dublin rail tour

THE 10 BEST Dublin Rail Tours

Rail tours in dublin.

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1. Sustainable Dublin to Limerick, Cliffs of Moher, Galway by Rail

2. Dublin to Cork, Blarney Castle, Cobh Cathedral by Train and Coach

3. Sustainable Ring of Kerry Rail Tour from Dublin

4. Dublin Cruise Ship Shore Excursion|Hop-on Hop-off & Rail Transfer

5. Walking Tour and Railway Ride of Scenic Coastal Dublin

6. 4-Day Blarney Castle, Ring of Kerry, Cliffs of Moher & Connemara

7. Dublin to Kilkenny Castle and House Of Waterford Crystal Day Tour

8. Northern Ireland including Giant's Causeway Rail Tour from Dublin

9. Waterford Crystal and Kilkenny Full-Day Rail Tour from Dublin

10. 6-day All Ireland & Northern Ireland Rail Tour from Dublin

11. 2-Day Cliffs of Moher, Connemara and Galway Bay Rail Tour from Dublin

12. 4-Day Cork, Ring of Kerry, Dingle, Cliffs of Moher and Galway Bay Rail Tour

13. Sustainable Connemara and Galway Bay Rail Tour from Dublin

14. 3-Day Blarney Castle, Ring of Kerry, & Cliffs of Moher Rail tour

15. 2-Day Killarney and Ring of Kerry Rail Tour from Dublin.

16. 2-Day Cork and Blarney Castle Rail Tour from Dublin

17. City Explorer: Howth Private Day Trip

18. Aran Islands Scenic Flight and Galway Rail Tour from Dublin

19. Shore Excursion: Wicklow Mountains, Avoca & Glendalough Rail Tour

20. 2-Day Rail Tour: Galway, Cliffs of Moher & Medieval banquet in Bunratty Castle

21. 2-Day Connemara and Galway Bay Rail Tour from Dublin

22. Wicklow Mountains, Avoca and Glendalough Rail Tour from Dublin

23. 3-Day Cliffs of Moher, Connemara and Aran Islands Rail Tour from Dublin

24. 2-Day Northern Ireland Rail Tour: Belfast, Antrim Coast, and Giant's Causeway

25. 2-Day Cork, Blarney Castle and Ring of Kerry Rail Trip from Dublin

26. 3-Day Cork, Blarney Castle, Ring of Kerry and Dingle Peninsula Rail Tour

27. 2-Day 'Game of Thrones' Rail Tour from Dublin Incl. Belfast and Giant's Causeway

28. 2024 Exclusive Emerald Pullman Private Rail Tour from Dublin

What travellers are saying.

• Dublin to Limerick, Cliffs of Moher, Galway by Train and Coach
• Walking Tour and Railway Ride of Scenic Coastal Dublin
• Dublin Cruise Ship Shore Excursion|Hop-on Hop-off & Rail Transfer
• Dublin to Cork, Blarney Castle, Cobh Cathedral by Train and Coach
• Dublin to Ring of Kerry and Landmarks. Full Day Guided Tours
• The Whiskey Bus
• Benny's Ireland Vacations
• Railtours Ireland First Class - Day Tours
• Belmond Grand Hibernian
• Train Tours Ireland

7 Night Best of Ireland by Rail

Spend time in Dublin, Kerry and Galway on a 7 night rail tours of Ireland. Your time in Ireland will include Dublin city sightseeing where you will have the opportunity to visit the Book of Kells exhibition and Kilmainham Gaol to name but a few attractions. Discover Ireland’s Ring of Kerry and much much more!

Railway Viaduct in Ireland

Spend time in Dublin, Kerry and Galway on this 7 night Ireland by rail tour. Your time in Ireland will include Dublin city sightseeing where you will have the opportunity to visit the Book of Kells exhibition and Kilmainham Gaol to name but a few attractions. Discover Ireland’s Ring of Kerry and much much more! 

• Train ticket from Dublin Heuston to Killarney
• Train ticket from Killarney to Galway
• Train ticket from Galway to Dublin Heuston
• 7 nights’ accommodation
• Dublin Hop on Hop Off Sightseeing Tour Tickets
• Ring of Kerry Coach Tour Tickets
• Return Shuttle bus from Galway to the port of Rossaveal for Aran Islands Ferry
• Return Ferry Ticket from Rossaveal to Inis Mór
• Dublin for 2 nights
• Killarney for 2 nights
• Galway for 2 nights
• Dublin for 1 night 

Day 1 & 2: Dublin City

Arrive at Dublin international airport and make your way to the city centre. After checking into your accommodation, use your Dublin sightseeing tickets to bus your way around Dublin city. The Dublin sightseeing ticket lasts for two days and includes stops close to all of Dublin’s main attractions including The National Museums, Trinity College and The Book of Kells, St Patrick’s Cathedral and Christchurch Cathedral to name just a few places. On one night of your time in Dublin, we would certainly recommend that you visit Dublin’s busy Temple Bar to check out its famous traditional Irish music and vibrant nightlife!

Day 2: Dublin to Killarney by Train

Begin the next stage on your Irish rail tour with a scenic train journey from Dublin through the historic country of Tipperary and the rolling green pastureland that makes up Ireland’s ‘Golden Vale’ to Killarney in county Kerry. For your first day in Kerry we recommend that you take in Killarney and the surrounding attractions. You may decide to visit Muckross House and Gardens on the outskirts of the town or take a tour around Killarney national park by horse and carriage. One of the main attractions in Killarney is the town itself with its colourful shops, cute cafes and ample fine restaurants. There is always plenty of traditional Irish music on offer in Killarney in its many old style pubs!

