Howth from Dublin: Guided Half-Day Tour or Go on Your Own?
Updated October 13, 2026 · 5 min read
For most visitors who want a guide and a ride, book the half-day coastal tour to Howth: €42 per person, 4.5 stars from 2,955 reviews, four hours, with the coach from central Dublin included. For a proper walk with a local: the coastal hiking tour with Howth Adventures is €39, 4.9 stars from 182 reviews, three hours. For no tour at all: the booking page of that hike says Howth is easy to reach by DART train or by the H3 bus.
The four tours side by side
| Tour | Duration | From | Rating | What it is |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Half-Day Guided Coastal Tour to Howth Village | 4 hours | €42 | 4.5 (2,955) | Coach from Dublin, short guided cliff walk, free time in the village |
| Coastal Hiking Tour with Howth Adventures | 3 hours | €39 | 4.9 (182) | Guided hike on the peninsula, starts in Howth |
| Howth Safari Hiking Tour | 5 hours | €59 | 5.0 (79) | Longer guided hike on the coastal paths |
| Howth Coastal Craft Beer and Seafood Tour | 3 hours | €89.10 | 5.0 (103) | Pubs and restaurants in the village |
The coach tour: what it covers and what it does not
Big Bus Tours runs it twice a day, at 9:45 am and 2:00 pm, from Stop 1 at 13 Upper O’Connell Street, and asks you to show your booking confirmation to a member of staff at least 15 minutes before departure. The four hours break down as roughly 60 minutes each way on the bus, a short guided walk on the cliffs with the driver-guide, and about 75 minutes of free time in the village. The commentary is in English.
That structure is the whole point and the whole limit. It is a way to see Howth without working out transport, and it suits anyone who wants an easy outing. It does not give you a long walk: the guided part is described as a short walking tour and orientation, and the rest is free time you spend in the village, where the listing suggests trying fish and chips or seafood. Food and drinks are not included.
The operator says the tour is wheelchair and pram accessible, that luggage is welcome on board, and that infants aged four and under travel free without a ticket. Check those points with Big Bus Tours before you rely on them.
The hike: more of Howth, less of the bus
The Howth Adventures tour starts at Howth Market, opposite Howth train station, and you are asked to be there 10 minutes before the start. Its stops include St Mary’s Abbey, the village, the Howth Cliff Walk, Baily Lighthouse and the harbour, with a guide who tells stories as you walk. The page is direct that the hike goes off-road, up and down hills, and that the trails can be wet underfoot, so waterproof hiking shoes are recommended, with water, rain gear and a snack. It lists people with mobility impairments as not suitable. A private group is available.
The five-hour safari hike is the same idea at a bigger scale, with woodland, cliff paths, hidden beaches and coves along the south-facing paths above Dublin Bay. At €59 and with only 79 reviews, it is the choice for a keen walker rather than a first-timer.
Going on your own
The Howth Adventures page says Howth is easily reached from the city centre by DART to Howth station, or by the H3 bus from Lower Abbey Street. Doing it yourself costs no tour fee and leaves you free to choose your own time and route; fares and timetables are on the Irish Rail and Dublin Bus sites. The price of it is that nobody explains the abbey ruins, the Martello tower or the lighthouse as you pass them.
Two reasons to pay for a tour anyway: you want commentary on what you are looking at, or you would rather not work out the transport. If neither matters, the DART is the better deal.
What to skip
The Howth Cruise and Dine Experience at €54.95 has 3.3 stars from 23 reviews, the lowest rating of anything covered here. If you want to be on the water, the River Liffey cruise guide and the Dublin boat tours and cruises page cover the options, and more excursions are on the day trips from Dublin page.
