Couples, families or small groups who will use the flexibility of a private format.
private tours IrelandMe tour notes
Howth Cliffs and Ireland's Eye Ferry Boat Tour
Skippered cruise past the Baily Lighthouse, Howth's cliff face and Ireland's Eye wildlife sanctuary - seals, puffins and the Kirwan murder mystery. From €17.
From €17 starting price · live price may vary
Check dates & prices ↗ Free cancellation on most dates · Booked securely with Viator
Duration0-1 hours
PriceFrom €17
Rating4.6 from 380 reviews
BookingSecurely via Viator
The IrelandMe take
Best straightforward coastal loop
Our practical read of the published itinerary, traveller feedback and local context—not the operator’s sales description.
It is the lowest-priced of our three picks and combines the Howth cliff face, Baily Lighthouse and Ireland's Eye with live local commentary.
The listed duration is broad and the experience is mainly about the view from the water. Confirm the sailing time rather than planning around a precise finish.
One practical detail
Compare this with the other options in our boat to Ireland's Eye guide → The water perspective changes everything. Howth's cliffs are dramatic from the walking path, but from sea level you can see the cave mouths, the nesting ledges and the sheer scale of the rock face in a way that's genuinely surprising even if you've done the cliff walk before. The two experiences complement each other rather than compete.
How the experience works
Tens of thousands of people walk Howth's cliffs every summer — but seeing them from the water is a different thing altogether. The cliff face looks completely different from sea level, and Dublin Bay opens up in a way that the walking path simply can't offer.
You'll be aboard the Puffin, Howth's newest and fastest ferry, captained by Mark, whose family have been fishing and touring these waters for generations. He runs live commentary throughout on the birdlife, the rock formations and the sea mammals you pass along the way — puffins, guillemots and grey seals are all regulars here. The route takes you out past Howth Lighthouse and along the cliff face toward the Baily Lighthouse, then circles Ireland's Eye: a nature reserve and part of the Dublin Bay Biosphere, with a Martello Tower, a seal colony and the story of the infamous Kirwan murder case woven into the commentary.
Getting to Howth is easy — it's a straightforward DART or bus ride from the city centre.
What the price covers
- Life jackets on board
- Skippered cruise with live commentary
The published itinerary
Use this to judge the pace and where your time actually goes. Operators can adjust stop order for traffic, weather or opening times.
- Depart from the West Pier pontoon, passing Howth Lighthouse as you leave the harbour. (pass by)
- Cruise past the Baily Lighthouse with commentary on its history, then along the Howth cliffs in Ireland's Ancient East — puffins, guillemots and other seabirds nest in the rock face, and the views back across Dublin Bay are excellent. (pass by)
- Circle Ireland's Eye, a nature reserve and wildlife sanctuary within the Dublin Bay Biosphere. You'll see the Martello Tower, the seal and bird colony, and hear the story of the island's history and the famous Kirwan murder case. (pass by)
Meeting point: Pontoon on the West Pier in Howth, opposite Aqua Restaurant.
Local tips that make the day better
Puffins are most visible in late spring and early summer. They nest in burrows and on ledges in the cliff face, and they're much easier to spot from the boat than from the path above. If puffins are a priority, April through July is your window. The grey seals are there year-round.
Captain Mark's family history with these waters is part of the commentary. This isn't scripted tour-guide material — it's someone who actually grew up here telling you what they know. The Kirwan murder story (an 1852 case that's still talked about on the island) gets a good telling.
Ireland's Eye is a proper nature reserve. It's part of the Dublin Bay UNESCO Biosphere, and the seabird colonies on the island are dense enough that the sound carries across the water before you even see them. The Martello Tower adds a layer of history to what's already a visually striking island.
Combine with the cliff walk for a full Howth day. The ferry covers the water side; the cliff walk covers the headland above. Both start and finish near the harbour, and there are several good seafood spots along the pier for lunch or dinner in between.
Good to know before booking
- Wheelchair accessible, and transport options are also wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals are allowed on board
- Public transport is available nearby — DART to Howth
- Group size is capped at 40
- Conducted in English
Make more of the area
- Howth — the village itself has a proper working harbour, fresh seafood restaurants and the DART station all within a few hundred metres of the pier
- Malahide — a coastal village 20 minutes north with a medieval castle and one of Ireland's most respected botanical gardens
- Clontarf — the shoreline suburb between the city and Howth, with a long seafront promenade along Dublin Bay
Questions before you book
How long is Howth Cliffs and Ireland's Eye Ferry Boat Tour?
The published duration is 0-1 hours. Allow extra time to reach the meeting point and for your onward plans.
How much does Howth Cliffs and Ireland's Eye Ferry Boat Tour cost?
The listed starting price is From €17. Live prices can change by date, group size and availability.
What should I know before booking?
The listed duration is broad and the experience is mainly about the view from the water. Confirm the sailing time rather than planning around a precise finish.
Ready to decide?
Check the live times before building the rest of your day.
From €17 · 0-1 hours Check dates & prices ↗
