Howth, Ireland: A Day Trip to the Harbour Town in East of Dublin

Howth

Howth is a harbour town located on the Howth Peninsula, east of Dublin, Ireland. It has stunning natural landscapes, rich historical sites, and a busy fishing port. It is just about a half-hour train from Dublin, making it an easy day trip if you’re in Dublin.

Getting There

Getting to Howth from downtown Dublin is very easy. You can take either the train or the bus. The routes and schedules can be easily found on Google Maps, which provides clear information. If you choose to take the train, you can check the schedule and prices on the Irish Rail website(TFI).

While Ireland’s rail system has ticket gates, people often free-ride, and the station staff doesn’t seem to mind. However, a friend said he used free-ride all the time, and one day he got a bill sent to his home by the railway company. He still didn’t pay, and was subsequently blacklisted by the railway😅

Arrival at Howth Harbour

We took the train from Dublin, arriving in Howth in about 30 minutes. Upon exiting the train station, a left turn brings you to the beautiful harbour and various restaurants. Since it’s a fishing port, you can see many fishing boats and yachts.

Walking along the harbor path, you can see fishermen mending their nets. Though European fishing ports feel somewhat similar to those in Taiwan with the strong smell of fish and lively seafood, the European fishing culture has its unique charm.

Exploring Howth Town

The weather in December is not ideal for a seaside visit, with the cold wind blowing, but the good thing is there are fewer tourists. Besides, there are some nice houses here – mostly summer vacation homes for the wealthy. So when we visited in winter, many houses were empty.

Church of the Assumption

We found a church when we walked around, which interested me as I had never been inside the church. There is also a graveyard near the seaside, giving movie-like vibes, as if vampires might appear at any moment.

Howth Castle

This castle has centuries of history and is one of Howth’s iconic structures, featuring fascinating historical architecture. Unfortunately, we couldn’t go inside during our visit, but we could walk in the surrounding gardens, which were beautiful.

Howth Lighthouse

The lighthouse is not far from the station and is a historic landmark that bears witness to the town’s maritime history. We sat near the lighthouse, enjoying the Howth sunset, whose enchanting scenery marked the perfect end to our day trip.

Howth actually has other places to explore, such as Ireland’s Eye Island, the Cliffs Bird Sanctuary, and Monastic Island Coast. However, due to our time and the season, we headed back by train after watching the sunset. It might not be a popular tourist spot, but it’s definitely a great place to visit and relax. Spending an entire afternoon in one of the parks here, enjoying the tranquility, is a true pleasure.

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