Howth Coastal Half-Day Bus Tour from Dublin with Live Guide
Recommended by 91% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Dublin, Ireland
- 4 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Why travelers loved this
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Overview
Explore Ireland beyond the hustle and bustle of Dublin's city center with a half-day bus trip along the coast to the fishing village of Howth. Admire views along the coast during the drive to Howth before setting out on a guided walk along the sea cliffs. Then relax with free time to explore the village at your leisure. Return transportation to Dublin is included for extra convenience.
- Choose morning or early afternoon departures to suit your schedule
- This Howth experience is wheelchair and stroller accessible
- Don't worry about getting lost: The group and guide are easy to follow
- A great way for Dublin tourists to see a different side of Ireland
What's Included
- Half-day bus tour to Howth Summit and its famous fishing village
- Free time to explore the picturesque Howth Village at your leisure
- Guided walking tour of the cliffs of Howth
- Select from either the 9.45am or 2.00pm Departure
- Hotel Pick-up & Drop-off
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 13 O'Connell Street Upper, North City, Dublin, D01 HN30, Ireland
Please present your booking confirmation to a Big Bus Tours staff member at least 15 minutes before the tour departs. Tour departs from Big Bus Stop #1 - 13 O'Connell Street Upper, North City, Dublin
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
1
Howth Summit
4 hours • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 75 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Cary_J
The tour guide/bus driver was great. Very kind and knowledgable. The island of Howth was beautiful. We would definitely go again.
Reviews
4.6
based on 970 reviews
Sort by: Most recent
David_L, Sep 2026
Jerry was an amazing guide and probably the best multitasking tour guide I’ve ever encountered. He drove us throughout the trip while keeping everyone entertained with stories, history and plenty of jokes. You could really hear the passion in the way he spoke, and he made the journey itself part of the experience.
I also learned quite a few interesting things from him, including something I somehow never knew before, that Bram Stoker, the author of Dracula, was born in Dublin.
Great personality, very entertaining and a really enjoyable trip to Howth. Jerry definitely made the tour memorable. Highly recommended!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Hello! Thank you for your fantastic review!
We're delighted to hear that Jerry made your trip to Howth such a memorable experience. It takes a special talent to safely navigate the route while sharing stories, history, and plenty of laughs along the way, and it sounds like Jerry did just that.
We're especially pleased that his passion and knowledge shone through and that you picked up some interesting facts during the tour, including Bram Stoker's Dublin connection!
We'll be sure to pass your wonderful feedback on to Jerry. Thank you for the recommendation, and we hope to welcome you on board again for another great adventure soon! Daiana@BigBusTours
John_S, Sep 2026
It was a great little introduction to the Howth area with some historical information from the guide along the way. If you are lucky, you will have Nile as the bus Drive / Guide. The trip will leave you wanting more. You do not have much time at the top of the cliffs but plenty of time in town. Suggest that when the bus stops in town, go straight to the quay where all of the sea food is and get sea food lunch/dinner right away before it gets busy and then enjoy the surroundings with a coffee to go. If you want to avoid the Quay and have a simpler lunch, suggest Leo Burdock fish and Chips. They were amazing!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Hi John,
Thank you for the fantastic review! We’re delighted you enjoyed your introduction to beautiful Howth and the history shared along the way.
A special shout-out to Nile, we’re so pleased to hear he helped make your experience such an enjoyable one! We also love the recommendations for future visitors. 😊
Thank you for joining us, and we hope you get the chance to return and explore even more of Howth next time!
Madalina@BigBusTours
Diane_H, Sep 2026
Guide was funny and informative. Howth was nice and the guide recommended a good restaurant. Unfortunately the weather did not cooperate and we didn't get to see much.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Hi Diane_H. We wish to thank you for your feedback. We are happy to learn that you enjoyed the tour with us in Howth despite the weather, and that the guide was both funny and informative. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you again soon, on a sunnier day. Best regards, Vlad @BigBusTours
Edward_W, Aug 2026
Tour was not what was described in the itinerary. We all thought it was a 60 minute walking tour of the cliff with the guide and group. It was not, it was walk the short path to the village and the bus will meet you there, but tell the driver if your going to do the walk. There was no mention of a self guided walk at the cliffs.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Hi! Thank you for sharing your feedback. We’re sorry to hear that the tour did not match your expectations and that the itinerary was unclear regarding the walking portion and self-guided experience at the cliffs. We understand how disappointing this must have been, especially when you were expecting a 60-minute guided walk with the group. We appreciate you bringing this to our attention and will share your comments with our team to help improve the clarity of our tour information. Best regards, Denis @ BigBusToursTeam
Jordana_B, Aug 2026
Alan was great, very informative tour guide and a good and responsible driver. He kept to time schedule and gave helpful tips on where to eat and shop.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for your wonderful feedback!
