Getting around Ireland
With an upgraded road and motorway network, domestic flights, comfortable bus and rail services, Ireland is easy to explore.
If public transport isn’t part of your itinerary, there are plenty of choices for travelling executives. Hire cars and chauffeur-driven cars and limousines can be arranged prior to travel or at all major airports and city centre locations. For larger groups travel options range from helicopters and private jets to vintage bus or luxury coach hire. If time is of the essence, a helicopter is one of the best options to get around the country quickly, while impressing your guests and enjoying a bird’s eye view of the stunning topography. No matter what your schedule, there’s plenty of choice when it comes to getting around Ireland.
• Car and Limousine Hire
• Driving Distances
• Helicopter and Private Jet
• Internal Flights
• Island Boat Services
• Public Transport
• Taxi
• Coach Hire
Car and Limousine Hire
Car hire can be arranged prior to travel to Ireland or on arrival at ferries and airports. However, intending drivers should consider they are more likely to get a better deal for car hire booked in advance. Advance booking is especially advisable for travel during high season. Terms and conditions to be aware of are age restrictions on drivers and that all drivers require a valid licence from their country. The majority of rental cars in Europe are manual/standard shift and not automatic. Automatic cars must be ordered in advance and may incur an additional fee. For a list of car hire companies please visit The Car Rental Council of Ireland.
Helicopter and Private Jet
Flying by helicopter to your resort from the airport or another location in Ireland can be arranged by the most upmarket hotels and castles in Ireland. Another option is to rent or charter a helicopter to transport you and your guests around the country. Those keen on experiencing a range of Irish golf courses and golf links during their stay can arrange a golf trip with a company that uses helicopters to get from club to club. Private jet can also be arranged for those seeking a memorable and luxurious way to travel at their own pace.
Internal Flights
Ireland is dotted with a number of regional airports which cut travel times from Dublin to the regions. If you’re on a tight schedule, there are a number of airlines that offer domestic flights within Ireland. Flights are available from Belfast City, Cork, Dublin and Shannon as well as the regional airports of the Aran Islands, City of Derry, Donegal, Galway, Kerry, Knock, Waterford and Sligo. Aer Arann serves both Irish regional and international airports, while Aer Lingus, Aer Lingus Regional and Ryanair operate between the Irish international airports.
Visiting the islands of Ireland is a magical experience. Many of the inhabited islands are served by regular boat services. Still, if you are planning to visit any of the offshore islands, you’ll need to check out island ferry services and timetables well in advance. Check details again before travelling in case of any changes due to adverse weather conditions. Regular island boat services operate to the Aran Islands off the Galway coast, Rathlin Island off the North Antrim coast, Aranmore Island off Donegal, Clare Island off the Mayo coast, Sherkin and the Cape Clear Islands off the coast of west Cork. For more information on any of Ireland's islands please contact one of our Regional Tourist Authorities.
The rail network in the Republic of Ireland is run by Irish Rail, also known as Iarnród Éireann. All main cities and towns are easily accessible from Dublin by rail and there are other rail connections from principal ports of arrival. Dublin and Belfast are connected by a high-speed rail link, the Enterprise.
The DART electric rail runs along part of the coast north and south of Dublin, servicing the city centre, the port of Dun Laoghaire and suburbs.
Dublin boasts a light rail system, the LUAS, and its two lines connect the west and south suburbs to the city centre. Bus Éireann is the Republic’s national bus service, and its extensive network links major towns and cities with small towns, villages and rural outposts with both Expressway and Local/Rural/Commuter routes.
Main urban centres are also serviced by city/town bus services, the largest being Dublin Bus.
Translink is the umbrella name for the integrated transport system in the North of Ireland. NI Railways is responsible for rail travel in Northern Ireland while Ulsterbus is the bus service, serving all the main towns, villages and cross-border routes. Goldline is the region’s inter-urban express coach service provider while Metro is Belfast city’s bus service.
Taxis are in abundance in Ireland. Dublin city, as legend goes, even has more taxis than New York. Taxis can be hailed on the street, booked in advance and found at dedicated taxi ranks in all of Ireland’s major cities. They are also available in smaller towns and villages, where they must usually be ordered over the phone to arrange collection. There are taxi ranks at all the major airports, train and bus stations around the country.
Coach Hire
If you’re organising travel for a large group of people, a coach might be just what you need. You can choose to travel in luxury coaches with state-of-the-art technology to get from A to B. Or if you’re looking for a memorable trip, consider a vintage Dublin bus to transport your guests around. No matter what size your group, find a coach hire company to suit your needs.