Why a Dublin Hiking Holiday makes perfect sense for those looking to experience Ireland — and how to plan it.
Over the summer I got an email from Tom, an Irish-American living in California, who was planning a hiking trip to Ireland with his family. Tom had a clear idea of what he was looking for from the holiday. However he still wanted a bit of extra guidance in planning the trip.
It all started from a simple idea. Base yourself in Dublin for a week, and (ideally) use public transport to reach some of the east coast’s best day hikes. Then head back to the city after for food (and pints) and entertainment for the night.
The best thing about using Dublin as a base for a hiking trip is that you can alternate between hiking days and sightseeing days in the city.
Then came the real treat, Tom wanted to follow up the first week in Dublin with a week-long trek along the full Wicklow Way.
I liked the idea so much, I thought it was worth turning it into a full guide. Having researched this a bit more, I feel really strongly that you can build a Dublin hiking holiday with a great choice of hikes to choose from – without ever renting a car.
Here’s how to do it.
Why Base a Hiking Trip in Dublin?
People often assume they need to head west (to the likes of Kerry, Mayo or Donegal) for proper hiking in Ireland. I totally agree those areas are incredibly beautiful. I’ve written about them extensively on Wild Irish Walks. However, the east has far more options than many visitors realise.
From Dublin, you’re within an hour or so of:
- Coastal cliff walks
- Beautiful looped trails in the Dublin and Wicklow Mountains
- Forests, lakes, valleys, and easy summits
- The starting point for one of Ireland’s most popular long-distance trails (the Wicklow Way)
And if the weather turns bad (which, let’s be honest, happens on the regular), you’re in a bustling city with loads of museums, tours, restaurants, cafés and bars.
It’s the perfect blend of nature and comfort.
Dublin-Based Day Hikes (With and Without Public Transport)
Below is the exact table I sent Tom for his Dublin Hiking Holiday — my personal recommendations for the best hikes you can do while staying in Dublin. I’ve split them out into whether the trailheads can be easily accessed by public transport or not.
I’ve personally completed each of these wonderful walks. You can click on each to get the full guide.
Dublin Hiking Holiday Trails Accessible by Public Transport
| Hike | How to Get There |
| Malahide to Portmarnock | Train to Malahide; train home from Portmarnock |
| Howth Cliff Walk – Bog of Frogs | Starts beside Howth train station |
| Killiney Hill | Train to Killiney or Dalkey |
| Dublin Mountain Way (Tallaght → Shankill) | Luas from Tallaght; taxi recommended from Johnny Fox’s (€40–€60) |
| Bray Head Loop | Train to Bray |
| Spinc Walk (Glendalough) | St Kevin’s Bus from Dublin |
Dublin Hiking Holiday Options That Would Require a Car
Some other options within an hour or so drive are detailed below. I mention these hikes as I really enjoyed completing them. However, given their remoteness, you would need to drive to them yourself. No public transport exists and trying to organise a taxi to pick you up would be next to impossible.
Should You Hire a Guide?
The other option you have is to hire a tour company to organise your Dublin hiking holiday.
For me, Wild Irish Walks is just a personal hobby. I love to to take friends and family out, but I don’t run formal guided tours. That said, I’m always happy to help people plan routes or work out logistics. And there are good guide companies if you do prefer the security of a hike leader:
Recommended Guiding Companies
- Hilltop Treks – Group hikes with set meeting points; good if you’re happy to follow their schedule
- Mountaintrails.ie – Very professional; offer private guided hikes, though private trips start around €300
- Viator / GetYourGuide – can be useful for one-off experiences
If all you need is transport to the trailhead, the above companies can offer pick-up points accessible by bus or train.
Sightseeing Days in Dublin (To Alternate With Hike Days)
Tom’s group planned to mix hiking with city sightseeing days, which is genuinely my favourite way to do it.
Here are the experiences I recommended:
Top Things to Do in Dublin
- Kilmainham Gaol – Book well in advance. This is an amazingly and surprisingly powerful experience.
- Glasnevin Cemetery – Do the guided tour, it gives you so much more insight into the home of more than one million Dubliners. I’d also also recommend popping into the Botanical Gardens which is right next door. Plus, do not leave without trying a pint in The Gravediggers pub after. Reputed to be the best pint in Dublin.
