Howth Cliffs and Lighthouses Boat Tour

Badge of Excellence

Dublin, Ireland

High interest

Booked 5+ times today.

50 minutes to 1 hour (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

4.5

· Anne_E ·

Jun 2026

Beautiful day, great birdwatching, friendly and helpful guide- spotted the one puffin among the many the common guillemots and made our day!. I highly recommend the tour

· BFH ·

May 2026

Great way to spend the afternoon, easy ferry ride, pretty scenery. A little bumpy. Plan lunch at the many restaurants on the pier.

· Owen_B ·

Jun 2026

Quick loop of the harbor but very scenic. They accommodated us for an earlier one because we got there quicker than expected. Great scenery, but the ride was really choppy. They said it’s not always like that but good to know you’re going out into unprotected waters. Narration isn’t the most detailed so I wouldn’t expect to learn a ton. Thankfully the deckhand was very friendly and talkative.

Overview

Venture beyond the bustle of the big city, and discover some of the most dramatic natural scenery in the Dublin area, on this sightseeing cruise along the Howth Cliffs. Make your own way to the departure point on the West Pier in Howth, hop aboard, and settle in. You can admire the Baily Lighthouse, and get up right up close to the sights—all without breaking a sweat on a grueling cliff hike.

See the Howth Cliffs without breaking a sweat on this sightseeing cruise
Enjoy a perspective on the scenery that many visitors miss
Learn about the region's sights, wildlife and more with live commentary
Discover some of the Dublin area's most impressive natural attractions

What's Included

Life jackets on board

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Howth Cliff Cruises | Ireland's Eye Ferries (landing) | Howth Sunset Cruises
16 W Pier, Howth Demesne, Dublin, Ireland
Pontoon on the West Pier in Howth. Opposite Aqua Restaurant

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

Baily Lighthouse (Pass By)

Howth Head (Pass By)

Howth Lighthouse (Pass By)

Ireland's Eye (Pass By)

Additional Info

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

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

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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

Helen_D

I would highly recommend this excursion around the beautiful coast at Howth. The tour was very informative and gave a superb overview of the history and the wildlife of the area. We topped it off afterwards with fish and chips and ice cream!

Reviews

4.5

based on 455 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

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Disappointed

Terri_M, Jul 2026

Much shorter trip than advertised Less than 40 mins. Had booked for American visitors. If you cannot provide the expectation. At least offer bottles of water on a hot day

Response from Host, Jul 2026

Dear Terri, Thank you for your feedback. We're sorry to hear the trip didn't meet your expectations. Our sailing times can occasionally vary slightly due to tides and local sea conditions, but we understand your disappointment. We also appreciate your suggestion about providing bottled water on warmer days and will certainly take it into consideration. We hope you'll give us another opportunity to welcome you on board in the future. If you wish to discuss your experience directly with our Customer Management Team they are available via howthcliffcruises@gmail.com. Kind regards, Howth Cliff Cruises.

Disappointing

Lauren_C, Jul 2026

We could not hear the captain or whatever recording was playing over the loud sound of the engine. Also, we could not seem to escape the fumes from the engine that was particularly unpleasant for me and my son. The boat just went in a straight line to a lighthouse and back. It was super boring and we arrived back to the dock 15 minutes early. If you are going to take a boat ride at Howth, I would strongly recommend the one that takes you around Ireland’s Eye and it’s recommended that you bring binoculars. Definitely skip the one we did!!

Response from Host, Jul 2026

Dear Lauren, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We're sorry to hear that your experience didn't meet your expectations. We're also sorry to hear that the engine fumes affected you and your son. This is certainly not the experience we want our passengers to have, and we'll investigate your concerns with our crew and vessel. We understand it wasn't the type of experience you were looking for, and we're sorry it fell short of your expectations. Regarding the early return, our trip duration can vary slightly depending on sea conditions, and tides, but we appreciate you bringing this to our attention. Our Customer Management Team are available to discuss this with you directly if you wish, via howthcliffcruises@gmail.com. Thank you again for your honest feedback. It helps us identify areas where we can improve, and we hope you'll consider giving us another opportunity in the future. Regards, Howth Cliff Cruises.

Not happy

Donna_P, Jul 2026

Not happy apparently viators operator they were to use their boats were seized and not operating, thank goodness another tour operator stepped in! Get your act together!

The views were beyond...

AnnMarie_D, Jun 2026

The views were beyond words! Unfortunately, the water was very choppy, so we were unable to experience the full tour(did not have the opportunity to go around the full island or step off of the boat). This was of nobody’s wrongdoing, just our misfortune with the weather

Response from Host, Jul 2026

Dear AnnMarie, Thank you for sharing your feedback with us. We are glad you got to enjoy the tour even with the conditions on the day. We look forward to welcoming you onboard in the future - hopefully when the weather co-operates! Regards, Howth Cliff Cruises team.

