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Major city · Ireland

DundalkDún Dealgan

Give Dundalk one night as a rail stop between Dublin and Belfast, or two if you have a car for the Cooley Peninsula and Carlingford.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
EUR
Best months
May–Sep
avoid Nov–Feb (wet, short days, many coastal places shut)
Airports
DUB · BFS · BHD
Nights
1–2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
  • Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
  • Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗Neither the UK nor Ireland is part of Schengen: days spent here do not count towards the 90/180-day Schengen limit, and a Schengen visa does not admit you to either country.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗The island of Ireland runs on two currencies: euro in the Republic, pound sterling in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Carry a card that pays in both without fees.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗Both islands drive on the left. Speed limits are in miles per hour in the UK (including Northern Ireland) and in kilometres per hour in the Republic of Ireland.
  • Ireland ↗Ireland is in the EU but not in the Schengen area; it sets its own entry rules and a Schengen visa is not valid for Ireland. Check Irish immigration for your passport.
  • Ireland ↗Ireland and the UK form the Common Travel Area, with no routine checks on the land border. Visitors who are not Irish or British must still meet UK rules (including the UK ETA where it applies) to enter Northern Ireland.
  • Ireland ↗Driving is on the left; rural roads are narrow with hedges and few passing places.

Dundalk is the county town of Louth, 7 km south of the Northern Ireland border and about 90 minutes by train from Dublin on the Enterprise. The town itself is a compact grid of 19th-century streets with a museum, two churches and a football ground; the reason to stay longer is the Cooley Peninsula to the north-east, where Carlingford, the lough and Slieve Foy sit within a 30-minute drive. Without a car, one night is enough.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Dundalk, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee2026 estimate: check
  • Sit-down mealPub main course2026 estimate: check
  • BeerPint of stout2026 estimate: check
  • Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi across townMetered; current fare check.
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week2026 estimate: check
  • Budget bedHostel or guesthouse bed, a night, per person€30 (≈ US$35)
  • Mid-range bedB&B double room, a night, per room€130 (≈ US$160)
  • High-end bedB&B double room, a night, per room€190 (≈ US$250)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget €55 (≈ US$65) · Mid €95 (≈ US$120) · High €170 (≈ US$200)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Cooley Peninsula and CarlingfordBorder-town history on the Dublin–Belfast lineCounty Museum and St Patrick's ChurchDundalk FC and Dundalk Stadium
Airports
DUB Dublin Airport (Expressway bus 100X runs hourly from the airport to Dundalk, about 2 h; by car via M1 about 1 h (toll at Drogheda).) · BFS Belfast International (Transfer time and route check; the A1/N1 road crosses the border at Killeen.) · BHD George Best Belfast City (Transfer time and route check; the Enterprise train runs from Belfast via Newry to Dundalk.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Dundalk: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

8°C

2°C

14 rd

Feb

8°C

2°C

11 rd

Mar

10°C

3°C

12 rd

Apr

12°C

4°C

11 rd

May

15°C

6°C

11 rd

Jun

18°C

9°C

10 rd

Jul

20°C

11°C

11 rd

Aug

19°C

11°C

12 rd

Sep

17°C

9°C

11 rd

Oct

14°C

7°C

13 rd

Nov

10°C

4°C

13 rd

Dec

8°C

2°C

14 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The centre is walkable: Dundalk Clarke station is 500 m west of town centre. Bus Éireann routes 174, 174A and 174B run from Long Walk; frequency check. District routes serve neighbouring towns and the Cooley Peninsula, but verify timetables before relying on them. For the peninsula, a car gives the most flexibility; taxi access and fares check.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Carlingford and the Cooley Peninsula

go

Door to door: Check

Bus 161 loops the peninsula via Carlingford and Omeath to Newry; Monday–Saturday, about every 2 h. Check current timetable.

Carlingford has a medieval gatehouse, tower house and friary, with Slieve Foy trails nearby. A car makes exploring easier.

Drogheda

go

Door to door: Check

Bus 100 or 168; check current timetable and journey time.

