Ireland's Eye and Howth Coastal Boat Tour

Badge of Excellence

Dublin, Ireland

High interest

Booked 5+ times today.

50 minutes (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Overview

Explore the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Ireland's Eye on this scenic cruise that combines wildlife watching with an island landing. While many trips to Dublin focus on its cosmopolitan city attractions, this boat tour from Howth Harbor offers a slower pace and a fresh perspective. Cruise past rugged cliffs, sea caves, and hidden beaches, close to seabird colonies and marine wildlife, including puffins, seals, gannets, and guillemots.

Escape the city bustle for an off-the-beaten-path adventure on Ireland's Eye
Spot seabirds, including puffins along rugged coastal cliffs, during nesting season
Capture panoramic views of Howth Cliffs, Balscadden Bay, and Dublin Bay
Hear commentary about local legends and maritime history

What's Included

Government Fees

Snacks

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Howth Cliff Cruises | Ireland's Eye Ferries (landing) | Howth Sunset Cruises
16 W Pier, Howth Demesne, Dublin, Ireland
Wait at the black gate at the top of the pontoon. The pontoon is down the very end of the West Pier in Howth, opposite Aqua Restaurant.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

Howth (Pass By)

Howth Lighthouse (Pass By)

Balscadden Bay (Pass By)

Ireland (Pass By)

Martello Tower (Pass By)

Howth (Pass By)

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Service animals allowed

Near public transportation
Most travelers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 40 travelers

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

Anonymous

Really wonderful boat ride around the island. So beautiful and interesting. So glad we booked this and recommend highly!

Reviews

4.3

based on 200 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Sort by: Most recent

Although cheap, not worth...

Diego_D, Sep 2026

Although cheap, not worth the money when you’re paying for 5 people. The whole tour was just looping around an island so we could see seagulls. The boat didn’t go fast so there was a constant smell of exhaust. There wasn’t much to see/ it was a lot of cruising with on a packed boat with little reward.

Awesome

Mischelle_R, Aug 2026

Awesome! Perfect for a quick experience if you’re trying to fit a lot into your schedule. Beautiful scenery. The crew was very friendly.

Response from Host, Aug 2026

Thanks for joining us onboard!

Décevant et arnaque

Manon_C, Aug 2026

We paid €100 in total for this boat excursion, which was advertised as lasting 50 minutes starting at 3:00 PM. However, we actually left at 3:05 PM and were already back at the dock at 3:35 PM. This means the actual duration of the excursion was only around 30 minutes, which is significantly shorter than the advertised 50 minutes. We would therefore like to request a partial refund or, at the very least, some form of compensation for the considerable difference between the service advertised and the service we actually received. As tourists, it is particularly disappointing to feel that the advertised duration was misleading. We paid for a 50-minute experience, not a 30-minute one, and we expect this issue to be addressed fairly.

Response from Host, Aug 2026

Dear Customer, Thank you for getting in touch, and please accept our sincere apologies for the disappointment caused by the shorter duration of your boat excursion. We fully understand your concerns. The experience was advertised as a 50-minute excursion, and we acknowledge that the actual trip was significantly shorter than expected. As a gesture of goodwill and to address the difference in the advertised and actual duration, we will process a full refund of the €100 paid for the excursion. We apologise again and appreciate you bringing this to our attention. Kind regards, Howth Cliff Cruises Team

Beautiful

JohnPaul_J, Aug 2026

Beautiful tour with lovely scenery and history. Water was great and the Captain gets close to the cliffs so we can fully take in the breath taking views!

Response from Host, Aug 2026

Thanks again for your kind review, we hope to welcome you onboard again in the future.

It was a great way to see...

Kali_F, Aug 2026

It was a great way to see the eye and sights you cannot see from the shore. Bring a rain jacket with you just in case of misting when in the tour.

Response from Host, Aug 2026

Thanks for joining us onboard!

