The Airlink 747 no longer exists. From Dublin Airport the real choices are the TFI 16 and 41 city buses at EUR 2 with a Leap card, Dublin Express and Aircoach coaches at about EUR 9 to EUR 12, or a taxi at EUR 30 to EUR 40.
- Ignore any guide that tells you to take the Airlink 747 - the bus is gone.
- TFI bus 16 or 41 is EUR 2.00 with a Leap card and takes 50 to 70 minutes; cash needs exact change and the machine gives none back.
- Dublin Express is about EUR 12 return and non-stop in 25 to 35 minutes, Aircoach about EUR 9 for the southside - and neither takes a Leap card.
- A taxi is EUR 30 to EUR 40 from the regulated ranks outside both terminals, and Uber here dispatches licensed taxis at the same metered fare.
- A Leap card caps Dublin spending at EUR 6.00 a day and EUR 24.00 a week, which beats the 1-day and 3-day Visitor Cards unless you are moving constantly.
Dublin Airport, which is where almost everyone lands
Ignore any guide that tells you to take the Airlink 747. DoDublin turned Airlink Express into an online booking hub and the bus itself is gone. These are the options that exist.
| Option | Cost | Time to the centre | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| TFI bus 16 or 41 | EUR 2.00 with a Leap card, EUR 2.60 cash | 50 to 70 min | Ordinary city bus, many stops, cheapest by a distance |
| Dublin Express (782, 784) | about EUR 12 return, from EUR 9 one way online | 25 to 35 min | Non-stop to the quays, Heuston or Camden Street. No Leap card |
| Aircoach (700, 703) | about EUR 9 | 30 to 45 min | Southside hotels, Donnybrook, UCD, Leopardstown. No Leap card |
| Taxi | EUR 30 to EUR 40 to the centre | 25 to 40 min | Metered and regulated. Ranks outside both terminals |
| Uber / FREE NOW | same as a taxi | as above | Uber in Ireland dispatches licensed taxis at the metered fare |
- Buses leave from Zones 11, 13 and 15, signed from both terminals. Route 41 runs through Swords and Drumcondra to O'Connell Street; route 16 runs via Drumcondra to O'Connell Street and on to Rathfarnham.
- Cash on a TFI bus needs exact change and the machine gives no change back. Get a card instead.
- The private coaches do not take Leap. Buy from the driver, the machine or online; online is cheaper.
The card decision, made once
- A TFI Leap card costs EUR 5 refundable deposit and caps your Dublin spending at EUR 6.00 a day and EUR 24.00 a week. Every journey on bus, Luas, DART and commuter rail comes off the same card.
- The TFI 90 minute fare is EUR 2.00. Tap on for a first journey and every further journey inside 90 minutes is free, across bus, tram and city rail.
- The Leap Visitor Card is unlimited travel for a fixed price: EUR 8.00 for 24 hours, EUR 18.00 for 72 hours, EUR 24.00 for 168 hours, and it covers your airport trips at both ends.
- Buy the Visitor Card at the airport, at WHSmith in Terminal 1 or Spar in Terminal 2, before you get on anything.
- Do the arithmetic. At the EUR 6.00 daily cap an ordinary Leap card beats the 1 day Visitor Card, and beats the 3 day card too unless you are moving constantly. The 7 day Visitor Card at EUR 24.00 exactly matches the weekly cap, so it wins only because it needs no deposit and no top up.
The other airports
- Shannon (SNN) has Bus Eireann route 51 to Limerick, about 45 minutes, and route 343 to Ennis. Most arrivals here pick up a hire car.
- Cork (ORK) has bus 226 to Cork city centre roughly every half hour, about 25 minutes, and it takes Leap.
- Knock (NOC) and Kerry (KIR) have thin bus service timed to flights. Book a transfer or hire a car.
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