Howth (pronounced hoe-th), is an amazing coastal village only about half an hour away from the Dublin City Center.
This was one of my favorite places to visit when I studied abroad in Dublin, and I tried to go here as often as I could.
This fishing village has hikes, a castle, plenty of amazing food, and a fantastic vibe! It never gets old, the views and atmosphere are so peaceful and relaxing, while also being packed with opportunities for adventure.
I’ve made a list of the best things to do in Howth for an amazing quick trip to the village!
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Getting to Howth from Dublin
There are a few different ways to get to Howth from Dublin, but I personally took the DART.
You will take the train to the Howth DART Station. There are three DART stations in the city center: Connolly, Tara Street, and Pearse. There are other stations if you’re staying somewhere else, so you can check the map. The Howth DART station drops you off basically right across from the market.
The DARTs typically run every 15 minutes, but it may be a bit longer. You can book your ticket online, or you can buy one at the station. Tickets usually range from €3 to €7 ($3.11 to $7.25). It takes about half an hour to get to Howth from the City Center.
You can also take a Dublin Bus from the City Center to Howth. Some stations you can get off at are Main Street Howth, Howth Church, and Abbey Street Howth. You can take the H3 bus route, or the 6 route. You can use your leap card, and it usually only cost about €1 or €2 ($1.04 or $2.07)
You can use their journey planner for a more clear route.
Grab a Coffee and Pastry
Start your day at Howth strong by grabbing a coffee and pastry at Bodega Coffee Company. It’s practically right across from the DART station, just barely to the left, right next to the Howth Market.
This local coffee shop serves the classic coffees – lattes, cappuccinos, espressos, you name it. Hot or cold.
While the coffee was good, the real star of the show is the pastries! I got the cinnamon swirl and it was amazing, but honestly I don’t think you could go wrong with anything. It all looks so delicious.
There’s only room for a handful of people to sit inside, but they have a decent amount of outdoor seating around the shop.
Shop at the Market
Any day at Howth isn’t complete without a stop at Howth Market. Right across the DART station and slightly to the left, it’s hard to miss with the big sign out front.
The market itself is only open on Saturdays, Sundays, and bank Holidays. It’s open during these days from 9 AM to 6 PM.
However, everyday there are 4 permanent units up and running so if you can’t go on a weekend, you can at least shop from these places. They are Amore Gelato, Howth Market Deli, Unique Oak, and Gift from Howth.
The stalls at the weekend market may vary week to week. There’s 25 stalls at the market, and items you can buy here range from food, jewelry, produce, clothing, and more! You can snack on some cupcakes, crepes, a hot dog, and more while browsing art and antiques.
It’s like a typical weekend farmer’s market in the states. My friend got a beautiful knit headband here from one of the stalls, and I remember looking at some rings.
Take a Hike
Howth has some amazing hikes to choose from around the peninsula, with the highlight being the Bailey Lighthouse.
My favorite is the Howth Cliff Loop. This is a 5 mile (8 kilometers) moderate loop that, as the name suggests, takes you along the dramatic cliffside.
The hike is spectacular. The views of the ocean and cliffs in front of you are stunning, and you may even see some people go swimming like we did, even though it was freezing out. The lighthouse is for sure the best part though, especially with the outline of the mountains in the background making it even more incredible somehow.
Regardless of when you go, you can expect it to be green. I was so surprising going in January that the foliage was full, and there were even bright yellow wildflowers near the view point!
The first time I tried to do the Howth Cliff Loop, I got a bit lost. Well, maybe lost isn’t the right word, as there are multiple ways to see the Bailey Lighthouse, which was my end goal. We just ended up walking through a neighborhood rather than walking along the cliff, but turns out, this was part of one of the trails!
I think the most straight forward to get to the lighthouse is to take the green marked Cliff Path Loop, then add on part of the blue Tramline Loop if you want to get closer to it, which I’d recommend.
Like I briefly touched on, the green Cliff Path Loop will take you along the cliff edge, to a viewing point of the lighthouse, then back along. I mentioned the blue trail, which is officially known as the Tramline Loop.
