Dublin Airport to City Centre

Dublin Airport doesn't have a train or Luas connection, which surprises some first-time visitors — bus, coach or taxi are the ways into the city centre. Here's what's actually running, without a specific fare or journey time quoted as fact, since both change and this page won't be updated as often as the operators' own sites.

Dublin Express and Aircoach (premium coach)

Two private coach operators run frequent services between the airport and a wide range of city-centre stops, including Temple Bar, Trinity College, O'Connell Street and Heuston Station — useful if your accommodation isn't near O'Connell Street itself. These are the fastest options when traffic is light, since they run limited-stop. Current routes, live timetables and fares are on dublinairport.com and each operator's own site.

Dublin Bus route 41

A standard public bus route connecting the airport to Swords and the city centre, running 24 hours a day. It's the regular public transport fare rather than a premium coach fare, and it's the option a Leap Card works on. It makes more stops than the premium coaches, so it's slower but cheaper.

Taxi

Official taxi ranks are at both terminals. A taxi is the most direct option if you're travelling with a lot of luggage, arriving very late, or going somewhere the buses don't serve well — expect a metered fare rather than a fixed price, and ask the driver for an estimate before you set off if that matters to you.

Buying a ticket

A Leap Card (Ireland's public transport smart card) can be bought at shops in both terminals and works on Dublin Bus route 41. The premium coach operators sell their own tickets online, at the airport, or on board — check each operator's site for current options.

Related reading

• Dublin in One Day
• Dublin on a Budget