Dublin: Dublin Bay Cruise from Howth to Dun Laoghaire

Dublin Bay looks best from the water. This 60 to 70 minute sailing aboard the St Bridget links two coastal towns while giving you open views of Howth Head, Baily Lighthouse, and Dalkey Island. I like the easy one-way plan and the useful DART discount voucher for getting back. I also like that you can sit with a coffee or glass of wine while the captain provides commentary.

The main drawback is space. If the sea turns choppy, you may need to move inside, and some passengers have found the indoor area limited. This is a sightseeing cruise, not a long sea voyage, so your experience depends quite a bit on weather, seating, and your expectations.

Key points to know before sailing

• The cruise runs one way from Howth to Dun Laoghaire, so plan your return by DART rather than expecting the boat to bring you back.
• The St Bridget passes several working and historic landmarks, including Baily Lighthouse, Kish Lighthouse, Ireland’s Eye, and Dalkey Island.
• The best transport plan is to take the DART to Howth first, then use the discount voucher for the return journey.
• The cruise costs $28 per person, a fair price if you value coastal views and want to connect two Dublin seaside towns in one outing.
• Drinks and snacks cost extra, though coffee and wine are available on board.
• Sea conditions matter, since rougher water can reduce outdoor seating and make the ride less comfortable.

Starting at Howth’s West Pier

Your departure point is on the West Pier in Howth, opposite Aqua Restaurant. Howth is a sensible place to begin because the trip starts with some of the bay’s most dramatic coastal scenery, rather than saving the best views for the final minutes.

You should arrive with comfortable clothes and shoes. The pier is a working waterfront, and you will want footwear that feels steady as you make your way to the boat. Check the available sailing time when booking, since departure times can vary.

Howth itself gives you plenty to do before boarding, but keep your pre-cruise plans under control. A walk around the harbor or a quick meal can work well, yet you do not want to be hurrying along the pier at departure time. The meeting point is easy to identify: look for the area opposite Aqua Restaurant on the West Pier.

The boat is the St Bridget, and the cruise has a relaxed feel rather than a formal tour structure. You can sit, watch the coastline, and listen to the on-board commentary. A bar service offers drinks, but food and drinks are not included in the ticket price.

Ireland’s Eye and Lambay Island to the north

Once the St Bridget leaves Howth, the view opens toward the islands north of the bay. Ireland’s Eye is the closer and more recognizable sight, while Lambay Island sits farther out. Both help you understand Dublin’s coastal setting in a way that is difficult from the city streets.

From the boat, islands become reference points rather than distant names on a map. You can see how Howth sits at the edge of Dublin Bay and how the coastline opens toward the Irish Sea. The trip is short, so keep your camera ready instead of waiting for a formal announcement before looking outside.

This section is especially useful if you want a break from museums, churches, and city traffic. You are not simply moving between two railway stations. You are using the journey itself as part of your day.

The northern views also change with the weather. On a clear day, the islands and headland should be easier to pick out. On a gray day, the water, cliffs, and lighthouse shapes still provide interest, but the distant islands may be less distinct.

Howth Cliffs and the turn around Howth Head

The St Bridget then passes Howth Cliffs and rounds Howth Head. This is one of the most scenic parts of the sailing because the boat gives you a low, outward-facing view of the headland. From shore, you see paths and cliff edges. From the water, you see the full shape of the coast as it projects into the bay.

I like this part because it gives you a better sense of scale. Howth Head is not just a pretty piece of coastline beside the village. It forms one side of Dublin Bay, and the cruise shows how the headland controls the shape of the water around it.

The boat’s movement also matters here. You may want to change sides or move outside as the view shifts, but do so only if conditions allow. On a calm day, the open-air view should be the natural choice. If the sea is rough, sitting inside may be wiser, even if it means giving up a little visual range.

One practical point: do not expect every minute of the cruise to offer an uninterrupted outdoor panorama. A passenger account describes having to spend part of the ride inside because the water was choppy and space was limited. That is a useful warning for anyone who imagines standing outside for the entire trip.

