10 Best Bus Tours Of Dublin

​​Dublin, the Irish capital, is a city steeped in tradition, culture, and beauty. If you’re looking to immerse yourself in the magic of this enchanting metropolis, then Dublin Bus Tours is the perfect way to do it.

Dublin is home to some famous sites and a number of hidden gems. In this article, we’ll take you on a virtual tour of Dublin’s sights and sounds, thanks to Dublin Bus Tours.

Day Tours from Dublin

Whether you’re looking for an adventure along Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way, exploring iconic sites such as The Cliffs of Moher, the Burren and the city of Galway, or want to immerse yourself in the rich history of Ireland’s Ancient East, from Glendalough and Kilkenny to the west in Blarney, we’ve got you covered. We’ve also got Ireland’s magical northern coastline, from the home of Titanic to the famous Giant’s Causeway, where you’ll enjoy a Day Tour exploring every corner of this island’s rich history and stunning scenery.

A number of different options for day tours are available from Dublin including

• Paddywagon Tours,
• Irish Day Tours,
• DoDublin Day Tours,
• Darby O’Gill “Get Away for a Day” Tours,
• RailTours Ireland,
• Wild Rover Tours,
• Hill Top Treks and more.

Image by Irish Day Tours

DoDublin Hop-on Hop-off City Tours

These bright green buses can be seen throughout the city. Hop-on and hop-off tours cover most of the city’s major attractions, such as the Guinness Storehouse and Trinity College, as well as EPIC’s Irish Emigration Museum, but they also make stops at smaller attractions, such as Teeling Whiskey distillery in the Liberties, and Marsh’s Library, next door to St Patrick’s Cathedral. A ticket includes entry to the little museum of Dublin, as well as a Pat Liddy’s walking tour.

Buses leave O’Connell Street on a regular basis. If you’re looking to get out of Dublin, they also offer tours south of the city to Wicklow, Glendalough and Clondalkin, as well as north of the city to Belfast and Causeway Coast.

All tickets are available 24 hours a day, 48 hours a day and 72 hours a day. The tour will be accompanied by a live tour guide who will provide commentary on the city, as well as audio guides which are available in several languages. You will be able to get a free adult ticket for 2 kids and a free child-friendly walking tour. In addition to these concessions, you will also be able to get free entry into the little museum of Dublin.

24-Hour Ticket

• 24-Hour Hop-on-Hop-off Bus Tour
• Little Museum of Dublin Admission
• Free Walking Tour
• Child tickets are included w/ each Adult ticket. €26.50/Adults | €10/Kids €25/Students, Seniors
• €26.50/Adults | €10/Kids
• €25/Students, Seniors

48-Hour Ticket

• 48-Hour Hop-on-Hop-off Bus Tour
• Little Museum of Dublin Admission
• Free Walking Tour
• Child tickets are included w/ each Adult ticket. €32/Adults | €15/Kids €30/Students, Seniors
• €32/Adults | €15/Kids
• €30/Students, Seniors

Do Dublin Freedom Ticket

• 48-Hour Hop-on-Hop-off Bus Tour
• 72-Hour Unlimited Luas Trams
• 72-Hour Unlimited DART/Commuter Trains
• 72-Hour Unlimited Public Bus
• Little Museum of Dublin Admission
• Free Walking Tour
• Child tickets are included w/ each Adult ticket. €45/Adults | €10/Kids
• €45/Adults | €10/Kids

Image by dodublin.ie

City Sightseeing Tours

The City Sightseeing Hop on – Hop off tour includes over 30 stops, including the replica famine ship, Jeanie Johnston and Kilmainham’s Irish Museum Of Modern Art. Buses depart from Trinity College every hour.

In addition to the included city stops, you can also be picked up from bus stops in Ballsbridge in the morning. This is ideal if you are staying in the Ballsbridge area and want to visit the city’s more central attractions without having to take separate transport into the city centre.

The City Sightseeing’s river cruise gives you a unique view of the city as you sail along the River Liffey’s banks. Starting at Bachelor’s Walk, you will take a boat out under O’Connell Bridge and pass the 18th-century Custom House before heading along to the glass-and-steel architecture of Docklands.

There are more than 30 different stops on the City Sightseeing Bus tour, including sites such as The Guinness Storehouse, Phoenix Park, Dublin Castle and more.

