Ireland Accommodation
Home › plan
Getting Around Ireland: Trains, Buses & Cars
Photo : Irek Marcinkowski / Pexels

Getting Around Ireland: Trains, Buses & Cars

Getting around Ireland is one of the great pleasures of any Irish trip — but it requires a little planning. The island is compact enough that you can cross it in a few hours, yet rural enough that a timetabled bus simply doesn’t reach every stone cottage or clifftop lookout. Whether you’re island-hopping off the Galway coast or threading the back roads of Kerry, here’s how to move around with confidence.

By Train: Fast Between Cities, Limited Elsewhere

Irish Rail (Iarnród Éireann) operates the main rail network, which radiates outward from Dublin Heuston and Dublin Connolly. Key intercity routes include:

Trains are comfortable, usually punctual, and the most reliable way to link the big cities. If you’re basing yourself in Dublin and planning a day trip to Kilkenny or Cork, rail is often the easiest choice.

The catch: the network doesn’t reach the west coast towns that most visitors want to see — Dingle, Clifden, Westport, Donegal. For those, you need a bus or, better still, a car.

Booking tip: Buy tickets online at irishrail.ie for the cheapest fares. A Dublin–Cork return booked in advance can cost under €30.

By Bus: Nationwide, Affordable, Slower

Bus Éireann is the national coach operator and covers virtually every county. Expressway coaches link the cities quickly; local rural routes fill in the gaps, though infrequently.

Private operators have expanded significantly and often undercut Bus Éireann on popular routes:

For travellers relying entirely on public transport, the TFI (Transport for Ireland) journey planner at www.transportforireland.ie is essential — it aggregates rail, bus, and even ferry routes.

Bear in mind that if you’re planning to explore the Wild Atlantic Way or remote Connemara, bus timetables can be sparse. A bus might pass through Clifden twice a day. Plan accordingly, or consider a car.

By Car: The Best Way to See Rural Ireland

For most visitors, hiring a car unlocks Ireland entirely. The country has an excellent road network — motorways between cities, well-maintained N-roads, and yes, famously narrow lanes in the countryside. Those lanes are part of the charm.

Driving basics to know:

Car hire is available at Dublin, Cork, Shannon, Belfast, and Knock airports. Booking in advance — especially for peak summer months — saves money and guarantees availability. See our full guide to driving in Ireland for rules, road signs, and insurance advice.

Check prices & availability

We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.

When to book: Demand for hire cars peaks between June and August, and again over Easter. January to March offers the lowest prices and widest availability — worth considering if your travel dates are flexible.

Getting to the West: A Note on Road Trips

The most scenic drives in Ireland run along the Atlantic coast. If you’re planning to visit County Kerry, the Ring of Kerry is a 179 km circular route best driven clockwise to avoid tour coaches. Allow a full day.

Further north, County Clare and the Cliffs of Moher make a natural stop between Limerick and Galway. And if you’re heading to Donegal, budget extra time — it’s further than it looks on a map and the roads wind considerably once you leave the N15.

For structured ideas, our Ireland road trip itinerary covers the most popular driving routes with overnight suggestions.

Island Hopping: Ferries & Local Transport

Several of Ireland’s offshore islands are worth the detour, and each has its own ferry connection:

For accommodation near these departures, see Aran Islands accommodation or County Kerry accommodation.

Getting Around Dublin

Dublin has a well-developed city network. The Luas tram system has two cross-city lines. Dublin Bus covers the suburbs extensively. The DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transit) is an overground rail line running along the coast from Malahide south to Greystones — excellent for day trips to Howth or Bray.

A Leap Card (reloadable smart card) works across all Dublin public transport and gives cheaper fares than cash. Available at newsagents and the airport.

Taxis and rideshare apps (Free Now, Uber) operate across the city and are readily available outside peak hours.

Combining Transport Modes

Many travellers use a hybrid approach: train or bus to reach a hub city, then hire a car for a few days to explore the surroundings. For example:

This cuts overall hire costs while still giving you the freedom to explore off-route. See our getting to Ireland guide for arrival options, and check our travel insurance and car hire guide for coverage essentials before you book.

Check prices & availability

FAQ

Do I need an international driving licence to hire a car in Ireland? Most EU licence holders can drive in Ireland with their standard licence. Visitors from outside the EU (including the USA, Canada, and Australia) should carry their national licence; an International Driving Permit is recommended but not always required. Check with your hire company in advance.

Is it easy to get around Ireland without a car? Between the main cities — Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Belfast — yes. Beyond city centres, it becomes more difficult. Rural areas like Connemara, Donegal, and the Dingle Peninsula have very limited public transport. For these regions, a hire car is strongly recommended.

Can I cross between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland by public transport? Yes. The Enterprise train runs between Dublin Connolly and Belfast Grand Central (approx. 2 hrs 10 mins). Bus Éireann and Translink also operate cross-border coach services. There are no passport controls at the border for EU/UK travellers, and the crossing is seamless.

Related: Driving in Ireland · Ireland Road Trip Itinerary · Getting to Ireland