Things to do and see in Howth Ireland

Howth is a small fishing village just 30 minutes from Dublin, and is a popular day trip for tourists visiting the city. Howth’s surroundings of cliffs and rugged hills are stunning, and if you’re a nature lover, you’ll be pleased to know that there are plenty of hiking trails to explore. But above all, Howth Ireland is well known for the seals that can be seen close to the harbour.

What are the best places to see in Howth?

This small fishing village on the headland of Howth has become quite touristy in recent years for its typical Irish scenery and especially its proximity to Dublin. Howth is a favourite place for locals to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy the sound of the waves crashing against the cliffs. Here’s a list of the best things to see in Howth.

1. Seal sighting in Howth Harbour

The promenade and harbour are a very pleasant area to stroll along, but Howth’s seals are undoubtedly the town’s main attraction. They usually come out for a bite to eat around 12 noon, but you can’t always see them. You can buy fish to feed them in the harbour itself (although you’re not allowed to feed them), but beware of the seagulls that are always lurking around.

2. Howth Castle

Howth Castle dates back to the 15th century and is very well preserved as it has undergone many changes and reconstructions over the years. Unfortunately it is not possible to visit it as it belongs to the noble family of Gaisford St Lawrence who reside there.

The castle gardens are the only area that can be visited, although you’ll need to have a basic knowledge of golf as a golf course has been built on the grounds. Even so, the garden still preserves some 300-year-old Himalayan rhododendrons, azaleas and 10-metre beech trees. Here we can also see a Neolithic dolmen more than 3000 years old.

3. Peak of Howth

This walk to the top of Howth Peak is one of the most common hiking routes. The summit rises 171 metres above sea level, the perfect height for spectacular views of the bay. On a clear day you can also see Dalkey Point. Halfway along the way you’ll come across Ben of Howth, an ancient Celtic tomb with 2,000 years of history.

Organise your travel itinerary with Passporter easy and functional. Get inspired by the experiences of other travellers and choose the places that interest you the most, adding them to the route map.

4. Baily’s Lighthouse

The path to Howth lighthouse is probably the best known for its low difficulty and excellent views of the coast. Seals can be seen in the sea from the path that runs parallel to the cliffs. The route is short, flat and ideal for children. However, we recommend that you dress warmly and wear comfortable closed shoes. As the path is very exposed it is often windy and the ground can be muddy.

5. Transport Museum

Do you like old vehicles? If so, this is the museum for you. Howth’s transport museum holds vintage fire engines, double-decker buses, and an electric tram that operated in the town during the 20th century.

The museum is only open Saturdays and Sundays from May to September and Mondays to Saturdays from June to August. Admission is €3 for adults and €1.25 for children.

Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.

What things to do around Howth Ireland?

Howth is somewhat isolated as it is on a small peninsula surrounded by the city of Dublin, which means that the nearest points of interest are in Dublin. Here’s a selection of things to do around howth Ireland without having to go too far.

1. Visit Dublin

The capital of Ireland is just half an hour by train from Howth. This city offers a sea of possibilities for tourists: Trinity College, Grafton Street, St Patrick’s Cathedral, the Old Library, St Stephen’s Green Park and much more. The best thing to do is to take a tour of the city to be told the secrets and legends that its streets hide.

The best thing about the city, however, is the atmosphere at night. Temple Bar is the street with the highest concentration of pubs in the city and where your day will probably end. It’s worth a night out just to see the atmosphere.

2. Dublin to Howth bike tour

Some Irish tour companies organise this electric bike tour which starts in Dublin and takes you around the main sights of Howth Ireland. The tour lasts 5 hours and includes full equipment, transport and guide. It is a unique experience to visit the surroundings of Howth in contact with nature and tiring you just enough. Groups are small, maximum 6 people and the price is €100.

3. Irlands’ Eye

Irlands’ Eye is a small island off Howth which can be reached by boat. The crossing takes about 40 minutes and is great fun to do with children as you get to see seals and seagulls along the way, as well as incredible views of Howth’s rugged coastline.