We're delighted to hear that Alan made such a positive impression. Providing informative commentary, keeping guests on schedule, and sharing local recommendations are all part of creating a memorable experience, and it's great to know Alan delivered on all fronts.
We'll be sure to pass along your kind words to him. Thank you for traveling with us, and we hope to welcome you on board again soon! Alex@BigBusTours
Donna_G, Aug 2026
Disappointing!! My reason for taking this tour was to do the cliff walk and see the beauty of this area. The time on the cliffs was only 45 minutes compared to the 1 hour and 1/2 in the town. I guess this tour was more for promoting the restaurants.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Hi Donna_G. We wish to thank you for your feedback. We are sorry to learn that the time to explore the nature was shorter than the time in the town. Our tour is designed so you can fully experience the culture and sights in Howth, combining both the wildlife and the culinary aspects of the area. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you again soon. Best regards, Vlad @BigBusTours
Randall_F, Aug 2026
Wonderful excursion! The village of Howth was so pretty. The hiking wasn’t easy! Dom was a very good guide, gave us great insight into the area.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Hello Randall! We truly appreciate your feedback. It's great to know you enjoyed your excursion, and we look forward to welcoming you back soon! Best, Ana from Big Bus Tours.
Mark_B, Aug 2026
Pretty simple ,nice bus ride ,some information with light humor. We lucked out on a beautiful sunny day ,the views were great from the Summit looking down on the town of Howth. The town of Howth had lots of seafood restaurants.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback.
We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour and were able to experience Howth on a beautiful sunny day. It’s wonderful to know that you appreciated the scenic views from the summit and enjoyed seeing the town from above. The coastline and harbor views are certainly some of the highlights of the experience.
We're also pleased that you found the tour relaxing and informative, with a touch of humor along the way. Howth's many seafood restaurants and charming atmosphere make it a favorite destination for many of our guests, and we're glad you had the opportunity to enjoy it.
Thank you again for sharing your experience. We hope to welcome you on board again for another enjoyable tour in the future!
Flavius@BigBusTours
BERNICE_T, Aug 2026
We had a rainy day during this tour. Our guide made the best of the trip. Gave us great lunch recommendation at Rosie's fish fish n chips, and their Hot chocolate was yummy.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Hi, Bernice!
Thank you so much for sharing your feedback!
We are so glad to hear that your guide helped brighten up a rainy day. Making sure you still have a fantastic experience—complete with hot chocolate and a great spot like Rosie's for fish & chips—is exactly what we strive for!
We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you back on a sunnier day next time!
Best regards, Mihaela@BigBusToursTeam
David_O, Aug 2026
Driver Robbie was knowledgeable and entertaining
Howth was iconic fishing village. Beware of gulls if you’re eating outdoors!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Hi David!
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We are thrilled to hear that you had a great experience on the Howth Coastal Half-Day Tour and enjoyed Robbie’s commentary—he will be delighted to receive your recognition!
Thank you as well for the humorous yet helpful tip for future visitors regarding the local gulls in Howth. We hope to welcome you on board again during your next trip to Dublin.
Madalina@BigBusTours
cmpayant69, Aug 2026
Our driver Neil was absolutely fantastic! The tour was amazing! I would highly recommend to all………..
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Hi there!
We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed the Howth Coastal Half-Day Tour and that Neil provided you with such an outstanding experience. We take great pride in our team, and your praise will certainly be passed along to him.
Thank you for your high recommendation, and we hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you on board another tour in the future.
Madalina@BigBusTours
Lisa_B, Aug 2026
Pretty fishing village. Nice views from summit if clear day. Very limited time at stops. Over priced compared to similar priced full dat tours.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback.
We're pleased to hear that you enjoyed the scenery, the fishing village, and the views from the summit. Howth is a beautiful destination, and we're glad you were able to experience some of its highlights.
At the same time, we're sorry to hear that you felt the time at the stops was too limited and that the tour did not represent the value you were expecting. We understand that guests have different preferences, and some may wish for more time to explore each location at a slower pace.
Your comments regarding the overall pacing and value of the tour are important to us and will be shared with our team as we continue to review and enhance the experience we offer.
Thank you again for your honest feedback.