Day 4: The Ring of Kerry

Today we have pre-booked a Ring of Kerry bus tour for you. On your tour discover landscapes of magnificent beauty alongside the backdrop of the grand MacGillycuddy Reeks mountain range, rivers and rolling countryside. Along the way, you will encounter larger bustling towns to the more traditional quaint Irish villages. Visit such places as Glenbeigh which holds the famous Kerry Bog Village, a cluster of reconstructed cottages dating back to the 1800’s, Cahersiveen,  the principal town of the peninsula and Sneem with its brightly painted buildings and quaint village green. Return to Killarney via Ladies View, a famous stopping point to view the three Lakes of Killarney in all of their splendour.

Day 5: Killarney to Galway by Rail

Set off early this morning and take a scenic train journey from Killarney to Galway. Galway is the principle city of the West of Ireland and a lively University City. In fact, Galway is often referred to as Ireland’s Festival capital due to the frequent festivals that the city holds. Due to its compact size, the city can be explored easily on foot and you will find many bars to quench your thirst as well as many great restaurants with an excellent food offering. We recommend that you take a stroll down Shop Street where on any given day you are sure to find a variety of buskers and other street performers. Shop Street contains Galway's best preserved ancient building, Lynch's Castle and numerous old brick buildings, bright storefronts and a great selection of excellent shops.

Day 6: Aran Islands

Depart early morning for your journey to Inis Mór, the largest of the three the Aran Islands. Protected from outside influence due to their remote location, the Aran Islands display the traditional Ireland that the rest of the country has largely left behind. Learn about the Aran Jumper and traditional crafts such Basket Weaving. On Inis Mór, you will still find the traditional horse and trap and hear the Gaelic language spoken as the first language.  There are more than 50 different monuments of pre-Christian importance on the islands, the most popular being the fort of Dun Aonghasa which stands dramatically against the cliff edge over the western part of the Island.  After a long day to explore the island at your leisure take the return ferry back to Rossaveal and the return shuttle back to Galway City.

Day 7: Return to Dublin by Rail

This morning check out of your hotel and travel by rail back to Dublin City, arriving in time to take in some of the attractions and locations that you may have missed on your first visit. If the weather is nice you might decide to talk a walk in Dublin’s famous ‘Stephen’s Green’ or check out the shops and cafes on Grafton Street, stopping like many people do to take a picture with Molly Malone, one of Dublin’s most famous statues. You may feel like learning more about Ireland’s political history by taking a trip to Leinster House where the current parliament sits or Dublin Castle which was the seat of English rule from the 13 th Century. Dublin Castle also houses the Chester Beatty Library which displays manuscripts, prints, miniature paintings and early printed books from countries across Asia, the Middle East, North Africa and Europe. The Chapel Royal with its fine plaster decoration and carved oaks and galleries can also be visited at Dublin Castle. This evening, take another opportunity to check out Dublin’s traditional music and pub scene. The Cobblestone and the Auld Dubliner are famous venues and many of our past customers have enjoyed a drink or two in Kehoe’s Bar, one of last great heritage pubs of Dublin, this pub retains much of its Victorian trappings leaving the visitor feeling like they have stepped back in time!

Day 8: End of Tour

This morning, check out of your hotel for the journey home. 

• Please note prices are per person based on 2 persons in each room with full Irish breakfast and taxes included.
• Rail tickets included from Dublin Heuston to Killarney, Killarney to Galway and Galway to Dublin Heuston. 
• Prices include Dublin Sightseeing Tour Tickets, Ring of Kerry Coach Tour Tickets, Aran Islands Shuttle Bus and Ferry Tickets
• The Combination package includes 3 Nights in 3 Star Hotels, 2 nights in 4 Star Hotels, & 2 Nights in our hand-picked B&B's.
• Children Sharing with 2 adults (aged 2-11) pay 40% of the Adult option.
• Children under the age of 2 are free when sharing with 2 Adults
• Meet & greet at Dublin Airport with private transfer to your first accommodation included

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About Táilte Tours  

Táilte Tours is a new, voluntary led initiative  set up in 2022 . Our organisational team currently consists of Niall Kelly, Alex Richardson and David Walsh, all of whom have long experience in heritage railway, railtours and tourist train operation and management. Our aim is to raise awareness for Ireland's voluntary run heritage railways and museums, and, where possible, also raising extra funds to help further their projects and other charitable causes. We also aim to promote rail travel to those who mightn't otherwise use it, while also providing educational resources on Ireland's rich railway history.

We aim to do this through holding railway-themed events, the first of which, in August 2022, was a railtour weekend from Dublin visiting Tralee and Dromod.  We have also operated a railtour out of Cork and hope to do so from other locations in the future.

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9 Best Day Trips from Dublin by Train (2024)

By Author Keith O'Hara

Posted on Last updated: December 29, 2023

This guide contains itineraries for those of you looking to take day trips from Dublin by train.

Each itinerary is mapped out to ensure that you:

• Know where to get the train from
• Have a doable itinerary for the day (i.e. all suggestions will be a walkable distance)
• Don’t have to worry about any planning

We’ve included day trips outside of the county (e.g. Kilkenny) along with day trips outside of the city (e.g. Howth).

Table of Contents

The best day trips from Dublin by train

Click to enlarge image

There’s endless things to do in Dublin , but if you fancy escaping the city for a bit, you’re in luck – there’s  plenty  of places to visit for a day trip.

