Dublin City Guide - Getting Around

Dublin's public transport system is a bus and rail network, although a new network of 40 trams is currently being introduced by Luas Light Rail Lines (tel: (01) 646 3400 or 1 800 300 604; website: www.luas.ie), with two lines currently in operation.

Iarnród Éireann (see Getting There By Rail section) runs the clean and speedy electrical DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transport) rail services (tel: (01) 836 6222; website: www.irishrail.ie) which operate Monday to Saturday 0630 to 2400 and Sunday 0930 to 2300. Rail fares vary according to routes. You can buy DART tickets from any DART station.

Bus Átha Cliath (Dublin Bus) runs the city bus services (tel: (01) 873 4222; website: www.dublinbus.ie), which operate daily from 0600 to 2330, with a night bus service (Nitelink) running daily from 0030 to 0430. Bus fares vary according to the number of stops. The price of Nitelink tickets also depends on the length of journey. You can buy pre-paid tickets at the information desk at Dublin Airport, Dublin Bus Head Office or at bus ticket agencies.

Information on fares and timetables is provided at the Dublin Bus Information Office and Irish Rail, O'Connell Street, and Dublin Tourism Centre (see Tourist Information section).

Luas, the city's new tramway system, opened in the summer of 2004 and at present only has two routes to the suburbs (arranged into three zones) and is primarily used by commuters. Luas offers a range of ticket options ranging from a single trip to a seven-day or 30-day pass. There are also one-, seven- and 30-day combi-tickets for the Luas and Dublin Bus, covering all zones.

Various passes for bus, rail or both combined are available, including one-, three-, five- and seven-day Rambler Tickets, and a one-day Family Rambler Ticket, each offering unlimited travel for consecutive days on all Dublin Bus scheduled services, excluding the night buses. Weekly and monthly passes for the DART (including the buses) are also available, and there is also an Adult Short Hop pass and a Family Short Hop pass, valid for unlimited travel for one day on all Dublin Bus, DART and suburban rail services.

Taxis (standard saloon cars) can be hailed on the street, hired at taxi ranks (O'Connell Street, Dame Street and St Stephen's Green) or booked by telephone. Radio Link (tel: (01) 478 1111) is a reputable company. So is VIP ACE Taxis (tel: (01) 478 3333). There is often a considerable waiting period for a taxi at peak times, especially Friday and Saturday nights. It is customary for passengers to tip the driver between 10 and 15% of the fare.

The volume of traffic in Dublin is increasing and parking is expensive and limited, although some hotels and guest houses provide private parking for guests. Visitors should avoid driving during morning and late afternoon rush hours if possible. Drivers should keep out of bus lanes at all times, whether driving or parking. There are also numerous one-way systems in the centre, including the quays alongside the River Liffey (the south bank flows east to west and the north bank, west to east).

Street parking is limited in the city centre and official car parks are usually the best bet. The city's main car parks, with various hourly rates, are Arnotts, Middle Abbey Street, on the Northside and Brown Thomas, Clarendon Street 2, on the Southside. Both are located in the middle of shopping districts. For street parking, kerbside pay-and-display meters are standard.

A full national driving licence and deposit are necessary for visitors to hire a car in Ireland; most firms require the driver to be over 23 and under 70 years old and to have held a full driving licence for a minimum of two years without endorsements.

Avis, 35-39 Old Kilmainham Road (tel: (01) 605 7500; website: www.avis.com), Budget, 151 Drumcondra Road Lower (tel: (01) 837 9611; website: www.budget.com), and Europcar, Dublin Airport (tel: (01) 812 0410; website: www.europcar.ie), are among the main providers. Pre-booking is strongly recommended in summer and payment is usually only accepted by credit card.

The best tracks are along Dublin Bay and across the Wicklow Mountains, as central Dublin is sadly lacking in cycle paths. Phoenix Park Bike Hire, Gate Lodge, Chesterfield Avenue (tel: 08626 56258; website: www.phoenixparkbikehire.com), offers a comprehensive bicycle hire service.