Beautiful views and lovely people

Stacy_C, Aug 2026

Was a lovely experience my mother really enjoyed her trip on the the boat the young lads were very helpful with my mam in her wheelchair thank you so much would most certainly do it again thanks lads Alex you were a pleasure to meet thank you

Response from Host, Aug 2026

Great to hear yourself & your mom enjoyed your cruise with us. Will pass on your kind words to the crew as well. Hope to welcome you both onboard again in the future.

Tourist Trap with no flair

Suzette_R, Aug 2026

The boat is big so doesn't get as close to rocks as smaller boats. The lecture is pre recorded and bland. They leave dock late and get back early so you don't get a full hour on h2o.

Response from Host, Aug 2026

We appreciate your honest review and that the experience did not meet your expectations. If you wish to discuss further with our management team they are available via howthcliffcruises@gmail.com.

Very pleasant trip

Erin_M, Aug 2026

Very pleasant trip around Ireland’s Eye. Enjoyed the trip in and out and listening to the audio description, however the volume could have been a bit louder.

Response from Host, Aug 2026

Thanks for joining us onboard. We appreciate your comment son the audio and will be reviewing this with the crew.

Good value, just the right amount of waves and wind

Chevi_H, Aug 2026

The tour was a great 1 hr activity and views were great. I feel like we may have done a protracted tour (less than 45 minutes) and other boats of same company went all the way around the island. Waves were quite large so the boat moves A LOT. Best seats for less spray and some wind block/sun block are right at the edge of the cover. (All the way to the front would take spray through the cracks of the front 'wall' of plexiglass). The back got spray from the back, the sides and even over the boat from the front :-) Also, inside seats that face out are easier to take pictures from, otherwise you have to take it across the whole boat, or try and turn around. Some good information provided on the audio track that plays, but couldn't always hear it great, and it wasn't happening real time, just a recording. Never even really heard anything from captain or 'skipper'.

Response from Host, Aug 2026

Thank you for your feedback. We will take your comments on the seating & audio under careful review . Hope to welcome you onboard again in the future. Regards, Howth Cliff Cruises.

Excellent cruise around Ireland’s Eye

Emer_D, Aug 2026

Great experience from start to finish. The commentary during the cruise was very informative about the abundance of birds and seals on Irelands Eye and history. Being native Irish myself I arranged a lovely day out with friends and decided to try something different. We had a beautiful day and met some lovely people on the cruise. Looking forward to doing this cruise again!

Response from Host, Aug 2026

Thanks for joining us onboard. Delighted to hear you & your friends enjoyed your cruise. We look forward to welcoming you again in the future!

Good Value

Catherine_W, Jul 2026

If you're going to Howth for the day you absolutely need to take a trip out on one of the many tour boats. We went out later in the afternoon, and so as we were coming in, we saw all the sailboats and small crafts returning back to Harbor. You are really too far to see any of the houses or buildings below/on the cliffs but this sight was just beautiful. What you do get to do is circle the harbor with the lighthouse and then you continue as far out as far as the Eye of Ireland. We saw seals as well as many birds including cormerants and puffins, but no sadly porpoises. The guide was very kind and had the pilot swing around several times so we could get close to the puffins in the water. We were there in the middle to end of July so if you're going to see any of the sea creatures in particular you would want to see when you're most likely to get a glimpse. The time out on the water felt just the right amount of time (45 mins). It was very wavy but I enjoyed that. The boat is an older repurposed boat so don't expect any luxury. The narration for the tour came over a speaker and was pre-recorded. It was very clear and interesting. Good value.

Response from Host, Jul 2026

Thank you for the lovely review. As a small family run business, your feedback is important to us. We hope to welcome you onboard again in the future. Kind regards, Howth Cliff Cruises.

Desappointing trip

Keshia_C, Jul 2026

We asked for a guide in person, but instead there was only a recording that played for about two minutes, and you could barely hear anything it said. We didn't get to the Eye because of the weather, but they didn't offer to refund our money. We also didn't see any caves or seals.