Don't expect anyrhing but a chance to get out on the water.

Cindy_D, Jun 2026

It's not really a guided tour, just 2 guys who turn recordings on at certain points. They do not interact with you at all. We did not go to Ireland's Eye, a fog had rolled in but I don't think they intended to go there. They certainly did not announce anything.

Response from Host, Jun 2026

Dear Cindy, Thank you for providing us with your feedback on your cruise experience. We apologise that this did not meet your expectations on this occasion. Your feedback will be related back to our management team to address. If you wish to discuss this directly with them they are available via howthcliffcruises@gmail.com and would be happy to assist you. Kind regards, Howth Cliff Cruises Customer team.

Quick loop of the harbor...

Owen_B, Jun 2026

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.

Beautiful day, great...

Anne_E, Jun 2026

Beautiful day, great birdwatching, friendly and helpful guide- spotted the one puffin among the many the common guillemots and made our day!. I highly recommend the tour

Response from Host, Jun 2026

Do not book this boat

Kelley_W, Jun 2026

Don’t book this boat. We went to sit on top of the boat thinking good views and yet we weren’t told that if we sat on top we wouldn’t hear one word of the tour guide comments. Do not book this boat if you want any information of what you are seeing. Upon our return, we sat for 20 minutes waiting to dock as another boat was in the way. Ruined our schedule, waste of time…do not book this boat

Response from Host, Jun 2026

Dear Kelley, Thank you for taking your time to provide your honest feedback on your experience. We appreciate that this was not as you had expected and we sincerely apologise. Our customer care and management team are reviewing this with our crew directly. If you wish to discuss your experience further with our team please feel free to contact us via howthcliffcruises@gmail.com. Kind regards, Howth Cliff Cruises Mgt team.

Pretty impersonal, experience still worth it

Baylie_S, May 2026

Overall, we are glad to have experienced this boat tour and found it worth our time and a fair price. Was super interesting to see all the different sea birds up close. The downside of the experience was there was little to no interaction from the boat captain. There was one person standing near the dock on their phone and we eventually had to ask if he was with the boat. We were the only people on the boat and he only spoke to us one other time mid tour to tell us to move to the other side of the boat to see the view better. Based on the other reviews I expected more interaction, so if you’re also looking for something a bit more personal one of the other tours may be better suited. Still rating 4 stars since the tour was more or less like the description.

Response from Host, Jun 2026

Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We're pleased to hear that you enjoyed seeing the variety of seabirds up close and felt the tour offered good value for money. Ireland’s Eye is a special place for wildlife, and we're glad you found the experience worthwhile. We also appreciate your honest feedback regarding the level of interaction during the tour. We aim to provide a welcoming and informative experience for all our guests, and we're sorry to hear that the personal engagement did not meet your expectations. Your comments have been noted and will be shared with our team as we continue to improve the experience we offer. Thank you again for joining us, and we hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back on board in the future.

It was so good! loved how...

Aishi_S, May 2026

It was so good! loved how the experience felt real and surreal at the same time! Thank you Team for the same.

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 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.

Irelands Eye boat tour

Terry_W, May 2026

We were lucky with beautiful weather unfortunately Mother Nature did not present seals or Puffins that day. Ireland’s Eye was interesting and we saw a lot of birds. It was easy to find our boat. The Captain has weathered some seas and kept us safe and fairly dry. A few folks did get sprayed somewhat. Occasionally a recorded voice announced information that was a bit hard to hear so listen closely. Overall a nice short tour.

Response from Host, May 2026

Very enjoyable

BFH, May 2026

Great way to spend the afternoon, easy ferry ride, pretty scenery. A little bumpy. Plan lunch at the many restaurants on the pier.

Response from Host, May 2026

Amaizing captain, very...

Ilze_S, May 2026

Amaizing captain, very friendly and had an extra tour around the Ireland’s eye as a bonus for free. Really beautiful nature

Response from Host, May 2026

Expected to sail around Ireland's Eye but only sailed by it

Michael_L, May 2026

Enjoyable but we only sailed up by the island rather than around it which was a disappointment..I felt like this deprived us of the full experience

Response from Host, May 2026

Dear Customer, Thank you for taking your time to provide us with your feedback. We are very sorry to hear the trip did not meet your expectations. Please feel free to contact our customer service team on howthcliffcruises@gmail.com regarding your experience. Kind regards, Howth Cliff Cruises

Terrible

Diana_S, Apr 2026

Very disappointed... tour said it was approx 50 min long.... we left at 1:30 was back in shore by 2:00.... not worth the $

We had an amazing time...

veryamanda25, Apr 2026

We had an amazing time and the views were insane!! If you get the chance just book it! Very accommodating and kind tour guides!

