# Malahide A coastal town north of Dublin with the Talbot family's castle, gardens, a butterfly house and Portmarnock beach, 25 minutes by DART and 10 from the airport. Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/ireland/malahide · Revisado: 2026-11-12 Malahide is a coastal town in the north of County Dublin, at the end of a DART line, the commuter train. It has a main street with pubs and cafés, a marina on the estuary and, ten minutes' walk from the station, an enormous park with Malahide Castle, where the Talbot family lived for more than eight centuries. It is the easiest half-day trip from Dublin and, being ten minutes from the airport, a good place for the first or last night of the trip. ## How do you get there from Dublin? By DART. From Connolly, Tara Street or Pearse, about 25 minutes to Malahide station, which is in the centre of the town. It is covered by the Leap Visitor Card. From the station it is a walk of about ten minutes to the castle, along the road and then through the park. By bus. Lines 32 and 42 link the centre of Dublin with the town. From the airport, the 102 goes direct to Malahide. By car. About 25 minutes from the centre and ten from the airport. The castle has free parking. ## What to see Start with the castle, visited with a guide in three quarters of an hour to an hour: rooms with portraits of the Talbots, period furniture and the story of a family that lived here for more than eight hundred years. Then go out to the gardens: the walled garden, the botanic garden, the Victorian conservatory and the butterfly house. With small children, the fairy trail in the woods and the playground on the west lawn will take up half a morning. Have lunch at the Avoca café, next to the castle courtyard, or go down into the town. In the afternoon, the sea. From the centre, the coastal walk goes down Malahide beach to the Robswall rocks and continues along Portmarnock's Velvet Strand, with a Martello tower. It is flat and you can walk one way and come back by bus or on foot. If you prefer something short, stroll round the marina and the main street before the train. With a whole day and children, add Newbridge House, a Georgian house with a farm in Donabate, the next station to the north. ## How long and when? Half a day is enough for the castle and gardens; a whole day, to add the coast. The castle is open every day of the year from 9:30 to 17:30 (closed 24 to 26 December), and it is best to book the visit in high season. In summer the town fills up at weekends and there are big concerts in the park, run by another company: check the dates if you want peace and quiet. ## Is it worth a night? Yes, if your flight arrives late or leaves early. From Malahide to the airport is ten minutes, against a good half hour from central Dublin, and in the evening you have pubs and restaurants within walking distance. The Grand Hotel is next to the station and the sea; Castle Lodge is a family-run house ten minutes' walk from the castle. ## Dónde está - Cerca: Dublin (a 13.3 km), Powerscourt and Enniskerry (a 28.7 km), Newgrange and the Boyne Valley (a 33.8 km), Glendalough and the Wicklow Mountains (a 50.3 km) ## Qué hacer - **Guided tour of Malahide Castle** (1 h · All ages; with a pushchair, ask about access first · Adult €17, child 4 to 17 years €9, senior or student €12, family 2+2 €48, family 2+3 €55): The castle can only be visited with a guide: three quarters of an hour to an hour through the main rooms, with the portraits and furniture of the Talbots, the family who lived here for more than eight centuries. The guide tells the story of the house room by room; in some rooms photographs are not allowed. It opens daily from 9:30. Book on the official website in high season: tickets are non-refundable, but you can change them within 48 hours of purchase. Written scripts are available for visitors with hearing impairments, and portable seats are provided during the tour. Afterwards, you explore the gardens at your own pace. - **Walled garden, botanic garden and butterfly house** (1 h 15 · All ages): Behind the castle are the botanic gardens and the walled garden, with a Victorian glasshouse, flower beds, the rose garden and a woodland walk. Within the grounds, the butterfly house has tropical butterflies flying among the plants: children love it, and on a cold day the warmth inside is very welcome. It opens from 9:30, like the rest of the grounds. Allow an hour or an hour and a half, more if you stop at the Avoca café, whose terrace overlooks two of the gardens. Check on the website what each ticket includes before you buy. - **Fairy Trail and the West Lawn playground** (45 min · Children aged 2 to 8): The Fairy Trail is a short path through the park's woods, with little houses, doors and fairy figures hidden among the trees, designed for young children. It opens from 9:30, next to the West Lawn, where the playground is too. It is the perfect finish after the castle visit, which feels long to the smallest ones. The path is earth: you can get a pushchair along it, but one with big wheels is better if it has rained. - **Coastal walk from Malahide to Portmarnock along the Velvet Strand** (1 h 45 · All ages; flat): Fingal suggests this walk along the shore between the two towns. From the centre of Malahide you go down to Malahide beach, continue past the High Rock and Middle Rock at Robswall, and reach the Velvet Strand, Portmarnock's long beach, with