A Guide to Hop-On-Hop-Off in Dublin
By Jodi "Jato" Thornton; Updated September 26, 2017From Molly Malone to the Guinness Storehouse: Hop-on-hop off tours in Dublin
Hop-on-hop-off tours are a great way to see an unfamiliar city and its sights at your own pace. One- and two-day tours along the cobbled streets of Dublin visit dozens of the city's must-see locales, from the Guinness Storehouse to the St. Patrick's Cathedral. The tours also give you access to hidden city gems missed by many tourists and walking tours in areas where buses can't go.
See the city in a double-decker bus
Two bus companies in Dublin operate hop-on-hop-off tours: DoDublin (formerly Dublin Bus Tours) and CitySightseeing Dublin. The bus companies make it easy to explore by including a free walking tour and free rides for two kids under 14 with each paid adult ticket.
DoDublin: Get free entry to The Little Museum of Dublin when you take the tour as well money-saving discounts and a map of the city. Live guides are native Dubliners with the "gift of gab" who will both inform and entertain you as you visit the tour's 33 stops. Free Pat Liddy walking tours operate year-round.
CitySightseeing rolls out two routes through the city in its red double-decker buses. Get a 48-hour ticket and you'll also be able to join the City by Night tour, a one-hour, summer-only musical tour of downtown. The 48-hour ticket also gives you access to the CitySightseeing Dublin Walking Tour during summer months.
Warning
If you buy your tickets online, you'll need to find a place to print them. If printing is not an option, you can also buy tickets directly from the tour driver.
Passes with free hop-on-hop-off tours
Two separate city passes give you 72 hours of unlimited travel or free admission to attractions in the city.
The DoDublin Card gives you 72 hours of unlimited access to public and sightseeing buses, free admission to the Little Museum of Dublin, a complimentary Pat Liddy walking tour and discount admission to attractions and exclusive restaurant meal deals. DoDublin's Airlink Express gets you to and from the airport and city center.
The Dublin Pass gives you 72 hours of free admission to 25 of the city's most popular sights. It also includes a free 24-hour hop-on-hop-off bus tour through CitySightseeing and airport transfer to city center. The pass also gives you fast-track entry at busy attractions to help make the most of your timed ticket.
Tip
The clock starts running on your timed ticket the first time you scan it. If you plan to use it for transportation from the airport, plan take a flight that arrives in the morning. If you scan it the first time at night, you will have only two days left on your ticket.
Make the most of your ticket
If you visit during the city's busy tourist season that peaks during the warm weather months of July and August, expect slower traffic and crowded buses. These months are two of the nicest with temperatures in the mid-60s. June and September offer slightly lower temperatures with fewer crowds. Dress warmly during the off-season months when chances for rain increase and temperatures creep down into the mid-40s during the day. The top open-air decks of the buses are covered in winter, but you'll want to bring an umbrella for walking around.