Things To Do In Howth Ireland for a day trip
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A travel guide of the Best Things to Do and See in Howth for a Day Trip!
Howth is a charming seaside village in County Dublin, only 20 kilometres from Dublin city centre. Pumped up by many seafood restaurants and great outdoor activities, Howth peninsula is the ideal day trip to escape the Irish capital’s busy streets and enjoy the ocean breeze and perfect postcard landscapes.
It is without a doubt one of the prettiest seaside towns on the east coast of Ireland.
After years of weekends spent strolling around the village, it is about time I share some of the top things to do in Howth as well as my favorite places to eat and drink. Here is a short but complete travel guide of the best things to do in Howth Peninsula, Ireland.
1. Howth Cliff WaLK
The Howth Cliff Hike is easy and highly rewarding. It is the most popular place to hike near Dublin among locals who gather on weekends to stretch their legs and enjoy impressive views over the Peninsula’s jagged cliffs.
There are a few hiking routes around the Howth Peninsula. The most accessible is the Lower Cliff Walk, a 6 km loop trail from the train station to Howth Head and back via either an old tramline or the upper pathway.
If you have more time on your hands, I would recommend the Black Linn Loop Walk that goes through Ben of Howth, the highest peak of the peninsula. There are fewer people on this trail and the views are probably the best! From the summit, you’ll have a 360-degree panorama overlooking the entire peninsula, Howth Castle, Howth village and as far as Portmarnock and Malahide!
Finally, if you are up for a nice challenge, choose the Bog of Frogs Loop Walk which follows the coastline for 12km. Make sure to keep an eye out to spot some of Ireland’s marine wildlife such as dolphins and seals. Along this walk, there are also a few stops where the most courageous will enjoy a fresh swing in the sea.
All the routes described above pass nearby the “summit” car park from where you’ll get great views of the Baily Lighthouse, Dublin Bay, and the Dublin Mountains in the background. It takes about 1 hour to walk to the Summit from the village’s train station. If you cannot go hiking, you can take the bus from the village to the Summit inn, a popular pub for its pint of Guinness!
Hike duration: 2 to 4 hours | Hike distance: 6 to 12 km | Ascent: 130 m | Difficulty: Easy | Terrain: paved and gravelled pathways | Accessibility: Not accessible to trolleys or wheelchairs. Avoid bikes.
2. Take a boat to Ireland’s Eye
Just off the Howth Harbor, you will spot Ireland’s Eye, a small island that can easily be accessed by boat. Today uninhabited, it was once the site of the original village’s church! For obvious transport limitations, the church was abandoned and replaced by another one in the heart of the village on the mainland.
Ireland’s Eye can be visited every day during the summer months and on weekends and bank holidays only the rest of the year. It actually depends on when the two companies that serve the island are open! The boats leave from Howth Harbor and offer both returns trips and cliffs cruises.
Visit Ireland’s Eye
You can make a return trip to the island and stay as long as you want, as long as you catch the last boat! On the island, you can go for a walk around Ireland’s Eye’s meadow, jump in the sea for a swim, visit the Martello Tower, look for the old church’s ruins as well as rock climbing and bird watching.
The island hosts, in fact, a few bird colonies of Gannets, Cormorants, Guillemots and Gulls. If you are lucky, you might also spot some Peregrine Falcons and Puffins. The breeding season spans from April to July, during which it is even more important to remain respectful of the wildlife and keep a distance from the nests.
The Return trip costs €20 per adult, it takes about 15 min to cross over and boats depart every hour from Howth Harbor. You can book your trip online with “Island Ferries“.
Cruise trip around Ireland’s Eye
The boat companies also offer Cruise tours which will take you around the island to see the cliffs, the “stack” (a large vertical rock) and spot wildlife. The tours are usually commented by the captain! It is a great way to learn more about Ireland’s Eye history and its wildlife. The trip is about 1 hour and costs €20-25 per adult. Check here for availability and price list: “Island Ferries” – “Ireland’s Eye Ferries“
👉 Psst! Read More: 8 Beautiful Islands in Ireland you cannot miss!
3. Walk Down the pier and look for the seals
Howth Pier is one of the main attractions of the town. On a sunny weekend, it gets very busy with locals walking around with their family, eating ice cream or fish and chips. On a stormy day, it is an amazing spot to watch the waves crashing, but keep your distance to be safe, it can get very dangerous. The east pier, which is the longest one, leads to a majestic lighthouse and offers picturesque views of the village on the hillside and the boats in the foreground.
👉 Tips! If you stare at the water around the fishing boats long enough, you will more than likely spot the local seals. They live in the harbor all year long and trust me when I say they are huge! Smart creatures… they know where to get delicious fish falling off the boats!
