7 Day Trips from Dublin

Dublin is a great base to get started when visiting Ireland. However, some of my favourite spots on the island are found just outside the city! Day trips are the best way to see the countryside around Dublin. There are too many places to count that were worth seeing, so I narrowed it down to my top seven.

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1 Hill of Tara

Located forty-five minutes northwest of Dublin, the Hill of Tara was once the seat of the High King of Ireland. There, you can find the Stone of Destiny. According to legend, when the king laid his hands upon the stone, the stone would then scream out, declaring him the true king. The Hill of Tara is also just a great place to wander, as many locals walk their dogs through the field.

Food tip: While there, be sure to check out Maguires Cafe.

Getting there: I was able to visit the Hill of Tara through Irish Day Tours via their Celtic Boyne Valley tour. The 109 bus also runs to the destination, or you can rent a car and drive up the M3.

Unfortunately, the stone did not declare me king

2 Glendalough

Located one hour south of Dublin, Glendalough (pronounced glen-da-lock) is a great spot for nature lovers. I went during a particularly wet day, but that certainly did not take away from the location's beauty. In Glendalough, you'll also be able to discover an ancient lake that was carved by glaciers.

Getting there: I originally went here on a coach bus with my study abroad program. Similar options for you could be using a tour group like Irish Day Tours or Paddywagon. If you'd prefer to see Glendalough without a tour, try renting a car and driving down yourself. Beware: the roads can be very narrow at times!

Food tip: The Wicklow Heather is a highly rated restaurant in the area with a great atmosphere and a large menu.

It was particularly windy at the lake

3 Howth

Forty minutes northeast of Dublin is the fishing town of Howth. Feel free to wander around, getting pictures of Ireland's Eye (the island in the distance), the lighthouse, and St. Mary's Abbey. If you're really feeling up for a walk, you can walk the Bog of Frogs trail around the perimeter of the peninsula. There are also boat trips available out to Ireland's eye a small island visible from the harbour. It's only a short trip but it's worth it to sea the nature on Dublin's doorstep. Ireland's eye is home to various seabirds and you're sure to spot a few seals along the way.

Getting there: The DART Trains run regularly from the Dublin city center to Howth and are the easiest way to get there. Buy your ticket at Connolly Station and easily find yourself enjoying the scenery on the ride to Howth. Of course, you can also rent a car and drive yourself the traffic can be quite busy at the weekends though.

Food tip: Fish and chips from Beshoff Bros eaten al fresco while enjoying the view is a popular choice but beware of the seagulls. Other popular places include Abbey Tavern and The Bloody Stream.

Look, the lighthouse in the distance!

4 Killiney/Dalkey

Forty-five minutes south of Dublin are the seaside villages of Killiney and Dalkey, home to probably Ireland's most famous person--Bono! Hiking Killiney Hill provides beautiful views of the sea and a full 360 view of Wicklow to the south and Howth to the north.  There are always lots of dogs to pet! The obelisk at the top is a great landmark to check out as well. It's actually a short walk and only takes about 20 mins.

Getting there: the DART trains run regularly from the Dublin city center to Killiney. I recommend walking to the top of the hill and then walking down the other side to Dalkey and catching the train back to the city.

Food tip: When Michelle Obama and her daughters came to visit Ireland, Bono took them to his favorite local pub, Finnegans. If you go, you have to try the fish and chips like the Obamas did. There also lots of other pubs in Dalkey worth checking out.

Photo by Logan Hall-Potvin of Hall-Potvin Photography

5 Loughcrew

Loughcrew, located an hour and fifteen minutes northwest of Dublin, is a great for anyone looking to see the ancient history of Ireland. Here, you can climb a hill and go inside an ancient megalithic cairn (with a tour guide). The chamber was designed so that on the winter solsitice, the sun would shine directly through the passageway to illuminate the interior. Thankfully, we had our phones' flashlights that allowed us to see the carvings inside.

Getting there: I ventured to Lough crew of Irish Day Tour's Celtic Boyne Valley tour. Other tour companies run similar tours as well. There is always the option to rent a car and drive yourself.

Food tip: Located next to the start of the hike up the hill is a local cafe I recommend grabbing a coffee or bite to eat at. Nelly's Cafe is run by the grandchildren of the woman who used to own the house the cafe is in and is a great spot to relax at after the hike up the hill.

The ancient cairn in Loughcrew

6 Trim Castle

Fifty minutes northwest of Dublin is Trim Castle. The castle is an Anglo-Norman keep, and it possible to book a tour to see the inside of the castle. Walking around the grounds gives you a feel for what the layout of the keep used to look like, including where they stored their food and had banquets.

Getting there: This was another stop on the Celtic Boyne Valley tour I did with Irish Day Tours. Bus 111 also can get you to Trim castle, or you can rent a car and drive over.

Food tip: Nearby food places include Castle Takeaway, Rosemary Bistro and Cafe, and Stockhouse Restaurant.

The massive Trim Castle

7 Hill of Uisneach

The Hill of Uisneach is one of my personal favorites. It is an hour and a half from Dublin, but the drive is worth it. Why? Because this location is the heart of Ireland--both spiritually and literally. Our guide of the area was a fantastic story teller as he told us the folklore of the area. From where we were standing, we could see nearly all of Ireland. The ancient people of Ireland felt like the center of the world from this vantage point, and I completely understood what they meant; it felt like the green could stretch on forever.

Getting there: This was another stop on the Celtic Boyne Valley tour with Irish Day Tours. You also have the option of taking Bus 23 and then transferring to Bus 70 in Mullingar. Of course, renting a car and driving is an option, too.

Food tip: There aren't any food options within the Hill of Uisneach, but there are some options in the neighboring towns like Mullingar. I recommend packing a lunch or some snacks if you plan on spending a few hours visiting the heart of Ireland.

Photographing the heart of Ireland

There's a reason people can't stop talking about Ireland.

Check it out for yourself.