The Howth Cliffs and Ireland's Eye Boat Tour is the easiest way to see Dublin Bay's northern headland from the water, and it takes under an hour. Boats leave from the West Pier in Howth, at a pontoon opposite Aqua restaurant, and you make your own way to the harbour, which is a half-hour DART ride from the city centre. The trip is billed as fifty minutes to an hour, although some passengers report shorter sailings, so treat it as a short outing rather than a half-day cruise. The route passes the Baily Lighthouse on the southern tip of the peninsula, the sea cliffs of Howth Head, the Howth lighthouse and Ireland's Eye, the small uninhabited island just off the coast. The island is a passing stop and this trip does not include a landing, so this is a sightseeing trip rather than a visit ashore. Seabirds nest on the cliffs and island, with guillemots and razorbills mentioned by passengers, and some trips spot seals or puffins, although wildlife sightings are never guaranteed. Life jackets are provided on board and the maximum party is forty. The tour is wheelchair accessible and stroller accessible, service animals are allowed, and free cancellation is offered up to twenty-four hours before the start.
What to expect from the water
The cliffs look very different from below than from the clifftop path. Layers of rock fall steeply to the sea, gulls and cormorants wheel around ledges, and Ireland's Eye sits low and green with a ruined church and a Martello tower on the shore side. The skipper and crew talk about the lighthouses, the birds and the harbour history as you pass, and the tide often shapes how close the boat gets.
Sailing times vary with tides and sea conditions, and passengers have reported choppy water on some days, so wear a windproof jacket even on a sunny afternoon, hold the rail, and take sea-sickness tablets beforehand if you are prone to them. Reviews are mostly warm, with the main complaint being that the trip is shorter than expected on some days.
Booking and timing
Start times are chosen at checkout, and recent reviews mention morning departures. No season is stated for the trip, so check when you book which dates are running, since small-boat operators in Ireland scale back in rough winter weather. The same harbour has several operators, including trips that land on Ireland's Eye in summer, so make sure you have the product you want.
Morning is usually the calmest time on the water, and weekdays are quieter than weekends, when half of Dublin heads to Howth in fine weather. The boat leaves from a pontoon rather than a terminal, so allow a few minutes to find it and arrive early on busy days.
Building a day around it
The best plan is to take the DART out in the morning, join the boat from the pier, and then eat fresh fish at one of the harbour restaurants or fish-and-chip counters. If you have the energy afterwards, the Howth Cliff Path Loop gives you the view from above to complete the picture, roughly two hours of walking.
Alternatively use the boat as the gentler option for days when the clifftop wind is too strong or for family members who cannot manage a long hike. Back in Dublin, Dun Laoghaire's East Pier on the south side of the bay makes a pleasing counterpoint if you have a second coastal afternoon, and Malahide Castle is a short train ride north of Howth.
What to expect
The experience
A short small-boat sightseeing trip from Howth West Pier, passing Baily Lighthouse, the cliffs of Howth Head, Howth lighthouse and Ireland's Eye. There is no landing on the island.
Best time
Morning on a calm weekday. Weekends in fine weather are busy at the harbour.
How long
Listed at 50 minutes to an hour; some sailings run shorter depending on tides and sea conditions.
Tips
Take the DART to Howth. Wear a windproof layer. Check the dates and start times at booking. Pair it with the cliff path or a seafood lunch.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Visitors who want sea and cliff views without a long hike, and birdwatchers hoping for guillemots, razorbills or seals.
- Families
- Works well for families, with life jackets provided and a short sailing time; check sea conditions for little ones.
- Couples
- A pretty, quick outing from Dublin, best with a harbour lunch before or after.
- Pair with
- The Howth Cliff Path Loop, seafood on the West Pier and the DART back along the bay.
- Time needed
- A half day including the train.
Good questions
Where does the boat leave from?+
From a pontoon on the West Pier in Howth, opposite Aqua restaurant. You make your own way there by DART, bus or car.
How long is the trip?+
It is listed at fifty minutes to an hour, though some sailings are shorter depending on tides and sea conditions.
Does the boat land on Ireland's Eye?+
No. The island is a passing stop on this tour. If you want to step ashore, look for a separate island landing trip when you book.
Will we see puffins or seals?+
Seabirds such as guillemots and razorbills are commonly seen and some trips spot seals or puffins, but wildlife is never guaranteed.
Is it accessible?+
Yes. It is listed as wheelchair and stroller accessible, service animals are allowed and life jackets are provided. Free cancellation applies up to twenty-four hours before.