Baily Lighthouse and Kish Lighthouse

The route passes two of Dublin Bay’s best-known lighthouse sights, Baily Lighthouse and Kish Lighthouse. Baily sits on Howth Head, while Kish marks a more exposed position in the bay. Seeing them in sequence makes the route feel like a real coastal crossing, not just a short harbor ride.

Baily Lighthouse is particularly well placed for a view from the water. It belongs to the headland, so you can connect the tower with the cliffs and shoreline around it. Kish Lighthouse has a different character because it sits out in the bay and serves as a reminder of the waters beyond the sheltered coast.

The commentary can help you notice these sights as they appear. The captain and on-board crew have been praised for friendly service, humor, and useful commentary, which adds some personality to what could otherwise be a quiet passage. Do not expect a long lecture or a specialist coastal seminar. Think of it as light guidance that helps you identify the landmarks.

You can buy a coffee or a glass of wine, but the price of those drinks is separate from the $28 ticket. I would treat the bar as a pleasant option, not a reason to book the cruise. The scenery and the convenient crossing are the real value.

Bull Island and the open bay crossing

After passing Howth Head and the lighthouses, the route continues by Bull Island, known for its wildlife sanctuary. This portion gives you a wider view across Dublin Bay, with the shoreline spreading out rather than rising sharply beside the boat.

Bull Island helps explain the bay’s changing character. Near Howth, the coast feels rocky and shaped by cliffs. Farther across the bay, the setting becomes flatter and more open. You are seeing different types of shoreline within a single hour.

The crossing can also be the calmest time to settle into the ride. After the more detailed sights around Howth Head, you can enjoy the water and watch the city-side coast come closer. If you have bought a drink, this is a good stretch for it.

Still, the cruise should not be sold as a guaranteed wildlife trip. Bull Island is included as a coastal and sanctuary landmark, but no particular animal sightings are promised. You might find the area interesting for its setting and protected character, even if your attention stays on the shoreline.

The open crossing is also where weather has the biggest effect. Wind can make the deck feel colder than expected, so bring comfortable clothing rather than relying on a warm-looking forecast. The operator specifically advises comfortable clothes and shoes, and that is practical advice for the whole trip.

Dalkey Island before entering Dun Laoghaire Harbour

As the boat crosses toward the south side of Dublin Bay, Dalkey Island comes into view. The island gives the final approach a clear focal point before the St Bridget enters Dun Laoghaire Harbour.

This change of scenery is one of the cruise’s strongest features. You begin with the cliffs and headland of Howth, spend time looking across the open bay, then approach a harbor framed by the southern coast. The route works because the views keep changing without requiring a long day at sea.

Dun Laoghaire Harbour is a fitting finish. The boat enters the harbor and completes the crossing at the East Pier. You can step ashore with a different view of Dublin Bay than the one you had at Howth, which makes the journey feel like a useful connection rather than a ride that simply turns around.

The published information describes the activity as a one-way sailing. Your return trip is not included, but you receive a DART discount voucher. This is important when planning your day. You should expect to continue your outing in Dun Laoghaire, then use rail for the return rather than trying to board the boat back to Howth.

How to use the DART connection

Taking the DART to Howth before the sailing is the most sensible plan. It lets you reach the West Pier without arranging a separate private transfer, and it creates a tidy route through two of Dublin’s coastal towns.

After arriving at Dun Laoghaire, the DART gives you a practical way to return. The discount voucher adds value, especially if you are already planning to use the railway. It also means you can spend time in Dun Laoghaire after the cruise, perhaps stopping for food or a drink before heading back.

The experience works best when you view the boat as one part of a coastal day. You are not purchasing a round-trip cruise with a return sail. You are buying a scenic connection from Howth to Dun Laoghaire, then arranging the journey back by rail.

That setup is convenient for some people and less appealing for others. If you want a simple activity that returns you to the same pier, this is not the right format. If you like combining transport, scenery, and a little time in two seaside areas, the one-way route is a good fit.

What the $28 price includes

At $28 per person, the fare includes the ferry ticket from Howth to Dun Laoghaire. It also includes the DART discount voucher for your return journey, though the railway ride itself is not described as included.