Historic town and gateway to the Boyne battlefield and Brú na Bóinne.

Dublin

go

Door to door: About 1 h 45 min

Enterprise train from Dundalk Clarke, about 90 min.

A straightforward day trip, though Dublin deserves its own nights.

Newry and the Mourne Mountains

caution

Door to door: Check

Enterprise train to Newry; journey time check. The Carlingford Ferry operates Apr–Sep.

Northern Ireland uses pounds sterling; the ferry is seasonal.

Castle Roche

go

Door to door: Check

Car or taxi; route and journey time check.

Free 13th-century castle ruin on a rocky outcrop; check access before setting out.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Town centre (Park St and Long Walk)

Walk to the station, bus station, pubs and restaurants; the Imperial Hotel is the main full-service option.

The Crescent, by the station

Two B&Bs within 100 m of Dundalk Clarke station; best for a one-night rail stop with bags.

Inner Relief Rd / Dublin Rd (south edge)

Chain-style hotel and B&Bs with parking; 20–25 min walk or a short taxi to the centre.

Carlingford

30 min north-east on the peninsula; small resort with the most accommodation and the best scenery. Only worth it with a car.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
€55–85 (≈ US$65–100) excl. bed
Mid
€85–140 (≈ US$100–170) excl. bed
High
€140 (≈ US$170)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
B&B double room1 × 1 night × €130€130
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × €95€190
Enterprise train Dublin → Dundalk, one way2 × €25 · 2026 estimate; check fares.€50
Expressway 100X Dublin Airport → Dundalk, one way2 × €20 · 2026 estimate; check fares.€40
Car hire, one day, small car1 × €60 · 2026 estimate; availability and price vary.€60
eSIM, about a week of data2 × €15€30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge€50
Trip total≈ €275 per person per day, bed included€550≈ US$650

2026 estimate in euro; flights and cross-border spending excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee2026 estimate: check
Pub main course2026 estimate: check
Pint of stout2026 estimate: check
Fish and chips2026 estimate: check
Taxi across townMetered; current fare check.
Train Dundalk → Dublin, one way2026 estimate: check
eSIM or data SIM, about a week2026 estimate: check

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Use ordinary town precautions and keep to lit streets late at night. Take care on wet roads and around coastal mudflats; download maps before exploring the Cooley Peninsula because mobile signal may be weaker there.
  • The Carlingford Ferry crosses Carlingford Lough in 15 min and operates Apr–Sep; check sailing times before travelling.
  • Blackrock has extensive mudflats at low tide; do not treat it as a conventional sandy beach.
  • The source reports weaker mobile signal on the Cooley Peninsula; download maps before heading there.

Emergency numbers

EU emergency number
112

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

DundalkDún Dealgan

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Chuige an seoladh seo, le do thoilTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Emergency services112 or 999

Embassy

No embassy in Dundalk. Check your country's embassy contact details in Dublin.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Train Dundalk → Dublin Connolly: About 90 min; fare check.
  • Bus 100X Dublin Airport → Dundalk: About 2 h; fare check.
  • Taxi town centre → station: Metered; fare and journey time check.

Say or show

  • Dia duit — Hello (jeea gwit)
  • Go raibh maith agat — Thank you (guh rev mah agut)
  • Le do thoil — Please (leh duh hull)
  • Sláinte — Cheers (slawn-cha)
  • Cé mhéad é? — How much is it? (kay vade ay)
  • Cá bhfuil an leithreas? — Where is the toilet? (kaw will an leh-rass)

English is spoken throughout Ireland; Irish is also an official language.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Dundalk. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: May–Sep · avoid Nov–Feb (wet, short days, many coastal places shut) · month by month →
  2. 3 airports and 4 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 5 day-trips, door to door
  6. 3 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for DUB: last Expressway 100X departures field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Market Square and Park St, the station and The Crescent, Jocelyn St museum and St Patrick's, the harbour and Spirit Store.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (County Museum, St Patrick's, Castle Roche, Carlingford) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Cooley Peninsula car loop with ferry timing and hostile-weather fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to Ireland

Sources