Malahide Castle: Day Trips and Tours from Dublin

The magnificent Malahide Castle has endured on Ireland’s east coast for over 800 years. Located just a short drive north of Dublin, the landmark welcomes visitors to explore its intriguing past, walled gardens and detailed architecture.

Take a Malahide Castle day trip and visit Malahide town to explore the Irish seaside’s charming pubs and stunning vistas.

How to get to Malahide Castle from Dublin?

Malahide Castle is located about 15 kilometers north of the center of Dublin. The castle is in Malahide Village in County Dublin and is accessible by car, train and bus from the city center.

From Dublin to Malahide Castle by car

Visitors planning to journey to Malahide Castle by car have two options. One route goes northeast from Dublin along Malahide Road, followed by R107. Travelers can also head north along the N1 and then drive east from the town of Swords along Feltrim Road to Malahide. Both routes take about 20-25 minutes on average.

From Dublin to Malahide Castle by bus/public transport

Arriving from Dublin to Malahide via public transit is simple. Catch the Dublin Area Rapid Transit (DART) train from Dublin Connolly Station north to Malahide station. You will arrive in Malahide in around 25 minutes. From the Malahide DART station, you can walk to Malahide Castle in about 20 minutes.

Guided tour to Malahide Castle from Dublin

Another solution is to take a Malahide Castle guided tour which includes transportation. Many private tours give participants the additional perk of pickup at their hotel or a central location in the city.

How much does the entrance ticket to Malahide Castle cost?

Malahide Castle tickets come in multiple packages and the Classic Castle Tour and Gardens is the most popular ticket option.

The Malahide Castle’s Classic Castle Tour and Gardens entrance fees:

• Adults (over 18): €14
• Children (3-18): €6.50
• Children under 3: Free
• Students and Seniors (65+): €9
• Family (2 adults + 2 children): €39.99

Students will be asked to show proof of enrollment such as a student ID. International student IDs are welcome.

If you are seeking a Malahide Castle guided tour, plus access to the gardens and fairy trail, entrance fees are as follows:

• Adults (over 18): €14
• Children (3-18): €6.50
• Children under 3: Free
• Families (2 adults + 2 children): €35

What is the typical itinerary of a day tour to Malahide Castle from Dublin?

Guided day tours leave in the morning from the center of Dublin to Malahide. If you’re staying within the city center, hotel pickup is usually offered. A tour guide will accompany you on your journey to explain the history of local sites of interest.

After passing by some of the region's historic locations, you will arrive at Malahide Castle. Your guide will lead you through the castle’s many decorated rooms.

Learn about the Talbot family who built and resided in the castle for centuries, and gain insight into the family’s ties to the history of the area. You can also explore the 260 acres of land and gardens surrounding the castle.

Your jaunt to Malahide Castle will take you to the neighboring village of Malahide. Here, you can enjoy a hearty lunch and explore the nearby beaches before taking the return trip back to Dublin.

What kinds of tours are available to go to Malahide Castle?

Many tours from Dublin to Malahide Castle travel by coach due to the proximity of the castle to the city. Private tours are more modifiable based on the interests of tour participants.

You have the choice to take a private limousine tour or board a bus with a knowledgeable local guide to journey around Malahide Castle and Gardens.

Guided tours to Malahide Castle plus Howlth from Dublin

Many day tours to Malahide Castle from Dublin follow similar itineraries and combine a trip to Howth along with a tour of Malahide Castle. These group tours usually travel by coach, and are convenient and budget-friendly but offer less privacy.

The excursions include a knowledgeable local guide to share useful information about the area’s geography, history and culture. The price includes all transportation, entrance fees to Malahide Castle, a tour guide and pickup and drop-off at a convenient central location in Dublin.

Many of these excursions last between seven and eight hours, and include a trip along Ireland’s east coast to Howth or one of the beaches north of Dublin.

Private tour to Malahide Castle plus Howth from Dublin

Private tours to Malahide Castle offer a more intimate excursion for families or small groups. Private tours can be tailored to visit specific locations in addition to a trip to Malahide.

Private day trips include a professional local guide with knowledge about the area’s history and culture. Prices on these day tours include all transportation, tour guide, pickup and drop-off, and entrance fees to Malahide Castle.

How much does a tour to Malahide Castle from Dublin cost?

A guided group day trip from Dublin to Malahide Castle via coach starts from €48. A private tour with a local guide by bus costs around €312, and a tour by private car begins at €863.

Private excursions are more expensive, but offer visitors the chance to create a custom trip suited to their interests.

What will you see and do in Malahide Castle?

Malahide Castle was owned by the Talbot family for over 800 years, and their portraits still line its walls and corridors. Guests can enjoy historic artwork and interiors throughout the castle, including a copy of Raphael’s Vatican frescoes on loan from the National Gallery of Ireland.

For guests interested in political history, guides will shed light on the castle’s past, including its connections to royalty. Visitors will also be able to admire some of the building’s original architectural details and perhaps meet some of its former inhabitants.

It is said that ghosts frequent the castle and Malahide is often referred to as the most haunted castle in Ireland.

The castle is flanked by expansive lawns, four-walled gardens and the only butterfly house in all of Ireland. The butterfly house is open throughout the summer season and remains closed in the winter.

With botanical gardens and enchanting woodlands surrounding the castle, there is something on this excursion for every nature lover.

When is Malahide Castle open over the year?

Malahide Castle is open daily for visitors, with different opening and closing hours by season. The castle is closed from Dec. 24 to 26 for the Christmas holiday.

What are the opening times?

Malahide Castle opens at 9:30 AM every day. The last tour time is 4:30 PM from April to October, while the final tour takes place at 3:30 PM from November to March.

When is the best time to visit Malahide Castle?

While the castle is open during every season, guests interested in the gardens and the Butterfly House should visit from April through October. During this period, guests can experience the seasonal blooms in the castle’s four-walled gardens and tour the butterfly enclosure.

Travel tips

• Be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes to explore the castle and its gardens.
• The weather may change quickly, so it would be wise to pack both sunglasses and a compact umbrella for your jaunt.
• Bring an appetite with you, as Malahide is known as a gourmet food capital on Ireland’s east coast! Have cash available, as meals are not covered in the tour price.