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Dublin Bay: Cruise from the City Centre to Dun Laoghaire
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From €28 per person
Dublin Bay is one of those things Dubliners live alongside but rarely stop to look at properly - and visitors tend to see it only from the shore. This one-way cruise gives you the view the other way around, sailing from Sir John Rogerson’s Quay in the city centre south through the bay to Dun Laoghaire Harbour in about 60 to 70 minutes.
The route covers some of Dublin’s most recognisable maritime landmarks. You’ll spot the candy-red Poolbeg chimneys and lighthouse standing out against the horizon, pass the sandy stretch of Bull Island, and see the Martello Tower at Sandycove that James Joyce made famous in the opening pages of Ulysses. A live guide keeps the commentary running throughout, sharing the bay’s history - from its role as a working port to the chain of wildlife reserves along the coastline.
The 96-passenger vessel has upper and lower viewing decks for those who want the full open-air experience, plus an indoor heated cabin for when the Irish weather reminds you that you’re in Ireland. There’s an onboard bar if you want a drink and a proper stretch of sea-gazing. Arrival at Dun Laoghaire is around noon, leaving you in a good position to explore the harbour town, grab something to eat on the pier, or hop on the DART back into the city.
The upper deck is the one to aim for on a clear day. It can be breezy out on Dublin Bay even in summer, so layer up - but the views from the open top deck as you pass the Poolbeg chimneys are far better than anything you’d see through a porthole. Bring a light jacket regardless of what the forecast says.
After you arrive in Dun Laoghaire, walk the pier. The East Pier stretches about a kilometre out into the bay and on a fine day it’s one of the nicest walks in the Dublin area. You’ll pass swimmers heading to the Forty Foot bathing spot, sea birds, and on a clear day, views back across the bay to Howth Head.
The Martello Tower at Sandycove has a James Joyce Museum inside it. The tower appears at the very start of Ulysses, and you can visit the museum from Dun Laoghaire with a short trip by DART or taxi. It’s a small but genuinely interesting stop for anyone with an interest in Joyce or Irish literary history.
Dun Laoghaire has some good lunch options near the harbour. The town has a solid selection of cafes and restaurants close to the pier, so you can treat the cruise as the morning leg of a proper day out. Arrive by sea, eat well, and DART back into the city in the afternoon.
Bull Island is worth knowing about if you’re into birdwatching. The live guide mentions the wildlife reserves along the coast, and Bull Island - which you’ll pass - is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. It’s accessible from Clontarf by a causeway if you ever want to visit it on foot.