Below, you’ll find a mix of Dublin day trips by train that range from 30 minutes to 2 hours and 42 minute journey times.

1. Kilkenny (1 hr 28 min journey)

Photos via Shutterstock

The first of our day trips from Dublin by train is the ancient city of Kilkenny. It’ll take you around 1.5 hours to get there.

You need to head to Heuston Station, so either take a taxi, walk, or take the Luas Red line , which stops right outside Heuston.

Where you’ll arrive

You’re getting the Waterford Train and hopping off at Kilkenny (MacDonagh) Station .

This is a nice, central station located right in the city which means you don’t have to worry about getting buses/taxis.

Your itinerary for the day

• Stop 1: Kilkenny Castle
• Stop 2: Medieval Mile Museum
• Stop 3: Lunch (Petronella is a great lunch spot)
• Stop 4: Butterslip Lane
• Stop 5: Smithwick’s Experience
• Stop 6: The Black Abbey
• Stop 7: The train back to Dublin

2. Belfast (2 hr 15 min journey)

The next of our day trips from Dublin by train is Belfast City in County Antrim.

The train from Dublin to Belfast leaves from Conolly Station, a short walk from O’Connell Street.

There are several ways to get there, you can take a taxi, walk, or take the Luas Red line , which has a stop right out of the front.

The train to Belfast arrives into Belfast Lanyon Train Station, which is right in the heart of the city centre.

This is a good starting point as many of the best things to do in Belfast are nearby.

Belfast is a walkable city if you have a clear itinerary, like the one below. However, if it’s raining, it’s worth taking the hop-on-hop-off bus .

• Stop 1: St George’s Market (short stroll from the train)
• Stop 2: Belfast Black Cab tour (book in advance – get them to drop you to stop 3 after)
• Stop 3: The Cathedral Quarter for lunch
• Stop 4: St Anne’s Cathedral
• Stop 5: Titanic Belfast (25-minutes from stop 4)
• Stop 6: The train back to Dublin

3. Howth (45 min journey)

Next up is the first of our day trips from Dublin by train that doesn’t take you out of the county.

The busy fishing town of Howth is home to plenty to see and do along with a bustling restaurant and pub scene.

To get to Howth, take the train from Connolly Station. It’s a handy 30-45-minute journey.

Howth train station is finely plonked right in the town centre, so you’ll arrive right into the thick of things.

When you arrive, leave the station and head across to Howth Market to start your day trip.

• Stop 1: Howth Market
• Stop 2: The Howth Cliff Walk
• Stop 3: Lunch in one of the many restaurants in Howth
• Stop 4: Ye Olde Hurdy Gurdy Museum Of Vintage Radio
• Stop 5: Howth Pier
• Stop 6: The train back to the city

4. Galway City (2 hr 30 min journey)

Photos by Stephen Power via Ireland’s Content Pool

The forth of our day trips from Dublin by train takes us to Galway. The train from Dublin to Galway leaves from Heuston.

The trip to Galway takes about 2.5 hours. There are plenty of shops inside the station where you can grab snacks for the train and get some breakfast.

The train to Galway arrives into Ceannt Station – right in the heart of Galway City.

This is a great arrival point as you’re within easy walking distance of all the main attractions.

Galway is a very walkable city, but if it’s raining or if you fancy getting dropped to the ‘main’ attractions the hop-on/hop-off bus tour is well worth buying .

• Stop 1: Lunch (there’s some great restaurants in Galway . Blake’s is a good lunch option).
• Stop 2: Galway Cathedral (the jewel in the Galway City skyline)
• Stop 3: Quay Street and the Latin Quarter
• Stop 4: The Hall of the Red Earl (ruins dating to the 13th century – one of the more unique places to visit in Galway )
• Stop 5: Galway City Museum (tells the story of prehistoric Galway)
• Stops 6 + 7:  The Spanish Arch and the Long Walk
• Stop 8: Back to the train station

5. Waterford City (2 hr 32 min journey)

The next of our day trips from Dublin by train takes us to the ancient city of Waterford, down the coast from Dublin.

The train from Dublin to Waterford leaves from Heuston. There are several ways to get there, you can take a taxi, walk, or take the Luas Red line , which has a stop right out of the front.

The train will take you to Waterford (Plunkett), which is just over the bridge from the city centre.

It’ll only take you around 10 minutes to stroll into our first stop, however, you need to make a choice.

If you’re after an active day, it’s worth considering the Waterford Greenway walk/cycle, which starts from the city and will take you a good 4-6 hours.

• Stop 1: The Clock Tower
• Stop 2: Reginald’s Tower
• Stop 3: Lunch
• Stop 4: Medieval Museum
• Stop 5: The Bishop’s Palace
• Stop 6: King of the Vikings

6. Dalkey + Killiney (40 min journey)

The second of our day trips from Dublin by train that doesn’t leave the county takes us out to the affluent areas of Dalkey and Killiney .

You can get the train from Connolly Station (the one heading to Greystones) and you’ll arrive in around 40 minutes.

The train to Dalkey stops at Dalkey DART Station which is a short ramble from the centre of the town.

The town itself is lovely to stroll around and it’ll feel a world apart from the hustle and bustle of Dublin City.

• Stop 1: Dalkey Castle
• Stop 2: Lunch in the town
• Stop 3: Sorrento Park
• Stop 4: The Vico Baths
• Stop 5: The Killiney Hill Walk
• Stop 6: Killiney Beach
• Stop 7: The train back to the city

7. Cork City (2 hr 42 min journey)

The next of our day trips from Dublin by public transport requires the most travelling and it’ll arguably only work if you take an early train.

