Howth to Dun Laoghaire: Dublin Bay Boat Trip & Lighthouse Views

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Free cancellationExcellent quality

1/6

Duration1h

GroupUp to 96

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Sail Across Dublin Bay Without Leaving the City Behind

You board at Howth fishing village and sail 60–70 minutes across Dublin Bay to Dun Laoghaire, passing Howth Head, Ireland's Eye, and the Baily Lighthouse. The boat includes WiFi and restrooms; you arrive 15 minutes early and dress for open water. This is a one-way transfer that doubles as a view most visitors miss.

Step-by-step itinerary

Boat trip from Howth to Dun Laoghaire

Depart from Howth Fishing Village
View Howth Harbour and Ireland's Eye
See Howth Head and Baily Lighthouse
Spot Kish Lighthouse in distance
Cross Dublin Bay to Dun Laoghaire

The Experience

What if the best view of Dublin wasn't from the ground? The boat leaves Howth at a set time each day, and you're standing on the deck watching the fishing village shrink as the Baily Lighthouse comes into focus. It's a one-way sailing that takes you across Dublin Bay from north to south — about 60 to 70 minutes of water between Howth and Dun Laoghaire — and the whole thing feels less like a tourist tick-box and more like the way locals actually see their city when they're not stuck in traffic on the quays.

You'll pass Howth Head and Ireland's Eye on the left, the Kish Lighthouse somewhere in the distance, and the cliffs at Howth rising up in a way that no street-level photo can capture. The boat has WiFi and a restroom, so it's not a white-knuckle crossing — you can stand outside the whole time if the weather holds, or duck in if it doesn't. The crew doesn't narrate every rock; they let you work it out, which somehow makes the landmarks feel more real. Arrive at least 15 minutes early (parking in Howth fills up fast, so budget 30 minutes for that alone), and the boat does run in different weather, so dress for the Irish coast, not the postcard.

When you dock at Dun Laoghaire, you're at the southern pier with the whole town in front of you — shops, cafés, the promenade — and you've just crossed the bay instead of driven around it. If you're staying south of the city or heading that direction anyway, this is how you get there. If you're just doing it for the crossing itself, you've seen Dublin from an angle that matters.

What’s included

One-way sailing from Howth to Dun Laoghaire.
WiFi on board.
restroom facilities.
views of Howth Harbour, Howth Head, Ireland's Eye, Baily Lighthouse and Kish Lighthouse.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Dublin Bay Cruises

Is this one for you?Book this if you're traveling between north and south Dublin and want to skip the traffic — or if you live in the city and have somehow never seen it from the water. The fixed route and timing mean you're not arranging a separate sightseeing tour; you're just getting across the bay the way that actually shows you something.