Dublin Ireland 2 Day Itinerary (Day Trips)
Two days pairs one Dublin city day with Howth, the only day trip in this family that needs zero advance planning. For the city done in full depth, see our Dublin itineraries ; for Glendalough, Newgrange, and the rest of the gateway family, our 3-day plan and beyond keep adding one trip at a time.
Book these before you go:
- Book of Kells tickets : timed entry, summer morning slots sell out weeks ahead
- Your Dublin hotel : compare city center rates before you land
| Day | Focus | Travel time from Dublin |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dublin city: Trinity, Grafton Street, Temple Bar | City center |
| 2 | Howth: cliff walk and seafood | 30-35 min by DART |
Day 1: Dublin city, the short version
Give yourself one full day in the city before you start using it as a launchpad. Start at Trinity College for the Book of Kells and Old Library, budget about 90 minutes and book a timed slot in advance since summer mornings sell out; book ahead rather than risk a walk-up ticket. See visittrinity.ie for the official calendar. From Trinity it’s a short walk to Grafton Street and St Stephen’s Green, then Temple Bar in the evening, one street back from the busiest corner if you want a normal-priced pint. This is the short version of the city; for the full nine-thing version, see our Dublin city guide .
Day 2: Howth, the easy win
Take the DART from Connolly, Pearse, or Tara Street, roughly 30 to 35 minutes, trains every half hour, a few euro each way or a Leap Card zone fare. No booking, no tour bus. Take the H3 bus up to Howth Summit first, then walk the Cliff Path Loop downhill into the village, the same coastal views with a fraction of the climbing. Eat at the harbour: Beshoff Bros for fish and chips at half the price of a sit-down table, or the Oarhouse if you want to sit and order properly. Check transportforireland.ie for current Leap Card zone fares before you tap in.
Does Howth need advance planning? No, and that’s the point. It’s the one trip in this whole family you can decide to do the morning of: no ticket, no tour, and no backup plan required if the weather turns.
Before you go
Buy a Leap Card for the DART to Howth and the Luas or bus if you need either in the city center; the longer day trips in this family run on tour coaches or Irish Rail instead, not the city transit card. Pack for rain regardless of month, Dublin doesn’t have a reliably dry season. Dublin Airport has no rail or metro link in 2026, so budget the Airlink 747/757 or Aircoach 700 coach into the city, roughly EUR 9-12, rather than planning around a train that doesn’t exist. If two days leaves you wanting more, the 3-day plan adds Glendalough next.