Response from Host, Apr 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 and Howth Coast Tour 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

Must do in Howth

Toni_G, Apr 2026

Great experience overall. I went solo and felt completely comfortable—the captain was friendly, and we even had a good laugh when I got soaked by a wave. I was a bit bummed not to see any puffins or seals, but that’s just how nature works. The razorbills were awesome to see and the cliffs were beautiful. Classic Ireland weather with sun and rain, and although it got choppy on the way back, the captain handled it expertly. Would definitely recommend.

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Dear Customer, Thank you for joining us on board. We are delighted that you enjoyed your Ireland's Eye and Howth Coast Tour with us. To a family business like ours, your feedback means everything. Kind regards, The Howth Cliff Cruises Team.

Lovely!

April_M, Apr 2026

Great cruise. Nice staff and picturesque. Ready to get to the meeting point by DART from Dublin. Very nice.

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Arrive early and keep an...

Amanda_C, Apr 2026

Arrive early and keep an eye on the weather, it is always colder and windier by the water. Amazing views, saw puffins, very informative and friendly captain!

Response from Host, Apr 2026

The scenery was very...

Angela_K, Apr 2026

The scenery was very pretty but I wish we had not spent our time and money on this tour. The ship captain never acknowledged those onboard and did not provide any safety information such as the location of life vests. There was an audio recording playing for a small portion of the trip but it was hard to hear and kept cutting out. Saw minimal wildlife.

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Dear Customer, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We are very sorry to hear that your experience did not meet expectations, especially regarding the lack of onboard communication, safety information, and the issues with the audio during the tour. This is not the level of service we aim to provide. Please let us know if you would prefer a full refund, or we would be glad to offer you another cruise with us in the future so you can enjoy the experience as it should be. Kind regards, Howth Cliff Cruises Customer team.

Very interesting

CRISTINA_F, Apr 2026

Nice informative boat ride with a lovely staff. We enjoyed seeing very interesting rock formations and colonies of birds that live there.

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Nice narrated boat ride...

Rhoda_C, Mar 2026

Nice narrated boat ride saw lighthouse, birds and beautiful rock formations. Was able to see birds on the rocks.

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Great experience

Gregory_C, Mar 2026

Beautiful countryside and friendly crew. It was very informative and a really smooth ride considering the windy weather.

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Boat ride arround Ireland's Eye and cliffs of Howth

Alen_S, Mar 2026

The tour is a short 45 min ride on a boat over to the cliffs of Howth and arround Ireland's Eye the home of many birds and seals, if you're lucky you can also see the dolphins.

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Dear Alen, Thanks for joining us on board. We really hope that you enjoyed your Ireland's Eye and Howth Coast Tour with us. To a small business like ours, your feedback means everything. We hope to see you on board again soon. Thanks for supporting our family business! The Howth Cliff Cruises Team.

Easy to find, comfortable...

Stacy_S, Mar 2026

Easy to find, comfortable ride, informative information, fun ride. A great day trip from Dublin. Easy trip on the train.

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Dear Customer, Thanks for joining us on board. We really hope that you enjoyed your Ireland's Eye and Howth Coast Tour with us. To a small business like ours, your feedback means everything. We hope to see you on board again soon. Thanks for supporting our family business! The Howth Cliff Cruises Team.

Great for kids

Emily_G, Mar 2026

Great way to spend an hour. The Captain allowed our son to steer the ship for a moment. Made his day.

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Fun boat tour around time...

Daniel_M, Mar 2026

Fun boat tour around time Hawth area. Beautiful sights and some interesting information. Very enjoyable.

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Great tour

Mya_A, Feb 2026

Amazing cruise 10/10 very amazing captain and beautiful sites. Loved it so much highly recommend . Worth the money

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Thanks for joining us on board. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your Ireland's Eye and Howth Coast Tour with us. To a small business like ours, your feedback means everything. We hope to see you on board again soon. Thanks for supporting our family business! The Howth Cliff Cruises Team.

Pot o gold

Patricia_J, Feb 2026

We decided to head out of Dublin to Howth for the afternoon and were able to purchase last minute tickets. Just as we departed the pier it started raining fairly heavily. Our wonderful captain, Ollie, adjusted the itinerary to better protect the passengers. We stayed close to shore and went past a lighthouse. As we were returning, the sun came out and we were treated to a full rainbow. As a result of the weather change, Ollie took us for a little extra trip around the Irish Eye island. He was absolutely the quintessential seasoned Irish boat captain and made our trip one to remember.

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Ireland's Eye is a very...

Valeriya_V, Dec 2025

Ireland's Eye is a very beautiful small island, a homeland to various wild species, especially birds and seals. The trip is perfect for everyone who loves nature and/or photography.