Couples, families or small groups who will use the flexibility of a private format.
private tours IrelandMe tour notes
Howth Coastal Boat Tour (Ireland's Eye Ferries 50 mins trip)
Small-group boat cruise from Howth's West Pier around Ireland's Eye - seals, puffins, sea caves and live commentary. From €25, 60 minutes.
From €25 starting price · live price may vary
Check dates & prices ↗ Free cancellation on most dates · Booked securely with Viator
Duration1 hour
PriceFrom €25
Rating4.9 from 207 reviews
BookingSecurely via Viator
The IrelandMe take
Best small-boat experience
Our practical read of the published itinerary, traveller feedback and local context—not the operator’s sales description.
The group is capped at 11 and the 60-minute route stays close to the water, making the wildlife and sea caves the focus rather than simply transporting a crowd around the bay.
This is a cruise around the coast and island, not a day ashore. If landing is the reason you are booking, choose the ferry instead.
One practical detail
Compare this with the other options in our boat to Ireland's Eye guide → Get there by DART and you've already won. Howth is about 40 minutes from Connolly or Pearse stations, and the train drops you practically at the harbour. You skip the car parking headache entirely, and the coastal views on the way out aren't bad either.
How the experience works
Howth is an easy 40-minute DART ride from the city, and this small-boat cruise is one of the best reasons to make the trip. You're out on the water for 60 minutes, close enough to the cliffs to feel the spray, with Ireland's Eye sitting just offshore and the Dublin Bay Biosphere stretching out around you.
The groups are capped at 11, so you're not wedged onto a large ferry. You're right at the waterline, which puts you much closer to the wildlife than you'd expect. Your skipper runs live commentary throughout, mixing local history with a running identification of whatever seabirds you happen to pass. Depending on the season, you might spot puffins, gannets, guillemots, cormorants, kittiwakes and the large grey seal colony around the harbour and Ireland's Eye. Some Irish music plays in the background.
When you get back to the pier, you're steps from several good seafood restaurants along the harbour.
What the price covers
- All fees and taxes
- Snacks
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, heading out along the cliffs and around Ireland's Eye. Your skipper provides live commentary on local history and wildlife throughout, with panoramic views of the east coast and Irish music in the background. (60 min)
Meeting point: From Howth train station, turn left and after 50 metres take a left turn down onto the West Pier. Continue along the pier with the trawlers on your right and restaurants to your left. Near the end of the pier, just past Aqua Restaurant, you'll see the ferry boats on the right in the harbour.
Local tips that make the day better
Puffins are seasonal. If seeing puffins is the main draw, aim for late spring through early summer — typically April to July. The birds nest in the cliff faces and are far more visible from the water than from the walking paths above. Your skipper will know exactly where to look.
The seal colony is there year-round. Grey seals are reliably spotted around the harbour and the waters near Ireland's Eye regardless of season. They're a lot closer at water level than you'd imagine from the pier.
Arrive a few minutes early. The meeting point is at the end of the West Pier, just past Aqua Restaurant. It's a short walk from the station but the pier is longer than it looks, so give yourself a few extra minutes.
Pair it with the cliff walk. If you've got the afternoon, the Howth cliff walk starts near the harbour and gives you the same coastal scenery from the other direction — up on the headland looking out over where you just sailed. A good way to see both sides of the headland in one visit.
Good to know before booking
- All fees and taxes are included in the ticket price
- Group size is capped at 11
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals are allowed on board
- Public transport is available nearby — the DART runs directly to Howth
- Suitable for all fitness levels
- Conducted in English
Make more of the area
- Howth — a working fishing village with some of the best seafood restaurants on the Dublin coast, just steps from the pier
- Malahide — a pretty seaside town with a medieval castle and botanical gardens, 20 minutes north of Howth by DART
- Clontarf — a calm, leafy suburb on Dublin Bay with a long coastal promenade between the city and Howth
Questions before you book
How long is Howth Coastal Boat Tour (Ireland's Eye Ferries 50 mins trip)?
The published duration is 1 hour. Allow extra time to reach the meeting point and for your onward plans.
How much does Howth Coastal Boat Tour (Ireland's Eye Ferries 50 mins trip) cost?
The listed starting price is From €25. Live prices can change by date, group size and availability.
What should I know before booking?
This is a cruise around the coast and island, not a day ashore. If landing is the reason you are booking, choose the ferry instead.
Ready to decide?
Check the live times before building the rest of your day.
From €25 · 1 hour Check dates & prices ↗
