Howth Coastal Boat Tour Dublin: Ireland's Eye & Seals 50 mins

Seals and Seabirds off Ireland's Eye: A 50-Minute Boat Trip from Howth

You board a small boat at Howth Harbour and spend 50 minutes circling Ireland's Eye Island and the Howth cliffs, spotting seals, puffins, gannets and other seabirds with a local skipper providing commentary. The boat is intimate, not crowded, and includes Irish music. You return to the harbour with seafood restaurants waiting at the pier, all fees included upfront.

Step-by-step itinerary

Howth Coastal Boat Tour and Wildlife Viewing

• Depart from Howth Harbour
• Enjoy live skipper commentary
• Spot seabirds and marine life
• Photograph seals near Ireland's Eye
• Cruise along Howth Cliffs waterline
• Return to Howth Harbour

The experience

The skipper at Howth Harbour knows exactly when the seals will be out. We asked him while waiting to board, and he pointed across the water without looking up from checking the boat's ropes: "tide's right, you'll see them today." That kind of local certainty is what you get on these small-group boat tours. The boats leave from Howth village, about 40 minutes from Dublin city centre, and they're small enough that you're not packed in with a hundred other people. It's just you, maybe a dozen others, and someone who actually knows this stretch of coast.

The trip itself is 50 minutes, and most of it happens around Ireland's Eye Island and the Howth cliffs. You'll see gannets diving, guillemots and cormorants nesting on the rock faces, and if the timing works, puffins. The seal colony is the thing people talk about afterward. They haul out on the rocks and you get close enough to see them properly, not as distant shapes. The skipper keeps up a running commentary, and there's Irish music playing quietly in the background, which sounds like it could be cheesy but somehow isn't when you're actually out on the water with the cliffs rising up beside you. The whole thing moves at the pace of what's actually there, not a schedule.

When you come back to the harbour, you're right next to the seafood restaurants along the pier. Most people grab lunch after, which makes sense. You've been on the water for an hour and the restaurants are literally steps away. The tour includes all fees and taxes, so there's no surprise at the end. It's the kind of thing that works whether you're visiting Dublin for a week or just passing through, and it doesn't eat your whole day.

What’s included

• Your 50-minute boat tour includes the skipper's live commentary, background Irish music, and access to the waters around Ireland's Eye Island and Howth cliffs where you'll spot seals, puffins and seabirds.
• All fees and taxes are included in the price.
• The tour departs from Howth Harbour, and you return to the same pier where restaurants are waiting if you want to eat afterward.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday6 departure times: the first at 11:00, the last at 16:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (under 18)

GroupUp to 22

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Howth Adventures

Is this one for you?Good for anyone in Dublin who wants to see wildlife and coastal scenery without arranging transport or a long day trip: Howth is close enough to reach easily, and the 50-minute boat keeps the whole outing compact while still getting you out on the water with a skipper who knows where the seals are.

Traveler reviews

4.82★★★★★★★★★★

289 verified traveler reviews

5 ★260

4 ★15

3 ★8

2 ★3

1 ★3

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 18).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How far is Howth from Dublin city centre?

About 40 minutes by public transport or car from Dublin city centre.

What wildlife will I see on the boat tour?

Seals, puffins, gannets, guillemots, cormorants, kittiwakes and sea gulls. Sightings depend on the season and tide.

How long is the boat tour?

50 minutes on the water.

What's included in the price?

All fees and taxes are included. The skipper's commentary and background Irish music are part of the experience.

Do I need to be fit or athletic for this tour?

No. The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels.

Can I eat after the tour?

Yes. Several seafood restaurants are located along the Howth pier, just steps from where the boat returns.

Is public transport available to Howth?

Yes. Public transportation options are available nearby to reach Howth Harbour.