Sometimes, the best way to know a place is to trace its edges. Along Dublin’s eastern boundary, where the land meets the sea, a trail unspools like a ribbon, threading through fishing villages, cliffside paths, and quiet shores that feel far from the city’s hum.
The Dublin Coastal Trail invites you to move slowly, listen carefully, and let the salt air write its stories upon your skin. Here, the wind smells of seaweed and memories, and every stop tells a story. This is Dublin, not as a cityscape, but as a shoreline.
What Is the Dublin Coastal Trail?
The Dublin Coastal Trail is a curated walking, cycling, and public transportation-friendly route that stretches about 40 miles along the capital’s scenic coastline.
It connects the northern village of Skerries with the southern slopes of Killiney, weaving through a dozen seaside towns and landmarks in between.
Whether you explore it by train (on the DART line), rent a bike, or simply lace up your walking shoes, this route is easy to access and astonishingly varied.
Designed as a sustainable way to enjoy Dublin’s natural and cultural beauty, the trail is clearly signposted in multiple languages and has a lot of flexibility, perfect for short strolls, full-day outings, or leisurely weekend wanders.
Why Visit?
This trail is a bit like an unfolding love letter to Dublin Bay. One moment, you’re watching grey seals bob in the harbor.
The next, you’re sipping coffee beside a Martello tower or sensing the hush of sea birds over a salt marsh. It’s ideal if you love wild edges and warm welcomes, moments of solitude and shared joy.
Along the way, you’ll see castles, bookshops, harborside fish stalls, and beautiful cliff views. It’s a coastline that will rewards your curiosity and linger in your memory for a long time to come. Together, let’s unpack some of the stops along the way so you can choose your own adventure.
Skerries
Skerries is where the trail begins in the north, and it sets the tone with salt-tanged elegance. This harbor town is known for its colorful boats, long beaches, and the working windmills of Skerries Mills, a living museum that turns with the seasons.
Red Island has a gentle coastal walk with views that stretch toward the Mourne Mountains on a clear day. If you’re hungry, stop for fish and chips on the harbor wall, where the waves lean in just to listen.
Malahide
South of Skerries lies Malahide, a graceful town built around an ivy-draped castle and broad bay. The castle grounds are perfect for a morning ramble beneath towering oaks, while the town center is full of boutique shops and open-air cafés.
Along the shoreline, you’ll enjoy boardwalks and estuary views, often filled with kite surfers creating arcs through the breeze. It’s a place where history and modern life blend together like tidewater.
Howth
Howth (pronounded “hoe-th,” like hope) echoes with the sound of the seagulls and the crunch of boots on gravel. The Howth Cliff Path Loop is one of the most beloved walks in Dublin, trailing the cliffs above the sea in a dramatic, sweeping arc.
On one side, wildflowers cling to the rock. On the other, the water shifts between turquoise and steel. The village itself ia humming with life, from seafood stalls, to Sunday markets, to cozy pubs with roaring fires. If you’re lucky, you’ll spot seals lounging near the pier and gannets diving like javelins just offshore.
Raheny & North Bull Island
Between the city and the sea lies Raheny and the remarkable North Bull Island, a UNESCO Biosphere reserve. Here, the landscape is quiet and low, filled with whispering grasses and wading birds. The beach seems to stretch on forever, backed by dunes that rustle in the wind. You can walk for ages and see more birds than people in this sanctuary, a hush in the heart of the capital.
Sandymount
South of the River Liffey, Sandymount is a wide, windswept strand perfect for reflective walks. The promenade is lined with elegant homes and, on the far side, the Poolbeg Chimneys rise like red and white sentinels above the sea. James Joyce wandered these parts, and it’s easy to see why. There’s something literary in the light here, and you just might walk away with that poem you’ve been longing to write.
Dún Laoghaire
Dún Laoghaire (pronounced done-leery) is the trail’s anchor in the south, a port town with deep roots and lively spirit. The East Pier walk is iconic.
Families, joggers, and couples all trace the same long curve out to the sea, pausing for Teddy’s ice cream at the halfway point. You’ll see sailing clubs, bookstores, and a modern library that gazes out toward the water. This is Dublin at its most seaside-sophisticated.
Sandycove & Glasthule
A stone’s throw away is Sandycove, home to the Forty Foot, a storied swimming spot where brave locals plunge into the sea year-round.
Nearby, the James Joyce Tower stands watch from its perch, filled with literary relics and memory. The village of Glasthule brings the charm with its independent shops and cafés spilling into the streets. One thing you’ll notice is that everything here feels handwritten.
Dalkey
Dalkey is a treasure chest of heritage and character, with castle towers, sea views, and narrow lanes that bend with history. The town was once a Viking port, and it still carries the weight of the ages beneath its picturesque surface.
You can visit Dalkey Castle, stroll down to Coliemore Harbour, or take a boat out to Dalkey Island, where goats roam and ruins linger. Bono might live nearby, but it’s the everyday rhythm that gives this place its pulse.
Killiney
The trail ends in Killiney, where Dublin’s coastline begins to echo the Riviera. From the heights of Killiney Hill, you can look back at the curve of the bay and ahead to the open sea.
The beach is stony and peaceful, perfect for skipping rocks or lying on warm boulders. Although Killiney feels like an ending, it’s more of a pause, an invitation to stay longer, and let the waves do the talking.
To the Edge and Back Again
The Dublin Coastal Trail is a journey through time, place, and feeling. Whether you follow it from end to end or dip into a few favorite corners, you’ll come away with sea salt in your hair and stories stitched to your soul.
As the wonder of Ireland wraps around you, take another stroll – this time, through our library of destination guides. We’ll take you coast to coast as, together, we follow the threads of Ireland’s coastlines, villages, and wild green heart.