Howth Day Trip from Dublin
Dublin, Ireland
Rating: 
Trip Type: Day Trips
Duration: 6 hours
People say you haven’t seen the real Ireland until you’ve left Dublin and seen the countryside. This 6-hour guided day trip to the peninsula of Howth will do just that. After a short train ride, stroll around the area along seaside cliffs looking at ancient Viking ruins, Howth Castle, St Mary’s Abbey, Neolithic standing stones, 18th-century coastal defenses and W.B. Yeats’ boyhood home.
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People say you haven’t seen the real Ireland until you’ve left Dublin and seen the countryside. This 6-hour guided day trip to the peninsula of Howth will do just that. After a short train ride, stroll around the area along seaside cliffs looking at ancient Viking ruins, Howth Castle, St Mary’s Abbey, Neolithic standing stones, 18th-century coastal defenses and W.B. Yeats’ boyhood home.Meet your guide in central Dublin to begin your 6-hour tour. After a 25-minute train ride, arrive in Howth. Stroll the hilly landscape, taking in the fresh sea air and walking along the cliffs. Let your guide regale you with historical tales of the area, particularly about the Vikings who first arrived in the 9th century.
Hear how the name Howth is possibly derived from hǫfuð, an ancient Norse word for ‘head,’ which makes sense as this peninsula is also called Howth Head and was inhabited by Vikings centuries ago. It is home to one of Ireland’s oldest structures, the imposing Howth Castle. Lovers of Irish literature might recall it is the spot where Leopold Bloom proposed to Molly in James Joyce’s novel Ulysses.
On clear days, Howth offers a great view of Dublin and, if you squint, you can sometimes see as far as Northern Ireland and Wales. The area also boasts Howth Castle, one of the oldest occupied buildings in all of Ireland. Learn about its intriguing history and its place in Irish culture as you soak up the views. Lighthouses, Viking and medieval ruins, remnants from the Neolithic age and W.B. Yeats’ boyhood home are just a few of the other sights you may see.
When you’ve built up a hunger, stop into the Summit restaurant for a traditional Howth seafood meal, which is discounted for your tour group (or feel free to bring your own lunch, if you wish).
At the end of the tour, simply hop back on the train for Dublin. Or, if you’re smitten with the real Ireland, feel free to stay a bit longer and sip a pint of beer in one of the great pubs that sprinkle the area.
Hear how the name Howth is possibly derived from hǫfuð, an ancient Norse word for ‘head,’ which makes sense as this peninsula is also called Howth Head and was inhabited by Vikings centuries ago. It is home to one of Ireland’s oldest structures, the imposing Howth Castle. Lovers of Irish literature might recall it is the spot where Leopold Bloom proposed to Molly in James Joyce’s novel Ulysses.
On clear days, Howth offers a great view of Dublin and, if you squint, you can sometimes see as far as Northern Ireland and Wales. The area also boasts Howth Castle, one of the oldest occupied buildings in all of Ireland. Learn about its intriguing history and its place in Irish culture as you soak up the views. Lighthouses, Viking and medieval ruins, remnants from the Neolithic age and W.B. Yeats’ boyhood home are just a few of the other sights you may see.
When you’ve built up a hunger, stop into the Summit restaurant for a traditional Howth seafood meal, which is discounted for your tour group (or feel free to bring your own lunch, if you wish).
At the end of the tour, simply hop back on the train for Dublin. Or, if you’re smitten with the real Ireland, feel free to stay a bit longer and sip a pint of beer in one of the great pubs that sprinkle the area.
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