Getting Around Ireland: Trains, Buses, Car Rental and Travel Tips

Trains and rail

Ireland's intercity trains are run by Irish Rail (Iarnród Éireann). The fastest route links Dublin Heuston to Cork in about 2.5 hours, with frequent services to Galway, Limerick, Waterford and Belfast (Enterprise service). Book ahead online for cheaper fares, and note the two main Dublin terminals: Heuston (south and west) and Connolly (north, east and Belfast).

Metro, DART and Luas

Dublin has no underground metro, but two light systems work well:

• DART is the electric coastal rail line running from Malahide and Howth down to Greystones, passing through the city centre.
• Luas is the tram network with two lines (Red and Green) crossing Dublin.

Use a Leap Card for the cheapest fares; tap on and off and you pay far less than cash single tickets.

Buses

• Dublin Bus and Go-Ahead cover the capital; pay with a Leap Card or contactless.
• Bus Éireann runs nationwide routes, while Expressway, Citylink and GoBus offer fast intercity coaches.
• The Aircoach and Airlink connect Dublin Airport to the city.

Coaches are often cheaper and nearly as fast as trains on routes like Dublin to Galway.

Car rental and driving

A car is ideal for the Wild Atlantic Way, the Ring of Kerry and rural Connemara. Remember:

• Drive on the left and give way at roundabouts.
• Rural roads are narrow with hedgerows; go slowly.
• Tolls (like the M50 eFlow) are often electronic, so check your rental's toll arrangement.
• An automatic car costs more, so book early.

Ride apps and taxis

Free Now (formerly MyTaxi) is the main app for licensed taxis in Dublin, Cork and Galway. Uber in Ireland also dispatches regular taxis. In cities you can hail metered cabs on the street or at ranks.

Intercity tips

• Buy train tickets online in advance for the best price.
• A Leap Card works across DART, Luas and city buses.
• For the west and southwest, combine a coach to a hub like Galway with a hire car for the coast.

Stay connected in Ireland

A HelloSIM eSIM keeps you online for maps, real-time timetables, translation and bookings with no roaming fees the moment you land.