5 amazing day trips from Dublin

A 25-minute ride on the Dublin Area Rapid Transit (Dart) train, the picturesque fishing village of Howth is the closest spot for a proper day out. City dwellers often visit this rocky peninsula to relax and recharge. Fresh sea air is the perfect motivation for a coastal hike, though there are also sights like Howth Castle and Gardens, the National Transport Museum, and St. Mary’s Abbey medieval ruins to explore. Hungry? Howth’s waterfront restaurants serve fresh catches straight from the trawlers and dinghies along the pier. Thankfully, the nightlife that made Dublin famous doesn’t fade along the way here.

Eat here: grab fresh fish and chips from Beshoff Bros, a treasured takeaway on Harbour Road. 

Stay here: a short walk to town and easily accessible from the train station, Tara Hall boutique bed and breakfast offers warm welcomes, private terraces and delicious brekkie.

The furthest journey on our list, Galway is well worth the two-and-a-half-hour trip. Bus Éireann, GoBus IE, and the IrishRail all complete the route daily if you prefer not to drive. Affectionately referred to as the most Irish city in Ireland and the city of festivals, coastal Galway is a haven of Celtic music and culture, and feels increasingly international thanks to the uni. Check out the Hall of the Red Earl archaeological site, Druid Lane Theatre, Eyre Square, green-domed Galway Cathedral, and squeeze in a cruise on the River Corrib if you can. 

Eat here: Global seasonal plates wow at the quaint Ard Bia at Nimmos, with terrific views too. 

Stay here: Harbour Hotel in the heart of the city is a bright, boutique hotel with small but comfy rooms.

‘The Marble City’ nestled on the banks of the resplendent River Nore in Ireland’s Ancient East is a mini-metropolis, complete with medieval marvels and artisanal delights. About 100 minutes by bus and 80 by train on the Kildare or Waterford line, it’s a lovely voyage from Dublin centre to the quaint (and crumbling) walls of Kilkenny City. After marvelling at the stained glass in St. Canice’s Cathedral and the Black Abbey, head for a drink at Smithwick Brewery, where holographic men and talking paintings will tell you the full story before you sample the stuff for yourself. Make sure to tour the Anglo-Norman Kilkenny Castle. 

Eat here: Petronella on the Butterslip welcomes diners with music and storytelling events alongside updated twists on classic Irish dishes. 

Stay here: The fab Pembroke Hotel is within walking distance of every attraction.

When Irish weather agrees with you, head for the Wicklow Mountains Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Just set the GPS or board a bus headed to Glendalough, Irish for the ‘valley of two lakes’ (and if you have time, the scenic route over Sally Gap mountain pass via R115 is magical). Glendalough’s dense forests, glimmering glacial lakes, and sweeping, heather-clad moors served as the backdrop in Hollywood blockbusters like Braveheart and P.S. I Love You. Nature lovers will feel at home on the extensive network of trails, and spiritual sightseers can find solace at the mountain’s timeworn religious sites, while high-end spa treatments help everyone unwind.

Eat here: The rustic Wicklow Heather restaurant serves up an extensive range of exquisite yet affordable dishes made from fresh, local produce.

Stay here: BrookLodge and Macreddin Village eco-conscious hotel complex houses 86 chic, country-style bedrooms decked out with bay windows and four-poster or sleigh beds, with a Finnish spa. 

Dublin may be compact, but Belfast is so densely packed you’ll feel like a local after walking around Northern Ireland’s capital in as little as a day. Two and a half hours by train or bus and only two hours by car, Belfast is easy to get to – check out the copper-domed City Hall, modernist MAC Arts Centre, leaning Albert Mermorial Clock, Victorian Grand Opera House, and Hiberno-Romanesque St. Anne’s Cathedral, and leave time for a pint of Guinness at Kelly’s Cellars, an unkempt 18th-century pub on Bank Street, and a cocktail at the Crown Liquor Saloon, a period gin house on Great Victoria Street.

Eat here: OX’s Michelin-starred tasting menu, simple décor and riverside views are worth the hype.

Stay here: Learn about this city’s dark past with a night at Europa Hotel Belfast, which suffered 33 IRA bomb attacks (yet no deaths) during the Troubles.