a Martello tower from the Napoleonic wars. It is flat: at low tide you can walk on the sand. Do it one way and come back the same way, or take the bus back from Portmarnock. There is no shade and there are no bars along the middle stretch: bring water and a layer, as you notice the sea wind. - **Malahide marina and main street** (45 min · All ages): The village can be seen in a short while: New Street, the main street, with pubs such as Gibney's; The Green, the landscaped square by the sea; and the marina on the estuary, with a walk along the pontoons. Everything is a few minutes from the DART station. It is the perfect late-afternoon plan, before dinner or catching the train back, and the best way to see Malahide as the locals see it. - **Newbridge House and its farm, in Donabate** (2 h 30 · Families with children; the farm is for the little ones): Newbridge House is a Georgian house with its own park and a traditional farm, in Donabate, the next station north of Malahide. The house is seen on a guided tour (the last one leaves at 15:00) and the farm, with its animals, is the main attraction for children. The park and café open every day. Check the website before you go: in autumn and winter 2026 the house has closures for works and is not open on Mondays. ## Dónde comer - **Avoca Malahide, the castle café** (Café, Malahide, €). Qué pedir: the quiche of the day or a soup with bread, and a scone for dessert. - **Old Street Restaurant** (Restaurant, Malahide, €€€). Qué pedir: the Sunday set menu, or the early menu during the week. - **Gibney's** (Bar, Malahide, €€). Qué pedir: a pint and whichever dish of the day they recommend at the bar. - **Siam Thai Malahide** (Restaurant, Malahide, €€). Qué pedir: the massaman curry or the Thai-style aromatic duck. ## By plane: Fly to Dublin and ten minutes to Malahide Malahide is the closest you can sleep to Dublin Airport with a village, the sea and restaurants around you: ten minutes by car or the direct 102 bus. There are direct flights to Dublin from Madrid, Barcelona and many other Spanish cities. From here, the DART takes you to Dublin city centre in about 25 minutes. ### Dónde dormir if you're flying - **Grand Hotel Malahide** (Hotel): The hotel The Grand is Malahide's big hotel: a seafront building at the end of the main street, with 201 rooms and a four-star rating. It has its own health club, the Arena, with a swimming pool and gym, a restaurant (Coast), a bar (Southbank) and a cocktail bar (The Marksman). The rooms There are doubles, family rooms, junior suites with sea views and a penthouse suite. Ask for a sea view if you want one: not all rooms have it. Getting there It is a short walk from the DART station, with trains to Dublin city centre in about 25 minutes, and a few minutes from the airport by car or on the 102 bus. The castle is about fifteen minutes' walk away. It is the most convenient option for a first or last night with an early flight. - **Castle Lodge B&B** (Small hotel): The house Castle Lodge is a family-run guesthouse on Back Road, on the side of the village facing the castle park. Fingal, the county council, lists it in its accommodation directory. It is simple and practical: rooms with private bathroom and shower, television, hairdryer and a tea and coffee tray. Breakfast and the garden Every morning you choose between a full Irish breakfast or a continental one. There is a garden with a barbecue, and wifi and parking are free, which is not always the case around Dublin. Getting there The castle is less than ten minutes' walk away; the village centre and the DART station are about three minutes by car or a somewhat longer walk. The airport is about ten minutes by car. It has no website of its own: book by phone. - **Portmarnock Resort & Jameson Golf Links** (Spa hotel): The hotel A hotel with a golf course beside the Velvet Strand, Portmarnock's long beach, just south of Malahide. The links golf course next to the dunes and the historic bar are named for the Jamesons, the whiskey family. What it has A spa with seaweed baths and massages, a gym and several places to eat: The Seaview, The 1780 restaurant, the An Sibin pub and afternoon tea. The rooms range from Classic and Deluxe to family rooms and suites. Getting there It is on Strand Road, facing the beach. It is a place to go to by car, with a short journey to the airport and to Malahide Castle. The coastal walk to Malahide along the sand starts from here. ### Servicios - **Malahide station (DART and commuter trains)**: DART to Dublin city centre in about 25 minutes (Connolly, Tara Street, Pearse); the station is in the centre of the village, ten minutes' walk from the castle. - **Bus 102 from Dublin Airport to Malahide**: Direct route from the airport to Malahide village, from the city bus zones at the terminals; about ten minutes by car or taxi. ## Car-free: DART from Dublin and Malahide on foot You can do all of Malahide without a car: the DART arrives in the centre of the village and from the station you walk to the castle, the marina and the beach. It is a half-day outing from Dublin or a quiet night before a flight. Presupuesto orientativo: 80–160 € por persona y día. ### Dónde dormir without a car - **Grand Hotel Malahide** (Hotel): The hotel The Grand is Malahide's big hotel: a seafront building at the end of the main street, with 201 rooms and a four-star rating. It has its own health club, the Arena, with a swimming pool and