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Major city · Ireland

DalkeyDeilginis

Give Dalkey half a day to a full day from Dublin: DART out, castle tour, Coliemore and Sorrento roads, Vico walk to Killiney. Sleep in Dublin or Dún Laoghaire.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
EUR
Best months
May–Sep
avoid Nov–Feb (wet, short days, island boats often not running)
Airport
DUB
Nights
0–1
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.

Dalkey is a small, walkable seaside village 16 km southeast of central Dublin, on the DART line and inside the Dublin short-hop zone. The castle, the two coastal roads and the Vico walk to Killiney fill a day; the island is a boat trip in fine weather only. Accommodation is thin, so most visitors base in Dublin or Dún Laoghaire and come out for the day.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Dalkey, 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.

  • Coffee€3.50–4.50 (≈ US$5–6)
  • Sit-down mealPub main course€15–22 (≈ US$18–30)
  • Street or quick mealDeli sandwich€6–9 (≈ US$7–11)
  • BeerPint of stout€6–7 (≈ US$7–9)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week€15–25 (≈ US$18–30)
  • Museum or sight ticketDalkey Castle adult / child€16 (≈ US$19)€10.50 (≈ US$13) (check)
  • Budget bedHostel dorm bed (Dún Laoghaire or Dublin), a night, per person€30 (≈ US$35)
  • Mid-range bedGuesthouse or hotel double room, a night, per room€170 (≈ US$200)
  • High-end bedGuesthouse or hotel double room, a night, per room€260 (≈ US$350)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget €55 (≈ US$65) · Mid €95 (≈ US$120) · High €180 (≈ US$250)

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.

Dalkey Castle (Goat Castle)Coliemore and Sorrento roadsDalkey Island and its Martello towerDalkey Book Festival in mid-June
Airports
DUB Dublin Airport (Aircoach 703 runs about every two hours to Dún Laoghaire, Dalkey and Killiney; scheduled a little over an hour but often slower in southside traffic (check))

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Dalkey: 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

9°C

3°C

13 rd

Feb

9°C

3°C

11 rd

Mar

11°C

4°C

11 rd

Apr

13°C

5°C

10 rd

May

16°C

8°C

10 rd

Jun

18°C

11°C

9 rd

Jul

20°C

13°C

10 rd

Aug

20°C

13°C

11 rd

Sep

18°C

11°C

10 rd

Oct

15°C

9°C

12 rd

Nov

11°C

6°C

12 rd

Dec

9°C

4°C

13 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 village is small and walkable; you do not need a car. DART trains run about every 10 min through Dalkey between Malahide/Howth, central Dublin, Dún Laoghaire, Bray and Greystones, all inside the Dublin short-hop zone. Go Ahead Ireland bus 59 runs hourly between Dún Laoghaire, Dalkey, Glenageary and Killiney. Coliemore and Sorrento roads are too narrow to enjoy by car but have footpaths throughout.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
Dublingo

Door to door: About 30–40 min

DART from Dalkey to Connolly, Tara Street or Pearse

The default base; see the Dublin guide for long-distance routes.

Dún Laoghaire

go

Door to door: 10–20 min

DART, or Go Ahead Ireland bus 59

Harbour, more beds and food than Dalkey.

Howth

go

Door to door: About 1 h

DART northbound via central Dublin

Cliff walk and harbour; a full day on its own.

Malahide

go

Door to door: About 1 h 10 min

DART northbound via central Dublin

Castle and gardens; pairs with Howth on the same line.

Braygo

Door to door: About 25 min

DART southbound

Gateway to County Wicklow; change here for mainline trains to Wexford and Rosslare.

Booterstowncaution

Door to door: About 20 min

DART northbound

Small; combine with a coastal walk rather than a dedicated trip.

Swordscaution

Door to door: About 1 h 15 min

DART to the city, then bus

Near the airport; useful before a flight, not as a day out.

Balbrigganskip

Door to door: About 1 h 20 min

DART northbound via central Dublin

Too far for a Dalkey day; do it from the city instead.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

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

Dalkey village

Very few beds; the Coliemore pub has rooms and there is self-catering near the station. Book early.

Dún Laoghaire

More hotels and guesthouses, 10–15 min away on the DART; the practical base for a Dalkey day.

Killiney

Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel on Killiney Hill Road, about €180 B&B double (2026 estimate); a 20–25 min walk downhill to Dalkey.

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
€45–75 (≈ US$55–90) excl. bed
Mid
€75–130 (≈ US$90–160) excl. bed
High
€130 (≈ US$160)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Guesthouse or hotel double room1 × 1 night × €170€170
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × €95€190
DART return from central Dublin to Dalkey2 × €6 · check€12
Dalkey Castle adult ticket2 × €16 · check€32
eSIM, about a week of data2 × €20€40
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge€44
Trip total≈ €244 per person per day, bed included€488≈ US$600

2026 estimate in euro; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee€3.50–4.50 (≈ US$5–6)
Pub main course€15–22 (≈ US$18–30)
Pint of stout€6–7 (≈ US$7–9)
Deli sandwich€6–9 (≈ US$7–11)
DART fare from central Dublin (short-hop zone)€2.50–3.50 (≈ US$3–5) each way (check)
Dalkey Castle adult / child€16 (≈ US$19) / €10.50 (≈ US$13) (check)
eSIM or data SIM, about a week€15–25 (≈ US$18–30)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Dalkey is a low-crime, upmarket suburb and safe to walk by day and evening. The real risks are coastal: slippery rocks and strong currents and tidal overfalls around Dalkey Island, and narrow roads with no verge on parts of the Vico walk.
  • Coliemore and Sorrento roads are narrow with traffic: walk them, do not drive them.
  • Dalkey Island boat trips run in fine weather only and have been unreliable; confirm on the day at Coliemore Harbour before planning around them.
  • Sea kayaking off the island: strong currents and tidal overfalls around Dalkey Island.
  • Mugs Café is cash only.
  • Aircoach 703 from the airport is often delayed in southside traffic; allow a buffer for a flight.

Emergency numbers

Police, ambulance, fire, coast guard, mountain rescue
112
Alternative emergency number
999

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.

DalkeyDeilginis

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

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

Emergency

  • Police, ambulance, fire, coast guard, mountain rescue112
  • Alternative emergency number999

Embassy

The US embassy is in Dublin (check the address); UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand also have embassies in Dublin.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • DART Dublin Connolly → Dalkey: about €3 (≈ US$4), 30–40 min (check)
  • Aircoach 703 Dublin Airport → Dalkey: scheduled a little over 1 h, often slower (check)
  • Dalkey Castle adult: €16 (≈ US$19) (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)
  • Gabh mo leithscéal — Excuse me (gov muh lesh-kayl)
  • Cé mhéad é? — How much is it? (kay vade ay)
  • Cá bhfuil an leithreas? — Where is the toilet? (kaw will un leh-rass)

English is spoken everywhere; Irish is the first official language but you will not need it in Dalkey.

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 Dalkey. 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, island boats often not running) · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 8 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for DUB: Aircoach 703 timings field-checked, DART fallback via the city, taxi rung.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Castle Street, Coliemore Harbour, Sorrento Park, the Vico Road to Killiney.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (Dalkey Castle, St Begnet's, Dalkey Island boats, Killiney Hill) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Island-weather fixture so the boat trip can go green, amber or red on the day.

Meanwhile

Back to Ireland

Sources