How to Get from the Dublin Airport to Dublin City Center

Last updated on January 11th, 2025 at 04:08 pm

Landing in Dublin International Airport marks the start of your great Irish adventure and if it’s your first time in Ireland you’re probably going to kick it off with a day or two in Dublin. Luckily, getting from the Dublin Airport to the city center is incredibly easy as there are a number of Dublin Airport transportation options to suit your budget and time frame. In this post we are going to dive into the best way to get from Dublin Airport to Dublin city centre, but first a few quick tips for arriving in Dublin Airport. 

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Which Dublin Airport Terminal Will You Arrive in?

There are two airport terminals in the Dublin airport, super simply named, T1 and T2. Terminal 2 is the International Terminal so If you’re arriving from overseas you’ll likely arrive in T2 and go through passport control there. 

Airlines that land at Terminal 2 are: Aer Lingus, American Airlines, Delta, and Emirates, to name a few.

Terminal 1 is the “Domestic” terminal. Most European airlines will land at T1 including British Airways, Air Canada, Cathay Pacific, and Ryanair among many others. 

You can find which terminal you’ll arrive in at this website. 

There are no public transportation options available in between terminals, but that’s OK, because it’s only a 5-minute walk from Terminal 2 to Terminal 1.

How Far is Dublin Airport from the City Center?

The distance from Dublin Airport to Dublin is 6 miles or 12 km. Your journey time from the airport to Dublin city center is roughly 20-30 minutes, depending on your Dublin Airport transport choice, traffic, and your ultimate destination in Dublin. 

How to Get from Dublin Airport to the City Center

Public Transport from Dublin Airport to the City Center

My recommendation for Dublin Airport transport to the city center is to take one of the many bus services from Dublin Airport. This is the cheapest way to get from the airport to the city center!

I’ve never rented a car in Ireland – which means I’ve taken multiple buses from Dublin Airport to various destinations in the country, including my favorite Irish city – Galway and I have zero complaints about Ireland’s bus services.

Airlink provides two bus services from the airport to the city: Dublin Express and Aircoach. 

I’ve personally taken both and have found them convenient, comfortable, and cost-efficient. Plus, they usually have WiFi onboard and charging ports for my phone – essentials after a long haul flight!

I’ll discuss each bus service and route below, but to choose the best route option for you, plot your Dublin accommodation on the map and see which stop is closest. 

If you’re still unsure, you can ask your bus driver which stop is best!

Dublin Express from Dublin Airport to Dublin City Center

The Dublin Express is my preferred bus from Dublin Airport to central Dublin because it’s super easy to navigate, it’s fast, and the bus drivers are super helpful in making sure you get off at the right stop.

There are two Dublin Express routes that will take you to the city center: 782 and 784.

Route 782 (Heuston Station Route) has popular bus stops at George’s Quay, Temple Bar, Heuston Station, Smithfield & Jameson Distillery, Custom House Quay (near Connolly Train Station). 

Route 784 (Camden/Harcourt Street Route) serves the 3 Arena, North Wall Quay, Trinity College, Pearse Station and Merrion Square (among others). 

Dublin Express buses are especially excellent because it has stops at other Dublin transportation hubs such as the Heuston Train Station and DART. So if you’re not staying in Dublin, but need to connect to a train at Heuston Station, the Dublin Express will get you to your connection. 

The Dublin Express stop at the Dublin Airport is located outside of both T1 and T2 arrivals and it operates almost 24/7 with departures every 10 minutes during peak travel times.

You can purchase a one-way ticket for €9 or a return ticket for €11. 

Book your Dublin Express bus tickets here.

Combine your airport transfer with the DoDublin Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour! 

Aircoach Bus from Dublin Airport to Dublin City Center

The Aircoach service is another great option for transport from Dublin Airport to Dublin as they offer express services between the airport and the city. This means there are fewer stops between you and your first pint of Guinness.

The Dublin Airport to City Center bus route is #700 and it departs every 15 minutes from T2 arrivals. 

The Dublin Aircoach makes stops at O’Connell Street near the Riu Gresham Hotel, at O’Connell Bridge, or on Kildare Street near St. Stephen’s Green (among others). The return to the airport departs from St. Stephen’s Green. 