The train from Dublin to Cork City leaves from Heuston. There are several ways to get there, you can take a taxi, walk, or take the Luas Red line , which has a stop right out of the front.

The train from Dublin to Cork takes you into Cork (Kent) Station. Now, unlike some of the day trips from Dublin above, getting from the station to the various attractions isn’t as easy.

Cork City’s attractions are fairly spread out so, unless you fancy doing a lot  of walking, it’s worth booking the hop-on-hop-off bus or a bike tour.

As Cork City’s attractions are fairly spread out, it’s worth taking one of the tours below as they’ll make getting around much handier:

• The hop-on-hop-off bus (stops at Crawford Art Gallery, UCC, St. Anne’s Church, Cork City Gaol and The English Market)
• The Cork City Cycle Tour (you’ll spin along Cork’s cycle lanes and riverside pathways and see Fitzgerald’s Park, St. Finbarr’s Cathedral and more)

8. Malahide (30 min journey)

One of the handier day trips from Dublin by public transport is to head out along the coast to the lively little town of Malahide.

It’s a short, 30-minute or so train journey and it takes you to an area packed with history, coastal walks, great food and more.

The train to Malahide drops you right in the town, next to the church and a short walk from the castle grounds.

If you’re visiting during the busy summer months, it’s worth getting to the town early as it receives its fair share of tourist footfall.

• Stop 1: Malahide Castle Park
• Stop 2: Malahide Castle
• Stop 3: Lunch in the town
• Stop 4: Malahide harbour
• Stop 5: Malahide Beach
• Stop 6: The coastal walk to Portmarnock Beach
• Stop 7: The train station in Portmarnock is a good 40-minute walk so it might be easier to get the bus

9. Bray (50 min journey)

The last of our Dublin day trips by train takes us into County Wicklow to the buzzy coastal town of Bray.

You can get the train from Connolly Station (the one heading to Greystones) and you’ll arrive in around 45 minutes.

The train station in Bray is nice and central. It’s located right across from the Promenade in the town centre.

Hop out and head across to the pathway that follows the coast and gulp down some fresh ocean air.

• Stop 1: Bray Prom
• Stop 2: The Bray Head Walk
• Stop 4: SEA LIFE Bray Aquarium
• Stop 5: The train back to the city

What day trips from Dublin by public transport have we missed?

I’ve no doubt that we’ve unintentionally left out some brilliant Dublin day trips by train from the guide above.

If you have a place that you’d like to recommend, let me know in the comments below and I’ll check it out!

FAQs about the best day trips from Dublin by train

We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from ‘What are the cheapest Dublin day trips by train?’ to ‘Which are the nearest?’.

In the section below, we’ve popped in the most FAQs that we’ve received. If you have a question that we haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments section below.

Where can you take the train from Dublin?

You can take Dublin day trips by train to Belfast, Kilkenny, Waterford, Wexford, Sligo, Galway, Athlone, Howth, Malahide, Dalkey and plenty more.

What are the best day trips from Dublin by train?

In our opinion, the best day trips from Dublin by public transport are Belfast, Kilkenny and Waterford as each station is nice and central and there’s plenty to see and do within walking distance.

Keith O’Hara has lived in Ireland for 35 years and has spent most of the last 10 creating what is now The Irish Road Trip guide. Over the years, the website has published thousands of meticulously researched Ireland travel guides, welcoming 30 million+ visitors along the way. In 2022, the Irish Road Trip team published the world’s largest collection of Irish Road Trip itineraries . Keith lives in Dublin with his dog Toby and finds writing in the 3rd person minus craic altogether.

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Irish Rail May bank holiday arrangements with DART disruption confirmed

Irish Rail has confirmed disruption to their services during the May bank holiday weekend.

Customers have been advised to check times before travelling due to service alterations and book intercity travel tickets in advance. Major works are set to take place on the line between Grand Canal Dock and Bray during May 4th to May 6th, resulting in disruption to DART services.

Three major sets of works will be completed over the course of the weekend, resulting in the Grand Canal Dock to Bray line being shut. For Dublin Connolly to Rosslare Europort customers, bus transfers will operate between Connolly and Bray for all services in both directions.

Read more: Hourly Dublin to Belfast trains could be in place as soon as September

Read more: Dublin City Councillors greenlight major traffic changes to Dublin's quays

For DART customers, Dublin Bus and Go Ahead will accept rail tickets, and "provide significant additional capacity, particularly for Saturday's Leinster v Northampton semi-final at Croke Park ". There will also be limited supplementary bus services operating from Bray and Dun Laoghaire Stations to Grand Canal Dock before the match and from Grand Canal Dock to Dun Laoghaire and Bray Stations after the match.

The works, which include train protection system, track renewal and overhead line renewal, were planned by Irish Rail in December 2023 as part of their works programme for this year. They said that while most of their works take place overnight without causing disruption, "certain major works do unavoidably involve service impacts", which in this instance includes tracks being replaced.

Irish Rail said that when planning their works programme they examine all major events and up until two weeks ago, there was no major sporting fixture or concert planned for the May bank holiday weekend. "There is a very significant number of events throughout the summer, including Taylor Swift, Coldplay, Pink concerts, Malahide Castle / St Anne's events, All-Ireland series, Bloom and others that mean we do very few disruptive works throughout the summer," they added.

