Dublin Suburbs &
Countryside Tours
Photos:
Tour companies setting out from Dublin City on tours into the countryside.
Whether you are looking for a conventional bus tour, or a small personalized
minibus tour with an off-the-beaten path itinerary, or even a rail tour
to more far-flung destinations, Dublin is the perfect gateway — with
a varied choice of half-day and full-day trips into the countryside.
Head into Dublin's north and south coast suburbs, or south to Co. Wicklow, north
to the Boyne Valley and Newgrange, or even to Belfast.
Choose your
destinations and then pick tours that appeal to you:
Dublin's
South & North Coastal Suburbs
Wicklow - Powerscourt, Glendalough, Avoca/Ballykisssangel
The Boyne Valley - Newgrange, Tara, Monasterboice
Belfast
Railtours
Dublin's South
& North Coastal Suburbs
Dublin
Bay & Castle Tour Visiting Malahide Castle – An afternoon
tour of north County Dublin including a admission and a guided tour at
Malahide Castle and a stop of Howth summit for breathtaking views of Dublin
Bay. 5 hours. Picks up from Gresham Hotel and Lr. Grafton St. Daily
in March-Dec. except Oct. 25, Dec. 20-31 and March 17; and on weekends
only in Jan.-Feb. Book in advance at the Dublin Tourism Office. Operated
by Irish City Tours/Gray Line, 33 Bachelor's Walk, Dublin 1; tel. 01-872-9010; web site: www.irishcitytours.com
North Coast & Castle Tour — Dublin's north coastline including Malahide, Howth, Howth Head, Dublin Bay and a admission to Malahide Castle. 3 hrs. Double-decker bus. Daily, year-round, departs at 10am. Buy tickets at Dublin Tourism Centre or Dublin Bus, 59 Upr. O'Connell St., Dublin 1; tel. 01-873-4222; web site www.DublinBus.ie
South Coast & Gardens Tour — Dublin's south coastline including Dun Laoghaire, Sandycove, the Vico Road along Killiney Bay, Bray, Greystones, and Enniskerry with a visit to Powerscourt Gardens. 3 hrs., 45 mins. Double-decker bus. Daily, year-round at 11am. Buy tickets at Dublin Tourism Centre or Dublin Bus, 59 Upr. O'Connell St., Dublin 1; tel. 01-873-4222; web site www.DublinBus.ie
Wicklow - Powerscourt,
Glendalough, Avoca - Ballykisssangel
Glendalough, Powerscourt Gardens & Wicklow Panorama — Bus Eireann, Ireland's national bus company, operates this full-day tour of the "Garden of Ireland" with a scenic drive through the mountains, a guided tour of Glendalough and admision to Powerscourt Gardens. 7 hrs. Departs Busaras/Central Bus Station, Store St., Dublin 1. Operates at 10:30 a.m. daily from mid-April though Oct.; and on Wed., Fri. & Sun. in mid-Jan. to mid-April and in Nov. through mid-Dec. Reservations recommended; buy tickets at Busaras or the Dublin Tourism Office. For info, contact Bus Eireann, Store St., Dublin 1; tel. 01-836-6111; web site www.buseireann.ie
Pub Tours of Co. Wicklow/Dublin Mountains – Do a pub crawl at a half-dozen famous Irish pubs – and leave the driving to someone else. A company called “Rural Pub Tours” seeks to provide visitors to Dublin with “a real country pub experience,” by operating late-afternoon/evening tours into the Dublin Mountains and County Wicklow, visiting local pubs along the way. The route includes two pubs in the Dublin Mountains – the Blue Light Pub and Johnnie Fox’s Pub, followed by some of County Wicklow’s star pubs – such as Fitzgerald’s Bar in Avoca, made famous in the TV show, Ballykissangel; plus Glenmallure Lodge and the Snug Bar at Redcross. 9 hours including dinner, two drinks, live music and dancing. Tours run March – October, departing on Saturdays, 3 p.m. from Nassau St. Note: a shorter tour (visiting three country pubs in the Dublin Mountains) is also planned; and tours on other days may be available in 2009, so check in advance. For reservations and more information: Shane O’Donoghue, Rural Pub Tours, tel. 01-495-8111 and 087-932-4036; or book online at www.ruraltours.ie
Wicklow & Glendalough — This full day tour, conducted via a 14-seater minibus, travels off the beaten track to some places that large coaches cannot go. The route includes lakes, waterfalls, valleys, by-roads, as well as the Dublin Mountains, Sally Gap, Glendalough, and the filming locations for "Braveheart" and "Ballykissangel." 8 hrs. Departs daily at 9:45am from Dublin Tourism Office. Book in advance at the Dublin Tourism Office or contact Over the Top Tours, tel. 01-838-6128 or 087-259-3467; and web site: www.overthetoptours.com
Wicklow Mountain Adventure – Join in a small group (24 passengers maximum), and see the “other side” of Co. Wicklow, with a jaunt through the rugged land of Wicklow National Park including Lough Tay, Sally Gap, Glenmacnass Waterfall, Blessington Lakes and film locations for Braveheart, Excalibur, Michael Collins, Reign of Fire and Ballykissangel . Operated May-Sept on Tues, Thurs & Fri and Oct-April on Tues.-Sun. Book at the Dublin Tourism Office or contact Day Tours Unplugged, tel. 01-834-0941; web site: www.daytoursunplugged.ie
The
Wicklow Mountains, Valleys, Lakes Tour Visiting Russborough House
— A full-day tour of Co. Wicklow including Glendalough with guided tour,
a drive through the Wickow Gap and Blessington Lakes, and visits to Avoca
Handweavers and Russborough House. 7 hrs. Picks up from 33 Bachelor's
Walk and College Green. April-Oct., Sun. only at 10:10am. Buy tickets
in advance from Irish City Tours Desk at Dublin Tourism Centre. For
info: contact Irish City Tours/Gray Line, 33 Bachelor's Walk, Dublin 1,
tel. 01-872-9010; and
web site: www.irishcitytours.com.