The ferry departs hourly from Howth Harbour and costs £20 for adults, £10 for teenagers up to 17, and £5 for under 12s. It can also be booked online.

What to visit in 1 day in Howth?

Howth is a very small town that can easily be seen in a day. In fact, it’s a popular day trip from Dublin. Start the day with a stroll around the town, visit the market, walk along the seafront and see the seals in the harbour. Then stop by Howth Castle Gardens and the transport museum next door.

Don’t miss the chance to eat at one of the restaurants on the promenade or harbour, and before the sun goes down take the opportunity to walk one of the surrounding trails, either the one to the lighthouse or the one up to the peak. The views on both are postcard-perfect.

At the end of the day, find a pub where you can relax with a pint of beer and enjoy the atmosphere.

Where to eat?

As a good fishing village, fresh fish and seafood is a must. The star dish? The fish and chips of course. The harbour is home to some of the best restaurants, but you can also eat well inland. Here are some of our favourites.

• Octopussys: a harbour-side restaurant serving tapas and Mediterranean-style dishes. Its fish is of great quality, but it is better to book because it fills up very quickly. The best thing is the view and the price is rather high, but it fits the quality of the food.
• Beshoffs: is the most famous restaurant in town and has been serving top quality fish for over a century. It’s located on the seafront and specializes in fish and chips and fried calamari. It’s not the cheapest of restaurants, either.
• Howth Market: This artisan market is a good option for cheap eats and local spices. Cheese, bread, burgers, cupcakes and much more will make you salivate.
• Foodtrucks: Another cheap alternative is to eat fish and chips from a food truck in the port.

What are the best places to stay in Howth Ireland?

In Howth there is not a great deal of accommodation on offer as it is a small town located very close to Dublin. Interestingly, it is flats that are the most plentiful.

• Sweet Inn – Gorgeous Howth II: a three-bedroom, terrace flat that’s fully equipped and very cosy. It’s 15 minutes from the centre and costs between 250 and €350 per night.
• King Sitric: a very pleasant little hotel on the beachfront. The establishment also has its own restaurant, accepts pets and offers free parking. The price per night ranges from €160-€200.
• Gleann-na-Smol: is a slightly cheaper option at €73 per night. It’s a little further from the centre, but it’s a very quiet place where you’ll receive excellent service.

How to get to Howth Ireland?

The most efficient way to get to Howth is to fly into Dublin Airport, go to the city centre and take the bus or train there. From Dublin Airport you can get to the city centre by bus or taxi. There are several bus routes which run quite frequently and cost between €7 and €10 (Dublin bus, airlink, aircoach). Taxis cost around €25.

Once in Dublin city centre you can get to Howth by train or bus. The train is the most convenient option. It costs between €6 and €8 and takes half an hour. Bus no. 6 takes a little longer, about 40 minutes and costs between €3 and €7.

Travel Tips for visiting Howth

• The currency in Howth Ireland is the Euro.
• Be prepared for medical emergencies: travel insured.
• The best time to visit the town is in summer, when the weather is at its most pleasant.
• Tap water is safe to drink, but it’s best to drink bottled water in case your body reacts badly to its minerality.
• Howth is safe, but as with any tourist destination, be careful with your belongings.
• Wear rain gear and closed-toe shoes. Even though it’s summer, it rains.
• It can get cold in the evenings and mornings in summer, so bring something warm.
• Don’t miss anything to see in Howth; try to buy tickets online to avoid queues.

Organise your trip to Howth Ireland

Register or download the Passporter App and discover all its possibilities.

• Get inspired by the experiences of other travellers.
• Create your own itinerary and add the app’s suggestions to it.
• Add the stops that interest you most, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest listed in this post as a reference).
• Organise your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map (you can take inspiration from the routes we present in the post)
• Check the travel budget that the app calculates according to your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
• Make the modifications you need and you’ll be all set for your trip.
• Share your experience. Upload photos of the places you visited on your trip to the app and recommend other travellers what to see in Howth Ireland.

If you have questions on how to do this, you can check out our post: How to create a travel itinerary on Passporter.

Frequently asked questions before you go to Howth