Dublin (Dun Laoghaire) Top Rated Self-Guided Coastal Audio Tour

About This Tour

Marina Boyle grew up along this coastline and created this audio tour herself. You download the audio, pick up a custom map, and set off on a 3-mile walk from Dun Laoghaire south through three more seaside villages - at your own pace, stopping whenever you want to take pictures, grab a coffee, or watch the seals at Coliemore Harbour.

This is the Dublin that city-centre visitors rarely reach: a quieter, genuinely lovely coastal stretch with castles, harbours, outdoor sea swimming, a maritime museum, and some compelling Viking history. Marina’s narration connects the history to how these places feel today, and the stories are told like a friend showing you around rather than a textbook talking at you.

It’s a particularly good option for cruise passengers docking at Dun Laoghaire - the starting point is two minutes’ walk from the port.

What’s Included

• Downloadable audio guide, custom map and visual guides
• All fees and taxes

What’s Not Included

• Train fare (if travelling to Dun Laoghaire by DART)
• Snacks
• In-person guide

Itinerary

The tour starts outside Hartley’s Restaurant at Dun Laoghaire DART Station and winds south through the coastal villages.

1. Dun Laoghaire Pier and Harbour - View and hear the history of one of Ireland’s most recognisable piers. (10 min)
2. Dun Laoghaire Maritime Museum - A maritime museum housed in a converted mariner’s church. Audio plays as you pass by. (pass by)
3. The Baths lookout - A viewpoint over the remains of outdoor saltwater sanitation pools from the early 1800s, with the story of the statue above them. (15 min)
4. Local park - A local park with extra time built in on Sundays for the farmer’s market. (10 min)
5. The Metals laneway - Walk through this historic laneway and hear the railway history of Dun Laoghaire. (5 min)
6. Sandycove village - A coastal village with its own character and history.
7. The Forty Foot - Dublin’s most famous outdoor sea swimming spot.
8. James Joyce Tower and Museum - Go inside, hear the history, and climb the spiral staircase to the rooftop viewing point. (20 min)
9. Medieval castle ruin, Dalkey - A medieval ruin in a village that once contained seven castles, three of which appear on this tour. (5 min)
10. Coliemore Harbour, Dalkey - View the village harbour and hear about its industrial past. Seals are often spotted in the water or on the rocks. (10 min)
11. Dalkey Castle - A Norman castle and heritage centre. Hear its story and the wider history of the village.
12. Killiney - Walk through this coastal village with Viking history and recommendations for dining and nightlife. (10 min)
13. Dalkey Island - View the island from the railway route and hear its Viking and Catholic history.

Meeting point: Outside Hartley’s Restaurant, Dun Laoghaire DART Station. Cruise passengers: two minutes’ walk from the port.

Good to Know

• Tour conducted in English
• Self-paced - take as long as you like
• Service animals are welcome
• Suitable for all fitness levels
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Public transport is available nearby (DART to Dun Laoghaire)

Local Tips

The DART from the city centre to Dun Laoghaire takes about 25 minutes. It runs regularly from Connolly, Tara Street, Pearse, and Lansdowne Road stations. It’s a scenic ride in itself, hugging the bay from Sandymount southward - sit on the right-hand side heading south for the sea views.

If you’re doing the tour on a Sunday, factor in extra time at the park. The farmer’s market there is a proper local one with food, produce, and crafts. It’s worth browsing, and Marina’s audio builds in time for it.

The Forty Foot is an active sea swimming spot, not just a lookout. Swimmers go in year-round, including on Christmas morning. You don’t need to swim, but watching the regulars take the plunge on a grey day is one of those very Dublin experiences worth pausing for.

Dalkey is worth lingering in. The village has a handful of genuinely good cafes and restaurants, and if you’re doing the tour at a leisurely pace this is a natural stopping point. The castle and harbour are close together, and Coliemore is a short walk from the main street.

Cruise passengers should note the walking distance carefully. The full 3-mile route ends at Killiney, which is further from the port than Dun Laoghaire. If you have a tight return window to the ship, plan your turnaround point in advance rather than discovering you’re short on time at Dalkey Castle.

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