Flavius@BigBusTours
Jason_R, Aug 2026
Our driver, Gerry, was extremely knowledgeable and kept us laughing throughout this experience. The breathtaking views of the lighthouse, amazing food at The Oar House, and the information provided by Gerry made this one of the most memorable experiences of our trip to Ireland. You do not want to miss this opportunity.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Hi Jason_R, we really appreciate your review. We are thrilled to hear about your wonderful experience with Gerry as your guide. Looking forward to having you on board again one day soon! Best, Denisa from Big Bus Tours
Karen_K, Aug 2026
It was a wonderful trip. Mike was a great tour guide. And made some wonderful recommendations for other things to do. We loved the views and had a delicious lunch on the coast at Crabby Joes.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Hi Karen_K. We wish to thank you for your feedback. We are happy to learn that your trip was great, and that Mike enhanced your time spent with us in Howth. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you again soon. Best regards, Vlad @BigBusTours
Mary_K, Aug 2026
It was an absolutely lovely day. Learned so much during the tour. Loved learning about the history along the way. Easy to book and meet up. Alan was an awesome tour guide.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Hi Mary_K. We wish to thank you for your feedback. We are happy to learn that your day was lovely, informative and full of history. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you again soon. Best regards, Vlad @BigBusTours
mr55byyvrz, Aug 2026
The tour bus guide was very knowledgeable and provided some great recommendations to eat seafood. We went to one of Mike’s recommendations and the mussels and oysters literally melted in the mouth. SO FRESH!!! Boat to table!! Thank you again Mike for an amazing recommendation!!!
If you do not like seafood, don’t travel there to eat at the local restaurants as you have little options. The views though are spectacular!!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Hi mr55byyvrz. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us! We are thrilled to learn that you had a wonderful experience on our bus tour, and we hope to see you again soon. Best regards, Razvan @BigBusTours
Elizabeth_N, Aug 2026
Driver was great. Very entertaining. Love having a live guide. He accommodated my mobility challenges and told good stories about the area.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Hello!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review!
We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the live commentary and the beautiful stories about Howth. Our team always strives to make our tours accessible and comfortable for everyone, so it's fantastic to know our driver took great care of your mobility needs.
We hope to welcome you aboard again soon!
MariaS@BigBusToursCustomerCare
Jennifer_W, Aug 2026
Absolutely wonderful half day trip from Dublin! Driver was knowledgeable and easy to communicate with. Timing was great—and we definitely recommend taking the “long walk” along the coast. It offers spectacular views. We ate lunch in the village at The Brass Monkey (amazing fish and chips!)
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for your review!
We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour and your visit to Howth. Thank you for sharing your experience, and we hope to welcome you aboard again soon.
Andrei@BigBusTours
Michael_S, Aug 2026
If your visiting Dublin and need to get away for a day, this tour is perfect. The village of Howth and the cliff walk provided a much needed respit from the hustle and bustle of the city. Jerry was entertaining, personable and provided great facts along the way..highly recommended for anyone traveling alone or with others. Worth every penny!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for your review!
We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed your visit to Howth and found the tour to be a great escape from the city. Thank you for your kind words and recommendation.
Andrei@BigBusTours
michael_m, Aug 2026
Nice little town and great shops along the way .Was perfect amount of time for some Fish and Chips and shopping
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for your review!
We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed your time in Howth and found it to be the perfect place to relax, explore the local shops, and enjoy some fish and chips.
Andrei@BigBusTours
Olga_T, Aug 2026
Howth is beautiful and the summit has amazing views!
Well paced itinerary. Alan was our guide, and shared information about the sites as we drove by.
Try Kish Fish for lunch - delicious!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for sharing your experience! We're delighted to hear you enjoyed the beautiful scenery in Howth and the stunning views from the summit. It's wonderful that Alan helped bring the journey to life with interesting commentary along the way. And thanks for the lunch tip, Kish Fish is a great choice! We hope to welcome you on another adventure soon. Raul@BigBusTours
Erma_C, Aug 2026
The live guide was fabulous. If you want a longer time in the town, go on the morning tour and come back on the afternoon one.
Plan to eat there. The seafood is amazing.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Hi Erma,
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear you enjoyed the tour and found the live commentary so engaging.
Your tip is a great one for future visitors, and we're glad you had time to explore and enjoy the amazing seafood in town. We hope to welcome you onboard again soon!
