Howth

Howth is a historic fishing village on the peninsula of the same name north of Dublin – and one of the easiest day trips from the city. From the harbourside train station, it's just a short walk to the fishing boats at West Pier, the start of the Cliff Walk, and the boats to the bird island of Ireland's Eye. The harbour and cliff paths are free to visit; only the boat trips charge admission.

Getting there

The easiest way to reach Howth is by DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transit) from Dublin Connolly station in the city centre – the journey takes around 25 to 35 minutes, and the station sits right on the harbour. On the Malahide–Bray line, trains run roughly every 10 minutes on weekdays during the day and about every 30 minutes on Sundays. For tips on tickets and fares, see the guide to the Leap Card and the overview of Public Transport.

If you're driving, parking in Howth is currently free; the largest free car park is at West Pier, with more spaces at the harbour and the Balscadden car park. Fingal County Council is, however, planning paid parking meters on Harbour Road (proposed maximum stay of 3 hours) – the plan is still under consultation and charges haven't been set. Right by the station is "The Bloody Stream", a pub with a beer garden whose name recalls a battle fought in 1177.

The harbour

The artificial harbour was built between 1807 and 1809 by engineer John Rennie and originally served as a mail-boat port for the crossing to England. Today Howth is a working fishing harbour with a marina and yacht club. A walk along West Pier takes you past fishing boats, workshops and seafood restaurants; from the end of East Pier you get views of the lighthouse and the coastline north of Dublin.

Grey seals regularly surface between the boats in the harbour, especially when fishermen are landing their catch. West Pier, home to the fish market, is also the heart of Howth's seafood scene:

• Aqua Restaurant (1 West Pier): closed Mondays, Tuesday 17:00–21:00, Wednesday to Friday 12:00–16:00 and 17:00–21:00, Saturday and Sunday 12:00–21:00.
• Octopussy's Seafood Tapas (7–8 West Pier): Monday to Wednesday and Sunday 12:30–21:00, Thursday to Saturday 12:30–22:00.
• The Oar House: also on West Pier, a classic fish-and-chips spot.

Ireland's Eye

The uninhabited island of Ireland's Eye lies around 1.5 km off the harbour. It's home to a 19th-century Martello tower and the ruins of the 8th-century Church of the Three Sons of Nessan. As part of the Dublin Bay Biosphere UNESCO reserve, the island hosts important seabird colonies: gannets, guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes and cormorants all nest here. Puffins can be spotted from April to June (nesting season runs March to July), and grey seals often haul out on the rocks.

Two operators run boats to the island from West Pier:

• Ireland's Eye Ferries departs from the Ferry Boat Pontoon at the end of West Pier. The Coastal Boat Tour (a round trip without landing) lasts around 50 minutes and costs from €25; a Sundown Cruise runs for about 60 minutes. Sailings run roughly hourly from mid-April to September, with the last departure at 18:00. Book through irelandseyeferries.com.
• Howth Cliff Cruises drops you on the island and picks you up again on the hourly return boats – €30 for adults, €15 for children aged 3 to 15, with a crossing of 15 to 20 minutes. The operator runs year-round, seven days a week; a round trip without landing can be booked separately.

If you land on the island, wear sturdy footwear: there's no infrastructure, just paths across rock and grassland.

Cliff Walk

The Howth Cliff Walk is one of the most popular coastal walks around Dublin. Fingal County Council maintains four official colour-coded loop walks, all starting at Howth DART station:

• Cliff Path Loop (green): around 6 km, about 1.5 to 2 hours, easy to moderate – the classic route along the cliffs.
• Tramline Loop (blue): around 7 km, partly following the old tram line.
• Black Linn Loop (red): more demanding, leading to the highest point of the peninsula.
• Bog of Frogs Loop (purple): the longest route at around 12 km, a good half-day's walk.

The paths offer views across Dublin Bay and Ireland's Eye, and as far as the Wicklow Mountains on a clear day. A colour-coded map is available as a PDF from Fingal County Council. Howth gets busy at weekends and on public holidays, with the harbour and restaurants filling up from early afternoon – if you'd rather avoid the crowds, arrive early or visit on a weekday.

History: the Asgard gun-running

On 26 July 1914, the yacht Asgard, under Erskine Childers, landed at Howth harbour carrying 900 Mauser rifles for the Irish Volunteers – a key event on the road to the 1916 Easter Rising. The restored Asgard has been on permanent, free display since August 2012 at the National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts & History in Collins Barracks. How the Rising unfolded between 1914 and 1916 is covered in the guide to Dublin's History; its stage in the city was the General Post Office.

Combine with your visit

Howth is easy to turn into a full day out. Within walking distance of the harbour is Howth Castle and the National Transport Museum, with its historic estate and vintage vehicle collection. For more day-trip ideas and help planning your time, see the overview of Attractions and the guide to Parks and Gardens.