gym, a restaurant (Coast), a bar (Southbank) and a cocktail bar (The Marksman). The rooms There are doubles, family rooms, junior suites with sea views and a penthouse suite. Ask for a sea view if you want one: not all rooms have it. Getting there It is a short walk from the DART station, with trains to Dublin city centre in about 25 minutes, and a few minutes from the airport by car or on the 102 bus. The castle is about fifteen minutes' walk away. It is the most convenient option for a first or last night with an early flight. - **Castle Lodge B&B** (Small hotel): The house Castle Lodge is a family-run guesthouse on Back Road, on the side of the village facing the castle park. Fingal, the county council, lists it in its accommodation directory. It is simple and practical: rooms with private bathroom and shower, television, hairdryer and a tea and coffee tray. Breakfast and the garden Every morning you choose between a full Irish breakfast or a continental one. There is a garden with a barbecue, and wifi and parking are free, which is not always the case around Dublin. Getting there The castle is less than ten minutes' walk away; the village centre and the DART station are about three minutes by car or a somewhat longer walk. The airport is about ten minutes by car. It has no website of its own: book by phone. ### Servicios - **Malahide station (DART and commuter trains)**: DART to Dublin city centre in about 25 minutes (Connolly, Tara Street, Pearse); the station is in the centre of the village, ten minutes' walk from the castle. - **Bus 102 from Dublin Airport to Malahide**: Direct route from the airport to Malahide village, from the city bus zones at the terminals; about ten minutes by car or taxi. ## With young children: Fairies, butterflies and an enormous park Malahide works very well with small children: the train arrives in the village, the castle park is big and free to wander around outside, and within the grounds there is a fairy trail, a butterfly house and a playground. The castle's guided tour lasts an hour at most, which is just right. ### What works best Fairy Trail and the West Lawn playground Butterfly house, which is also warm on cold days Castle, if they can manage an hour with a guide Newbridge House, for the farm ### Where to stay Grand Hotel Malahide, with a pool and family rooms Castle Lodge, with a garden ### Where to eat Avoca, self-service and no waiting Siam Thai, open every day from midday ### Good to know Children up to 3 years old are not on the price list; ask when you book With a pushchair, big wheels are best for the woodland trail ### Qué hacer with young children - Guided tour of Malahide Castle - Walled garden, botanic garden and butterfly house - Fairy Trail and the West Lawn playground - Malahide marina and main street - Newbridge House and its farm, in Donabate ## As a family: A castle, gardens and the beach in half a day For a family with children of different ages, Malahide is an uncomplicated outing: twenty-five minutes by train, a family ticket for the castle with gardens around it, and the beach in the afternoon. Everything is done on foot. ### What works best Guided tour of the castle, with a family ticket from €48 Gardens and butterfly house Coastal walk to the Velvet Strand at Portmarnock, flat Newbridge House, with a farm, one station away ### Where to stay Grand Hotel Malahide, with a pool Portmarnock Resort, beside the beach Castle Lodge, simple and with parking ### Where to eat Avoca, in the castle grounds Gibney's, the village pub Siam Thai, for dinner any day ### Good to know Only assistance dogs are allowed in the castle grounds Tickets are non-refundable; they can be changed within 48 hours ### Qué hacer as a family - Guided tour of Malahide Castle - Walled garden, botanic garden and butterfly house - Fairy Trail and the West Lawn playground - Coastal walk from Malahide to Portmarnock along the Velvet Strand - Malahide marina and main street - Newbridge House and its farm, in Donabate ## Consejos ### Book the castle visit In high season the slots fill up; booking on the official website secures the time. Tickets are not refundable, but can be changed within 48 hours of purchase. ### Combine it with the airport If you fly in the afternoon, leave your bag in left luggage or at the hotel and spend the morning here: the 102 or a taxi gets you to the airport in ten minutes. ### Leave the dog at home Only assistance dogs are allowed in the castle park and gardens. The beach walk is another matter. ### Go to the Velvet Strand at low tide There is more sand to walk on and the beach is wider. ## Preguntas frecuentes ### How do I get from Dublin to Malahide? By DART from Connolly, Tara Street or Pearse, in about 25 minutes, or on buses 32 and 42. From the airport, bus 102 goes direct. ### How much does Malahide Castle cost? Adult €17, children aged 4 to 17 €9, seniors and students €12, family of two adults and two children €48. The castle visit is guided. ### How much time do I need? At least two hours for the castle and gardens, and half a day if you add the town. With the coastal walk, a whole day. ### Can I go with a dog? Not to the castle and its gardens: only assistance dogs. On the beach and the coastal walk, yes, on a lead. ### Is it a good base to sleep near the airport? Yes: it is about ten minutes by car and has hotels, pubs and restaurants within walking distance, unlike the hotels in the airport area.