and finally to Heuston, one of Dublin's main railway stations. The 747 buses are frequent, leaving every 15 or 20 minutes, from 5am to 11.30pm (11.20pm on Sundays). See Airlink bus timetables .
Where do you get the Airlink?
The Airlink stops just outside the Terminal 1 exit on the arrivals level (above departures). Look for the bus stop to the left of the arrivals exit.
How much does the Airlink cost?
The Airlink costs 6 euros one way for adults, 10 euros return. The child rate is 3 euros one way and 5 euros return. See the official site for all updated prices . Unlike the regular Dublin Bus service, the driver gives change here. The Leap Visitor Card , which allows unlimited travel in the city for 72 hours (3 days) and costs €19.50 in the airport shop, can also be used on Airlink shuttles .
What is the Airlink travel time?
It takes Airlink 40 minutes to get from the airport to O'Connell Street , although sometimes it takes less. The Airlink isn't always faster than the regular bus, but it has one major advantage during busy periods: it passes through the Dublin Port Tunnel . This underground tunnel connects the city center with the motorway near the airport, avoiding some of the traffic.
Recently the 757 bus has also been added which connects the south part of Dublin with the airport.
Aircoach express bus
Aircoach 24-hour bus service which takes passengers from the airport to Dublin city center and other parts of the southern suburbs of the city, as well as other cities in Ireland. The Aircoach that crosses the center of Dublin is the number 700 : it leaves every 15 minutes between 15.15 and 23.55. It leaves after 30 minutes until 3.15. See Aircoach timetables and routes .
Where do you get the Aircoach?
The Aircoach stops just outside the exit of Terminal 1, arrivals level (above departures). Look for the bus stop on the left as you come out of arrivals. It also departs from just outside the main door on the departures level of Terminal 2.
How long does it take for Aircoach to reach Dublin city centre?
The official journey time for the Aircoach to the city center is 25 minutes, but can increase up to 45 minutes in heavy traffic.
How much does the Aircoach cost?
The adult fare from the airport to Dublin city center (O'Connell Street) on the Aircoach is 7 euros. A return ticket is 12 euros, while children pay 4 euros. It is also possible to buy the slightly cheaper tickets online in advance, on the official website .
The difference in price between the two companies is mainly due to the level of comfort offered during the journey: the Airlink buses, being city buses, are a little more uncomfortable, but more convenient.
Public buses (Dublin Bus)
The main users of the public bus service (known as Dublin Bus ), which connects Dublin Airport to the city centre , are commuters from the Swords area and airport workers. Many tourists don't know that the Dublin Bus is the cheapest option , or they prefer to take an express coach, which is a little faster. Dublin buses are easy to recognize when arriving at the airport: they are double-decker buses, usually yellow with blue stripes on the bottom.
The main Dublin bus that serves the airport is the number 41 . This bus stops at the airport's Terminal 1 every 10 minutes during the busiest times of the day and every 30 minutes during peak times. On weekends, the service is poorer. Here is the official timetable for Dublin Bus 41 . O'Connell Street, the main road into Dublin city center is the penultimate stop, where most passengers alight. Lower Abbey Street (adjacent to O'Connell) is the final stop.
Make sure you have the 41 signposted Lwr Abbey St. Via Aerfort as shown above. Aerfort means airport in Irish (I have no idea why Irish and English are mixed together!). Don't take the 41 bus which says 'Swords Manor via Aerfort' which goes in the opposite direction - ask the driver if the bus goes to the city center and he will tell you if you are on the wrong bus.
The other high-frequency Dublin Bus that serves the airport is number 16 . This route stops in the city center (O'Connell Street), crosses the River Liffey and continues through the south side suburbs, finally stopping at Kingston/Ballinteer in south County Dublin. Here is the official timetable for Dublin Bus 16 .
Where to catch the Dublin Bus?
The Dublin Bus stops just outside the exit for Terminal 1 arrivals, just out on the left.
How much does the Dublin Bus cost?
The Dublin Bus is undoubtedly the cheapest way to get to the city center from Dublin Airport. A single fare from Dublin Airport to the city center costs €3.30. You can pay the driver when you get on the bus but you must have the correct coins as he will not be able to give you any change back. Or you can travel with the Leap Card.
What is the journey time of the Dublin Bus?
The journey time of the Dublin Bus 41 from the airport to Dublin city center is approximately 40 minutes. At busiest times (morning and afternoon commuter ride) it can take up to 1 hour. Bus 41 makes more stops en route than the Airlink and Aircoach express shuttle services. After 18.30, the traffic decreases considerably and the 41 bus can get you from the airport to the city center in 30 minutes or less.
Getting to Dublin by Taxi from Dublin Airport
It is easy to get a taxi from Dublin Airport . The taxi stand is located just outside the Arrivals hall of Terminal 1. Look to the right as you exit Arrivals. The price of a taxi to reach the center of Dublin is around 25-30 euros , and it takes around 30 minutes depending on the traffic. Learn more about Irish regulated taxi fares and extras .
Most taxis can take up to four passengers. If you are four passengers, a taxi can be a cheap way to get to Dublin city centre, especially if you have to go to a specific place and you have luggage.
Getting to Dublin by Car: Road connections from Dublin Airport
Dublin city center can be reached by car from the airport via the M50 and M1 motorways. Remember that parking of vehicles along the road near the airport entrances is prohibited, under penalty of forced removal. You can use the paid parking lots or return the rental car directly in the parking areas of the rental companies.
Car rental at Dublin Airport
Inside the arrivals terminal are the offices of the main car hire companies in Dublin . Among these are: Argus , Avis , Budget , Dan Dooley , Enterprise , Europcar , Hertz , National , Thrifty .
Travel on public transport in Dublin with the Leap Visitor Card
If you plan to use public transport also during your stay, you can buy the Leap Visitor Card , a prepaid ticket that allows you to travel around the city without limits for 72 hours (3 days) after the first use on the entire public transport network : Bus (Dublin Bus and Airlink), Metro (DART) and Tram (LUAS).
You can buy a Leap Visitor Card for just €19.50 from the SPAR shop located in the arrivals hall at Terminal 1 or Terminal 2, or at the travel information desk in Terminal 1. Note: The Leap Visitor Card is different from the standard Leap Card used by Dublin's daily commuters. A standard Leap card costs 5 euros and has a prepaid balance that must be loaded onto it. Only the airport sells the Leap Visitor Card.
