Only one free day? · Day trip from Dublin
Howth or Malahide Castle?
| Field | Howth | Malahide Castle |
|---|---|---|
| Travel time | 24 min | 20 min by commuter train, about hourly; 25 min on the DART |
| Transport | DART | DART |
| Self-guided | € 4 | € 21.50 |
| Tour | € 50 | – |
| Time needed | 3–5 h | 3.50–5 h |
| Closed | – | None listed; the official site says open daily 09:30-17:30 |
| Best time | Any dry day; mornings and weekdays are quieter | Any day, rain included; open 09:30-17:30 |
| Verdict | Worth half a day | Worth half a day |
Our verdict
Howth if it is dry, Malahide if not.
Both are half days on the DART from Connolly, 24 minutes to Howth and 25 to Malahide, at € 2.00 each way with Leap. Pick Howth on a dry day: the cliff walk is free, so the whole trip costs € 4. Malahide costs € 21.50 with the € 17.50 castle tour, and the 45-minute visit is indoors. That makes it the better choice in rain or wind, when the Howth path is exposed and muddy. The two sit on different branches that split at Howth Junction, so do not try both in one outing.
Last checked: · Train times from Irish Rail timetables, bus times from St Kevin's Bus; opening days and prices from each attraction's official site.