The Tramline Loop is just over 4.3 miles (7 kilometers) long, and is a moderate loop trail. In addition to the Bailey Lighthouse, the highlight of this hike is the views of Ireland’s eye. This trail is named for the old tramline route it used to follow, and it goes along the edge of the entire harbour.
Another hike that I haven’t mentioned yet is the red marked Black Linn Loop. This trail is a bit longer, being a 5 mile (8 kilometer) loop with a bit more elevation gain. This hike takes you to the summit of Howth Head, where you’ll be greeted with incredible views all around you before you head back!
The last marked hike around Howth is the purple marked Bog of the Frogs Loop. This trail is a hard 7.5 mile (12 kilometer) loop. This trail also takes you along the cliffs, and you’ll also get some incredible views of Dublin, the coast, and you’ll be able to hike through woodlands.
If you’re craving even more hikes, check out my blog posts for some other epic hikes around the Dublin area.
St. Mary’s Abbey
St. Mary’s Abbey is a bit of a Howth hidden gem, it’s likely not somewhere you’ll just stumble upon while exploring here. It’s also a quick place to visit, so perfect to throw into your itinerary.
The ruins of St. Mary’s Abbey dates back to the 14th century, and from here you can get amazing views of Ireland’s eye. You can also walk around the adjacent cemetery.
Visit the Castle
One of the best things to do in Howth is to visit a castle!
Howth Castle as it looks today was built in 1738, but previous castles on the site were built as far back as 1235! This castle has been home to the same family for over 8 centuries.
Since this castle is actually a privately owned home, you can’t tour at your own leisure. However, starting March 22nd, 2025, you can book a tour with their historian.
Tours are €15 ($15.57) per person for an hour tour of the inside of Howth Castle and its gardens.
Even if you don’t go inside the castle, I’d 100% recommend going just to see the outside! This is what we did, and being able to see a castle that old and walk some of the grounds alone were enjoyable.
To get here, once you exit the DART station, you’ll turn right and walk on the sidewalk for about 10 minutes. On the left side of the road, you’ll pass Dublin Bus Stop 580. Right after, turn left and start walking up. The sidewalk ends, but you can walk on the road. Pass the gates, and soon Howth Castle will be in view!
Take a Cooking Class in the Castle
At Howth Castle, you can also take a cooking class in a kitchen in the castle! You don’t have to be an experienced cook to take one of these classes, as they offer a variety of classes with different skill levels required and different time durations.
Just a few of the classes they offer are modern Irish food for two hours, French macaron making for two hours, and pasta making for four hours. You can also bake breads, focus on different nationality’s food, make pastries, and more!
They only offer these classes on specific dates rather than daily, so check their schedule. They have many classes listed from February to April, but they get more limited after that (as of this article, at least).
The prices per class vary, but you can expect to pay at least €100 ($103.79) for a class. Most of the classes are €105 ($108.98).
Go Kayaking
Howth is an amazing place to go kayaking. With the views of Ireland’s Eye (that you can paddle to), seals, and plenty of birds above you, it’s sure to be one of the most scenic places to kayak.
You can kayak around Howth without booking a tour, but it’s renting a kayak that’s the challenging point. Your best option for kayaking here will be to take a guided tour where the boat is already included.
Shearwater Sea Kayaking and Portobello Adventures are the kayaking tour options on Howth.
Shearwater Sea Kayaking offers half day and full day kayaking adventures around the harbour. Both tours will start with sea kayaking basics and simple instructions to make sure you’re able to kayak safely before you start kayaking around the sea.
If you’re lucky and the weather allows, you may get the chance to kayak to Ireland’s Eye! Here, you’re likely to see seals and even more sea birds.
The half day tour is €60 ($62.17), and the full day tour is €120 ($124.34) per person, and this includes all necessary equipment. They don’t offer tours every day, so make sure to check their schedule.