- Guinness Storehouse – Dublin’s most popular tourist attraction. Check it out and see why!
- Jameson Distillery – Discover all about this distinctly Irish whiskey.
- Walking Tours – Always a great way to get your bearings. My recommendation would be either the Dublin Highlights and Hidden Gems or the Dublin Literary Pub Crawl.
- Croke Park Tour / GAA Match – A brilliant cultural experience. The Gaelic Athletic Association and Croke Park itself form a deep part of the culture and history of Ireland.
- Trinity College & the Book of Kells – dating back to around 800AD, the Book of Kells is a National Treasure. I’d recommend taking a stroll around the campus of Trinity College where the book is located. You can book private tours too…one such option being the Book of Kells, Dublin Castle and Molly Malone Statue Tour.
Have a Pint (or a few pints!)
- I have a list “as long as my arm” if you need recommendations. I’ve managed to limit it to my top 7 here:
- Mulligan‘s – Poolbeg Street
- One of my favourite pubs in Dublin. The Guinness is sublime and the vibes are always good.
- Kehoe‘s – South Anne Street
- Great spot just off Grafton Street. When the weather is nice, drinkers spill out to the street and mingle together in the sunshine.
- Neary’s – Chatham Street
- A real cosy spot. You have it made if you manage to grab a spot in the snug on the ground floor.
- The Long Hall – George’s Street
- Bruce Springstein’s favourite pub when he visits Dublin. The Boss knows what he is doing. The Long Hall is an authentic Dublin pub with beautiful Guinness and always draws a nice crowd.
- The Cobblestone – Smithfield
- Located in the trendy area of Smithfield, the main attraction of the Cobblestone is the regular traditional Irish music sessions held here.
- Toners – Baggot Street
- You have a lot of pubs on Baggot street. It makes for a great area for a pub crawl. In my opinion, the best bar on the street is Toners. You have the option of having a pint in the small front bar or going outside to the fantastic beer garden out the back.
- Devitt’s – Camden Street
- Like Baggot Street, Camden Street is a more lively area of Dublin. Devitt’s provides a great base to explore this part of the city. They usually have live music upstairs too.
- Mulligan‘s – Poolbeg Street
The Wicklow Way (The Perfect Second Week)
The Wicklow Way offers another option to combine your city break in Ireland with a hiking holiday. You could bookend a week on one of Ireland’s most scenic long-distance trails with time spent in the capital city
Why it Works:
- Firstly, it starts in Dublin which is very handy
- Then you have the beautiful forests, valleys and mountain passes
- In addition, the trail is well-marked and easy to follow
- Good accommodation options
- Finally, baggage transfer options makes it hassle-free
In relation to luggage transfers, I always recommend Wicklow Way Baggage. I’ve personally used them and found them 100% reliable.
If you’re looking for a sample itinerary, I’ve written up the full route here on my Wicklow Way in 6 Days article.
For most people 5–7 days is a great pace for completing the 127km of the Wicklow Way. Starting from Dublin and heading south is the most popular direction but the trail can be completed in either direction. It depends on whether you want the spectacular Wicklow Mountains at the start of end of the trail.
If you want help designing the perfect trip, I can help you outline a customised itinerary.
Final Thoughts on a Dublin Hiking Holiday
I loved Tom’s original idea. For me, the idea of staying in Dublin, hiking the surrounding areas and taking in the areas’s best walks just appeals to me. While finishing with the Wicklow Way could be viewed as ambitious, it means you get to experience and whole different type of holiday.
You get so much good stuff packed into one holiday:
- To start off you are based in the comfort and culture of Dublin
- Then you have world-class hikes within an hour
- No car required
- In other words, a mix of nature, history, food and adventure
- Finally, what better way for you to finish your trip to Ireland than with a long-distance trek
To finish off, If you’re thinking of a similar trip and aren’t sure how to start planning, feel free to get in touch. As mentioned above, I don’t run official tours, but I’m always happy to help out with advice, logistics or route suggestions.
As I always say, happy hiking!
Paddy