Easy day trips from Dublin
The capital city of Ireland is packed with interesting features and attractions. However, it is good to have a break from touring the city itself and one easy method is to take Dublin's excellent and relatively inexpensive suburban rail system from the city centre. There are several different destinations, all within an hour from Dublin. Each suggestions assumes that you leave the city during the morning and will return that afternoon or evening. Be warned that different train timetables operate on Saturdays and Sundays (the least frequent) but if you are using the DART electric trains, this is not a problem.
DART trips no. 1:
While Malahide is only 45 minutes by DART from Dublin's central Tara Street station, there is a lot to see and do. The chief attraction is the medieval castle, once owned by the Talbot family and now a state museum. The castle is relatively unchanged since the middle ages and you can take a tour. Beside the castle is the excellent Fry model rail exhibition where you can see working models set within various Dublin landmarks. There is even a working model of the ferry between Dublin and Holyhead. Malahide is situated on the coastline and there are beautiful views and short walks. It is close to Portmarnock, home of a famous golf club where international competitions are regularly held. If you want a touch of elegance, have afternoon tea or coffee at the Grand Hotel, close to the harbor. While it is somewhat more expensive than the other restaurants and coffee houses in the village, it is worth the experience. It is also possible to take an outer-suburban express train to Malahide which takes about 30 minutes.
DART trips no. 2: Howth
Howth is served exclusively by DART trains which run every 15 minutes and takes just under 30 minutes (frequency is about every 30 minutes on Sundays). This village is situated on an peninsula, prodding into Dublin bay. If you are somewhat energetic, a 30 minute walk to the Hill of Howth is rewarded with wonderful views over Dublin bay and city, and on an exceptional day you can see Wales. Nowadays Howth is a commuting village for Dublin but you can see its past from the railway station. The harbor is not large but still thronged with fishing boats which accounted for Howth's early prosperity. The modern marina is impressive and you can still buy fresh fish from the fishermen. As well as a good selection of cafes and a few hotels, Howth boasts a large country house (Howth Demesne) where you can visit the National Transport Museum, a short bus ride or a 20 minute walk from Howth station. The village of Howth is is not too far from Dublin airport and would make a good start to your Irish holiday.
DART trips no. 3: Dun Laoghaire
Formerly known as "Kingstown" under British occupation, Dun Laoghaire (pronounced "Done Leery") is still quite a classy place. It is an expensive part of Dublin to buy or rent property, not least since it is on the DART line. There are several items of interest - being an active port there are two lovely piers from which you can see much of Dublin bay and the mountains. The Maritime Museum is also extremely interesting, although you should check opening times. The Catholic Church of St. Michael's is a modern building and contains a wonderful stone altar crafted by the late Irish sculptor Michael Biggs. There are plenty of shops, cafes and restaurants here - a visit to the Royal Marine Hotel evokes a former era and its gardens are extremely pleasant at all times of the year. The atmospheric railway used to fun from Dun Laoghaire and you can see traces of it if you walk on the path from the station to Dalkey station. Journey time from Tara Stree to Dun Laoghaire is about 25 minutes - following Sydney Parade station there are impressive views over Dublin bay. The tower under which you pass after Blackrock station was built for Lord Cloncurry by the railway as a condition for passing through his lands. This is the oldest railway line in Ireland and still full of interesting features.
DART trips no. 4: Bray and Greystones
Both of these town are in County Wicklow, rather than in Co. Dublin. If you have only time for one DART trip, then take the train to Greystones for the spectacular scenery. Having departed Dalkey station (about 30 minutes after you depart Tara Street), the line plunges into a short tunnel, only to emerge on a rocky shelf above the coastline. This area is home to Ireland's richest people and includes various celebrities (Bono, Damon Hill, Sinead O'Connor, Eddie Irvine own property here). After Killiney the line departs from the dramatic coastline but on entering Bray it may be seen again. Bray is a former Victorian seaside resort and still boasts amusement parks and rides. It is a large town, now a dormer town for the city of Dublin. The most spectacular part of the railway is the section after Bray where it perches high on a shelf above the Irish Sea. There are no less than four tunnels (rail tunnels are relatively uncommon in Ireland) and the journey ends at the village of Greystones with its small harbor. There is a cliff walk between Greystones and Bray, taking about 2 hours to complete at a moderate pace. Bray is 40 minutes from Tara Street by DART while Greystones is 50 minutes - both are much faster by express train.
The DART and rail system is a safe and enjoyable way to see Dublin - you will mingle with natives and might even chat to somebody!