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Malahide is about 25 minutes from Dublin city centre on the DART or a commuter train, and the main reason to go is Malahide Castle: a guided tour costs €17.50 for an adult and includes the walled gardens, butterfly house and fairy trail. Add a walk round the village and the marina, or along the coast to Portmarnock, and it’s an easy half day or a relaxed full one.
Prices were checked on the official Malahide Castle booking site on 14 November 2026.
The quick answer
- Getting there: DART or commuter train to Malahide, about 25 minutes. Dublin Bus routes 32 and 42 also go to the village.
- Fare: the TFI 90-minute fare is €2 for an adult with a Leap card, rising to €2.30 from January 2027.
- Castle tour: €17.50 adult, €10 child, €12.50 senior or student, €50 family.
- Time needed: at least two hours at the castle and gardens, half a day with the village, a full day with the coast walk.
- Free: the parkland around the castle, the village, the marina and the beach.
Getting to Malahide
Malahide is on the northern branch of the DART and on the Northern commuter line, so trains from Connolly, Tara Street and Pearse stop there. The castle’s own advice is that the DART is the most convenient option, and the station is a short walk from the castle grounds. A Leap card is the cheapest way to pay. More in our guide to getting around Dublin.
If you’re driving, the castle has ample free parking on site. Malahide is also only about 10 minutes from Dublin Airport, so it works well for a first or last afternoon.
Malahide Castle and Gardens
The Talbot family lived here for nearly 800 years. The guided tour takes about 45 minutes to an hour and covers the main rooms, including the Great Hall, the Oak Room and the drawing room, with the story of the family and its part in Irish history.
| Classic Castle Tour | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | €17.50 |
| Child | €10 |
| Senior | €12.50 |
| Student | €12.50 |
| Family (2 adults and 3 children) | €50 |
The ticket includes the botanical walled garden, the butterfly house and the fairy trail in the woods of the West Lawn, which is a big hit with children. The castle opens daily from 9.30am and is closed from 24 to 26 December. Tickets are non-refundable, but you can change your booking online within a 48-hour window. Book on the Malahide Castle and Gardens website, especially in summer.
The parkland around the castle is free, so if you don’t want the tour you can still walk the grounds and have a coffee at the café.
The Casino Model Railway Museum
Ireland’s only model railway museum is in a restored 19th-century cottage directly opposite the pedestrian entrance to the castle grounds. It holds the hand-built model railway of Cyril Fry. The castle sells a combined Castle and Casino Railway ticket, which was €17 for an adult (child €11, senior €12, family €48) when we checked. The museum opens later on Mondays, so check the times before you go.
Malahide village, the marina and the coast
- The village: compact and pretty, with plenty of cafés, pubs and restaurants, all within a few minutes of the station.
- The marina: a short stroll from the village, with views over the estuary.
- The coast walk to Portmarnock: a path runs south along the shore from Malahide to Portmarnock, a few kilometres, with views of Lambay Island and Ireland’s Eye. It ends at the Velvet Strand, the long sandy beach where Charles Kingsford Smith took off in 1930 to fly the Atlantic westwards. Take the DART back from Portmarnock.
More nearby
- Newbridge House and Farm in Donabate, one stop north on the commuter train: a Georgian house with a working farm. Fingal’s annual membership pass covers Malahide Castle, the railway museum and Newbridge.
- Howth is on the other branch of the DART. You can do both in one long day by changing at Howth Junction.
A suggested day
- Morning DART to Malahide.
- Castle tour, then the walled garden, butterfly house and fairy trail.
- Lunch in the village.
- Afternoon walk along the coast to Portmarnock and the Velvet Strand, then the DART back to the city.
For more castles around Dublin, see our guide to castles and stately homes. For other easy trips, see day trips from Dublin.
Frequently asked questions
How do you get from Dublin to Malahide?
Take the DART or a commuter train from Connolly, Tara Street or Pearse to Malahide, about 25 minutes. Dublin Bus routes 32 and 42 also go to the village.
How much is Malahide Castle?
The guided castle tour is €17.50 for an adult, €10 for a child, €12.50 for seniors and students and €50 for a family of two adults and three children. It includes the gardens, butterfly house and fairy trail (prices checked November 2026).
Is Malahide Castle free?
The castle tour and the walled gardens are paid. The parkland around the castle is free to walk.
How long do you need in Malahide?
Allow at least two hours for the castle and gardens, half a day with the village, or a full day if you add the coast walk to Portmarnock.
Is Malahide worth visiting?
Yes, especially if you want a real castle without a long coach trip. It’s 25 minutes from the city, the gardens are good for children, and the village and coast make it a full day out.