"Unfortunately, when the Leinster rugby was scheduled, to defer works at that time would result in a cost significantly over €500,000 as both we and contractors have a range of commitments. More critically, the Train protection system project is on a critical path, and losing time on this would impact the testing programme."

Irish Rail said they will be providing a comprehensive service from Howth/Malahide to city centre and Grand Canal Dock, and extra services on the Maynooth line (directly serving Drumcondra) and northern commuter services. Extra services will also operate on the following bus routes:

• Dublin Bus 7 Route Dun Laoghaire to Mountjoy Square
• Dublin Bus 155 Route Bray Station to O’Connell Street
• Go Ahead 45A Route Bray Station to Dun Laoghaire Station
• Supplementary buses running from Bray and Dun Laoghaire stations to Grand Canal Dock pre match and from Grand Canal Dock to Bray and Dun Laoghaire post match. This capacity will be limited.

Customers travelling during the May bank holiday weekend should check Irish Rail's revised timetable on their website.

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A family ferry trip across to Dublin has its fair share of drama

But first there’s that long drive to Holyhead

‘W e should really check that,’ I say to my wife about our son’s passport, which we’d suddenly remembered might be going out of date soon. With a sharp dart of sweating horror, I grab it from the drawer and discover it has indeed expired, just two days earlier – and we are due to fly to Dublin in six days. We decide our only option is to book ourselves on to a later ferry instead.

The problem with the ferry is it means six hours of driving through England and Wales. (And if you’re wondering whether our kids were sick during this trip, you’ll be delighted to know that our daughter vomited twice before we’d even reached the M25. Our son, perhaps affected by the miasma, or maybe sensing a deficit in attention, caught up and was himself sick three times, before his sister chimed in with one last spew 20 minutes before we reached the boat, to make it a creditable 3-3 draw.)

Well and truly wiped – in every sense – we stumble onboard with three and a half hours of seafaring ahead of us. Luckily, the ferry itself is great. As a rural Irishman myself, I recognise my people everywhere I look. Almost every male adult here could give you a quote for a horse and a lift to collect it. Moreover, about 80% of the passengers are children en route to sporting tournaments, which adds an air of prestige to proceedings.

Any time spent on a boat reminds one how odd it is that air travel is such a drudge. The latter is, after all, new. The miracle of human flight was solely the province of poets and sorcerers until about a century ago. Two of my grandparents never saw the inside of a plane in their entire lives. Sea travel, by contrast, has been a staple of human existence for at least 50,000 years, and yet its wonders remain intact.

My kids crowd the windows to watch the vast expanse of water surrounding them. We cheer when we see land or another ship somewhere in the distance. There is everywhere the convivial feeling of people making the best of a situation beyond their control, like red-faced holidaymakers drinking it up in a Greek hotel during a power cut.

A man at the bar reacts to my daughter’s crying not with disgust but kindly laughter and asks me to pass a lemonade to his son, the under-15s Taekwondo champion of Kildare. Admittedly, half an hour spent tumbling around the soft play area with 115 shoeless children would have you wondering how often kids wash their feet, but it’s a small price to pay for a mode of transport that gives your irritable brood a decent runaround.

It seems to have ended too quickly, as we tumble downstairs to the car, ready for the last 30 minutes of our journey. As we disembark, we wonder why it is we don’t do this more often. ‘I feel sick,’ says our son, and suddenly we yearn for airport drear.

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"such a wonderful experience"

Sep 2022 by Shelley C

I wanted to thank you for such a wonderful experience on my recent tour with you. The guides were so knowledgeable and helpful. Brandon kept is laughing and interested in what he had to say next. I cannot say enough good things about Tony in Galway and John Todd. When I left my logins behind they were so understanding and helpful and did a great job of calling my down.  You were so helpful in making sure I got my phone before I returned home. The tour itself was beautiful and we saw so much.  I would recommend you in a heartbeat and should I return will be booking with you again. 

"We have no regrets that we booked with Railtours"

Nov 2019 by eiblis2

The Royal Atlantic Tour

The latter part of September, my husband and I toured with Railtours, 3 nights in Dublin and from there Cork, Killarney, Ring of Kerry, Cliffs of Moher, Connemara, Galway, and the Aran Island. We were impressed with most of the trip. The day before the flight, we got a call from Jonathan to confirm our tour and to assure us that a representative would be waiting for us upon arrival at the airport. Even though our flight arrived early, we were greeted by representative named Paddy, a very nice courteous man holding a sign with our names on it. We were transported to the North Star Hotel, our luggage taken to the front check-in desk and from there, we got checked in quickly. Our time in Dublin for those three days was self directed using the Hop on Hop Off bus around Dublin. It was a nice way to get around Dublin, learning history of the area and enjoying the Irish humor by a few of the bus drivers. Saturday morning at approximately 6:30AM, we arrived at Dublin Heuston station and greeted by Jonathan wearing his bright yellow vest. All was organized, and the train departed promptly to begin the Royal Atlantic Tour. It was Saturday morning so we missed out on the usual free breakfast on the train. The coffee on the train was the most expensive cup of coffee that we had throughout our stay in Ireland. It was nice having reserved seats on the train and that’s when we got to meet our tour guide David. David conducted the first 3 days of our tour. He was excellent with a great knowledge of history. Many other people taking tours got on at Heuston station, getting off at various locations to begin their particular tours. All the hotels were good, especially the Great Southern Killarney. We have no regrets that we booked with Railtours. The bus drivers, guides were all very pleasant.

"I am SO happy we didnt drive."