A return Aircoach ticket costs €16 and a single ticket costs €10.

Book your Aircoach tickets here.

Ride the Dublin Airport Train to the City Center

Just kidding – there is no Dublin Airport train. If you need access to the train station, you can either take a taxi to the train station or use Dublin Express bus route 782 to Connolly or Heuston Stations. 

Take a Taxi from Dublin Airport to the City Center

If you’re looking for door to door convenience after a long international flight, then hop in a taxi from the Dublin airport to the city. 

You’ll find taxi ranks with licensed taxis located outside of both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. 

The cost of a taxi from Dublin Airport to the city center is approximately €25-30 depending on traffic conditions at the time of day you arrive. 

Taxi drivers in Dublin are required to turn on their meter and provide a printed receipt. 

There will be a taxi attendant at either stand to answer any questions about the distance to your destination and the approximate cost of your taxi fare at the time of your arrival. 

On my recent visit to Dublin during Christmas I decided to take a taxi instead of the bus to and from the city. It was super convenient and allowed me to chat with the driver about his favorite places in Dublin. But it was fairly expensive so I’m not sure I’d do it again.

Also, the journey time seemed a bit longer than the bus because we had to deal with rush hour traffic in the heart of Dublin to get to my hotel. I may have preferred to walk the extra blocks from the bus stop to avoid that.

But this is all personal preference and travel style! 

Hire a Private Transfer

If you’d like a personalized greeting and a stress free journey from the airport to your hotel, consider hiring a private transfer. DoDublin offers private chauffeur services where you’re treated like a real MVP!

You do need to book this well in advance and it will cost at least €135 through DoDublin. But it would be a nice start to your time in Dublin! If it’s for an extra special occasion they’ll even arrange to have champagne and flowers!

There are some cheaper private transfers on GetYourGuide.

Book your private transfer here!

Dublin Airport Shuttle Services

Just like the train, there is no shuttle bus from Dublin Airport to the city. However, if you arrive late and are staying in one of the Dublin Airport hotels, Maldron or Raddison, for some rest before your Ireland itinerary kicks off, there is a shuttle bus located at T1 and T2 arrivals to take you from the airport to your hotel. 

Make Your Ireland Transportation Easier with the Leap Card

The Leap Visitor Card is a convenient card that allows unlimited travel on public transportation in Dublin and surrounding areas. Want to take a day trip to Howth? Your leap card will pay for your DART ride. Are your feet tired of walking around Dublin’s cobblestone streets? Hop on the LUAS tram to take your back to your hostel with the Leap Card. It also includes transport on the Airlink bus from Dublin Airport to the city center – and back!

Purchase a card for the length of your stay in Dublin or top up as you go as this card can also be used throughout the country. Initial prices and top up prices are below. You can add value to your Visitor Card up to 5 times.

• 1 day (24 hours) – €8.00
• 3 days (72 hours) – €16.00
• 7 days (168 hours) – €32.00

Purchase your Leap Visitor Card at the Dublin Airport from the Spar located outside of T2 arrivals or the Bus & Travel Information Desk at T1 Arrivals. You can also purchase a leap card form various locations in Dublin city center such as Visit Dublin Centre and Discover Ireland Centre.

What Dublin Airport Transportation Option Should You Choose?

The best option for travel between the airport and Dublin city will not be the same for everyone.

The two most important things to consider when deciding how to get from Dublin Airport to the city center are budget and time. If you’re on a tight budget, then taking the bus is the way to go. If the cost of a taxi from Dublin airport to city center won’t break the bank, then enjoy the door to door convenience.

If you’re only in Dublin for one day, you might want to store your luggage at the airport and hop in a taxi so you can make the most of your time in Dublin. Or if you have more time then a leisurely bus ride to the city center may be right up your alley. 

That being said, even if I had the money to splurge on a taxi, I’d still take the bus and save the money for a good meal or other Irish adventure. I will, however, recommend that you take a taxi if you have a ton of luggage as being on a bus with more than one large suitcase or backpack is just a pain!

No matter how you choose to get to Dublin city center from Dublin Airport, you’re guaranteed to have a fantastic time in Ireland’s capital city!

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