Howth Head Cliff Walk: The Best Free Thing to Do in Dublin
The Howth Head cliff walk is the single best free thing to do in Dublin. Take the DART to Howth, walk the cliff path loop, eat fish and chips at the harbour, and take the DART back. Simple, brilliant, and most visitors somehow miss it entirely because they never leave the city centre.
The walk is a 6-kilometre loop around the headland with views of Dublin Bay, Ireland's Eye island, and on a clear day the Wicklow Mountains to the south and the Mourne Mountains to the north. It takes about 2 hours and the only cost is the DART fare. This is County Dublin at its best.
What to Expect
From Howth DART station, walk through the village to the harbour. The cliff walk starts at the east end of the harbour near the Martello tower. Signs point you to the cliff path. The first section climbs steeply through gorse and rhododendron before opening out onto the headland.
The views start immediately and get better. Dublin Bay spreads out to the south with the twin chimneys of Poolbeg visible across the water. Ireland's Eye - a small island with a Martello tower and seabird colony - sits just offshore. The path follows the cliff edge around the headland, climbing to about 170 metres at the highest point before dropping back toward the village.
The full loop is about 6 kilometres. Some sections are rocky and steep. Proper shoes are recommended - trainers work but hiking boots are better, especially if it has been raining. The path is well-marked but narrow in places with drops to the sea on one side.
Back at the harbour, the fish and chip shops are the reward. Beshoff's and Octopussy's are the two most popular. The queues on a sunny weekend tell you everything. Eat on the harbour wall with the seals watching. This is the Dublin experience that most visitors miss because nobody told them to get on the DART.
The honest negative: the path is exposed and the wind on the headland can be fierce. In winter it is muddy and sections can be slippery. On sunny weekends in summer the path gets crowded, particularly the first section from the harbour. The harbour car park fills by 10am on good weather weekends.
How to Get There
Take the DART from Connolly, Tara Street, or Pearse station to Howth. The journey takes 25-30 minutes and costs about EUR 6 return. Trains run every 10-15 minutes. This is by far the easiest and best way to get to Howth.
Bus 31 from the city centre also runs to Howth (40 minutes). If you insist on driving, the harbour car park is paid and fills early on weekends. Dublin public transport is the better option here.
Where to Stay Nearby
Most visitors do Howth as a half-day from Dublin city centre. If you want to stay, Howth village has a couple of options. The County Dublin hub has the full picture.
Boutique rooms above a renowned seafood restaurant right on the harbour. The best address in Howth.
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Frequently Asked Questions
