Dublin Airport is 10km from the city center. Ireland uses the Euro. Here's what every option actually costs.
Budget option: Dublin Bus — ~3.30 EUR
Dublin Bus routes 16 and 41 serve the airport. A single journey costs about 3.30 EUR with a Leap Card (Dublin's transit card) or exact cash fare. Route 16 goes through Drumcondra to O'Connell Street. Route 41 goes via Swords Road.
The downside: regular city buses are slow (40-50 minutes), can be crowded, and have limited luggage space. Not ideal with suitcases.
Best value: Aircoach — 7-8 EUR
The Aircoach (routes 700, 702, 703) is the sweet spot between cheap and comfortable. One-way tickets:
- Online: ~7 EUR (buy at aircoach.ie)
- At the stop / from driver: ~8 EUR
- Return ticket: ~12 EUR online
Comfortable coaches with luggage storage, runs every 15 minutes by day, 24 hours a day. Takes 30-40 minutes to the city center.
For two people: 14-16 EUR. Still much cheaper than a taxi.
Door-to-door: Taxi
Dublin Airport taxis are metered. Here's what to expect:
| Destination | Estimated taxi fare |
|---|---|
| O'Connell Street | 30-38 EUR |
| Temple Bar | 32-40 EUR |
| St. Stephen's Green | 35-45 EUR |
| Docklands / IFSC | 32-42 EUR |
| Ballsbridge / RDS | 38-50 EUR |
| Dundrum | 40-55 EUR |
| Howth | 35-45 EUR |
Important: These are fair-traffic estimates. During rush hour, add 10-20 EUR because the meter runs while sitting in traffic (about 0.45 EUR per minute). A 35 EUR ride to Stephen's Green can become 50 EUR during the school run.
Premium: Private transfer
| Vehicle | Capacity | Price to city center |
|---|---|---|
| Sedan | 1-3 passengers | 35-50 EUR |
| Executive sedan | 1-3 passengers | 50-70 EUR |
| Minivan | 4-6 passengers | 55-75 EUR |
| People carrier | 5-8 passengers | 65-85 EUR |
The fixed price is the key advantage. Dublin traffic is unpredictable, and a transfer price doesn't change whether the ride takes 20 minutes or 50 minutes.
Cost comparison by group size
| Group size | Dublin Bus | Aircoach | Taxi | Transfer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 3.30 EUR | 7 EUR | 30-40 EUR | 35-50 EUR |
| 2 people | 6.60 EUR | 14 EUR | 30-40 EUR | 35-50 EUR |
| 3 people | 9.90 EUR | 21 EUR | 32-42 EUR | 35-50 EUR |
| 4 people | 13.20 EUR | 28 EUR | 35-45 EUR* | 55-75 EUR (minivan) |
*Four in a taxi with luggage is very tight.
The Aircoach offers the best value for 1-3 people. For 4+ people, a taxi or minivan transfer becomes competitive per person.
Hidden costs
- Rush hour traffic adds significantly to metered taxi fares — budget 10-20 EUR extra
- Night supplement on taxis: roughly 10-15% more between 8 PM and 8 AM
- Leap Card deposit: 5 EUR refundable, but you get discounted bus fares
- No tolls between the airport and city center (though the M50 toll doesn't apply on the direct route)
Bottom line
The Aircoach at 7 EUR is Dublin's best airport transport deal — 24-hour service, comfortable, reliable. Taxis are convenient but Dublin traffic makes the metered price unpredictable. If you want certainty, a fixed-price transfer eliminates the traffic risk.