Dublin Airport
From Dublin Airport into the city centre – express coach, local bus, taxi or car hire compared, with journey times, prices, a Leap Card tip and terminal info.
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Dublin Airport (code DUB) lies about 10 km north of the city centre and is most visitors' first taste of the city. 2025 was a record year, with 36.4 million passengers – up 5.1 percent on the year before. There's still no rail or tram link, but buses run round the clock between the airport and town.
Getting from the airport into town – your options at a glance
Four routes lead from the terminal into the centre, and the right one depends mainly on group size, luggage and time of day.
| Option | Journey time | Price (approx.) | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Express coach (Dublin Express / Aircoach) | 20–35 min | from €6–9 pp | fast via the Dublin Tunnel, plenty of luggage space, card payment only |
| Dublin Bus (route 41) | 45–60 min | €2 with a Leap Card | runs 24/7, many stops, to O'Connell Street |
| Taxi | 20–30 min | €25–35 | taxi rank right outside both terminals, often cheaper than the bus from around 4 people |
| Car hire | – | varies by provider | pick-up in Eastlands, free shuttle |
The express coaches are the best balance of speed and price, the local bus is the cheapest option, and the taxi is the most comfortable – and from about four people it's competitive on price too.
Express coaches – fast through the tunnel
Two private operators share the fast route, both using the Dublin Tunnel to bypass city traffic.
- Dublin Express runs routes 782 and 784 into the city centre (plus the 783 to the suburbs). Coaches run every 10 to 15 minutes, with the first departure around 03:05 and the last around 00:35. Tickets start from €9 online for a one-way trip; the journey into the centre takes about 25 to 35 minutes, with the fastest connection just 14 minutes.
- Aircoach runs routes 700 and 700X (city centre and Leopardstown) around the clock at up to 15-minute intervals, plus route 702 to Dalkey via Ballsbridge, which runs roughly hourly at peak times. Journey time is 20 to 40 minutes, with tickets from €6 online for a one-way trip.
Luggage allowances are generous: Dublin Express allows two medium suitcases or backpacks (each up to 70 x 45 x 30 cm and 20 kg) or one large suitcase (up to 75 x 50 x 32 cm, 20 kg) in the hold at no extra charge, plus one small soft bag (up to 45 x 35 x 20 cm) in the cabin.
Worth knowing: booking online pays off twice over. Online fares are cheaper than paying on the day, you secure a seat, and card payment is the only option on board and at the airport anyway – the express operators don't accept cash.
Dublin Bus – the cheapest option
The regular Dublin Bus routes are fully integrated into the standard fare system, making them the cheapest choice – though they stop at many more places along the way.
- Route 41 runs between Swords/Airport and Lower Abbey Street near O'Connell Street, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. On weekdays it runs roughly every 15 to 20 minutes at peak times, and about every 30 minutes otherwise.
- Route 16 doesn't run around the clock – roughly between 06:00 and 23:00 – and also stops at O'Connell Street in the centre.
Allow 45 to 60 minutes on the local buses, since they make many stops along the way. The cheapest way to pay is with a Leap Card: Dublin Bus routes fall under the TFI 90-minute fare of €2, which lets you continue your journey within that window on other services too. Cash isn't worth it – drivers don't accept notes or give change, and with a Leap Card you pay up to 30 percent less than in cash.
Taxi – comfortable, and good value from four people
There's an official taxi rank outside both terminals. A trip into the centre usually costs around €25 to €35, occasionally up to about €40 depending on the source – it varies with traffic, destination and time of day. The cheaper standard tariff applies Monday to Saturday between 08:00 and 20:00, with a higher per-kilometre tariff at night and on Sundays and public holidays.
For solo travellers the express coach is the clear winner, but the maths change with group size: at roughly €7 to €9 per person for the coach against a flat taxi fare of €25 to €35, the taxi pays off once you're a group of about four – four times €8 already adds up to roughly a taxi fare. Late at night, with heavy luggage or with small children, the door-to-door comfort tips the balance towards the taxi too.
MetroLink – the metro that isn't running yet
If you've read about a fast rail link, it's worth knowing the timeline: the planned airport metro, MetroLink, was still not in operation as of June 2026. Planning permission was granted in October 2025, the construction and procurement phase starts in 2026, and opening isn't expected before the mid-2030s. Once running, it's planned to take about 20 minutes between the airport and the centre. Until then, bus and taxi remain the only ways into town.
Car hire – pick-up in Eastlands
If you're using Dublin as a base for touring the island, you'll find the major car hire firms at the airport. Return centres are located in Eastlands, a few minutes from the terminal and reachable by free shuttle. Staff check the vehicle and fuel level on return. A full-to-full policy is standard, so you return the car with a full tank; a Circle K filling station within the airport complex is a handy spot to fill up shortly before drop-off. Which provider has its desk where in the terminal varies by operator – check your booking documents. For more on hiring a car, see our guide to car hire.
Terminals, facilities and first orientation
The airport has two terminals. Terminal 1 handles Ryanair and most European airlines, while Terminal 2 handles Aer Lingus along with long-haul flights to North America and the Middle East. Both terminals are connected on foot.
Given the passenger numbers above, the airport is well equipped: bars, cafés and restaurants, numerous shops including duty-free, currency exchange, a pharmacy and free Wi-Fi. Information desks are in Terminal 1 (arrivals) and Terminal 2; a general airport hotline is available on +353 1 944 0440. Reliable desk opening hours aren't officially published – if in doubt, the hotline can help.
Several hotels sit right at the airport, handy for a short stay before an early departure or after a late arrival; more options are listed under Where to stay.