I consider the price reasonable for a 60 to 70 minute crossing because the route includes several named sights rather than a short harbor loop. You are paying for transport and sightseeing at the same time. That can be better value than booking a separate boat ride and then paying for another transfer between the towns.

The value is strongest if you already want to visit Howth and Dun Laoghaire. The boat saves you from treating the bay as a barrier and gives you a more memorable way to move between the two. If you only want a quick view from the water and have no interest in the towns at either end, the fare may feel less essential.

Remember to budget for refreshments. Coffee, wine, snacks, and other drinks are not included. Since the cruise is only about an hour, you can easily skip the bar if you prefer to keep the total cost close to the ticket price.

Comfort, seating, and sea conditions

The St Bridget offers an indoor option, a useful feature when wind or choppy water makes the outside deck uncomfortable. The tradeoff is space. If several people move indoors at once, you may not have a wide view or much room to spread out.

I would dress for the water rather than for the temperature in central Dublin. Comfortable layers and shoes give you more freedom to move between indoor and outdoor areas. You should also keep your expectations realistic: a small coastal boat is more exposed than a city bus or train.

The cruise is suitable for all ages, including families and infants. That makes it a flexible choice for a mixed-age group, especially when you want an outing that does not require a long walk or a full-day commitment. Still, anyone sensitive to boat motion should remember that conditions can change.

The reported overall score is 4.3 out of 5 from 44 ratings. The strongest praise centers on the views, the friendly captain, the humor, and the on-board service. The clearest criticism concerns limited space during rougher water. Those points give you a fair picture: the cruise has a warm, enjoyable character, but it is still subject to ordinary sea conditions.

Who will enjoy this Dublin Bay cruise

I would recommend the sailing to you if you want:

• A scenic way to connect Howth and Dun Laoghaire
• A short activity that fits into a larger Dublin day
• Coastal views without committing to a long boat excursion
• A family-friendly outing suitable for different ages
• A chance to see lighthouses, islands, cliffs, and harbor views from the water
• A transport plan that combines the boat with the DART

It is less suitable if you need a guaranteed outdoor seat, dislike boat movement, or want a round-trip journey from Howth. It also may not satisfy you if you expect a long guided tour with detailed historical interpretation at every point.

The friendly service helps. A good captain can make a short ride feel relaxed and social, and the St Bridget has earned praise for that tone. The bar and commentary add comfort, but they do not replace the central reason to go: the changing views across Dublin Bay.

Should you book the Howth to Dun Laoghaire cruise?

Book it if you want to turn a simple DART outing into a scenic coastal day. The route is short, affordable, and packed with recognizable sights, from Ireland’s Eye and Howth Cliffs to Baily Lighthouse, Bull Island, Dalkey Island, and Dun Laoghaire Harbour.

Plan carefully around the one-way format. Take the DART to Howth, arrive at the West Pier opposite Aqua Restaurant, bring warm comfortable clothes, and save room in your day for Dun Laoghaire before returning by rail.

I would skip it only if you need a guaranteed smooth ride or plenty of outdoor space. For most people, the combination of friendly service, open bay views, and a useful connection between two coastal towns makes the $28 fare good value.

FAQ

Where does the cruise leave from?

The boat departs from the West Pier in Howth, opposite Aqua Restaurant.

Where does the cruise finish?

The sailing finishes at the East Pier in Dun Laoghaire.

How long does the boat ride last?

The cruise takes about 60 to 70 minutes. Check availability for the exact departure times.

Is the cruise one way or round trip?

It is a one-way sailing from Howth to Dun Laoghaire. A return boat trip is not included.

How can I return after reaching Dun Laoghaire?

You can return by DART rail, and the activity includes a discount voucher for that return journey.

What does the ticket include?

The ticket includes the ferry trip from Howth to Dun Laoghaire and a DART discount voucher.

Are food and drinks included?

No. Drinks and snacks are not included, though you can buy a coffee or glass of wine on board.

Is the cruise suitable for children and infants?

Yes. The activity is suitable for all ages, including families and infants.

What should I bring?

Bring comfortable shoes and comfortable clothes. Clothing suitable for changing conditions on the water is a practical choice.