On the west pier (Restaurant side), you will have also a great view of the lighthouse. It is a short walk but this is from here you may see the seals the closest. For the anecdote, at the end of the west pier, King George disembarked from his ship on his 59th birthday in “very high spirit” and left footprints on the pier. A local decided to keep them permanently and imprint them in the stone. These are still visible today but few know about them. Make sure to look for them!
4. STEP BACK IN TIME at HOWTH CASTLE
One of the first places to visit to witness some of Howth history would be Howth Castle. This private residence has been the home of one single family for more than 800 years. Its estate spreads across the majority of the peninsula and while visitors cannot enter the castle, parts of the Castle grounds are however accessible to the public. You can start walking to the Rhododendron gardens before exploring the woodlands to find Aideen’s Grave, Howth’s prehistoric site!
Indeed, the ancient dolmen known as Aideen’s Grave is thought to be dating from around 2,500 BC. This sacred site consists of a two stones portal topped by another one, now collapsed. It’s one of the many portal tombs found in Ireland but probably one of the easiest to visit from Dublin city center.
đź’ˇI would recommend visiting from Friday to Sunday when the castle hosts a Food Fare from 10 am to 6 pm. It is a great opportunity to walk around the estate, grab a bite from one of the street food vendors and maybe participate in a few activities. For more details, visit this page.
5. what else can you do in Howth?
- Do not miss the view of Howth harbor from St Mary’s Abbey ruins. The current building was built in the 13th century by the Archibishop of Dublin, but it once was the site of the first church of Howth built by King Sitric in 1042.
- For something a bit different, visit the National Transport Museum of Ireland. It is a unique place to visit with kids and see old transportations that were once in use in Ireland. The oldest item is from 1883. Visit this website for more details.
- Visit the Hurdy Gurdy Vintage Radio Museum to see a large collection of vintage radio, gramophones and other radio-related items. It is also a rare occasion to visit the inside of a restored Martello tower. Learn more about this museum here.
- Visit Howth Market. On the right side of the road when you enter the village, the market is a nice place to buy souvenirs from local artists, grab a bite or get a specialty coffee.
- If the weather is permitting and you are brave enough, go for a swim at Claremont beach. It is a lovely spot in the heart of summer on a sunny day. There are a few other spots to swim in Howth. The safest but most crowded would be Burrow beach. Some locals enjoy a dip at Jameson’s pool or Red Rock Beach. Watch out for currents and underwater rocks.
Prepare For your trip to Howth
Where to eat in Howth?
Howth village was built around its harbor and is today one of the main fishery hubs near the Irish capital. It has become unmissable for its delicious seafood platter, fish & chips and chowder! Lined up only meters away from the fishing boats, the restaurants and fishmongers serve fresh and delicious fish every day of the year!
- Try the seafood chowder at the Brass Monkey restaurant
- Grab a takeaway fish & chips at Leo Burdocks and find a spot on the pier or the grass to eat
- Enjoy some Seafood Tapas at Octopussy’s restaurant. It’s fresh and delicious!
Where to have a drink in Howth?
- If you want a pint, The Bloody Stream is the place!
- For an excellent coffee head to Bodega Coffee, they serve Full Circle beans
- On a cold day or after a long hike, grab a hot chocolate at The Dog House Blue’s Tea Room.
Map of Howth peninsula with all the things to do and see
How to get to Howth From Dublin
Howth Dart: You can either take the DART to Howth from one of the main Dart stations in the city center of Dublin (Tara, Pearse, Connelly, Grand Canal) or catch the bus 31/31A from Talbot St or Connelly station. It takes a bit less than 30 min with the Dart and roughly 1 hour by bus. Cost = €6.25 return (€4.80 return with the leap card)
Drive: You can also drive to Howth in about 20 min from the city center. There are a lot of parking spots at the harbor.
Cycle: If you don’t have your own bike, you can rent a Dublin city bike for the day and cycle along Clontarf Road and Bull Island. Dublin bikes don’t have stations in Howth, so you will have to rent them for the day. There are a few other companies offering bikes you can drop off in Howth. Check out Bleeper or Moby (electric bikes). Note that if you have to bring your bike back to Dublin and don’t feel like cycling back, you can bring the bike onto the Dart!
đź’ˇCheck out our best tips for planning the perfect trip to Ireland
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I help you explore Ireland like a local with insider tips, detailed itineraries, and practical advice.
HEY THERE! I’M JEN…
Funder, Author & Photographer behind travelirelandtoday.com
Ireland has been my home for the last 12 years. Before settling here, I spent years backpacking around the globe, visiting 65+ countries. Along the way, I discovered my love for hiking, photography, and crafting budget-friendly itineraries.
Through this website, I share the best things to do and see in Ireland, detailed hiking guides, and practical tips to help you plan your perfect Irish adventure. Let’s make your trip unforgettable!