Response from Host, Jul 2026

Hi Keshia, Thanks for your honest review. We are sorry to hear the cruise did not live up to your expectations. Your feedback is extremely important to us. If you wish to discuss directly with our customer management team please contact them directly via howthcliffcruises@gmail.com. They will be happy to assist you with your refund etc. Kind regards, Howth Cliff Cruises,

Good trip for family

Dermot_B, Jul 2026

It's a good boat trip, saw a few puffins up on the rock at a distance, you would need a long lens or binoculars to see them properly, overall the children enjoyed it. Lasted just long enough. Friendly staff.

Response from Host, Jul 2026

Thank you!

Fun for kids

Laura_G, Jul 2026

I traveled with my wife and 10yo. The 3 of us loved it for all different reasons. No puffin sightings, but we did see a momma seal and her baby. We did get to hike around the island which was really fun. Be sure you have good shoes for getting up the ridge and back down.

Response from Host, Jul 2026

Delighted to hear you enjoyed your island adventures.

Brian and Harry were...

Jessica_V, Jul 2026

Brian and Harry were amazing! Super helpful and gave lots of recommendations around the city! Amazing tour, even on a day without lots of wildlife the views make the trip worth it.

Response from Host, Jul 2026

Thank you for your lovely review. Delighted to hear you enjoyed the cruise & our brilliant crew. We hope to welcome you onboard again soon. Regards, Howth Cliff Cruises.

Poor vendor, but liked the town of Howth

Kelly_V, Jul 2026

Howth is a lovely place to visit, and we had perfect weather. The vendor over sold so the tiny boat was packed to the point of very uncomfortable. They didn’t have a speaking guide, they played a recording that gave very little detail. The only seal we saw was at the marina and the guide didn’t bother to point it out. Didn’t go anywhere near the cliff. Not allowed up on the upper observation deck, even though the sea was calm and the boat so so crowded. This tour concept could have been great, but the people running it were terrible. It was so dull, multiple people fell asleep on a 45 min ride!!

Response from Host, Jul 2026

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We're sorry to hear that your experience did not meet your expectations. We appreciate your comments regarding the tour, capacity, seating concerns, and onboard commentary. Your feedback is extremely important to us. If you would like to discuss your experience directly, please contact our Customer Management team at howthcliffcruises@gmail.com, and they will be happy to assist you further. Kind regards, Howth Cliff Cruises

Perfect family trip

Debbie_C, Jul 2026

Lovely trip which was suitable for families. Very good guide and commentary with lots of local knowledge

Don't get on the bigger boat if you want to land on the island

Yvonne_O, Jun 2026

Beware the details -- description said land in the island but itinerary says just cruise around the cliffs. We were a group of 17 who were put on a boat that was too big to land no matter what. We complained constantly and a smaller boat was sent to us that we switched into to land on the island. All was good after that except one of our group didn't make it into the smaller boat and was left alone to do the tour she didn't want to do. It felt like this was a scam to get as many people as possible into the big boat and not have to do the island drop off and collection. This was my third attempt in as many years to land so I was definitely not looking to do the same cliffs again. Id only recommend if this was made clear at bookings and before getting in the boats in future.

Response from Host, Jun 2026

Hi Yvonne, We appreciate your candid and honest feedback on your experience with your cruise and apologise for any inconvenience it may have caused. This will be directly related back to the management team to ensure it is addressed appropriately. If you would like to discuss directly with our customer service manager @ howthcliffcruises@gmail.com they will be happy to assist. Customer experience and feedback is extremely important to us. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you onboard with us again in the future. Kind regards, Howth Cliff Cruises Mgt. Team.

Nice boat ride to see the...

Stephanie_Y, Jun 2026

Nice boat ride to see the cliffs and birds. The time of ride was a perfect amount of time to see everything

Response from Host, Jun 2026

Dear Customer, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your wonderful review. We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed your maritime adventure with us. As a family-run business, your kind feedback truly means the world to us and motivates us to keep delivering memorable experiences. We hope to welcome you on board again in the future. Warm regards, The Howth Cliff Cruises Team.

You might not see any...