Jul 2018 by Melanie S

Great adventure! Perfect for first time travelers!

We went on a 5 day ireland rail tour, saw all the sites- ring of kerry, banratty castle, cliffs of moher, sky rd, conammara,galoway, aran islands and everything in between! Our guide Brian was VERY knowledgeable and kept things interesting. Sites were gorgeous and we were lucky visiting in a heat wave. We didnt see a drop of rain. It was beautiful! On day 4 we did manage to get an older bus with no A/C but our guide managed to get us off frequently for stops to cool down. As I said heat wave-29- 32degrees celceus was the norm. Sally was our final meet up to get us back to Dublin and she was very helpful pointing us in the right direction after the trip. She also had a treat for us on the train back! Over all staff was friendly and took safty very seriously when exiting the bus. Pick up times were very clear. Sites were great and we couldn't have asked for a better main guide. We saw a show while in Killarny which was called celtic steps. 11/10 would reccommend going!! They made a snap decision with the nice weather to do it outside and the view was stunning! (Attached a pic of that. ) Over all I would do this again, it being my first time in Ireland, I was glad to have all the info provided and I am SO happy we didnt drive. We got to enjoy pubs en route and not driving was great! Besides... the roads are completly different than Canada! 10/10! Ps if you like cider- orchard thieves is my new fav! Too bad its not back home!:(

https://www.tripadvisor.ie/ShowUserReviews-g186605-d1748471-r593844880-Railtours_Ireland_First_Class_Day_Tours-Dublin_County_Dublin.html#

"The best part of our trip to Ireland!"

Feb 2018 by LannieBug

My review is long overdue but I still think about this trip on a daily basis. My friends and I did the Royal Atlantic Tour back in October and November and it was the best part of our trip to Ireland. Even though we had a large group (16!) our tour guides Bob and Andy handled us in stride and really made everything enjoyable. Considering the size of our group and the miles travelled, everything went smoothly (except maybe the ferry out to the Aran Islands but I blame the ocean for that, haha) along the entire trip. It really was an great, stress free way to see how amazing and beautiful Ireland is. I really can't praise Bob and Andy enough for what they did for us. I'll remember this experience for the rest of my life and if I'm ever fortunate to go back, I'll be sure to book with Railtours again with no hesitation.

"If I could give ten stars I would "

Dec 2017 by Sydnie

On October 31st 2017 my group, which consisted of 16 people (14 adults and 2 kids both 11 years old) embarked on a tour with the Rail Tours for a five-day excursion through Cork, Galway, Kilarney, and the Aran Islands. Bob was our first tour guide leader and we adored him. Bob has a wealth of knowledge that he enjoyed sharing with us. It was unbelievable how a person could retain all of that knowledge and be able to share it with us and in an interesting way. I fell in love with Ireland and I owe that to Bob. We had Bob for three days of our tour and after that came Andy. Andy, aka the singing tour guide, was also wonderful. We had a lot of fun with him singing on the bus. Overall, our experience far exceeded our expectations. It was such a beautiful trip and everything was so smooth and seamless. From our transportation to the train station and also on the tour bus and back to our train station and then the airport, there were never any problems. If I could give ten stars I would and I truly mean that.

"We had a wonderful time"

Jun 2017 by R. Lawlor

We are just home after a five day tour with Railtours. We had a wonderful time, and our guide Andy went out of his way to make our trip memorable.  What a wonderful tour guide...a real gentleman.  Thank you again, everything was very well organized and I would recommend your company to anyone.

"The most enjoyable, amazing holiday we have ever had"

Nov 2016 by Helga P

Just got home from what has to be the most enjoyable, amazing holiday we have ever had. We travelled the five day Wild Atlantic with the Railtours Ireland booking. It was the best way to go and it took all the worry out of our travel. It was like having a totally independent tour but having all the details taken care of. Staff handed us off from one 'yellow jacket' to the next making sure we were where we needed to be when we needed to be there, had all our tickets, and let us focus on enjoying. I have never been so well taken care of when travelling. We saw so much, met so many amazing people, and had such personable and knowledgeable support from the 'yellow jacketed' personnel. I just loved how each staff shared deeply of themselves. We did not just see Ireland's tourist spots; we learned its story and saw the country through the eyes of its people. The stories were rich and profound, some making us laugh while others caused us to cry. Andy, you were the absolute best and we thank you. Honestly, I wish I could take you along everywhere we go. Would surely simplify things for me.

Visited November 2016

"5 Day Royal Atlantic Tour "

Jul 2015 by Russ, Carolina

Railtours Ireland is the way to see Ireland. They set up all the travel, tours, lodging - they take care of everything. We visited Dublin, Cork, Cove, Blarney Castle, Killarney, Ring of Kerry, Cliffs of Moher, Aran Islands, Connemara and Galway over 5 days. The guides are excellent - very knowledgable and fun. We loved our experience with Paddy from Railtours and contracted tours with Tony from Deros and Tony from Lally. If you can only do a Day Trip do the Cliffs of Moher. If you have a week the Royal Atlantic is fantastic.

