6 day trips worth the trip across Ireland, editor-ranked by TableJourney. All Ireland guides.
Howth (seafood village) ★ 4.6 · Dublin
howth-suburb
Howth at the end of the DART line is the city's weekend seafood destination: harbour-side seafood bars, the West Pier walk and the weekend market opposite the DART station.
Tip: Take the DART to Howth, walk five minutes east along the harbour. Harbour-side seafood bars serve at lunch; the Howth Market runs Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00.
Kilkenny (medieval city) ★ 4.5 · Dublin
south-leinster
Kilkenny in Co Kilkenny is an hour and a half by train south of Dublin: the medieval castle, the Smithwick's Brewery Experience, the Hole in the Wall pub and craft food row.
Tip: Train from Heuston Station; Smithwick's Experience runs 11:00 to 17:00 with the EUR 20 tasting tour. The Anocht restaurant inside Kilkenny Castle Yard is the lunch reference.
Wicklow (Glendalough and the mountains) ★ 4.5 · Dublin
wicklow-mountains
Glendalough and the Wicklow Mountains south of Dublin: Glendalough's monastic site, Wicklow Way walks, Powerscourt Estate, and Hunter's Hotel afternoon tea in Rathnew.
Tip: St Kevin's Bus runs Dublin to Glendalough daily; combine with lunch at Hunter's Hotel in Rathnew or the Wicklow Heather in Laragh.
Dún Laoghaire (coastal market) ★ 4.4 · Dublin
blackrock-suburb
Dún Laoghaire on the south coast holds the Sunday People's Park Market with fifty stalls, the East and West Piers for coastal walks, and Teddy's 1950 ice cream parlour.
Tip: DART to Dún Laoghaire, fifteen-minute walk south to People's Park. The Sunday market runs 10:00 to 16:00 year-round.
Bray (south coast) ★ 4.4 · Dublin
south-wicklow-suburb
Bray on the south coast of Co Wicklow holds the Bray to Greystones cliff walk, the original Italian-Irish chippers and the Bray Sea Front bistros, an hour from Dublin.
Tip: DART to Bray, walk Bray Head Cliff Path to Greystones and DART back. Carpet Mills Fish and Chips on Albert Avenue is the Italian-Irish chipper.
Malahide (coastal village, castle) ★ 4.3 · Dublin
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Malahide on the north coast holds a Saturday farmers market at the GAA pitch, Malahide Castle with its grounds and a coastal village with seafood pubs and bistros.
Tip: DART to Malahide, ten-minute walk to the village. Saturday farmers market 10:00 to 14:00; combine with Avoca cafe at Malahide Castle.