Dublin's public transport is a patchwork of systems that were, until relatively recently, largely unconnected. Today, the Leap Card ties them together under one integrated smartcard: the Luas tram system, the DART electric commuter railway, Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann services within the city, and the Irish Rail commuter lines. None of the individual networks is extensive by European capital standards, but together — and with some patience — they cover the city reasonably well.
The Luas tram system
The Luas (from the Irish for "speed") is Dublin's light-rail tram network, operating on two lines:
- Luas Red Line: runs east–west across the city, from Saggart and Tallaght in the south-west to Connolly and The Point (near the 3Arena) in the east, passing through the city centre at Heuston Station, Jervis and Abbey Street. It is one of the busiest tram lines in Ireland and the most useful for reaching Heuston Station, which serves intercity trains to Cork, Galway, Limerick and other destinations.
- Luas Green Line: runs from Broombridge in the north through the city centre (at St Stephen's Green and Charlemont) and south through the affluent suburbs of Milltown, Dundrum and Sandyford, eventually reaching Brides Glen. This line serves University College Dublin's Belfield campus (via the Stillorgan area) and the Dundrum Town Centre.
A cross-city connection was added to link the two lines, allowing travel between the Red and Green lines without changing to a bus. Trams run from approximately 05:30 to around midnight on weekdays, with different hours on weekends. They can get very busy during rush hour and on match days.
The two Luas lines share a central section but do not always connect intuitively. For journeys requiring a change between lines, Oconnell-GPO or Marlborough on the Green Line and Abbey Street or Jervis on the Red Line are the closest cross-city transfer points. Check the Transdev Luas journey planner before travelling.
The DART — Dublin Area Rapid Transit
The DART is an electric rail service running along Dublin's coastline from Malahide and Howth in the north to Greystones in County Wicklow in the south. It serves the city centre at Tara Street, Connolly, Pearse and Grand Canal Dock stations.
For visitors, the DART is extremely useful for reaching:
- Dún Laoghaire: the seaside town and ferry port for HSS and Stena services to Holyhead in Wales — though note that the main ferry terminal for Irish Ferries' Stena connections to Wales is at Rosslare Europort, further south, which is not on the DART.
- Bray: a popular seaside resort about 30 minutes south of the city centre.
- Howth: the fishing village and scenic clifftop walk, about 30 minutes north.
- Malahide: a coastal village with a castle, north of the city.
DART trains are frequent during peak hours and every 15–30 minutes off-peak. They are electric, modern and comfortable. The coastal views — particularly southbound past Killiney Bay — are among the best on any urban rail service in Ireland.
Irish Rail commuter trains
In addition to the DART, Irish Rail (Iarnród Éireann) operates diesel commuter services from the city's two main stations:
- Connolly Station (north of the Liffey): serves the Northern Commuter Line (toward Maynooth and Drogheda) and intercity services to Belfast, Sligo and Rosslare.
- Heuston Station (west side of the city, on the Red Luas line): serves intercity trains to Cork, Limerick, Galway, Waterford and Killarney.
The two stations are not connected by rail — the Luas Red Line is the best surface connection between them.
Dublin Bus
Dublin Bus runs an extensive network of routes across the city and into the suburbs. The bus network is the most comprehensive in terms of geographic coverage but can be slow in traffic, particularly along the main arteries. Real-time information is available at most city-centre stops and via the Dublin Bus app.
The Aircoach is a private express coach service running between Dublin Airport and the city centre (O'Connell Street, St Stephen's Green and various hotels), operating 24 hours with frequent departures. It uses its own ticketing, separate from the Leap Card. The Dublin Airport Coach Bus Éireann route 747 also runs between the airport and the city, is cheaper, and is covered by the Leap Card.
The Leap Card
The Leap Card is Dublin's unified smartcard, covering Luas, DART, Irish Rail commuter, Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann and Go-Ahead Ireland services within the Greater Dublin Area. It gives a discount over cash fares and allows seamless transfer between modes. For most visitors staying more than one or two days, buying a Leap Card is strongly recommended.
- Cards are available at Dublin Airport (in the arrivals hall), at many newsagents, and at Luas or DART station machines.
- Top up at the same locations, at bus drivers (for buses), online, or via the Leap Top-Up app.
- Leap Visitor Card: a 24-, 48- or 72-hour unlimited-travel card covering all Leap-enabled services within the Short Hop Zone (city area). Significantly better value than topping up standard Leap credit if you plan many journeys per day. Available at Dublin Airport and many city locations.
Cash fares on Dublin Bus are still accepted but are exact-change only — drivers cannot give change. Bringing the right coins or, better, using a Leap Card avoids the difficulty.
Getting from Dublin Airport to the city
Dublin Airport (DUB) is about 12 km north of the city centre. Transport options:
- Airlink buses 747 and 757 (Dublin Bus / Bus Éireann): direct routes to the city centre. Accepted on Leap Card. Frequent and relatively fast, though subject to traffic on the M1 motorway approach.
- Aircoach: private express service, slightly pricier, 24-hour operation, with stops at major hotels and O'Connell Street.
- DART/Metro North: at the time of writing, there is no metro or rail connection directly to the airport. A long-planned Metro North project would eventually connect the airport to the city, but it remains under planning and construction. Check current progress as it may change.
- Taxi: regulated metered taxis are available at the airport. Journey time depends heavily on traffic; the fare to the city centre is typically higher than the bus options.
Practical tips
- Dublin traffic is bad. For city-centre trips, the Luas is usually faster than the bus. For suburbs, the DART or commuter rail beats both if a station is nearby.
- Tara Street and Pearse stations (DART) are the most central for the south inner city; Connolly is the main hub north of the Liffey.
- Night buses run on selected routes on Friday and Saturday nights after the Luas stops. Coverage is limited compared with other European capitals.
- Cycling is growing in Dublin with a Dublinbikes scheme in the city centre, though infrastructure remains patchy compared with Amsterdam or Copenhagen.
- If you are travelling onward to Edinburgh, see the London to Edinburgh guide for options once you reach the mainland.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Leap Card valid on both Luas lines and the DART?
Yes. The Leap Card works on all Luas lines, the DART, Irish Rail commuter trains, Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann services within the Greater Dublin Area. It gives a discount on cash fares and allows transfer between modes.
How do I get from Dublin Airport to the city centre?
The Airlink bus (routes 747/757) and the private Aircoach are the main options. Both take around 30–40 minutes depending on traffic. There is currently no direct rail or metro link to the airport — Metro North is planned but not yet operational.
What is the DART and how is it different from the Luas?
The DART is an electric commuter railway running along the coast from Howth/Malahide in the north to Greystones in the south — it runs on heavy rail tracks and serves longer suburban distances. The Luas is a street-level light-rail tram running through the city centre and inner suburbs. Both accept the Leap Card.
Does the Luas go to Heuston Station?
Yes. The Red Line stops at Heuston, making it the easiest way to reach intercity trains to Cork, Galway and Limerick from the city centre.
Sources and further reading:
- Luas timetables and maps: Transdev Luas / Transport for Ireland.
- DART and commuter rail: Irish Rail (Iarnród Éireann).
- Leap Card and network information: Transport for Ireland (TFI) official website.