24-Hour Ticket

• 24-hour Hop-on-Hop-off Bus Tour
• 2 Free Walking Tours
• 2 Kids Go Free €28/Adults | €15/Children €23/Senior Citizens
• €28/Adults | €15/Children
• €23/Senior Citizens

48-Hour Ticket

• 48-Hour Hop-on-Hop-off Bus Tour
• 2 Free Walking Tours
• 2 Kids Go Free €35/Adults | €22/Children €30/Senior Citizens
• €35/Adults | €22/Children
• €30/Senior Citizens

In addition to the free walking tours, each of these tickets also includes 10% off at the Irish Whiskey Museum, Lazy Bike Tours, and Irish Day Tours.

Routes

City Sightseeing Tours has one route which will take you throughout the city to 31 different stops. This route includes commentary from live guides as well as a free audio guide.

The entire tour will take approximately 2 hours to complete.

Image by city-sightseeing.com

Big Bus Dublin Tours

This bus tour takes you around Dublin in 25 stops, with a guide showing you all the sights in the city, or with a pre-recorded commentary available in 8 languages. Along the way, you’ll see Dublin Zoo in Phoenix Park, Kilmainham Gaol, Richmond Barracks, and more. The trip will help you get a better idea of the city’s geography outside the city centre.

You’ll also be able to see all the lights of the city at night at 7 pm and 8:30 pm, such as the lights of St. Patrick’s cathedral, or the buildings along the banks of the river Liffey. The regular tours start at O’Connell Street. Check Big Bus Tours Dublin’s departure times for the latest.

Each ticket includes a walking tour and free Wi-Fi, and you’ll be able to plot your next move on the bus or upload a video of the onboard singalong to Instagram. The deluxe package includes a 3-day hop on hop off ticket, a 3-day tour including the night tour and a 3-day coastal tour to Howth, a fishing village.

NOTE: The prices below reflect an additional 10% discount you receive when purchasing tickets directly from their website.

Classic Ticket

• 24-hour Hop-on-Hop-off Bus Tour
• Free Walking Tour €27/Adults | €14.40/Children 1 Free Child Ticket w/ each Adult ticket. Save 10% when you book online.
• €27/Adults | €14.40/Children
• 1 Free Child Ticket w/ each Adult ticket.
• Save 10% when you book online.

TIP: This ticket is included with the Go City Dublin Pass.

Premium Ticket

• 48-Hour Hop-on-Hop-off Bus Tour
• Free Walking Tour
• Night Bus Tour €36/Adults | €14.40/Children 1 Free Child Ticket w/ each Adult ticket. Save 10% when you book online.
• €36/Adults | €14.40/Children
• 1 Free Child Ticket w/ each Adult ticket.
• Save 10% when you book online.

Deluxe Ticket

• 72-Hour Hop-on-Hop-off Bus Tour
• Night Bus Tour
• Half-Day Coastal Tour
• Free Walking Tour €54/Adults | €14.40/Children 1 Free Child Ticket w/ each Adult ticket. Save 10% when you book online.
• €54/Adults | €14.40/Children
• 1 Free Child Ticket w/ each Adult ticket.
• Save 10% when you book online.

Each ticket is valid for use on any date within 6 months of your original purchase. If you buy either the 48 or 72-hour ticket, you must use it on consecutive days.You can choose to either print your tickets out or use the Big Bus Tours app to present your e-ticket when hopping on board.

​Image by bigbustours.com

Vintage Tea Tours

If you’re looking for an afternoon tea experience that’s a little bit out of the ordinary, Vintage Tea Trips is the perfect way to do it. Take a trip back in time to a time when tea and chats were the order of the day. Hop on board a 1960s vintage bus and let the hosts tell you their favourite stories about Dublin. As the bus rolls by, you’ll get to see some of the city’s most iconic sights. From the top of the vintage buses, they’ll take you on a tour of Temple Bar, the Guinness Storehouse, Phoenix Park, O’Connell Street and Trinity College. They’ll also take you to Georgian Dublin, Stephen’s Green and two of Dublin’s cathedrals.

While you’re on your afternoon tea journey, don’t forget to indulge in our full afternoon tea spread. They’ve got piles and piles of delicious food, plus all Barry’s tea your heart could ever want. You don’t need to be on your toes for this afternoon.

