Dublin bus tours are operated by the company responsible for the bus services in Dublin. The tours are a cost effective way to see Dublin and the surrounding areas in a single day. Let’s have a look at what is on offer.
The 2016 Tour – Beyond Barricades
This year is the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising in Ireland. This is an important historical event where Irish Republicans attempted to end British rule of the island. The tour is new for 2016 and has been created to commemorate the anniversary.
The tour is available several times daily and is one hour and a half in duration. Actors are employed for a more authentic experience. The blurb on the web site mentions “through the eye-witness testimonies of those involved” so the actors take on the part of an actual historic rebel figure.
This tour costs €25.00 per adult and is suitable for ages 12 and over.
Ghostbus Tour
This is the world’s first and original Ghostbus according to the web site. The tour is 2 hours in duration and operates on Tuesday and Thursday at 8pm and Friday and Saturday at 6:45pm and 9:00pm.
A professional storyteller and guide is provided on board. The guide will treat you to spooky stories about hauntings, ghosts and other fine tales of supernatural happenings. The bus visits interesting and ghostly locations throughout the city where you can get out and take pictures. After hours access is granted to a graveyard which is one highlight of this tour.
This bus tour costs €28.00 per person.
North Coast and Malahide Castle
Malahide Castle is a fantastic location to visit. The castle was owned by the same family for 791 years which is considerably longer than this tour! The tour of the castle interior lasts approximately 45 minutes of the 5 hour tour.
Inside the castle you will find several beautiful rooms featuring rich wooden panelling, old paintings and antique furniture. Afterwards, spend some time in the castle gardens.
The tour returns to Dublin via a scenic coastal route and stops briefly at the fishing village of Howth. It is a nice way to get out of Dublin to see some of the surrounding countryside.
This bus tour costs €25.00 per person.
Glendalough and Powerscourt Gardens
No visit to Ireland is complete without visiting the monastic settlement of Glendalough located high in the Wicklow Mountains south of Dublin. It comprises of monastic buildings and a large lake set between mountains which is perfect for getting great pictures. You walk from the main settlement to the lake along a track which is fairly flat and easy to navigate. It takes around twenty minutes or so to do the walk so it is suitable for all ages and levels of fitness.
This tour lasts for 7 hours and in addition to Glendalough you also visit Powerscourt Gardens. I have not taken the tour personally so I have not visited Powerscourt but I hear it is a place well worth the visit.
This bus tour costs €27.00 per person.
Hop-On Hop-Off
Dublin Bus offer hop-on hop-off tours of Dublin which are a common tour type in many cities. Get on and get off whenever you like and explore what you want to explore.
There are two hop-on hop-off routes in Dublin each offering unique sights around the city.
This bus tour costs €22.00 and covers both routes over a 48 hour period.
Overall Thoughts
Explore Dublin and the surrounding area with Dublin Bus Tours. The tours I have experienced featured professional and interesting commentary from the friendly drivers. They are good value and the double decker buses are large and relatively comfortable. The tours depart from a central location on O’Connell Street in the heart of Dublin where you can purchase tickets up to and including the day of travel.
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