Alexandra I. @ Big Bus Tours
Michael_V, Aug 2026
This is a great trip if you are looking to get away from the busy city of Dublin to enjoy the nature of the coast. On the 40 minute ride out, the driver provides historical and cultural information. The cliff walk is spectacular, BUT WEAR APPROPRIATE FOOTWEAR for hiking on a pathway that is dirt or loose stone/gravel and often wide enough for one person. I would not suggest this hike if you have mobility issues. HOWEVER, the driver does provide the option to skip the hike and drive you directly to Howth. It is a short trip, so if you take your time on the hike to enjoy the beauty and take pictures, it does cut down your time to explore and have lunch in the village.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for taking the time to share such detailed feedback!
We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the trip and the beautiful coastal scenery around Howth. It's great to know that you found the driver's historical and cultural commentary informative and that the cliff walk lived up to expectations.
BigBusTours@VladL
Elena_V, Aug 2026
A very nice half day experience, got to see real Irish country side with an amazing view to the bay, a hiking trail was easy also for a walk with a 10 y.o. kid. We were lucky the weather was great, a sunny day with very unique landscape
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for your review!
We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed your sightseeing experience and found the tour to be a great way to explore Dublin's highlights. It's wonderful to know that the tour helped you make the most of your visit to the city.
We appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you aboard again in Dublin or another Big Bus Tours destination in the future.
Jacquelynn_B, Jul 2026
The bus stop was easy to find. The ride out was beautiful and informative. The hill top views were amazing. I'm glad we had a choice to walk down or bus down to the city. This tour worked well for my handicap family. Tour guide was the best and patient. Highly recommend this tour to get out to the coast and back. Beautiful town and coast.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hi and thank you for taking the time to leave such a wonderful review.
We're delighted to hear that you found the bus stop easy to locate and enjoyed the beautiful scenery, informative commentary, and stunning views from the hilltop. It's especially great to know that the flexibility of choosing to walk or take the bus back worked well for your group.
We're also pleased to hear that the tour was suitable for your family’s accessibility needs and that your tour guide made such a positive impression with their patience and excellent service.
Thank you for your recommendation. We hope to welcome you on board again for another memorable experience soon!
Calin@BigBusTours
Gerald_C, Jul 2026
Awesome scenery. Great tour guide. Met some local people in the town at a pub. Very friendly. Recommend
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hi,
Thank you for your lovely comments. We are happy to hear that you enjoyed the views, had a great time with your tour guide, and experienced the friendly atmosphere of the local area.
It is wonderful to know that meeting local people added to your visit. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to see you again on another Big Bus Tours adventure. Alexandra@BigBusTours
bethcastellini, Jul 2026
We had great weather so the scenery was lovely. It was rough for the older members of our group to fully enjoy the experience but for able bodied travelers, it was a nice way to see outside the city and the tour guide was fun.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hi,
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us. We are pleased to hear that you enjoyed the scenery and had a great time exploring outside the city with us.
We are glad that you found the tour enjoyable and that our guide helped make the experience fun. We appreciate your comments and hope to welcome you back again for another Big Bus Tours experience. Alexandra@BigBusTours
Bonny_P, Jul 2026
The tour was exactly what was advertised. They were prompt, informative, helpful, and fun. The views were worth the trip!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hi Bonny,
Thank you for sharing your experience!
It's wonderful to hear that you enjoyed the tour and found our team friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable throughout your journey. We're especially happy that the views made such a positive impression and added to your overall experience.
We truly appreciate your recommendation and look forward to seeing you again soon. Alexandra@BigBusTours
Johnathan_G, Jul 2026
We went to a cute little town and it was such a great day out! Jerry was our tour guide and OMG HE WAS AMAZING! Felt like I was also in a comedy club! He was hilarious!!!!!! Overall I loved being on the bus just hearing Jerry hilarious commentary!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback!
We're absolutely delighted to hear that you had such a great day and enjoyed the visit to the town. It's fantastic to know that Jerry made the experience so memorable for you. We'll be sure to pass along your kind words to him—I'm certain he'll be thrilled to hear them!
Thank you again for taking the time to share your experience. We hope to welcome you on board again soon for another adventure.
BigBusTours@VladL
Deborah_D, Jul 2026
The tour guide was extremely helpful, professional and engaging. I enjoyed viewing the cliffs and the views.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for your kind review! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the stunning cliff views and had a great experience with your guide. It's wonderful to know their professionalism, helpfulness, and engaging commentary helped make your tour memorable. We appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you back on another adventure soon! 😊 Daniel@BigBusTours
From $49.72
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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