• Tours- Babylon

Image by vintageteatrips.ie

The Comedy Tours

As the name suggests, this bus tour takes you on a journey through Dublin’s comedy past. Your journey will be hosted by professional comedians who will tell hilarious stories about some of the most hilarious things that have ever happened in Dublin.

You’ll get to see some of the city’s most iconic landmarks such as The Garden of Remembrance and the Guinness Brewery, and you’ll also get to ride around with some of Ireland’s funniest tour guides. The company has modified their buses to create a ‘stage-like’ environment where its comedians can do their best work.

You won’t be able to jump on and off the bus at will, and there will be no stops along the way. Since The Comedy Bus is still a relatively new service, there haven’t been many reviews yet, but many customers have said that it’s very funny and informative.

Ticket Information

• €25 per person
• Availability: Saturdays at 7 pm
• Duration: 1 hour

Image by viator.com

Dublin Night and Ghostbus Tours

The Gravedigger Ghost Tour

It’s a bit spookier alternative to the other bus tours because it’s spooky and funny at the same time. Instead of scaring you silly, your tour guides tell you some of the scariest stories from all over Dublin’s past.

Not only do you get to wander around the city, but you also get a free pint (alcohol or non-alcohol) at the famous Gravedigger’s Pub!

Ticket Information

• €29 per person
• Includes free brew at Gravedigger’s Pub
• Availability: Fri and Sat at 7:45 pm
• Duration: 2 hours

The Ghostbus and Gravedigger both offer free services, such as a free brew at their pub and a free walking tour of Dublin. Both companies take a similar approach to decorating their buses to make the experience even more creepy.

This tour is not a hop-on-hop-off bus tour but instead includes activities such as a trip to a haunted museum and a stroll through St. Kevin’s Graveyard.

Image by tripadvisor.com

The Dublin Ghostbus Tour

If you’re looking for a different kind of tour from the popular Gravedigger tours, this is a great choice. They offer a fun and spooky tour through Dublin’s historic streets.

There’s a focus on slightly macabre stories of Dublin’s past, but your tour guide will keep things entertaining and funny with a humorous approach to the macabre.

Ticket Information

• €35 per person
• Includes a free walking tour.
• Availability: Mon-Sat at 8 pm
• Duration: 2 hours

While Gravedigger offers a complimentary beer at their pub, Ghostbus offers a free walking tour that highlights the city’s most iconic landmarks.

Both Ghostbus and Gravedigger take similar approaches to decorating their buses to make their tours even scarier.

This isn’t a hop-on, hop-off bus tour. You’ll be able to make stops at some of Dublin’s most notorious landmarks and hear some of the grisly stories about Dublin’s past.

Image by ghostbus.ie

Vikings Splash Tour

Exploring Dublin City by Land and Water with one of Ireland’s most exciting sightseeing tours.

Join Viking Splash Tours as they take you on a tour of Dublin City in one of the authentic WW2-era DUKWs! The guides will take you on an exciting, informative and memorable adventure around Dublin City, showing you the city’s cathedrals and Georgian Dublin before taking you on a short boat cruise by the famous U2 studios in the Grand Canal Basin. This tour has been voted one of Dublin’s best tours and is perfect for families and groups of all ages.

Pricing:

Adults From €33

Children (3-14 years) From €27

Family (2 adults & 2 children) From€100

Students (Student ID required)From €30

Senior (65 and over) From €30

Image by vikingsplashdublin.ie

Dublin Pedal Tours

The Dublin Pedal Tours bus is a 15-seater pedal-powered bus with a friendly guide and your choice of music. Ideal for sightseeing tours, pub crawls, team-building activities and hen /stag parties. There are three types of Dublin Pedal Tours, each of which lasts for 2 hours plus. Sightseeing pub tours, cycling from point A to point B around Dublin and musical sightseeing tours.

Find Dublin Pedal Tours on Prince’s St. North off O’Connell St, between the general post office and Penney’s.

• The 4 Passes to Visit Ireland

Image by dublinpedaltours.com

With Dublin Bus Tours, you’ll discover the city’s history, culture, and natural beauty. Whether you’re visiting Dublin for the first time or you’re an experienced traveller, these tours offer a unique chance to experience the magic of Ireland’s capital city under the watchful eyes of experienced tour guides. So, get on board, relax, and allow Dublin Bus Tours to take you on a journey that’ll leave you with amazing memories and a greater appreciation for Ireland’s beautiful city.