Portobello Adventures offers a three hour kayaking trip. You’ll kayak along the coastline and to a small beach area. You’ll also be able to kayak to a viewpoint of Bailey Lighthouse.
This is €45 ($46.63) per person, and includes all the necessary equipment, as well as a quick safety training, too. There are also limited tours with this company, so check their schedule.
Relax on the Beach
There are three main beaches to choose from in Howth to relax on.
Claremont Beach is more of a cove, with beautiful views. This sandy beach has views of Ireland’s Eye, and has a lifeguard stand in the summer.
Balscadden Bay is another Howth beach, although less sandy. Here, you get amazing views of the cliffs and the sea.
Red Rock Beach is, as the name suggests, a rocky area to relax, but offers amazing views of Dublin.
Research if swimming is allowed before trying to take a dip in these areas!
Take a Boat Tour around Ireland’s Eye
Perhaps one of the prettiest things you can do in Howth is take a boat tour around Howth.
There are a few different tour companies and options around Howth to choose from.
Regardless of which one you choose, most will be around an hour long, and will take you around the sea!
Different tours may have a slightly different focus. You can expect to see beautiful sites all around, from the cliffs, the coast, the lighthouses, Dublin Bay, and Ireland’s Eye.
Ireland’s Eye is a tiny, uninhabited island. The only remnants of previous human life here are ruins of a church and a tower, as monks established the area.
While people may not live here anymore, this island is a haven for birds, seals, and even in a few puffins! There’s also plenty of greenery sprouting from the island.
On all tours you can expect to see plenty this wildlife! And, if you want to spice up your boat tour experience, you can even opt for a sunset cruise!
Eat on the West Pier
There are many great food options on Howth! Especially on the pier, the whole thing is lined with restaurants.
The Oar House was the first place I tried in Howth, and is great for a classic meal of fish and chips, as well as a pint. It’s a cute stone building on the exterior with some outdoor seating as well, but most the seating is on the inside. While the food was great, coming here in hiking boots and hiking clothes, I felt a little out of place.
Octopussy’s is another place I really liked, pretty different vibes though, even though it’s just next door. This Howth restaurant is known for it’s tapas and other Mediterranean foods. I got the paella, and it was fantastic! However, the only downside is there’s not a lot of seating inside, so you may have to sit on one of the outside benches. Normally, I wouldn’t mind this, but trying to peel shrimp from paella in 40 degree (Fahrenheit) weather isn’t super fun. Worth it, though!
While I haven’t been to the next few, if Octopussy’s and The Oar House don’t sound good to you, you can check out some of the following options on the west pier.
Beshoffs is one of the first restaurants on the Howth pier, and is a specialty seafood market and cafe!
The Brass Monkey is a seafood restaurant with a cute red exterior, and an even cuter red interior! They have plenty of seafood and tapas to choose from, as well vegan options.
The Pier House is, like practically every place on this list, a seafood restaurant. This small fine dining place creates new menus seasonally, as they collaborate with local suppliers on the produce and meat provided to the restaurant.
Dorans on the Pier is not only just a store where you can buy fresh fish and other seafood, but you can get a meal here of their freshly supplied fish!
Bailey Bites is a great option for a more casual meal outdoors. Located inside the courtyard of Kish Fish, right next to their own smokehouse, you can find the airstream that serves fresh fish and more!
Aqua is a beautiful restaurant at the end of the pier with amazing views of the harbour and Ireland’s eye. What used to be apart of Howth’s Yacht Club is now an award winning restaurant serving up amazing seafood.
While not on the pier, but nearby, The Bloody Stream is an Irish pub with typical Irish cuisine, as well as seafood, and a beer garden!
Stroll to Another Lighthouse
While you may have already hiked to the Bailey Lighthouse, there’s actually another lighthouse on Howth on the east pier.
The Howth Lighthouse is located at the end of the pier, and while you can’t go inside, walking to it is a nice, easy stroll.
This is a great way to end your adventure packed day trip to Howth! If you’re interested in more day trips, check out my blog post on some other hikes and walks around hike.
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