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Dublin Highlights and Malahide Castle by car
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From €695 per person
This is a full day out of Dublin that actually goes somewhere rather than just circling the same central streets. You’ll cover the medieval city in the morning, then head north to Malahide for a guided tour of the castle before finishing at the coast in Howth for lunch by the water.
You travel throughout in a luxury Mercedes sedan with a qualified tour guide driver who handles the driving, the navigation, and the storytelling. The vehicle has WiFi and air conditioning, and it’s just your group for the whole 7.5 hours.
This is a private tour, conducted in English. Suitable for all fitness levels. Infants and small children can travel in a pram or stroller, and specialised infant seats are available. Lunch is not included in the price.
Phoenix Park is one of the largest enclosed urban parks in Europe at 1,700 acres, and most visitors only ever see the edges of it. Your hour here is well spent if you keep an eye out for the fallow deer herd that roams freely through the grounds. They’ve been here for centuries and are surprisingly unfazed by people.
Malahide Castle’s 800-year history means there’s a lot to absorb. The guided tour covers the castle’s layers well - the medieval core, the centuries of Talbot family ownership, and the rooms that have been carefully preserved and restored. Two hours here feels right; it’s enough to take it all in without rushing.
Howth is genuinely one of the best places to eat fresh fish near Dublin. The village sits at the end of a peninsula about 15km north of the city centre, and the fishing boats come into the harbour daily. Several restaurants are right on the waterfront, and a walk along the East Pier before or after lunch gives you good views back across Dublin Bay. Lunch isn’t included, so budget accordingly - a solid meal with a drink at one of the harbour restaurants will run you around €20-35 per person.
The GPO on O’Connell Street is a short pass-by on the route, but it’s worth understanding what you’re looking at. This is where the 1916 Easter Rising was declared, and the building still bears the marks of the fighting. If the story of Irish independence interests you, mention it to your guide - they’ll be able to give you the full context as you pass.
The drive between Malahide and Howth is short but scenic. You’ll skirt along the edge of the Dublin coastline, and on a clear day the views across the bay are genuinely good. It’s a comfortable transition between the castle and lunch.