Margarita_A, May 2026

You might not see any seals or Puffins. It’s still a nice trip but don’t have too much expectations.

Response from Host, Jun 2026

Sorry to hear you were disappointed with not seeing seals of puffins. While we aim to provide the best possible experience, sightings of wildlife such as puffins and seals cannot be guaranteed, as they are wild animals and their presence can vary from day to day.

Kids friendly

Ashna_K, May 2026

I traveled with my 2 year old and 4 year old they loved it!!!! Definitely go again..best add on list for a day trip

Response from Host, May 2026

Dear Customer, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your wonderful review. We’re absolutely delighted to hear that you & the little ones enjoyed your adventure with us. Moments like these are what we love to share with our guests and their families. As a family-run business, your kind feedback truly means the world to us and motivates us to keep delivering memorable experiences. We hope to welcome you on board again in the future. Warm regards, The Howth Cliff Cruises Team.

No. 1 thing to do in Dublin

miriam_o, May 2026

Loved it Loved that it wasn't raining Don't know how this company managed that! Very informative and worth the money Lots of fresh fish along the pier and quirky food houses

Response from Host, May 2026

Dear Customer, Thank you for joining onboard. We are delighted to hear about much you enjoyed your cruise with us and your time in Howth. As a family run business, we truly appreciate your feedback. Kind Regards, Howth Cliff Cruises.

Great for kids

Erin_S, May 2026

Great experience. We were on the right side of the boat and you didn’t get as much of an up close view as the left side of the boat did but overall it was great! Amazing staff and loved the view from the water. Would Recommend!

Response from Host, May 2026

Dear Customer, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your wonderful review. We’re absolutely delighted to hear that you enjoyed your Ireland’s Eye adventure with us. Moments like these are what we love to share with our guests. As a family-run business, your kind feedback truly means the world to us and motivates us to keep delivering memorable experiences. We hope to welcome you on board again in the future. Warm regards, The Howth Cliff Cruises Team.

Great cruise, loved the...

Subhransu_P, Jan 2026

Great cruise, loved the scenic beauty all the way, great clicks which will etch with me forever.. Thanks

Avoid These Pirates !

Keith_D, Dec 2025

I gave this company the opportunity to reply but they didn’t so In a nutshell! A disaster & chaos onboard, rubbish staff, no safety announcements/precautions or vision from staff to some serious onboard issues that were occurring. As a group it’s fair to say that 80% onboard were traumatised by this incident, this tin can of a boat should never of left the harbour & in my opinion the clowns who hide away from the elements in there covered in Captains cabin should never be allowed on a boat again. They were nowhere to be seen during horrific conditions & the fear was there for all to see, they were well aware that customers were really suffering as so many took shelter inside the boat & when one eventually came out to give the thumbs up I told him about the situation and he laughed at me ! The people at the other end of the boat had asked me because I was sitting nearest the entrance to get them to turn back when I told him this n that a young baby but for the grace of God nearly went overboard he then realised it wasn’t a laughing matter n says they would turn back but to the astonishment of all they didn’t just kept going ! This was not the first excursion of the Day so they knew of the elements & how dangerous the water was did they mention any of this to us ? Did they say as a precaution put on life jackets if your staying outside ? Did they say it’s rough on the sea today would you like to cancel ? No to all cos greed n the colour of money was more important to these people. I will never forget the fear on people’s faces, I thought we were gone it was that bad I saw no way that we would get back to land and was there any reassurance from the crew ? Nothing not a word from the Captain before, during, or after this calamity. I’m only glad to be able to tell the story but I’ll never again set foot on a boat this lot destroyed any chance of that. Avoid them avoid, avoid, AVOID!!

Response from Host, Dec 2025

Keith, we have responded to your email through Viator. If you could please get in touch with us directly howthcliffcruises@gmail.com as we would like to discuss this and apologise personally. his is most certainly not the standard of safety and service we aim to provide, and I am deeply sorry that this was your experience. We are extremely disappointed to hear this. Please could you pass on your phone number to us at your earliest convenience.