An underrated seaside town lies just north of one of Europe’s capital cities and it is a mere 80-minute drive from the UK. Howth is a town north of Dublin, Ireland’s capital, and it is loved by locals, especially in the summer months. However, not many tourists make time for it when they are visiting this Irish city but with easy access via public transport and plenty for visitors to do, see and eat, it is definitely somewhere we recommend you visit this summer.
Driving to Howth frm Northern Ireland takes only 80 minutes and it is also easy to get to from mainland Britain. Ferries to Dublin depart from Holyhead in Wales as well as Liverpoolin the North West. You can also fly into Dublin in as little as 30 minutes from Britain. Once you arrive in the centre of the Irish capital, there is plenty to do such as the famous Guinness Storehouse. However, a short train ride takes you to the seaside town of Howth.
To get to Howth from Dublin City Centre, you take a DART train that takes around 30 minutes. It will take you from central stations like Connolly, Tara Street and Pearse Street directly into Howth.
As soon as you step out of the train station, you can see a lovely beer garden belonging to The Bloody Stream pub.
A short walk from there takes you to the promenade and following that path, you will eventually reach the pier. Here, you witness amazing sunsets at the end of the day, often with buskers playing music in the background. Surrounded by amazing scenery and a scenic village, it is a great place to enjoy an ice cream or some grub from one of the chippies in the town.
After that, you will start to walk up the hill after the pier. Make sure to keep an eye out for a small gate here as it will take you down winding steps to a lovely little stoney beach. During the summer months, you will find plenty of people swimming here.
If swimming isn’t your thing, you can simply sit on the concrete platform and watch the peaceful scenes surrounded by scenic green cliffs. After a visit to the beach, it’s time to stretch the legs and get ready to walk.
That’s because the highlight of this underrated seaside town is the cliff walk. From the beach to the summit, it only takes around 30 minutes to walk, depending on how fast you walk. You will follow the main road up to the car park and then the signposted path to the top.
You can finish your walk here or you can continue on, and we recommend continuing on. You will eventually reach a lighthouse which is breathtaking to look at. Continuing on the trail, you will have to keep an eye out for a small winding path you will come across before you reach the main road.
We recommend heading back to Howth to reward yourself with a pint of Guinness and some local grub. This town is full of pubs and restaurants serving up delicious seafood as well as pub classics like burgers and steaks.
There are some other towns surrounding Dublin that tourists tend to overlook. South of the city, there is Bray. Similar to Howth, it also has scenic cliff walks and a lovely promenade.