"5-day Royal Atlantic Tour: Great Guides and Great Tour"

Jun 2015 by R Loomba, Waterford

A student in Ireland, I was looking for a tour that allowed me and my sister to see most of the country in the shortest and most convenient way possible. We did not have a car and planning to reach every city and then figuring out buses to take us to tourist attractions was quite a pain. The 5-day Royal Atlantic Tour offered by Rail Tours proved to be the best solution to our worries. With convenient online booking where they managed our itinerary, lodging etc, our only task was to turn up on time! Breakfast and entrance to all locations was included along with Dublin Hop-on Hop Off tour tickets. The hotels chosen were very comfortable and our hosts/guides were very considerate about everyone. There were stops every 30-40 mins to ensure that no one got travel sickness. Apart from this, our host Peter shared interesting stories about his own experiences in the country and advised us on places/restaurants to visit in the evening to get most out of the experience. The personal touch was highly appreciated by all. In conclusion, a brilliant tour for anyone who wishes to make most out their vacation time in Ireland. The money spent on the tour is worth it!!

"Highly Recommend"

by Stefanie H

My husband and I traveled from Montana to Ireland and wanted to get as much in as possible in the time that we had. We didn’t feel like we missed out on anything, and the stops that we made allowed ample time for exploring. Our guide, Norman, was a lovely gentleman who has a great sense of humor and kept our group on track.

Visitor Attraction Admissions included: Blarney Castle and Gardens, Cóbh Heritage Centre, Bunratty Castle and Folk Park & The Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience and Kylemore Abbey & Gardens.

Blarney Castle, Cobh and Killarney

Killarney Town Centre

FREE UPGRADE TO 4* HOTEL IN KILLARNEY, SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY IN OUR PARTNER HOTELS AT THE TIME OF BOOKING.

Check-in is 20 minutes prior to Train Departure Time.

Customer Service Desk at Heuston Station where our Check-In representative will be in their yellow jacket!

Check-in for 07:00 departure from Dublin Heuston Station.

Your departure station, Dublin Heuston, was opened in 1844 as the headquarters of the Great Southern & Western Railway and is now the official principal station of Iarnród Éireann – Ireland’s national railway company.

As your train departs, we travel in a south westerly direction, passing Inchicore, railway engineering works and then some of Dublin’s western suburbs – soon we are in the lush fertile countryside of County Kildare, Ireland’s Kentucky. Look out for the many stud farms near the track. The train passes through the town of Newbridge, home to the famous Newbridge Silverware.

We now enter the Curragh of Kildare, which soon comes into view on both sides of the line. The Curragh (pronounced: Curra) is famous for its racecourse, home of the Irish Derby. At this time of the morning you are likely to see some of Ireland's finest bloodstock being put through their paces. The Curragh is also the headquarters of the Irish army and their buildings can be seen in the distance to the east.

We pass the town of Kildare, and the Church of Ireland (Protestant) Cathedral of St. Brigid’s – completed in 1223 – can be clearly seen to the south (left hand side when facing direction of travel). We cross the River Barrow at Monesterevin and enter Co. Laois.

Our train journey makes a stop at Portlaoise (pronounced: Port Leesh-eh). Departing Portlaoise, we soon enter Co. Tipperary and pass the town of Templemore. Shortly after, we pass Loughmoe Castle which can be clearly seen on the southern side of the train, built in the 15th century, the Purcell family lived there until 1760. The next stop is at the town of Thurles. At our next stop – Limerick Junction – a number of Railtours Ireland clients will be leaving the train for the Cliffs of Moher tour. Please remain on the train for the Cork, Blarney Castle and Cobh Heritage Day Tour! Our final stop before Cork is at the town of Mallow.

We arrive into Cork Kent Station for 09:35 and we transfer to our Railtours Ireland tour coach, passing through Cork City en route to Blarney Village and historic Blarney Castle & Gardens, built in 1446 by Dermot McCarthy. You will have time to kiss the famous stone, which is said to bestow the gift of eternal eloquence on those lucky enough to do so. There is also time for shopping and lunch at Blarney and we recommend that you have lunch there, as this will be the only opportunity during the day to have a substantial meal.

We depart Blarney Castle for Cóbh, via the city centre, taking in some of the city sights while en route to our next destination.

On arrival at Cóbh, we will visit St. Colman’s Cathedral. We will then proceed down along the sea front passing the former White Star Line offices en route to the beautifully restored Victorian railway station/transatlantic terminal. This is now the Cóbh Heritage Centre, home to the Queenstown Story. The centre also houses much information about the Great Famine and subsequent Irish Emigration; 3 million Irish people emigrated from Cóbh, (principally to the United States) including Annie Moore, whose statue is located in front of the heritage centre.

Depart Cóbh by train to Killarney, where the rest of the evening is free. There is a large selection of cafés, restaurants and bars in Killarney town as well as many opportunities for live traditional Irish music and entertainment.

Ring Of Kerry Tour

Enjoy your Ful Irish Breakfast at leisure before departing on your Ring of Kerry tour.

There are plenty of stops along the Ring of Kerry for morning tea, lunch and photo stops etc. Ireland’s highest mountains are located in Kerry and Carrauntouhil, which can be seen en route, is the highest, standing at 1041 metres.

We will make a stop at the Kerry Bog Village Museum, which gives people an insight into how people lived and worked in rural Ireland in the 18th century. The village is the only one of its kind in Europe. Later on the approach to Waterville there are views (weather permitting) of the Skellig Rocks (islands), where Star Wars 'The Force Awakens' was recently filmed.

We will make several photo stops, a stop for lunch and one final stop at the pretty village of Sneem, for about 30 minutes, or as directed by your tour leader.

An essential part of any visit to Ireland, this tour circles the magnificent MacGillycuddy Reeks and runs through its many passes and valleys along the shores of Dingle Bay and Kenmare Bay. There is an unspoilt nature to Ireland's most beautiful region and the Ring of Kerry provides many unforgettable memories as it passes through the many picturesque villages such as Glenbeigh, Waterville and Sneem and returns via Ladies View, the famous Lakes of Killarney and through the Oakwoods of Killarney's magnificent National Park.

