Dun Laoghaire Cruise Port: The Perfect 2-Hour Shore Excursion
Your cruise ship has docked at Dun Laoghaire. You’ve got a few hours. You want to see something real, not just the inside of a tour bus. Here’s what to do.
Most cruise passengers head straight for Dublin city centre. Fair enough - it’s just 25 minutes on the DART train. But if you want something closer, quieter, and genuinely Irish without the tourist filters, stay local. Sandycove is a 15-minute walk from where your tender lands, and it is not in many guidebooks.
Where you are
Dun Laoghaire (pronounced “Dun Leery”) is a harbour town about 14 kilometres south of Dublin city centre. Cruise ships anchor in the bay and tender passengers ashore to the cruise terminal. You step off the boat into what was once the largest enclosed harbour in the world, with two nineteenth-century piers stretching out into the bay, a waterfront promenade, and a DART station three minutes away.
The town itself has shops, cafes, and pubs within a short walk. But the real prize is just south along the coast: Sandycove.
Option 1: The Sandycove walk (recommended)
Time needed: 2-3 hours round trip Walking distance: About 4 kilometres total Cost: Free (unless you stop for a pint)
From the cruise terminal, turn left and walk along the waterfront heading south. You’ll pass the famous piers, Teddy’s ice cream (another Dublin landmark), the Roger Casement statue, and join the coastal path. Keep the sea and your ship on your left and walk. Fifteen minutes, flat the whole way, and you’ll arrive at Sandycove Point. Look back across Scotsman’s Bay and you’ll see your ship at anchor.
What you’ll find in Sandycove
James Joyce Tower and Museum. A round stone Martello tower right on the headland. Joyce stayed here in 1904 and set the opening of Ulysses here. Free entry, 20-30 minutes to look around, and the rooftop views over Dublin Bay are worth the climb alone. Read our full guide to the Joyce Tower.
The Forty Foot. Right beside the tower, a rocky swimming spot where Dubliners have been swimming for 250+ years. Even if you don’t swim (and most cruise passengers don’t), watching the regulars climb into the Irish Sea is a genuine Dublin experience. Full guide to the Forty Foot if you’re feeling brave.
Sandycove Beach. A small, sheltered beach between the Forty Foot and the harbour wall. Nice for sitting and watching the sea.
Fitzgerald’s of Sandycove. Around the corner from the tower, five minutes up the road. A proper Dublin pub - Victorian frontage, well-kept Guinness, and a genuine Joyce connection. This is where the locals go after a swim. If you want a pint in a real Irish pub without leaving the harbour village, this is it. See what’s on.
The walk back
If you have time and energy, extend south towards Dalkey (another 15-20 minutes each way). Or return the same way along the coastal path. Or for a different route back to the terminal, walk down through the lovely village of Glasthule and cut through the People’s Park - it brings you out near the harbour.
Option 2: Dublin city centre
Time needed: Half a day Transport: DART train, 25 minutes each way
If you want the full Dublin experience - Trinity College, Book of Kells, Temple Bar, Grafton Street, the Guinness Storehouse - take the DART. The station is a three-minute walk from the terminal. Trains run every 10-15 minutes. A round-trip ticket costs a few euros.
The DART goes to Connolly Station, Pearse Station, and Tara Street - all in the city centre. From there, everything is walkable.
Option 3: Do both
If you have a full day in port, you can do both. The DART from Dun Laoghaire to Pearse Station takes about 25 minutes. Do that in the morning, grab some lunch, then get the DART back out, get off at Sandycove and Glasthule and cut down to the sea. Lovely way to finish the day before jumping back on board.
This gives you the quiet, authentic coastal Dublin in the afternoon and the buzz of the city in the morning. Best of both.
Practical info for cruise passengers
Getting around
| Option | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Walk to Sandycove | 15 min | Free |
| DART to Dublin city centre | 25 min | ~€5 return |
| Taxi to Dublin city centre | 30-40 min | ~€30-40 |
| DART one stop to Sandycove | 3 min | ~€2 |
Pub hours
- Monday to Thursday: 3:00pm - 11:00pm
- Friday: 3:00pm - midnight
- Saturday: 12:30pm - midnight
- Sunday: 12:30pm - 11:00pm
Weather
This is Ireland. Bring layers. The coastal walk is beautiful but exposed - if it’s windy, you’ll feel it. A light rain jacket is never a bad idea, regardless of the forecast. Check the live weather conditions before you head out.
Tenders
Dun Laoghaire is a tender port. That means the ship anchors in the bay and small boats ferry you ashore. Sea conditions can sometimes delay disembarkation - factor in an extra 15-30 minutes on top of whatever the ship tells you.
Currency
Euros. Most places take cards.
A suggested itinerary
One catch: we don’t open in the morning. Fitzgerald’s opens at 12:30pm on Saturday and Sunday, and 3:00pm Monday to Friday. Save the pint for the afternoon.
Here’s how a day shapes up:
Morning - the walk and the tower
- 9:00-9:30: Tender ashore, off the pier
- 9:30-9:45: Coastal path to Sandycove (15 min, flat)
- 9:45-10:30: James Joyce Tower and Museum (free)
- 10:30-11:15: Sandycove Point and the Forty Foot
- 11:15-12:00: Back through Glasthule village and the People’s Park to Dún Laoghaire
Afternoon - the pint
- 12:00-12:30: Dún Laoghaire harbour, the piers, Teddy’s ice cream
- 12:30pm (weekends) or 3:00pm (weekdays) onwards: Back to Fitzgerald’s for a proper pint. Or take the DART 25 minutes into Dublin city centre.
If you’re only ashore for the morning, do the walk, the tower, and the Forty Foot - you’ll miss us, we don’t open until the afternoon. Have a pint in Dún Laoghaire instead, or come back another day.
If you’re short on time (2-3 hours), skip the city and just do Sandycove. It’s closer, it’s walkable, and it’s the Ireland that Dublin day-trippers often miss.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to do near Dun Laoghaire cruise port?
Walk to Sandycove (15 min) to see the James Joyce Tower and the Forty Foot swimming spot. Have a pint at Fitzgerald’s. Or take the DART 25 minutes into Dublin city centre.
Can you walk to Sandycove from the cruise port?
Yes. It’s about a 15-minute walk along the coastal path from the cruise terminal. Flat, paved, and scenic the whole way.
How do I get to Dublin city centre from Dun Laoghaire?
The DART train runs from Dun Laoghaire station (3 minutes from the terminal) to Connolly Station in Dublin city centre. It takes about 25 minutes and runs every 10-15 minutes.
How far is Dun Laoghaire from Dublin?
About 14 kilometres (9 miles). The DART train takes 25 minutes. A taxi takes 30-40 minutes depending on traffic.
Is Dun Laoghaire walkable from the cruise ship?
Yes. Tenders land at the cruise terminal and everything in Dun Laoghaire town is within a 5-10 minute walk. Sandycove is a 15-minute walk south along the coast.