Wild Wicklow Tour — This tour, conducted via small
Mercedes bus and led by a well-versed and entertaining guide, aims to
present the "wild" or surprising side of Wicklow including a
coastal tour, Glendalough, Avoca, Sally Gap (with mountain lakes, wild
heather, and barren boglands). 8hrs. 30 mins. Departs from Dublin Tourism
Office and major city hotels. Daily, year-round at 9am. Advance booking
required. For bookings and info, contact Discover
Dublin, 20 Lr. Stephen St., Dublin 2; tel. 01-478-0193; web site www.wildwicklow.ie.
The Boyne Valley
- Newgrange, Tara, Monasterboice
Newgrange & Boyne Valley — Bus Eireann, Ireland's national bus company, operates this full-day tour to County Meath with a scenic drive through the Boyne Valley, a guided tour of Newgrange, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a visit to the Bru na Boinne Heritage Centre. 8 hrs. Departs Busaras/Central Bus Station, Store St., Dublin 1. Operates daily at 10am except Fri. May-Sept.; and on Thurs. & Sat. during Feb.-April, Oct. through mid-Dec. (Note: in May-Sept., on Tues., Thurs. & Sat, this tour operates via Hill of Tara and Trim; on Mon., Wed. & Sat, it goes via Monasterboice and Mellifont). Reservations recommended; buy tickets at Busaras or the Dublin Tourism Office. For info, contact Bus Eireann, Store St., Dublin 1; tel. 01-836-6111; web site www.buseireann.ie.
Newgrange
Tour & Boyne Valley Drive Visiting the Burial Chamber at Bru na Boinne
— Half-day tour to the Boyne Valley with visits to the Bru na
Boinne Heritage Centre and a guided tour of Newgrange, the oldest and
largest burial chamber in Europe. 6 hrs. April-Oct. except Oct. 25, departs
Mon., Tues., Fri. and Sat. at 10am. All passengers for this tour must
go to Gray Line Desk 1, Dublin Tourism Centre, 20 minutes prior to departure.
Buy tickets in advance from Irish City Tours Desk at Dublin Tourism Centre.
For info: contact Irish City Tours/Gray Line, 33 Bachelor's Walk,
Dublin 1, tel. 01-872-9010; and web site:
www.irishcitytours.com
Newgrange
& Hill of Tara
— Mary Gibbons and her associates conduct small, personalized tours(maximum:
20 passengers) to Newgrange via minibus with a detailed commentary
and interior visit to the historic site, as well as visits to the River
Boyne, Hill of Tara, and village of Slane. 6-7 hrs. Mon.-Fri., departing
at 10:15 a.m. from the Dublin Tourism Office and also from some hotels.
Advance booking required. To book, visit the Dublin Tourism Office or
contact Mary Gibbons Tours, tel. 01-283-9973; web site: www.newgrangetours.com.
Belfast
Belfast Day Tour — This full-day tour to Belfast
is geared for backpackers and young travelers, using a bright green "Paddywagon"
minibus. The day includes the drive to/from Belfast and the following
activities in Belfast: historic walking tour, a Black Taxi tour to see
the political wall murals and alternative sights of the city, and two
hours of free time in Belfast to sightsee or shop on your own. Departs
from the Paddywagon Tour Office and from main city hotels. Operates
at 8 am Sat. & Sun. year-round; and on Tues. & Thurs in May-Sept.
11 hrs. Reservations required; buy tickets at the Paddywagon
Tours Office, 17 Westmoreland St., Dublin 2; tel. 01-672-6007; e-mailweb
site www.paddywagontours.com.
Railtours — With Dublin as your base, you can
visit all parts of Ireland. Tours by train and bus including Cork and Blarney; Cliffs of Moher, Bunratty, Burren and Galway Bay; Giant’s Causeway; Ring of Kerry; Connemara and Galway Bay; Aran Islands; Waterford City and Kilkenny. Two and three-days tours are also offered. Duration of tours and schedules vary; departures daily except Sundays and bank holidays. Advance booking
required. Buy tickets at Dublin Tourism Centre or contact Railtours, tel. 01-856-0045;
web site www.railtoursireland.com.
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