At the end of the tour you will be brought to Killarney for your second night.

Bunratty Castle & The Cliffs of Moher

Galway City Centre

Enjoy your full Irish Breakfast at Leisure.

07:30 Depart Killarney by road to Limerick to join the Bunratty Castle and Cliffs of Moher Tour.

Arrive into Limerick where we will join our Railtours Ireland tour coach. Limerick has a population of about 90,000 and its city charter was granted in 1197AD, making it older than London! As we cross the river Shannon - Ireland’s longest river - you will see views of King John’s Castle to the right. The castle was completed in 1200 and marks the origins of the city.

Limerick’s most famous author, Frank McCourt, grew up here and the city was the setting for his famous book Angela’s Ashes. Limerick is also the birthplace of celebrated BBC radio DJ, Terry Wogan and Hollywood star, Richard Harris. We will pass the GAA grounds of Páirc na nGael –the home ground of County Limerick’s Hurling and Gaelic Football teams. Limerick is also the home of Irish Rugby and we will pass Thomond Park, the Rugby stadium.

After a brief city tour we travel onto Bunratty Castle and Folk Park. The castle was completed in 1425 and, after many years of neglect, has been restored to its former glory. There is also a folk park here which you will have time to explore.

After the visit to Bunratty Castle and Folk park we make our way to Co. Clare. There is a lunch stop at a local pub before arriving at the Cliffs of Moher, which are among the highest sea cliffs in Europe. There is plenty of time to visit Ireland’s second most popular tourist attraction and your host will advise you of the departure time. From here, we take the coast road for much of the way to Galway, with time for photos along the Burren. This is a national park and the word 'Burren' comes from the Irish Language, meaning ‘rocky place’. It is a unique lunar landscape of limestone which was described in 1649 by one of Oliver Cromwell’s men as: “No tree to hang a man, no water deep enough to drown him and no soil deep enough to bury him”. Today the Burren is noted for its diverse flora with few parallels elsewhere in Ireland or, indeed, Europe.

We continue along the coast road to Black Head, passing the quaint coastal villages of Ballyvaughan and Kinvara before joining the main road to Galway.

At the end of the day the coach will set you down at Eyre Square, in the centre of Galway City, adjacent to your hotel (and the railway station). You will be directed to your hotel by your host and your evening is free in Galway.

Connemara and Kylemore Abbey

Enjoy your full Irish breakfast at leisure.

Depart Galway and our conducted tour of Connemara leaves Galway to the village of Moycullen. From Moycullen the road rises and falls towards the lovely village of Oughterard on the shores of Lough Corrib, traditionally regarded as Ireland’s premier angling centre. Now the gateway to Connemara opens, and the breathtaking colours of this unspoilt countryside are revealed in all their natural splendour.

At Maam Cross, the "Connemara Crossroads", there is a replica of the cottage used in the 1950s John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara film The Quiet Man, which was filmed here. From Maam Cross, our tour heads out to Leenane, Kylemore Abbey and Letterfrack, in the shadow of purple mountains rolling down to blue and green rocky valleys, reflecting the rich and varied colours of Connemara.

There is a lunch break at Kylemore Abbey and Gardens, a nineteenth-century castle now owned by the Benedictine nuns who run an excellent pottery, gift shop and restaurant here. Letterfrack is one of Ireland’s major national parks. The colourful town of Clifden has been one of Irelands leading holiday resorts for generations. It is an excellent touring centre beloved by the walker, the biker, the hiker or the fisherman. It was here too, at Derrygimlagh Bog, near Clifden that aviation history was made when Alcock and Brown crash landed after their historic transatlantic flight in 1919.

Back at Maam Cross again and the road turns southwards now through the Screeb, Costello and Rossaveal. Rossaveal is the departure point for ferryboats to the Aran Islands and is also a major fishing port. We are now in the Gaeltacht or Irish speaking area of Connemara where Gaeilge or Irish is still the everyday spoken language of a bilingual people.

Our tour of Connemara heads homewards towards Galway City now, along the shores of Galway bay, through the Gaeltacht villages of Inverin and Spiddal and looking out across the blue waters of the Atlantic at the unique limestone of the Burren and the hills of Clare.

After your day's touring you will be returned to your Galway hotel.

Aran Islands - filming location of the Oscar nominated 'Banshees of Inisherin'

Depart Galway City for transfer to Inis Mór , the largest of the three Aran Islands. Irish is the spoken language on the Aran Islands, although the locals will be more than happy to speak to you in English. For many, the highlight of the tour is the formidable pre-Christian fort of Dún Aonghasa , with spectacular sea-cliffs on the western side and unspoilt views of the Atlantic Ocean. Transfer times may vary seasonly.

Notes on Aran: Your tour of Inis Mór includes stops at 'Seven Churches' (15 minutes), Dún Aonghusa (75 minutes) and Kilronan for lunch (45 minutes).

After your tour of Inis Mór  you will be transferred back to Galway Station. Upon arriving at Galway Station please present your Railtours Ireland ticket and travel pack at the ticket barrier and you will be directed to your reserved seats on the train, where your host will be waiting for you.

Depart Galway for Dublin Heuston Station at 19:20hrs. Returning to Dublin Heuston at 21:45hrs.

Depending on your day of departure, tours on Day 4 and Day 5 may be reversed.